soundtrack 2005 - my year in music


i am in no way qualified to be a music critic, but then again, who really is? it's that time of year when "best of" lists come out for any and everything, but every list is subject to each publication's, webzine's or person's unique taste. this year, i bought less music than i have in the last several. i don't know if i branched out much. my list isn't very inclusive. i won't try and encourage those that read this that your life will be worse off if you don't have these cd's in your collection, rather i will just be thankful that these bands/people have provided the background noise for the most topsy-turvy year of my life. reflecting back on the soundtrack of my 2005, these are the records that garnered the most playing time (along with some other random thoughts accompanying them):


(Ten) - Death Cab for Cutie - Plans - Andy's encouraged me into this band (you will note this recurring theme) for a while now, but it wasn't 'til Plans that I gave them a fair shot. The music is quite soothing and soft without being too soothing or soft, and the melodies will get stuck in your head for days. I have to be in the mood for this, but this year I was in the mood for it early and often. Still am. If I can only get it back from Sarah...

(Nine) - Coheed and Cambria - Goodnight Apollo...(blah, blah, blah) - You know how you go to some movies for the escape of it all? Just for the experience? And you really like the movie? But then you hear a lot of people talking shit about the movie because it isn't Citizen Kane or because they think it's lame? The same kind of thing happened with me and this album. I really was looking forward to it. I really dug the last album. I like that it has a story it asks you to follow, but even if you don't, the songs stand alone. This album was more of the same from Coheed, and I was OK with that. These guys are incredible musicians. Incredible. That is also obvious. Riffs to spare. Awesome vocals. One of my songs of the year. I loved this record. I also liked Godfather, part 3. What of it?

(Eight) - Mae - The Everglow - The second (of three) Andy bands to make the list. Listening to this record is like watching a Disney movie. Not the deepest story. Not revolutionary in it's artistic expression, but made with 100 percent love that pours out of every melody. Rock with heart. I ate this up like it was going out of style for a couple months.

(Seven) - The White Stripes - Get Behind Me Satan - I've always liked The White Stripes. They had me at Fell in Love with a Girl and I haven't let go since. This is their best album yet. Blues-punk, baby. It doesn't get any grittier, but lovely, than this. Another song of the year finishes this album off at quite a different tempo than some of their rockers, but it is a sweet (like a kitten) ender to a sweet (like a kick in the ass) album.

(Six) - Armor for Sleep - What To Do When You're Dead - The first great album of my year. A concept album, but not a shitty concept like a bad Pink Floyd album. It's the ultimate take on not knowing what we've got 'til it's gone. Kicks off painful and badass and ends very melancholy (but resigned) and badass. Great rock record.

(Five) - Thrice (final Andy band)- Vheissu - Boy was I disappointed on the first listen through this album. After the first track, it was all calculated and moody and...different. But like Violet's boyfriend on The Incredibles, "I like different...different's good." It was good. I just had to change my expectations, and not only did I find a great record but my song of the year in the fold as well. Not as rockin' or "metal", whatever that means, as their previous effort, but a solid start to my top five.

(Four) - Wilhelm Scream - Ruiner - I thought this would be my album of the year after my first listen. I really did. And it's not that I felt this got worse, just that the top three were a tad better. The first album in my top ten that I can listen to straight through, every time. Every song is different, but every song is definitely Wilhelm Scream. Fast, sometimes real fast, furious punk rock with ton's of sing-along and melody. My wet dream. That is until my dream changed with number one...

(Three) - Fiona Apple - Extraordinary Machine - I am getting a bad rap for all my Rent bashing amongst the "I love musicals" crowd. And that's OK. I still think Rent sucks. And no, I still haven't seen, nor will I, see the lifechanging musical movie of the year. But it's ironic in my list of songs of the year comes one from Fiona that could have jumped right off a stage somewhere. The first and title track kicks off a heartbreaking album from a heartbroken girl that was just what the doctor ordered for the heartbroken little boy that dwells inside this 29 year-old man's body. Beautiful. Catchy. Wonderful.

(Two) - BearvsShark - Terrorhawk - My favorite band. Now deceased. Only yesterday did I hear of their passing. Such a shame. I should've known it was too good to be true. Spastic fast. Spastic slow. Vague at times lyrics. Always intriguing. Always worth wondering what was coming next. Such was this album and this band. Rest in peace, guys. You will always carry the torch of what rock should be in my eyes.

(One) - Propagandhi - Potemkin City Limits - I could go on about this motherfucker for days. I won't. Propagandhi only put out records every five years or so, and that's a shame, but it also makes something like this album that much more endearing. It's as fast as Wilhelm Scream. The melodies and riffs take a few listens to completely grab hold of you. What sets these guys and this album apart from the pack (so far above the pack i cannot even explain) this year? They are pissed off. Like my dear, sweet Fiona exclaims, "This is not about love!!!" But then again, it is. In their own way. These guys should make "christians'" boots shake. Why? Because they are about as anti-church and anti-religion as it gets, but they seem to get it. They still have a primitive care for and want for every human being to be treated equally and fairly, not just those that are privileged enough to live in the United States. Not just those that have money. Not just those that tithe to their local church (or government). Even the poor deserve love. Even the ugly. Even our enemies. Even kids that play basketball in churches that they are not members of. All of us. Some people would say that's God moving in them even if they don't want Him to or acknowledge it. Maybe I would too. It doesn't matter, though. Being pissed is one thing. Being able to express that anger in an intelligent and thoughtful and musical (incredibly talented musicians) way is just about impossible to find these days. Thank you, Propagandhi, for reminding me of why I fell in love with "punk" music many years ago. This album rules my world...

...and my year.


Songs of the Year:

every song on potemkin city limits
fiona apple - extraordinary machine
coheed - welcome home
white stripes - i ain't that lonely yet
thrice - like moths to flame

just missed:

alkaline trio - crimson
system of a down - mesmerize