quote:

Originally posted by Yay!:

I'd recommend you guys check out some of my entries that you may not know much about (01, 02, 07, 09, 10 and 20) instead of releases from Wolf Parade, Clap Your Hands, Broken Social Scene, Animal Collective, Architecture in Helsinki or Bloc Party/Franz Ferdinand (same band?).

This sounds like a very pretentious statement, as if you'd say to someone who hadn't heard any of this year's releases: "Don't pay attention to everyone else's lists, just reference mine instead." Maybe that's not how you intended it, but that's what it sounds like.

And I'm not sure how you draw such a comparison between Bloc Party and Franz Ferdinand. They are both British, and they're roughly in the same genre, but I'm not sure how else they compare. PRG is right too: based on interviews with Kele, Bloc Party seem to think they're the best thing to happen to music since Beethoven, while Franz Ferdinand seem pretty cool.

But since you put Z at 3 and Alligator at 4 and Spoon at 8, it's cool.

quote:

Originally posted by Yay!:
I'd recommend you guys check out some of my entries that you may not know much about (01, 02, 07, 09, 10 and 20) instead of releases from Wolf Parade, Clap Your Hands, Broken Social Scene, Animal Collective, Architecture in Helsinki or Bloc Party/Franz Ferdinand (same band?).

Thanks for enlightening me...now that I know that indie pop is bad, I can immediately stop liking it.

God, I'm glad you came around to open my eyes.

I'm not sure what the final verdict was as to the acceptance of end 'o' year lists but I think this is my 8th post soooooo, pleeeeease count it 'cos I really have spent more time on it than I should have.

1. Picaresque - The Decemberists
2. Stars of CCTV - Hard-Fi
3. LCD Soundsystem - LCD Soundsystem
4. Silent Alarm - Bloc Party
5. Arular - M.I.A.
6. Be - Common
7. Broken Social Scene - Broken Social Scene
8. Z - My Morning Jacket
9. Aha Shake Heartbreak - Kings of Leon
10. Set Yourself on Fire - Stars
11. Alligator - The National
12. Get Behind Me Satan - The White Stripes
13. Lovekraft - Super Furry Animals
14. I'm Wide Awake Its Morning - Bright Eyes
15. Late Registration - Kanye West
16. The Woods - Sleater-Kinney
17. You Could Have It So Much Better - Franz Ferdinand
18. Some Cities - Doves
19. Guero - Beck
20. Extraordinary Machine - Fiona Apple

And some that almost made the list but.....
Demon Days - Gorillaz, Backyardigans - Backyardigans (hey, if you got kids listen with them 'cos it is a great introduction to all music), Illinoise - Sufjan Stevens, Brazilian Girls - Brazilian Girls,

Playing Now - Rebellion (lies) - Arcade Fire

quote:

Originally posted by dubs:
And I'm not sure how you draw such a comparison between Bloc Party and Franz Ferdinand. They are both British, and they're roughly in the same genre, but I'm not sure how else they compare. PRG is right too: based on interviews with Kele, Bloc Party seem to think they're the best thing to happen to music since Beethoven, while Franz Ferdinand seem pretty cool.

Franz Ferdinand are Scottish, and as we all know: "If it's not Scottish, It's crap."

quote:

Originally posted by ericg75:


Franz Ferdinand are Scottish, and as we all know: "If it's not Scottish, It's crap."

Freeeeeedooooom!

quote:

Originally posted by nathanielkt:

quote:

Originally posted by Yay!:
I'd recommend you guys check out some of my entries that you may not know much about (01, 02, 07, 09, 10 and 20) instead of releases from Wolf Parade, Clap Your Hands, Broken Social Scene, Animal Collective, Architecture in Helsinki or Bloc Party/Franz Ferdinand (same band?).

Thanks for enlightening me...now that I know that indie pop is bad, I can immediately stop liking it.

God, I'm glad you came around to open my eyes.

Man, I like indie-pop, but I can't stand any of the bands he listed either.

I think Kraftwerk only hasn't been included in people's deliberations because we're looking mostly at new works, not just new live performances of existing works.

You like some of the albums I like, so I'll look at your #1, but I already looked at Dalek and didn't get into it.

And, to followup:

..I just listened to Erin McKeown. She's..pretty good, but she doesn't stand out that much from Aimee Mann to me. Very tidy music, to the point of lacking organicness.

Just my opinion, of course. Maybe the 'messiness' is what turns you off to bands like Wolf Parade.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Bobthespirit,

It took forever to nail down a list, but I finally did it. No. 1 for me was easy. Cecile Schott made the most perfect CD of the year, by just applying her unbelievable skill as a musician. It's both haunting and lifting. Jaime Stewart is easily the most underated artist today. He just continues to push the envelope with each release and becomes more polished. Panda Bear and Avey Tare made a big leap with "Feels" the most accessible A.C. album yet. Akron/Family is 2005's answer to Songs: Ohia. It mixes the lo-fi quality of Microphones with the songwriting ability of Jason Molina. It's pure satisfaction. Although I like "The History of Sport Fishing" just a tad more, TMS are going to be a force to be reckoned with for a long time.

1. Colleen “The Golden Morning Breaks”
2. Xiu Xiu “La Foret”
3. Animal Collective “Feels”
4. Akron/Family “Akron/Family”
5. Thee More Shallows "More Deep Cuts"
6. Saxon Shore “The Exquisite Death of Saxon Shore”
7. Great Lake Swimmers “Bodies and Minds”
8. Julien Neto "Le Fumeur de Ciel"
9. Okay “High Road/Low Road”
10. Okkervil River "Black Sheep Boy"
11. Sufjan Stevens “Illinois”
12. Jaga Jazzist “What We Must”
13. Eluvium “Talk Amongst The Trees”
14. Piana “Ephemeral”
15. Sigur Ros “Takk”
16. Khonnor "Handwriting"
17. Youth Picture of Florence Henderson "Unnoticeable In A Tiny City,
Invisible In The City"
18. Yellow6 “Melt Inside”
19. Hammock “Kenetic”
20. Library Tapes "Alone In The Bright Lights of a Shattered Life"

Enjoy the list. I will post a top 100 before the end of the year.

Just heard Love is All's 9 Times the Same Song...wish I had waited to vote.

quote:

Originally posted by RavingLunatic:
Man, I like indie-pop, but I can't stand any of the bands he listed either.

I was more mocking the pretentiousness of the statement than anything else.

quote:

Originally posted by modestryan:

1. Colleen “The Golden Morning Breaks”
2. Xiu Xiu “La Foret”
3. Animal Collective “Feels”
4. Akron/Family “Akron/Family”
5. Thee More Shallows "More Deep Cuts"
6. Saxon Shore “The Exquisite Death of Saxon Shore”
7. Great Lake Swimmers “Bodies and Minds”
8. Julien Neto "Le Fumeur de Ciel"
9. Okay “High Road/Low Road”
10. Okkervil River "Black Sheep Boy"
11. Sufjan Stevens “Illinois”
12. Jaga Jazzist “What We Must”
13. Eluvium “Talk Amongst The Trees”
14. Piana “Ephemeral”
15. Sigur Ros “Takk”
16. Khonnor "Handwriting"
17. Youth Picture of Florence Henderson "Unnoticeable In A Tiny City,
Invisible In The City"
18. Yellow6 “Melt Inside”
19. Hammock “Kenetic”
20. Library Tapes "Alone In The Bright Lights of a Shattered Life"

Very interesting list. It's quite a bit different than anyone else's, and gives me some ideas for new stuff to look into.

quote:

Originally posted by dubs:

quote:

Originally posted by Yay!:

I'd recommend you guys check out some of my entries that you may not know much about (01, 02, 07, 09, 10 and 20) instead of releases from Wolf Parade, Clap Your Hands, Broken Social Scene, Animal Collective, Architecture in Helsinki or Bloc Party/Franz Ferdinand (same band?).

This sounds like a very pretentious statement, as if you'd say to someone who hadn't heard any of this year's releases: "Don't pay attention to everyone else's lists, just reference mine instead." Maybe that's not how you intended it, but that's what it sounds like.

Hardly. Metacritic users are more open to recommendations than most music fans I've come across. Therefore, why not make some recommendations? Why not give some of the best, and (in my opinion) most criminally overlooked, records of the year a little bit word of mouth? I will take your accusation of being "pretentious" with a grain of salt.

quote:

And I'm not sure how you draw such a comparison between Bloc Party and Franz Ferdinand. They are both British, and they're roughly in the same genre, but I'm not sure how else they compare. PRG is right too: based on interviews with Kele, Bloc Party seem to think they're the best thing to happen to music since Beethoven, while Franz Ferdinand seem pretty cool.

To me, its all late '70s/early '80s revival dancey post-punk stuff. I think Gang of Four put that genre to bed, and it didn't need to be resurrected in the first place.

quote:

But since you put Z at 3 and Alligator at 4 and Spoon at 8, it's cool.

Hey, if it rocks...

quote:

Originally posted by modestryan:
1. Colleen “The Golden Morning Breaks”
2. Xiu Xiu “La Foret”
3. Animal Collective “Feels”
4. Akron/Family “Akron/Family”
5. Thee More Shallows "More Deep Cuts"
6. Saxon Shore “The Exquisite Death of Saxon Shore”
7. Great Lake Swimmers “Bodies and Minds”
8. Julien Neto "Le Fumeur de Ciel"
9. Okay “High Road/Low Road”
10. Okkervil River "Black Sheep Boy"
11. Sufjan Stevens “Illinois”
12. Jaga Jazzist “What We Must”
13. Eluvium “Talk Amongst The Trees”
14. Piana “Ephemeral”
15. Sigur Ros “Takk”
16. Khonnor "Handwriting"
17. Youth Picture of Florence Henderson "Unnoticeable In A Tiny City,
Invisible In The City"
18. Yellow6 “Melt Inside”
19. Hammock “Kenetic”
20. Library Tapes "Alone In The Bright Lights of a Shattered Life"

Definitely a unique one. Respect.

Only qualms: Saxon Shore (#06) sounds, to me, essentially, like instrumental Coldplay. They're pretty good at some moments with their post-rock crescendos and melodies, but overall really bland and forgettable. I think Xiu Xiu (#02) is just... insufferable vocally and live. That's just me.

On the other hand, I give you a lot of respect for Jaga Jazzist and Eluvium. I think these pairs of records make the whole thing a bit of a wash.

At least it gives me new music to check out, though, huh? I appreciate the tips. Care to elaborate on Colleen?

Ok, here's mine.

1. Illinoise-Sufjan Stevens
2. Silent Alarm-Bloc Party
3. Apologies...-Wolf Parade
4. Get Behind Me Satan-White Stripes
5. Gimme Fiction-Spoon
6. Magic Numbers-Magic Numbers
7. Mezmerize-System of a Down
8. Z-My morning Jacket
9. Arular-M.I.A.
10. Late Registration-Kanye West
11. Picaresque-Decemberists
12. Plans-Deathcab for Cutie
13. We are Monster-Isolee
14. Takk-Sigur Ros
15. I'm wide Awake...-Bright Eyes
16. Campfire Headphase-Boards of Canada
17. Witching Hour-Ladytron
18. LCD soundsytem-s/t
19. Demon Days-Gorillaz
20. I am a Bird Now-Antony and the Johnsons

Here's, finally, my final top 20 list.

1. Sleater-Kinney - The Woods
2. Sufjan Stevens - Come On Bring The Illinoise
3. Wolf Parade - Apologies to Queen Mary
4. M.I.A - Arular
5. The Go Team - Thunder, Lightning, Strike
6. Andrew Bird - The Mysterious Production of Eggs
7. Okkervil River - Black Sheep Boy
8. Architecture in Helsinki - In Case We Die
9. New Pornographers - Twin Cinema
10. White Stripes - Get Behind Me Satan
11. Deerhoof - The Runners Four
12. Antony and the Johnstons - I Am A Bird Now
13. My Morning Jacket - Z
14. Richard Hawley - Cole's Corner
15. Mountain Goats - The Sunset Tree
16. Nickel Creek - Why Should The Fire Die?
17. Dangerdoom - The Mouse And The Mask
18. Devendra Banhart - Cripple Crow
19. Spoon - Gimme Fiction
20. Fiona Apple - Extraordinary Machine

You know, I thought the forum posters were really diverse listeners, but I don't think a single other person here likes (Or..has heard) Nickel Creek. Maybe it's because the country community likes them...I really don't know. But it surprises me.

Harumph! My family and I saw Nickel Creek, along with Andrew Bird this month. I don't think you read my live show reviews, Bob. You didn't read my eels concert review either, although I posted it long before you saw eels.

Nickel Creek will make my Top 20, and at a higher position than you put them, but Paul Kelly and the Stormwater Boys (another kickass bluegrass band) will be even higher up.

Thanks for posting, Bob. I'll get there eventually!

I have heard Nickel Creek and for country/bluegrass they aren't bad. They play them on our college radiostation a lot. Unlike most Country they are talented musicians.

Hey guys, im a complete newbie on this forum, but we used to do this over on the massive attack forums annually, kind of a shame nobody bothered this year... anyway, just thought id like to give my top 20 - and a little bit of background, i host the student chart show at my university and so this is generally a very personal list, but from what ive heard this year, these were the records that did it for me:

1. Vitalic - OK Cowboy
2. Kanye West - Late Registration
3. Maximo Park - A Certain Trigger
4. The Rakes - Capture/Release
5. LCD Soundsystem - LCD Soundsystem
6. Clor - Clor
7. Antony & The Johnsons - I Am a Bird Now
8. MIA - Arular
9. Arcade Fire - Funeral
10. Death From Above 1979 - Youre a Woman, I'm a Machine
11. Mint Royale - See you in the Morning
12. Gorillaz - Demon Days
13. Four Tet - Everything Ecstatic
14. Test Icicles - For Screening Purposes Only
15. The Go! Team - Thunder Lightning Strike
16. My Morning Jacket - Z
17. Goldfrapp - Supernature
18. Tom Vek - We Have Sound
19. Kano - Home Sweet Home
20. Beck - Guero

cheers!

quote:

You know, I thought the forum posters were really diverse listeners, but I don't think a single other person here likes (Or..has heard) Nickel Creek. Maybe it's because the country community likes them...I really don't know. But it surprises me.

My little brother is a huge Nickel Creek fan. I liked the first two albums a lot more than their latest. My brother even owns most of the solo albums by Chris Thile and Sean Watkins, so I've heard all those as well. I've never really been impressed by those solo albums, but I heard the first half of Sean Watkins new album (only available for download) the other day for the first time, and it sounded good. I'll have to give it a full listen sometime soon.

Everything I've heard from Nickel Creek so far has been on v/a comps. I do like their songs, especially "Can't Complain" (it was on a Harp magazine cd). This is the best thing about year end lists, dicovering new music and being reminded about great music to invest in.