Here you go all, a great music blog and the best “Bestof2005” list I’ve read thusfar. Granted I like the most commercial releases of his list, and haven’t had time since posting this to check out it’s other offerings, from what I see it’s a damn good list with a reasonable scope of styles. Many Kudos for the Stephen Malkmus, Four Tet, and Of Montreal choices, and for the balls to include more the more-commercial-might-not-be-indie-enough Franz, White Stripes, and Gorillaz selections. And as much as I like Kanye, somehow he just doesn’t seem to fit in. Anyways, here’s my highlights of the list, check out the link for the full fifty, then check out MarathonPacks and listen to what he says.
44. Kaiser Chiefs-Employment*
41. Franz Ferdinand-You Could Have it So Much Better (Domino)
36. Four Tet-Everything Ecstatic (Domino)
35. Kanye West-Late Registration (Roc-a-Fella/Def Jam)
30. DangerDoom-The Mouse and the Mask* (Epitaph)
29. Bloc Party-Silent Alarm* (Atlantic)
28. The White Stripes-Get Behind Me Satan (V2)
23. Steven Malkmus-Face the Truth (Matador)
In which the former Pavement frontman fully immerses his bad self in the sweet sounds of the Seventies. “Pencil Rot” is all-bout-the Rundgren, “Mama” is a bright, sparkling, Big Star, and Jerry Garcia phrasings are all over this beeyatch. “Post-Paint Boy” is special to me, for aptly describing every douchebag that hits on my girlfriend at the local townie bar. Try “Baby C’mon” (mp3) on for size.
19. Devendra Banhart-Cripple Crow (XL)
18. Doves-Some Cities (Capitol)
16. Gorillaz-Demon Days (Virgin)
13. Of Montreal-The Sunlandic Twins (PolyVinyl)
6. The Decemberists-Picaresque (Kill Rock Stars)
4. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah-Clap Your Hands Say Yeah* (self-released)
3. Spoon-Gimme Fiction (Merge)
2. The Rosebuds-Birds Make Good Neighbors
marathonpacks: Top 50 of 2005