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The Top Five of 2005: The Non-Jazz Edition

Alexander

By Alexander
in Miscellaneous Music

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Alexander Newbie

Alexander

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Let's see...

1. Get Behind Me Satan - The White Stripes: Jack White is an amazingly talented songwriter, and he gets better with each White Stripes release. My nomination for the best rock album of the year.

2. Be - Common: The critics seemed to like Kayne West's own album better than this one (which he produced), but the fact is that Common is a much better MC than Kanye and "Be" has economy on its side: It's of reasonable length (around 40 minutes) and doesn't contain those "skits" which get so tiresome after awhile. Common's got flow to burn on this album...

3. Late Registration - Kanye West: It's overlong at times, but this is one hook-happy hip-hop happening! The single, "Golddigger," is possibly the catchiest song released this year (even if the hook is provided by Brother Ray and Jamie Foxx).

4. I'm Wide Awake It's Morning - Bright Eyes: Connor Oberst may not be the wunderkind he's made out to be, but he made two terrific albums this year. As much as I enjoyed "Digital Ash in a Digital Urn," I've gotta give "I'm Wide Awake" the nod for being one of the best folk-rock albums I've heard in ages. Connor's voice brings to mind Nick Drake crossed with Jeff Buckley taken with a dash of Leonard Cohen. It's a strangely compelling mix...

5. Devils and Dust - Bruce Springsteen: This one was tied with the Rolling Stones' "A Bigger Bang" for a while, but honestly Bruce's album is much better. While the Stones are strutting their stuff as of old, putting out their best collection of cock rock since 1981, Bruce is arguably upping the ante by putting out his best album...EVER. And coming from the mind behind "The River," "Born To Run," and "Nebraska," that's saying something. "Devils" is an unassuming album that grows in significance with each listen. Most importantly, it's a showcase for Bruce the storyteller rather than Bruce the rocker (he's always given JB a run for the title of "hardest working man in show biz," but I've always found Springsteen's rock n' roll persona to be a bit forced). And man, that guy is a great lyricist...

GregK Apprentice

GregK

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I'd even throw in Elvis Costello The Delivery Man, Deluxe Edition

I disagree. "The Delivery Man" was released in 2004. Rereleases with extra tracks shouldn't count...

The Deluxe Edition came out in 2005, so it counts! A couple new songs spread over both discs qualify it, I'd say

spinlps Newbie

spinlps

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Paul Weller - As Is Now (Huge Jam, Weller, and even Style Council fan and Weller just seems to be getting better with age.)

Laura Cantrell - Humming By The Flowered Vine (Actually, I discovered all of her work this year and am totally, completely enamoured!)

Various Artists - For A Decade of Sin: 11 Years of Bloodshot Records (Bloodshot may very well be my favorite non-Jazz label over the last 5 years.)

Belle & Sebastian - Push Barman to Open Old Wounds (Technically not a new release since it compiles all the previously release 12inch EP's, but a great rediscovery of the release I've had on vinyl all these years. Great orchestral Brit-pop.)

New Pornographers - Twin Cinema (Not as strong as the first two releases IMO, but still the most fun band around and amazing live! )

Big Al Collaborator

Big Al

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Chaos and Creation in the Backyard by Paul McCartney. Hey, it only took the man 35 years to put together the strongest solo album he's ever made. Up to now, one could be forgiven for forgetting that Paul McCartney was part of the biggest and most influential rock band on the planet. Gone are the silly love songs, the dumb fun throwaways that's plagued every album he's made since..... well, since the White Album, come to think of it. I mean, ever since then, for every "Blackbird" or "I Will," you'd have to put up with "Wild Honey Pie" or "Ob-la-di Ob-la-da." For every "Jet," there was a "Mamumia." There hasn't been one McCartney album that hasn't made you NOT reach for the skip button, or move the needle to the next track on the record.

Until now.

Credit must go to Nigel Godrich for this one. It's as if he listened to Paul's last couple of records, heard some gems among the throwaways ("Driving Rain" is probably the catchiest single never released by Paul), and forced Paul to concentrate on those gems. Oh yeah, and stop pretending you're not grieving the loss of Linda. Songs like "How Kind of You," "At the Mercy," and "Too Much Rain" show Paul finally probing the depths of his songcraft, something he seems to only indulge when the whim hits him.

Plus, this album rocks. The leadoff track, "A Fine Line" reveals that.

Not sure if I bought any other new releases this year, so this will suffice for all five spots for me.

Guest

Guest

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Oh, how original. :rolleyes:

Looks like Creamcheese is a troll.

Well, they *are* non-jazz albums...

I'm glad somebody got it. :cool:

Guest

Guest

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Suzy Creamcheese, what's got into you?

I tried a Telefunken U47, but I didn't like the texture and the thing didn't vibrate. Now I just stick with the bunny. ;)

ejp626 Community Regular

ejp626

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I've really stopped listening to and buying new rock/pop, so I can't answer this adequately. I agree with Big Al that McCartney's new album is good (also that Driving Rain is a good song). I thought the new Depeche Mode album was pretty good. Probably my favorite 2005 "release" was a mash-up of Green Day's American Idiot called American Edit. However, it was highly unauthorized and can't be downloaded legitimately.

As far as singles go, I liked Madonna's Hung Up and the Rolling Stones' Rain Fall Down. My biggest guilty pleasure of 2005 is the Sugababes' Push the Button. Not a good song, except for the fact it is insanely catchy.

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