From Basement galaxy
"The Best Albums of the Year So Far:
LCD Soundsystem - LCD Soundsystem
Behemoth –Demigod
Straddling the line between death metal and black metal, the Polish band’s latest album is an impeccably-produced blend of the brutal and the accessible. Epic in every sense of the word.
Bloc Party – Silent Alarm
As this British band built strong word of mouth last year, comparisons to Franz Ferdinand were flying, but as this startlingly assured, musically rich debut CD proves, they couldn’t be more different.
Clutch – Robot Hive / Exodus
After years of releasing good, but uneven albums of Southern-tinged stoner rock, Clutch finally nailed it, with a groove-laced record that remains loyal to their trademark sound, yet still is daring enough to try new things.
Fischerspooner – Odyssey
I was ready to write this duo off, but they returned with a stunner of a second album that caught me completely off-guard, one that trounces their debut, eschewing arty pretension in favour of pop hooks.
M.I.A. – Arular
The most highly anticipated debut album of 2005 did not disappoint, as Maya proves she’s not a lame hip hop gimmick by putting together a minimal, yet multilayered disc that is every bit as catchy as it is enigmatic.
Okkervil River – Black Sheep Boy
I had no idea who this Austin band was before this year, but this darkly ambitious album of Southern gothic-tinged country, rock, and folk shook me, thanks to the chilling singing and songwriting talents of Will Sheff.
Primordial – The Gathering Wilderness
In which the Irish metal band delve deep into pagan mythology, the history of their homeland, and Celtic folk music, creating an emotional, pulverizing, remarkably melodic opus that defies categorization.
System of a Down – Mesmerize
The first half of an intended double album, this CD continues the astonishing progression of metal’s most wildly creative bands. If Hypnotize is as good as Mezmerize (I expect it to be even better), I predict it will be a lock for my album(s) of the year.
Torche - Torche
While sludge and stoner bands continue to churn out the same old recycled, turgid sounds, Miami’s Torche have dared to do something different, throwing in layered vocal melodies that perfectly offset the huge riffs, and the idea works brilliantly.
Turbonegro – Party Animals
The latest album by the Norwegian deathpunk legends continues their incredible streak of superior releases, this time returning to the simple, pop-fueled rifferama of Apocalypse Dudes, making this their best record in seven years.
Ten other albums that are definitely worth mentioning, in alphabetical order: Candlemass - Candlemass, Caribou – The Milk of Human Kindness, Corrosion of Conformity - In the Arms of God, Dalek – Absence, Damon & Naomi – The Earth is Blue, Doves - Some Cities, Nile - Annihilation of the Wicked, Maximo Park - A Certain Trigger, The Raveonettes - Pretty in Black, Teenage Fanclub – Man-Made
And for good measure, here are ten more metal albums that are too great to ignore, again, in alphabetical order: Brand New Sin – Recipe For Disaster, Cursed – Two, Dew-Scented - Issue VI, Fantomas – Suspended Animation, Hate Eternal - I, Monarch, High on Fire – Blessed Black Wings, . Jesu - Jesu, Judas Priest – Angel of Retribution, Napalm Death – The Code is Red…Long Live the Code, Strapping Young Lad – Alien
So why didn’t I mention The New Pornographers’ Twin Cinema? Well, it’s not out for another seven weeks, so why not be fair to the stuff that’s already out, right? (but yeah, it would have made this top ten if I had included it) "
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