Top 10 Albums of 2005

After having read a few compilations of top 10, 25, 50, albums of 2005 (i.e. NY Times, LA Times, Rolling Stone, Pitchfork Media, etc.), I decided to create my own list because more than half of the albums in the aforesaid lists were "harrible." Music is all about taste and preference, so remember: it's only my opinion... but I'm right. That being said, here are my top 10 albums of 2005:

10. Gimme Fiction - Spoon
I'll be honest, I haven't really had time to listen to this as much as I should have (seeing as how I just got it 2 weeks ago), hence its place at number 10. It's quite possible that if i were to make this 2 weeks from now, they might be higher or lower, but right now 10 seems to fit.

9. Paper Tiger - Caesars
I'm not sure why, but I think I like this album more than I should. Most people know them only from their iPod commercial (grrr... iPods!), but the entire album is rather decent. None of the songs quite live up to the standard that "Jerk it Out" sets, but they are not disappointing by any means. Tracks such as "It's not the Fall that Hurts," "May the Rain," and "We Got to Leave" might compel the listener to hit the "repeat" button.

8. Life in Slow Motion - David Gray
I'll admit it, I like David Gray and have for some time (Sell Sell Sell is my favorite album). His previous effort, A New Day at Midnight, was disappointing in many respects--as White Latter had set a pretty high standard--so I was relatively pleased with Life in Slow Motion. "Ain't No Love" and "Hospital Food" have a White Latter quality.

7. Before the Dawn Heals Us - M83
I have a feeling M83 would be higher on the list if i was given more time (I just bought this album all of 3 days ago). The best way I can describe this band is that they seem to be Sigur Ros meets Ratatat versus Air... I might say that it's "weird but good," but it's not weird... just good. "Don't Save Us From the Flames" is one of the absolute best songs of 2005.

6. Guero - Beck
I have a hard time really enjoying some of Beck's earlier album because they get a little too eclectic for my tastes (which I personally consider to be far from bland). This album is full of some pretty catchy tunes ("Girl," "Earthquake Weather," "Farewell Ride"), yet still maintains enough kinks to remind you that Beck is quirkier than your average bear.

5. X & Y - Coldplay
I had a love-hate relationship with this album for the better part of 3 months following its release. However, I have since leaned decidedly in favor of the "love" part of the relationship. It's not their best (been a fan since the beginning), but it was worth the $14 I spent on it at Wal-Mart (on release day, of course!).

4. Demon Days - Gorillaz
So-called "Trip-Hop" is new to me, so I don't have much of a base for comparison (although one of my friends insists that Gorillaz aren't trip-hop). However, I don't really need said base because this album is strong enough to be compared to any genre. While "Feel Good Inc." gets all the radio play (stupid iPod... again!), my favorites are "All Alone" and "Kids with Guns." While I generally hate spin-off bands, I wouldn't mind in this case because I have yet to find a band that sounds like Gorillaz (although I know they are probably out there, but Gorillaz are to trip-hop what I suspect RATM was to rapcore).

3. Takk... - Sigur Ros
Sigur Ros has been improving since their debut. They have moved away from the annoying ambience of Ba Ba/Ti Ki/Di Do days, and into a "new and improved" ( ). They are one of the few bands that can say whatever they want (they sing in Icelandic) and I would listen anyway. I don't care that I can't understand one word; it's beautiful. They could be condemning my mother for murdering kittens in front of her elementary school children and I would still listen. I also love the upbeat direction they took with a few songs on Takk..., most notably "Saegopor."

2. Speak for Yourself - Imogen Heap
That's right, I'll publicaly admit that I love Imogen Heap (perhaps more famous from her days in Frou Frou). I'm not sure why I like her so much--I only listen to a few bands that have female lead singers--but I absolutely enjoy SfY. It's as good as Frou Frou's Details of 2002, but it is definitely worthy of this #2 slot with it's electronically amazing musical composition.

1. [Come on Feel the] Illinoise - Sufjan Stevens
This is really the only album that the critics and I agreed on (Gorillaz, Beck, Decemberists, and Spoon were in, at most, about half the lists). I wish I could claim that I had been driving the Sufjan bandwagon since its inception in 2000, but I can truthfully say that I've been on the bandwaggon since Seven Swans (also, I'm the only Sufjan fan I know that has the album A Sun Came). Actually, I like Seven Swans better than [CoFt] Illiniose, but that does not in any way detract from the album's tremendous sound. Sufjan is so unique that I have a hard time describing him to friends. All I can really say... "Don't take my word for it." (buh-dum-dum).

Honorable mentions: Digital Ash in a Digital Urn - Bright Eyes; Push the Button - The Chemical Brothers; Strange Geometry - The Clientele; The Future Embrace - Billy Corgan; Picaresque - The Decemberists