!earshot Top 200 of 2021

Best of 2005

Also check out the most under-rated, most over-rated and best local releases of the year.

While the charts sometimes suggest there is a consensus about what everyone thinks is the best of the year, when you start talking to individuals you find that everyone has there own ideas. And what a crazy, diverse set of favourites it is. We talked to people from around the land about what was thrilling them this year.

a) I Wayne - Lava Ground – (VP)
Loved hearing the song 'Can't Satisfy Her' while in Trinidad Carnival 2K5 and found the album to be strong on a whole. This guy appears to mean what he says and has a fresh sound. The one and only problem I had with him has to do with the following pick for my Top 3...
b) Shurwayne Winchester - Give Thanks – (JW Productions)
Shurwayne is King again. Regardless of debate, he was crowned and his winning song 'Dead or Alive' would bring anyone to their feet. This says 2005 more than any other jam I know (yeah... count it for real). I Wayne tried to bring soca to a pagan level with some comments in an interview and got called out by Bunji during a concert in Toronto. It's not just the tempos that are increasing in both genres... tempers flare!
c) My last pick (but in no order) is too difficult. There are so many great albums of 2005~ my database is full of them so email me and I can tell you.

#1.Opeth-Ghost Reveries - (Roadrunner Records)
The one band that's not afraid to
explore the boundaries of music and still be proud to be more than your
average Metal band...Opeth are...OPETH!A class/genre of their own!!!
#2.Between the Buried And Me - Alaska - (Victory Records)
Not a afraid to wear their influences on their sleeves yet remain unique at the same time.
#3.Nevermore - This Godless Endeavor - (Century Media Records): Year after year, they
just keep upping the ante...no one can touch the guitar work of Jeff Loomis.

Honourable Mentions in no particular order:
Dark Tranquillity – Character - (Century Media)
Hypocrisy – Virus - (Nuclear Blast)
Strapping Young Lad – Alien - (Century Media)
Norma Jean - O God!The Aftermath - (SolidState)
Mors Principium Est - The Unborn - (Listenable)

In No Particular Order: (I Haven't Gotten That Far Yet)
Sharp Like Knives - No Pressure - (Youth Club)

The Decembrists: Songs About Whales, Soldiers,
The Old-Timey Days And Much MoreOh gawd is right! Everythingi love about halifax math rock and they've thrown in some super spazzy keyboard parts.
The Decemberists - The Picaresque - (Kill Rock Stars)
Hands Down, The Best English Major-Rock Album Ever!
Songs About Whales, Soldiers, The Old-Timey Days And Much More. "The Sporting Life" Shows Their Ability To Turn The Beat Up A Little Bit And Shake Your Pantaloons. Also, One Of The Best Live Performances I Caught In 05.
The Burdocks - What We Do Is Secret - (Black Mountain)
The most complete sounding burdocks album to date. Filled with positive angst (if there is such a thing). Another great live band, and an album that is amazing from start to finish.

#5 Howard Shore - A History Of Violence – (Decca)
Fresh off of his Oscar winning scores to The Lord Of The Rings, Howard show’s no signs of slowing down. Poignant and stirring “A History Of Violence” is an amazing score, a solid #5
#4 Alex Wurman - March Of The Penguins – (Milan)
Never has the plight of penguins been so interesting. Alex’s score adds an extra emotional level to this documentary. This moving and beautiful score is a perfect fit to this film.
#3 Robert Rodriguez, Graeme Revell & John Debney - Sin City– (Varèse Sarabande)
This three composer score has a fantastic flow and helps bring the world of Sin City to life. Much of this score is in your face and it doesn’t let up. Of special note is ”The Hard Good-bye” section of the score done by Revell.
#2 Harry Gregson-Williams - Kingdom Of Heaven– (Sony Classical)
A beautiful score that immediately sets us in that era. Gregson-Williams’ blend of ethnic music with standard scoring is perfect for this movie and the score stands as a great example of Harry’s talent as a composer.
#1 John Williams - Star Wars-Episode III: Revenge Of The Sith – (Sony Classical)
Some may say that it is cliché to put this score in the #1 position. However, John Williams has done an amazing score for the final chapter of the new trilogy. Seamlessly combining his well-known themes with some solid new scoring, Williams has proven again that he is the master of film music. Of special note are the cues “Battle Of The Heroes” and “Anakin’s Betrayal” these solidly place this score the in #1 Position.

Akron Family/Angels of Light – Split; Bill Holt - Dreamies 2006 Edition; Diskette s- Weeknights at Island View Beach; Acid Mothers Temple - IAO Chant from the Cosmic Inferno; Oneida - The Wedding; Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings - Naturally; Dandi Wind - Concrete Igloo; Pajo - S/T; Black Mountain - S/T; Swell Maps - 7 inch box set; Negativland - No Business; Novillero- Aim Right for the Holes in Their Lives; Sunn O)))- Black One; OOIOO- Gold and Green; Landing- Brocade; Bunny Brains- Box the Bunny; General Elektriks- Cliqueety Kilqk; P. Miles Bryson- Megalomaniac Decorators Quarterly; Windy and Carl - The Dream House; Black Angels -4 song EP; Kinski - Alpine Static; Hair Police- Constantly Terrified; Circle- Forest; Comus- Song to Comus (re-issue); Dead Meadow- Feathers;
And so on and so on....

Numero uno: LCD Soundsystem - LCD Soundsystem – (DFA)
Best...hooks...ever. paying homage to daft punk, one of the former-kings-of-alt-house-turned-pitchfork-refuse, by saying they played at their house was very classy of them. Also, James Murphy et al put on the most sweat-inducing show that i went to this year (opera house/toronto/may).
Numero two: Final Fantasy - has a good home – (Blocks recording Club)
I first heard CN Tower Belongs to the Dead in a student film and lumped it into "lap top electronica" that wasn't very interesting. When i finally picked it up, i was astounded at how beautiful the arrangements were. And when I saw Owen Pallett live, I was blown away by the sheer awesomeness of his one-man-band act, totally flipping my opinion. Any boy who can loop his riffs like that and layer them so flawlessly on stage is A-OK with me.
Numero tres: Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - ? - ?
Without any distinguishable lyrics, this album was still the catchiest thing since sliced bread. even their horribly unlively-live show (toronto/horseshoe tavern) didn't detract from the album's beautiful songs. Some of the songs are dancey as hell.

1. Iron & Wine / Calexico EP In the Reins – (Overcoat Records)
Both bands are brilliant and bringing them together produced something even more exceptional. As one reviewer put it:“there isn't a disappointing song anywhere on this record.
2. Abigail Washburn - Song of the Travelling Daughter – (Nettwerk America)
This artist melds Appalachian music and bluegrass with Chinese folk music to make us wonder why no one thought about trying this sooner.
3. Nickle Creek - Why Should the Fire Die - (Sugar Hill Records)
It's hard to believe that this group has been together more than ten years when they are all still in their early 20s. This is a folk/bluegrass album that shows what a bunch of child prodigies who are now maturing both musically and lyrically can do.

William Elliott Whitmore - Ashes to Dust - (Southern)
Something new to me that got me wanting to dig a little deeper. Awesome vocals.
Big Business - Head For The Shallow - (Hydra Head)
Driving, fist pumping rock!
Unsane - Blood Run - (Relapse)
See above. Best one trick pony ever.

This One's For Barney by Canadian guitarist Andrew Scott; After Four and More a local London jazz vocal and accapllea group and The Clayton- Hamilton Jazz Orchestra.

in alphabetic order.
Arizona Amp And Alternator - Arizona Amp And Alternator – (Thrill Jockey)
Howe nails 'low spark of the high heeled boy' like it hasn't been nailed before, not even by traffic. I was singing it and/or the title cut in the shower for a month.
The Black Angels - the Black Angels – (Light In The Attic)
Organ drone love.
Boredoms - Seadrum/House Of Sun – (Vice Recordings)
Tribal rhythm love. W/more in common w/alice coltrane than one might realize.
Bright - Bells Break Their Towers – (Strange Attractors Audio House)
guitar love.
Dungen - Ta Det Lugnt – (Kemado Records)
Prog rock love in a foreign language. W/wicked evil hooks to boot.
Ezeetiger - Ezeetiger – (KSR)
geek love.
Jesu - Jesu – (Hydra Head Records)
Think of the pitch perfect whiney shoe-gazing pop song. Think of a droning dirgy metal epic. Now smash them together like a reeses peanut butter cup. Mmmm tasty.
Jonathan Kane - February – (Table Of The Elements)
Long form tribal blues love.
Kahil El'Zabar's Ritual Trio - Live At The River East Art Center – (Delmark)
Full of warmth and action and solos w/the odd spoken word piece thrown in. Sets up a sonic environment in the room that i akin to a fireplace, a bearskin rug and another warm body.
O Spirits - Mrs. Housewatcher +1 – (UUnited Acoustic Record Company)
Fuck love. Hands down the best single of the year. Organ, guitar, metronome like drums and simple sparse lyrics.

1. Echo & The Bunnymen: Siberia (True North)
Their best record in 20 years, Lay Down Thy False Gods and Groove.
2. New Order: Waiting for The Siren's Call (Warner)
The return of the Elemental New Order - Loads of Sunshine and Sex.
3. Morrissey: Live At Earls Court (Attack)
Dorian Gray throws flowers...loudly!

Arcade Fire – Funeral – (Merge)
A brilliant album and even more so in an environment of formulaic, predictable music. No wonder they’ve been adopted by the whole world.
Wolf Parade - Apologies to Queen Mary – (Sub Pop)
Yet another example of Canada's disproportionately large share of the world's musical talent. Whether you credit them to Victoria, Montreal or Isaac Brock, it’s a phenomenally listenable album, front to back, back to front and over and over and over...

Wolf Parade managed to both top the charts
and yet were still though over-rated by some.Sufjan Stevens – Illinois – (Asthmatic Kitty) Breathtakingly beautiful, even when he sings about psychopathic murderers. A brilliant epic album with an even more epic (perhaps less brilliant) ambition for future albums of the state-to-state series.
Bloc Party - Silent Alarm – (Vice)
For a group so young, this is an amazingly well-developed, textured sound. Irresistible, intriguing and incredible. The next generation of Brits look to continue the talent of their native land.
Caribou – Milk of Human Kindness – (Domino)
No change of name or scene can hold this man back. Dan Snaith is a genius, simple.
Jens Lekman – Oh, You’re So Silent Jens – (Secretly Canadian)
Jens is a natural songwriter and storyteller who has made an album that wraps itself around you like a warm blanket of nostalgia and happy hum-alongs. If only this label’s namesake was accurate!

Olivier Desmet - 1+1 – (Amenti Music)
This has got to be the most amazing collaboration of smooth house and deep soulful bits in a long time. With artists such as Oriental Funk Stew, Chuck Diesel, B McCarthy, Spettro and Chris Lum it’s a stellar combination. It's much like Nordic Trax's Necessary Pieces from years ago, brilliant!
www.amentimusic.com

King Britt - Late Night with King Britt – (Swank)
On his second chapter of the Late Night series we hear more melodic sounds and heavenly voices spread throughout the mix cd. Although the mixing seems to stray away from his usual perfection I forgive that and concentrate on the fantastic selection of songs. Plantlife and Solu Music make the top favorites with their enchanting rhythms and broken beat signature style of arrangements.
www.swankrecordings.com

Gavin Froome - Underground Heroes – (Nordic Trax)
I've always found Froome to be an innovative and sometimes daring producer when it comes to underground house music. His styles on this album are fresh which makes it nice for new and old floors and for people who aren't necessarily knowledgeable of house making it easy to swing them into any groove.
www.nordictrax.com

Acid House Kings ­ Sing Along With… - (Twenty-Seven):
This album is pure pop perfection. There are more handclaps and finger-snaps than even The Magic Numbers could manage.

Great Lake Swimmers ­ Bodies and Minds ­ (Weewerk/Misra)
Tony Dekker’s hushed voice and the gorgeous acoustics of this album, coupled with songs of heart breaking beauty; are incomparable.

Novillero ­ Aim Right For The Holes In Their Lives ­ (Mint)
This album proves what those of us who’ve seen them live in the past few years already knew ­ this is an amazingly tight rock band with energy and hooks to spare.

1. British Sea Power-Open Season - (Rough Trade):
The second CD put out by British Sea Power is almost perfect. They have streamlined their sound from their debut without losing any of their eccentricness. It is one of the few CDs where the first half is good and the second half is even better. From the anthemic "Please Stand Up" to the country twang of "Victorian Ice" to the lyrical curiosity "Oh Larsen B", in 2005 BSP jumped from strength to strength.
2. Kaiser Chiefs-Employment - (B-Unique/Universal): "I Predict a Riot" was the first track I played in 2005 way back in January and then throughout the year The Kaisers kept on releasing fantastic single after single.
Definitely not the most "artistic" CD of the year but it was the one disc that I kept on coming back to time and time again. They brought back the Brit Pop sound of 1994 and they actually had fun in the process. Nice one lads!
3. Editors-The Back Room - (Kitchenware Records Ltd): Message boards are lighting up these days comparing them to Interpol and Joy Division. These comparisons are not too far off the mark. They manage to bring anthem like choruses to their somewhat doom and gloom sound. One day other bands will be compared to Editors.

Chad Van Gaalen made some
big waves this year.Jon-Rae and the River - Old Songs for the New Town – (Permafrost)
Wickedly sharp gospel ragers. Amazing stuff.

Chad Van Gaalen - Infiniheart – (Subpop)
A bedroom-recorded headphone album full of lovely stories.
Tons of Fun University - The Them They're Talking About – (Mother Press Media)
See question 2.

Honourable mention:
K'naan – The Dusty Foot Philosopher – (Track & Field)
Fresh, socially aware hip-hop. A clever mockery of the glamourous world of rappers.

1.The Clientele - Strange Geometry – (Merge)
2.Jose Gonzalez - Veneer – (Hidden Agenda)
3.The Ponys - Celebration Castle – (In The Red)
Far too hard to justify picks which depend so much on the day the list is made.

My pick for favorite album of the year, while technically a 2004 release, is Vancouver's self titled Pink Mountaintops. This one enjoyed heavy rotation all year long. Tight yet unpretentious, my only complaint about this playful little gem is it's over too soon. Sexytime!!

Diana Panton - ...yesterday perhaps - (self-produced)
Diana is an amazing young Canadian talent who has already won wide acclaim. He vocals aresweet and innocent. Joining her on this album are two of Canada's finest: guitarist Reg Schwager and pianist/bassist Don Thompson (who also co-produced the album).

Susie Arioli Band featuring Jordan Officer - Learn To Smile Again – (Justin Time)
This collection of bittersweet compositions (6 by Roger Miller) will help you get over your breakup with 'him' or 'her' withouttrivializing or cheapening the experience.

Best personal campus/community radio moment or experience.
The outstanding moment of 2005 came on  Feb. 20. My guests on the show that night were country queenbee Carolyn Mark and Miss Amy Honey from Redcat Records. The girls had just finished caw-cawing along to my crow hunting 45 and were busy working it out to Tom Jones' "She's a Lady". When my relief showed up, he spotted the Fear and Loathing soundtrack beside the CD player and told us Hunter S. Thompson had just shot himself. We all stayed up all night drinking in Hunter's honour.