010206: The Top 111 Albums of 2005 (Part 1)
not originally aired on CFMU, thanks to last-minute crappy-ass computer crashes.
The first part of a rather ambitious and perhaps deranged countdown.
111: Nick Cave and Warren Ellis – The Proposition Original Soundtrack (The Proposition #1)
Atmospheric, at times pretty and others creepy as Nick Cave and Warren Ellis (a violinist who has worked with Cave on several albums) are so good at. It has a real character, and though I haven’t seen the movie yet, it builds a mood quite clearly and effectively on its own.
110: Maxïmo Park – A Certain Trigger (Acrobat)
Another in the parade of British nu-wave seemingly cashing in on the success of Franz Ferdinand. This is a cut above the likes of the Kaiser Chiefs and The Bravery, though. Maximo Park take the sound and make it theirs.
109: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – Howl (Shuffle your Feet)
A huge departure for the band; turning from somber and gritty guitar-rock to gospel-tinged blues. Good to see a band progressing somehow, but this one was close. At first I hated it, but the craft is there and I eventually found myself actually wanting to listen to the album.
108: Why? – Elephant Eye Lash (Crushed Bones)
An intriguing blend of indie rock and indie hip hop. Valuable, if only for the interesting sound it exudes, but listenable beyond that as well. Worth a listen.
107: Boards Of Canada – The Campfire Headphase (Satellite Anthem Icarus)
Ambient electronicery by Scotland’s famed duo. Can feel a bit repetitive and uninspired at times, but there’s some beautiful stuff going on here.
106: Metamatics – 3 Jak and Dive (vlokal)
Glitchy ambience almost in the style of BoC.
105: Jason Collett – Idols of Exile (Fire)
Folk rock from the lead singer of Broken Social Scene. Pleasing to the ears, and some brilliant melodies.
104: Xiu Xiu – La Foret (Ale)
Eerie minmalist and sometimes hard to listen to rock. Lead singer sounds pretty bent out of shape sometimes. A difficult listen, but let it weasel its way in and you may well find something valueable.
103: Lemon Jelly – 64-95 (’64 aka Go)
A bit of a departure for the group. Each song uses a sample from the year in the title. Sounds a little more traditional than previous Lemon Jelly offerings, but at the same time mature and accomplished. The DVD that comes with videos for every track is a treat.
102: Pendulum – Hold Your Colour (Fasten Your Seltbelt Feat. The Freestylers)
Wicked drum and bass from Australia. Shades of Apollo 440. A ripping good time.
101: Thomas Brinkmann – Lucky Hands (THIRTY2)
Delicate ambience. Sounds both natural and heavily computerized at the same time. Beautiful and subtle.
100: Ry Cooder – Chavez Ravine (Poor Man’s Shangri-La)
A concept album from the veteran performer about the destruction of the titular community, a sort of commemoration of their unique way of life. Many different styles and very rich, Chavez Ravine has a lot to offer and it’s definitely one I feel would place a higher given some more time to sink in.
99: M83 – Before the Dawn Heals Us (Teen Angst)
Bombastic synthesizer anthems. If you excuse how seriously it seems to take itself, very fun and at times profoundly beautiful.
98: The Clientele – Strange Geometry (Since K Got Over Me)
Gentle guitar rock. Not much else to say. Quite well crafted.
97: Espers – The Weed Tree (Rosemary Lane)
Medieval sounding psychfolk covers of everything from traditional ballads to Blue Oyster Cult, and an original.
96: The Lucksmiths – Warmer Corners (A Hiccup in Your Happiness)
Sunshine and simple catchy pop melodies.
95: The Rosebuds – Birds Make Good Neighbors (Hold hands and fight)
Not so different from Warmer Corners, a little more airy and straightforward.
94: Common – Be (Testify)
Straightforward but certainly high quality hip hop from one of the genres notables.
93: Stephen Malkmus – Face The Truth (I’ve Hardly Been)
Fun, catchy all-over-the-place light indie rock.
92: Clap Your Hands Say Yeah! – Clap Your Hands Say Yeah! (Details Of The War)
Nice arrangements. Get a new singer.
91: Keith Fullerton Whitman – Multiples (Stereo Music for Acoustic Guitar, etc – Part One)
Nice experimental ambience. Surprisingly complex and easy on the ears though it sounds strangely mathematical.
90: The Herbaliser – Take London (Song for Mary)
Hiphop, reggae, soul and electronica flounce together in this rather lovely bit of music. Electronic music played on live instruments.
89: Of Montreal – The Sunlandic Twins (The Party’s Crashing Us)
No Satanic Panic in the Attic, but there’s certainly some delicious gems here. Fantastic as a quantitative judgement (as in, the realms of fantasy), but not so much as previous offerings, and much more disco involved.
88: Robyn – Robyn (Be Mine!)
A variety of styles and speeds, but all well-crafted electropop as always seems to be big in Europe.
..to be continued next week..