Best albums of 2005, A to Z

[uw_madtown]

I'm bored and the last time an A to Z music thread came up, it seemed that I found out about more bands than in the usual "who's the best" threads, because it can be a stretch to find answers for the harder letters.

Flexibility on filling letters is welcome -- band name, album name, or in the case of a solo artist, first or last name. Drop "the" from band/album names if you want. Here's my try at it...

Animal Collective - Feels
Bright Eyes - I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Dangerdoom - The Mouse and the Mask
Edan - Beauty and the Beat
Fatlip - The Loneliest Punk
The Go! Team - Thunder Lightning Strike (US release)
The Hold Steady - Separation Sunday
Illinois by Sufjan Stevens
Junior Senior - Hey Hey My My Yo Yo
Kanye West - Late Registration
LCD Soundsystem - LCD Soundsystem
MIA - Arular
The National - Alligator
Okkervil River - Black Sheep Boy
Picaresque by The Decemberists
Queens of the Stone Age - Lullabies to Paralyze
The Runners Four by Deerhoof
Spoon - Gimme Fiction
Twin Cinema by The New Pornographers
U - ?? couldn't come up with one /images/graemlins/frown.gif
Various Artists - Stubbs the Zombie Soundtrack
Wolf Parade - Apologies to the Queen Mary
X -- ?? couldn't come up with one /images/graemlins/frown.gif
You Have No Idea How Much Fun We're Having by Atmosphere
Z by My Morning Jacket

Hardest Letters for me:
A - left out Anniemal by Annie, I Am A Bird Now by Antony and the Johnsons, and Fiona Apple's Extraordinary Machine

B - left out Black Mountain's self-titled album, Andrew Bird's The Mysterious Production of Eggs, Bloc Party's Silent Alarm and Broken Social Scene's self-titled album

S - left out Sigur Ros' Takk.. and both System of a Down albums

[starvs]

The only thing I came in here thinking was Edan's Beauty And The Beat and I was 100% it wouldn't be mentioned in the first post. But it was, so I've got nothing to add.

It's the best CD of the year by far. (I only listen to Hip-Hop)

-starvs

[Senor Cardgage]

As for X, did Xiu Xiu release anything this year?

[uw_madtown]

In the quick list I whipped up to draw from, Edan was the only "E" in the list. I could have moved Extraordinary Machine by Fiona Apple there, but I liked Edan better (although I've only listened to each two or three times). It's a good album.

[rgreenm90]

There's a grammy-nominated album from a group that starts with U. Take a break from avoiding the mainstream and check it out some time, its pretty good.

[uw_madtown]

[ QUOTE ]
As for X, did Xiu Xiu release anything this year?

[/ QUOTE ]

I believe so, but I haven't gotten in Xiu Xiu yet. Probably should, I hear good things.

[CallMeIshmael]

[ QUOTE ]
In the quick list I whipped up to draw from, Edan was the only "E" in the list. I could have moved Extraordinary Machine by Fiona Apple there, but I liked Edan better (although I've only listened to each two or three times). It's a good album.

[/ QUOTE ]

EP - Fiery Furnaces.

How do you not like them?

[Senor Cardgage]

[ QUOTE ]
There's a grammy-nominated album from a group that starts with U. Take a break from avoiding the mainstream and check it out some time, its pretty good.

[/ QUOTE ]

It should be noted that the Grammies tend to celebrate [censored].

I haven't bothered to hear the new U2 album, though.

[uw_madtown]

[ QUOTE ]
There's a grammy-nominated album from a group that starts with U. Take a break from avoiding the mainstream and check it out some time, its pretty good.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm assuming you mean U2. I like older U2 albums, but their new one was very mediocre IMO. Not good enough to make a Best Of list, even just to fill a letter.

[Eurotrash]

Neutral Milk Hotel and the Arcade Fire are conspicuously absent.


how about doing this list again with some bands that people have actually heard of?


edit: YEAH YEAH I know those albums are probably from 2004

[rgreenm90]

I liked a lot, actually--best since Joshua tree. Vertigo is by far the worst song on the album though, so people get the wrong impression.

[uw_madtown]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
In the quick list I whipped up to draw from, Edan was the only "E" in the list. I could have moved Extraordinary Machine by Fiona Apple there, but I liked Edan better (although I've only listened to each two or three times). It's a good album.

[/ QUOTE ]

EP - Fiery Furnaces.

How do you not like them?

[/ QUOTE ]

Meh. I liked Edan better than this too. And I liked Fatlip's album better for the F category too. I dunno, maybe giving EP and Blueberry Boat another few chances wouldn't hurt, they're pretty dense stuff.

Get to work on a list, I want to see yours.

[uw_madtown]

[ QUOTE ]
Neutral Milk Hotel and the Arcade Fire are conspicuously absent.


how about doing this list again with some bands that people have actually heard of?

[/ QUOTE ]

Neither released an album this year, although NMH's In the Aeroplane Over the Sea was re-released I think.

Instead of getting into an indie vs. mainstream girlfight, why don't you (or someone else, whoever) submit a more mainstream A-Z list?

[Senor Cardgage]

[ QUOTE ]
Neutral Milk Hotel and the Arcade Fire are conspicuously absent.


how about doing this list again with some bands that people have actually heard of?


edit: YEAH YEAH I know those albums are probably from 2004

[/ QUOTE ]

I've seen your hate for indie stuff so I know you're just f***in' around, but Neutral Milk Hotel hasn't released a new album in years.

[CallMeIshmael]

[ QUOTE ]
I dunno, maybe giving EP and Blueberry Boat another few chances wouldn't hurt, they're pretty dense stuff.

[/ QUOTE ]

Definitely. Oddly enough, blueberry boat is one of the few modern albums I really love and also liked the first time through. (ITAOTS, Kid A, OKC, Funeral, YHF, and many others I disliked/hated my first time)

[ QUOTE ]
Get to work on a list, I want to see yours.

[/ QUOTE ]

Obviously, (though it will be tomorrow morning)


Finally, thoughts on this (not just to will):

Really dont like Slanted and Enchanted / CRCR, but I just picked up American Water and REALLY like it. Anyone else?

[CallMeIshmael]

[ QUOTE ]
Neutral Milk Hotel and the Arcade Fire are conspicuously absent.

[/ QUOTE ]

[ QUOTE ]
noob

[/ QUOTE ]

[Eurotrash]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Neutral Milk Hotel and the Arcade Fire are conspicuously absent.


how about doing this list again with some bands that people have actually heard of?


edit: YEAH YEAH I know those albums are probably from 2004

[/ QUOTE ]

I've seen your hate for indie stuff so I know you're just f***in' around, but Neutral Milk Hotel hasn't released a new album in years.

[/ QUOTE ]


it's not hate, homeboy. I'm just jopking.


and why hasn't NMH released an album recently? is that the hip indie thing for bands to do? just rest on their laurels and wallow in obscurity?

[David04]

O-One Be Lo-S.O.N.O.G.R.A.M.

[uw_madtown]

[ QUOTE ]
and why hasn't NMH released an album recently? is that the hip indie thing for bands to do? just rest on their laurels and wallow in obscurity?

[/ QUOTE ]

Of course. If you release another album after the perfection that is ItAOtS, then the hip indie critics will have to do their hip indie backlash thing saying that your follow-up isn't as good as the last album. /images/graemlins/smirk.gif

So, better to leave 'em wanting.

[CallMeIshmael]

[ QUOTE ]
and why hasn't NMH released an album recently? is that the hip indie thing for bands to do? just rest on their laurels and wallow in obscurity?

[/ QUOTE ]

He has basically fallen off the earth.

A mental breakdown resulted in ITAOTS, their last album in 1998. He put out this really weird bulgarian music CD sometime later. Then, there was a while there where people couldnt even confirm that he was alive. He appeared with OTC earlier this year for a 1 show thing. But, then went back into hiding.

[kenberman]

this list looks a lot like this list (http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/top/2005/) , organized differently

[uw_madtown]

[ QUOTE ]
this list looks a lot like this list (http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/top/2005/) , organized differently

[/ QUOTE ]

Pitchfork's list has a lot of really stupidly ranked albums on it. But as usual, they're 40% BS, 60% awesome.

[istewart]

Is EP better than Blueberry Boat?

[xorbie]

X&Y for X.

[GuyOnTilt]

Because the US release of Thunder Lightning Strike butchered the awesomeness that is Huddle Formation (still good obv, but not nearly as much so), I'd sub in Gimme Fiction for G and put in Strange Geometry for S. Awesome, awesome album. I'd personally sub in I Am a Bird Now for I (not big on Sufjan) and put in Doves' Some Cities for D too, but just glancing those are the only changes that immediately pop to mind. Oh, and X&Y for X. Can't think of anything quick for U.

GoT

[Tron]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
this list looks a lot like this list (http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/top/2005/) , organized differently

[/ QUOTE ]

Pitchfork's list has a lot of really stupidly ranked albums on it. But as usual, they're 40% BS, 60% awesome.

[/ QUOTE ]

I am surprised that they actually have some rap on there that's not totally for nerds (COUGHDANGERDOOMCOUGH). Cam'ron? WTF?

EDIT: This is definitely a good thing.

[Tron]

A - American Idiot by Green Day
B - Breakaway by Kelly Clarkson
C - Ciara, Goodies
D - Destiny Fulfilled by Destiny's Child
E - Encore by Eminem
F - 50 Cent, The Massacre
G - The Game, The Documentary
H - Honkytonk University by Toby Keith
I - In Between Dreams by Jack Johnson
J - John Mayer, Heavier Things
K - The Killers, Hot Fuss
L - Ludacris, The Red Light District
M - Mariah Carey, The Emancipation of Mimi
N - Nelly, Suit
O - Out of Exile by Audioslave
P - Powerballin' by Chingy
Q - ???
R - R. Kelly, TP.3 Reloaded
S - Snoop Dogg, R&G
T - Tim McGraw, Live Like You Were Dying
U - Urban Legend by T.I.
V - Velvet Revolver, Contraband
W - Who Is Mike Jones? by Mike Jones
X - X&Y by Coldplay
Y - Young Jeezy, Thug Motivation 101
Z - ???

[uw_madtown]

A LOT of those are 2004. I've heard 17 of them, and most weren't that great. Of those that were:

American Idiot - 2004. It'd make the list from that year though.

Encore - 2004. Too many missteps to make a list, but it some tracks were solid.

The Documentary - 2005. I almost put this on instead of The Go! Team. It's solid (and 50's better on this than he is on his own album)

In Between Dreams - Reviewed this, and actually liked it a lot. JJ is enjoyable to listen to. That said, the clog at S meant Sufjan took over the I spot, since that was pretty empty.

Hot Fuss - 2004. And weren't The Killers considered "indie" until "Mr. Brightside" hit the Top 40 radio? I'm not sure, I didn't follow them too closely.

X & Y - Probably could put this on my list in the X spot, although as with U2, not sure it really deserves it. I thought it was a very disappointing effort, and I hear Coldplay has as much as admitted that pressure to put out albums has diluted their work.

Lastly, mainstream country sucks more ass than mainstream pop and rock. :-D

[Skip Brutale]

[ QUOTE ]
As for X, did Xiu Xiu release anything this year?

[/ QUOTE ]

Xiu Xiu released La Foret. Its great.

[chuddo]

antony and the johnsons is completely terrible in my opinion.

my friend hit it on the head when he said he sounds like a transexual or drag queen voice.

overrated tripe. no talent clown.

[xorbie]

i thought i am a bird now was horrible when i first heard it, but love it now, and its only a week later. give it time.

[Emmitt2222]

I like the A-Z thing but I didnt listen to enough in 2005 to make one. Here is a partial a-z list of mainstrean and indie that I liked from 2005.

Breakaway - Kelly Clarkson
Demon Days - Gorillaz
From Under the Corktree - Fall Out Boy
The Go! Team - Thunder Lightning Stike
Illinois - Sufjan Stevens
LCD Soundsystem - LCD Soundsystem
Plans - Death Cab for Cutie
Set Yourself on Fire - Stars
Twin Cinema - The New Pornographers
You Could Have It So Much Better - Franz Ferdinand
Z - My Morning Jacket

Stuff everyone liked and I disliked...
Clap your hands say yeah - CYHSY
EP - Fiery Furnaces

Note: I suck at music

[itsmesteve]

One More "indie" release to throw into the fray at either the E or B spot is Lou Barlow's Emoh. Really good folky singer- songwriter type stuff. Some of the best work Lou has done in ages, imho.

[Tron]

Yeah, the "WTF SUPER-MAINSTREAM EDITION" consists solely of albums and artists lodged firmly in the Top 200 selling albums of 2005. I think I own 3 or 4 of them.

[IndieMatty]

[ QUOTE ]
A LOT of those are 2004. I've heard 17 of them, and most weren't that great. Of those that were:

American Idiot - 2004. It'd make the list from that year though.

Encore - 2004. Too many missteps to make a list, but it some tracks were solid.

The Documentary - 2005. I almost put this on instead of The Go! Team. It's solid (and 50's better on this than he is on his own album)

In Between Dreams - Reviewed this, and actually liked it a lot. JJ is enjoyable to listen to. That said, the clog at S meant Sufjan took over the I spot, since that was pretty empty.

Hot Fuss - 2004. And weren't The Killers considered "indie" until "Mr. Brightside" hit the Top 40 radio? I'm not sure, I didn't follow them too closely.

X & Y - Probably could put this on my list in the X spot, although as with U2, not sure it really deserves it. I thought it was a very disappointing effort, and I hear Coldplay has as much as admitted that pressure to put out albums has diluted their work.

Lastly, mainstream country sucks more ass than mainstream pop and rock. :-D

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, Killers was 2004 and in early 2004 they were Indie and Hipster and all things made fun of...great album however you want to label it.

[CallMeIshmael]

[ QUOTE ]
Is EP better than Blueberry Boat?

[/ QUOTE ]

No (and its not close)

[B Dids]

is MIA somebody different from M.I.A - 'cause listing that [censored] on any list would make me mad.

You could say "Murs and Slug Present Felt 2" and it would be a better option for both M and F.

[zephed]

G-Get Behind Me Satan-The White Stripes

[cwsiggy]

I clearly need to start listening to more internet alternative radio. How I could have missed a band that Bowie and Chris Martin were arguing over who discovered them is beyond me. (Arcade Fire)

[uw_madtown]

[ QUOTE ]
is MIA somebody different from M.I.A - 'cause listing that [censored] on any list would make me mad.

You could say "Murs and Slug Present Felt 2" and it would be a better option for both M and F.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah, I should probably get Felt on there, but I already had Atmosphere on there. And I really liked Fatlip's album.

And stop hating on M.I.A. /images/graemlins/frown.gif

[ QUOTE ]
G-Get Behind Me Satan-The White Stripes

[/ QUOTE ]

Good album (better than other slight missteps like Beck's Guero or Franz Ferdinand's You Could Have It So Much Better)... I could probably put it at G instead of Go! Team, I suppose.

Bump because CMI hasn't posted his list yet, goddamn slacker.

[CallMeIshmael]

[ QUOTE ]
Bump because CMI hasn't posted his list yet, goddamn slacker.

[/ QUOTE ]

Achitecture in Helsink - In case we die
Bright Eyes - I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Deerhoof - Runners Four
EP - Fiery Furnaces
Feels - Animal Collective
Spoon - Gimme Fiction
Hold Steady, The - Seperation Sunday
In the aeroplane over the sea - Neutral milk hotel (HAHAHAHHA they rereleased it!!!!)
Junior Senior - Hey hey my my yoyo
Kicking Television - Wilco
LCD Soundsystem - LCD Soundsystem
Matt Sweeny and Bomnie 'Prince' Billy - Superwolf
The National - Alligator
Okkervil River - Black Sheep Boy
Picaresque by The Decemberists
Queens of the Stone Age - Lullabies to Paralyze
Rolling stones
Sufjan - Illinois
Twin Cinema by The New Pornographers
U2 - HTDATB
Vitalic - ok cowboy
Wolf Parade - Apologies to the Queen Mary
Xiu Xiu - La Foret
YCHISMB - Franz Ferdinand
Z - My Morning Jacket

[nomadtla]

How to dismantle an atomic bomb was released in Nov 2004. A great album none the less.

Additional 2005 releases that would make my list but haven't been listed yet.
Matisyahu - Live at Stubbs (since it's a live performance it may not qualify, but since it's the only major release of his I thought it worth notting. Either way it's one of the best things I've heard all year.)
Foo Fighters - In Your Honor (esspescially the heavier disc)
Garbage - Bleed Like Me (I may even like it more the their first album)
Coheed and Cambria - Good Apollo: I'm Burning Star IV

Ones that have been listed that I wanted to give my vote to as well.
Bright Eyes - I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning
Queens Of The Stone Age - Lullabies to Paralyze
U2 - HTDAAB (If it counts)
White Stripes - Get Behind Me Satan
Green Day - American Idiot
Coldplay - X&Y
Fall Out Boy - From Under The Cork Tree
and unfortunately Kelly Clarkson's Breakaway (which was also a late 2004 release but I liked it /images/graemlins/frown.gif )

I'll deffinately check out some of the others listed.