Wrap-up 2005: albums release this year
As the year starts to draw down and we prepare for 2006, it’s custom in our culture to start making up “best of” lists. And seeing as how I’m now pushing my musical tastes onto the public at large, I guess I should be doing this as well. So I give to you the best albums released in 2005 that have crossed my path:
The Benevento Russo Duo – Best Reason to Buy the Sun
This will go down as the year that the jam band world all found out who the Duo were. Those of us in the northeast — especially in New York City — were lucky to have been near the epicenter and had a sense that this was gonna happen sooner or later. I was lucky enough to be at Rothko for the album release party and the place was packed far beyond capacity. Follow that up with sets at the Jammys and Bonnaroo with Mike Gordon and there was no way in hell these guys were staying off the radar. Favorite cuts include “Vortex”, “Scratchitti”, and “Becky”.
iTunes | Amazon
Brothers Past – This Feeling’s Called Goodbye
This album was actually released twice this year: earlier as an independant production and then later in the year when Sci Fidelity Records picked up the band. And what a pick-up! While their live performances still tilted heavily twoards jamming, the album is chocked full of clean, consise and well written songs — most in the healthy 4:00 to 4:30 range. Favorite cuts include “Words Like Weapons”, “State Police”, and “One Rabbit Race”.
iTunes | Amazon
Corrosion of Conformity – In the Arms of God
Solid metal mainstays COC needed drum tracks for their new album. Front man Pepper Keenan asked casual acquaintance, jam band drum god Stanton Moore, to lay down some tracks. A few days later, out comes one mind-bending album combining two of my favorite acts of all times. The results were far better than my expectations, which is truly saying something. Favorite cuts include “So Much Left Behind”,”Dirty Hands Empty Pockets | Already Gone”, and “Rise River Rise”.
iTunes | Amazon
Gorillaz – Demon Days
Take all the hype that came around this album, the hit single played ad-infinium on iPod commercials, all things that usually kill and album in my eyes, and I still can’t get enough of this album. Or the group. Or the art. Everything about Gorillaz in my eyes is good — smart cathy hooks, great beats and infectious sounds. A great follow up effort to their debut, which cements them into the musical landscape. Favorite cuts include “Dare”, “Kids With Guns”, and “Dirty Harry”. And I could also listen to “Feel Good Inc.” on loop for hours if need be. ^_^
iTunes | Amazon
The New Deal – Gone, Gone, Gone
This one was full of unexpected surprises. At times more peppy and poppy than I was expecting, but in a good way. Then in comes the hard and fast drumming and the ultra-danceable grooves. Follow that up with some great tracks with guest vocals and I was sold wholesale. Favorite cuts include “Gone, Gone, Gone”, “Don’t Blame Yourself” and “VL Tone”.
iTunes | Amazon