Top 31 Songs of 2005
If you thought my Top Albums list was eclectic, just check out this wildly diverse two-cd set of my 31 (13 inverted, of course) favorite singles, b-sides and album cuts of the great year for music that was 2005. I had only one rule for this playlist: no repeat artists (this made it quite hard to pick my favorite song from Sufjan’s Illinois, which featured 5 of my favorite tracks of the year). More on that later. For now, the list, in order of appearance:
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Disc One
- Gamble Everything for Love Ben Lee
I got this track in advance of the album Awake is the New Sleep, but didn't fall in love with it until much later. It's a message that clearly others heard this year, and you should hear it too. - Always Love Nada Surf
And by others I mean Matthew Caws singer/songwriter of Nada Surf. If you don't like unabashed songs about love saving us all, these two great pop songs are not for you. - The Bleeding Heart Show The New Pornographers
Just when I thought I'd never get into them, the New Pornographers slowed it down a bit on Twin Cinema, and I finally jumped on the bandwagon. This slow-builder finishes with the most uplifting wordless chorus of the year. - Mushaboom Feist
Impossible to resist, "Mushaboom" was one of 2004's best songs (for those of you in Canada). I am not a Canuck, so it's on my 2005 list instead. - Better Version of Me (Jon Brion Version) Fiona Apple (Download MP3)
While the merits of bootleg vs. official Extraordinary Machine are debated ad infinitum, I'll be listening to the only track that truly stands out from either album (though both are excellent). - Earthquake Weather Beck
The best sunny day Beck song since "Deadweight," this one makes me yearn for days that go slow and voids filled with dust and noise. - Best of You Foo Fighters
Dave Grohl knows how to write a rock song you can sing along to. Always mainstream, but never pandering, Foo Fighters make rock that both dumb and smart people can like. (I'm one of the latter, by the way). - Slow Night, So Long Kings of Leon
Eddie Vedder's favorite KOL song is the same as mine. The perfect opener to my favorite album of the year, the Followill boys beat Kanye to the punch by calling out all the "gold digger mothers too good to tangle with a poor, poor boy." - For Real Okkervil River
Literate alternative folk is now a genre thanks to Okkervil River. Gothic, epic and mysterious, "For Real" pulls you in deeper and deeper with every listen. - Shadowland Youth Group
Who knew a James sound-alike would be so appealing? Australia's Youth Group may not be original, but they sure are catchy. - Shine a Light Wolf Parade
I could never really get into the Wolf Parade album, but this song stuck in my head and kept me coming back, hoping I'd crack the code. I still don't get it, but at least I have this song to enjoy in the meantime. - Hardcore Days & Softcore Nights Aqueduct
The best song from a car commercial this year is also the best electro/bedroom pop song of 2005. Rest assured there was plenty of competition for both titles. - Ladyflash The Go! Team
By far the most ebullient party song (and band) of the year barely ekes out "Get it Together" from the same album. Soudning like the spawn of The Avalanches and Junior Senior, with some cheerleaders thrown in for good measure, The Go! Team make dance music fun again. - Feel Good, Inc. Gorillaz
Featuring the best "featuring..." cameo of 2005, Gorillaz and de la Soul made "Feel Good, Inc." (with the help of Apple) the biggest hit by a cartoon band since The Chipmunks sang their Christmas song. - The Corner Common
My favorite rap album of 2005 was produced by Kanye West. Kanye's killer hooks and subtle grooves (with a touch of defiance) suit Common well. - Touch the Sky Kanye West
With all due respect to Gold Digger, Diamonds From Sierra Leone and Heard 'Em Say, this is the best track on Late Registration. A happy Kanye and a fantastic sample take this one to the top. - Ordinary People John Legend
The final piece of the Kanye triple threat in 2005 (ignoring of course the fact this came out the last week of '04). Another slow grower, this one stays strong for its classicism. The neo-soul movement never sounded more honest or personal.
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Disc Two
- A Message Coldplay
On an album filled with over-produced, over-reaching stadium anthems, this song stands out. Sure it gets big and kind of preachy, but it does so with ease and charm. - Walk in Fire Doves
Doves always remind me of a Danny Boyle film, for some reason. This one would've worked well as a soudntrack to this year's family drama Millions. - Running, Returning Akron/Family
A churning organic sample combines with a haunting vocal performance in my favorite "weird" song of the year. It captured me on first listen—a rarity for challenging music. - As Day is Long Chris Whitley
A somewhat disappointing send-off for the late, great Whitley, Soft Dangerous Shores is redeemed by this beautifully clangy piece of scrapyard electro-blues. - Holding Back the Year Lou Barlow
Lou Barlow, of Sebadoh/Folk Implosion/Dinosaur Jr. fame managed to stick with one style (singer-songwriter alt-pop) for a whole album, and this is Emoh's high point. - Bloody Mother Fucking Asshole Martha Wainwright
Not since Alanis Morissette's "You Oughta Know" has a kiss-off song sounded so good. You can hear the pain in Martha's voice grow with every word. - Fill Me With Your Light Clem Snide
A jaunty, instantly memorable pop gem from Eef Barzelay. The rest of the album couldn't quite live up to the promise of this song, but that's okay. - Saturday Josh Rouse
Josh Rouse specializes in these late-afternoon/early-evening melancholy pop songs. For some reason, instead of making me sad, they make me happy. - Keep it Loose, Keep it Tight Amos Lee
I saw Amos perform this song on Conan earlier this year and was mesmerized. I'm sure you will be too. - I Will Follow You Into the Dark Death Cab for Cutie
The best song on an already excellent album, this Ben Gibbard solo number stands out for its simplicity: a man, his guitar and his words. - Salesman at the Day of the Parade Rogue Wave
Zach Rogue & Co capture a hint of sadness with subtle strings, yearning vocals and an unforgettable acoustic guitar melody. From second listen, this became my favorite Rogue Wave song. - Fake What You Need Tim Seely (Download AAC)
Strange audio samples add an air of oddity to this beautiful tune bolstered (again) by melancholy vocals and a production layered atop a moving piano/acoustic guitar combo. - Cripple Crow Devendra Banhart
The sad, quiet songs just keep getting better! I used to think "At the Hop" was my favorite Devendra Banhart song. Now I'm not so sure. - Casimir Pulaski Day Sufjan Stevens
This is the song that got me to buy this album (not all the crazy blogger raves). Possibly the saddest of all the songs here (it's about his friend's bone cancer), its also my favorite, beating out the other 5-star tracks on Illinois: "Come On! Feel the Illinoise!," "Jacksonville," "Decatur," "Chicago," and "The Man of Metropolis Steals our Hearts."