sherpahigh Wrote:Forgot about the new Dandy's disc this year as well. Probably should be in that list somewhere.
Weezer was definitly the biggest letdown for me this year. Just very...meh
agreed on both counts...the dandy's does take a bit of effort at first to get into, but well worth it..as for weezer...meh is right
sherpahigh Wrote:Weezer was definitly the biggest letdown for me this year. Just very...meh
It definitely wasn't there best effort, and it took me awhile to get into it, but now I like it, We Are All on Drugs is a cool song..."give it to me!" I love that part.
My top 10 of '05:
1. The Constantines- Tournament of Hearts
By far my favorite Canadian rock album of the year, and one of the best records of the year, period. Great songs, great lyrics, and a nice rockin' delivery. There's nothing more Canadian than naming your album after a curling tournament. Ya gotta love it.
2. Ryan Adams & the Cardinals- Jacksonville City Nights
One of the only records from this year that blew me away on first listen. The guy is so prolific that I've always found his stuff to be pretty much hit & miss most of the time, but he's definitely firing on all cylinders with this one. When he's on his game, he's one of the best songwriters out there.
3. Son Volt- Okemah and the Melody of Riot
My favorite Bush-bashing record since "American Idiot". Jay Farrar puts down the acoustic guitar, cranks up the volume, and delivers his best album since the heyday of Uncle Tupelo. Easily the most political record of the year.
4. Fiona Apple- Extraordinary Machine
What more can be said about this goddess that hasn't already been covered. As Opiated said, there's nobody like her. She's truly in a class of her own. The title track is one of the coolest songs I've heard in a while. Just an outstanding piece of work all around.
5. Neil Young- Prairie Wind
His best album since "Harvest Moon". After everything that's happened to him over the past year, he seems to be playing with a renewed energy. That 4-night stand he did on Conan O'Brien was amazing. It's like he's just getting warmed up.
6. Foo Fighters- In Your Honor
A career defining album for Mr. Grohl and company. His growth as a songwriter has been really cool to listen to, and it seems like he's finally put all the Nirvana baggage behind him. I'm kinda partial to the "rock" half of the album, but the acoustic disc is just as solid.
7. Cuff the Duke- self-titled
Rock, folk, country, and pop all rolled into one package with witty, intelligent songwriting at it's heart. What a great band. Go see 'em live!
8. Kathleen Edwards- Back to Me
She's beautiful, she's funny, she's a gifted songwriter, and she swears like a sailor. What's not to love?
9. Hugh Dillon Redemption Choir- The High Cost of Low Living
I love the Headstones as much as anybody, but this is the best thing Hugh's ever done.
10. Matt Mays & El Torpedo- self-titled
I can't get enough of this record. It's catchy as hell. 14 whoppin tracks, and not a single dud on the entire thing. This guy definitely gets an A+ in the songwriting department.
Honorable mentions:
C'Mon- In the Heat of the Moment
Another kick-ass serving of pure old school balls-to-the-wall rock n' roll bliss, courtesy of Sir Ian Blurton. It's heavy, it's loud, it's dirty, and it's incredibly fun to listen to. Nobody rocks harder than these guys.
Sarah Harmer- I'm a Mountain
Absolutely beautiful in every way. There's really no other way to describe it.
Coldplay- X&Y
Overhyped or not, I love these guys.
Greg Macpherson Band- Night Flares
Another great singer/songwriter from Winterpeg. If I had to describe him, I'd say he's kind of a quirky, punk-rock Bruce Springsteen, except more Canadian.
i actually just got that ryan adams cd, and it is good..i just haven't been able to listen enough to put it on my list...but a worthy choice i'm sure!!!!
and matt mays, i thought was last year for some reason...but i guess not!!
1. North Mississippi Allstars- Electric Blue Watermelon
2. John Hiatt- Master of Disaster
3. Son Volt- Omekah.......
4. Black Keys- Rubber Factory ( I think was 2005, could be 2004)
I've decided my top three for sure...the rest are still waiting on the order...
1. Joel Plaskett - La de da
2. Sleater-Kinney - The Woods
3. Blue Rodeo - Are You Ready
4. Greg Keelor - Seven Songs For Jim
5. Sarah Harmer - I'm A Mountain
6. Cuff The Duke
7. Ryan Adams and the Cardinals - Cold Roses
8. Neil Diamond - 12 Songs
9. Corb Lund - Hair in my Eyes Like A Highland Steer
10. Neil Young - Prarie Wind
11. The Life and Hard Times of Guy Terrifico
12. Queens of the Stone Age - Lullabyes to Paralyze
13. New Pornongraphers - Twin Cinema
14. Strippers Union Local 518
Worst Album Ever: Weezer - Make Believe
My top 10, in alphabetical order:
Ani Difranco - Knuckle Down
Doves - Some Cities
Elbow - Leaders of the Free World
Fiona Apple - Extraordinary Machine
Iron & Wine - Woman King
Kings of Leon - Aha Shake Heartbreak
Ryan Adams & The Cardinals - Cold Roses (I actually like this one a lot more than Jacksonville City Nights)
Spoon - Gimme Fiction
Stars - Set Yourself on Fire
Stephen Malkmus - Face the Truth
I love these year end lists - gives me a lot of music to check out during Christmas vacation!
opiated Wrote:i actually just got that ryan adams cd, and it is good..i just haven't been able to listen enough to put it on my list...but a worthy choice i'm sure!!!!
and matt mays, i thought was last year for some reason...but i guess not!!
Perhaps you're thinking of his first album which was simply titled "Matt Mays". The new one is also self-titled, but he added "El Torpedo" to the name.
direwolf74 Wrote:opiated Wrote:i actually just got that ryan adams cd, and it is good..i just haven't been able to listen enough to put it on my list...but a worthy choice i'm sure!!!!
and matt mays, i thought was last year for some reason...but i guess not!!
Perhaps you're thinking of his first album which was simply titled "Matt Mays". The new one is also self-titled, but he added "El Torpedo" to the name.
no..i'm just slow sometimes..lol..the funny thing is i interviewed him when that cd came out and he was opening for blue rodeo!!
1-Bloodhound Gang, Hefty fine - got to be their best work every, great production, excellent music without the overtly rude or childish lyrics that made their last efforts a bit more of a challenge to love. Admittedly 'Foxtrot Uniform Chalie Kilo' does go down that route, but it is more of an education than a song :-)
And as a live band, this lot amazed me with their skill, comedy, on-demand vomiting, and interaction with the audience.
2-Mike Doughty, Haughty Melodic - Wow! I loved Soul Coughing (wife didn't) and was sad at their demise, but as it has produced this (alongside Skittish and Rockity Roll) then I can deal with it. From 'Looking at the world...' all the way through I can't find a weak song. Especially love 'Busting up a Starbucks' and a big fan of Dave Matthews on 'Tremendous Brunettes'
3-Imogen Heap, Speak for Yourself - Never heard of her, never heard of Fru-Fru (sp?) but my over the lane neigbour is a fan of at least one track so I had a listen at a Virgin Listening post & fell in love with her. 'Goodnight and go' ( a song about stalking) and 'Clear the area' two tracks standing out for me
4-Kate Rusby, The Girl Who Couldn't Fly - I like Kate, she signed my cd, and my 3 year old son likes her too because she has fairy lights on stage and has pretty hair. Who am I to argue? I admit I am a folk fan people :oops:
5-Starsailor, On the Outside - I have no idea why I like this, it is one of the few occasions I have bought an album after hearing one song where I find out the rest of it is bloody good too.
Mentions in dispatches to;
-Elbow, leaders of the free world
-Goldfrapp, Supernature (although the worst gig I have ever been to this year, boredom set in half way through...)
-Moby, Hotel - I don't care what Eminemineminem says, I like this guys recent efforts
-The Go! Team, TLS
Safe to say, I buy too many albums...
D
LizardKing51 Wrote:sherpahigh Wrote:Weezer was definitly the biggest letdown for me this year. Just very...meh
It definitely wasn't there best effort, and it took me awhile to get into it, but now I like it, We Are All on Drugs is a cool song..."give it to me!" I love that part.
We'll have to agree to disagree here I'm afraid. This is the worst of the year in my eyes.
I had high hopes too, I really wanted this one to restore my love of the band. The self titled album and Pinkerton are two fantastic albums. Seeing them in concert a couple years ago was great.
But this album was a huge let down to me. The new single "we are all on drugs", in my opinion is the worst of the lot.
sherpahigh Wrote:This is the worst of the year in my eyes
Guess you never heard the new Nickleback album yet?
sherpahigh Wrote:But this album was a huge let down to me. The new single "we are all on drugs", in my opinion is the worst of the lot.
I hear ya, don't get me wrong Im not saying its some masterpiece or even awesome, its Weezer's worst album by far. Ive always like them and always buy their albums, but after this I think the band has lost its focus and its "magic", there was always something different and fun about Weezer but I think that's starting to fade, I wouldn't be surprised if this is their swan song album..sadly to say. As for the song We Are All On Drugs, I just think its a fun song and I love when Rivers yells.. Give it to me!! Beyond that its nothing special. I'd love it if they made one more album and got back to what they do best, but Rivers Cuomo seems to be getting more eccentric and bizarre by the year so who knows what will happen. If you ever get the chance or if you can find it on the net, dig up Alan Cross's latest take on Weezer, the things he says about Rivers will shock you...he is one crazy dude!
I've had to tweak my list a bit since I gave the New Pornographers disc 20-30 spins in the last couple weeks. I can't leave any of these off the list so I'm staying with a top 25. If you only care about the top 10... well they're all in order.
1. My Morning Jacket - Z
2. Wolf Parade - Apologies to the Queen Mary
3. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Howl
4. Spoon - Gimmie Fiction
5. The New Pornographers - Twin Cinema
6. Queens of the Stone Age - Lullabies To Paralyze
7. Beck - Guero
8. The White Stripes - Get Behind Me Satan
9. Ryan Adams & the Cardnials - Cold Roses
10. Matt Mays & El Torpedo - Matt Mays & El Torpedo
11. Andrew Bird - Andrew Bird & the Mysterious Production of Eggs
12. Son Volt - Okemah And The Melody Of Riot
13. Oasis - Don't Believe The Truth
14. Robert Plant & The Strange Sensation - Mighty Rearranger
15. Sufjan Stevens - Illinoise
16. Neil Young - Prairie Wind
17. Iron & Wine - Woman King
18. The Go! Team - Thunder, Lightning, Strike
19. Joel Plaskett - LaDeDa
20. Franz Ferdinand - You Could Have it so Much Better
21. Stereophonics - Language Sex Violence Other
22. Audioslave - Out of Exile
23. Dandy Warhols - Odditorium
24. Foo Fighters - In Your Honor
25. The Hugh Dillon Redemption Choir - The High Cost of Low Living
Nine Inch Nails-With Teeth
QOTSA-Lullabies
Billy Corgan-The Future Embrace
Tony Yayo-Thoughts Of A Predicate Felon
System Of A Down-Mesmerize/Hypnotize
the only 6 that come to mind
plus all of the Stat Quo mixtape shit that came out...
I know I'll probably take some heat for this but...
The CD I've listened to the most that came out this year is
Coldplay - X&Y
Overhyped? Yes. But, these guys are good and I believe this to be their best album to date. Much better than A Rush Of Blood To The Head.