Best of 2005
Jack
Singles, Songs and iPods rips. A year when I'm more likely to be playing a mix via iTunes than listening to CDs.
- Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - s/t
A quirky combination of Talking Heads beat, Luna's groove with a dash of old weird country. Stayed in the CD player most of the year and got deeper with each listen.
- The White Stripes - Get Behind Me Satan
Not the big noise of recent albums but a broadening of the musical palette for Jack White. Often more pop, country and blues than bombast.
- My Morning Jacket - Z
Forget the guitar jam sound of this band and meet the new psychelic / Radiohead Americana.
- The Magic Numbers - s/t
Pure pop from England. If Cowsills if they took acid they may sound like this.
- Bruce Springsteen - Devils & Dust
America's best short story writer takes on the voices of the downtrodden.
- Amy Rigby - Little Fugitive
With a keen eye on the ironic Rigby delivers another gem. Filled with songs that speak to the adult experience.
- Los Super 7 - Heard It On The X
Plug into this journey through Texas boarder radio in the 50's & 60's. A wonderful stew of Tex Mex, Rock and Blues song by the likes of John Hiatt, Joe Ely, Lyle Lovett and Rodney Crowell plus many more.
- Bright Eyes - I'm Wide Awake It's Morning
Sure Conor Oberst is the next "big thing" and shows he's got the goods on this homage to protest folk music albums of the 60's.
- Alejandro Excovedo String Quintet - Room of Songs
An exquisite album of Alejandro channeling his songs through a classical muse. Who knew a string section could rock out like this?
- Robert Plant and the Strange Sensation - Mighty Rearranger / iTunes Sessions
A surprising CD. Delightful mix of Middle Eastern, folk and zep rock. Plant continues to not rest on his history but forges on with new musical mixes.
Near misses and close calls
Bettye LaVette - I've Got My Own Hell To Raise
James McMurtry - Childish Things
Shannon McNally - Geronimo
John Prine - Fair & Square
Fiona Apple - Extraordinary Machine
Wilco - Kicking Television Live In Chicago / A Ghost is Born - Tour EP
Kate Bush - Aerial
Coldplay - X&Y
Jack Johnson - In Between Dreams
Nic Armstrong & The Thieves - The Greatest White Liar
Re- visits and reissues:
Bruce Springsteen - Born to Run 30 th Anniversary Edition
Patti Smith - Horses / Horses 30 th Anniversary Edition
Bob Dylan - No Direction Home: The Soundtracks - Bootleg Series Vol. 7
Gang of Four - Entertainment
T-Rex - Born to Boogie
Blues
A genre in need of a boost.
- Tab Benoit - Fever For The Bayou
- Heartless Bastards - Stairs & Elevators
- Marcia Ball - Live Down The Road
- Hubert Sumlin - About Them Shoes
- Precious Bryant - The Truth