caffeine-headache

{Best Albums of 2005}

Before I run off about my favorite albums of 2005, read this hilarious bit:
How To Make A Hip End of the Year 'Best Albums' List.

Now then...around this time of year when I begin to sort through all the albums that I've listened to it begins to become painfully clear just how obsessive-compulsive I am about music, but that's a whole other story. So, let’s get some obvious choices out of the way...here are 15 albums that are likely albums to pop up on plenty of year end lists...and for good reason.

Kings of Leon- Aha Shake Heartbreak
M.I.A.- Arular
The Decemberists- Picaresque
The Arcade Fire- Funeral
Sufjan Stevens- Illinios
Kanye West- Late Registration
Bloc Party- Silent Alarm
Antony & The Johnsons- I Am A Bird Now
Bright Eyes- I'm Wide Awake It's Morning
Clap Your Hands and Say Yeah- S/T
The Futureheads- S/T
Death Cab For Cutie- Plans
Sigur Ros- Takk
B.R.M.C.- Howl
Gorillaz- Demon Days

These would all likely make my list as well, but I'm going to assume you've heard of most of these artists and point you towards some albums that you may have missed (in no particular order)...I've inserted links to artists' sites and/or their MySpace pages and threw in a dozen or so Mp3's...so here goes...

*Aimee Mann- The Forgotten Arm
(For fans of Aimee Mann or Jon Brion, Listen from her MySpace here)

*British Sea Power- Open Season
(For fans of glam or Brit pop, Listen from their MySpace here)

*The Mountain Goats- The Sunset Tree
(For fans of Bright Eyes, Mp3: "This Year")

*Art Brut- Bang Bang Rock and Roll
(For fans of The Fall, Listen from their Myspace here)

*The Perishers- Let There Be Morning
(This is the kind of album Coldplay would kill to make, Listen from their MySpace here)

*Amadou & Mariam- Dimanche a Bamako
(For fans of world music or Manu Chao, Mp3: "La Realite")

*Final Fantasy- Has A Good Home
(For fans of pop and classical music, Listen from their MySpace here)

*Supergrass- Road To Rouen
(For fans of Brit pop, Listen from their MySpace here)

*Thao Nguyen- Like the Linen
(For fans of Beth Orton or Erin McKeown, Listen here)

*Stars- Set Yourself on Fire
(For fans of Pop music, Listen from their MySpace here)

*The Tears- S/T (For fans of Suede, Mp3: "Lovers")

*Architecture in Helsinki- In Case We Die (For fans of indie pop, Listen here)

*Echo & The Bunnymen- Siberia
(For fans of new wave, Listen here)

*Miss Alex White & The Red Orchestra
(For fans of garage rock, Mp3: "Don't Turn Me Up")

*Michael Penn- Mr. Hollywood Jr. 1947
(For fans of Aimmee mann or Jon Brion, Listen from his MySpacehere)

*Goldspot- Tally of the Yes Men (For fans of early Radiohead, Listen from their MySpace here)

*Jamie Lidell- Multiply
(For fans of soul and electro, Mp3: "Multiply")

*Sons & Daughters- The Repulsion Box (For fans of indie or alt. rock, Listen from their MySpace here)

*Maximo Park- A Certain Trigger
(For fans of post punk, Listen here)

*Eels- Blinking Lights and Other Revelations
(For fans of Beck's quieter moments, Mp3:"Blinking Lights For Me")

*Frog Eyes- The Golden River
(For fans of experimental rock, Listen from their MySpace here)

*Audio Bullys- Generation
(For fans of The Streets or Dizzee Rascal, Listen from their MySpace here)

*Herman Dune- Not on Top
(For fans of Joanna Newsom or Belle & Sebastian, Mp3: "Not on Top")

*Jackson & His Computer Band- Smash
(For fans of electro or Aphex Twin, Listen from their MySpace here)

*Tom Vek- We Have Sound
(For fans of post punk and electro, Listen from his MySpace here)

*Felix McTeigue- Radio Perfecto
(For fans of Ron Sexsmith or David Hopkins, Mp3: "El Paso")

*The Willowz- Talk in Circles
(For fans of garage rock, Listen from their MySpace here)

*Gogol Bordello- Underdog World Strike
(For fans of gypsy punk, Listen from their MySpace here)

*Someone Loves You Boris Yeltsin- Broom
(Mp3: "House Fire")

*Giant Drag- Hearts and Unicorns
(For fans of Alt. Rock, Listen from their MySpace here)

*Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings- Naturally
(For fans of sweet soul music, Mp3: "How Long Do I Have To Wait")

*Scott H. Biram- Dirty Old One Man Band
(For fans of punk or blues, Mp3: "Blood, Sweat, and Murder")

*The Robot Ate Me- Carousel Waltz
(For fans of Flaming Lips, Listen from their MySpace here)

*Benny Benassi & The Biz- Satisfaction (For fans of Electroclash, Listen from their MySpace here)

*Brazilian Girls- S/T
(For fans of Blondie or dance music, Mp3: "Pussy")

*Kelley Polar- Love Songs of the Hanging Gardens
(For fans of electro or dance, Mp3: "The Rooms in My House Have Many Parties")

*Josh Rouse- Nashville
(For fans of Wilco, Listen here)

*Idlewild- Warnings/Promises
(For fans of The Smiths or R.E.M., Listen from their MySpace here)

*The Boy Least Likely To- The Best Party Ever(For fans of Belle & Sebastian, Listen from their MySpace here)

*Cut Copy- Bright Like Neon Love
(For fans of New Order or Daft Punk, Listen from their MySpace here)

I'm positive I left out alot of good albums, but I had to cut this off somewhere...this was getting ridiculous. So, feel to post your lists in the comments box.