Pitchforkmedia.com's Top 50 for 2005

[PDK]

I really enjoy that Thrills disk from last year. It never really seemed to catch on with the folks around here, but it's a great disk IMO. I also really liked The Zutons disk at first. But I tired of it pretty quickly.

I tend to glom on to singles so nothing on the list should be a huge surprise. I don't get a lot of (North) American music exposure so I probably miss a lot of its "critical" indie music. I actually had the Wolf Parade record before I even had heard of The Arcade Fire. I completely missed their "2004 Must-have" and to tell you the truth, it never really caught on with me in 2005. There are a few American/Canadian acts on my comp, but for years it has had a distinctly northern and Scottish focus to it.

It took a few listens to get the Thrills disc for me as I so loved their debut. In the end, it turned out to be the most listened to for me in 2004- hence the top album award.

I've saw the Zutons a couple times in 2003/2004 and the disc does them a great injustice compared to their live shows. My affection for the Zutons is forever skewed! The disc is a bit unfocused but has a couple gems- there are several tracks that I usually skip and, truth be told, I haven't listened to it in its entirety for months.

Simarily, I probably have inordinant affection for Snow Patrol and Idlewild due to their energy of their performances from four to six years ago. They are prior Album of the Year award winners that, sadly, didn't seem to latch on in the USA from what I can tell. Unfortunately, Idlewild's 2005 release flirts with an REM influence....

[ForeverAutumn]

It took a few listens to get the Thrills disc for me as I so loved their debut. In the end, it turned out to be the most listened to for me in 2004- hence the top album award.

I've saw the Zutons a couple times in 2003/2004 and the disc does them a great injustice compared to their live shows. My affection for the Zutons is forever skewed! The disc is a bit unfocused but has a couple gems- there are several tracks that I usually skip and, truth be told, I haven't listened to it in its entirety for months.

Simarily, I probably have inordinant affection for Snow Patrol and Idlewild due to their energy of their performances from four to six years ago.

Funny, I heard Let's Bottle Bohemia first and loved it right away. So I then bought their debut and it's really never hit me the same way Bohemia did. I find it a little too low key for my tastes.

My first experience with The Zutons was a live show, opening for Keane. I really enjoyed them live (way better than Keane was live) and that's what led me to purchase their disk. I agree that their live show was very good. Had I heard the CD on it's own, before seeing them live, I'm not sure that I would have made the purchase. I hope that their next disk is a little more focused than the first.

Snow Patrol is another favourite of mine. Can't say that I've heard Idlewild though. I'll have to check them out.

Based on the bands that you've listed that you like, you should check out a Canadian band called Boy. You can hear a few of their songs at their web site....

http://www.boytheband.com

[Ex Lion Tamer]

Simarily, I probably have inordinant affection for Snow Patrol and Idlewild due to their energy of their performances from four to six years ago. They are prior Album of the Year award winners that, sadly, didn't seem to latch on in the USA from what I can tell. Unfortunately, Idlewild's 2005 release flirts with an REM influence....

All I have is 100 Broken Windows, which is absolutely brilliant in my book, and which I heard an R.E.M. influence from the very first spin. I don't know why I never picked up any other Idlewild albums, though they are not the easierst albums to find 'round these parts. Still I think The Remote Part holds my personal record for longest time on the top of my wish list without actually being bought. One of these days.....

[3-LockBox]

I ain't seen a post from you in months, and when I do, its to argue with someone

Stop by more often...

BTW: next weekend is kinda big in NYC if I remember right...any word on whether Dick Clark is going to be there, or is he still ailing. I can't imagine DC not countin it down.

[Davey]

All I have is 100 Broken Windows, which is absolutely brilliant in my book, and which I heard an R.E.M. influence from the very first spin. I don't know why I never picked up any other Idlewild albums, though they are not the easierst albums to find 'round these parts. Still I think The Remote Part holds my personal record for longest time on the top of my wish list without actually being bought. One of these days.....

Yeah, that is a good one. That opening volley of "Little Discourage" through to "Roseability" is a blast and a half, and the whole thing is full of fun little punk-poppers. The Remote Part was a good one too, but not as raw and urgent as that one. Drags a bit in the middle for me. More polished and ready for the British charts, which I think a couple of the singles rose pretty high up. Anyway, that's all I got. With a little nudge I'm sure Forever Autumn would remember that she has heard Idlewild on a little comp I did called Fun In The Sun which they closed out with one of those charming British singles from The Remote Part, think it was actually the third one they released. Pretty successful album in the UK. They did a cool little vid for that song with one of my favorite directors Wim Wenders ... http://www.xfm.co.uk/Article.asp?id=5252

[ForeverAutumn]

With a little nudge I'm sure Forever Autumn would remember that she has heard Idlewild on a little comp I did called Fun In The Sun which they closed out with one of those charming British singles from The Remote Part, think it was actually the third one they released. Pretty successful album in the UK. They did a cool little vid for that song with one of my favorite directors Wim Wenders ... http://www.xfm.co.uk/Article.asp?id=5252

Really? I'll have to delve into my archives. Thanks for the reminder.

[Davey]

Really? I'll have to delve into my archives. Thanks for the reminder.

Glad to help. It's a pretty nice little song, but also a little on the forgettable side when heard out of context, even though it was apparently released as a single. I always kind of liked it, but like ELT and PDK infer, much REM in that one. How's that for an acronym laden sentence? Except REM should have periods, and probably can't really be labelled an acronym, eh FA?

I'll just pop up this image for awhile then edit it out later so it doesn't continually slow down the thread and make it too wide ... or maybe I'll forget and leave it since this thread is almost ready for the archives anyway ... but I remembered we had talked briefly about the Gockel paintings I used on the cover, which is what tipped me in the direction of remembering that I'd sent you a copy

[ForeverAutumn]

Glad to help. It's a pretty nice little song, but also a little on the forgettable side when heard out of context, even though it was apparently released as a single. I always kind of liked it, but like ELT and PDK infer, much REM in that one. How's that for an acronym laden sentence? Except REM should have periods, and probably can't really be labelled an acronym, eh FA?

I'll just pop up this image for awhile then edit it out later so it doesn't continually slow down the thread and make it too wide ... or maybe I'll forget and leave it since this thread is almost ready for the archives anyway ... but I remembered we had talked briefly about the Gockel paintings I used on the cover, which is what tipped me in the direction of remembering that I'd sent you a copy

I'm still brushing off the cobwebs, but I found the comp. Actually, I didn't have to dig all that deep. It was pretty close to the top of the pile which means that it was one that I liked and always meant to revisit when I had time. I guess I'm making the time now, huh?

The Idlewild song is playing now and, you're right, it is very nice. I hear the REM influence, but the opening is also reminding me a little of Green Day's Good Riddance (Time of Your Life). I'm not sure why that is...maybe the rambling guitar sounds. Anyway, this looks like a band that I'm going to have to add to the wishlist if the rest of the CD is along these same lines...is it? I hate when I buy a CD after hearing one song and the rest of the disk is a totally different style/sound.

My copy of Fun in the Sun has also been blessed with five bonus tracks, but no track list for them. I don't suppose you remember what you sent me? It was only a little less than two years ago, after all.

[Davey]

I'm still brushing off the cobwebs, but I found the comp....My copy of Fun in the Sun has also been blessed with five bonus tracks, but no track list for them. I don't suppose you remember what you sent me? It was only a little less than two years ago, after all.

Had no idea or record of it, but with the right keywords and google ... Fun in the Sun/Quixotic

[ForeverAutumn]

Had no idea or record of it, but with the right keywords and google ... Fun in the Sun/Quixotic

Thanks for the link. iTunes isn't showing any track titles and Pyro isn't working properly (I think I need to reload it, but I'm leaning towards just replacing it with Nero.

[Davey]

Thanks for the link. iTunes isn't showing any track titles and Pyro isn't working properly (I think I need to reload it, but I'm leaning towards just replacing it with Nero.

There's also a cute little tiny freeware player that Sloshy and I have often mentioned around here called HACP that reads and displays the CD-TEXT on the disc ... http://www.xs4all.nl/~hneel/software.htm

Looks like this in use ...

[Ex Lion Tamer]

Except REM should have periods, and probably can't really be labelled an acronym, eh FA?

You see I always thought of REM as a word unto itself instead of R.E.M., like SCUBA, is an acronym and a word. Well if it's not, it should be.

Merry Christmas to anyone has had made it this deep into the thread

[Audio Girl]

Yeah, AG, I could really see you liking the New Pornographers record. Regarding the others, I'm guessing that Sleater-Kinney wouldn't be your style, but I could be wrong? Have you heard any of their stuff?

Hi Stone,

No, I have not heard any Sleater-Kinney songs, and am finding that iTunes snippets do not dictate whether I am going to enjoy a song/LP/release. Consequently, if intrigued enough, I purchase it on vinyl on the cheap, and if it's not to my liking, I just file it away for prosperity. ;-)

Guess what I am listening to right now? A Stone rec, if I am remembering it correctly ~ Rickie Lee Jones "Girl at Her Volcano" on Quiex II vinyl. Such a stunning recording and wonderful rendition of "Walk Away Renee". Great rec from the Stone Meister...

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays,
Ag

[Davey]

Guess what I am listening to right now? A Stone rec, if I am remembering it correctly ~ Rickie Lee Jones "Girl at Her Volcano" on Quiex II vinyl. Such a stunning recording and wonderful rendition of "Walk Away Renee". Great rec from the Stone Meister...

Yeah, can't go wrong with a rec from the Stone Meister. That's a colossal song. Think he's partial to the Left Banke, but who's not

http://archive.audioreview.com/10/0EF6247C.php

[Audio Girl]

Yeah, can't go wrong with a rec from the Stone Meister. That's a colossal song. Think he's partial to the Left Banke, but who's not

http://archive.audioreview.com/10/0EF6247C.php

OOPS...I didn't recall that was your rec, Davey! Man, chalk it up to this 40-something-year-old's terrible memory. That post had quite an impact on me...I now own 3 copies of that release (the first copy purchased was fairly warped and a concern to spin; the second had a lot of irritating noise despite a pristine appearance; just purchased the 3rd on ebay recently...the guy who sold it finally had it right. It was a NM-!). Sorry for not giving credit where it was due. :-)

[Davey]

OOPS...I didn't recall that was your rec, Davey! Man, chalk it up to this 40-something-year-old's terrible memory. That post had quite an impact on me...I now own 3 copies of that release (the first copy purchased was fairly warped and a concern to spin; the second had a lot of irritating noise despite a pristine appearance; just purchased the 3rd on ebay recently...the guy who sold it finally had it right. It was a NM-!). Sorry for not giving credit where it was due. :-)

Good to hear you found a nice copy. I think mine has a slight warp but no biggie. Still sounds really good. Wasn't really trying to correct you or anything since it was really a Stoney rec, at least the song was, but just fun to find old threads like that and bring them back. That was a nice one - some great rock and roll moments from the gang (at least the gang of four, Chip and Ricky and Mark and Peter). Makes me wish I'd made a list of great moments too.

Anyway, hope you enjoy the record. Funny how many of those type of little gems are strewn throughout rock history, and we'd never find them without boards like this. That's a very well known one, but I can't even begin to imagine how many little known discoveries I've made since getting online and discovering the world of music talk! And happily, I've been able to help a few others make some of their own discoveries along the way as well.