Re: Best Albums of 2005 - Recommendations
 

Albums from the list that I find underrated:

-LCD Soundsystem, s/t - a great album, including the great 2nd disc of older 7"s and etc. Might not be everyone's aural cup of tea, but a fantastic CD . . . danceable, just ambient enough to be the best top-down nighttime driving album in history, and just lyrical enough to matter.

-Edan, "Beauty and the Beat" - Edan's always been underrated among the boho nerd rap set, and this album combines his intelligent, almost scientific lyrics with production featuring great 60s/70s psychadelia. If you dig tube amps and reverb, plus underground hip hop, this might be your favorite album of all time.

-Bright Eyes, "Wide Awake..." - OK, this one's not underrated at all, but this is probably the best bet for the people asking "where do I start?" from this list. Think of this album as a strange combination of golden age country, modern alt/indie rock, and folk - Oberst's lyrics aren't really for everyone, as they tend toward the vague/obtuse/visceral more than some like. If you're not into the country vibe so much, the older albums (especially "Fevers and Mirrors" and "Lifted..." are a little lighter on the country influence, but are still strongly folk (along with being just, well . . . weird). Nothing that will make you feel manly, and really not uplifting (to be nice), but amazing music.

Albums I didn't really dig:

-Buck 65, "This right here is Buck 65" - I get why this was highly reviewed - it's a novel concept, sort of a weird hybrid of hip hop and dylan/waits stories, with some maudlin sensibility in there. However, it just doesn't deliver - once you get over the novelty, I didn't find a lot of replay value.

(BTW - the obligatory "random CD for cred" would be The Boy Least Likely To - "The best party ever", probably my favorite CD this year)

Re: Best Albums of 2005 - Recommendations
 

[ QUOTE ]
(BTW - the obligatory "random CD for cred" would be The Boy Least Likely To - "The best party ever", probably my favorite CD this year)

[/ QUOTE ]

awesome cd

Re: Best Albums of 2005 - Recommendations
 

[ QUOTE ]
8. Arular by M.I.A.
11. Black Sheep Boy by Okkervil River
12. The Mysterious Production Of Eggs by Andrew Bird
13. Mezmerize by System Of A Down
15. LCD Soundsystem by LCD Soundsystem
16. I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning by Bright Eyes
21. Twin Cinema by The New Pornographers
24. Late Registration by Kanye West
26. Takk... by Sigur Rós
30. Gimme Fiction by Spoon

[/ QUOTE ]

All very good, although not in that order.

The list should also include:

The Mouse and the Mask by DangerDoom
You Can't Imagine How Much Fun We're Having by Atmosphere
You Could Have It So Much Better by Franz Ferdinand
The Weight is a Gift by Nada Surf
Broken Social Scene by Broken Social Scene

Albums that are decent, although not best of the year material:

Weapons of Mass Destruction by Xzibit
In Between Dreams by Jack Johnson
The B.Coming by Beanie Siegel
Black Mountain by Black Mountain
Silent Alarm by Bloc Party
Guero by Beck
Get Behind Me Satan by The White Stripes
The Documentary by The Game

Still lots of other albums I should grab to catch up. [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

Re: Best Albums of 2005 - Recommendations
 

Just random thoughts that go thru my head as I read thru this list:

Arular is AWESOME. I'm glad MIA's starting to do well in the club scene.
Deerhoof is a little too high for me.
The Go! Team album was from 2004.
Twin Cinema is nowhere near high enough for me.
WTF is System of a Down doing here???
Wasn't Gimme Fiction 2004 too? Seems like I've had that album for over a year...
Where's The National?
Where's Architecture in Helenski?
Where's Broken Social?
Where's Common?
I wish Grime/Garage would start getting more hype. [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img] There's been some awesome albums out of that genre this year.

GoT

Re: Best Albums of 2005 - Recommendations
 

I like Buck 65 a lot. Also: "Trouble" by Ray Lamontagne..but now that i think about it, im' not 100% sure it came out this year.

it's good though.

Cancuk

Re: Best Albums of 2005 - Recommendations
 

[ QUOTE ]
Wasn't Gimme Fiction 2004 too? Seems like I've had that album for over a year...

[/ QUOTE ]

It leaked early, although not THAT early. Released late May I believe.

Re: Best Albums of 2005 - Recommendations
 

[ QUOTE ]

I don't enjoy Surfjan Stevens as much as I think I'm supposed to. Am I the only one?

[/ QUOTE ]

He sucks.

Re: Best Albums of 2005 - Recommendations
 

Most of that list is hipster trash. Get Dark Tranquillity - Character and bang your head!

However, just so I don't get accused of being closed-minded, Sufjan Stevens is OK, that SOAD record is a guilty pleasure of mine, and Kanye West is OK as well. The rest, not so much.

Re: Best Albums of 2005 - Recommendations
 

Matthew Good - 1995-2005 In A Coma - I would highly recommend the deluxe edition. If you're not in Canada, the best place that I know of to get it is amazon.ca. You might also want to check out maplemusic.ca. I highly recommend his whole catalog, especially "Avalanche".

From the list...
I didn't like The Hold Steady at all.
I loved the new System Of A Down.

Re: Best Albums of 2005 - Recommendations
 

How do you not mention the album in your own avatar? Although I personally like SYOF, it wouldn't crack my top 5 for the year, but I mean you have it as your avatar.

Re: Best Albums of 2005 - Recommendations
 

[ QUOTE ]
How do you not mention the album in your own avatar? Although I personally like SYOF, it wouldn't crack my top 5 for the year, but I mean you have it as your avatar.

[/ QUOTE ]
Yeah I love the album to death, but I know it's not an incredible show of musicianship or songwriting. It's just an album I love listening to. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] I don't get offended when it's not in ANYBODY's top anything list. Plus, it was from 2004 not 2005.

GoT

Re: Best Albums of 2005 - Recommendations
 

[ QUOTE ]
I think because You Forgot It In People was so amazing, I was a little letdown by their most recent album.

[/ QUOTE ]

i know i was

Re: Best Albums of 2005 - Recommendations
 

Ryan Adams - Cold Roses should be on the list

stuff on the list i recommend:
Bright Eyes
Wolf Parade
Sigur Ros

Metal Only
 

Best Extreme Metal of 2005:

Blessing the Hogs "The Twelve Guage Solution"
Caliban/Heaven Shall Burn "Caliban vs. Heaven Shall Burn Part 2"
Leng T'che "The Process of Elimination"
Despised Icon "The Healing Process"
Aborted "The Archaic Abbatoir"

KJS

Re: Best Albums of 2005 - Recommendations
 

The problem with the metacritic top 30 list is that variance helps out the lesser reviewed albums.

The vast majority of the albums on the list did not recieve many reviews. In other words, their sample size is small; in some cases 15-20% of some of the "major" releases. Smaller sample sizes create outliers, and this is a list of the top 30 "outliers" in the positive direction. It is much harder to maintain a winrate... err... get consistently higher reviews over a larger sample size.

Edit: That being said I really liked the list.

Re: Best Albums of 2005 - Recommendations
 

What album is it? I don't recognize the acronym.

Re: Best Albums of 2005 - Recommendations
 

[ QUOTE ]
What album is it? I don't recognize the acronym.

[/ QUOTE ]

Stars - Set Yourself on Fire.

Re: Best Albums of 2005 - Recommendations
 

[ QUOTE ]
What would you recommend outside this list, and heartily endorse on the list?

Metacritic - Best Albums of 2005

[/ QUOTE ]

Z's good but too high. Illinois's #1. Not a fan of Antony. Go! Team is actually the US release this year, GoT. Sleater-Kinney = so so good. New Pornographers, Spoon, Architecture in Helsinki, MIA, Wolf Parade, Boy Least Likely To, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Broken Social Scene... [censored], so much good stuff.

I should RapidShare some new BSS and Wolf Parade.

Re: Best Albums of 2005 - Recommendations
 

[ QUOTE ]
I'm on board with the albums by The New Pornographers, Spoon, and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah.

I don't enjoy Surfjan Stevens as much as I think I'm supposed to. Am I the only one?

[/ QUOTE ]

he annoys the piss out of me.

Re: Best Albums of 2005 - Recommendations
 

[ QUOTE ]
Go! Team is actually the US release this year, GoT.

[/ QUOTE ]
Oh yeah, I forgot they just release in the US this year. The US version of Huddle Formation makes me sad. [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img] Not nearly as sweet.

GoT

Re: Best Albums of 2005 - Recommendations
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
is this going to be one of those music threads where everyone brags about how they know cooler and more obscure bands than everyone else?

[/ QUOTE ]

Shouldn't you be able to figure that out by 25th reply?

[/ QUOTE ]

yeah... [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

just thought I'd add something since these bands are all too cool and obscure for me. that said I think there was a lot of The Shins love in one of these a while ago, so maybe I'll check out these My Morning Jacket people.

[/ QUOTE ]

a true dmb fan may know that My Morning Jacket was signed to dave matthews own label, ATO, so that may be some slight indicator as to their ability and potential.

they are a BADASS band, very different and an awesome live show- caught them in philly on friday.

they've recorded some stuff in an empty barn silo- that alone is cool ish. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Re: Best Albums of 2005 - Recommendations
 

two albums not on this list that should be near the top:

Silver Jews - Tanglewood Numbers

Hood - Outside Closer

Re: Best Albums of 2005 - Recommendations
 

[ QUOTE ]

The Kills - No Wow


[/ QUOTE ]

I saw them open for Bloc Party in San Francisco and thought they were very good. I'll have to check this out.

Re: Best Albums of 2005 - Recommendations
 

[ QUOTE ]
The problem with the metacritic top 30 list is that variance helps out the lesser reviewed albums.

The vast majority of the albums on the list did not recieve many reviews. In other words, their sample size is small; in some cases 15-20% of some of the "major" releases. Smaller sample sizes create outliers, and this is a list of the top 30 "outliers" in the positive direction. It is much harder to maintain a winrate... err... get consistently higher reviews over a larger sample size.

Edit: That being said I really liked the list.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is true, but to make the list they need a certain amount of review. For example, Lightning Bolt's new record gets like a 97 rating, but it's clearly not a 97-type record. a very good one, but not worthy of a 97. the score was based on like five reviews. because of that, it doesn't even make the list.

Re: Best Albums of 2005 - Recommendations
 

They missed Get Behind Me Satan-White Stripes

Re: Best Albums of 2005 - Recommendations
 

[ QUOTE ]
Plus, [Stars - SYOF] was from 2004 not 2005.

[/ QUOTE ]
I was just informed it was released in the US in mid-'05. Import was late '04.

GoT

Re: Best Albums of 2005 - Recommendations
 

[ QUOTE ]
2. Illinois by Sufjan Stevens
16. I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning by Bright Eyes


[/ QUOTE ]

Even though Lifted is better, I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning is pretty darn good too.

Illinois = 2nd best album of the 21st century.

Re: Best Albums of 2005 - Recommendations
 

thanks for this post!

I've now been turned on to some great music -

New Pornographers, The Go! Team, Andrew Bird, LCD Soundsystem....and others. Great site.

Re: Best Albums of 2005 - Recommendations
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
2. Illinois by Sufjan Stevens
16. I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning by Bright Eyes


[/ QUOTE ]

Even though Lifted is better, I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning is pretty darn good too.

Illinois = 2nd best album of the 21st century.

[/ QUOTE ]

What's the best?

(I'm not arguing with you, my Illinois jocking is apparent, I've never felt the way I do about any whole album like I did that one)

Re: Best Albums of 2005 - Recommendations
 

[ QUOTE ]

Ray Lamontagne - Trouble


[/ QUOTE ]

released in 2004

Re: Best Albums of 2005 - Recommendations
 

My mistake, thought it came out early this year. Still a dam good album. Doubt many people here like that kind of music though.

Re: Best Albums of 2005 - Recommendations
 

i'm a huge fan of the sufjan albums, and very much like the eels album

and i hear great things about the new Andrew Bird.

also: Springsteen's "Devils and Dust", the Calexico/Iron & Wine comp, Bill Ricchini's "Tonight I burn brightly", Guero, Amos Lee, and The Soundtrack of our Lives.

Re: Best Albums of 2005 - Recommendations
 

[ QUOTE ]
thanks for this post!

I've now been turned on to some great music -

New Pornographers, The Go! Team.

[/ QUOTE ]

Agreed. Great post. I'm going to have to get these two at least, as well as the Ry cooder album on that list.

Re: Best Albums of 2005 - Recommendations
 

Why dont i know any of these.....

Re: Best Albums of 2005 - Recommendations
 

[ QUOTE ]
Why dont i know any of these.....

[/ QUOTE ]
Because you don't regularly read OOT music threads?

Re: Best Albums of 2005 - Recommendations
 

EP by the Fiery Furnances definitely deserves a spot on that list IMO.

Re: Best Albums of 2005 - Recommendations
 

[ QUOTE ]
EP by the Fiery Furnances definitely deserves a spot on that list IMO.

[/ QUOTE ]
Oh, it's true. "Cousin Chris" is the [censored].

Re: Best Albums of 2005 - Recommendations
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
EP by the Fiery Furnances definitely deserves a spot on that list IMO.

[/ QUOTE ]
Oh, it's true. "Cousin Chris" is the [censored].

[/ QUOTE ]
http://www.wrestlingtradingcards.com..._smack/cp3.jpg

Re: Best Albums of 2005 - Recommendations
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
EP by the Fiery Furnances definitely deserves a spot on that list IMO.

[/ QUOTE ]
Oh, it's true. "Cousin Chris" is the [censored].

[/ QUOTE ]
http://www.wrestlingtradingcards.com..._smack/cp3.jpg

[/ QUOTE ]

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y21...ddy/angle3.gif
You suck!

Re: Best Albums of 2005 - Recommendations
 

[ QUOTE ]
Kaiser Chiefs - Employment

[/ QUOTE ]

Great album