It's about that time again! Best of 2005!

[sxesven]

So, what are your favourite releases of 2005? Some geek underground indie rock album no one ever heard of? That Madonna album? Something good? Something bad? I reckon 2005 was an excellent year for music and had a boatload of brilliant releases. So please, do post your lists of favourites! And if you feel like it, a little comment with each of them would be very welcome. Can't wait to see everyone's lists (because, hell yes, I LOVE lists).

My list of 2005 is as following (in somewhat of an order):

1. Iron & Wine - Woman King
Just an EP, just six songs, but not just songs. As ever, Iron & Wine has created, once more, truly beautiful music that brings tears to the eyes; a hushed voice, soft guitar picking, and, new this time, somewhat 'heavier' arrangements (as audible on the opening and closing tracks). Astonishing.

2. Fiona Apple - Extraordinary Machine

So everybody said it would suck. So everybody thought it was a bad, bad move to ditch Jon Brion and get Mike Elizondo to produce. And everybody was wrong. Granted, with a Jon Brion production the album might have been even better, but not much, because Extraordinary Machine is, once again, a masterpiece.

3. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Clap Your Hands Say Yeah

Amazingly energetic record in the vein of Neutral Milk Hotel and the like, but more cheerful and happier and dancy. Fascinating stuff, and highly satisfying. Best debut of 2005!

4. Antony & The Johnsons - I Am A Bird Now

Antony already won the Mercury Prize this year, and well deserved it too. I Am A Bird Now is an album that's so beautiful, it hurts. A thrilling voice and superb arrangements, in combination with gripping lyrics ("Hope there's someone/that will take care of me/when I die") make for an astonishing album.

5. Calexico | Iron & Wine - In The Reins

Now, I like Calexico a lot. And I simply adore Iron & Wine. So you can imagine how much I like this EP. Very, very much. Seven songs (of which only one, Red Dust, is a tad weaker), including brilliant works such as 'Sixteen, Maybe Less' ("I met my wife at a party when I drank too much/My son is married and tells me we don't talk enough"). Beautiful.

6. Devendra Banhart - Cripple Crow

Devendra is the man. He pretty much helped to gain recognition for the freakfolk-scene single-handedly (having promoted artists like Joanna Newsom, Antony, and Vetiver) and makes some f'n sweet albums, too. Cripple Crow is no exception. Excellent!

7. Angels Of Light & Akron/Family - Akron/Family & Angels Of Light

Eh, wow! While the Angels Of Light songs are excellent, the Akron/Family compositions are beyond brilliant. Too awesome. Too great. So, yeah. Awesome.

8. Six Organs Of Admittance - School Of The Flower

More brilliant freak-folk, although Six Organs Of Admittance draws his influences from elsewhere, which is very much audible. His noisy interpretation of hushed guitar music is astonishing.

9. Aimee Mann - The Forgotten Arm

You can't go wrong with Aimee Mann. You just can't. She's brilliant. Every single album she releases is rock-solid from start to finish. Just like this one. Not one weak song. Amazing.

10. Vashti Bunyan - Lookaftering

Vashti returns to the folk-scene after 35 (long years)! Yay! And it's not just an album she released here, hell no, it's Lookaftering. Beauty expressed in near-silent stillness. *sniff* Amazing.

11. Animal Collective - Feels

Animal Collective? They're crazy, yo! Hell crazy! Just like this album! Hell crazy, although not as crazy as previous efforts. But still crazy! Yo. Crazy!

12. UA - Breathe

Last year, UA released Sun, which is one of my all-time favourites. While Breathe is not as good as the genius Sun, it's still astonishing. Just excellent.

13. Sufjan Stevens - Illinois

This Stevens-kid is doing a series of records, each one of them dedicated to one of the states of the USA. He did Michigan before this, and now it's Illinois. And it's great. I love how Illinois sounds, I reckon.

14. MU - Out Of Breach (Manchester's Revenge)

Demented electro? MU is what you're looking for. "Stop bothering Michael Jackson"? "We love guys named Luke"? I'm lovin' it.

15. Andrew Bird - Andrew Bird & The Mysterious Production Of Eggs

Great album, highly recommended to everyone. Good stuff!

16. Animal Collective & Vashti Bunyan - Prospect Hummer

Animal Collective ánd Vashti Bunyan?! teh!

17. Orange Juice - The Glasgow School

Brilliant collection of demos, lives and other rarities of one of the most overlooked post-punk/new-wave-ish bands of the 80s.

18. Architecture In Helsinki - In Case We Die

Hell yes.

19. Explosions In The Sky - The Rescue

Totally.

20. Mono/Pelican - Split

Mono <3

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So, of course, this could very well be a different list in three months, but still, it's nice to make 'em. Can't wait to see other lists!