So what albums did you really listen to in 2005?

[King Bob]

Okay, we've probably all read some best of 2005 lists of albums. But I think a more interesting question is what did albums did you listen to a lot, regardless of release date (also I think a better way to hear about a good album that you didn't know about). So what was it?

For me, top was probably Eno & Budd's The Pearl. I keep coming back to it, year after year. And Lanterna's Sands. I never seem to get tired of either. And many plays for some cuts from the Hank Williams box set Original Singles and More. Some of the stuff in there I had never heard before, and it's great - even better than some of the hits. Early in the year I played the Garden State soundtrack a lot. And this was the year I really started to enjoy New Order's music (I never heard much of it until I got satellite radio), so I was happy to get the Singles collection that Rhino released in December (although I really haven't listened to it much since it came out late in the year).

As for music actually released in 2005, I liked Fischerspooner's Odyssey, and Bloc Party's Silent Alarm, although both had some filler. I'm kind of drawing a blank beyond that.

I'll skip songs on the radio I really liked, or leave that for another thread.

[Drunk Monk]

Sorry it took so long to answer. I've just been in this weird entropic space lately. Our DSL at home was offline until just a few minutes ago (not sure why it's back, but here I am)...car was in the shop...lightbulbs have been spontaneously popping off sparks at me (well, just one did, but it was weird)... there's been more episodes... anyway it hasn't let me think clearly about music of last year.

I listened to stuff I was listening to live if I had it, which meant mostly reggae. Big surprise, huh? Loved Sinead's album but you all knew that. got into No Doubt's Rock Steady, especially the one reggae song that wasn't a pop smash, Lighter. Got back into Alpha Blondy around Reggae on the River. There's always the live Marley too. I was working on making the killer Marley rarities tape. OK, to be honest, I've been working on that for five years now. I don't mix tapes anymore. And there's no way I'm burning mix CDs. I'm gonna force anyone who I give a tape to listen to it in the order that I say, no digitial skipping around there. Hell, I'd press it in vinyl if I could. These are serious Marley rarities...I guess I better do it soon before it's all over the net. Eh, it probably is already. Nevermind.

[El Dingo]

1. "Amused to Death" - Roger Waters (#1 since 1992 - way to go Pink!)
2. "The Sophtware Slump" - Grandaddy
3. "Jesus Christ Superstar - A Ressurection" - VA
4. "Offcell" - Pinback
5. "Transatlantacism" - Death Cab for Cutie
6. "The Crow" - OST by Graeme Revell (It's in my CD alarm clock so I hear it a lot)
7. "Picaresque" - The Decemberists
8. "Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots" - The Flaming Lips
9. "The Electric Version" - The New Pornographers
10. "Les Miserables - The Complete Symphonic Recording" - VA

And gobs of Pink Floyd and Ween.

[Greg_phpbb3_import1]

I don't buy a lot of albums. I like the radio. They give me new songs all the time. The only albums I purchased this year were "Vertigo" (bet you didn't see that one coming) and "Has Been" by William Shatner, which was quite enjoyable.
I'm sure this cuts me off from a lot of music, not exploring, but I get enough. I enjoy The Strokes, The Dandy Warhols, The Killers, Interpol. I enjoy them but not enough to get suckered into buying an album.
I do buy songs on itunes (oh my god, you actually paid for songs that you donwloaded. That's outrageous!! Yeah, that twenty bucks I spent on twenty songs is going to break me. Long Live Apple)
I had to find out to what word Kanye West rhymed "Golddiger". Buy it yourself and find out Or just guess. I had to hear the "Fountains of Wayne hotline" by Robbie Fulks. I'm a sucker for a sarcastic song.
Haven't you heard Pink Floyd enough? Or any of those bands from the sixties and seventies? Can you get anything new out of listening to them?

[El Dingo]

I've read "The Stand" a zillion times and always get something new, I can look at a Bosch painting for hours and keep seeing details I missed, I can order a pineapple and jalapeno pizza over and over without wanting a change.

Why should music be any different?

I can almost see your point because I'm tired of The Beatles and The Stones, but Pink Floyd is like sex or fresh-baked chocolate-chip cookies. Each time is familiar and wonderful.

[Drunk Monk]

...at least about the chocolate cookie sex.

There's still a lot of old Stones I like, the less played tracks. And I still enjoy their concerts. I still like the Beatles and Bosch. Floyd is still great, even when mucked up by the Easy Dub Allstars. Jalapenos make my butt itch the day after, but we've already discussed that.

[Greg_phpbb3_import1]

It's derigeur to hear the classic rock station at work. I feel like I've heard the same bands everyday for the last twenty years. I need to hear something a little differant.

Although for some reason, they decided they needed to hear the '50's station on XM. That wasn't quite what I had in mind. Do I really need to hear Great Balls of Fire and the Name song again? No.

I still haven't found a chocolate chip cookie I didn't like.