The best albums of 2005 are...

[Rit]

i'd say that Broken Social Scene's album is album of the year.
but that might jsut be because i'm into it at the moment.

[kmc]

BSS is, in my opinion, making the most interesting and ultimately rewarding rock music right now in the business. Yeah, not all of their stuff is great (as they openly admit. Consider "Beehives"). But considering that most of acclaimed stuff is just a boring take on something else, you have to appreciate a band willing to push boundaries.

[riley]

kmc said:

BSS is, in my opinion, making the most interesting and ultimately rewarding rock music right now in the business. Yeah, not all of their stuff is great (as they openly admit. Consider "Beehives"). But considering that most of acclaimed stuff is just a boring take on something else, you have to appreciate a band willing to push boundaries.

I've thought about this before Kenny's post and I'm inclined to agree. There the one band I think of right now when someone asks me what I'm into. Always top of mind.

[kmc]

I mean, it's almost inarguable. Take Bloc Party, or Franz Ferdinand. Great bands, making great fun music. But you've heard it before. I can see how people love them (especially Bloc Party. What a well done album) but I am not gonna cream myself over a band that offers nothing new.

[kmc]

I forgot to add the new album by Tristeza. A Colores is a great instrumental album.

[Kensterberg]

My 2005 purchases:

Paul Weller, As Is Now
Wilco, Kicking Television
Fiona Apple, Extraordinary Machine (the free version that was on the 'net -- haven't bought the official release, largely b/c I just haven't listened to this one that much: for some reason, female angst has not been high on my hit-parade lately)

I really need to get the last Sleater-Kinney, British Sea Power, and a few more, but right now, if I walk into a record store the only thing I'm walkin' out with is that Born to Run reissue. Album of the fucking year. Again.

It's a town full of losers and I'm pullin' out of here to win!

[Kensterberg]

Now that I think about it, I'm sure I've missed a couple of 2005 releases. I'm pretty sure Brendon Benson's Alternative to Love came out this year, as did the last Finn Brothers release (not positive 'bout that one, though).

Anyway, I've got more turkey to eat, and Wilco to listen to.

The greatest songs will never be sung,
the best laugh never leaves your lungs.

[Rit]

kMc, i agree with your take on BSS. It's the most rewarding band at the moment. And the album delivers.

i can't think of a better choice for album of the year.

[Rit]

cept maybe Wolf Parade's album. I'd put that at second place.

[ScottsyII]

Oh believe me, i can see the "fun band" value of Franz Ferdinand, but maybe it's just that I am too damn serious for my own good, but there is NO WAY I could ever find myself excited about a FF song, not even if were just for the pure unadulterated "fun" of it, so to speak!

[strawman]

luke said:

Thanks, Straw. I can do $16.95 after shipping. I was just worried about obscene import prices. I'll give the money to a band, but I've always had a problem with paying thirty bucks and the post office taking half of it. Import prices are never worth it, IMO.

thats cool....umm I still think you'll end up with the best CD of 2005...it's really got under my skin...and to make it all worthwhile for you, if you PM me an address, I'll knock up a few NZ mixes and send them....then maybe you'll want to buy more!!!!!.....

[Dr. Drum]

Too early to get number-specific yet but unless something changes in the next month, Broken Social Scene will not be my no. 1 album of the year. I could certainly see the band in the artist of the year category, though, for all the reasons that have been mentioned.

Is angst compatible with classicism? Because I wouldn’t have described Extraordinary Machine as female angst exactly, or at least not angst as we’ve come to understand it in pop music. She’s just too poised and restrained.

[Kensterberg]

Drum -- I can see your point about Fiona, and perhaps I didn't choose my wording carefully enough. But whatever you want to call it, for some reason I just have not been connecting with female voices lately, particularly those introspective and reflective types. In other words, Sleater-Kinney or early Pretenders are still in my playlist, but not Suzanne Vega or Ms. Apple.

I'm sure that at some point this will change and I will be able to listen more objectively to EM. But for now, it's just sitting waiting patiently for me to come round.

BTW, Springsteen's Devils and Dust is the only other legitimate 2005 release I've got at present. I've got reissues of Bowie's Stage and Echo and the Bunnymen's Crocodiles that came out this year, as well as some downloaded U2 concerts, but those really don't count towards best albums of this year, IMHO anyway.

And in the interests of gender equity, I'll note that the latest Springsteen has garnered even less play from me than Extraordinary Machine. I was so pissed off over the issues of getting the damn thing to play and rip to my Mac, that I just haven't heard the damn thing enough to be able to judge it at all. As I said to my friend at the record shop, "I'd pay MORE for a standard cd of this album, just to be able to play it in my car, computer, etc. I'm pissed at both Springsteen and Sony for putting it out only in this bastard format that doesn't even comply with the standards for compact discs that Sony largely wrote!"

[JesusLooksLikeMe]

Scottsy - I don't think Warnings/Promises is evidence of a "sell-out" mentality. And as you point out, the whole 'sell-out' accusation has always been a juvenile one anyway.

The basic problem is that I just find the album really fucking boring. I saw 'em live a few months ago, and the songs jus don't soar in the same way, the choruses aren't as grand and melodic, they lack punch and vitality, the words are tired and clichéd...

Listen to it mixed up with stuff from Captain, 100 Broken Windows & The Remote Part... it's not about selling out. It's about decline.

[kmc]

The Remote Part is a mcuh greater album than the latest, that's for damn sure.