Top 10 Albums of 2005

I know I already did my radio show extravaganza, but I could not resist putting up a Top 10 list. This is my first year as a DJ, so I've heard enough music that I actually did have to narrow down my choices. In addition a few highly anticipated Christmas presents helped round things out nicely. And after some thought I changed my list up quite a bit. Sorry Dangerdoom, you're in the top 15, but you got bumped down pretty far. So without further adieu, here is Aaron's top 10 of 2005:

No. 10) Sage Francis - A Healthy Distrust Sage here could probably use some anger management therapy. Dude rages like a madman, and his infectious beats get you moving too. After a few listens you're ready to storm the White House with a microphone and a water gun. Rage on Sage, rage on...

No. 9) Petra Haden and Bill Frisell - Petra Haden and Bill Frisell Okay, to a certain individual. I must make a retraction and an apology. Any blanket statements I've made about covers albums I retract. I've badmouthed them before, but this here Petra Haden album is the second covers record to make my top 10 of a particular year (Cat Powers Covers Record made my top 10 back in 2000). So even though Sun Kil Moon failed to impress me with their Sun Kil Moon Sings The Isaac Brock Songbook album, Petra Haden and Bill Frisell have won my heart over with their sweet and sincere covers of Elliott Smith, Stevie Wonder and even Coldplay (just to name a few). Haden has a charming and endearing voice, which transforms each of these songs into something new. In particular, Haden takes on Tom Waits' "I Don't Wanna Grow Up." Although their voices are as opposite as the North and South pole, Waits' lyrics match perfectly with Haden's tiny and innocent voice. When her wee voice sings "I've Got A Crush On You" you're forced to tilt your head, purse your bottom lip and go "awwwwwwwww!"

No. 8) Sufjan Stevens - Come On Feel The Illinoise Word on the street says that Sufjan Stevens has it out for the kneecaps of any music critic that doesn't put his album on their top 10 of 2005 (and a look at most of the year end retrospectives proves that, for at least Sufjan, it's good to be a gansta). Watch out peoples, he may look innocent enough, but his love of America is only a front for his violent tendency to warm (read: beat) himself into your hearts. Don't mistake his music for public protest or dissent. As Sufjan himself said, "I always want to be accountable to my subject, and accountable to the transcendence of the subject itself-- and not feel that I'm condescending to my listener, or condescending to the material." His dream of recording an album for every state in the union may sound ridiculous, but he's batting 1000 on his first efforts.

No. 7) Ayinde Howell - American Hero Vol. 1: The My Life In LP Despite appearances, I don't seek out vegan MC's intentionally, nor does the lack of animal product earn you an automatic spot on the top 10. But Ayinde Howell, like his Discord/Harmony Top 10 compatriot Sage Francis, doesn't dig on dairy. So much so that he opened a restaurant in the University District in Seattle to sell vegan grub. His music is just as tasty. Soulful loops accompany socially conscious and inspirational lyrics. This album is equal parts protest, prayer and party.

No. 6) Animal Collective - Feels I wouldn't want to meet this masquerade of folk freakers in a dark alley. People that regularly run around with animal masks give me the jibblies, but when they hop into a recording studio to make a freak show of music and noise, I say play on! Animal Collective previously leaned towards the noise end of their music, but now they've finally learned that occasionally our ears need a break from the bleeding. This is poppy and upbeat, for about half the album. After that they return to their noise experimentation. The second half of the album is quieter, much like the solo offshoot Young Prayer by Animal Collective member Panda Bear.

No. 5) Iron & Wine and Calexico - In The Reins To chose between Iron & Wine albums this year was like choosing which sibling to bring to glory, and which to cast off into the darkness. Both are worthy of this No. 5 spot on the list, but I decided that it was best to highlight just one, even though Woman King is quite brilliant. The reason I chose In The Reins is that this album proves how versatile Sam Beam's music is. A few years back when The Creek Drank The Cradle hit the scene I thought that this music would be a mere novelty, and after another album no one would care. I thought that his popularity would warrant a decent record contract, and a proper studio, and that with a new coat of paint and a fresh wax would kill the beautifully dusty finish of his first recordings. One album and two EP's later Sam Beam has done nothing but impress me at every turn. If he announces a new album, I won't read the reviews before it comes out, I will just buy it. In The Reins brings his music into a whole new atmosphere only hinted at in Woman King. His songwriting sits now in the atmosphere of twangy music more akin to the Rolling Stones than Robert Johnson. The horns kick up during "History of Lovers" and I realize that Sam Beam won't allow his music to become stagnant. His music will (hopefully) continue to change, and if this album is any indication it will still be great.

No. 4) Konono No. 1 - Congotronics Wait a second... Did I just allow an album from the World Music section of the record store onto my top ten? Yes friends, yes I did. Konono No. 1 is like this years Buena Vista Social Club, but more for the electronic/noise crowd. Konono No. 1 has been around for years, but recently The Ex discovered them and brought them to our attention. Konono No 1 consists of three electric likembes (thumb pianos), vocals and percussion (a drum kit plus various found items like hubcaps and pipes). But what makes these guys freaking amazing is that it's all put together with equipment built from old car parts. Aphex Twin may be industrious, but has he ever carved a microphone body out of wood? Did he take magnets out of old cars to construct a receiver for electric likembes? (electric likembes!!!!!) These guys have been recording the music electronic innovators can only dream of recording since the 1970s, and we're only just recently tuning in.

No. 3) M.I.A. - Arular I like to whistle a lot. I like to walk around whistling little tunes that I know, or little tunes that I make up, but M.I.A. has ruined that creativity as I now walk around going "M-M-I-I-A-A M-I M-M-I-I-A-A." The infectious repetition of her name has bored its way into my skull and I can't get it out. I listen to her not out of desire, but necessity, just to get the songs out of my head. But unlike Kylie Minogue ("I just can't get you outta my head!"), M.I.A. makes me like it.

No. 2) Antony and the Johnsons - Now I Am A Bird Antony has a voice that sounds like Rufus Wainwright and Nina Simone suffered a violent and morbid voice transplant. His high falsetto wields a vibrato 10 yards long. He sounds as small and skinny as Simone, but really he's a beast, well over 6-foot-tall. You'd think a guy like this could really stand up for himself, but his lyrics suggest otherwise. Antony sings of love, loss and serious dysfunction. The words are as terrifying and haunting as his quiet piano. It's disturbing to hear him sing "I feel your fist, and I know it's out of love" on "Fistful of Love." But it's too beautiful to ignore. He claims he's really a happy person, and I challenge him to prove it. But in the meantime, I can't deny that this is brilliant, and well deserving of a place on this list.

No. 1) Andrew Bird - Andrew Bird and the Mysterious Production of Eggs I know what you're thinking. this is totally out of the blue.
"What about the White Stripes?" you ask.
"What about Sleater-Kinney?" you plead.
"Aaron, this is totally out of left field, how can this possible by your album of the year?" you bellow.
And finally "So this Andrew Bird guy, is he worth a damn?" I believe he is...

Honerable Mentions: Dosh - Powder Horn, Dangerdoom - The Mouse and the Mask, Iron & Wine - Woman King, Lau Nau - Kuutarha, The New Pornographers - Twin Cinema, Blue Scholars - The Long March EP

Highly Anticipated for 2006: Cat Power - The Greatest, Tre Hardson - SlimKid3's Cafe, Chali 2na - A Fish Out of Water (though I'm not holding my breath, since this has been in the works for 2 years now), and the possibility of a Andrew Bird and Dosh collaberation (ooo! I'm twitterpated!)

That's the list folks. I don't make 'em, I just shamelessly judge them. For other 2005 retrospectives, check out Stylus, Prefix and Pitchfork.

Fellow bloggers You Ain't No Picasso posted a really nice best of list as well. And if you haven't stopped by their site, you really should. They provide a great service to anyone who ravenously consumes music.

If you've got a top 10, or 5, or 50, post it on the comments page!