The Best Of 2005

Because it's Christmas, I'm in Chicago and I have a whole morning to kill drinking coffee and listening to music, I wrapped up my year-end best of lists for your enjoyment. Happy holidays!



BEST ALBUMS OF 2005:
01. M.I.A. — Arular (XL)
02. Dead Meadow — Feathers (Matador)
03. The Tears — Here Come The Tears (Independiente)
04. Broadcast — Tender Buttons (Warp)
05. Leandro Fresco — Luz Sin Calor (Casa Del Puente Discos)
06. Delia Gonzalez And Gavin Russom — The Days Of Mars (DFA/Astralwerks)
07. Stars — Set Yourself On Fire (Arts And Crafts)
08. Echo And The Bunnymen — Siberia (Cooking Vinyl)
09. John Cale — Black Acetate (Astralwerks)
10. Doves — Some Cities (Heavenly/EMI)

BEST SINGLES OF 2005:
01. The Tears — "Refugees" (Independiente)
02. Doves — "Black And White Town" (Heavenly/EMI)
03. New Order — "Waiting For The Sirens' Call" (Warner)
04. Broadcast — "America's Boy" (Warp)
05. Stars — "Ageless Beauty" (Arts And Crafts)
06. Cass McCombs — "Sacred Heart" (PREfection)
07. Out Hud — "One Life To Leave" (Kranky)
08. The Arcade Fire: "Neighborhood Number Three (Power Out)" (Merge)
09. Death Cab For Cutie — "Soul Meets Body" (Atlantic)
10. Echo And The Bunnymen — "Stormy Weather" (Cooking Vinyl)

Honorable Mention: Kasabian — "Club Foot" (BMG)

BEST ALBUM TRACKS OF 2005:
01. Leandro Fresco — "Top Less" (Casa Del Puente Discos)
02. The Tears — "Autograph" (Independiente)
03. Oasis — "Turn Up The Sun" (Big Brother)
04. Dead Meadow — "Such Hawks Such Hounds" (Matador)
05. Amusement Parks On Fire — "Solera La Reina" (V2)
06. John Cale — "Woman" (Astralwerks)
07. Echo And The Bunnymen — "Of A Life" (Cooking Vinyl)
08. Halloween, Alaska — "Drowned" (East Side Digital)
09. New Order — "Who's Joe?" (Warner)
10. Oasis — "Love Like A Bomb" (Big Brother)

Honorable Mention: MIA — "Ten Dollar" (XL)

BEST REISSUES/LIVE SETS/GREATEST HITS:
01. New Order — Singles (Warner)
02. Kraftwerk — Minimum-Maximum (Astralwerks)
03. Chris Connelly — Lounge Ax, Bottle, Elsewhere — '94/'01 (Self-Released)
04. Diplo — Money Studies: Mr. Wes Pentz Live In Montreal 2004 (Hollertronix)
05. Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds — B-Sides And Rarities (Mute)
06. Cocteau Twins — Lullabies To Violaine (4AD)
07. Slowdive — Souvlaki (Sanctuary)
08. Morrissey — Live At Earl's Court (Attack/Sanctuary)
09. Various — DFA Records Holiday Mix 2005 (DFA/EMI)
10. The Young Gods — XX Years: 1985 - 2005 (Play It Again Sam)

Honorable Mention: Ian Brown — The Greatest (Polydor)

BEST GIGS OF 2005:
01. Kraftwerk (Hammerstein Ballroom, June) *
02. New Order (Hammerstein Ballroom, May)
03. Diplo (Rothko, June)
04. Oasis (Madison Square Garden, June)
05. Dead Meadow (Mercury Lounge, March)
06. John Cale (St. Ann's Warehouse, November)
07. MIA (SOBs, June)
08. Doves (Bowery Ballroom, March)
09. Kasabian (Bowery Ballroom, May)
10. Bauhaus (The Nokia Theatre, November)

* Huge props to Ash whose idea it was to see this gig!

MOST ANTICIPATED ALBUMS OF 2006:
01. Morrissey: Ringleader Of The Tormentors (Attak)
02. Kraftwerk: Der Katalog (Astralwerks)
03. Gustavo Cerati: TBA (BMG)
04. The Twilight Singers: Powder Burns (One Little Indian)
05. Kasabian: TBA (RCA)
06. Roken: TBA (Label TBD)
07. New Order: TBA (Warner)