ten and out

i'm not really sure what the next few weeks are going to look like as i head out to transit-free new york city for the holidays. given the unpredictability of such things i thought i'd finally toss out my top ten of the year today. in retrospect it wasn't necessary a strong year for music. there were undoubtably some great albums, but not very many discoveries. a lot of bands build some hype only to delay album releases (hello Love is All) while several bands have been kicking their heels over sophmore releases (every band in nyc 03) and a lot of stuff that had a newish sound was already in the consciousness if you were reading say fluxblog or music for robots in 04 (the go! team). i'm certainly not out to make an excuse for my list and it's all too familiar names. there's gonna be people who disagree, but this was an easy list to compile. i've linked tunes from my top 50 songs of the year where applicable.


(1) josh rouse - nashville
"Sad Eyes"


(2) the national - alligator
"Karen"


(3) decemberists - picturesque
"the Engine Driver"


(4) crooked fingers - dignity & shame
"Sleep All Summer"


(5) sufijan stevens - illinois

(6) boy least likely to - best party ever
"I'm Glad I Hitched My Apple Wagon to Your Star"


(7) new pornographers - twin cinema


(8) stars - set yourself on fire
"Reunion"

(9) robbers on high street - tree city
"the Price & Style"


(10) art brut - bang bang rock n roll
"Emily Kane"

five (mostly) non-music related great things in 2005:
1) World of Warcraft (2-3 three nights a week i'm an undead rogue named Box, pretty much ensuring i will remain single throughout 2006 as well)
2) Veronica Mars (best show on television)
3) flying out to SF to see Gang of Four with my friend andy
4) Batman Begins, Sin City, Wedding Crashers & 40 year Old Virgin
5) Robert Bechtle: A Retrospective @ SF MOMA (other highlight of my trip West)