Top Twelve Albums of 2005

Some of you are in the e-mail loop. For those who aren't, I do this every year. It's usually my "Top Ten", but I made two glaring omissions with my original list. I threw them in here because they deserve some props. Post yours!

High on Fire – Blessed Black Wings
It was tough to pick a "#1" from this year's stack. But there was no other album I listened to more than this one. Smokin' rock-metal with some of the deadliest chops I've heard in a while. Not the type of music for everyone, but it makes me want to tackle a yak running at full speed and body slam it. The riffage at the end of "The Face of Oblivion" will set your brain on fire.

Sleater-Kinney – The Woods
The ladies bring the rock on what's probably their best album. Not an entirely new sound for them, but straight-up rock music suits them pretty well. I was lucky enough to see them three times this year, and the new tunes slay live. They even covered Danzig's "Mother" before the Pearl Jam Ottawa show and it was totally badass. Chicks playing guitars=HOTT.

Queens of the Stone Age – Lullabies to Paralyze
I've been a hardcore fan since the very beginning, so to see everyone jump on their bandwagon is a bit unnerving. But if anyone deserves commercial success, it's the brilliant musician Josh Homme. Like he says himself, "Rock n' Roll should be hard enough for the boys and sweet enough for the girls." That's exactly what this album is.

Nine Inch Nails - With Teeth
Trent sobered up in the 2K5 and it had a pretty big impact on his music. For the most part it's a "pop-industrial" album, and 10 years ago that probably would have really pissed me off. But alas, I'm an old man now and pop is where it's at. His new band rules too.

Ween – Shinola Vol. 1
Doesn't qualify as new material – it's a collection of unreleased tunes from various stages of the dudes' career. But only Ween can put out an album of cast-offs that's far superior to most other shite out there. As with any Dean and Gene album, it's deeply eclectic and psychedelic.

The White Stripes – Get Behind Me Satan
He could have just stuck to the same formula as the past couple albums and cashed in anyway. But Jack used the piano a lot more on this one, and even threw in cool shit like xylophones here and there. These people need some sun.

Beck – Guero
After totally killing all our buzzes with the last album, Beck got back into party mode. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely loved Sea Change. But sometimes you just wanna shake it, and this weirdo can help you in that department - especially with this new one.

My Morning Jacket – Z
I guess this year's theme is "thinking outside the box", because this one strayed a little from the typical "MMJ sound". A little less southern rock, a little poppy, a little funky, but all awesome. Dude loses points though, because he sold out the scene and cut his hair.

Dead Meadow - Feathers
Slow, droning, massive stoner rock. I saw these guys live before I picked up any of their albums, and was thoroughly impressed with how huge they made their sound, given the rather mild content. And much to my enjoyment, they capture it pretty well on this album.

The Mars Volta – Frances the Mute
At first I didn't like this album. Then I liked it. Then I didn't like it again. Then I saw the live show and loved it. Now I just like it. Hey Doc, I'll have what they're having.

Moistboyz - IV
This one totally caters to the unwashed masses - and I'm not talking about hippies. These dudes totally embrace their rural white trash Pennsylvania roots, and unleash it through harsh, raw, and dirty rock n' roll. But they're not just songs about drinking beer and fighting. Some very surprising leftist political rants interspersed with wailing solos.

The Constantines – Tournament of Hearts
I always run out of things to say by the end of these lists. You'll have to take my word for it - this is a fantastic album. As the prolific rapper MC Pelto says, it's a good "city at night" record.

That's about it for this year. Hope you had a good one, and if this is the last post of 2005, I wish you all the best in 2006!

A view from the peanut...er..."press" gallery

Montreal, QC
12.09.2005
United Nations Climate Change Conference