Best of 2005

Larry K's Top Ten 2005

My top ten comes in five sets of 2:

THE MASTERPIECES

The White Stripes - Get Behind Me Satan

Sufjian Stevens - Come On Feel The Illinoise

These are the 2 albums we will be playing 40 years from now. Not a bad track on either one of them. I give Jack White the edge because I saw the Stripes in concert and they were fanfuckintastic. I would like to point out that I'm not a bandwagon jumper - Mr. Stevens was on my list last year and the Stripes have never made my list before.

Key Tracks: White - Whole Album

Sufjian - Chicago, Jacksonville, Gacy, Decatur, Come On Feel The Illinoise

THE FUNKSTERS:

John Legend - Get Lifted

Kanye West - Late Registration

Legend has the better album - a true meeting of old school and new rules. But Kanye said "George Bush doesn't care about black people" and won my heart forever.

Key Tracks: John - Refuge (When it's Cold Outside), Ordinary People

Kanye - Gold Digger, Heard 'em Say

THE QUIET COMEBACKS:

Neil Young - Prairie Wind

Maria Mckee - Peddlin Dreams

I know. They never really went away. But they have not been this good in a zillion years. Tracy Chapman's "Where You Live" is runner up in this category.

Key Tracks: Young - When God Made Me, The Painter, This Old Guitar

Maria - Turn Away, Season of the Fair

THE AMERICANA INDEPENDENTS:

Matt Sweeny & Bonnie "Prince" Billy - Superwolf

The Mountain Goats - The Sunset Tree

These guys are on my list every year. Someday they'll be on yours.

Key Tracks: Goats - Dance Music, Dilaudid, Pale Green Things

Billy - Bed is for Sleeping, Blood Embrace

THE MY SHIT DON'T STINK

Bright Eyes - I'm Wide Awake It's Morning

Bright Eyes - Digital Ash in a Digital Urn

Quite a year. Hell, quite a January. Both are great. Fuck those who piss on the digital.

Key Tracks: Awake - We Are Nowhere And It's Now, At The Bottom Of Everything

Digital - Take It Easy, Arc of Time

RUNNER UPS:

Fiona Apple - Extraordinary Machine

Ryan Adams - Jacksonville City Nights

Sharon Jones - Naturally

Lori Mckenna - Bittertown

Imogen Heap - Speak For Yourself

 

SINGLE OF THE YEAR : Kelly Clarkson - Since You've Been Gone

A perfect pop song. She's the real deal. Breakaway is a great song, too.

Runner up - Weezer - Beverly Hills