***DO NOT ASK FOR TORRENT, YSI, NEWSGROUP, ETC. LINKS OR PM'S UNLESS WHAT YOU
HAVE/ARE REQUESTING IS INTENDED TO BE DISTRIBUTED IN THAT WAY***
Well, it's getting to be that time again. For me personally, 2005 has been an awesome year for music and I've listened to a lot.
I'm keeping my part simple:
-List your favorite albums, explanations for why you like them are of course optional.
-Anything is welcome to be posted... don't think that just because a lot of us listen to different music that you shouldn't post anything. Seriously. It could be what is widely viewed as here as mainstream garbage, but if you like it, go ahead and post it. But if you think the latest most obscure indie band that 5 people have heard of is good, do the same. Anything goes.
-We can all have opinions on what other people list or may have to say about particular artists and albums, please don't get too personal about it. Don't get me wrong, you can be a critic if you want. But don't do something ridiculous like devote your entire post to three paragraphs totally ripping apart a band (and more specifically, someone's opinion of that band/artist/album). Discussion and arguments over music is always interesting, so I'm not saying to refrain, but at least show some respect.
-Keep the thread alive! Just because you're done posting your albums doesn't mean you aren't allowed to comment on what other people have said, just show respect as I mentioned before. I know that in 2003, Darkshire was kind enough to sticky the topic until late December/early January, and if another GAF admin could do the same that would be great. Either way, some people may be ready to list everything or nearly everything at this point. Some might not want to list until next week, others until the final couple of weeks of next month, some not until January when they've literally had the chance to hear EVERYTHING that came out.
Also note that Lambtron might have a few things to contribute to the thread. If you have any ideas, PM one of us.
And with that being said, GAF AOTY 2005 discussion is in session.
My picks...
AOTY: None. Of the 10 I listed for AOTY material, I could easily pick one for AOTY today but a different one for tomorrow. I see this as a good thing.
AOTY Material (no particular order):
1. The White Stripes - Get Behind Me Satan
Lots of fans seem turned off based on reviews and Internet chatter, but I don't get it. "Do something different instead of the same riffs," they said. So they did! Meg, despite her being an average minimalist drummer at best, did change up her rhythm for this album. And Jack has definitely branched out as well. The Nurse is a melodic psychedelic mess (in a good way), My Doorbell and The Denial Twist sounds like Motown, Litte Ghost exposes the Stripes' western influences more than ever before, and Instinct Blues does the same, but for their approach to the blues instead. It's widespread (for them) and stripped down but all the more unique at the same time as well. I don't see what all the fuss is about, because as far as I'm concerned this band still manages to amaze after they've put out five albums. Any other frontman would totally ruin the approach by now - it's amazing how Jack White manages to keep things interesting after using the same formula for many songs up to this point. But as I said, there are exceptions, and that's what people wanted.
2. Doves - Some Cities
The production values are brilliant, the music is beautiful, overall the whole album is just a great, great listen. It's really hard to explain not the way these songs sound, but the way they feel. It's definitely that kind of album - it has a certain type of atmosphere to it and it builds on it with every track. Black and White Town is a beautiful classy piano driven song that sounds like something out of the 30's or 40's brought back to life. Snowden and The Storm sound like a dream brought into reality - and it's worth mentioning that The Storm also sounds like something from 60-70 years ago revived and put into something modern. It makes for really cool, classy, powerful songs. One of These Days starts out as something dreamy as well, but quickly builds into a really good yet simplistic melody. Coldplay could learn a lot from these guys. Really though, Some Cities overall is a really memorable album and I love the way it sounds. It was a great way to start off the year.
3. The New Pornographers - Twin Cinema
I love this band, I just got into them this year. The songs themselves are simple but extremely catchy, and the beautiful layered vocal melodies really bring out the best in all aspects of what the band is trying to do. Use It, The Bleeding Heart Show, Jackie Dressed in Cobras (to be honest, one of the best melodies I've ever heard in a song, and the piano sounds great too), My Street, and Stacked Crooked are awesome. Hell, the whole album is awesome. It's catchy from start to finish. Sometimes that's all that matters. It just depends on the type of music and approach.
4. Sleater-Kinney - The Woods
The Donnas, The Vines, Jet, all of these bands don't even come close to matching what this band is capabile of. Every time I hear someone talking about those bands or read about them in magazines I can't help but think to say "Sleater-Kinney has them beat." It's lo fi, powerful, loud, melodic, meaningful, political, crazy... there are 100 ways to describe this record. They know exactly what they're doing, and they will probably make awesome albums for years to come.
5. Jimmy Chamberlin Complex - Life Begins Again
The quintessential 90's rock drummer that would make you think he had eight arms at times makes his solo debut. While a lot of the vocal songs are lacking, the instrumentals -- specifically, the jazzy, fast-paced Streetcrawler and Owed to Darryl, the moody and very progressive fusion tracks P.S.A. and Cranes of Prey, and even the more simple songs like Life Begins Again and Love is Real are good enough to keep the album as AOTY material. "Lullabye" featuring Bill Medley of the Righteous Brothers is perhaps the most unlikely contribution to the album, but it's still a respectable contribution regardless, even if it doesn't really go with the flow of the album. As the band said, if Bill Medley says he wants to do a song with you, you don't say no. Chamberlin once again proves that he is an amazing drummer capabile of taking on many different approaches (LBA's most intense tracks are typically much more jazzy than anything he did in the Pumpkins and Zwan), and he has a really talented band. The addition of Gannin Arnold, a local Jazz rock legend in LA, should make the band's next album even better, or just as good at the very worst. I do hope Jimmy saves his best new tricks for the next Pumpkins album that we all know will be out sometime this decade.
This is a fantastic debut from an awesome band that I hope to see live someday. Can't wait for the next album, which should be out early next year according to Jimmy.
6. And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead - Worlds Apart
I know that a lot of people who listened to this album were really let down, because it's not Source Tags & Codes. I'd rather have something different than a rehash, though. It's a bit more polished than their last, but if their live show is an indication, they're lightyears behind the producer that sprinkled some magic dust on the band's playing in the studio. Live, I unfortunately hear a band that is falling apart, so I'll just focus on the album. Trail of Dead does a really good job of sounding very punk to somewhat progressive in just a few songs. "Worlds Apart" is a perfect anthem for the state of the country, but in a Clear Channel dominated radio industry, the world will never know if it unfortunately. After the first six tracks, the album goes from punk to a bit prog. Let it Dive, To Russia My Homeland and All White really show off a side of Trail of Dead that we've never heard before. Perhaps the most progressive of their work. The Best and The Lost City of Refuge aren't too far behind.
7. Beck - Guero
What is there not to love about Guero? This is definitely better than his previous release, Sea Change. Qué Onda Guero and especially Hell Yes show that you don't have to be a rapper to have good beats and rhymes. Hell Yes, by the way, has one of the most addicting beats I've ever heard in any song, period. Songs like Girl and Scarecrow show off Beck's more crafty but poppy side when it comes to structuring a song. Missing and Earthquake Weather really have a certain attitude and atmosphere to them that's really brought out by Beck's creative studio genius. A really fun and enjoyable album. Any artist that thinks they are the master of crafting beats should listen to this album first. I can't believe people still buy into stuff like Eminem. That's supposed to be a good beat?
8. Oceansize - Everyone into Position
If we were living in the mid-90's right now, bands like Soundgarden, Smashing Pumpkins and even Rage Against the Machine (if only for their unique approach to the guitar) would have some serious competition from this british rock monster of a band. Everyone into Position is progressive in every sense of the word musically, and they expand on this idea by not only their approach to playing, but HOW they play is so different across the whole album. This band goes from playing skillfully coated pop made up of some really loud, aggressive guitars and beautiful layered vocals underneath ("Heaven Alive"), to a full on metal assault ("A Homage to A Shame"). "Meredith" calms things down a bit, then on they go to ambient noise rock that sounds like a cross between Massive Attack and My Bloody Valentine ("Music For a Nurse"). "New Pin" basically sticks with the ambient idea, but takes a completely different approach as it's at a much faster pace and with more guitars and less noise. "No Tomorrow" is a mostly groovy and melodic song, perhaps the least sophisticated of the album. After this, the beginning of the end ("Mine Host"), starts, an extremely calm, dreamy, ambient song that the band described as the beginning of a "Church Suite." It then builds into "You Can't Keep a Bad Man Down," which is one of Oceansize's best songs to date. A bassy guitar drop brings in a legion of guitars with profound emphasis on intensity and melody of the riff. It really shows off the band's triple guitar attack and their talent. It gets a little quiet halfway through, then explodes into a sound that consists of extremely loud but beautifully textured guitars that eventually make order out of chaos and finish off the song. And the final song, "Ornament/The Last Wrongs," is like a cross between metal, spiritual and choir music. It's REALLY unique and one hell of a way to end an already amazing album. Oceansize is one of the best bands making music today and they don't get any recognition.
9. Queens of the Stone Age - Lullabies to Paralyze
Speaking of the mid-90's, there's no DOUBT this band would be on top of the world if they came out with Songs for the Deaf and their latest, Lullabies to Paralyze, back then. While they're still very popular, there's no doubting that their sound is now closer to being more of an acquired taste instead of something that would have been more or less instant. To put it simply, the album rocks, grooves, and can get pretty weird at times. Songs like "Tangled Up in Plaid" and "Someone's in the Wolf" are perhaps two of the band's full on darkest songs to date. "In My Head" and "Little Sister" are poppy Queens of the Stone Age at their best. "I Never Came" is likely QOTSA's most mellow song to date, and it's something they should do more often as they realize they now have over three albums with a balls to the wall approach to rocking on many many songs. "You Got a Killer Scene There, Man..." is a very groovy, dirty, hypnotic jam. Overall, it's just a great, great album and perhaps better than Songs for the Deaf.
10. Supergrass - Road to Rouen
Nine songs of perfection. Tales of Endurance definitely shows that the band can be progressive when they want to, and they do it well. St. Petersburg is mellow bliss, and not to mention, I've given this song more plays than probably any other this year. SOTY! Road to Rouen is traditional britrock with a slight touch of prog, Kick in the Teeth is a powerful guitar-driven song, Low C is somewhat folky but also has a great layered piano and guitar sound to it. There's not much else to say other than it's simple, but also a very unique, melodic, and memorable album.
11. Serena-Maneesh - Serena-Maneesh
I just started listening to this so I can't give a detailed review, but this album is outstanding and definitely AOTY material. Wow.
Good albums (no particular order):
Fiona Apple - Extraordinary Machine
I'll forgive her for turning her back on somewhat better versions of songs. And in some cases, superior versions of songs (Oh Well comes to mind - completely ruined). This would probably be AOTY material to me if she would have just left the original recording alone, but thankfully, the final product is still good. But it could have been so much better, Fiona. And your most interested fans know this. These poor people wanted to "free" Fiona of some nearly nonexistant corporate struggle.
Sufjan Stevens - Illinois
The Mars Volta - Frances the Mute
Radiohead - Me and This Army (rap remixes)
It's unofficial, but I love it. Who would've ever thought people would be rapping over songs like My Iron Lung and I Will, and the computer voice that did Fitter Happier singing (well, talking) along to a remix of Creep? Brilliant. Plus, it having De La Soul doesn't just make this any underground rap release.
Billy Corgan - TheFutureEmbrace
Billy's best commerical work since Adore. Machina 2 doesn't count because it's free - if it did, TFE would not be his best. News of a SP reunion and Jimmy Chamberlin hinting at a new album before a possible Pumpkins reunion interests me more in Pumpkinland. This was a good album, as quite a few tracks owe a lot to My Bloody Valentine. Outside of that, the songs are still really cool. Mina Loy is a fantastic song, I can't believe Zwan crap like "Honestly" was able to get on the radio and MTV... but somehow, this song didn't stand a chance. I don't even think it had a video. A100 is gloomy bliss. DIA is beautiful noise. I'm Ready really does seem to capitalize on the meshing of noise rock, electronica, and other ambient things that the album was trying to show off. Pretty Pretty Star reminds me of asian pop for some reason. I really liked this album, but Billy has done better and is capabile of doing better. He knows that, too. Still, an awesome effort and one that makes Corgan all the more diverse as an artist and frontman.
NIN - With Teeth
Forgot about this one. Reznor is getting a bit rusty but it's still a good effort overall IMO. This seems to be love/hate for most people, but I'm caught in between.
Gorillaz - Demon Days
It's fun, the songs are skillfully crafted; it's Gorillaz, dammit. Not much else to say other than it's a solid album.
My Morning Jacket - Z
I was hoping for something as good as It Still Moves, but that's hard for anyone to top - even the same band. Well, most of them are still there. It's still a good album regardless.
Stars - Set Yourself on Fire
Well, the official US release was 2005 and I didn't hear it last year anyway, so I guess this works. Stars finally does something fresh with indie pop. The actual song "Set Yourself on Fire" is brilliant.
Sigur Ros - Takk
A much needed recovery from ( ).
Abandoned Pools - Armed to the Teeth
Crap (no particular order)
1. Coheed & Cambria - Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume One: From Fear Through The Eyes of Madness
Sorry, it does nothing for me. A total bore. The Suffering is good, but uh... there's nothing else there. Coheed & Cambria say they listen to a lot of Rush, and I suggest Coheed fans that haven't should do the same.
2. Coldplay - X&Y.
Hmm, I'll just say it like this:
Parachutes - Great album.
A Rush of Blood to the Head - Acceptable, but the potential to give up on your potential was starting to show. There was an equal amount of possibilty for some really fresh different songs from the band as I saw performed live, but..
X&Y - No dice. Seriously, how can Chris Martin release this crap and live with people (and probably himself) calling his band the next U2? NOT EVEN CLOSE. I think the most exciting thing Chris Martin did in 2005 was play Bittersweet Symphony with Richard Ashcroft at Live 8. Seriously. I don't hate everything about Coldplay; their first album is a classic and their live show in 2003 was definitely worth going to. But I fear for the future of this band's creative output. Something tells me that Chris Martin's new studio is the bank. And exclusively the bank. Of course, he's not stupid (but then again, he either came up with or agreed to name his child APPLE MARTIN), and he knows they can't be the next Radiohead or U2, so maybe it's for the best?
3. Deftones - b-sides and rarities
Uhh, A good chunk of this disc consists of acoustic versions of songs and COVERS. It should be called "Covers, some acoustic stuff, and a few b-sides worthy of being on an official release." Simple Man IS an awesome cover, but come on now, either Deftones have no other b-sides or they're afraid to expose them because they suck more than the ones that are already on there.
4. Metric - Live it Out.
Old World Underground, Where Are you Now this is NOT. I'll leave it at that because I know there are lots of Metric fans here.
5. Broken Social Scene - (self-titled).
WTF? After the amazing You Forgot It In People, this is what we get? They're trying to hard. This might not make sense, but it sounds like overproduced lo fi indie rock, IMO. 7/4 Shoreline, Fire Eye'd Boy and Windsurfing Nation are awesome songs, but beyond that, this album is a major let down. I'm not giving up on this band, though. I wish they'd do something that sounds like Feel Good Lost, but with vocals.
6. Death Cab for Cutie - Plans
Speaking of giving up on bands, if their next album pretty much sucks too, that's what I'm doing. Not since The Photo Album has this band put out anything that great to me, so maybe I already should since 2001 was a long time ago. I still give them credit since they're the only "emo" band I can really tolerate and respect - even if the songs suck now.
7. Foo Fighters - In Your Honor
It's time to throw in the frontman towel, Dave (even though you won't). You should've just singed on as the full time drummer for Queens of the Stone Age, a band that only the first two Foo Fighters albums can compete with. Their live show has everything going for it but your talent in the rhythm section. Stop making shitty songs and play the drums for a good band again. PLEASE.
8. Oasis - Don't Believe the Truth
...because this album sucks. A lot.
Band of the year:
(This basically means you could have discovered a band that has been around for years, and listened to all of their albums - even if they've released nothing this year, it's new to you.)
This year it would have to be My Bloody Valentine. I used to hate them a couple years ago, then I was a bit indifferent about their music, and now, while I still only listen to Isn't Anything and Loveless, they're more unique than a string of probably 10 albums put out by most other bands. MBV is one of the most influential bands when it comes to alternative and even prog rock in many cases, but they never ever get the credit for it. For that alone MBV is my band of the year. Please Kevin Shields, release everything to us finally, and get back in the studio.
Show of the year:
Sadly, I can't put anything here. But I'd like to think seeing QOTSA/NiN would be awesome.
Looking forward to seeing everyone's favorite albums.
HAVE/ARE REQUESTING IS INTENDED TO BE DISTRIBUTED IN THAT WAY***
Well, it's getting to be that time again. For me personally, 2005 has been an awesome year for music and I've listened to a lot.
I'm keeping my part simple:
-List your favorite albums, explanations for why you like them are of course optional.
-Anything is welcome to be posted... don't think that just because a lot of us listen to different music that you shouldn't post anything. Seriously. It could be what is widely viewed as here as mainstream garbage, but if you like it, go ahead and post it. But if you think the latest most obscure indie band that 5 people have heard of is good, do the same. Anything goes.
-We can all have opinions on what other people list or may have to say about particular artists and albums, please don't get too personal about it. Don't get me wrong, you can be a critic if you want. But don't do something ridiculous like devote your entire post to three paragraphs totally ripping apart a band (and more specifically, someone's opinion of that band/artist/album). Discussion and arguments over music is always interesting, so I'm not saying to refrain, but at least show some respect.
-Keep the thread alive! Just because you're done posting your albums doesn't mean you aren't allowed to comment on what other people have said, just show respect as I mentioned before. I know that in 2003, Darkshire was kind enough to sticky the topic until late December/early January, and if another GAF admin could do the same that would be great. Either way, some people may be ready to list everything or nearly everything at this point. Some might not want to list until next week, others until the final couple of weeks of next month, some not until January when they've literally had the chance to hear EVERYTHING that came out.
Also note that Lambtron might have a few things to contribute to the thread. If you have any ideas, PM one of us.
And with that being said, GAF AOTY 2005 discussion is in session.
My picks...
AOTY: None. Of the 10 I listed for AOTY material, I could easily pick one for AOTY today but a different one for tomorrow. I see this as a good thing.
AOTY Material (no particular order):
1. The White Stripes - Get Behind Me Satan
Lots of fans seem turned off based on reviews and Internet chatter, but I don't get it. "Do something different instead of the same riffs," they said. So they did! Meg, despite her being an average minimalist drummer at best, did change up her rhythm for this album. And Jack has definitely branched out as well. The Nurse is a melodic psychedelic mess (in a good way), My Doorbell and The Denial Twist sounds like Motown, Litte Ghost exposes the Stripes' western influences more than ever before, and Instinct Blues does the same, but for their approach to the blues instead. It's widespread (for them) and stripped down but all the more unique at the same time as well. I don't see what all the fuss is about, because as far as I'm concerned this band still manages to amaze after they've put out five albums. Any other frontman would totally ruin the approach by now - it's amazing how Jack White manages to keep things interesting after using the same formula for many songs up to this point. But as I said, there are exceptions, and that's what people wanted.
2. Doves - Some Cities
The production values are brilliant, the music is beautiful, overall the whole album is just a great, great listen. It's really hard to explain not the way these songs sound, but the way they feel. It's definitely that kind of album - it has a certain type of atmosphere to it and it builds on it with every track. Black and White Town is a beautiful classy piano driven song that sounds like something out of the 30's or 40's brought back to life. Snowden and The Storm sound like a dream brought into reality - and it's worth mentioning that The Storm also sounds like something from 60-70 years ago revived and put into something modern. It makes for really cool, classy, powerful songs. One of These Days starts out as something dreamy as well, but quickly builds into a really good yet simplistic melody. Coldplay could learn a lot from these guys. Really though, Some Cities overall is a really memorable album and I love the way it sounds. It was a great way to start off the year.
3. The New Pornographers - Twin Cinema
I love this band, I just got into them this year. The songs themselves are simple but extremely catchy, and the beautiful layered vocal melodies really bring out the best in all aspects of what the band is trying to do. Use It, The Bleeding Heart Show, Jackie Dressed in Cobras (to be honest, one of the best melodies I've ever heard in a song, and the piano sounds great too), My Street, and Stacked Crooked are awesome. Hell, the whole album is awesome. It's catchy from start to finish. Sometimes that's all that matters. It just depends on the type of music and approach.
4. Sleater-Kinney - The Woods
The Donnas, The Vines, Jet, all of these bands don't even come close to matching what this band is capabile of. Every time I hear someone talking about those bands or read about them in magazines I can't help but think to say "Sleater-Kinney has them beat." It's lo fi, powerful, loud, melodic, meaningful, political, crazy... there are 100 ways to describe this record. They know exactly what they're doing, and they will probably make awesome albums for years to come.
5. Jimmy Chamberlin Complex - Life Begins Again
The quintessential 90's rock drummer that would make you think he had eight arms at times makes his solo debut. While a lot of the vocal songs are lacking, the instrumentals -- specifically, the jazzy, fast-paced Streetcrawler and Owed to Darryl, the moody and very progressive fusion tracks P.S.A. and Cranes of Prey, and even the more simple songs like Life Begins Again and Love is Real are good enough to keep the album as AOTY material. "Lullabye" featuring Bill Medley of the Righteous Brothers is perhaps the most unlikely contribution to the album, but it's still a respectable contribution regardless, even if it doesn't really go with the flow of the album. As the band said, if Bill Medley says he wants to do a song with you, you don't say no. Chamberlin once again proves that he is an amazing drummer capabile of taking on many different approaches (LBA's most intense tracks are typically much more jazzy than anything he did in the Pumpkins and Zwan), and he has a really talented band. The addition of Gannin Arnold, a local Jazz rock legend in LA, should make the band's next album even better, or just as good at the very worst. I do hope Jimmy saves his best new tricks for the next Pumpkins album that we all know will be out sometime this decade.
This is a fantastic debut from an awesome band that I hope to see live someday. Can't wait for the next album, which should be out early next year according to Jimmy.6. And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead - Worlds Apart
I know that a lot of people who listened to this album were really let down, because it's not Source Tags & Codes. I'd rather have something different than a rehash, though. It's a bit more polished than their last, but if their live show is an indication, they're lightyears behind the producer that sprinkled some magic dust on the band's playing in the studio. Live, I unfortunately hear a band that is falling apart, so I'll just focus on the album. Trail of Dead does a really good job of sounding very punk to somewhat progressive in just a few songs. "Worlds Apart" is a perfect anthem for the state of the country, but in a Clear Channel dominated radio industry, the world will never know if it unfortunately. After the first six tracks, the album goes from punk to a bit prog. Let it Dive, To Russia My Homeland and All White really show off a side of Trail of Dead that we've never heard before. Perhaps the most progressive of their work. The Best and The Lost City of Refuge aren't too far behind.
7. Beck - Guero
What is there not to love about Guero? This is definitely better than his previous release, Sea Change. Qué Onda Guero and especially Hell Yes show that you don't have to be a rapper to have good beats and rhymes. Hell Yes, by the way, has one of the most addicting beats I've ever heard in any song, period. Songs like Girl and Scarecrow show off Beck's more crafty but poppy side when it comes to structuring a song. Missing and Earthquake Weather really have a certain attitude and atmosphere to them that's really brought out by Beck's creative studio genius. A really fun and enjoyable album. Any artist that thinks they are the master of crafting beats should listen to this album first. I can't believe people still buy into stuff like Eminem. That's supposed to be a good beat?
8. Oceansize - Everyone into Position
If we were living in the mid-90's right now, bands like Soundgarden, Smashing Pumpkins and even Rage Against the Machine (if only for their unique approach to the guitar) would have some serious competition from this british rock monster of a band. Everyone into Position is progressive in every sense of the word musically, and they expand on this idea by not only their approach to playing, but HOW they play is so different across the whole album. This band goes from playing skillfully coated pop made up of some really loud, aggressive guitars and beautiful layered vocals underneath ("Heaven Alive"), to a full on metal assault ("A Homage to A Shame"). "Meredith" calms things down a bit, then on they go to ambient noise rock that sounds like a cross between Massive Attack and My Bloody Valentine ("Music For a Nurse"). "New Pin" basically sticks with the ambient idea, but takes a completely different approach as it's at a much faster pace and with more guitars and less noise. "No Tomorrow" is a mostly groovy and melodic song, perhaps the least sophisticated of the album. After this, the beginning of the end ("Mine Host"), starts, an extremely calm, dreamy, ambient song that the band described as the beginning of a "Church Suite." It then builds into "You Can't Keep a Bad Man Down," which is one of Oceansize's best songs to date. A bassy guitar drop brings in a legion of guitars with profound emphasis on intensity and melody of the riff. It really shows off the band's triple guitar attack and their talent. It gets a little quiet halfway through, then explodes into a sound that consists of extremely loud but beautifully textured guitars that eventually make order out of chaos and finish off the song. And the final song, "Ornament/The Last Wrongs," is like a cross between metal, spiritual and choir music. It's REALLY unique and one hell of a way to end an already amazing album. Oceansize is one of the best bands making music today and they don't get any recognition.
9. Queens of the Stone Age - Lullabies to Paralyze
Speaking of the mid-90's, there's no DOUBT this band would be on top of the world if they came out with Songs for the Deaf and their latest, Lullabies to Paralyze, back then. While they're still very popular, there's no doubting that their sound is now closer to being more of an acquired taste instead of something that would have been more or less instant. To put it simply, the album rocks, grooves, and can get pretty weird at times. Songs like "Tangled Up in Plaid" and "Someone's in the Wolf" are perhaps two of the band's full on darkest songs to date. "In My Head" and "Little Sister" are poppy Queens of the Stone Age at their best. "I Never Came" is likely QOTSA's most mellow song to date, and it's something they should do more often as they realize they now have over three albums with a balls to the wall approach to rocking on many many songs. "You Got a Killer Scene There, Man..." is a very groovy, dirty, hypnotic jam. Overall, it's just a great, great album and perhaps better than Songs for the Deaf.
10. Supergrass - Road to Rouen
Nine songs of perfection. Tales of Endurance definitely shows that the band can be progressive when they want to, and they do it well. St. Petersburg is mellow bliss, and not to mention, I've given this song more plays than probably any other this year. SOTY!
Road to Rouen is traditional britrock with a slight touch of prog, Kick in the Teeth is a powerful guitar-driven song, Low C is somewhat folky but also has a great layered piano and guitar sound to it. There's not much else to say other than it's simple, but also a very unique, melodic, and memorable album.11. Serena-Maneesh - Serena-Maneesh
I just started listening to this so I can't give a detailed review, but this album is outstanding and definitely AOTY material. Wow.
Good albums (no particular order):
Fiona Apple - Extraordinary Machine
I'll forgive her for turning her back on somewhat better versions of songs. And in some cases, superior versions of songs (Oh Well comes to mind - completely ruined). This would probably be AOTY material to me if she would have just left the original recording alone, but thankfully, the final product is still good. But it could have been so much better, Fiona. And your most interested fans know this. These poor people wanted to "free" Fiona of some nearly nonexistant corporate struggle.
Sufjan Stevens - Illinois
The Mars Volta - Frances the Mute
Radiohead - Me and This Army (rap remixes)
It's unofficial, but I love it. Who would've ever thought people would be rapping over songs like My Iron Lung and I Will, and the computer voice that did Fitter Happier singing (well, talking) along to a remix of Creep? Brilliant. Plus, it having De La Soul doesn't just make this any underground rap release.
Billy Corgan - TheFutureEmbrace
Billy's best commerical work since Adore. Machina 2 doesn't count because it's free - if it did, TFE would not be his best. News of a SP reunion and Jimmy Chamberlin hinting at a new album before a possible Pumpkins reunion interests me more in Pumpkinland. This was a good album, as quite a few tracks owe a lot to My Bloody Valentine. Outside of that, the songs are still really cool. Mina Loy is a fantastic song, I can't believe Zwan crap like "Honestly" was able to get on the radio and MTV... but somehow, this song didn't stand a chance. I don't even think it had a video. A100 is gloomy bliss. DIA is beautiful noise. I'm Ready really does seem to capitalize on the meshing of noise rock, electronica, and other ambient things that the album was trying to show off. Pretty Pretty Star reminds me of asian pop for some reason. I really liked this album, but Billy has done better and is capabile of doing better. He knows that, too. Still, an awesome effort and one that makes Corgan all the more diverse as an artist and frontman.
NIN - With Teeth
Forgot about this one. Reznor is getting a bit rusty but it's still a good effort overall IMO. This seems to be love/hate for most people, but I'm caught in between.
Gorillaz - Demon Days
It's fun, the songs are skillfully crafted; it's Gorillaz, dammit. Not much else to say other than it's a solid album.
My Morning Jacket - Z
I was hoping for something as good as It Still Moves, but that's hard for anyone to top - even the same band. Well, most of them are still there. It's still a good album regardless.
Stars - Set Yourself on Fire
Well, the official US release was 2005 and I didn't hear it last year anyway, so I guess this works. Stars finally does something fresh with indie pop. The actual song "Set Yourself on Fire" is brilliant.
Sigur Ros - Takk
A much needed recovery from ( ).
Abandoned Pools - Armed to the Teeth
Crap (no particular order)
1. Coheed & Cambria - Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume One: From Fear Through The Eyes of Madness
Sorry, it does nothing for me. A total bore. The Suffering is good, but uh... there's nothing else there. Coheed & Cambria say they listen to a lot of Rush, and I suggest Coheed fans that haven't should do the same.
2. Coldplay - X&Y.
Hmm, I'll just say it like this:
Parachutes - Great album.
A Rush of Blood to the Head - Acceptable, but the potential to give up on your potential was starting to show. There was an equal amount of possibilty for some really fresh different songs from the band as I saw performed live, but..
X&Y - No dice. Seriously, how can Chris Martin release this crap and live with people (and probably himself) calling his band the next U2? NOT EVEN CLOSE. I think the most exciting thing Chris Martin did in 2005 was play Bittersweet Symphony with Richard Ashcroft at Live 8. Seriously. I don't hate everything about Coldplay; their first album is a classic and their live show in 2003 was definitely worth going to. But I fear for the future of this band's creative output. Something tells me that Chris Martin's new studio is the bank. And exclusively the bank. Of course, he's not stupid (but then again, he either came up with or agreed to name his child APPLE MARTIN), and he knows they can't be the next Radiohead or U2, so maybe it's for the best?
3. Deftones - b-sides and rarities
Uhh, A good chunk of this disc consists of acoustic versions of songs and COVERS. It should be called "Covers, some acoustic stuff, and a few b-sides worthy of being on an official release." Simple Man IS an awesome cover, but come on now, either Deftones have no other b-sides or they're afraid to expose them because they suck more than the ones that are already on there.
4. Metric - Live it Out.
Old World Underground, Where Are you Now this is NOT. I'll leave it at that because I know there are lots of Metric fans here.
5. Broken Social Scene - (self-titled).
WTF? After the amazing You Forgot It In People, this is what we get? They're trying to hard. This might not make sense, but it sounds like overproduced lo fi indie rock, IMO. 7/4 Shoreline, Fire Eye'd Boy and Windsurfing Nation are awesome songs, but beyond that, this album is a major let down. I'm not giving up on this band, though. I wish they'd do something that sounds like Feel Good Lost, but with vocals.
6. Death Cab for Cutie - Plans
Speaking of giving up on bands, if their next album pretty much sucks too, that's what I'm doing. Not since The Photo Album has this band put out anything that great to me, so maybe I already should since 2001 was a long time ago. I still give them credit since they're the only "emo" band I can really tolerate and respect - even if the songs suck now.
7. Foo Fighters - In Your Honor
It's time to throw in the frontman towel, Dave (even though you won't). You should've just singed on as the full time drummer for Queens of the Stone Age, a band that only the first two Foo Fighters albums can compete with. Their live show has everything going for it but your talent in the rhythm section. Stop making shitty songs and play the drums for a good band again. PLEASE.
8. Oasis - Don't Believe the Truth
...because this album sucks. A lot.
Band of the year:
(This basically means you could have discovered a band that has been around for years, and listened to all of their albums - even if they've released nothing this year, it's new to you.)
This year it would have to be My Bloody Valentine. I used to hate them a couple years ago, then I was a bit indifferent about their music, and now, while I still only listen to Isn't Anything and Loveless, they're more unique than a string of probably 10 albums put out by most other bands. MBV is one of the most influential bands when it comes to alternative and even prog rock in many cases, but they never ever get the credit for it. For that alone MBV is my band of the year. Please Kevin Shields, release everything to us finally, and get back in the studio.
Show of the year:
Sadly, I can't put anything here. But I'd like to think seeing QOTSA/NiN would be awesome.
Looking forward to seeing everyone's favorite albums.
