2005 music
I'll start simply: here are 14 things you should listen to (whether they were released in 2005 is actually a moot point; fact is, 2005 is when I heard them):
FIONA APPLE -- EXTRAORDINARY MACHINE
The wait was long but the CD is incredible. A unique voice taken in evocative musical directions.
THE WHITE STRIPES -- GET BEHIND ME SATAN
Another highly anticipated follow-up by an equally unique artist who chose challenging musical avenues, though this one didn't take nearly as long to produce. If you were expecting thirteen more Seven Nation Armies, you'll be sorely disappointed. A wonderful achievement for an industry driven by electric guitars and drum machines.
WARREN ZEVON -- GENIUS: THE BEST OF WARREN ZEVON
An artist I knew only from the radio, this collection is a must-own. Dark, funny, sweet, soulful and jaded, every song is a winner.
DANGER MOUSE & JEMINI -- GHETTO POP LIFE
Sure, that DangerDoom CD was fun, but researching further shows that MF Doom's raps are lightweight compared to the incredible tracks of Danger Mouse. This earlier CD is one of those wonderful "you won't believe what I just found" moments. Seek it out, cherish it.
LYRICS BORN -- SAME SHIT, DIFFERENT DAY
A remixing of an earlier CD, this is another "you won't believe..." moment. Whether you delight in spoken word, rap, hip-hop, eclectica, you name it, this CD is one of the biggest surprises I've come across in the past ten years. Astonishingly good.
MATISYAHU -- LIVE AT STUBB'S
Hasidic reggaeton hip-hop, anyone? You have to hear it to believe it. Great stuff.
GREEN DAY -- AMERICAN IDIOT
I only started listening to this CD during the first months of 2005 and found it to be surprisingly strong from both a songwriting and rocking standpoint. Bravo, punks.
GORILLAZ -- DEMON DAYS
I love these guys. And anyone who can get Dennis Hopper to do spoken word on their CD is cool in my book.
THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY -- ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK RE-ISSUE
A classic film with a classic theme that is easily lampooned, but listen to the rest of this CD and you'll find a strangely evocative, powerful series of compositions by OST god Ennio Morricone.
AQUALUNG -- STRANGE & BEAUTIFUL
Hell, I usually don't care for music that sounds like this, but I was eerily drawn into these songs, with their crafty, car-commercial, airy-artiness. I have yet to tell myself it's all a joke. I really dig this CD.
BECK - GUERO
Choosy listeners don't always choose Beck. But this collection of "songs" is highly catchy, well-done and enjoyable. Don't let the blank stare fool you.
DAVID SEDARIS -- DRESS YOUR FAMILY IN CORDUROY AND DENIM
This multi-CD reading of his latest book is a step in the right direction for humorist/essayist Sedaris, who had a few depressing bouts of unreadable there for a while. Half-expecting to be deeply disappointed, I was happily surprised.
PATTON OSWALT -- FEELIN' KINDA PATTON/222 live&uncut
These two versions of the same concert are hilarious and wonderful. The best kinds of comedy CDs, they never let up and never disappoint. Unfortunately, they also set the bar kind of high for any other work the comic does (see Dave Attell for example...Skanks For The Memories kills; Hey, Your Mouth's Not Pregnant does not). The Comedians of Comedy stuff isn't as non-stop funny, but hey, we'll see where the new-found success takes this kid (WINK).
and now...
What My 16-Year-Old Son Listened To:
Santana -- Shaman
Green Day -- American Idiot
Black-Eyed Peas -- Monkey Business
Shakira -- Oral Fixation Vol. 1
Nickleback -- All The Right Reasons
Next up: GAMING
FIONA APPLE -- EXTRAORDINARY MACHINE
The wait was long but the CD is incredible. A unique voice taken in evocative musical directions.
THE WHITE STRIPES -- GET BEHIND ME SATAN
Another highly anticipated follow-up by an equally unique artist who chose challenging musical avenues, though this one didn't take nearly as long to produce. If you were expecting thirteen more Seven Nation Armies, you'll be sorely disappointed. A wonderful achievement for an industry driven by electric guitars and drum machines.
WARREN ZEVON -- GENIUS: THE BEST OF WARREN ZEVON
An artist I knew only from the radio, this collection is a must-own. Dark, funny, sweet, soulful and jaded, every song is a winner.
DANGER MOUSE & JEMINI -- GHETTO POP LIFE
Sure, that DangerDoom CD was fun, but researching further shows that MF Doom's raps are lightweight compared to the incredible tracks of Danger Mouse. This earlier CD is one of those wonderful "you won't believe what I just found" moments. Seek it out, cherish it.
LYRICS BORN -- SAME SHIT, DIFFERENT DAY
A remixing of an earlier CD, this is another "you won't believe..." moment. Whether you delight in spoken word, rap, hip-hop, eclectica, you name it, this CD is one of the biggest surprises I've come across in the past ten years. Astonishingly good.
MATISYAHU -- LIVE AT STUBB'S
Hasidic reggaeton hip-hop, anyone? You have to hear it to believe it. Great stuff.
GREEN DAY -- AMERICAN IDIOT
I only started listening to this CD during the first months of 2005 and found it to be surprisingly strong from both a songwriting and rocking standpoint. Bravo, punks.
GORILLAZ -- DEMON DAYS
I love these guys. And anyone who can get Dennis Hopper to do spoken word on their CD is cool in my book.
THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY -- ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK RE-ISSUE
A classic film with a classic theme that is easily lampooned, but listen to the rest of this CD and you'll find a strangely evocative, powerful series of compositions by OST god Ennio Morricone.
AQUALUNG -- STRANGE & BEAUTIFUL
Hell, I usually don't care for music that sounds like this, but I was eerily drawn into these songs, with their crafty, car-commercial, airy-artiness. I have yet to tell myself it's all a joke. I really dig this CD.
BECK - GUERO
Choosy listeners don't always choose Beck. But this collection of "songs" is highly catchy, well-done and enjoyable. Don't let the blank stare fool you.
DAVID SEDARIS -- DRESS YOUR FAMILY IN CORDUROY AND DENIM
This multi-CD reading of his latest book is a step in the right direction for humorist/essayist Sedaris, who had a few depressing bouts of unreadable there for a while. Half-expecting to be deeply disappointed, I was happily surprised.
PATTON OSWALT -- FEELIN' KINDA PATTON/222 live&uncut
These two versions of the same concert are hilarious and wonderful. The best kinds of comedy CDs, they never let up and never disappoint. Unfortunately, they also set the bar kind of high for any other work the comic does (see Dave Attell for example...Skanks For The Memories kills; Hey, Your Mouth's Not Pregnant does not). The Comedians of Comedy stuff isn't as non-stop funny, but hey, we'll see where the new-found success takes this kid (WINK).
and now...
What My 16-Year-Old Son Listened To:
Santana -- Shaman
Green Day -- American Idiot
Black-Eyed Peas -- Monkey Business
Shakira -- Oral Fixation Vol. 1
Nickleback -- All The Right Reasons
Next up: GAMING
posted by scn at 9:21 AM
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