Best of 2005

Dan Waters

  1. SUFJAN STEVENS Illinois--surely all former and current Midwesterners can agree that this is the best disc of the year and the frontrunner for best of the 00's.
  2. THE NEW PORNOGRAPHERS twin cinema--one of those annoying bands that all rock critics cum over but I'm left wanting. Felt burned by their first two albums. Did a sighing, "Oh-all-right" purchase of this one...and what do you know, three's a charm, a goddamn masterpiece.
  3. THE WHITE STRIPES  get behind me satan--opposite of number two. Loved these fuckers from second one, but for some reason, this is the disc that my friends and family members did all the "Oh now I get it" warbling.
  4. ENGINEERS--Engineers For the love of God, THIS is a Coldplay disc that we don't have to be embarrassed to love.
  5. ANTONY AND THE JOHNSONS I am a bird now-- Gay and amazing. The aural equivalent of Brokeback Mountain--only this is actually worth the hype.
  6. NINE INCH NAILS  with teeth--didn't get the memo that it's no longer cool to like them. Still my favorite band of the modern era and shit.
  7. SIGUR ROS--um, they're unpronouncable new one--  How it can it be great? It's like all the other ones. The same thing can be said about blowjobs. Exquisite.
  8. M83--when the dawn comes to heal us--One of them there ambient discs and good as they get
  9. NOUVELLE VAGUE--three sexy girls doing sultry versions of the songs I listened to in college. I don't care if Larry humiliated me by discovering them in 2004, I'm in love
  10. IDIOT PILOT--like to reserve the ten spot for a disc I got in a used bin for under ten dollars. Imagine a band started by two brothers, one who loves Radiohead, one who loves Danzig

    And goddamn for Art Brut coming out before I could put it on a best of CD or List and if I put it on next year's list, I'll look lame.