2005 Favourites

Seems it is the season for the narcissistically crtical among us! As pre-Christmas drinks hot up with endless back and forth banter, man and beast alike are confronted with the indulgently self serving spectacle of end of year lists...but hell, everyone loves an awards show right kids!

For no other reason than dang it this is my blog and I'll cry if I want to, here are the albums that have worked their way to the top of the pile on my CD player this year.

Seems it's been a good year for maudlin, soft spoken bearded folkies...what does that say to you Cameron...hmmmm. OK, in no particular order

Sufjan Stevens. Illinoise

Get up from where you are sitting and go straight to the store and buy it; if you are among the recently converted, walk over to the stereo and put it on: if you are so prescient as to be already listening to this fine disc then pat yourself on the back mate, you're a champ!

Smog. A River Ain't Too Much to Love

One word: colts. Best drinking song of this or any other year. Gold.

Bonnie Prince Billy/Matt Sweeny. Superwolf

Every now and again someone comes up with a way to make guitars sound vital again. This is the album this year. Andrea must have heard "My Home Is the Sea" 100 times in the last month...even she stills loves it.

Boards of Canada. The Campfire Headphase.

Yes enough already all you jaded hipster chin-stokers. This is not as good as Music Has the Right to Children. Is anything!?

The New Pornographers. Twin Cinema.

Like everyone else who grew up in the 1970s listening to their Mums singing along to AM radio, I have a certain soft spot for sing-along verses, rousing choruses and handclaps. There's one track on this album that makes me happy no matter what kind of mood I'm in. You can't ask for any more than that.

Murcof. Remembranza.

Like the whole history of electronic music exploded into fragments and reassembled by order of unknown preferences...more unsettling illbient soundscapes for wet days and grey skies. Perfect for Vancouver really!

Wolf Parade. Apologies to the Queen Mary

Well half of it's good, the other guy needs a haircut and a good talking to.

Bright Eyes. I'm Wide Awake It's Morning.

I'm tempted to say that this is the best example of thoughtful, non-polemical political enagagment in popular music for many years...but then most of you think that I'm a wanker already.

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah.

This is the album Anj puts on the hi-fi when she wants to feel better. That's as good a reason as any to rate it so highly, but the fact that Anj dancing in the loungeroom makes me as happy is an even better reason. Clap your hands say yeah!

Antony and the Johnsons. I am a Bird Now

I don't love this as much as other people but it's still close to the most original music I've heard all year. And it's got Lou Reed and Boy George on the same album. Spooky eh?

Oh and to the poor wandering soul who ambled in here yesterday, it's spelt I-R-O-N-Y!