It’s nearly February 2006, so what better time than now to look back to last year, and pick out a few of 2005’s top albums, in no particular order. If any of these weren’t actually released in 2005, well done on having the library mind and all, but if I bought it in 2005, that’s good enough for inclusion. (Captain subtext says: I’m too lazy to look up the release dates right now.
Sufjan Stevens – Illinois
OK, so I said no particular order, but head and shoulders above anything else I heard in 2005, or since the turn of the millennium, or maybe even since whenever, is Stevens’ second album (after Michigan) in the almost completely barmy series of US state albums he apparently plans to record. Taking a cue from Michigan, but expanding the sound and the variation into a million splintered directions, Stevens conjures songs of heart-break, beauty, love, death, played out on a thousand instruments, creating an aural journey across the prairie state that makes me wish I could listen to this whole outstanding album all at once, forever more.
The National – Alligator
Shuffling somewhere near the other end of the morose / joyous scale are The National. Coming on all Leonard Cohen and Tindersticks (with a nod across to Echo & The Bunnymen, and maybe Interpol) might not be a recipe for cheering anyone up, but if you like your tales recounted with full-on sexual bitterness, this should float your boat. While the more crowd-pleasing numbers such as Lit Up and Mr November head nearer bands like The Killers, when they slow it down and let simple guitars play out the melodies, there’s a tender beauty at this album’s heart.
Mercury Rev – The Secret Migration
Early 2005 seems at least a year away, so memories of this album have faded a bit, but when opener “Secret For a Song” throws itself at you, you just know that All Is Dream was only a temporary disappointment. I can’t quite figure out how the vocals can be weedier and reedier on the album than in live performances, but a return to form, nonetheless.
Doves – Some Cities
Carrying on where Lost Souls and The Last Broadcast left off, Doves managed to supply a third helping of kick-ass anthems mixed with sonically inventive slower numbers, and although it was more of the same, that’s no bad thing in this case.
Death Cab for Cutie – Plans
Carrying the flag for innocent, harmless, inoffensive tunesmithery in a poppy indie stylee this year were DCFC on their first album since signing for one of the big boys. Had they sold out? Who cares! It didn’t come across in the tunes, which on the whole had replaced some of the rawness (by their standards anyway, come on) of The Photo Album with a more refined direction. The word is lovely.
House of Love – Days Run Away
Comeback of the year, even though it probably sold about 10 copies. If you remember the House of Love the first time around, you’ll know exactly what to expect here. Arpeggious a-go-go, something sinister in the voice, and beauty all around. Who’d have thought Chadwick and Bickers once acrimoniously parted ways mid-tour after one drug row to many.
Ambulance Ltd – Ambulance Ltd
Although there’s just something missing somewhere from this debut, there’s still a beguiling mix of instrumental (Yoga means Union), early 90s indie makeover (Heavy Lifting), shoegazing (Swim), and folksy mid-tempo (pretty much everything else) on show. Heavy Lifting was one of the songs of the year, even with its ooh let’s change pace and noodle out to fade ending, and if I can forgive them for writing a song that makes me believe just for a moment that I’m about to watch Film 2006 with Jonathan Ross (Young Urban – and the music in question is called I wish I knew how it felt to be free) something must be right here.
Elbow – Leaders of the free world
Here’s a question for music lovers everywhere: What exactly is it that draws you to Coldplay and their utter tripe? Well? Yes, indeed. Quite. Stick some Elbow on, please. Although nothing here pulls at the tear-ducts quite like Powder Blue from their debut album, there’s a certain passion and outrage, particularly on the title track, that could power a whole Coldplay tour. Go, now. Buy it.
Antony & The Johnsons – I am a bird now
Worth getting just because it’s a little bit different than probably everything else you’ll have bought this lifetime. Picture a man, any man, behind a piano, bring in a band, any band, and then imagine what that will sound like. Chances are you didn’t imagine up anything that sounded like Nina Simone singing an updated set of torch songs. In which case you were way off beam. It’s edgy, highly unrelaxing stuff (tip: put the Trashcan Sinatras on afterwards), but rewarding like no 3-minute indie pop can ever be.
Ben Folds – Songs for Silverman
Seems Ben’s grown up a bit, and it’s been worth the wait. Have to admit I haven’t even listened to the whole of this album, ever, but Landed and Late are good enough that you could call it an EP, stick a couple of other tracks on there, such as Jesusland, charge me album price, and I’d still snaffle it.
Soulwax – Nite Versions
It’s not all good, but then neither was Any Minute Now, which has been kind of remade into this new collection of songs. Although I miss the old Soulwax, with their shiny suits, and their tight guitar sound, for just being willing to ditch it all, leave it behind, and forge ahead with something closer to their 2manydjs persona I can forgive a lot. Basically, they’ll probably be ultra-cool, however uncool they try to be.
Pernice Brothers – Discover a lovelier you
Joe Pernice couldn’t write a bad song if he spent the next decade trying. (Ok, so he’s written a few, but let’s not split hairs, eh?) If you’re a fan of any of their earlier material, or Joe’s solo releases, or the Scud Mountain Boys, you’ll be on familiar ground with “Discover…”. On reflection this was a disappointment after the flurry of excitement I had while working my way through the back-catalogue, but I’ll give the guy a break here. Snow, There goes the Sun, Amazing Glow, these would fit snugly onto the next Pernice compilation.
Brendan Benson – The Alternative to Love
Not sure what’s happened to the project he’s been working on with that bloke out of the White Stripes (Whitey White?), but BB had just enough time to tour the UK, play a festival, and all on the back of his second best album to date. Out of 3, so perhaps not a milestone, but this isn’t far behind Lapalco, and is only let down by a couple of weak moments. With Cold Hands, Spit it out, Nothing Between Us, Feel Like Myself, What I’m Looking For, it’s like a walk through an effortlessly creative guitar pop mind.
Sigur Ros – Takk…
Competely barking, as you’d have to be to sing in a made up language, but then what’s the difference between that and trying to decipher mumbled lyrics in your own mother tongue, anyway. Besides, it wouldn’t help me a whole lot to know they were singing in Icelandic. Hoppipolla is either a warped attempt at the mainstream, or just how piano riffs should sound all the time, and even though only Gong has the sort of melody and drive that might stick in your head and have you tapping your toes or even humming the melody idly to yourself, this is perfect for those background muzak moments. Especially if you want to impress or confuse guests.
Trashcan Sinatras – Weightlifting
A band partly funded by the Scottish Arts Council, or some such public body. Now how cool is that? Answer: not very at all. But then the Sinatras don’t do cool. They do pretty. They write songs that make you want to just fall over backwards onto something soft and cuddly and wrap yourself in the sound. And not go to work, or have to do the washing up. And stay there. Album closer “Weightlifting” itself, with it’s laughably simple structure, the repeating loop verse of single guitar notes calling out against single bass notes, melting into sumptuous chorus harmonies… honestly, it’s more relaxing than a Horlicks and a foot spa on a cloud.