This year I've prioritized my already immense interest and passion for music even further up my hobby chart. There have been so many amazing releases this year that I've been able to enjoy, it has been marvelous. I began this list a couple weeks ago, going through all of my albums and just picking out the ones that I've enjoyed this year an exceptional amount.
Now, I am fortunate enough to download 3 or 4 albums a week. That comes out to about 180 albums in a given year. I'd estimate the number is more around 150, however. So, out of those 150 or so releases I was able to narrow down my choices to just over 50. 55 albums that I genuinely enjoyed and listened to over and over enough to be considered favorites. I then attempted to thin out the field over the course of a few days. Eventually I was able to get down to 25. From those 25, I've organized them by how high of an impact they have had and how quality I felt they truly were. Finally, I let my nerd skills go to town and made this webpage.
It's been a bitch to do all of this, but I had fun and it's something I enjoy. So, with that said, here are my top 25 of 2005.
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25.
Why?
Elephant Eyelash
I bumped a lot of Anticon out of the top 25. So I just had to get Yoni Wolf and Why? on it. This album contains some of the catchiest tracks on this list. Very poppy but mixed with a unique folk and hip-hop driven influence.
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24.
Piglet
Lava Land EP
This album almost didn't make the list because I just felt like an EP shouldn't belong. However, my other option was putting Mogwai's Government Commissions album on this. And that album from Mogwai is nothing but a release of live past recordings already released on other albums. So as I weighed it out, I felt like new album that came out this year trumped old material rereleased this year. Piglet is a Chicago-area based band and their sound reflects just that. Imagine if Cap'N Jazz in their haeyday stopped singing and just played some terrific music. Very good stuff (but only a 6-track EP!)
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23.
Red Sparowes
At The Soundless Dawn
This album is probably more deserving of a higher spot, I just happened to find it a little forgettable relative to similar releases. Perhaps this is because I didn't listen to it enough or intensely enough. Regardless, it really is an amazing piece of work. Truly moving and compelling. The type of thing you just want to put on and lay in bed and absorb.
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22.
This Is A Process Of A Still Life
Self Titled
Another post-rock instrumental band to follow #23. It's strange, while I do not necessarily feel that this is better than Red Sparowes' album, it was much more engaging for me to listen to. Less ambient, more driving. Just generally more enjoyable.
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21.
Gospel
The Moon is a Dead World
After I saw Gospel all I had to say was, "Jesus Christ. Holy shit." They completely blew me away. The most notable facet of this album to note is the drumming. It's like take Don Caballero's drummer, stick him behind a Level-Plane rhythmic hardcore type of band with a touch of heaviness and Gospel would be born. Fuck yeah. The album doesn't live up to the act, but it is still nuts.
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20.
Hauschka
The Prepared Piano
Perhaps my most pleasant album on the entire list. Hauschka is Volker Bertelmann's pseudonym and The Prepared Piano is his second composition to date. It is essentially Bertelmann and his piano (and he is an amazing pianist) accompanied by a synth and a few other select instruments he creates one of the most unique and special albums for me of 2005.
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19.
Verse
Rebuild
I haven't forgotten about you, positive hardcore. Bane completely dropped the ball with their 2005 release. I was heart broken. But it wasn't all that bad because Verse makes up for it. Verse combines a blend of old-school positive hardcore with intense passion, gang vocals and holy shit yes breakdowns. A bit reminiscent of Comeback Kid before they put out that last really horrible album.
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18.
Polar Bear
Dim Lit
Polar Bear is a group of incredible jazz musicians, with Seb Rochford the drummer being the most notable. I love this album. It sort of just creeps into your bones. It's as if I put it on and it consumes my entire subconscious. For the neophyte jazz listener, this is earth shattering.
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17.
Caribou
Milk of Human Kindness
Ooh, now I'm getting to the good stuff. I guess that's an inaccurate statement because the albums previous and many not even on this list are good as hell. But, seriously, this album is really good. It'd probably be higher if it wasn't released so early this year and was fresher in my mind. One of the most unique and genre-hopping albums on this list. Mathematician gone wild. Caribou combines hip hop vibes with jazz and instrumental rock sensibilities and processes it all together. And the drums... ohhh the drums.
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16.
Sinaloa
Footprints on Floorboards
One of the most impactful albums on this list. Sinaloa is a modest band out of the Boston area producing some of the best and thoughtful post punk hardcore today. Again, Level Plane finds these guys. Endearing live, this album captivates this and is even better at fully displaying their talents and efforts. Rhythmic, passionate, aaaawesome.
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15.
Four Tet
Everything Ecstatic
Here we go. Lap-top production at its finest. This album is much more structured and accessible than past releases, to just the right degree. Usually when I say something has become more accessible it sort of has a negative connotation of it sucks and is too poppy. Not the case here. Horrible live, though.
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14.
Tiny Hawks
Fingers Become Bridges
This album is like six minutes long. Not really, but it is far too short. It's kind of acceptable, though. Two guys put out some of the most intense and special music. Coming out of Providence, home of the two-piece, they've developed their own unique formula that is just right. After about a 25 minute set it looked like they were going to die if they had to play more.
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13.
Menomena
Under an Hour
Menomena wrote this album for a dance group. The dance company goes by Monster Squad. Menomena states that this isn't the true follow-up to I Am The Fun Blame Monster. Understandably so, it is so far removed from their first effort. That doesn't mean it isn't good, however. In fact is it quite amazing. Listening to it while watching Monster Squad perform to it is pretty interesting too. Three tracks, all clocking in just under 20 minutes, making this album just under an hour (go figure!). Pleasant and enjoyable, light and airy at times.
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12.
Shipping News
Flies the Fields
I remember when I went to go see Shipping News last semester being very excited. Unfortunately only about 11 people shared my interest as it was heart-breakingly empty as they played. Their previous releases I was familiar with were quite good. They're a mellow mathy indie rock band whose use of vocals is in extremely good taste and harmony with their music. When I saw them they played a barrage of new songs which I was unfamiliar with, which were all coming out on this album. They were relatively the same but with much more weight and depth to them. I loved it.
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11.
65daysofstatic
One Time For All Time
I kind of feel bad for putting this album out of the Top 10. It quite possibly deserves to be there. 65daysofstatic on this latest release have further developed their own unique sound. It's becoming more and more entrancing and energetic. I'd recommend this to anyone. A mix of post-rock instrumental with electronic production and influence.
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10.
Jaga Jazzist
What We Must
Jaga Jazzist is a Scandinavian powerhouse jazz group. I remember reading something about how their enchanting and winding 7+ minute track was making top 10 charts on radio stations in Scandinavia and surrounding European markets. Their unique blend of jazz and mellow rock is wholesome and charming. You can't help but enjoy it. This is unless you don't have a soul.
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09.
Zion I
True and Livin'
This album is astounding. MC Zion has such an incredibly smooth delivery. Damn. Ant Live's production and beats are a perfect compliment. This is such an incredible hip hop album infused with sincerity and talent. So infective, you can't help but listen to it over and over.. and over.
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08.
Mono & World's End Girlfriend
Palmless Prayer, Mass Murder Refrain
This album lacks a lot of Mono's epic power that I love so much. With that said, it is still amazing. World's End Girlfriend is another artist out of Japan who produces instrumental music but with a much wider array of instruments (notably string instruments other than guitar) than Mono. Mono also has such a unique delivery and style that is of another world. Perhaps that world is just Japan and I'm not familiar with it. Regardless, they are a perfect pair of musical entities to come together. It produces one of the most haunting and ethereal albums of the year. At times very light and stringy, always climbing and spiraling.
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07.
Pelican
The Fire in Our Throats Will Beckon the Thaw
Ahhhh. Pelican! This album has lost a lot of the weight and metal-like power of Australasia. And, in my opinion, isn't as good of an album. This doesn't mean it isn't intense and brutal, though. Trust me, it still is. It is sensational. Also, I love bands with Animal names. I really do. And this album is just spellbinding.
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06.
Food For Animals
Scavengers
This album completely shattered my previous conceptions of the limits of hip hop. Vulture Voltaire is a 6'5" bearded wonder with the handshake of a bear. I've never shook hands with a bear, but I'd assume his is the same. Ricky Rabbit's production is absolutely insane, it is the entire driving force behind the album. Their combination is some of the most unique and dynamic rap I have ever heard. The breakdown on Cut and Paste absolutely blew me away. Wow.
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05.
The Evens
The Evens
Ian MacKaye can do no wrong. He's paired up with Amy Farina and released the catchiest album of the entire year. He plays guitar, she drums, they sing. Such a simple formula, but such a unique blend of pop and folk. This album is addictive.
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04.
Venetian Snares
Rossz Csillag Allat Szuletett
I used to hate Venetian Snares. Then Aaron Funk released this album. It is by my estimation a gigantic leap from what I previously knew Venetian Snares as. This almost makes me like IDM, almost. The breakbeat percussion mixed with harrowing and looming violins is just amazing. This album that he created quickly rocketed to heavy rotation once I heard it. I was hesitant to even give it a try due to previous experiences with his albums. However, I gave in and I am forever grateful. I'd just like to point out that an album he released after this went back to the Venetian Snares I knew to dislike, though. But we won't let that put a damper on this album.
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03.
The Books
Lost and Safe
This is one of the most unique albums on this list. This album is a bit of a departure from their first two albums but they have managed to create something wonderful once again. I've read things about this album being less accessible than previous efforts but I feel that it is just the opposite. A handful of tracks on this album employ a more familiar structure to your typical song and I feel would be very easily enjoyed by most people unlike the focus of found sound collages of the first. Regardless, the Books are true art in musical form. If you like rhythm and harmony and want something completely new, look no further.
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02.
A Silver Mt. Zion
Horses in the Sky
This album had a lot of hype leading into it. I read a lot about how it was going to be much more vocal based. I was quite weary. The tracks Silver Mt. Zion had utilized vocals on before were done very well, but I still had some concern. Especially with Efrim Menuck's voice... would I be able to handle that for an entire album? There wasn't any need to worry. And not only is the album 'more' vocal based, it is the focal point of the album. Efrim vocal's are bone chilling and menacing in the best possible way. They work perfectly with the album. There is such a deep sense of despair and loss with this album. It is so overwhelmingly compelling you can't help but be totally absorbed by it.
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01.
Lightning Bolt
Hypermagic Mountain
Ultimately, Lightning Bolt had to have this spot. There just couldn't be any other way. Every time I've seen Lightning Bolt I've left, and so has every single person in attendance, drenched with sweat. They are the most mind-boggling intense band I've ever witnessed. Three times this year I was able to enjoy this soaking. The first was so intense that I needed surgery following the show. Seriously. The second, my glasses were kicked off of my face and broken. The third was relatively tame aside from the fact that Brian Chippendale almost died from a heat stroke and exhaustion while playing, tried to come back to play more, and then almost died again. You must listen to it with your volume all the way up and try to make yourself go deaf. There can't be any other way. This album is ingenious and epic.
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