2005 was a year much like any other year except that it hadn’t happened before.  This was the mystique of 2005, the magical ingredient that seperated it from 2004 and all those other years.  Invisible Limb takes a look back at this wonderful time, through the eyes of our staff and their top 5 albums of the year lists. 

Rich Feliciano
Editor

1. John Vanderslice - Pixel Revolt (Barsuk Records)
With Pixel Revolt John Vanderslice has created the most elegant and beautiful pop music of his career.  It glows with a subtle restraint, moving along at its own pace, utilizing layers upon layers of keys, strings, & other exotic instruments.  Revolt is the most realized and controlled of Vanderslice’s albums, it is also his best.

2. The National - Alligator (Beggar’s Banquet)
Before Alligator Matt Berninger and company were New York’s best kept secret.  Now they are New York’s best, period.  Their brooding, eclectic indie rock has hit a whole new level on Alligator, improving upon every positive facet of their previous records.  Sitting above the layered guitars and shuffling drums, Matt Berninger’s sultry baritone is still deep and cool.  On the whole, Alligator is the perfect National album.

3. Nada Surf - The Weight is a Gift (Barsuk Records)
Combining the freedom of independent rock with the focus and control of marketable pop music, Nada Surf have found a happy medium.  Unlike their previous album Let Go, the songs here are shorter, more polished, and, in some respects, more concise and focused. The Weight is a Gift is simply the best radio pop record I heard this year.  Rather than fall victim to the formula Nada Surf have found a way to extort it to their advantage.

4. My Morning Jacket - Z (ATO Records)
It Still Moves… was not a bad album but My Morning Jacket still decided to do a full transformation for their newest album Z, and how thankful I am they did. Z is one of the best pure rock releases of the year. If you allow yourself to listen you will be amazed by their growth.

5. Kind of Like Spitting - In the Red (Hush Records)
Ben Barnett is not a house hold name but his band Kind of Like Spitting should be. His raw, emotional sound has been pleasing indie rock fans for years and his newest record In the Red should go down as one of his finest and most rocking albums. In the Red covers the entire spectrum of Kind of Like Spitting’s back history, from the soothing folk ballads to the biting punk anthems. This isn’t a release for everyone, the lo-fi production and lack of mainstream appeal ensure this, but in 15 years In the Red will be remembered as a great record from one of indie rock’s best.

Bob Ham
Staff Reviewer

1. Doves: Some Cities (Capitol)
This group didn’t get any attention this year by the critics and the writers because they weren’t trying to sound like either a Southern U.S. rock band or Gang of Four. Instead, they hearken back to the elegiac days of early ’90s British pop music with an album that is smart, dreamy, and powerful. They may have been initially slagged off as Radiohead rip-offs but they’ve surpassed those claims and come up with an album that is on par with (and sounds nothing like) OK Computer in its expansive, cinematic sound and heartfelt passion.

2. M.I.A.: Arular (XL)
A young Sri Lankan girl comes seemingly out of nowhere (or England depending upon what magazine article about her you’ve read) and puts out one of the most rightfully heralded debut albums of the past 5 years. This danceable mix of bhangra inflected hip hop beats, political undercurrents and sassy, self-assured lyrics still sounds fresh 10 months after it hit the streets. A favorite of club kids, political science professors, and snooty music fans alike.

3. Akron/Family (Young God)
The band photo shows a quartet of gents that might bore you to tears with emo or math rock stupidity. Thankfully the music found on the accompanying disc instead sounds like a series of folk records fed through musique concrete software. If you have any idea what that sentence means, you already own this CD. If not, think of it this way: if you peeled away all of Radiohead’s idiotic rock star leanings, this is what they would sound like.

4. General Patton vs. The X-Ecutioners (Ipecac)
My dark horse pick for one of the best of the year is this bizarre collaboration between multi-faceted vocalist Mike Patton (late of Faith No More) and the turntable crew the X-Ecutioners. Leave all your expectations at the door when you put this on and instead enjoy the non-stop head trip filled with scattered beats, random noise, and kitschy samples. The perfect marriage of avant garde leanings with hip hop credibility.

5. Jeff Hanson (Kill Rock Stars)
Much has been (and will be) made of Jeff Hanson’s eunuch-like singing voice but not enough has been said about the beauty of his playing and the heart wrenching, prose-like quality of his songwriting. A worthy heir to the thrones of Elliott Smith and Jeff Buckley, Hanson will most likely reach some kind of stardom in the next two years or so and this record that is both parts emotionally trying and emotionally fulfilling is irrefutable evidence why.

Reid Barber
Contributor

5. Broadcast - Tender Buttons
Oddly, I picked this up when I couldn’t find anything in the record store and called a friend to ask for something I might like.  She said “get Tender Buttons by Broadcast.” and promptly hung up on me.  Well, She was right.  It’s a damn fine album very reminiscent of Stereolab.  It’s a very nice album that’s quiet enough to fall asleep to but dancey (if that’s even a word) enough to move around to. 

4. Galaxie 500 - Peel Sessions
While this isn’t anything I haven’t heard before, It’s still an amazingly nice little EP of all “live” tracks from the John Peel show.  It really showcases some of Galaxie 500’s best work and a few covers along the way (including Submission by the Sex Pistols!)  Though the days of shoe gaze are long gone, I will still pine for bands like Galaxie 500. 

3. Death From Above 1979 - Romance Bloody Romance
I feel a little silly for putting a remix album on this list, especially since It only remixes about 6 or so songs off the LP it steals its songs from.  I cannot however deny this little slice of music the time I have given it.  I never thought a noise rock band could be made into a house music band, but this proves that anything is possible in the hands of a good DJ.  Everyone of these tracks is a perfect little dance song just ready to let you bust out your best (or in my case worst) moves on the dance floor

2. Comeback Kid - Wake the Dead
For the first half of 2005 I had fallen in love with hardcore music.  The lifestyle, the dress, and the music all really clicked with me.  I have gotten over that stage in my life now, but this one band stuck with me.  I suppose the “never quit” sort of mentality that is dripping from this album is what gets me every time.  The awesome breakdowns and powerful gang vocals only help to boost this to my #2 spot

1. Lightning Bolt - Hypermagic Mountain
I was at a party a bit ago and someone bought me the double LP of this album as a gift.  While I already owned it on CD, I was ecstatic to own it “for real” as I like to say.  This LP has truly taken Lightning Bolt to a new level of bone ripping intensity.  From the first track to the last, this album comes at you hard and strong and never lets you breath for a second.  I have played this album for more people then I can possibly count and I hope to play it for even more people.  Long live the Laser Beast that is Lightning Bolt. 

Andrew Allingham
Contributor

5. Troubled Hubble - Making Beds In A Burning House
Although the band is now defunct, this is still one of the most solid releases of the year. Probably one of the only rock bands that doesn’t use distortion to emphasize that they play rock music, rather they use a clean sound to pump out audial energy. This is simply a great album for Troubled Hubble to end on.

4. Decemberists - Picaresque
This is yet again another easily listenable recording from Colin Meloy. Someday we will get tired of his story telling alt folk, but that is not today. The circus that the Decemberists produce will show anyone a good time. Even without the smelly elephants and stale popcorn!

3. The Books- Lost and Safe
Post-experimental folk-ambience? The Books are very hard to categorize. Often times enlisting sound bytes as vocal tracks, this record helps take music to another level with such lush instrumentals. Definitely a must listen for 2005.

2. Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin - Broom
The debut full length from this group amazes me. How they are not famous yet, I do not know. Piano, guitars, drums, and tambourines create an upbeat vibe that is present throughout the entire album. Indie pop is being made better with releases like this. You Shins fans can actually move up the leg now into a better world.

1. Broken Social Scene - Broken Social Scene
A complete and utter chaos of orchestral noise from beginning to end that somehow orients itself into another great album from Broken Social Scene. There’s a bit more rock involved this time around, and probably a few more Canadians by the sound of it. As the bands involved get bigger, they still somehow find time to contribute their talents to this godhead of independent rock.

Cariwyl Hebert
Contributor

Thievery Corporation - The Cosmic Game (ESL Music)
Eric Hilton and Rob Garza have come back into the spotlight with yet another fabulous album for us to feast upon. The Flaming Lips, Gunjan, and Perry Farrell are among the guest artists on The Cosmic Game. Thievery Corporation knows no bounds as they present us with an album laden with dub grooves, rock drum beats, and the best of psychedelic electro-pop. The uninhibited nature of The Cosmic Game will keep you company for miles of soul-searching.

The Dead 60s - The Dead 60s (Deltasonic)
The Dead 60s rock. Think old-school punk, addictively danceable bass lines, a touch of reggae, and some edgy vocals all mixed together into one happy inaugural album. Keep an eye out for more great music from this band of Brits, and get dancing! They want you to!

World Leader Pretend - Punches (Warner Bros.)
World Leader Pretend is here to let Earth’s occupants know that the popular heaviness of the nineties has all but left us. They are introspective and sometimes downright downtrodden. But nonetheless, World Leader Pretend makes for a great listen no matter what your mood. This group of New Orleans musicians and songwriters has something to say, and the very least we can do is listen.

Pepper’s Ghost - Shake The Hand That Shook The World (Hybrid)
Pepper’s Ghost is the Beatles of 2005. John Lennon may have died in 1980, but this Philadelphia band is keeping his voice alive. And even if the brothers Montesano and their friends Rob Bennett, Zil, and David Hartley didn’t sound just like the peace-maker himself, their composition style and backing vocals would be enough to convince you. Don’t believe me? Check out “How About It Now.” After you listen to that song, take a gander at “Heavy Body Bag.” When it’s time for some common time rock, it’s time for some Pepper’s Ghost.

Gris Gris - For the Season (Birdman)
For the Season is quite possibly the best psychedelic rock of 2005. The Gris Gris do not waver from their ambient hallucinatory style, and rest assured that they practice what they preach—no song ends without a couple-minute-long organ-laden jam session. Need a little hook with your psych-rock? “Down With Jesus” is where it’s at.