Wednesday, January 4th, 2006
Well, I hope this posting finds everybody beginning their new year well. Admittedly the idea was to have this posted in two parts starting about two weeks ago, but Scott has been pretty busy the past couple of weeks so there was no time for me to really post this. So while I know I'm a few days late and a bit long to read, I suppose a list like this is better late than never. So without further adieu, here we go.

1. Iron and Wine with Calexico – In the Reins
• In my eyes, this was clearly the best release of the year. Sam Beam is a bona fide genius with lyrics. Couple this with Calexico’s added musicality and this album is one that can be enjoyed by anybody at anytime. This isn’t an album that is only for the indie kids or for stuffy old med students. This is the kind of album that glides over labels and descriptions with the exception of one word: superior.

2. Of Montreal – Sunlandic Twins
• Of Montreal is a band I’m quite happy I “discovered” this year. I say discovered because they’ve been around quite some time, releasing 5 previous albums. This album boasts a plethora of tracks that plain just make me happy (listen to The Party’s Crashing Me, one of the catchiest/danciest songs of the year). And people should definitely check out the video to their song, Wraith Pinned to the Mist and Other Games. And let’s be honest . . . that’s one of the best song titles you’ve ever read. Plus, I got the Bonus EP when I bought this album from Love Garden that had a couple of really good songs, including the tongue and cheek masterpiece Art Snob Solutions. This was an album well worth my $12.

3. Nada Surf – The Weight Is a Gift
• So Mr. Green and I went to a concert at the beginning of our sophomore year of college. Little did I know that I would first hear my eventual favorite band, Rilo Kiley, for the first time, but I would also see a band called Nada Surf. I’d never heard of them, but Jay told me I’d like them . . . and they were ok, but they didn’t even play Popular, their one song that made the radio waves. I had relegated them to the status of one hit wonder until I began to hear some buzz about their new album. So I picked it up and I’ve been floored by it. It’s full of hope, even though it was all written after a terrible break up apparently. Personal favorites off this album are Always Love (for the sappy and hopeful part of me) and Blankest Year (for the rest of me). Awww fuck it. I’m going to have a party.


4. Decemberists – Picarqesque
• So the Decemberists is one of those bands that I’ve been hearing about for a long time, but never actually listened to. Well, my good pal Brian changed all that and told me that one of my evenings in September would be better spent with the Decemberists at the Granada. Boy, was he ever right. They rocked the house all night long and had a great opening act in the Sons and Daughters. Their “old fashioned” music includes a wide range of instrumentation including an accordian, violin, wide range of percussion. The lyrics are innovative (The Sporting Life), wacky/funny (The Mariner’s Revenge Song), and even politically conscious at times (16 Military Wives). I feel badly dropping this album down so low, but with so many good albums this year, here they are. Look for them to be making some motions in the future, as they just signed to a major label. Hopefully they can replicate Death Cab’s leap to the big times. Only time will tell . . .

5. Gorillaz – Demon Days
• So I think the whole world was pretty excited for the new Gorillaz album and I was no exception. This album was pretty amazing, with no evidence of a sophomore slump anywhere to be seen. Furthermore, this album is really actually loads better than their first album, which was by no means a poor album either. Couple that with the fact that the art for their videos keeps getting better and really, the sky seems to be the limit for this band. I’m already secretly anticipating their third album (well, it’s not much of a secret anymore). This might be the most fun album of 2005 with its danceable quirkiness.

6. Erin McKeown – We Will Become Like Birds
• I first heard Erin McKeown open for Ani Difranco my freshman year when my favorite lady friend Cecilia “gave” me a ticket for my birthday (read: she need somebody to go with her). Well, 2 Erin McKeown cds (also 6 Ani albums / 4 Ani shows; thank you very much Cecilia) and I’m completely smitten with Ms. McKeown’s latest effort. This album is a bit of a step in a different direction, with more electric guitar and lively percussion, but is characterized by the same simple and beautiful writing that has described her previous albums (Distillation and Grand). The guitar riffs are catchy and quirky and make a perfect companion to Erin McKeown’s unique voice. This is a perfect cd a lazy Sunday morning.

7. Ladytron – Witching Hour
• This album represents a huge step forward for Ladytron, one that I fully support. There is no doubt that Ladytron knows how to move the ‘ole dance floor. Previously (on 604 and Light & Magic) they did it with synths, loops, computers, and their harmonious, monotonic voices. Now, they propel it with guitar and drum, with everything playing second fiddle as it were(their voices are of course still very harmonious and monotonic). This is a band that has taken the lemons that life has thrown them (their label [Emperor Norton] being bought and closed) and made some pretty sweet lemonade. This is clearly a band that is focused, evolving, and releasing material that is challenging and enjoyable. I hope these guys tour through KS so I can check them out live . . . a show that I anticipate to be very, very fun.

8. Maria Taylor – 11:11
• This is definitely the come back album of the year for me. I say come back because I bought this album, than listened to it a few times, than shelved it. Later surfing around the Apple website, I found the high def video for Song Beneath the Song. Watching the video and listening to the music made me pull this cd back off the shelf and its like I’m listening to this album with new ears! This album is one of the freest flowing albums I’ve ever listened to, especially when you skip the disappointing, first track. When the weather started changing from fall to winter and finals came calling, this album was sublime to pop in and just allow the stress to melt off. I suppose when she titled one of her songs Xanax, Ms. Taylor wasn’t kidding around.

9. Death Cab for Cutie – Plans
• So raise your hand if you were nervous when you heard that Death Cab had jumped the Barsuk ship to go to Atlantic. Yet, I’m currently sitting in LA and just around the corner from my friend’s apartment is the Atlantic building with a Death Cab billboard covering an entire side of the building. So I think it is safe to say they’ve jumped and landed pretty solidly with Plans. There are some really outstanding tracks on this album, with Different Names for the Same Thing and What Sarah Said being nothing short of amazing. Still, it does lack that special quality. Admittedly, they’ll have a tough time topping Transatlanticism (which Plans does not do), but now that they have their feet over at Atlantic, I’ll look for them to do just that on their next album. With all that said, Death Cab has still come up with a top 10 album, a testament to their talent.

10. The New Pornographers – Twin Cinema
• I guess the New Pornographers are going to round out my top 10. Bought this album on reputation only (saw it used at a Half Price Books) and I have to say I’m pretty darn happy with it. One of Matador’s finest, the New Pornographers are a fun indie band that are worth all their critical acclaim. Neko adds a great little feminine touch to these songs (These are the Fables) and David Cross starring in funny videos for them (Use It). Apparently they are well connected as well. However it goes, I really think this is a solid album that ought to make the year’s list in hopes that it will convince one or two of you to snatch a copy and enjoy some good indie music. At the very least, listen to track #4, The Bleeding Heart Show, which has a great chorus and round to close out the song that often will run through my minds during tests. Don’t know why, but it is a good thing to have through my mind as I try to remember how exactly those pesky strep infections present. Oh med school.

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Just missing the cut this year are the latest Kanye West effort Late Registration, Bright Eyes electronically tinged release Digital Ash in a Digital Urn, and the White Stripes new one Get Behind Me Satan. And Feist’s Let It Die gets a super honorary mention since the album was really released in 2004 and not 2005, but I really can’t get enough of her so I just wanted to mention her again. Well, there we are kids. Comments? Think I left something out? Something on the list that you don’t think should ever be there? Drop me a line . . . I’d love to hear from you. Happy New Year!

-patrick