I’ve started compiling my usual pre-Xmas 100-CD shortlist for my annual ‘Albums of the Year’. It’s light on jazz this year since I stopped doing the radio show and labels stopped sending me their jazz releases. But more importantly, there are only 99 albums listed here. One of my favourite albums of 2005 doesn’t really exist.
NOTE: The post has now been edited because I have actually made a decision I can live with about the order of the list. This is no longer the shortlist for top 20. It’s my top hundred. In order.
I have an album that would easily find a place in my top 20 of the year. I had initially placed it around 15, but the more I think about it, the more I think it’d find its way into the top 5.
I’ve listened to it an awful lot in the past 12 months and I like it more with every listen.
The album it was recorded in 2004 but was scheduled for release in 2005. Unfortunately, there was a falling out between label and artist, and as a result, it hasn’t surfaced. Chances are it won’t.
Now, don’t tell anyone, but I’ll happily sit you down and play it to you if you come over with a bottle of wine (for sharing, naturally), but I can’t tell you what it is here – because the mere fact that I have it at all would complicate matters for those involved in the album’s creation and subsequent fallout.
In theory, no copies exist and nobody’s heard it. I’d love to make a radio documentary about it – but people would just get cross. I’ll keep that one up my sleeve for later. Good story.
Anyway, as a result, there are 99 actual albums in the top 100 – and an honorary space at number 3 for what I shall simply call ‘B.S.S.’
So to the list. There are some surprises – at least to me: I had initially dismissed KT Tunstall and Sigur Ros from consideration. Both acts are entirely overrated. However, I went back and had another listen, and it turns out I’d been too critical. They’re both way better than I thought (but still not worth the hype they get). Anyway, they’re on the shortlist.
I haven’t changed my mind about the Go Betweens. Entirely overrated.
Madonna is on the shortlist. I don’t care if you think less of me. It’s a great pop record.
Girls Aloud are not on the shortlist. I don’t care how cute four of them are, Craig – it’s still nonsense and there’s a hole in your otherwise good taste.
Stevie Wonder doesn’t appear. Even though it’s his first studio album in 10 years, and his first good one in 30… it didn’t make the cut.
Arcade Fire are not as good as everyone makes out.
The Fall’s studio album makes the list, but their vastly superior Complete Peel Sessions (1978-2004) boxed set does not. In the rules of Dubber end-of-year listmaking, compilations and retrospectives don’t count, so that rules out a bunch of great stuff.
New live albums of old material are okay, so Kraftwerk make it.
NZ music is thin on the ground here in the UK and my supplies from NZ are irregular. Nathan Haines’ album didn’t make the list because I didn’t like it very much.
So… this is the list.
Top 100 albums of 2005:
1 Sufjan Stevens – Illinois
2 M.I.A. – Arular
3 B.S.S.
4 The Books – Lost And Safe
5 Jamie Lidell – Multiply
6 Fat Freddy’s Drop – Based On A True Story
7 Teenage Fanclub – Man-Made
8 The Herbaliser – Take London
8 Okkervil River – Black Sheep Boy
10 Keith Jarrett – Radiance
11 Death Cab For Cutie – Plans
12 Eels – Blinking Lights And Other Revelations
13 Art Brut – Bang Bang Rock & Roll
14 The Mountain Goats – The Sunset Tree
15 LCD Soundsystem – LCD Soundsystem
16 Tom Vek – We Have Sound
17 Andrew Bird – The Mysterious Production Of Eggs
18 The New Pornographers – Twin Cinema
19 Róisín Murphy – Ruby Blue
20 Antony And The Johnsons – I Am A Bird Now
21 Beck – Guero
22 Iron & Wine / Calexico – In The Reins
23 The Boy Least Likely To – Best Party Ever
24 Edan – Beauty And The Beat
25 Smog – A River Ain’t Too Much To Love
26 Kraftwerk – Minimum Maximum
27 Bright Eyes – I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning
28 Richard Hawley – Coles Corner
29 Polar Bear – Held On The Tips Of Fingers
30 Sola Rosa – Moves On
31 Pat Metheny Group – The Way Up
32 Blackalicious – The Craft
33 Clap Your Hands Say Yeah – Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
34 Fiona Apple – Extraordinary Machine
35 Devendra Banhart – Cripple Crow
36 The Rakes – Capture/release
37 Dungen – Ta Det Lungt
38 Spoon – Gimme Fiction
39 Brad Mehldau Trio – Day Is Done
40 Buck 65 – Secret House Against The World
41 The Kills – No Wow
42 The Fall – Fall Heads Roll
43 Nine Black Alps – Everything Is
44 Bloc Party – Silent Alarm
45 The White Stripes – Get Behind Me Satan
46 Hal – Hal
47 Sleater-Kinney – The Woods
48 David Pajo – Pajo
49 Deerhoof – The Runners Four
50 The Like – Are You Thinking What I’m Thinking?
51 Ben Folds – Songs For Silverman
52 DangerDoom – The Mouse & The Mask
53 The Chemical Brothers – Push the Button
54 Nada Surf – The Weight Is A Gift
55 The Decemberists – Picaresque
56 Madonna – Confessions On A Dance Floor
57 Magnet – The Torniquet
58 Depeche Mode – Playing The Angel
59 Roots Manuva – Awfully Deep
60 Gorillaz – Demon Days
61 Kanye West – Late Registration
62 The Bravery – The Bravery
63 Super Furry Animals – Love Kraft
64 Hard-Fi – Stars Of CCTV
65 My Morning Jacket – Z
66 Jamiroquai – Dynamite
67 John Vanderslice – Pixel Revolt
68 Madvillain – Madvillainy
69 Kaiser Chiefs – Employment
70 Goldfrapp – Supernature
71 Lizz Wright – Dreaming Wide Awake
72 Tosca – J.A.C.
73 Shihad – Love Is The New Hate
74 Stephen Malkmus – Face The Truth
75 Trisha Yearwood – Jasper County
76 John Scofield – That’s What I Say
77 Ry Cooder – Chavez Ravine
78 Bruce Springsteen – Devils & Dust
79 The Mars Volta – Frances the Mute
80 The Lucksmiths – Warmer Corners
81 The Tears – Here Come the Tears
82 KT Tunstall – Eye To The Telescope
83 Supergrass – Road To Rouen
84 Lyrics Born – Same !@#$ Different Day
85 System Of A Down – Mezmerize
86 Foo Fighters – In Your Honor
87 The Hold Steady – Separation Sunday
88 Emiliana Torrini – Fisherman’s Woman
89 Common – Be
90 Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – Howl
91 The Clientele – Strange Geometry
92 Royksopp – The Understanding
93 Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy & Matt Sweeney – Superwolf
94 Frank Black – Honeycomb
95 Sigur Ros – Takk
96 Editors – The Back Room
97 Quasimoto – The Further Adventures Of Lord Quas
98 The Hellacopters – Rock & Roll Is Dead
99 Autechre – Untilted
100 The Coral – The Invisible Invasion
Links:
iTunes
Amazon
Jibbering Records
Previously: Radio Strategies for Personal Music Listening
So KT Tunstall makes the top 100 but Martha Wainwright, Ani DiFranco, Dar Williams, Kate Bush, Nerina Pallot, Rachael Yamagata and my personal album of the year, Imogen Heap’s “Speak For Yourself” don’t, eh? Tosca are in but not Boards Of Canada? The Bravery but not We Are Scientists? The Chemical Brothers but not Mylo?Hmm, have to think about that…
Andrew (C)
Well, I am handicapped by the lack of access to every album released in 2005. That applies to a few of the artists you mention from whom I’ve only ever encountered one song and have gone no further.
However, I considered the Martha Wainwright and dismissed her album because it only had two songs that consistently satisfied. Ani DiFranco’s album wore off after a few listens.
We Are Scientists left me a bit cold – perhaps I should return to it because the Tosca album should have been better than it was…
I don’t like the Mylo album, but I still turn up the stereo every time Galvanise comes on.
What I can say about all of these 100 albums is that I can return to each of them and will probably be able to do that for some time.
I’m really keen to hear more of Rachael Yamagata and particularly Imogen Heap. The song of hers I heard recently (thanks for that) is one of my favourite tracks in ages.
But a line had to be drawn and I made it at the albums that had pulled me back reliably.
And like all such lists, it’s flawed and faulty and evidence of the flaws and faults of the list maker. Not least of which is the compulsion to make lists in the first place.
Fair enough – I’ll drop off copies of the Rachael Yamagata and Imogen Heap albums for you. Meanwhile they’ve both got performance videos on the KCRW Morning Becomes Eclectic website at http://www.kcrw.com/cgi-bin/db/kcrw.pl?show_code=mb&tmplt_type=program (as has KT Tunstall) which is worth checking out and there’s a gushingly reverential interview with Imogen Heap at http://aurgasm.us/ plus music clips.
Andrew (C)
That would be superb. Much appreciated.
I wonder if it’s too late to reassess my list.
I suppose if I put the effort in and listen to them 5 or 6 times before New Years to get a real sense of their place in my schema…
I also entirely forgot about the rediscovered John Coltrane and Thelonious Monk Live at Carnegie Hall album. That was pretty superb – but it does test the boundaries of my list rules. Old recording, long dead musicians – great new album, and not a reissue. Hmm…
Oh, and Amazon.com agree with my first two – and then diverge wildly from there.
Great list, Dubber….and my faith is partially restored in end-of-year lists after the Observer Music Monthly had my blood boiling yesterday…although you’ve also omitted my two favourites – “Smash” by Jackson and his Computer Band (WARP) and “Mothers Daugther..” by Tunng (Static Caravan)
However, I feel duty bound to defend Girls Aloud. Great pop is great pop and I can assure you that my reasons for being a fan are purely musical.
Oh, ok, mostly musical.
..well, alright ok, 50% musical.
Andrew
As the guy that took over from you on GeorgeFM’s “It’s A Jazz Thing” that sure is an interesting list. A noticeable absence of jazz on there, but as we have discussed over the last few weeks you now have more time to listen to genres that are not jazz, with no pressure of a weekly radio program.
I will be playing my favorite jazz CD’s of 2005 on the New Years Day show but they are obviously limited to ones that I have actually had the time to listen to this year. To be honest I did not realise there were so many jazz releases throughout the year. It has been an interesting 6 months on this side of the fence (the host not the listener).
I really don’t want to exclude compilations because Gilles Peterson’s Digging America is (for me) the best compilation to come out in the last several years.
The Monk/Coltrane was awesome – how can Monk and Coltrane STILL sound like they are saying new things after all these years???
So much jazz is formulaic and bland (Liz Wright) and I think “jazz artists” must constantly strive to find new sounds to remain fresh. The likes of Dianna Krall will never step out of their comfort zone – the links of CL Bob will.
At the time of writing (Dec 21st) there are two in 1st place for me…
Rez Abasi Snake Charmer and/or Soil and Pimp Session Sun Goddess.
I am looking forward to recieving the CD’s for the Jan shows Dubber – does GeorgeFM know what there are in for??? Will I lose my slot???
I am sort of in awe of anyone that can compile a list of 100 albums in a year. Jeez, I struggle to listen to about 2-3 a month and if a killer comes along -like Fat Freddy’s- then there goes that months other rotations…
Good list Dubber. One of my favs of the year is Ricci Rucker’s Fuga (http://www.alphapuprecords.com/)
T’s Top 10 for 2005
Fat Freddy’s Drop – Based on a True Story . world music from Wellington . And for once talent over ruled marketing
Chavez Ravine . A great album from the immensely prolific and humane Ry Cooder . If output determines morale , then he must be cosmic .. brilliant.
Garnett Mimms . Cry Baby . Another re mastered re issue which I paid big money to import . Why Garnett Mimms wasn’t huge defys comprehension . A great singer / writer from the 60’s . Cry Baby was later covered by Janis Joplin but don’t hold that against him .
Amadou and Mariam – Dimanche À Bamako – Best World Music album of the year . Both blind from Mali and immaculately produced by Manu Chao ( a French genius!) . If any record can pick u up it’s this one – happy as a hooker on pay day
The Stooges – Fun House . Beautifully remastered and re released this year . Described by Jack White as the definitive rock album of America … and he’s not wrong .
The Sound of the World – on the wrasse label and intelligently compiled by Charlie Gillette – dble cd and well worth the $40 . Its got everyone who is anyone and some who aren’t either from the world music scene . Indespensible !
Nick Cave – B Sides and Rarities . The consummate artist . Most artists you don’t even wanna hear their B sides let alone rarities.
Nigel Gavin . Bit of a cheat this one cos its not out yet . His new album which has just been recorded and scheduled for release next March . As a guitar player Nigel Gavin is just jaw droppingly brilliant . I suspect that this is the definitive acoustic guitar record . The album I always wanted to make . U bastard Nigel!
Bob Dylan – No Direction Home – dvd and soundtrack . I grew up with most of the originals and to have this revamped collection of out takes that stand up to scrutiny as well as entertain is the measure of it’s worth.
Mojo Magazine’s Chess Compilation . free giveaway with the August 2005 (With the White Stripes on the cover) edition of Mojo magazine . Features the well known and some lesser known Chess favourites . You can’t even buy a compilation that good .
Honorable Mention . Ak new metallers New Way Home . These guys are way world class . The guitarist has just got his chops down , taste and style … Great undiscovered band
A very impressive list indeed. I am in doubt that I could put 100 best albums of all the time in order. My fave for 05 was Jean Grae’s This week. worth checking. And I might exchange some NZ tracks for some amazing SA music next Feb when I’m back in Brum.
Mikko