The good albums of 2005

[Ally]

Originally Posted by Tiger

no, but love the CC single quality pop music

C-C is a wicked track. I gave Lukeyd a copy of the album at Glastonbury, waiting on his feedback.

[brokenhanger]

The new Elbow leaked the other day, and it is stunning. Easilly jumped to the top of the list.

The forthcoming Super Furry Animals record is quite good, too, if not their best. Gruff Rhys's solo album from earlier this year is better.

The new Gravy Train!!!! came out this week, and again it's good if not as good as the last one.

The ODB "Osirus" mix tape from January starts out incredibly strong but loses steam during the last third or so. We miss you, ODB.

I still love the new Nine Inch Nails, I don't care what anyone says. It's a good time and a fantastic return to form from Trent.

The Kaiser Chiefs record is a lot of fun, particularly if you play spot the influence. 'I Predict A Riot' and 'Every Day I Love You Less and Less' are two of the year's finest singles - even if the former came out at the tail end of last year. Shhh, we won't tell anyone.

I hated the early singles, but I quite like the LCD Soundsystem full-length.

The Hidden Cameras just released a new double 7" of demos for next year's full-length, and it is fantastic. It's nice to have these songs I've been hearing live for a year on record now, even if it's not all of them.

There's an EP from an NYC duo named Mommy and Daddy called "Fighting Style Killer Panda" that is quite fun. Similar set up to DFA79 - bass, electronics, vocals - but much more poppy.

The new Supergrass is incredibly mellow but surprisingly good.

The thing is, outside of the Elbow - and I've only heard it a couple of times, so my opinion might change on that - and maybe the Hidden Cameras demos, none of these are "classics". I look at all of them, and they're either just an entertaining diversion or a solid album from an established band that doesn't quite live up to their legacy. In that respect, I'm pretty disappointed in 2005.

Take care,
James

[Jafs]

Venetian Snares - Rossz Cillag Allat Szuletett
Ochre - A Midsummer Nice Dream
Autechre - Untilted
Royksopp - The Understanding
Jamie Lidell - Multiply
Teebee - The Legacy
Eels - Blinking lights and other revelations
Common - Be
Gorillaz - Demon Days
Vitalic - OK Cowboy
The White Stripes - Get behind Me Satan

[morningrise]

Howl Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
Gimme Fiction Spoon
LCD Soundsystem LCD Soundsystem
Apologies To The Queen Mary Wolf Parade
Silent Alarm Bloc Party

To my ears the M83 record was spotty as was Vitalic's and Caribou's but deserve mentioning. Look forward to Calla and Kanye West's new releases upcoming.

[purlieu]

Patrick Wolf - Wind In The Wires
Autechre - Untilted
The Coral - The Invisible Invasion
Diane Cluck - Oh Vanille/Ova Nil
Oasis - Don't Believe The Truth
Mercury Rev - The Secret Migration
Six Organs Of Admittance - School Of The Flower
Coldplay - X&Y
Ochre - A Midsummer Nice Dream
The Wedding Present - Take Fountain
Antony & The Johnsons - I Am A Bird Now
The Tears - Here Come The Tears
John Frusciante - Curtains
Queenadreena - The Butcher And The Butterfly
Stereophonics - Language. Sex. Violence. Other?
Nine Inch Nails - With Teeth

Only bad album I've bought this year was Beck which I can't stand.

[groovypanda]

Originally Posted by purlieu

Only bad album I've bought this year was Beck which I can't stand.

and yet you have oasis and the stereophonics on your list...

[purlieu]

Fair point on Stereophonics, I'll admit they're a bit of a guilty pleasure (although LSVO? is the best since their debut). Don't Believe The Truth is a solid album, though, and a hell of a lot more imaginative and downright fun than Guero. I just think I've become tired of Beck's sound, to be honest. Sea Change was so refreshingly un-Beck, but now it's just the same old.

[Bargo]

After seeing him support Caribou on his recent Australian tour, I want to give massive props to Mountains in the Sky's album, "Celestial Sun".

It's an absolutely beautiful piece of work. Fans of Manitoba/Caribou, Four Tet and Future Sound of London might really enjoy it, as I can detect a few similarities when I listen. As the album builds to those crashing strings in The Snowcapped Incident I get goosebumps every time.

His visuals during the live performance were bloody fantastic too. Really nice animation pieces. If this album gets an international release, and hopefully it will, check it out.

Review
Label website; able to purchase album from here.

[Sardo]

My albums of the year so far to me, did they come out in 2005? Not sure but who cares - they rule!

Ambulance LTD - "LP" http://www.ambulancenyc.com/
Autolux - Future Perfect http://www.autolux.net/
Swervedriver - Jugganaught Rides http://www.swervedriver.com/

[stimpee]

Originally Posted by Animal Boything

Lou Barlow - EMOH The original lo-fi indie rocker (of Dinosaur Jr., Sebadoh and Folk Implosion fame) Has released a real solo album after years of groups and pseudonyms, and it's quite good. Several of his old bandmates make appearances, and there's a surprisingly awesome cover of "Round-n-Round" by Ratt. And a song about his cat.

I always thought Sentridoh was just him and his acoustic guitar. If you havent got any of this stuff and you like all Lou B's other stuff then its worth a listen. This is as lo-fi as it gets believe me.