This week, instead of my usual ramblings on things that get on
my nerves, you get something different. The dB Magazine editors and
everyone in the music section submitted their top ten albums of the
year lists, and an overall top ten was created using some crazy
formula involving a lot of numbers that I could never hope to
understand. In any case, I’ll now list the dB Magazine
choices for the best albums of 2005.
10. Sigur Ros, “Takk” ““ I wasn’t high on
this album until I saw them at the Hollywood Bowl. While
they’ve actually chosen a language to sing in, to my dismay
(Icelandic gibberish, it seems), their dreamy soundscapes are as
righteous as ever.
9. Sleater-Kinney, “The Woods” ““ The
hardest-rocking album of the year. Don’t fall into the
stubborn male “Band with three girls = Lilith Fair”
mindset like I did, this owns.
8. Wolf Parade, “Apologies to the Queen Mary”
““ Any band who names their debut album after the fact that
they were the only band ever thrown off the Queen Mary for bad
behavior rocks.
7. New Pornographers, “Twin Cinema” ““ A great
album full of power-pop melodies, “Twin Cinema” may be
the New Pornographers’ best album yet. However, upon further
thought, this album just misses the cut and if I had to do it all
over again I’d probably replace this on my list with one of
the other entries.
6. MIA, “Arular” ““ Listening to MIA on her
album doesn’t do her justice; her set at Coachella this year
was the only time I’ve seen a legitimate encore. I prefer her
“Piracy Funds Terrorism” mixtape with Diplo, but this
works.
5. LCD Soundsystem, “LCD Soundsystem” ““ The
first track is gold. The rest? Maybe I just don’t get it.
4. Kanye West, “Late Registration” ““ Jon
Brion’s production defines this album. Our list did ignore
two great hip-hop albums (Edan and Muggs/GZA), and that’s a
shame, but Kanye deserves a spot if only for making Adam Levine
cool.
3. Fiona Apple, “Extraordinary Machine” ““
I’ve had the Jon Brion version of this album since May, which
Allmusic.com calls “(Brion and Apple) indulging in their
worst tendencies, creating deliberately difficult, obtuse, baroque
art-pop … that barely lets listeners into their world.”
I’m down. Why change it? Regardless, I don’t think this
album is a top ten release in any form.
2. Andrew Bird, “Andrew Bird & The Mysterious
Production of Eggs” ““ I have a friend who IMs me every
few days to talk about music. One artist he talks up is Andrew
Bird. I was ignoring his advice due to a fall-out from our Fantasy
Baseball league, but perhaps I should listen. Then again, that big,
fat “Adult Alternative” label doesn’t excite me.
Great title, though.
1. Sufjan Stevens, “Illinois” ““ I screwed up.
I left this off my list, but after listening to it more I’m
down with Sufjan. This album is such a crazy, theatrical ride that
I can’t help but smile. I don’t know if it’s
quite the best, but it may one day become my favorite album of
2005.
Almost every person had a different number one album which no
other person even put on a list, like Nada Surf, the Jimmy
Chamberlain Complex and Erin McKeown.
I had one like this, too. My number one was Stephen
Malkmus’ “Face the Truth.” I’m dismayed,
however, that the Mars Volta’s “Frances the Mute”
got shunned. Yes, it’s pretentious, difficult and
outrageously self-indulgent.
Yet sometimes, a great album is one that divides people and gets
them talking. Isn’t that one of the main functions of
art?
I could go on about omissions (Dungen) and baffling choices, but
one thing is clear: the list may be relatively safe, but there is
still some great music on it.
Lastly, my “awards” ““ Most Disappointing
Album: The White Stripes’ “Get Behind Me
Satan.”
Most WTF (as in cool) Album: The Fiery Furnaces’
“Rehearsing My Choir.”
Album Most Resembling A Muffin (in that the top is tasty and
filled with flavor, but once you finish that part, you’re
left with a stump): Bloc Party’s “Silent Alarm.”
(Just try to listen past “This Modern Love.”)
Most WTF (as in bad) Album: The Mars Volta’s
“Scabdates” (too dense even for me).
Best Reissue/Compilation: Dinosaur Jr.
Worst Reissue/Compilation: At The Drive-In’s “This
Station Is Non-Operational.”
Worst Album By A Lousy Artist: Scott Stapp’s “The
Great Divide.”
Worst Album By A Good Artist: Weezer’s “Make
Believe.”
Coolest Album Nobody Listened To: Seu Jorge’s
“Cru.”
That’s all. Have fun with New Year’s Resolutions.
Mine? To like a Belle & Sebastian album for the first time.
Toodles.
If you disagree with Humphrey’s assessment of
“Silent Alarm,” e-mail him at
mhumphrey@media.ucla.edu.