Here’s the long-awaited (hehe) final list, The Best Albums of 2005. I’d love to hear your comments!

Best Albums, Music

Fiona Apple – Extraordinary Machine
Like I said when I reviewed this earlier in the year, this girl can write a break-up song. Her passion and wordiness is a perfect blend on this album. It’s angry one moment and heart-breaking the next. Add a little bit of odd accompaniment choices and styles and you get the perfect album for cult fanaticism, if she didn’t already have it.

Devendra Banhart – Cripple Crow
It’s hard not to look at this album’s cover and not think its a direct reference to Sgt. Pepper. And this is a modern Tin Pan suite, of sorts. I chose this album not because its art house. I chose it because it makes me happy when I listen to it. When I spun this in the ol’ iPod this year, one of the songs would come on when I was walking and it would put a little bounce in my step, like with “I Feel Just Like a Child”, “Chinese Children,” and “Long Haired Child.” Sure, a few lines from “Little Boys” creep me out (”I see so many little boys I wanna marry.”), but all in all, it’s a rather pretty album with a wild side. Did I say it makes me smile?

Best Albums, Music, Davendra Banhart, Fiona Apple

As 2005 is fast coming to a close, I thought it good to look back over the past year. In the sidebar I’ve added some “Important Posts” that sum up last year quite well. If you haven’t been reading my blog from the beginning, or you would just like to look back at some of my favorite posts, check it out. Soon I’ll put up a picture gallery of 2005 that goes back even farther than this blog (I only started this blog in May).

Regarding my ‘pretentious’ best albums of 2005 (which I will post fully at year’s end), I have to mention How To Make A Hip End of the Year ‘Best Albums’ List. I found it after posting Part 9 of my own list. It is quite possibly the funniest blog post that I’ve read all year. So what if I like to make lists? So does Betsy. And I was honest with my list, regardless of its credibility outside of my two-person circle (Bets and me). hehe.

2005, Year in Review

Nickel Creek – Why Should the Fire Die?
A bluegrass opus, mixed with a little indie rock. Reminds me of good ol’ Habersham days, in a good way. This is mountain music, sometimes with a lot of energy, but often just slow porch music, with a nice mixture of both male and female vocalists. Instrumentation is steeped in banjos, guitars, mandolins and the like, with light percussion (not even drums) on most songs.

John Mayer Trio – Try!
If this weren’t live, I would probably hands-down say that this was his best album. The only weak points on the entire thing are when the stupid audience sings along with him on the few (2) tracks that they actually know. He’s too much of a showman (and that makes me like him even more) to not say “You sound beautiful.” But, John Mayer will never be free of his popularity with this crowd. I can see why he has changed directions with this band and album. It’s kind of funny to me to think that this crowd probably had no idea what they were getting into when they came to this concert. I mean, they are expecting “Body is a Wonderland” and they get “Another Kind of Green.” Maybe one day he’ll get so ambitious that he’ll scare off everybody and play what he actually wants to play. This is a man’s album for sure. He’s left the boyish charm of his earlier lyrics. Sure, he’s still charismatic in concert, but his song lyrics have moved on. I can’t wait until he’s 35. He’ll be known in the ranks of Eric Clapton by then. But, until then, this album (even if it is just an “experiment” as he says on his website) will suffice quite nicely.

Juanes – Mi Sangre (Tour Edition)
This one is a stretch for 2005, I know. This was one of my favorites of 2004, and they rereleased it in a new package with new songs for his 2005 tour. But, its got a new cover and new tracks, so it will do for my 2005 list. Juanes has managed to stay under the “pop” English-speaking radar and still sell out venues all around the United States, including Atlanta. This makes me quite happy. This is Latin music, not American pop music. Sure, there are things that some people find “cheesy” because they don’t know Latin music. But, its good Latin music. His lyrics are varied on this album, from love ballads to club dancealbe pick-up lines to songs to his daughter to political rock. I give him one more album in Spanish before somebody tries to sell him to English-speakers.

Best Albums, Music, John Mayer, Nickel Creek, Juanes

Martha Wainwright – Martha Wainwright
Can this family do any wrong, musically? I don’t want to attribute it all to genes, but this woman has talent. Admitedly, I first listened to this album because of her relation to our boy Rufus. But that quickly vanished as we developed a love for her songs all on their own. Her lyrics are often playful and heart-tugging at the same time. Her wordplay is fun, and she reveals a lot of personality through it. With each listen, a little more is revealed, making this an extremely satisfying album.

Rolling Stones – A Bigger Bang
A laid back Stones makes for a great album. You can just hear that they are laid back in the music. It reminds me of my Dad and me when we are playing together with no one else to even hear. And often it leads to the best music, as in this case. Almost sounds classic even though it’s new. I mean, how old are these guys?! I hope my Dad and I can sound this good in 20 years.

Best Albums, Music, Martha Wainwright, Rolling Stones