The Greatest Album Ever 01.10.06:2005 Retrospect
Posted by Dusty Godwin on 01.10.2006
Tasty year end lists...
Damn I am a terrible person, I write three I miss four it's a vicious cycle but with the end of school, Christmas, people fucking shit up at work, helping my friend move for college and other holiday festivities I barely had time to sleep or eat. Anyway a new year and a new determination to bring you the retrospective album reviews you all crave but first I say bye to 2005
That's right even a column dedicated to retrospectives gets to cop-out at the end of the year. Last year was a weird for me musically as I'm not buying nearly as many new albums not because there aren't any out there worth buying but because to keep the column going I'm constantly having to buy the back catalogue of bands, not that I'm complaining. So since I never get to talk about current music in my column I'm taking the chance to do so now in Dusty's The Greatest Albums of 2005 HUZZAH!!
10. The Mars Volta: Frances the Mute
Released March 1 on Universal Records
Now I recently read that my esteemed colleague Ian Wright hates the Mars Volta, now generally I agree with Ian on most things and even take into consideration his album suggestions in his columns but this time I have to disagree with him because the Mars Volta to me are the quite possibly the most original and unique band in the world right now. Frances the Mute features some of the most intricate and difficult rhythms and melodies I've ever heard. The band seems to be on the verge of imploding during their songs but somehow they manage to switch from near oblivion to beauty in only a matter of seconds. Sure it can be a bit self-indulgent and a thirty-two minute song seems unnecessary but the musicianship and complexity of the album far outweigh any of its more decadent moments.
Favorite Track: The Widow
09. Queens of the Stone Age: Lullabies to Paralyze
Released March 22 on Interscope Records
A strong effort from a band that many people were expecting to collapse on itself after all the in fighting and turmoil, ok, so Rated R is still a much better album and this one suffers a bit from not having Dave Grohl on the drums and Nick Oliveri but this is still one of the best straight-ahead rock albums of the year. In a time when every band seems to be a sub-genre or insertphrasecore it's refreshing to have a band that just goes out and plays old-school rock music. The guitar work on this album is as strong as ever and of course Josh Homme writes more hazed out lyrics that are hard to understand but sound cool as hell. This together with the live album and DVD helped make 2005 the strongest year yet for Queens of the Stone Age.
Favorite Track: Burn the Witch, This Lullaby
08. Gatsby's American Dream: Volcano
Released April 12 on Fearless Records
Gatsby's American Dream stands out as a unique punk band in a land of unoriginal look-a-likes and their offering for 2005 proves it, infectious and catchy as all get out Volcano stands atop the mountain in my mind as one of few albums this year that caught me by surprise. When I bought it I wasn't expecting much but because it was like 6$ I decided to give it a shot. What I discovered was an album full of well-crafted punk songs with catchy hooks and pounding drums. I've been hooked on the album since the summer and one of the highlights of the Warped Tour was standing in a small circle watching the band's live show. If Volcano is any indication of the band's talent 2006 may only be the jumping off point for them in terms of artistic and mainstream success.
07. Death Cab for Cutie: Plans
Released August 30 on Atlantic Records
Well not only do they have one of the most kick-ass names for a band ever but they also created one of my favorite albums of the year. Full of songs with catchy melodies and melancholy lyrics "Plans" is simply a great listen. Nearly every song sounds like it could be a single (I really hope they release "Crooked Teeth" as a single) I don't really want to corner this album because the band displays so many styles mixing dance, pop and emo influences on many of the tracks and making sure that every song has a distinct feel and identity all its own. The band has been working up to this point and you can hear bits of Plans in We Have the Facts and We're Voting Yes, The Photo Album and Transatlanticism (even if their die-hard fans won't admit it) This was a great album for the fall and I even found myself oftentimes craving to listen to it and that to me is the litmus test for a great album.
Favorite Track: Crooked Teeth, Follow You Into The Dark
06. Foo Fighters: In Your Honor
Released June 14 on RCA Records
I'll admit freely right now of my own volition that I'm a sucker for anything Dave Grohl does I don't care what it is if his name is on it then I'm there. Luckily in my estimation he always makes good to excellent albums and the missteps taken on One By One were corrected here with the loud album and the "not so" loud album is great and has some awesome guest appearances including John Paul Jones from Led Fucking Zeppelin. I still prefer the harder album as I don't ever skip a song on it because even though it's all harder and faster material ever song has a personality and charm all its own. The acoustic album has me losing interest about half way through not because its bad but because that is a whole lot of acoustic for me to handle at once. Still a great showing by Grohl that ensures I'll be buying his albums for many more years.
Favorite Track: DOA
05. Ok Go: Oh No
Released August 30 on Capitol Records
I can't explain it, I really can't the first Ok Go album grabbed my by hair and won't let go with its pop guitars and catchy lyrics I couldn't get the songs out of my head and so when I stumbled upon their new album I had to buy it and I was relived that the band hasn't changed their ways as the power hooks and silly lyrics remain but now they've stepped on the dance influence on the album to make it an even more enjoyable experience. A great background album for parties the album also works when you're listening to it alone as they show that for all the pop and dance they can write some unique and interesting songs but it makes my list for being the funniest album I bought all year.
Favorite Songs: The House Wins, It's a Disaster
04. The White Stripes: Get Behind Me Satan
Released June 7 on Third Man Records
Oh man the conflict that I felt when I first heard this album. I believe my actual words were where's the fucking guitar? So we've got marimbas, piano, mandolin drums and tambourines but a decided lack of guitar. But after the initial shock of a White Stripes album without squealing guitar I find myself enjoying the album more and more. The album doesn't really suffer from the lack of guitar as the piano still feels the songs out wonderfully. The band seems to be growing even painfully inside of the box that they built for themselves, couple that with some of the best songs Jack White ever wrote and this turns into a tremendous album. It has a charm that is unmistakable but also indefinable. I can't really tell you why I like the album as much as I do, it's fun and interesting and sometimes thought-provoking and decidedly weird in other words minus the fucking guitar it's most certainly a White Stripes album.
Favorite Track: The Denial Twist, Forever For Her (Is Over For Me)
03. Kanye West: Late Registration
Released August 30 on Roc-a-Fella Records
Oh man the buzz on this album was intense and I'm only a casual fan of hip-hop and rap and even I knew this album would have to be big to top his extremely good debut. In fact I can't think of a sophomore release more anticipated since the Strokes second album and we all know how that went. Kayne however proved everyone wrong and produced an album that's greatness can't be denied. When I first bought it I remember looking at the tracklisting and thinking "what is this a Kanye and friends album". I mean there were so many guest spots on the album and that generally is a kiss of death for me because it seems like the artist is afraid to stand on their own two feet. Amazingly enough though Kanye even turned that into a positive, the remix of Diamonds of Sierra Leone is awesome with Jay-Z on one of the verses and I can't imagine Gold Digger without Ray…er Jamie Foxx. However that wasn't it as Kanye shines solo on songs like Roses and Celebration. All in all a great hip-hop everyone was hoping it would be and this combined with Common and Nas give me hope that hip-hop isn't dead.
Favorite Track: Roses, Diamonds from Sierra Leone Feat. Jay-Z
02. Bright Eyes: I'm Wide Awake It's Morning
Released January 25 2005 on Saddle Creek Records
Oh, Conor Oberst I find it hard to think of a man that divides music fans more then the 23 year old Nebraska native. There is a constant battle between people over whether he's a genius or a hack, the second coming of Dylan or just a kid who bitches and moans too much. I however fall on the side that says he's talented and while not Dylan by a long shot he can write a song or two. Never has that been more apparent then on I'm Wide Awake as he crafts several memorable songs to go along with the extensive catalogue of great songs he already has. This album however works in reverse order as it's stripped bare even more then Lifted or Fevers and Mirrors but that is one of the things that endears the album to me so much. It's mostly a voice and a guitar and to have the guts to put yourself on a limb like that deserves to be praised I think. Aside from that the album is filled with great melodies and lyrics. "Landlocked Blues" has quickly become one of my favorite songs as well as "Train Under Water", "First Day of My Life" and "Road to Joy". All feature great personal lyrics and excellent arrangement all in all I'm Wide Awake It's Morning is the realization of everything Conor has been trying to do since he was 13 and this album might represent a career renaissance at the ripe age of 23.
Favorite Track: Landlocked Blues
01. Bob Dylan: No Direction Home the Soundtrack (The Bootleg Series Vol. 7)
Released on August 30 on Columbia/Legacy Records
Ok so this is kinda cheating because it's not exactly new or anything but this album has so many great songs and it accompanies such a wonderful documentary that I can't help but put it on here. This was the album I anticipated more then other this year as I waited for demos and alternate takes of my favorite songs. The album certainly didn't disappoint as the electric version of Maggie's Farm kicks so much ass it's amazing. The outtakes and alternate takes are all interesting to hear with Sally Gal and I Got Troubles allowing me to hear how two of my favorite songs evolved and being a music geek that brings me joy that is unexplainable. There are so many great songs and moments on these albums that I can't put all of them into words. This album works a one stop shop to showcase the man that is America's greatest songwriter and that's why it makes it at the top of my list of year-end greats.
