Top Ten CDs of 2005
December 10, 2005
There was an abundance of great new music in 2005 if you knew where to look. Below are my picks for the best of the year. Please click on the "comments" link at the bottom of this post to leave feedback, or more importantly, to leave your own best of lists or top tens for the year.
1. The Dissociatives – The Dissociatives (Astralwerks/EMI)
I think this is the best album of the year by a long shot. Of course no one else has even heard it. I think it’s sold less than 6,000 in the U.S. That’s because EMI didn’t do a thing to promote it, or even let people know about it’s existence. It’s so good I don’t even know how to describe it or what bands to compare it to. The album is full of very hooky pop songs and melodies with lots of layered vocals. It’s so quirky and cool though, that it keeps you guessing. I can hear some elements of Moby’s more commercial pop type stuff combined with Electric Light Orchestra, The Beatles and Brian Wilson. It’s not top 40 or slick. It’s more artistic than that. It’s a quirky album with piano and keyboards and some really incredible vocals.
Recommended tracks: Somewhere Down The Barrel & Horror With Eyeballs
2. Sufjan Stevens – Illinois (Asthmatic Kitty)
This is like a younger, more modern version of Brian Wilson’s Smile album with lots of weird quirks, lyrics and instrumentation. This is by far Sufjan’s best work to date. It’s like They Might Be Giants meets a quirky folk version of Brian Wilson. You have to hear it. It all comes down to the great songs. Oh yeah, and the controversial cover art. Where did that Superman go?
Recommended tracks: Casimir Pulaski Day & The Man of Metropolis Steals Our Hearts
3. John Davis – John Davis (Rambler)
The former Superdrag front man delivers a stunning solo debut that is an instant classic. John is very reminiscent of Terry Taylor and the Lost Dogs. It sounds like The Beatles and Brian Wilson heavily influenced this album. The songs are nothing short of incredible.
Recommended tracks: Salvation & Jesus Gonna Build Me a Home
4. Mike Doughty – Haughty Melodic (ATO)
Finally! The former singer of Soul Coughing has a full band solo release. Even if you didn’t like Soul Coughing, check this disc out. It’s so much better than anything Mike or his former band had released. This album is lyrically brilliant and the songs are infectious!
Recommended tracks: Busting Up a Starbucks & His Truth is Marching On
5. Starflyer 59 – Talking Voice vs. Singing Voice (Tooth and Nail)
Wow! This is a great record! It could have easily been a notch or two higher on my list. These alt-emo rockers have come up with a hooky, layered alt-pop masterpiece that sounds like Daniel Amos and even a bit of the Electric Light Orchestra (gasp)! This is easily their best yet. Good Sons is song of the year in my book.
Recommended tracks: Good Sons & A List Goes On
6. New Pornographers – Twin Cinema (Matador)
Alternative rock influenced by Sparks, Wings and 10cc?! Where do I sign up? This is known as a collective or a consortium of artists, but the best of the material here seems to be coming from A.C. Newman. His songs keep getting better and better. Fans of good alternative rock and quirky power-pop need to devour this disc.
Recommended tracks: Twin Cinema & Jackie, Dressed in Cobras
7. The Choir – O How The Mighty Have Fallen (Galaxy 21)
This could very well be the best Choir album yet. At least it’s my favorite. The songs here are beautiful and melodic. Derri Daugherty’s voice has never sounded better. If you never heard The Choir, you’re missing out, and this new one is a great place to start. What if R.E.M. wrote songs with intelligent lyrics and had a singer with a voice like an angel? That would be The Choir. This one most closely resembles the Circle Slide album, considered by many to be their high water mark.
Recommended tracks: Nobody Gets a Smooth Ride & We Give We Take
8. Kino – Picture (Inside Out)
This is an excellent melodic rock band ala Alan Parsons Project, Marillion and Yes (90125 era) featuring members of Porcupine Tree, It Bites and Marillion. It’s miles ahead of the competition and I personally feel it’s one of the best releases in this genre in years. The vocals and melodies are so good, and the production is way beyond most modern prog, this one deserves to be heard. There’s even a modern UK pop-rock vibe that I think many non-prog fans would like.
Recommended tracks: Swimming in Women & People
9. Eels – Blinking Lights and Other Revelations (Vagrant)
The Eels hit a low point with 2003’s Shootenanny. In fact, the last few Eels records all blended into one and I had all but given up on them. It all sounded the same after awhile. Well, E is too talented to let his career wallow in sameness. He bounced back with one of the best releases Eels have ever had. Normally a double CD release would scare me, but it’s amazing how solid it is. All the songs hold up. These are some of E’s best songs. I hope other discouraged fans will give this one a chance. From mellow and melancholy to quirky and upbeat this album is amazing.
Recommended tracks: Hey Man (Now You’re Really Living) & Theme From Blinking Lights
10. The Pernice Brothers – Discover a Lovelier You (Ashmont)
This one surprised me. I’ve liked a song here and there, but this is the best overall album from the Pernice Brothers. It is probably their most “power-pop” sounding project with really good melodies and hooks. The lyrics are first rate as well.
Recommended tracks: There Goes the Sun & Dumb it Down
The next five albums…
Porcupine Tree – Deadwing (Lava)
Paul McCartney – Chaos and Creation In the Backyard (Capitol)
Andrew Bird - Andrew Bird and the Mysterious Production of Eggs (Righteous Babe)
Sam Ashworth – Gonna Get It Wrong Before I Get It Right (Emergent)
David Mead – Wherever You Are (Eleven Thirty)
The Import Dilemma….
This is a tough year. The Mew album And the Glass Handed Kites is one of my favorite releases of 2005. It is easily my second favorite album of the year, so why didn’t it make the list?! It’s a UK import and hasn’t been officially released here in the U.S. Lots of us music rubes who make these lists have certain criteria and qualifiers. Most importantly, was it officially released in this calendar year? Mew was, but not in the US. So do I put it on the list this year because this is the year I got it, or do I wait until next year when it comes out here? I’ve talked with other fans, professional critics and rubes and many of them say it has to have a U.S. release date to qualify. But what if it never comes out over here? Then I’ve got one of my favorite releases that won’t ever make my list! Oh well. I left it off, thinking it’s going to be huge here next year. It should, it’s the most original thing I’ve heard in years. Think Mars Volta, Yes and Radiohead all rolled into one.