Well, I suppose there could be a few changes in my list over the next week or two, but I'll post my list now anyhow.

1 - Thee More Shallows – More Deep Cuts
2 - Sufjan Stevens – Illinois
3 - Okkervil River – Black Sheep Boy
4 - Fiery Furnaces – EP
5 - Out Hud – Let Us Never Speak of It Again
6 – Jose Gonzalez – Veneer
7 - Spoon – Gimme Fiction
8 – Season – Avatar
9 - David Francey – The Waking Hour
10 - Mountain Goats – The Sunset Tree
11 – Okkervil River - Black Sheep Boy Appendix
12 - Caribou – The Milk of Human Kindness
13 – Espers – The Weed Tree
14 - Hotel Alexis – The Shining Example Is Lying On the Floor
15 – Magnolia Electric Co. – What Comes After the Blues
16 - Sleater-Kinney – The Woods
17 – Shearwater – Thieves EP
18 - Explosions in the Sky – The Rescue
19 - Andrew Bird – The Mysterious Production of Eggs
20 – Detwiije - Would You Rather Be Followed By Forty Ducks For the Rest of Your Life?


Comments:

Thee More Shallows put out the clear album of the year for me. That album moves me in the same way Kid A, OK Computer,, and In the Aeroplane Over the Sea do. It's extremely emotionally intense without sacrificing melody of accessibility. Anyone hasn't heard this, I highly recommend you check it out.

My top 3 albums really blow me away, and are really a step above the rest.

A top 20 really works out perfect for me, because there are exactly 20 albums from this year that I'll listen to again in the future, though only about the top 12 will receive frequent play.

I only hope that 2006 will be as good or better than this year. I suspect that I'll have slightly less time to listen to music next year though.

Thee More Shallows is a great band. I saw them live and its really hard to describe how good they sound.
I "More Deep Cuts" in 2004 but I decided to put it on my 2005 list, since it got wide release in 2005.
Good choice for No. 1

My mistake, Mark.

Thee More Shallows just missed my top 20. But..well, I had to order it direct from the website because I couldn't even find it in the indie store I go to.

sorry I am behind, but by Thursday there will be an update. Hope all had/still having a great holiday. Til then....

quote:

18 - Explosions in the Sky – The Rescue
19 - Andrew Bird – The Mysterious Production of Eggs

I was wondering when someone would mention that Explosions release. It was pretty obscure, and no one else I knew had heard about it when I listened to it. I thought it was ok. It's hardly better than Andrew Bird's album, though. Bird's album had charm, Explosions' was just kind of faceless and soulless.

quote:

Originally posted by Yay!:

quote:

18 - Explosions in the Sky – The Rescue
19 - Andrew Bird – The Mysterious Production of Eggs

I was wondering when someone would mention that Explosions release. It was pretty obscure, and no one else I knew had heard about it when I listened to it. I thought it was ok. It's hardly better than Andrew Bird's album, though. Bird's album had charm, Explosions' was just kind of faceless and soulless.

That's funny, I almost switched those two at the last moment. The Bird album has a chance to move up several spots, but there are just some songs that annoyed me. I haven't listened to it for a while though. I can definitely understand dhow some people really love it.

The Explosions album was really consistently pretty good. It didn't have anything that blew me away like their other albums, but it's very pleasant without being boring. I keep finding myself wanting to listen to it, and I never grow tired of it.

Definetely not EITS best. I will cut them some slack since it was an E.P. featured in the Travels of Constants series.
I am looking very forward to the new full length due out next fall.

1. My Morning Jacket- Z
2. Sufjan Stevens- Illinois
3. Common- Be
4. Antony and the Johnsons- I am a Bird Now
5. Kanye West- Late Registration
6. The White Stripes- Get Behind Me Satan
7. M.I.A.- Arular
8. LCD Soundsystem- LCD Soundsystem
9. Andrew Bird- Andrew Bird & the Mysterious Production of Eggs
10. Gorillaz- Demon Days
11. Beck- Guero
12. Paul McCartney- Chaos and Creation in the BackYard
13. Spoon- Gimme Fiction
14. Bright Eyes- I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning
15. System of a Down- Mezmerize/Hypnotize
16. Bloc Party- Silent Alarm
17. The Go! Team- Thunder, Lighting, Strike
18. Kings Of Leon- Aha Shake Heartbreak
19. The New Pornographers- Twin Cinema
20. DangerDoom- The Mouse and the Mask

Why are Andrew Bird, Paul McCartney and Common so low or not even there on everybody else's list?

quote:

Originally posted by FragileKidA:
Why are Andrew Bird, Paul McCartney and Common so low or not even there on everybody else's list?

It seemed like Andrew Bird and Common showed up on a few lists. McCartney didn't, but I'm guessing a lot of people didn't pick it up.

Of the three, I thought the Andrew Bird album was pretty decent, there were just a lot of albums I thought were better.

Common, I have to admit really didn't wow me all that much.

The McCartney album impressed me in the same way the new Rolling Stones album impressed me. It's nice to see them both making an effort again, since they haven't been doing so for the past couple decades. But I'm not sure if either album ranks with today's best music. Neither album is anything they haven't already done and done better in the past.

quote:

Originally posted by ericg75:

The McCartney album impressed me in the same way the new Rolling Stones album impressed me. It's nice to see them both making an effort again, since they haven't been doing so for the past couple decades. But I'm not sure if either album ranks with today's best music. Neither album is anything they haven't already done and done better in the past.

With that said, can't it be said that McCartney has created some of the best music of all time? Even it is stuff that he has done, it's pretty astonoshing in its own right. But I do have to say that you made some pretty good points either way.

But what about System of a Down's two solid efforts and the Kings of Leon album, i haven't seen many people on here include them.

quote:

Originally posted by FragileKidA:
With that said, can't it be said that McCartney has created some of the best music of all time? Even it is stuff that he has done, it's pretty astonoshing in its own right. But I do have to say that you made some pretty good points either way.

I'm a big Beatles fan, and Paul has undoubtledly written some of the best songs in American popular music, but his stuff just doesn't seem all that relevant anymore. I hate to diss him, because I do respect him, but that's just my take on it. I'm not one to reward someone for their past accomplishments, like Rolling Stone and The Grammys do.

quote:

But what about System of a Down's two solid efforts and the Kings of Leon album, i haven't seen many people on here include them.

System of a Down, despite their critical acclaim, I just can't stand. Metal is one form of music I've never really gotten into, and to me, SOAD doesn't sound any different than other metal band. Maybe it is, and I'm just ignorant on the matter.

The Kings of Leon album took a pretty heavy beating critically, and it's not a shock that it's not on too many peoples lists. I myself didn't think it was that bad, and in fact I'd rank "The Bucket" as one of my favorite songs of the year. But the rest was just kind of so-so for me.

Well ericg75, like I said earlier, you do make some good points. I guess we just have a difference in opinion because it's not like I am rewarding McCartney for past work, but I just honestly feel like his new album alone was one of the best of the year. I feel like if anyone else had released the same CD they would be on everyone's list, but because it has his name behind it—along with a revered Radiohead and Beck producer—people just say it’s “whatever.”

But System of a Down’s albums are truly exceptional, you really should give them a second, third and fourth chance because they really are coming out with some good music. By the way, did you post your year-end list? I haven’t seen it and am curious as to what is on there.

My view of System of a Down this year.

They released one great album -- over two CDs. Put together the best half from Mezmerize with the best half from Hypnotize, it might have made my top 20.

quote:

Originally posted by FragileKidA:
I feel like if anyone else had released the same CD they would be on everyone's list, but because it has his name behind it—along with a revered Radiohead and Beck producer—people just say it’s “whatever.”

You may be right on that. I think people have a tendancy to look any artist's album within the context of their past releases. So with Paul McCartney, you're automatically saying, "Well, It's no 'Abbey Road'." Radiohead's "Hail to the Thief" was a really good album, but a lot of people dismissed it for not being as groundbreaking as "OK Computer", "Kid A", or even "Amnesiac". But you can probably bet if say Coldplay released that album, people would be hailing it as the greatest Coldplay album ever.

quote:

By the way, did you post your year-end list? I haven’t seen it and am curious as to what is on there.

Yeah, It's on page 3 of this thread. I think I posted it a little to early as there's a few things I'd probably change now, but I'm pretty solid on the top 5.

I heard some songs from McCartney's new album.

They seemed a bit too candy-coated for my tastes.

Though, I say the same thing about some of his Beatles stuff.

The thing about Hail to the Thief..people say it's not as good as Radiohead's old stuff, but they still say it's a really great album and rank it near the top of their year end lists.

quote:

Originally posted by ericg75:
Radiohead's "Hail to the Thief" was a really good album, but a lot of people dismissed it for not being as groundbreaking as "OK Computer", "Kid A", or even "Amnesiac". But you can probably bet if say Coldplay released that album, people would be hailing it as the greatest Coldplay album ever.

You make an excellent point there because I completely agree that "Hail to the Thief" was an awesome record. And yes, if Coldplay--which really do suck eventhough everyone loves them--released "Hail to the Thief" everyone would love it. And although maybe like Bobthespirist said that "Thief" wasn't as good as their "old stuff" it is still exceptionally great in its own right.

By the way I saw your list and you seem to enjoy the whole indie rock scene. I saw Clap Your Hands and Say Yeah on Conan O'Brien and was impressed but after listening to some other songs inclduing, "Is This Love?" as trivial as it sounds, I just can't get used to the guy's voice.

My list is below. Placements might change, but it's a good approximation. And if I regret something not being in the list later, it's still representative.

1. New Pornographers - Twin Cinema
2. Stacie Rose - Shadow And Splendor
3. Sufjan Stevens - Illinois
4. The Veronicas - Secret Life of..
5. Hope 7 - self-titled
6. Anna Nalick - Wreck Of The Day
7. Saving Jane - Girl Next Door
8. Brandi Carlile - self-titled
9. White Stripes - Get Behind Me Satan
10. The Like - Are You Thinking What I'm Thinking?
11. Teenage Fanclub - Man-Made
12. Cindy Alexander - Angels & Demons
13. Sleater-Kinney - The Woods
14. Lee Ann Womack - There's More Where That Came From
15. Garbage - Bleed Like Me
16. Josh Ritter - Hello Starling (limited edition)
17. Liz Phair - Somebody's Miracle
18. Amy Rigby - Little Fugitive
19. Decemberists - Picaresque
20. Rogue Wave - Descended Like Vultures

Honorable Mentions (not limited to these, but I'm keeping the total at 50: ) 2005 albums from Julie Gribble, Jerra, Imogen Heap, Kate Bush, David Gray, Sigur Ros, Metric, Wallflowers, Fisher, Martha Wainwright, Madonna, Courtney Jaye, Bruce Springsteen, Eisley, Brie Larson, Franz Ferdinand, Tracy Bonham, Sheryl Crow, Mary Gauthier, Miranda Lambert, Go-Betweens, Annie, Little Big Town, Marion Raven, Kathleen Edwards, Aslyn, Brad Paisley, Doves, Trisha Yearwood, Tori Amos..

They're not honorable mentions, but I also enjoyed the Coldplay (couple great songs, like "What If?,") Tristan Prettyman, Alexz Johnson, Hope Partlow (very promising with songs like the driving "Crazy Summer Nights" and the charming "Like You Do" hinting at more,) Shakira, Mae, and more.

There are some albums that I unfortunately couldn't buy before I wanted to finalize my list. They include Mountain Goats, Magic Numbers, Keyshia Cole, John Legend, Anthony Hamilton, Wolf Parade..

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

And a comment: the Beatles are my favorite group (Rogue Wave reminds me of them with a hint of Elliott Smith - they are not an Elliott Smith copy,) but the new Paul McCartney sounded more old than wise. I really tried to love it.

One more thing: do you think the Josh Ritter would be considered a 2005 release? He released a limited edition of Hello Starling in 2005 with a few live tracks added, but the original was released in 2004.

quote:

Originally posted by The Furnace Is Fiery:
sorry I am behind, but by Thursday there will be an update. Hope all had/still having a great holiday. Til then....

It is almost one day until the year ends and I was just wondering if there was going to be a posting of the final outcome of the best albums of 2005. Thanks