Skarface’s favorite albums of 2005
Following in the proud tradition of list-making, I humbly present to you my favorite 15 albums of 2005. Why 15? Because Chris only gave five. People like multiples of 10. So, somebody’s got to clean up his mess, right?
15. Josh Rouse - Nashville
Half the reason I do these things is to tell people about Josh Rouse, so I could hardly leave this off the list. Don’t let the title fool you, this isn’t a country record. Some pedal steel shows up, but the sound here is firmly rooted in 1970s AM radio. Granted, Nashville isn’t quite the pure pop perfection of 1972, but if you like your pop songs heavy on crooning and handclaps, you could do a whole lot worse than Nashville. Best tracks: “Winter in the Hamptons”, “My Love Is Gone”
14. Danger Doom - The Mouse and the Mask
This already showed up in Chris’s list, but I think he was a little bit harsh on our good buddy Daniel Dumile. Yeah, it’s a little bit gimmicky. But Doom needs a theme to stay focused (see: Operation: Doomsday, Vaudeville Villain), and [adult swim] fits the bill. The rhymes are tight, the beats are hot, and all things considered, I’d rather have skits that are actually funny, which Master Shake delivers. Best tracks: “Old School”, “El Chupa Nibre”, “The Mask” (feat. Ghostface!)
13. Architecture in Helsinki - In Case We Die
Disclaimer: If you don’t like toy-box instrumentation and childlike vocals, this isn’t for you. In Case We Die is unequivocally, unabashedly, indie pop. That said, everything about the band is improved from last time out: stronger songwriting, more confident playing, and even less whispery vox. Yeah, it’s sugary-sweet, but everybody can go for some candy once in a while. Best tracks: “Wishbone”, “Maybe You Can Owe Me”
12. Bonnie “Prince” Billy & Matt Sweeney - Superwolf
This album teams up Will Oldham, aka Bonnie “Prince” Billy, playing the role of enigmatic singer/songwriter, and Matt Sweeney, formerly of Zwan and Chavez, occasionally of Guided By Voices, as the itinerant guitar slinger. And that’s it. A spare, haunting gem of a record, Superwolf is Oldham’s best since I See a Darkness. Best tracks: “My Home Is The Sea”, “I Gave You”
11. LCD Soundsystem - LCD Soundsystem
You avid Crapfilterers out there have seen this one before, too. James Murphy, the brains behind LCD Soundsystem, is a genius. You see, he was the first one playing Daft Punk to the rock kids. And much like Daft Punk at their best, Murphy has the unique ability to shut one’s brain off using little more than a hi-hat, a cowbell, and some keys, rendering one useless as anything other than a dancing machine. The style is so pure that it don’t need no stinkin’ substance. The album is pretty good in its own right, but the second disk that comes with it, the singles disk, now that’s where the money is. A pure, sweaty, adrenaline rush of a record. Best tracks: “Daft Punk Is Playing at my House”, “Disco Infiltrator”, anything off the second disc
10. Vitalic - OK Cowboy
I wish I could present some sort of educated discussion about this record. But I can’t be bothered to do the research. Apparently, Vitalic is a French DJ, and he is solely responsible for all the sounds recorded on this particular aluminum disc. Also apparently, it will force any humanoid within listening distance to shake his or her ass. Best tracks: “Poney Part 1”, “My Friend Dario”
9. Antony and the Johnsons - I Am a Bird Now
No mistake about it, in the words of Mr. Kanye West, this is love it or hate it music. I Am a Bird Now sounds less like any other album that came out this year than any other album sounds like any other album, if that makes any sense. This record is all about the vocal stylings of Antony; not to disparage the band, because they provide very capable chamber pop backing, but Antony is center stage, and rightfully so. If he were a woman, this is exactly the type of music that would earn the billing of “chanteuse”; as it is, I don’t know what to call it, other than moving, or great. Best tracks: “Man Is the Baby”, “Fistful of Love”, “Hope There’s Someone”
8. Kanye West - Late Registration
Speaking of Mr. West, here he is. What we know: Kanye West is not afraid to speak his mind. Kanye West may be a few slices short of a loaf. Kanye West is not as great as he thinks he is…then again, no man alive or dead is as great as Kanye thinks he is, so that’s a push. Kanye West is the best producer in the rap game when he wants to be. Jon Brion made him even better. Kanye West is an above-average emcee when he wants to be. Kanye West has yet to put together an entire great album. Half-a-dozen great Kanye tracks are good enough to put him high on my year-end list. What we don’t know: Can Kanye improve his quality control, cut back on skits, and release the truly brilliant album he seems to be groping toward? Best Tracks: “Touch the Sky”, “My Way Home”, “Roses”, “Diamonds from Sierra Leone (Remix)”
7. Common - Be
Here’s Mr. West yet again, this time (mostly) behind the decks, working the beats for his boy from the city of wind, Common Sense. The beats here are classic ‘Ye, soulful and smooth. The more developed sonic palette Jon Brion brought to Late Registration is not in effect here, but that’s no problem, because Common is completely at home, locked into these soul beats. Speaking of Common, he’s showing off once again why he’s an all-timer, totally in the pocket, with a relentless flow delivering educated rhymes. Why does this rank above Late Registration? First, there’s not a misstep on this record, and second, all things being equal, Common over Kanye beats beats Kanye over Kanye beats 8 days a week. Best tracks: “The Corner”, “Go”, “The Food”
6. M83 - Before the Dawn Heals Us
Yes, it’s another singular French DJ. This time it’s Anthony Gonzalez, aka M83, who’s going it alone this time out after giving the other half of M83, Nicholas Fromageau, the boot. But where Vitalic just wants to rock your body, M83 wants to rock your mind. Or something. Before the Dawn Heals Us plays like the soundtrack to the coolest movie that’s never been made. It’s got icy soundscapes, propulsive breakdowns, and cheesy over-emoted voice acting. What more could you ask for? Best tracks: “Let Men Burn Stars”, “Teen Angst”, “*”, “Don’t Save Us From the Flames”
5. Jamie Lidell - Multiply
The label says it was released on Warp in 2005, but it sounds more like it belongs on Stax 30 years ago. Jamie Lidell takes some time off from beats and breaks to release not just the finest blue-eyed soul record of recent memory, but probably the finest soul record of any stripe. Listen closely, and you’ll get a crash course in the last 40 years of funk and soul: a little Marvin, some Otis, a Prince solo line, some Michael Jackson, a healthy dose of Bootsy, a trip through Sly and the Family Stone, a quick hit of Headhunters, some Victor Wooten (which is really just some old-school funk in its own right, but to these young ears, that’s the first thing I hear), some doo-wop, a little R Kelly…It’s educational, but it goes down smooooooooth. All that, and it could probably get you laid. Best tracks: “When I Come Back Around”, “The City”, “Yougotmeup”, “Multiply”
4. Mäximo Park - A Certain Trigger
Mäximo Park will likely be linked in perpetuity with Bloc Party, Kaiser Chiefs, and The Futureheads. All are British, all embrace their adorable accents, and all are the proud parents of danceable power-pop/rock albums that were released in the year 2005. (Well, technically, the Futureheads’ album came out in 2004, but since the “Hounds of Love” single was released this year, I’m willing to stretch the truth a little.) That said, Mäximo Park is the leader of the pack right now. Better lyrics, more inventive song structures, and tight, precise playing make A Certain Trigger not just the best record to come out of the British school of the now-fading dancepunk craze, but one of the very best records of the year. Best tracks: You can’t really go wrong, but “The Coast Is Always Changing”, “Signal and Sign”, “Apply Some Pressure”, “Acrobat”, and “Postcard of a Painting” are particularly good.
3. Sufjan Stevens - Illinois
Another Sufjan Stevens record, another high place on the year-end lists of indie nerds everywhere. This one’s a little different, though: Sufjan’s embracing the freedom his consistent brilliance has afforded him, and as a result the orchestration is noticeably more lush than his previous records. In particular, virtually every track has horns, strings, and backing vocals, and the percussion is stronger than it’s ever been before. Still intact, though, is Sufjan’s knack for writing winning, whimsical lyrics; this time, as the title suggests, he takes the listener on a strange trip through the myth and mythos of Illinois. Lovers of the more somber, banjo-and-voice Sufjan (as this reviewer is) might be a little bit off-put at first by his new sound on this record, but at its best, the songs are as strong as ever. At this rate, we may have to wait another 96 years to hear the end of his musical exploration of the 50 states (assuming we don’t add or lose any in the interim), but even if that’s the case, music lovers should set aside a shelf in anticipation, and music reviewers should be thankful, because we’re going to be able to pencil him in for one of the best albums every year until he (or we) can’t do it any more. Best tracks: “John Wayne Gacy, Jr.”, “Jacksonville”, “Casimir Pulaski Day”
2. Sigur Rós - Takk…
Takk… is the fourth full-length from everyone’s favorite (or second favorite, depending how much you like Björk) Icelandic musicians, and if you’ve heard any of the others, you pretty much know what you’re getting into. That said, Takk… combines the pastoral melodies of Agaetis Byrjun with the primal bass and percussion of ( ) to create the most coherent, powerful, and interesting Sigur Rós album to date. Also, I’m told that the lyrics are in Icelandic this time out, not “Hopelandic”, but it’s not as if I could tell the difference either way. Best tracks: “Sæglópur”, “Hoppípolla”, “Gong”
1. The Hold Steady - Separation Sunday
Craig Finn, the frontman of the Hold Steady, is the Jesse Custer of rock. He’s cooler, he’s smarter, he parties harder, he gets more chicks and kicks more ass than you or anyone else you know. And he’s bringing The Word. And he’s backed by what would be the greatest bar band in the land, if they deigned to lower their sights on that crown. Imagine the E-Street band, but half drunk and twice as fun. The Hold Steady weave a tale of hoodrats, the fall, and redemption, backed by ten tons of swagger, a pocketful of groove, and enough guitar (courtesy of Tad Kubler) to restore your faith in the axe. This is the most relevant, most interesting, and yes, the best album of the year. Best tracks: “Stevie Nix”, “Hornets! Hornets!”, “Cattle and the Creeping Things”, “How a Resurrection Really Feels”
December 30th, 2005 at 2:54 pm
What the? I’ve never heard any of the above artists before. Is this the top ten country music albums or what???
December 31st, 2005 at 9:10 pm
Common and Kanye are TOTALLY country!