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| From | "Gene Good" <javagene@hotmail.com> |
| Subject | Tops in 2005 |
| Date | Thu, 12 Jan 2006 20:42:45 +0000 |
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Always a task to do a year end list when there are albums I have yet to hear
,and some I haven't heard enough.But here goes.To the best of my ability
here are my top albums of the year.
1-Sylvie Lewis "Tangos and Tantrums" My favorite find of the year and it
stands alone as a pop/cabaret beauty.Lovely singing,sharp witty lyrics make
this a joy to listen to.Contains my song of the year "When I Drink". Sylvie
never fails to entertain me.
2-Richard Hawley- "Cole's Corner" From the very fist note this moody album
caught my attention.He has been doing this type for 3 albums but this is the
best yet.Perfect late at night ,candle lit music."The Ocean" is a wonder to
hear.Steeped in American folk and orchestral pop.And a voice full of honey.
3-Swan Dive- "Popcorn and a Mama who loves me too" Last year they held the
#1 spot.Bill DeMain continues to write with great artists.3 with Jill
Sobule,I with Boo Hewerdine,1 with Gary Clark,1 with Parthenon Huxley,and 1
with Kim Richey.Molly sings like an angel, this time with a little more
soul.There is nothing like Swan Dive.Simply the best!
4-B. C. Camplight- "Hide, Run Away" Shades of Brian and Bacharach in this
pop assault that captured my heart.Only played this several times but I am
sure of it's spot.I love songs with female names and this one boasts one of
the best lyrics "Since I met you Delilah Emily's dead to me".Wow!
5- Supahip-"Seize the World" Supa indeed.Michael Carpenter and Mark Moldre
just excel in this pop tune fest.Once heard you can't escape it's
brilliance.I played this in the car in the wee hours of a cold December
morning taking my wife to the airport and it became my best freind.I was
soon singing along to tunes like "Satelite" and "Wouldn't it be Good"[cover
of the year].And when I wasn't singing the album was stuck in my head.My
compliments to the artists.Gave several of these away as Christmas
presents.Please, more of this.
6-Sufjan Stevens- "Illinois" A beautiful tone poem to my home state.Works on
so many levels.This is Americana in a "Smile" like setting that delights the
senses.A touch of folk and pop with classical minimalism.
7-Broken Social Scene- "Broken Social Scene" This is much different than
"You forgot it in People".In fact it's kind of a mess.Songs crash and
burn,collapse, and rise in spurts.They never stop changing in tone as
well.But for some reason it takes shape and makes a musical statement unlike
any other album.Not for everyone, but it works for me.
8-Teenage Fanclub- "Man Made" Recorded in Chicago and really is a great
collection that grows on you and makes you smile.I love everything by these
lads but this one is special.Has it's own inner glow.Very highly
recommended!
9-Feist- "Let it die" She is all over the musical map here.Folk, jazz,
French ,bossa, even disco with it's Bee Gee's cover."Now at last", a song I
own by Blossom Dearie,is perfect.Astonishing talent!
10-Go Betweens -"Oceans Apart" Best of their reunion albums.When they are
at their best,they remind me of those exciting days of buying import vinyl
and being blown away by Grant and Robert's song writing. Best lyric "And
why do people who read Dostoevsky always look like Dostoevski?"I am so
grateful we have these tunesmiths .They have my attention always.
11- Audible-"Sky Signals" Poppy ,sort of other-worldly group from
Philly.Hummable memorable tunes that stick like glue.A very cool indie find
and only their debut album.Songs like "We were Wrong" just kill. Worth
seeking out for sure.
12-Mockers- "Lonesome death of Electric Campfire" This is power pop at it's
finest.Catchy,and so well played out it just never lets up.I was singing
along after a couple plays.Works in the back yard ,the car.Morning noon and
night.As David says ,Pop Rules! And so do the fabulous Mockers. And an ode
to one of the very best "Twilight Zone" episodes ,"Willoughby Station".
13-Oasis- "Don't believe the truth" I would never have imagined loving
another Oasis as much as this but I sure do.It won me over."Mucky Fingers"
just sounds like Mott the Hoople to me."Lyla", "Love like a bomb", and "The
Importance of being Idle" all go to the head of the class.This is classic
British rock.I must give these guys credit for keepin the faith.
14-Paul McCartney- "Chaos and Creation in the Back yard" He is singing
better than ever and what a strong collection of songs.Very happy with this
one.And the extra track is way cool!Some are sweet, some are sad but it all
works.Love "Jenny Wren".
15-Martha Wainwright- "Martha Wainwright" The power and the majesty of
being a Wainwright.Her brother has been at the top of my last couple
lists.And now Martha steps forward with a strong collection.Her winsome
voice is pure magic.Hard to classify , but some strong folk influence to be
expected.She took her time and delivered.Saw her perform most of these in a
nervous but charming show at Schubas in Chicago.I love her!
16-Bright Eyes- "I'm wide awake It's Morning" I have been A fan since the
beginning but even I recognize a turning point here.A strong outing from
this important troubadour.He needs to be heard.
17-The 88- "Over and Over" Bright and winning pop .Very upbeat stuff that
just jumps out of the speakers.Tons of great British influences make this
fun fun fun."Jesus is Good" besides being a terrific title has a cool Ray
Davies vocal.
18-Josh Rouse- "Nashville" A pop collection from this first rate singer
songwriter."Streetlights" is one of the year's best songs.
19-Heikki - "Heikki 2" Swedish folk rock group with strong harmonies.At
times sounds like the Roches.Maria is from the Concretes and Jari is from
the fabulous Bear Quartet,They do a nice cover of the Triffids "Tender is
the Night".
20-Elope- "No Name Record" A power trio also from Sweden that sounds like
Cream, the Beatles and Neil Young among other influences.They do a cover of
an obscure Neil Young song "Bad fog of Loneliness". Great guitars .
Honorable mentions: No order
Jason Collette- "Idols of exile" Broken Social Scene member
Goldrush- " Ozana" Americana from Oxford ,England
Brendon Benson- "Alternative to Love"
Happy Bullets- "Vice and Virtue Ministry"
Acid House Kings- "Sing Along With" More great Swedish pop
Pat Metheny-"The Way Up" A jazz symphony in 4 movements I had the pleasure
to see performed live.I was in awe of it's power.
Kathleen Edwards-"Back to me"
Antony and the Johnsons- "I am a bird now" Haunting and strange.
Zincs- ""Dimmer" "Beautiful Lawers" is a song of the year candidate
Aimee Mann- "Forgotten Arm"
Mercury Rev- "Secret Migration"
Soundtrack of our Lives- "Origin Vol 1"
Doves- Some Cities"
Great Ep's:
Boo Hewerdine- "Ontario" 4 songs of sublime beauty from one of the finest
songwriters /singers we have
Calexico /Iron and Wine- "In the Reins" A cool meeting
Re-issue of the year:
Orange Juice_ "Glasgow School" This is such a great paxckage I can't contain
my glee.Not only is this music from the 80's incredibly influential to
today's music, it carries emotional weight because Edwyn Collins was in
intensive care for months this year with a brain heamorrhage.However ,this
music stands on it's own as wonderful pop created by mere teens.I defy any
pop fan to not be moved by "Falling and Laughing", "Simply thrilled
Honey",or the Vic Godard cover "Holiday Hymn." I bought all this stuff as it
came out and I am still blown away at it's genius.God bless Edwyn Collins!
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