Best Album Of 2005, So far... Options

[Industrial Kybos...]

I couldn't find a thread like this that had already been made. If there is one, I apologise. If there isn't, I await your apology. Jeez, you turn your back for a couple of months, and the whole of Media loses its damn standards...

For my money, best album so far has been ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead's 'Worlds Apart'. So beautifully multi-faceted, it'll take a lot to beat it, I tells ye.

Running close behind is Bright Eyes - a pair of spanking albums in 'I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning' and 'Digital Ash In A Digital Urn', both with some outstanding tracks.

And in the 'worth a listen' column, 'EP' by Fiery Furnaces. Quirky electo-power-pop? Yes please! And only a fiver from your local Music Zone - though good luck finding a copy now...

Finally, grinding the rumour mill, the new QOTSA album is pretty damn good. I gained a copy indirectly from Mark Lanegan - don't ask, it's a long story - and whilst it isn't a 'Songs For The Deaf' beater, it shows that Homme won't be flagging any time soon.

[saucy_tara]

Hmm, so far I would have to say "Push the Button" by Chemical Brothers, although I expect this will change when the new VNV Nation album comes out next month *bounce bounce*

[LoLo]

So far I think the best one I've heard is Mars Volta, Francis the mute. I haven't really listened to any other new ones that have impressed me. Ask me again in May though when the new NIN album comes out.

[PsychWardMike]

Hmm... I've not seen anything good yet, so I'll just say this: the best album thus far was the mix CD I just finished making. Mike's Greatest Hits Volume II. I could (and do!) listen to it all the time.

[Usurper MrTeapot]

Quite early for a 'Best of 2005' thread but fair dos.

I'm likewise looking forward to the new NIN album, heard the new single earlier in the week and it sounded better than the name of the album would suggest.

Also Bloc Party's latest work seems to be a favourite atm.

[Mata]

Hmm, so far I would have to say "Push the Button" by Chemical Brothers, although I expect this will change when the new VNV Nation album comes out next month *bounce bounce*

I've felt that VNV have been slipping a bit. Their first album is really good, the second is excellent, the third is very good too, but basically more of the same, and the fourth is a bit by-numbers. I'm hoping that they're going to go back to their old sampling ways and not let Ronan get too obsessed with singing. For me, their best tracks are the ones without lyrics, but this is something that they have been moving away from.

I'm not sure if it was released this year or towards the end of last year, but the Johnny Cash 'Unearthed' collection is fantastic.

[snooodlysnoosnoo...]

I've not bought any CDs this year but I'm with Lo and MrT, really looking forward to the new NIN album! I love the single and I'm really looking forward to seeing them on Wednesday to hear some more of the new stuff but at the same time I want lots of the old stuff to boot.

Anyway... I digress

[mooooooooooopo]

*pokes snoo with a stick and steals NIN tickets*

So yeah, self explanatory that I'm also looking forward to the new NIN album, apart from that the newest album I've purchased this year came out in 2001.

[Wookiee]

Early days yet, but so far I'm giving lots of attention to

Warnings/Promises by Idlewild
Rossz Csillag Alatt Szuletett by Venetian Snares
Blue-Eyed In The Red Room by Boom Bip
Some Cities by Doves
Wind In The Wires by Patrick Wolf
Government Commissions by Mogwai
Jesu by Jesu

All are most enjoyable and I'll be happy to explain why if anyone's interested

I am very excited to get my mitts on

Picaresque by The Decemberists
Arula by M. I. A.
Surrounded by Silence by Prefuse73

Also, I heartily recommend Shake The Sheets by Ted Leo & The Pharmacists, which has been released here in the UK in the last month or so, but has been floating around on import since September last year. So y'know. Not perhaps technically a 2005 album, but equally technically is a 2005 album. Dig?

[CommieBastard]

I have yet to buy any CDs released this year, but when I get the chance I'll grab Daft Punk's new album, Human After All, and get back to y'all.

Edit: having listened to a few tracks through illicit channels, it sounds like a damn fine album, easily on par with Homework and Discovery. I'll definitely be buying it.

[CommieBastard]

I have also just heard that there is a new Gorillaz album coming in May - but apparently not produced by Dan the Automator. Tricky. Time shall tell...

[Forever Unknown]

I have also just heard that there is a new Gorillaz album coming in May - but apparently not produced by Dan the Automator. Tricky. Time shall tell...

No. It's produced by someone else who is, I'm told, wicked. I don't know who. Pete does.

But heard a track of it and it's really rather fun.

Anyway. Something relevant:

I'm not sure I'm looking forward to new Nine Inch Nails... The problem with everything Trent does is that it'll either be magnificent, for it'll go tits up. I enjoyed The Fragile more than most people, but, y'know, we've been waiting for this new material for six years now, and it could be a huge let down.

[Wookiee]

I have also just heard that there is a new Gorillaz album coming in May - but apparently not produced by Dan the Automator. Tricky. Time shall tell...

While Automator shall be missed, he's busy with the new Franz Ferdinand effort, which is certainly an interesting proposition. Meanwhile, Gorillaz have enlisted the mighty Danger Mouse, who is frankly f***kin' incredible. You may have heard of him last year when EMI axed his remix of The Beatles' White Album with Jay-Z's Black Album, cunningly titled The Grey Album (BBC News). However, he deserves more recognition for his work with emcee Jemini The Gifted One; the album, Ghetto Pop Life is one of my favourite hip-hop albums ever, as DM's production is stunning and Jemini's flows are funny, political and very sexy. He's also supposed to be working with MF Doom on an album under the heading DangerDoom, surely an effort to match last year's Madlib/Doom collaboration, Madvillain.

Anyway; new Gorillaz track, Feel Good Inc, with De La Soul = the sex. Pitchfork review here and news and the song itself at Danger Mouse's own website. Single out May 9th, album, Demon Days, May 23rd. Should be superb.

[mooooooooooopo]

I'm not sure I'm looking forward to new Nine Inch Nails... The problem with everything Trent does is that it'll either be magnificent, for it'll go tits up. I enjoyed The Fragile more than most people, but, y'know, we've been waiting for this new material for six years now, and it could be a huge let down.

If the rest of the new album is anywhere near as good as 'The hand that feeds' it'll be amazing, the only thing that annoyed me about that track was the complete lack of repetition in the first half of the song then then _very_ repetitive last minute or so. Maybe that's just me.

[CommieBastard]

Well, I bought Human After All, and it's definitely got my vote at the moment for best album of 2005 (admittedly it is the only album of 2005 I've heard yet...). A move away from the mainstream commercialism of Discovery, it's fresh and interesting without being too far abstracted from the dancehall. Great album.

[Industrial Kybos...]

Quite early for a 'Best of 2005' thread but fair dos.

Not at all, dear boy. The fun of it is watching people change their minds as new, more exciting albums get released. Fun fun fun...

Nothing better than the Trail Of Dead album has yet to catch my ears. I thought the Daft Punk offering was OK, but suffered from being too repetitive, and ultimately quite dull by the end - quite like the last Prodigy album. I will say, though, that it vastly outshines Moby's effort, which made all the staff present in Music Zone wilt like celery in a blast furnace. So utterly dull it was almost offensive...

I've got my eye on the forthcoming Belle & Sebastian album, and like most people here I am eager for some NIN action. The Gorillaz album has promise, also. Could be a good year.

On a last note, I bought the Arcade Fire 'Funeral' album not long ago. It's lush - as if Modest Mouse had spent more time listening to Mercury Rev - but there seems to be some confusion as to whether it was released last year or this. Any ideas, ya'll? It's a bloody good effort, whichever way you slice it.

[CommieBastard]

Funeral was released February 28th of this year in the UK, but September 14th of last year in the US.

[Industrial Kybos...]

Grrrr.... That helps not my situation. Thanks anyway, Komrade.

Well, it's a brilliant album, whichever way you slice it.

[Wookiee]

I had my Funeral slyly imported shortly after it's US release and was very happy that I did. So it won't make my 2005 list, 'though it would, 'cause it's ace.

Arula by M.I.A. and Picaresque by The Decemberists are both utterly superb. Surrounded By Silence by Prefuse73 is a lot of fun, especially for the appearances by The Books and Beans, the latter laying the best vocal on the whole damn album on a track that's a mere 90 seconds long.

School Of The Flower by Six Organs Of Admittance and Iron And Wines Woman King EP are the prettiest releases I've heard since January; Woman King particularly is indespensible.

And New Order do the same old thing all over Waiting For The Sirens Call, but it doesn't matter 'cause it's New Order, they still sound wicked and it's perfect for all this unseasonable sunshine we're having.

[Greeneyes]

Gonorea - Documenting the Love and Faeces of a robot

You know you love it too.

[Novander]

Running close behind is Bright Eyes -  a pair of spanking albums in 'I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning' and 'Digital Ash In A Digital Urn', both with some outstanding tracks.

Yes. This.

Idlewild and Hell is for Heroes have both brought out albums that, despite being fantastic, didn't tickle me the same way their previous stuff has.

Oh, and the new Atticus: Dragging the Lake CD (volume 3, I think) has some awesome tracks on it (lydia, the kinison and motion city soundtrack, yay!).

[Wytukaze]

Hmm.. Well, I've been busy buying albums recently. Several aren't 2005 releases, which is a shame, because Relationship of Command by At The Drive-In is an easy favourite of mine.

Of the 2005 albums, I'd have to go with The Arcade Fire - Funeral. It's awesome.

Coming up a close second are the Kaiser Chiefs with Employment. The lyrics can be a bit simple at times, but even so, are pretty damn amusing. The musical side of it is just.. yay.

Following them is another UK-not-US 2005, Rilo Kiley - More Adventurous. I was wary of it being called "jazz-rock fusion" by some at first, but it's brilliant. "Love and War (11/11/45)" is one of my favourite songs at the moment, I suggest you have a look-see.

4th is The Mars Volta - Frances The Mute. Placing TMV anywhere lower than 1st or 2nd is rare for me, and this shows my frustration at the album. It's still a great musical entity, but the over-preponderance of random noises grates on my ears a bit, at least when listening to the tracks independently. TMV are all about the arty side of things, but De-Loused In the Comatorium struck a much finer balance between art, story and musical quality in my eyes. Or ears.

Beyond that, my shockingly poor memory wins again. I'm fairly certain there were more, but never mind.

Albums I'm looking forward to would most certainly include System of a Down's twin albums Mesmerize and Hypnotize. The first will be released around May in the US, with the second around 6 months later, and I'm salivating at the thought, even to point where I'm considering importing, something I rarely do. Then again, importing can make you lose out on bonus tracks.. Damn.

[Jonman]

I've been trying not to buy much music as we're trying to tighten our belts a little, but far and away the best so far has been the latest Venetian Snare release, tongue-twistingly titled

"ROSSZ CSILLAG ALATT SZÜLETETT"

It features classical strings, east european beat poetry and mad 200 bpm+ cut-up amen breaks.

You can't say fairer than that.

However, all this may change in a week, when Autechre's new one "Untilted" is released (and no, that's not a typo).

Although one online acquaintance who's been privy to an early release described it as "made entirely from samples of the noise of two men disappearing up their own arses"

And again, that might all change again 2 days afterwards when the charmingly named Shitmat releases his new LP, and then again a month later when Mr Snares releases his 5th record this year (he's a busy fellow).

[Wookiee]

However, all this may change in a week, when Autechre's new one "Untilted" is released (and no, that's not a typo).

Although one online acquaintance who's been privy to an early release described it as "made entirely from samples of the noise of two men disappearing up their own arses"

Isn't that the sound they've been making for the last five years?

I'm really enjoying new Snares. I was about ready to give up on him after some of the dreadfully pointless arse he put out last year (except for This Bitter Earth, which was stunning). I'm pleased he's sorted himself out.

Shitmat does my head in, though. Very amusing, especially live, but prolonged exposure is bad for me.

The only Planet μ release I'm excited for is the Frog Pocket album, which I'm assured is on its way.

[Alanity]

The new Mindless Self Indulgence album is ace. Short, sweet, and very fun. There's something deeply wrong with the thought of them covering Tom Sawer though....