Here's the Decapolis writers' Top 10 (or so) albums of 2005... 
 
Julia Zulia-Tolosa
 
Last year Decapolis received over 475 albums for review.  While I try to listen to each album before I send them off to the writers, in my old age it’s taking more and more to grab my attention and keep it.  Here are my top 3 picks of the year.
 
1. The Wilderness: S/T
John Johnson’s album loosely following the life of a girl who flees to the circus.  ‘Love and Hate’ could rank in my top 20 songs of all time. 
 
2. Alkaline Trio – Crimson
Not my favorite A3 release, but a good one nonetheless. 
 
3. Paul Anka – Rock Swings
I got married this year, and this album was in the reception rotation.  Mixed with Nat King, Ella, and Billie was Mr. Paul Anka and his covers from Van Halen’s ‘Jump’, to Oasis’s ‘Wonderwall’.
 
 
Most Disappointing of the year:
 
Billy Idol: Devil’s Playground.  What the heck?  This album was terrible.  His voice still sounds amazing, but that's about it.
 
Honorable Mentions:
 
The Myriad: You Can’t Trust a Ladder
The Mars Volta: Frances The Mute
House of Heroes: S/T
Sigur Ros: Takk
Raveonettes: Pretty in Black
 
 
 
 
Peter Veness takes a look back at a quietly remarkable year in music - where hype surrendered to songs.
 
1. Sufjan Stevens: Come On! Feel The Illinoise
 
Stevens’ ability to mould the stories of Illinois with elegant and sometimes elegiac compositions while occasionally finding the moral in the story marks him as a rare and welcome talent.
His songs are fresh and heady, whether it’s the breathy female voices of the title track or the cajoling rumble of The Man of Metropolis Steals Our Hearts, Stevens offers a hopeful perspective and the most beautiful compositions.
With two states down on his ambitious project the Michigan native should already be celebrated as a rare and joyous talent.
 
2. Sleater-Kinney: The Woods
 
From the opening wall-of-squall it was clear the trio were dismantling what had come before and replacing it with a larger vision.
Instead of the short fire Ramones inspired punk offerings listeners were met with a band finally free to play what ever it was they wanted to and boy did the arguments and breakdowns inspired by producer Dave Fridmann pay off.
The opening track The Fox is arguably the most sonically confronting song of the year – bruising guitars struck against the caterwauling voice of Corin Tucker.
The Woods proves any band can work for a decade and not have found their voice but now Sleater-Kinney has.
 
3. The Juliana Theory: Deadbeat Sweetheartbeat
 
It is all about consolidation on The Juliana Theory’s fourth studio LP. Their songwriting is more focused, gone are the unnecessary and unnatural histrionics that were so heavily criticised on their last album.
Replaced with what Juliana always did best, rhythmic rock songs that nod toward The Who as much as they do Smashing Pumpkins and Fugazi. Singer Brett Detar handed in the preaching lyrics of Love and reverts to what he does naturally; tell stories about people and the intimacy and heartbreak they share.
He might see Deadbeat as a suite of break-up songs but there is optimism amongst the hurt.
 
4. Sigur Ros: Takk
 
What Sigur Ros give us is an idea of just how infinitesimal humanity is. They replace chorus and verse with music that mirrors creation – grand, magnificent and often daunting. 
If ever mere rock musicians were to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize it should be the Icelandic lads for they remind us the world is not a cold, dead place and we should embrace each other for more than a moment.
They’ve done all of this and managed to keep moving forward artistically, Takk is their most pop orientated album yet and is filled with blustering drums and angelic vocals – just what you want from them.
 
5. The Lucksmiths: Warmer Corners
This Melbourne band has been delivering lyrically deft pop music for well over a decade and this time they have surpassed even 1997s critically acclaimed A Good Kind Of Nervous.
While accessibility has always been a standard for the trio they haven’t sacrificed musical progression. On Warmer Corners there are broad horn sections, warbling guitars and an almost Irish jig and none of it sounds out-of-place, especially when wrapped through Tali White’s soothing voice.
The stand out might is middle-album ballad If You Lived Here, You’d Be Home Now. It showcases chief songwriter Marty Donald’s subtlety and the whole band’s ability for restraint.
 
6. Bright Eyes: I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning
It was early in the year and the music press was unapologetically in awe of Conor Oberst – he owned the number one position on the Billboard while signed to an indie label and was touring the world to critical and fan acclaim.
His mixture of unapologetic political outrage and personal, diarised heartbreak delivered an album heavy with brilliance but occasionally lacking vitality. The studio strips Oberst of energy but any problems with energy are forgiven on stage when Oberst’s timidity and good looks provide the backdrop to an awe-inspiring live performance.
 
7. Antony and The Johnsons: I Am A Bird Now
Antony Hegarty’s distinctive and heartbreaking voice is, as it always has been, at the centre of his band’s music. Here he channels Nina Simone and album guest Boy George while retaining an absolutely unique musical vision.
The androgen his public face plays on is the most significant theme of this, his second album. My Lady Story and For Today I am a Boy are the most obvious meditations on gender.
But Fistful of Love, complete with spoken word intro from Lou Reed, is the album’s strongest point. The song initially appeared on a 2004 EP but here it sounds so much better with Hegarty rejoicing and demanding to be given fistfuls of the best love over the top of a superb brass jam.
 
8. The Mars Volta: Frances The Mute
Slowly The Mars Volta are crystallising their vision. It could take another couple of albums but on Frances The Mute we see a band in a transition of sorts.
There is less of the dripping water atmosphere and more actual music on this second LP, driven by the songwriting of Omar Rodriquez-Lopez.
More so than any other rock band today, people are utterly divided by The Mars Volta – you either get them or have nothing but disdain for their wild pomposity. But those who do not understand should not be mistaken, The Mars Volta do not hearken back to Yes or Pink Floyd but are perhaps the most forward looking back in rock today.
 
9. The New Pornographers: Twin Cinema
The New Pornographers might just be the most likeable band in the world. They are idolised by power-pop purists as the genre leader and every indie music fan will defend them for their songwriting ability while an increasing number of their fans are being won over by their children playing Twin Cinema to them.
Led by Carl (AC) Newman, Twin Cinema is far from simple but is amongst the most accessible guitar pop made this decade.
When the whole band bursts into chorus on The Bleeding Heart Show you know The New Pornographers are not interested in impressing you – they just want to own your heart.
 
10. Between The Buried and Me: Alaska
 
Oh sweet metal lords – how I though Kiss had died and not only died but been forgotten.
I shouldn’t have been worried.
Between The Buried and Me are chaotic, brutal and completely entertaining. You might choose to imagine Fear Factory with a taste for mathematically precise hardcore. There are lashings of Mr Bungle, Dillinger Escape Plan and a hefty dose of the aforementioned masked ones. But on top of that when they slow down, Between The Buried And Me deal in calypso riffs and chilled piano runs.
It sounds ridiculous and it is – that’s what makes it the most entertaining metal album of the year.
 
 
 
Chaz Murphy
 
1. Funeral Diner: The Underdark
They put out one of my favorite releases last year and this year is no different. Very dark artistic screamo. Amazing album!
 
2. Bane: The Note
One of the most popular and best hardcore bands in the scene today. This is there most dynamic and complex record to date. Best hardcore album of 2005.
 
3. Against Me!: Searching For A Former Clarity
Favorite punk album of the year. I love every song on this album a lot of it has become very personal to me. I love this band.
 
4. Johnny Cash: The Legend Of Johnny Cash
The man is black is dead but his legend lives on. This is the best collection (on one disc) of this greatest work. This is a record that every Johnny Cash fan has to have.
 
5. Modern Life Is War: Witness
One of the most versatile hardcore bands around today. They expanded their sound and showed their artistic wings on this album. D.E.A.D.R.A.M.O.N.E.S is the best song of the year.
 
6. Dropkick Murphys: The Warriors Code
Working class Irish boys from Boston. Funny, emotional and all out Celtic punk rock.
 
7. A Wilhelm Scream: Ruiner 
Great mix of straight up punk/”emo” and metal. Very powerful and fast paced album. Couldn’t stop listening to it for about 2 months.
 
8. Paint It Black: Paradise
Sophomore effort from my favorite punk band. Very Solid. Not as good as CVA but still amazingly fast and hard.
 
9. Miles Away:  S/T
Favorite hardcore debut album from a band from Australia. They will be blowing up the USA in no time. Very solid poppy style hardcore.
 
10. Rumbleseat: Is Dead 
Complete discography from members of Hot Water Music. It’s country/bluegrass/acoustic greatness.
 
Honorable Mentions:
 
Project X: Straight Edge Revenge
Classic long out of print hardcore album. Reissued and now available for all.
 
Disengage: Application For An Afterlife 
Great straight up Tool influenced rock album.
 
Ten 33: Nightmare On Grace Street
Great new hardcore band from Richmond VA. Solid effort.
 
The Finale: Things Can Still Get Better 
A weird guilty pleasure for me. Pop punk that I absolutely loved.
 
Boy Sets Fire: The Day The Sun Went Out
Reissued classic hardcore album from 1997. One of my top ten favorite records of all time but I don’t think a reissue can make top ten.
 
This Is Hell: S/T
Brand new hardcore band from NY. Solid sound that is influenced from American Nightmare. Very good.
 
Bear Vs. Skark: Terror hawk 
Great sound from MI. Solid sophomore effort but their debut was better.
 
Bravo ******* Bravo: II 
Great screamo/hardcore band from CT.
 
Gorillaz: Demon Days 
Another guilty pleasure.
 
Comeback Kid: Wake The Dead 
Not as good as their debut. Their sound changed but it’s still pretty rad.

 
  
Luke Kruse
 
1. Sufjan Stevens: Illinois
From the time I pre-ordered this album in May on, Sufjan Stevens’ masterpiece Illinois was never far from my stereo.  At turns heartbreaking and hopeful, Stevens’ 77-minute ode to the land of Lincoln is, quite remarkably, never boring.  From the brilliant orchestration found on the title track to the quiet strums of “John Wayne Gacy,” Illinois is a musical feast not found on any other record in recent history. Steven’s poignant lyrics tie all the songs together, creating the best record of 2005.
 
2. Bright Eyes: I’m Wide Awake, Its Morning
Conor Oberst, AKA Bright Eyes, released two records on the same day early this year, the electronic affair Digital Ash in a Digital Urn and the more stripped-down, I’m Wide Awake, Its Morning. The latter is Oberst’s folk-country album, and while it is scary to throw around names like “Bob Dylan” and “Neil Young,” one finds it hard not to hear this album’s tales of loneliness, love, and politics without thinking of those legends.  I’m Wide Awake perfectly captures what it feels like to be a twenty-something without all the answers.
 
3. Sigur Ros: Takk
Sigur Ros make music on a level of beauty that is difficult to put to words.  Takk, while not expanding the band’s sound to new levels, is certainly the most surreal listen of the year.  Try listening to “Glosoli” without your pulse quickening just a tad in preparation for the inevitable crescendo that somehow exceeds expectations every time.
 
4. The New Pornographers: Twin Cinema
Twin Cinema provided an infusion of fun into the musical landscape of 2005.  The delightful pop songs on this record dared you not to hum, sing or tap your feet along with them.  Frontman A.C. Newman more than holds his own, but it is the scene-stealing vocals of songstress Neko Case that make for the best moments on Twin Cinema
 
5. The Mars Volta: Frances the Mute
Frances the Mute is an incredibly frustrating album.  At times I think it is the best album ever, but most of the time the last thing I want to listen to is five minutes of chirping bird noises, which one must put up with when they listen to Frances; however, under the right conditions, the genius of this prog-rock behemoth of an album more than makes up for its over-indulgences.
 
6. Animal Collective: Feels
It took me a while to “get” the Animal Collective.  “Feels” is the least strange of their albums to date, but there are still enough bizarre sounds to please those who appreciate eccentric music.  The psychedelic sing-alongs on “Feels” are both creepy and endearing. 
 
7. My Morning Jacket: Z
Z strikes a perfect balance between being both accessible and experimental.  Z is what Coldplay might sound like if they grew up in Kentucky and listened to a steady diet of Radiohead, Bob Marley and Lynard Skynard. 
 
8. Akron/Family: Akron/Family
The Akron/Family came out of seemingly nowhere to create a debut record that turned heads everywhere.  Best described as experimental indie-folk, the songs on this record have an organic warmth that will have you coming back for more.
 
9. Broken Social Scene: Broken Social Scene
One of the more anticipated releases of 2005, the new Broken Social Scene record seemed to disappoint as many expectations as it met.  The Toronto-based indie rock collective made an album that takes a few listens to grasp, but once one does they would be hard pressed to find more exciting songs than, “Ibi Dreams of Pavement” or “Windsurfing Nation.”
 
10. Stars: Set Yourself on Fire
“Set Yourself on Fire,” released in Canada in 2004, saw US release early this year and was one of my most listened to albums of the year.  Stars created a magnificent album of wide-eyed electronic-tinged pop songs for those with broken hearts.  Lead track “Your Ex-lover is Dead” is a song that, if there was any justice in the world, would be a Top 10 hit.
 
Ten more great records from 2005:
Bonnie Prince Billy & Matt Sweeny: Superwolf
Wolf Parade: Apologies to the Queen Mary
Pelican: The Fire in our Throats Will Beckon the Thaw
Iron & Wine: Woman King EP/ In the Reins EP
Ryan Adams: Cold Roses
The White Stripes: Get Behind me Satan
Spoon: Gimme Fiction
Copeland: In Motion
Decibully: Sing Out, America
Low: The Great Destroyer
 
Biggest Disappointment of 2005 – Dredg: Catch Without Arms
These guys followed up their art-rock opus “El Cielo” with a radio-friendly snoozer of an album that wore out its welcome after a few listens.
 
Worst Album of 2005 – Weezer: Make Believe / Nickelback: All the Right Reasons
I think I threw up inside my mouth a tad when I heard “Beverly Hills.”  This once captivating band is officially dead to me.  As for Nickleback, well, its Nickleback.
 
Best Song of 2005 – Stars: Your Ex-Lover is Dead
I first heard this song on headphones while on a Greyhound bus traveling across the country.  It was the middle of the night and I was immediately taken in by the gorgeous dual vocals courtesy of Amy Milan and Torquil Campbell.  As the simple yet attention-grabbing chorus of “I’m not sorry I met you / I’m not sorry its over / I’m not sorry there is nothing to save” mixed elegantly with the horns, strings, and pop guitar riff, I wanted nothing more than for the song to never end.  I must have listened to this song three times in a row, another twenty on that Greyhound trip, and another hundred throughout the course of the year.  A perfect pop song.
 
Worst Song of 2005 - Nickelback: Photograph
Again, its Nickelback.
 
Five Best Concerts of 2005:
 
Sigur Ros
Mono
Sufjan Stevens
Do Make Say Think
Stars / The Most Serene Republic
 
Most Anticipated Releases of 2006:
 
mewithoutYou
Broken Social Scene
Explosions in the Sky
The Shins
Wilco

 
 

Jacob Gehman
 
I usually have trouble coming up with less than 30 albums in any given year that I would be comfortable tipping my cap to by placing them in my top ten list. The list then usually expands to be a top 15 or 20. This year, though, after I pulled any notable album off my self for consideration I had no trouble coming up with a nice top 12 list. Of the albums that didn’t make the list there are some very good and great albums that didn’t make the list and may, in fact, withstand the test of time better than the ones I have included. Not to mention that there are some recent acquisitions which would have the chance of making the list had I several more weeks to listen to them. But no matter. The following list is what I’ll call “The albums that impacted me most this year,” as to stay more true to the spirit of these kinds of lists.
 
1. (Tied) The Fiery Furnaces: Rehearsing My Choir (Rough Trade); Sufjan Stevens: Illinois (Asthmatic Kitty)
Picking a single album to take the top spot all by it’s self would have been like trying to decide whether Pulp Fiction or Jackie Brown is a better movie. Both The Fiery Furnaces and Sufjan Stevens released superb albums that, while they both have that indie flavor, are quite different. FF released a messy album that seems to go from here to there without much rhyme or reason, but that it does that and still remains cohesive is quite a feat. SS’s album feels painstakingly planned and plotted with nights of tossing and turning to figure out the best placement of a specific note. The sound is rich and angelic. His songs feel like a classical composition with an indie rock cloak. So since both albums are equally deserving to be number one, they both are (unlike on The Apprentice.)
 
3. The New Pornographers: Twin Cinema (Matador/Mint)
I just plain love this band. Seeing them live this spring was one of my highlights of the year. They are catchy yet have a musical complexity that really weaves together well. And I want to go on a date with their new keyboard player/backup singer, who has to be one of the prettiest girls to step on stage.
 
4. Antony & The Johnsons: I Am A Bird Now (Secretly Canadian)
Antony sings with a rich, androgynous voice that drips with genuine heartache. His lyrics tend to deal with gender identity issues which gives the whole album a touching otherworldly glow without feeling gimmicky.
 
5. Pattern Is Movement: Stowaway (NFI Label)
Here’s a cd that bowled me over. It’s hard for me to accurately describe, however, whenever I used to compose the perfect album in my head it often sounds very similar to this. Beef up the production a tad and this would be a serious contender for album of the year.
 
6. Sleater-Kinney: The Woods (Sub-Pop)
I had given S-K chances with several of their prior albums, which were a decent alternative to The Donnas but nothing I really went back to or liked for any reason beyond their pretty faces. This cd is everything I could hope for and beyond. It’s dark, layered, dense, smart, catchy… and lacks any dull repetition that marred past works.
 
7. Goldrush: Ozona (Truck Records/Better Looking Records)
This is another album that is honestly from 2004. However, it was released in late ’04 and I only received it to review this summer. So I’m counting it, too. “Ozona” is the album that Wilco could make if they really rocked out and let their Willie Nelson influences really show. But it’s not Goldrush’s style that sets them apart, but their ability to compose a ridiculously good song.
 
8. Steve Reich: You Are (Variations) (Nonesuch Records)
The most important thing to release this year from a classical music standpoint. Any time Steve Reich does something it’s a good idea to pay attention, doubly so when the album features his best composition to date. Track one, “You Are Wherever Your Thoughts Are,” mixes what we know and love about Reich and new twists and turns. While the rest of the album fails to rise to THAT, the rest of the material is adequate Reich.
 
9. Dungeon: Ta Det Lungt (Kemado Records)
Really catchy progressive psychedelic meandering muses. Technically an ’04 release, this album didn’t really start getting the attention it deserves (courtesy of an expanded, double disc re-release) until this year. This is the album that everyone who bought “Frances the Mute” should have picked up.
 
10. Blackalicious: The Craft (Anti)
So you thought “Late Registration” by Kanye West was this year’s top rap album? Think again. While this album didn’t seem to create the buzz that their last one, “Blazing Arrow,” did I find it to be an overall stronger album without the redundancy.
 
11. Fiona Apple: Extraordinary Machine (Epic/Clean Slate)
This album could have been better. And if it was better you would see it closer to spot three or four on this list instead of eleventh. Extraordinary Machine is a great mix of pop sensibility and experimental composition and execution. The best parts feel like Tom Waits’ cousin.
 
12. The Residents: Animal Lover (Mute Records)
Animal Lover is the first great album for The Residents since the mid 80s. While much of the material in between then and now has been good or solid, nothing touches the genius of the 70s and early 80s. This album is a seamless mixture of old ideas (for instance, a resurgence of character voices) and new ones (the smooth, danceable electronics). Hopefully this album marks a new era for Residents fans.
 
 
 
Evan Stanek
 
1.  Thrice:  Vheissu 
Artsy enough for the hipster, heavy enough for the hardcore kid, for me standing somewhere in the middle, it was, in a word, perfect.
 
2.  The Roosevelts: Its so Hard to Make a Sound 
Weezer wishes they’d written “Strutheo Camelus”.  I knew I liked this cd, but when every song from this cd showed up in my iPod top 25 played list, I had to give credit where credit is due. 
 
3.  Elliott:  Photorecording 
for someone who loved their records and never knew anything other than their music, this was an amazing blessing to me.
 
4.  Discover America: Psychology 
I have a man crush on Chris Staples.  Walking bass lines, snobbishly good guitar work, green eyes, tricky lyrics, his motives to make me move worked. 
 
5.  Bear vs. Shark:  Terrorhawk 
thanks to whoever reviewed this one on Decap, loved it.  Good old school true emo sound.
 
6.  Starflyer 59: Talking Voice vs. Singing Voice 
Jason Martin sucks….at writing bad music.
 
7.  Sides of the North: The Incurable Romantic 
nice moods and melodies
 
8:  Mae: The Everglow 
so many good songs, and they all fit together.  I couldn’t stop listening to Painless.
 
9:  House of Heroes: S/T
Took me awhile to get into it, but loved the amalgamation of styles and killer hooks.
 
10:  Jimmy Eat World:  Futures
Not perfect, but very respectable, felt good to hear some non-pop songs from the band again.
 
 
Honorable mention…
Luxury, Sigur Ros
 
CDs that I’d love to name drop, but honestly I don’t have a clue…
Sufjan Stevens, The New Pornographers
 
 
 
John Durkee
 
There’s no way I could say this is a definitive list, but it is what it is, another “Best of” list for 2005. This year I ended up choosing a top 15 and 5 honorable mentions, though the top 7 or so could easily be interchanged and 2 or 3 of the better honorable mentions could easily make the top 10.
 
Also, I most note that many of the typical top albums chosen for this sort of list were purposely omitted as this writer feels most of them were merely rated high based upon hype and not much else.
 
Top 10:
1. New Pornographers: Twin Cinema
Perhaps too poppy to be considered true indie rock, Twin Cinema was a pure joy to listen to. An all things to everyone sound and amazing vocals make this one of the better releases of the year.
 
2. Juliana Theory: Deadbeat Sweetheartbeat
Easily JT’s best album and one of the better releases of the year Deadbeat was full of catchy melodies and great rock anthems. Tracks like, “French Kiss Off” and “Shotgun Serenade” were two of the best songs of the year and of JT’s career.
 
3. Gorillas: Demon Days
Great dance-able beats, vocals and guest spots are all over this sophomore release. A more melodic sound brings about a better release than their debut and shows great growth, showing that maybe Damon Albarn should make Gorillaz his main project and forget about blur.
 
4. As Cities Burn: Son, I Loved You at Your Darkest
As Cities Burn delivers spirit-filled hardcore reminiscent of Strongarm with emotionally cathartic lyrics delivered at the most genuine level. Now that is refreshing.
 
5. The Mars Volta: Frances the Mute
Love ‘em or hate ‘em, Frances the Mute was certainly a memorable album this year with it’s pulsating jams mixed with Led Zeppelin inspired hard rock, along with the ambient noise of Pink Floyd, made this release an amazing experience.
 
6. Cold play: X&Y
Big, powerful, soaring and simple all describe the utter brilliance of Coldplay’s X&Y. The ability to make simple songs sound so complex and beautiful makes the release one of the best of the year and thoroughly enjoyable.
 
7. David Crowder Band: A Collision or 3+4=7
A creative and challenging worship album brought through the CCM industry? A year ago I would have laughed if someone said that such an album would be released, but it was with DCB’s A Collision. Great music mixed with the underlying themes of Divinity Vs. Depravity and asking what true worship is, made this album transcend its importance in the musical and art world, but made it a truly important release.
 
8. History Invades- The Structure of a Precise Fashion
Unorthodox vocals, usage of noise while containing great melodies made up the fun and excitement of this album.
 
9. Sufjan Stevens- Illinois
Great album, a bit overrated, but I couldn’t keep it out of my top 10.
 
10. The Sights- The Sights
Perhaps not the most original release, but boy does it rock!
 
11. David Crowder Band- Sunsets and Sushi
A remix album that improved upon 8 already great songs, wow!
 
12. Pet Shop Boys- Battleship Potempkin
Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe helped make this soundtrack happen… Enough said.
 
13. Anberlin- Never Take Friendship Personal
An improvement upon an already great sound.
 
14. The Myriad- You Can't Trust a Ladder
An exciting and intriguing debut make The Myriad the top “new prospect” of the year.
 
15. Emery- The Question
Not quite the same level as their last year’s Weak’s End, but still a very enjoyable release.
 
Honorable Mentions:
John Reuben- The Boy Vs. The Cynic
Idiot Pilot- Strange We Should Meet Here
Sherwood- Sing, But Keep Going
Nine Inch Nails- With Teeth
The 88- Over and Over
 
 
 
Cal Callison
 
1. Coldplay: X & Y
Say What you will about this album but it's musically amazing yet
accessable.  They will continue to gain popularity and it's well deserved
because they rock.
 
2. Mae: The Everglow
I'm not into concept albums but this cd is fantastic.
 
3. Over the Rhine: Drunkard's Prayer
Tried and true, these songsters deliver an amazing, reserved piece. 
 
4. Sufjan Stevens: Illinois
I realize that he's the hip pick these days but the album is really good.  I
hope that the extra publicity he has gotten helps the general public to get
into the intricacies that are Sufjan.
 
5. Kevin Max: The Imposter
He's back and better than ever.  Hey, with guys like Andy Prickett and Jason
Martin involved how could it not be musical bliss?
 
6. Copeland: In Motion
Another favorite.  Classic pop stylings and rocking sing-a-longs.
 
7. Starflyer 59: Talking Voice vs Singing Voice
Always solid.
 
8. Anberlin: Never Take Friendship Personal
I thought this album had more staying power than the first one.  I still
love breaking this one out.
 
9. Luxury: Health and Sport
Hopefully this will not be the swan song for an amazing group of musicians.
 
10. Joy Electric: the Ministry of Archers
I just got this but my respect for the music of Ronnie Martin is increasing
by the day.  This was a solid effort.
 
Honorable Mentions:
Ryan Adams and the Cardinals: Cold Roses
World Leader Pretend: Punches

 
 
Jacob Merritt
 
So here are my choices, in absolutely no particular order. If you haven’t already, I highly recommend you give all of these artists a listen. You can find them all on MySpace with little trouble.
 
Colour Revolt: S/T E.P.
Sleepy River: The Funeral Birth of a Tree
As Cities Burn: Son, I Loved You at Your Darkest
House of Heroes: S/T
Dredg: Catch Without Arms
Doves: Some Cities
The Heartstrings: Try Fly Blue Sky E.P.
Javelins: No Plants, Just Animals
Ben Folds: Songs for Silverman
Feist: Let it Die