The good albums of 2005

[Animal Boything]

Hi, everyone. Good to be back. I'm a little surprised there isn't a thread like this already. Maybe there is and/or I'm dumb.

Anyway, this isn't intended as a top ten list or anything, let's just say a few words about the new albums we're digging so far this year, and see where it goes.

M.I.A. - Arular This is both the most exciting debut album and the best dance album I've heard since probably the Avalanches. It seems almost like a cliché to mention it now since it's topping so many critics' lists already, but holy shit, I can't get enough of this record. It's everything I love rolled into one. I can see this being a real "love it or hate it" sort of thing, because it's so raw, but I'm fully convinced of its worth.

Stephen Malkmus - Face the Truth This is like his eighth great album in a row if you count the Pavement years, so it's hard to think of anything new to say, but it doesn't make it any less great. It's not his best ever, but it's plenty good enough for me.

Spoon - Gimme Fiction Not the best Spoon album (I still think that credit goes to Girls Can Tell) but this band continues to amaze me with their originality and their always good, often great tunes. I keep hoping these guys are going to blow up and sell ten million records, but they seem to hover slightly below the radar. If you haven't already, check them out.

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.

Alaska! - Rescue Through Tomahawk I'm always hyping this largely unknown trio to people, mostly because they're nice enough to play a lot of gigs in my shitty town, and because their guitarist fucking shreds. (He's on that Lou Barlow album a little bit too, as well as on the last Folk Implosion record.) Their first album was a little better, I think, but I'm always happy to hear from them. There aren't enough cool guitar bands in America right now so these guys are a precious commodity. They're going on tour with Dinosaur Jr. Pretty soon, and apparently they'll be selling a single which contains a new version of their old song SS, more like the live version, and that makes me want to shriek with joy because that song was always the highlight of their amazing live shows. Bonus fact: the girl who plays the drums is really cute.

That's it for now. I'm usually a bit slow to buy new releases. What have you got?