My Top 10 Albums of 2005 - With links to selected tracks

[Jack of Arcades]

Here are (more or less) my top 10 albums of the year, with a link to download one of the best/shortest/most accesible song off the album. This is not a thread to namedrop obscure indie artists but a thread to try and recommend some music. Everyone is encouraged to join, as long as the album is from 2005. This isn't just for me to give you music, though, but for me to get some as well.

I left out Sufjan, NIN, The White Stripes, and Bloc Party because I think everyone's heard those by now, but go ahead and link songs to them if you feel like - as long as it's from 2005 and you list the artist and album first. I'll seriously download any song posted as long as it meets the previous criteria.

1. Architecture in Helsinki - In Case We Die (Maybe You Can Owe Me (http://rapidshare.de/files/4879457/05_-_Maybe_You_Can_Owe_Me.mp3.html)) - An amazing a beautiful pop song.
2. Sage Francis - A Healthy Distrust (Slow Down Gandhi (http://rapidshare.de/files/4880308/14_-_Slow_Down_Gandhi.mp3.html)) - A political rap song, Sage Francis shows his mastery of the English language.
3. The New Pornographers - Twin Cinema (Use It (http://rapidshare.de/files/4881570/03_-_Use_It.mp3.html)) - Kickass pop/rock song from an indie supergroup.
4. M.I.A. - Arular (Bingo (http://rapidshare.de/files/4881699/07_-_Bingo.mp3.html)) - great production on this song sung by a sri-lanka-via-london vocalist.

MORE TO COME AS I UPLOAD THEM

[Jack of Arcades]

5. Sleater-Kinney - The Woods (Wilderness (http://rapidshare.de/files/4882066/02_-_Wilderness.mp3.html)) - probably the hardest band I listen to on a regular basis, which is ironic because they're a 3-piece female band. still catchy as all hell.

[Jack of Arcades]

6. Spoon - Gimme Fiction (The Two Sides of Monsieur Valentine (http://rapidshare.de/files/4882138/02_-_The_Two_Sides_Of_Monsieur_Valentine.mp3.html)) - more indie rock, spoon's the best rock group on the planet right now.

[Soul Daddy]

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1. Architecture in Helsinki - In Case We Die

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I concur. This album needs more OOT love.

[Soul Daddy]

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spoon's the best rock group on the planet right now.

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You're on fire.

[Jack of Arcades]

7. Annie - Anniemal (Me Plus One (http://rapidshare.de/files/4882252/04_-_Me_Plus_One.mp3.html)) - really good pop/dance music. there's no shame in liking it!

[Homer]

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6. Spoon - Gimme Fiction (The Two Sides of Monsieur Valentine (http://rapidshare.de/files/4882138/02_-_The_Two_Sides_Of_Monsieur_Valentine.mp3.html)) - more indie rock, spoon's the best rock group on the planet right now.

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Not bad. They need a different lead singer, though.

[istewart]

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6. Spoon - Gimme Fiction (The Two Sides of Monsieur Valentine (http://rapidshare.de/files/4882138/02_-_The_Two_Sides_Of_Monsieur_Valentine.mp3.html)) - more indie rock, spoon's the best rock group on the planet right now.

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"Happy Jack" please.

[smokingrobot]

when MIA came to philly she was about 2.5 hours late to getting on stage.

i was pissed.

[smokingrobot]

the single off that album is great.

[Jack of Arcades]

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6. Spoon - Gimme Fiction (The Two Sides of Monsieur Valentine (http://rapidshare.de/files/4882138/02_-_The_Two_Sides_Of_Monsieur_Valentine.mp3.html)) - more indie rock, spoon's the best rock group on the planet right now.

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"Happy Jack" please.

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Do you mean Sister Jack?

I Summon You is my #2 on the album, I'm about to upload that one.

[Soul Daddy]

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6. Spoon - Gimme Fiction (The Two Sides of Monsieur Valentine (http://rapidshare.de/files/4882138/02_-_The_Two_Sides_Of_Monsieur_Valentine.mp3.html)) - more indie rock, spoon's the best rock group on the planet right now.

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Not bad. They need a different lead singer, though.

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Britt Daniel is incredible.

[smokingrobot]

it is damn good. heard about 4 tracks from it, def. gonna pick it up sometime.

[Jack of Arcades]

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6. Spoon - Gimme Fiction (The Two Sides of Monsieur Valentine (http://rapidshare.de/files/4882138/02_-_The_Two_Sides_Of_Monsieur_Valentine.mp3.html)) - more indie rock, spoon's the best rock group on the planet right now.

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Not bad. They need a different lead singer, though.

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I disagree, I have a heterosexual mancrush on Britt Daniels.

[Homer]

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6. Spoon - Gimme Fiction (The Two Sides of Monsieur Valentine (http://rapidshare.de/files/4882138/02_-_The_Two_Sides_Of_Monsieur_Valentine.mp3.html)) - more indie rock, spoon's the best rock group on the planet right now.

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Not bad. They need a different lead singer, though.

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I disagree, I have a heterosexual mancrush on Britt Daniels.

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No offense intended, just different tastes. It's actually probably a good sign that I don't like him. I'm becoming an old fart. If I liked him, you'd be in trouble.

[Jack of Arcades]

8. Stars - Set Yourself On Fire (Ageless Beauty (http://rapidshare.de/files/4882384/04_-_Ageless_Beauty.mp3.html)) - dual vocalist (male and female) pop group, they finally learned how to rock the [censored] out on Set Yourself on Fire and it couldn't be better.

[smokingrobot]

hey very nice selection btw.

how 'bout Menomena - I am the fun blamemonster

i might put that in my top 10... or at least my top 20.

[Jack of Arcades]

Nah, not offended. I appreciate you trying new stuff.

Seriously, if you got anything from this year at all, go ahead and upload it at rapidshare.de

[Jack of Arcades]

Special Bonus Song for #6

Spoon - Gimme Fiction (I Summon You (http://rapidshare.de/files/4882482/07_-_I_Summon_You.mp3.html)

[Jack of Arcades]

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hey very nice selection btw.

how 'bout Menomena - I am the fun blamemonster

i might put that in my top 10... or at least my top 20.

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I love that menomena album, but it's not 2005... heh.

[Soul Daddy]

My favorite from The New Pornographers - Twin Cinema, Streets of Fire (http://rapidshare.de/files/4882429/13_Streets_of_Fire.mp3.html) .

[smokingrobot]

it was 04? damn, my bad.

i picked it up well after the release date.. i just didnt think it was that far.

[Jack of Arcades]

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it was 04? damn, my bad.

i picked it up well after the release date.. i just didnt think it was that far.

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Amazon says sep '04 but I think I had it before then.

[Jack of Arcades]

9. The Boy Least Likely To - The Best Party Ever (Be Gentle With Me (http://rapidshare.de/files/4882598/01_-_Be_Gentle_With_Me.mp3.html)) - Awesome psych pop <insert beach boys ref here>

[smokingrobot]

oh damn thats right.. i remember hearing about it a while back... i only picked it up in like feb or march...

i think it might have been out in early '04... jeez.

[smokingrobot]

this is also back to 04 again, but you wouldnt happen to have Max Richter - the blue notebooks would you?

[Sooga]

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6. Spoon - Gimme Fiction (The Two Sides of Monsieur Valentine (http://rapidshare.de/files/4882138/02_-_The_Two_Sides_Of_Monsieur_Valentine.mp3.html)) - more indie rock, spoon's the best rock group on the planet right now.

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"Happy Jack" please.

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Do you mean Sister Jack?

I Summon You is my #2 on the album, I'm about to upload that one.

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Haha, that's funny..... I love that album, but those two tracks are near the bottom of the list of the tracks I liked. My personal favorites are 'they never got you' and 'the beast and dragon adored'

[Jack of Arcades]

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this is also back to 04 again, but you wouldnt happen to have Max Richter - the blue notebooks would you?

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Sure do. Very great minimalistic intrumentation, truly fragile and truly beautiful.

[istewart]

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6. Spoon - Gimme Fiction (The Two Sides of Monsieur Valentine (http://rapidshare.de/files/4882138/02_-_The_Two_Sides_Of_Monsieur_Valentine.mp3.html)) - more indie rock, spoon's the best rock group on the planet right now.

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"Happy Jack" please.

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Do you mean Sister Jack?

I Summon You is my #2 on the album, I'm about to upload that one.

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Yeah I'm an idiot. Good choice with ISY.

[lucas9000]

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4. M.I.A. - Arular (Bingo (http://rapidshare.de/files/4881699/07_-_Bingo.mp3.html)) - great production on this song sung by a sri-lanka-via-london vocalist.

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bucky done gun is my favorite off that album.

[Jack of Arcades]

10. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Clap Your Hands Say Yeah (Is This Love? (http://rapidshare.de/files/4882714/07_-_Is_This_Love.mp3.html)) - Probably should've gone to Iron and Wine, but that's an EP so I'm OK with this. Good, catchy abstract pop. It's different from normal but still accessible.

[BusterStacks]

I nominate gay hipster crap for genre of the year.

[Jack of Arcades]

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4. M.I.A. - Arular (Bingo (http://rapidshare.de/files/4881699/07_-_Bingo.mp3.html)) - great production on this song sung by a sri-lanka-via-london vocalist.

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bucky done gun is my favorite off that album.

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Meh. One of my least favorites off of that album.

[Jack of Arcades]

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I nominate gay hipster crap for genre of the year.

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lol, hipster.

[Eurotrash]

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I nominate gay hipster crap for genre of the year.

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LOL you win, buster.

[Jack of Arcades]

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I nominate gay hipster crap for genre of the year.

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lol, hipster.

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Seriously, I'm a huge pop fan. I like catchy music and I've linked to some of the catchiest music of the year in the thread.

[Hamish McBagpipe]

Good stuff there, although I'm mixed about S-Kinney, gets annoying fast I find. You like Sufjan so you might like one of my picks for the year, kind of similiar, more like B&S....Sons and Daughters new album The Repulsion Box and especially their release from last year Love the Cup.

[Jack of Arcades]

I need to get it. DCW was one of my favorites of the past few years.

[private joker]

Everyone seems to have different favorite songs off Twin Cinema.

I think the title track is the best rocker on there -- just intense and catchy and awesome. But the best song on the album is "The Bleeding Heart Show," not just for the way it builds into that sensational "Hey la, hey la" chorus that dominates the third act, but also for the SIIIICK! drum fills that start to pile on top of one another for the final minute. It's the best percussion work from any band this year.

[Jack of Arcades]

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Everyone seems to have different favorite songs off Twin Cinema.

I think the title track is the best rocker on there -- just intense and catchy and awesome. But the best song on the album is "The Bleeding Heart Show," not just for the way it builds into that sensational "Hey la, hey la" chorus that dominates the third act, but also for the SIIIICK! drum fills that start to pile on top of one another for the final minute. It's the best percussion work from any band this year.

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Yeah, the biggest reason Twin Cinema is the best NP album is the vastly improved drums.