This is the fourth and final installment of via//chicago's 2005 year-end spectacular, the one in which I recap my favorite fifty albums of the year. I'm also digging the fact that this is the 300th post ever on the blog - not a huge milestone, but kinda cool nonetheless. Take a moment, peruse the list, throw a comment my way, and hopefully follow the links to check out something new to you. Click on the artist's name to visit their website, the album name for a good review (sometimes my very own - denoted with *), and the label's name for it's website.

Part IV: The Albums

















50. Blackalicious - The Craft (Anti)

















49. Archer Prewitt - Wilderness (Thrill Jockey)

















48. Boards of Canada - The Campfire Headphase (Warp)


















47. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Clap Your Hands Say Yeah (self-released)


















46. Bonnie "Prince" Billy & Matt Sweeney - Superwolf (Drag City)


















45. The Magic Numbers - The Magic Numbers (Capitol)


















44. Fiona Apple - Extraordinary Machine (Sony)


















43. Lightning Bolt - Hypermagic Mountain (Load)


















42. The Game - The Documentary (Aftermath/Interscope)


















41. Pelican - The Fire in Our Throats Will Beckon the Thaw (Hydra Head)


















40. Out Hud - Let Us Never Speak Of It Again (Kranky)


















39. My Morning Jacket - Z (ATO/RCA)


















38. The White Stripes - Get Behind Me Satan (V2)


















37. The Go! Team - Thunder, Lightning, Strike (Sony)

















36. Sleater-Kinney - The Woods (Sub Pop)


















35. Sunn O))) - Black One (Southern Lord)

















34. Animal Collective - Feels (Fat Cat)


















33. Bright Eyes - Digital Ash In A Digital Urn (Saddle Creek)

















32. DangerDoom - The Mouse and the Mask (Epitaph)


















31. Engineers - Engineers (Echo)

















30. Ryan Adams & The Cardinals - Cold Roses (Lost Highway)


















29. The New Pornographers - Twin Cinema (Matador)



















28. Sigur Ros - Takk (Geffen)


















27. Dalek - Absence* (Ipecac)


















26. Devendra Banhart - Cripple Crow (Young God)


















25. The Kills - No Wow* (Rough Trade)


















24. Death Cab For Cutie - Plans (Atlantic)


















23. Franz Ferdinand - You Could Have It So Much Better (Domino)


















22. Ryan Adams & The Cardinals - Jacksonville City Nights (Lost Highway)

















21. Kanye West - Late Registration (Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam)


















20. Maximo Park - A Certain Trigger (Warp)
They don't have the boundary crossing sex appeal of The Killers nor do they have the immediate dance-ready style of Franz Ferdinand, but what Maximo Park does have is plenty of attitude. It takes a special band to bring something fresh to the post-punk revival table in 2005 and this band's punchy, off-kilter brand of guitar rock manages to do just that - and then some.
Recommended tracks: "Apply Some Pressure", "Graffiti", "Going Missing"
















19. Babyshambles - Down In Albion (Rough Trade)
It isn't exactly the stuff that rock and roll dreams are made of - crack addiction, legal troubles, imploding one of the brightest bands of the decade - but it certainly makes for a compelling story (or tabloid reading). Between rehab, dating Kate Moss, and court time; Pete Doherty managed to enter the studio and craft yet another album full of beautiful disasters. Take the "shambles" in the band name very seriously - this is a shambolic mess that aims for the gut and hits you right in the face.
Recommended Tracks: "Fuck Forever", "Albion", "8 Dead Boys"


















18. Bright Eyes - I'm Wide Awake It's Morning (Saddle Creek)
No, he's not ever going to live up to all of those "next Dylan" descriptions thrown at him by the national media. Yes, he's probably going to remain pretty damn frustrating at times. But once you move past all the hype and backlash, you can simply focus on the music and revel in the work of one of the most gifted songwriters alive. Whether he is morphing Beethoven into a cathartic rock moment or dueting with Emmylou Harris, Conor Oberst manages to crank out the kind of heartfelt songs that others can only dream about writing.
Recommended Tracks: "Old Soul Song (For the New World Order)", "First Day of My Life", "Road To Joy"


















17. Magnolia Electric Co. - Trials & Errors (Secretly Canadian)
Some might have thought it a risky move for Jason Molina to make his first official release under the Magnolia Electric Co name a live album, but this killer collection lays all fears to rest before the first track ends. Blending songs from both the Songs: Ohia era of his career and new tracks that featured on What Comes After the Blues (also 2005), this album manages to absolutely nail everything that Molina does right. Sometimes rocking, sometimes rolling, and sometimes just stumbling around aimlessly heartbroken - this set captures it all.
Recommended Tracks: "Dark Don't Hide It", "Ring the Bell", "Such Pretty Eyes For a Snake"


















16. Spoon - Gimme Fiction (Merge)
It gets to be pretty predictable, doesn't it? Another Spoon album - another mind-blowing set of power-pop. Some might try and tell you that the band has fallen off since the last pair of albums, those people would be dead wrong. Just sit back and listen to the best white-boy funk since Beck got his Beezlebub haircut on with "I Turn My Camera On" or the gloriously catchy rock of "Sister Jack" and tell me they've lost a step. Not at all.
Recommended Tracks: "I Turn My Camera On", "Sister Jack", "My Mathematical Mind"


















15. M83 - Before The Dawn Heals Us (Mute)
M83 on eleven. M83 times one thousand. M83 on crack. M83 goes widescreen. I heard all of these descriptions when it came to the new album - and damned it every one of them isn't 100% dead-on. Anthony Gonzalez tops the last album in a way that all of the Jerry Bruckheimers out there can love - bigger in every single way. More expansive and more cinematic suits this one just fine, let this soundtrack your own apocalypse. Besides, this deserved a spot just for that cover art alone.
Recommended Tracks: "Don't Save Us From the Flames", "Teen Angst", "Lower Your Eyelids to Die with the Sun"

















14. Rachel Stevens - Come And Get It (Polydor)
Missing Britney and XTina this year? Forget 'em, and quick. While your favorite American pop princesses are fading into obscurity and irrelevancy, the British girls are taking over. Between Girls Aloud and former S Club 7 girl Rachel Stevens, the best pop being made right now is all on the other side of the pond. This is one of those few gems of a pop album that are consistently great from start to finish, well worth the trouble to track down.
Recommended Tracks: "Some Girls", "Negotiate With Love", "I Said Never Again (But Here We Are)"


















13. Gorillaz - Demon Days (Virgin)
If you expected the Gorillaz to be a one-time novelty act that was never heard from again after the surprisingly decent debut album, I'm fairly certain you weren't alone. What nobody expected, however, was for them to come back with an album that blew away not only the first album - but also everyone that listened to it. Damon Albran ropes in stellar guest appearances from De La Soul, MF Doom, Ike Turner, and even Dennis freakin' Hopper to put together one killer piece of plastic. If Graham never comes back to Blur, let's keep him on this side project forever.
Recommended Tracks: "Feel Good Inc.", "DARE", "Dirty Harry"


















12. Akron/Family - Akron/Family (Young God)
They may share a record label with Devendra Banhart, but labelling these guys as "just another freak folk" band would be selling them far too short. Michael Gira was quick to realize just what a great find this band was, snatching them up to be the backing band for his Angels of Light project. On their debut, however, the band proved that they were pure genius in their own right - rolling and soaring through the twists and turns that would make the Animal Collective proud, all while maintaining a strong sense of songcraft.
Recommended Tracks: "Italy", "Running, Returning", "Shoes"


















11. The National - Alligator (Beggar's Banquet)
You know that feeling at the end of the night when you've had a little bit too much to drink and you start reeling from all the things going wrong in your life? When you can practically hold the moment it all went wrong in your hands, but you still sit there grasping at dreams of glory that disappear into thin air? When you realize that you should probably just let it go and head off to bed, but you order another double instead? These guys do - and manage to make it sound absolutely beautiful.
Recommended Tracks: "Mr. November", "Abel", "Secret Meeting"

















10. Broken Social Scene - Broken Social Scene (Arts & Crafts)
If it ain't one Canadian supergroup, it's another. As the New Pornographers started to reveal the first chinks in the armor, Broken Social Scene stepped up big time and proved that every word of blog hype was justified. This one certainly isn't as easily accesible as You Forgot It In People and it's obvious that the band probably spent more time and energy on production than Kanye West does, but none of this makes it any less of a thrilling ride. Repeated listens reveal the subtleties and layers buried within, the textbook definition of a initially disappointing album that grows into a truly great record.
Recommended Tracks: "Fire Eye'd Boy", "7/4 Shoreline", "It's All Gonna Break"


















9. Okkervil River - Black Sheep Boy (Jagjaguwar)
Move over Colin Meloy, Will Sheff is the new thinking man's literary indie rocker. Alright - maybe not the best of comparisons, but the two bands do have quite a bit in common. Highly narrative lyrics and a masterful sense of drama are attributes of both bands, but in 2005 is was Sheff and Okkervil River that spun the better tale. Working a concept album loosely based on a single song, Sheff keeps this album flowing smoothly from start to finish - just like a good book it's something you won't be able to put down.
Recommended Tracks: "Black", "A Glow", "A Stone"


















8. LCD Soundsystem - LCD Soundsystem (DFA)
James Murphy built a steady reputation over the past several years through both his DFA label and the string of awesome singles released under the LCD Soundsystem moniker. The man became the uncontested king of disco-punk by the mid-point of 2004. Turns out the guy can crank out a pretty damn good full-length as well. The influences, as expected, are all over the map - The Beatles, Can, Brian Eno, on and on - but Murphy manages to blend them all into the perfect concoction to keep you dancing all night and recovering the next morning. Throwing in the classic singles as a bonus disc simply makes this the most essential party album of 2005.
Recommended Tracks: "Daft Punk is Playing at My House", "Disco Infiltrator", "Tribulations"


















7. Sufjan Stevens - Illinois* (Ashmatic Kitty)
The reputation was initially gained by a crazy gimmick, yes, but Sufjan has managed to keep and slowly build that reputation through amazing albums and thrilling live shows. His 2005 trip through the Land of Lincoln was the most spectacular one yet, turning both historical figures and personal experiences into stunning and, at times, touching musical moments.
Recommended Tracks: "John Wayne Gacy Jr.", "Chicago", "The Man of Metropolis Steals Our Hearts"
















6. M.I.A. - Arular (XL)
Early hype led to undeserved early backlash as nearly everyone seemed to be "so over" Maya before 2005 was out. Fine, let the haters leave the album alone so I can enjoy this gem in peace. A true melting pot of world influences, M.I.A. threw down rhymes and hooks over beats that would make even your grandmother hit the floor. Sri Lanka, Brooklyn, London, Kingston - it doesn't matter where you are, this album will fill floors and bob heads worldwide.
Recommended Tracks: "Galang", "Sunshowers", "Hombre"


















5. Opeth - Ghost Reveries (Roadrunner)
I'm not a huge fan of metal - never have been, probably never will be a hardcore fan of the genre in any of its many formats. Not that I don't respect or even like some of it, I just don't have the time nor patience to wade through the seemingly countless metal albums that appear each year. That's why I thank the internet daily for introducing me to this album, one of the grandest musical statements of the year - metal or not. Don't let the cookie monster growls throw you off the trail, because you will miss out on one of the most varied, brutal, and exciting excursions that any band has taken in 2005.
Recommended Tracks: "The Grand Conjuration", "Reverie/Harlequin Forest", "Isolation Years"


















4. Dungen - Ta Det Lungt (Kemado)
I have no clue what Gustav Ejstes is singing about on this album, nor do I really want to know. Because with music this gorgeous, language doesn't matter in the least. He could be singing about lollipops and walking his pet llama for all I know - but that doesn't stop this from being one of the most enjoyable listens of the year. The secret is Ejstes attention to detail and mastery of multiple instruments, as he twists and turns his way though wonderful riffs, solos, and interludes. Best described as Swedish psych-rock, this is one album you will want to grab if even the merest mention of "psych" excites you. Hell even if it doesn't this one might be worth exploring.
Recommended Tracks: "Ta Det Lungt", "Festival", "Lipsill"


















3. Wolf Parade - Apologies To The Queen Mary (Sub Pop)
The four-song EP from earlier this year was the perfect teaser for this massively hyped band, delivering several killer tunes while whetting appetites for the Issac Brock produced full-length to come later. By the time the album dropped in the fall, people (myself included) were drooling like raing madmen for this one. And unlike many over-hyped indie rock albums, this one delivered tenfold. Comparisons to Modest Mouse and Arcade Fire are obvious if not somewhat accurate and lazy, but Wolf Parade brings to the table an enchanting sound of their own as they stomp, holler, and wildly careen through twelve tracks of fun indie rock. Yeah I said, "fun indie rock". It's been far too long, hasn't it?
Recommended Tracks: "Same Ghost Every Night", "This Heart's On Fire", "Shine A Light"



















2. The Hold Steady - Separation Sunday* (Frenchkiss)
Junkies, burnouts, born-agains, slackers, hookers, swindlers, liars, cheaters, hoodlums, punks, hoodrats, losers, users, abusers - they're all here. Craig Finn leads his band through another batch of highly narrative indie-cum-classic rock, this time telling a loose story about several lost souls searching for a good time, redemption, a savior, or sometimes all three. This is probably what Bruce Springsteen would have sounded like if he'd grown up about a decade later and in suburban Minneapolis.
Recommended Tracks: "Your Little Hoodrat Friend", "Stevie Nix", "Chicago Seemed Tired Last Night"


















1. Bloc Party - Silent Alarm (Vice)
It kicks off with one of the best opening tracks of the last five years, "Like Eating Glass", and never lets up. Bloc Party meshes obvious post-punk influences with youthful fervor and churns out the best album of the year. Slightly political, often times epic, and always engaging - these young Brits aim high on every single track. While they don't always hit the mark, just listening to them try is enjoyment enough. This album is the sound of one of the brightest and most talented bands in years just finding their footing and preparing to take off into the stratosphere. It helps that they have both one of the best rhythm sections in rock and a compelling lead singer that knows how to write songs that connect on a multitude of levels.
Recommended Tracks: "So Here We Are", "Like Eating Glass", "Banquet"

This is the third in a four part series in which via//chicago looks back on the year in music. This time, I'll reveal my favorite one hundred singles of the year. Next time, we wrap up with the final part and reveal the top 50 albums of 2005

Part III: The Singles

100. "Girl" - Beck
99. "Sittin' Sidewayz" - Paul Wall f. Big Pokey
98. "Ain't No Easy Way" - Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
97. "Sky Starts Falling" - Doves
96. "Little Sister" - Queens of the Stone Age
95. "Mercy Me" - Alkaline Trio
94. "Reunion" - Stars
93. "Side Streets" - Saint Etienne
92. "Lyla" - Oasis
91. "Mic Check" - Juelz Santana
90. "Ohio is For Lovers" - Hawthorne Heights
89. "Only" - Nine Inch Nails
88. "Wake Up" - Hilary Duff
87. "It's For You" - Out Hud
86. "Grass" - Animal Collective
85. "Tito's Way" - The Juan Maclean
84. "Oh My God" - Kaiser Chiefs
83. "I Feel Space" - Lindstrom
82. "Mandarine Girl" - Booka Shade
81. "DARE" - Gorillaz
80. "Off the Record" - My Morning Jacket
79. "I Feel Like A Child" - Devendra Banhart
78. "Black History Month (Alan Braxe & Fred Falke Remix)" - Death From Above 1979
77. "Breathe" - Erasure
76. "Juicebox" - The Strokes
75. "Ashes" - Embrace
74. "Ageless Beauty" - Stars
73. "The First Day of My Life" - Bright Eyes
72. "A.S.A.P." - T.I.
71. "Disco Infiltrator" - LCD Soundsystem
70. "Blue Orchid" - The White Stripes
69. "Destroy Everything You Touch" - Ladytron
68. "Lovefood" - Michael Mayer
67. "Four Kicks" - Kings of Leon
66. "Shine A Light" - Wolf Parade
65. "Hung Up" - Madonna
64. "Elan" - Justus Kohncke
63. "Neighborhood #2 (Laika)" - Arcade Fire
62. "In A Funny Way" - Mercury Rev
61. "Wires" - Athlete
60. "I Built This City (Michael Mayer Remix)" - Baxendale
59. "All These Things That I've Done" - The Killers
58. "Ibi Dreams of Pavement (A Better Day)" - Broken Social Scene
57. "Jetstream (JLC Remix)" - New Order
56. "Cool (Richard X Remix)" - Gwen Stefani
55. "America's Boy" - Broadcast
54. "Push The Button" - Sugababes
53. "Fuck Forever" - Babyshambles
52. "Do the Whirlwind" - Architecture in Helsinki
51. "Behind These Hazel Eyes" - Kelly Clarkson
50. "Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)" - Arcade Fire
49. "Pon De Replay" - Rihanna
48. "Tribulations" - LCD Soundsystem
47. "Dear Summer" - Memphis Bleek f. Jay-Z
46. "Inside & Out" - Feist
45. "Hideyaface" - Prefuse 73 f. Ghostface & El-P
44. "Albion" - Babyshambles
43. "We Belong Together (Remix)" - Mariah Carey f. Jadakiss & Styles P
42. "Helena" - My Chemical Romance
41. "Portions for Foxes" - Rilo Kiley
40. "Soul Meets Body" - Death Cab for Cutie
39. "I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor" - Arctic Monkeys
38. "Diamonds from Sierra Leone (Remix)" - Kanye West f. Jay-Z
37. "Blood On Our Hands" - Death From Above 1979
36. "Your Little Hoodrat Friend" - The Hold Steady
35. "These Words" - Natasha Bedingfield
34. "Lose Control" - Missy Elliott f. Fatman Scoop & Ciara
33. "Hate It or Love It" - The Game f. 50 Cent
32. "Finding Out True Love is Blind" - Louis XIV
31. "Oh" - Ciara f. Ludacris
30. "Pass This On" - The Knife
29. "Apply Some Pressure" - Maximo Park
28. "Sister Jack" - Spoon
27. "Don't Save Us from the Flames (Superpitcher Remix)" - M83
26. "Turn Off Da Lights" - Tweet f. Missy Elliott
25. "Do You Want To" - Franz Ferdinand
24. "1 Thing" - Amerie
23. "Biology" - Girls Aloud
22. "Let's Get High" - Benjamin Diamond
21. "So Here We Are" - Bloc Party

















20. "Still Tippin' (Diplo Remix)" - Mike Jones f. Slim Thug & Paul Wall
One trick pony hits big with the perfect distillation of the Houston sound. Mike Jones never rises above mediocrity himself, but this track is saved thanks to a fantastic beat and some great guest verses from the other H-Town breakouts of '05.

















19. "Rebellion (Lies)" - Arcade Fire
The most joyful-sounding anthem on a single full of joyful-sounding anthems. In a just world, this would have been a Top 10 hit worldwide.

















18. "So Good" - Rachel Stevens
Yes it is Rachel, yes it is. The pulsating beat and Rachel's charm are just the start - the glorious chorus is when this one really gets started.

















17. "I Said Never Again (But Here We Are)" - Rachel Stevens
Another gem from Rachel, this was truly her year to shine. Great production sends this one into the stratosphere. But Rachel herself makes the track work, it would have been just a blip if a lesser pop star had sung it.

















16. "Hounds of Love" - The Futureheads
Man, if you would have told me that one of the best singles of 2005 would be a cover of an old Kate Bush song - I would have laughed in your face. The Futureheads get the last laugh in a version that trumps the original in every way.

















15. "Black and White Town" - The Doves
Doves float towards a more "organic" sound on the lead single from their third album and strike gold. Once again these guys prove that attention to detail is key when working their magic.

















14. "Love Me Like You" - The Magic Numbers
A little too sunshiney? Perhaps. Twee as hell? Probably. A classic summertime pop song? Definitely.

















13. "Stay Fly" - Three-6-Mafia f. Eightball, MJG, & Young Buck
These Southern rap vets set out to show the youngsters just how things are done and manage to knock out their best single ever in the process. Also features the only remaining member of G-Unit that matters.

















12. "I Turn My Camera On" - Spoon
These indie-poppers get their white-boy funk on and release a better Beck single than even Beck could manage in the 0-5.

















11. "Long Hot Summer" - Girls Aloud
The girls never stay gone long, thank God. It would have been a long, hot one if we'd have had to suffer throughout the season without another gem.

















10. "Dakota" - Stereophonics
The 'Phonics finally break it big in America, thanks to the strongest single of their career. Too bad there wasn't much to back that up.

















09. "Feel Good Inc." - Gorillaz
What does it mean when the side project starts releasing better singles than the main band? Damon, with a little help from De La Soul, works animated magic all over again.

















08. "Two More Years" - Bloc Party
The best single yet - and it wasn't even a part of the debut album. These guys just keep getting better and better.

















07. "Gold Digger" - Kanye West f. Jamie Foxx
Controvery aside, Kanye still managed to make a huge impact on the radio waves this summer. This Ray Charles sampling gem proves that 'Ye still manages to have a little fun in between pissing off world leaders and bitching about the Grammys.

















06. "Abel" - The National
Yeah, surprised the hell out of me too. It's nearly criminal that this band remains as underexposed as they've been.

















05. "Negotiate With Love" - Rachel Stevens
We couldn't finish off without another one from Rachel, now could we? This was the best of the bunch and the track that made me fall for her. Why are we Americans stuck with Gwen while the Brits get this great stuff?

















04. "Daft Punk is Playing at My House" - LCD Soundsystem
After that last album it may not be something worth bragging about, but James Murphy throws the hipster party of the year with this track. The Soulwax remix is just as hot.

















03. "Krafty" - New Order
Cheesetastic optimistic lyrics, a killer hook, and some glorious strings combine to make the best New Order single in over a decade.

















02. "Sugar, We're Goin' Down" - Fall Out Boy
There may have been a point around the 403rd viewing of the video where we got sick of this song, but any ill will was gone the next time we got to shout-along in the car. If only pop-punk could always be this much fun.

















01. "Since U Been Gone" - Kelly Clarkson
Was there really any doubt? The song that brought the masses - soccer moms and indie rockers alike - together in joyous pop harmony.

This is the second in a four part series in which via//chicago looks back on the year in music. This time around I'll reveal my Top 20 compilations/reissued albums of the year and my Top 10 live shows of the year.

Part II: Compilations/Reissues & Live Albums

The Top 20 Compilations and Reissued Albums of the Year
20. Motley Crue - Red, White, and Crue (Hip-O)
19. The Stooges - Fun House (Remastered) (Elektra)
18. Super Furry Animals - MWNG (Expanded Reissue) (XL)
17. Fountains of Wayne - Out-of-State Plates (Virgin)
16. Blink 182 - Greatest Hits (Geffen)
15. The Cure - Seventeen Seconds (Deluxe Edition) (Elektra)
14. Super Furry Animals - Outspaced (XL)
13. The Cure - Faith (Deluxe Edition) (Elektra)
12. Super Furry Animals - Radiator (Expanded Reissue) (XL)
11. Super Furry Animals - Guerilla (Expanded Reissue) (XL)
10. At the Drive-In - This Station is Non-Operational: Anthology (Fearless)
09. The Cure - Pornography (Deluxe Edition) (Elektra)
08. The Ramones - Weird Tales of the Ramones (Rhino)
07. Mogwai - Government Commissions: BBC Sessions 1996-2003 (Matador)
06. The Stooges - The Stooges (Remastered) (Elektra)
05. Johnny Cash - The Legend (Sony)
04. Stereolab - Oscillions from the Anti-Sun (Too Pure)
03. Belle & Sebastian - Push Barman to Open Old Wounds (Matador)
02. The Fall - The Complete Peel Sessions: 1978-2004 (Castle Us)
01. Yo La Tengo - Prisoners of Love (Matador)

The Top 10 Live Shows of 2005
10. Drive-By Truckers @ Lollapalooza (07/24)
It may not have been the best setting to see this band in the middle of the afternoon on a scorchingly hot Chicago summer day, but it was great nonetheless. The compelling story-songs translated surprisingly well to the large outdoor stage. One of the most consistently strong acts around today.
09. Foo Fighters / Weezer / Kaiser Chiefs @ Allstate Arena (10/03)
Weezer played a great set, but it was the unexpectedly strong set from Dave Grohl and company that made this show memorable. The Foos are a criminally underrated band in some quarters.
08. Death Cab for Cutie @ Lollapalooza (07/24)
A great way to cap off the weekend, Ben Gibbard and company played a wonderful set with the moonlit Chicago skyline as a backdrop and brought the crowd back down gently with their lush pop tunes.
07. Magnolia Electric Co. @ Intonation (07/16)
Between Intonation and Lollapalooza, it was an embarrassment of riches for Chicago this summer. One of the highlights of this Pitchfork-curated weekend was watching Jason Molina lead his band through a blistering set.
06. The Hold Steady @ Intonation (07/17)
This is definitely a band not to be missed in a live setting, as the twisted tales from their two albums take on a whole new life on the stage. Can't wait to catch these guys again.
05. The National / Clap Your Hands Say Yeah @ Schuba's (09/23)
It was very exciting to catch buzz band CYHSY in such an intimate setting, but it was The National who stole the show with an intense and cathartic set.
04. Les Savy Fav @ Intonation (07/16)
Tim Harrington is one of the craziest dudes I've ever seen on a rock stage and made sure to take full advantage of the Intonation crowd. Whether he was stripping to his skivvies or pouring beer down said underwear, he was a ball on energy that ignited the fans for the best set of the weekend.
03. Sufjan Stevens / Liz Janes @ Metro (09/17)
This could have gone wrong for so many reasons, but this show ended up being one of the most enjoyable rock shows of the year. The crowd was way into it and the cheerleader schtick brought a much appreciated level of humor to the night.
02. The Arcade Fire @ Lollapalooza (07/23)
Donning the full funeral gear despite the intense heat, these Canadians became the breakout stars of the weekend with one of the most energetic sets of live music I've seen. Less than an hour of music that justified all the hype.
01. The Arcade Fire / Wolf Parade / Bell Orchestre @ The Riviera (09/28)
Oh yeah, they definitely deserve the top two spaces on this list. Quite simply the most exciting live band in the world right now. The set exceeded the huge expectations set by the awesome Lolla performance, and getting to catch Wolf Parade was a wonderful bonus.

This is the first in a four part series in which via//chicago looks back on the year in music. We start off with a quick summary of 2005 and a quick glimpse at what is to come in 2006. Part two will reveal my Top 10 live shows and Top 20 compilation/reissued albums of the year, part three will reveal my favorite 100 singles of the past year, and part four will finish things off with a look at the 50 best albums of 2005.

Part 1: The Overview

What will we remember most about the music of 2005 when we look back on it in fifteen years? Will we remember it as the first significant year of the Arcade Fire's global domination? Or will we look back and fondly recall the humble beginnings of superstars like M.I.A. or Bloc Party? Maybe we'll remember it as the year Eminem announced the first of his many "retirements". Probably none of the above, instead we'll be kicking ourselves for ever allowing "Hollaback Girl" and "My Humps" to become Top 10 hit singles. If not, we should be. In fact, why don't we just go ahead and chalk those two up in the "horrid atrocities of 2005" column right now and get it over with. Put them just below the continued presence of the Bush administration and that whole bird flu thing, but just above the continued presence of Paris Hilton. At least she's good for a laugh or two.

In all seriousness, 2005 will most likely be a very interesting year to look back on. While there was no easy to pinpoint defining moment, sound, or artist this year (ala "Hey Ya" in 2003 or Eminem in 2001); there was still plenty of great music to be heard. For the first time in what seemed to be too many years, rock music snuck back up onto the pop charts and slightly loosened the stranglehold that hip-hop and R&B has had on them. Thanks to both Green Day and The Killers holdover success stories from last year, the kids who like guitars instead of turntables actually had reason to tune in the weekly countdowns. American Idiot and "Mr. Brightside" may have led the charge, but it was a duo of spunky new bands that kept the rock flame burning. You could hardly flip on MTV this summer without stumbling across a dorky kid with antlers or a funeral with enough choreography to put Star Search to shame. Fall Out Boy and My Chemical Romance proved that girls still love the guys that sing from the teenaged heart, but it helps even more to have a quirky video on your side. Not to mention that the arguable biggest single of the year, courtesy of the best American Idol factory product yet, owed more to the Strokes than Beyonce. Some might even say that "Since U Been Gone" owes even more to Nick Zinner and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, but that's a different story.

2005 was also a huge year for disappointments, of both the massively crushing and slightly annoying variety. Billy Corgan pretty much wrapped up the former all by his lonesome, unleashig upon the world a horrifically weak album that made the whole Zwan thing look downright genius by comparison. Look Billy, we all know that you want to forge a separate identity from a certain former band - but flopping a reheated pile of '80s synth farts isn't the way to do it. And squandering every fan's dream of a duet with Robert Smith on that near trainwreck of a Bee Gee's cover? Unforgiveable. I'm not going to hate just yet because I know you still have it in you, but you let us down big time with this one. Although it just may have been part of the mid-90's alt-rocker curse as albums from Nine Inch Nails, Beck, Audioslave, and Garbage all fell far short of expectations. Beck's being the biggest shocker of the bunch, let's just hope it was an off year for the guy. In the "slightly annoying" category of disappointments we find the latest releases from Super Furry Animals, Boards of Canada, and Missy Elliott failing to live up to the standards set by previous releases. None of these three were exactly terrible albums (in fact the Boards of Canada album turned out to age fairly well), but everyone involved is capable of so much more.

But let us not dwell too long on the negative because there were even more reasons to be completely thrilled with the music 2005 gave us. One of the biggest reasons I'm excited about what I heard this year is that we had so many amazing debut albums in the last twelve months. It's very exciting to hear tons of great new music, but doubly so when all this great music is from a bunch of new artists who still have entire careers in front of them. Sure many will fizzle out or never again reach the full potential hinted at upon these debuts, but I think that many of the great first albums from this year are just the tip of the iceberg. Specifically I'm thinking about people like Bloc Party, Engineers, Wolf Parade, M.I.A., Akron Family, and The Game. Each of these artists' debut albums were sprinkled with flashes of genius and inspiration that offer a tantalizing peek of the huge things we can expect in the future. Bloc Party has already shown more talent with the non-album single "Two More Years", as has the Akron Family with their recent split LP with the Angels of Light. And if some of the mixtape material floating around is any indication, The Game isn't going to let his beef with G-Unit squash his career. The Documentary may have been uneven, but the kid has a very unique style and a delivery that will only get better with time. Not wanting to let the newcomers hog all the fun and spotlight, quite a few well established artists stepped up to the plate and delivered the goods in 2005 as well. Sufjan Stevens, Bright Eyes, Spoon, Animal Collective, Ryan Adams, and Broken Social Scene all released albums that greatly enhanced their already stellar reputations.

In the end, I think 2005 was mostly a year of transition. No huge new trends were broken, unless you count reggaeton's inevitable breach of mainstream urban radio, and there were no huge generational shifts in mood or taste. But I think enough subtle variations and nudges occurred to lay down some solid foundations for things to come - more rock music in the mainstream pop charts, young bands into careers and not just hit singles, and the continued acceptance of pop music as a serious form of music by even the most headstrong indie fans. This popism is certainly nothing new, but 2005 seemed to prove that it wasn't just a buzzword escape clause for pop fans to use while breaking out of the closet. Take it from Ted Leo, whose acoustic cover of "Since U Been Gone" went a long way towards showing the indie world just how wonderful the song actually was. And now we turn our ears towards 2006 and wait to see what rises above these solid foundations. With albums expected from heavy hitters and solid performers such as The Strokes, Radiohead, Belle and Sebastian, The Flaming Lips, Pearl Jam, and the aforementioned Yeah Yeah Yeahs (just to name a few) - the coming year promises to be as eventful and exciting as any.

Thanks for reading via//chicago these past twelve months and please continue to do so in the coming year. Don't be afraid to leave me a comment anytime, or feel free to drop me a line at jon830@yahoo.com to let me know what you think.

np: "Heart In A Cage" - The Strokes

Apparently the whole album has leaked now, so chances are that if you're a huge fan and technologically inclined - you've probably already heard First Impressions of Earth by now. I've yet to hear the whole thing, I'm really trying to hold out until the official release date (January 3, 2006) since I like to keep some suspense now and then for my mostly highly anticipated albums. But I do have to admit that I've already heard about four of the new tracks and I'm pretty stoked by what I've heard. Definitely a change of pace for the band, no one is going to be calling this one Is This It Part 3. We'll just have to see if this level of quality can be held up for fourteen tracks. While on the topic of these guys, have you seen the "Juicebox" video yet? It's really nothing special, but David Cross managed to pull a chuckle from me during his brief cameo introducing the band. Although I have to admit that he needs to lay out of the indie/rock video appearances so far, he'll never be able to top the hilarious "rock school" Yo La Tengo "Sugarcube" video. And, hate to say it, but that cover art pretty much sucks.

Progress is still being made on the via//Chicago 2005 year-end extravaganza - look for it to kick off within the next week or two. In addition to featuring my favorite albums and singles of the year, I'll also be listing my favorite compilations and live shows of the year. Not to mention a wrap-up of the music year that was 2005.

np: "It Fit When I Was A Kid (Don't Techno For An Answer Remix)" - Liars

There are so many reasons why I love the Liars, let's see how many I can think of right now.

- While The Strokes, Interpol, and Yeah Yeah Yeahs were busy eating up most of the "new rock" hype back in 2002 - "Mr. Your On Fire Mr." bashed them all on the head and stuck a monument on top that read "suck it New York". Ok, maybe not... but it was and still is one of the best singles to come out that year.

- The 20 minute loop jam thing that ended the debut album. Classic.

- Pissing off nearly half their fans with the second album. It was even more out there than the debut and twenty times better than any critics seemed to want to give it credit for. I think Spin even gave it an 'F' if I remember correctly. Screw that. It was awesome.

- That fucked up video for "We Fenced Other Gardens With The Bones of Our Own".

- The song titles like the above and "We Got Cold, Coughed, And Forgot Things".

- Awesome covers, such as Oneida's "Rose and Licorice" and Germs' "Sex Boy".

- Them starting out prolific as hell, even though they've slowed down a bit. But between '02 and '05 they released two full lengths, two EPs, one split EP, at least three singles, and a split 7-inch that I know of.

Ok, so that's only like seven reasons - but seven awesome reasons! And now the boys are due back with their third full-length in early 2006. But to whet our appetites they've snuck out the fantastic It Fit When I Was A Kid single/EP, complete with disturbingly NSFW cover art, three all new tracks, and a remix of the title tune. Up above, below the picture, is a link to "It Fit When I Was A Kid (Don't Techno For An Answer Remix)" - listen and enjoy, then get your ass out and pick up the entire EP - it'll be money well spent. And keep an eye out for Drum's Not Dead when it hits stores.

np: "So What" - The Cure

Let me kick this one off by wishing each and every one of you a happy and safe Thanksgiving. Get your fill of food and naps on the couch now, before the hectic shopping season kicks off in earnest. Can you tell I'm not excited to do my Christmas shopping yet? I'm just not excited about buying gifts when I have no idea what to get everyone. Anyway, safe travels and enjoy the much needed time off - I know I will.

One of the many reasons I've been slacking on updates over the past couple weeks is the massive amounts of time being spent preparing for year-end list making. I've been spending every spare moment re-listening and re-examining much of the music I've come across since January, be they albums or singles or what have you. I'm aiming to compile a list of my 100 favorite singles and 50 favorite albums of the year, results to be posted here within the next couple of weeks. So start thinking about your faves of the year because I'm really hoping the lists will kickstart those comments from you readers. Don't be afraid to leave one, seriously. It's easy.

At any rate, here's a quick rundown of some of the stuff that's really grown on me as I've done my listening over the past couple weeks. Stuff I either underestimated at first or just plain missed out on the first time.

Broken Social Scene - S/T:
This was most definitely a "grower" for me this year, an album that didn't reveal its full impact until somewhere around the 9th or 10th full listen. It's not as striking as You Forgot It In People, nor as solid, but don't let the legions of naysayers keep you from giving this gem a chance. It may be a tad bit overproduced, but just pop this one on with headphones and let the layers and intricacies overwhelm you.

The Magic Numbers - S/T:
The first couple of spins did absolutely nothing for me, but looking back I'm not sure why. This album features some of the most gorgeous melodies of the year and a ridiculously good single in "Love Me Like You". If you like your pop sunny, pretty, and completely endearing in a dorky kind of twee way - give this one a shot.

Mariah Carey - "Shake It Off", "We Belong Together (remix)":
I really fell of Mariah back in the late '90s, when she became what I liked to call the "hip-hop ho". Didn't really have anything to do with the look she was going for back then (ok, sorta), but more with the constant pimping of her vocal talents to rappers who wanted a quick and easy hook without really letting Mariah's voice shine. The hype on the new album started building early, but I refused to be sucked in. But sure enough those two songs sunk in and I fell for them - hard. The girl still has an amazing voice, let's just be thankful she decided to put it to full use again.

Maximo Park - A Certain Trigger:
While my love for the awesome single "Apply Some Pressure" never has wavered, this album originally struck me as nothing special. I think the problem was hearing this so late in the post-punk revivial craze and being somewhat sick of that sound by the time this came around. Luckily putting the album away for a few months before digging it out again was the best thing I could have done. Songs like "I Want You to Stay", "The Coast is Always Changing", and "Graffiti" have revealed themselves to be the treats they really are.

np: "Hotline Operator" - The Constantines

It seems I have to once again apologize for the slacking in updating this site lately, but things have gotten really hectic around here these past few weeks. Between work and just trying to keep up with life in general the blog kinda took a backseat there for a bit. But I promise to be back into the swing of things soon, especially with the end of year review stuff starting to kick into gear. I've been spending the last couple weeks reviewing all of the albums I've heard this year and organizing all my favorite singles of the year in iTunes, all to prepare for my annual list-making. A couple months ago I was thinking that 2005 was a really weak year for singles compared to 2004, but the more I review and dig around I'm finding some really fantastic shit that I originally missed out on or passed over. The problem is that there hasn't been a killer single that has completely knocked my socks off, although there have been several to come pretty close (Fall Out Boy, I'm looking at you). Reviewing all of the albums I've heard from this year is turning into quite the monumental task. I didn't realize just how many albums I've bought and/or reviewed this year, let alone how many of them are actually quite good. Trust me, you'll get a full rundown once my final lists are decided. It's actually been a pretty damn good year for music, you just had to know where to look for it.

np: "Publish My Love" - Rogue Wave

Wow. I love it when a band completely surprises me with a tune that knocks me right off my feet. When a great tune virtually pops up out of nowhere, smacks you on the face, and instantly makes you fall in love with it. The type of tune that works its way into your head from the start and you find yourself randomly humming it during trips to the copier.
I first heard Rogue Wave when WOXY (great online station that I highly recommend) played "Kicking the Heart Out", off of last year's Out of the Shadow. I liked the song quite a bit, but for some reason the rest of the debut never really clicked with me. It certainly is pleasant enough, and I could see how some might love it, but I never got fully excited about the album or the band. So I really wasn't paying much attention to these guys this year, although I was vaguely aware that they were going to be releasing something new. But then I started reading some major chatter regarding this tune courtesy of several different message boards I frequent from time to time. I figured with so many accolades being thrown around, it would be a song worth checking out. I'm glad I did, it's quickly turning into one of my favorite songs of the last couple months - and surprisingly, it's not even the album's lead single (that would be the also good, but not as beautiful, "10:1"). This song was enough to spark a new interest in the band for me, and I've since spent a lot of quality time with the excellent Descended Like Vultures. But enough about me, let's get you excited about this song. As usual, click on the link below the picture and give it a spin for yourself. Then head on over to Sub Pop and buy the album. Or the single. Or their debut. Support your favorite (mega) indie labels.

(A quick note about the songs I provide: These are meant for evaluation purposes only, so I can spread the word about music that deserves to be heard. They will only be available for a limited time and will not be reposted once expired. I will also provide links to where you can purchase work from these artists, so that we can all continue to support them. If you are or represent one of the artists for any of the songs I've posted and you do not want it shared, please let me know and it will be removed. Thanks. Enjoy. And please, please support these bands and artists.)

np: "Biology" - Girls Aloud

Nothing like a great pop song to brighten up the dark and rainy days of late October, when an extra spring in the step is a much desired thing. UK pop queens Girls Aloud have been providing us with hits to launch that extra spring for a couple of years now, tossing off excellent singles such as "Sound of the Underground", "Love Machine", and my personal favorite "The Show". These girls might be unfamiliar to most of you readers in the States, which is unfortunate because these girls deserve just as much praise as the Spice Girls got on this side of the pond back in the day. You may have caught an earful of them in the movie Love Actually though, as it was these very girls that provided the superb cover of the Pointer Sisters' "Jump (For My Love)" for the soundtrack (unfortunately not included on the US version). Anyway, exciting news trickled out this week about the girls preparing a new album for release before 2006 is upon us. Also spreading around the internet like peanut butter on bread is their latest single, "Biology", the perfect genre-mashing antidote for a crappy day. Click on the link below the picture to hear it for yourself though. It's not as spectacular as "Long Hot Summer", from earlier this year, but its still a great pop tune in a long line of great Girls Aloud pop tunes. Hopefully someday soon the success of these ladies will translate to their albums being available here in the States, but until then we'll just have to savor what little tastes we can grab or pay the crazy import prices.

np: "life during wartime" - talking heads

I've been listening to the new Talking Heads boxset, Brick, the last couple of days and I've been simply astounded by how great this band's first four albums are. The run from 77 to More Songs About Buildings & Food to Fear of Music to Remain in Light is pretty much unstoppable, each full of great songs from start to finish and nary a dud in the bunch. I've been trying to think of bands that have been able to match that same great consistency over their first four albums, but its not as easy as it may sound. As much as I love the Beatles and Stones, they didn't put out solid albums until later in their careers - they were far more singles oriented at the beginning. After much thought, I was only able to come up with two bands that matched that criteria - the Velvet Undergound and Pavement. Sure there have been lots of great four album runs, but not starting with the debut. Anybody you think I might have overlooked? Leave a comment below and educate me.

Also, my reviews of the Dead 60s debut and the latest from Robert Plant are now up at Static.

np: "solid gold animal collection" - guided by voices

Yeah, it's been far too long... things have been a little hectic around here. Been working on a couple of different projects, including a big mix set for a friend's wedding rehearsal dinner, so blogging kind of dropped to a low spot on the priority list. After all the mushy love songs and calm dinner music I've been exposed to for most of the week due to the aforementioned project, I decided that I needed to spend some time with some slack-ass rock and roll. Luckily, Bob Pollard and Guided by Voices just released 100 songs of just that - Suitcase 2. Following the form of the original Suitcase, this collects 100 more rarities, demos, and what have you from the late '70s right up to 2005. Like most of Pollard's output this stuff is very hit or miss - but that's to be expected. And since GBV is no more, I'll take what I can get. You can read more about this over at Pitchfork, along with exciting news about Bob's new solo joint and signing to Merge. I'm glad he's got a new label, but I'm a little disappointed because Matador and GBV were always linked in my mind. They, along with Pavement, were some of the earliest indie bands that I really grew to love and follow - so it just seems natural to see the little Matador flag flying on the majority of Pollard's stuff. I'll get used to it, and best of luck to him in his solo career.

And, for those of you that care to read such things, my review of the recent Cursive collection is up at Static. Read it here.

np: "everlong" - foo fighters

So thanks to the birthday present from my wonderful girlfriend, I hit up Allstate Arena on Monday night to check out the Foo Fighters / Weezer tour. It was a pretty fun night of reliving the mid-90s alt-rock years with two bands that still know how to put on one hell of an arena rock experience.
Kaiser Chiefs opened up the show and did a pretty decent job considering 85-90% of the crowd either didn't know them or didn't give a rat's ass about them. But after a little goading by the lead singer, the crowd was actually into it by the time they hit a peak on "Oh My God". I think I wouldn't mind seeing them again at a cheap club show. Better than expected.
Then we waited through your average arena-rock show setbreak for the mighty Weez. They kicked off with "My Name Is Jonas" before launching into a rather long string of songs off the last couple albums. Yawn. Ok, so it wasn't THAT bad - but I'd love a set of all Blue Album/Pinkerton material. They did break out "El Scorcho" though, so I was happy as was I with the cover of the Foo's "Big Me" - which was pretty good and better than 80% of the tracks Rivers has written recently. I hope he was paying attention. The last half of the set was more evenly balanced with older songs - "Surf Wax America", "Buddy Holly", "Say It Ain't So" (still love hearing a huge crowd singing along with that one). Then the drummer was brought up front to sing "Photograph" which morphed into the first half of Blur's "Song 2". For the first part of the encore, Rivers disappeared for a bit and popped up at the rear of the floor area for a solo acoustic "Island in the Sun" - it was decent enough and all the kiddies on the floor ran back to see him so we were able to move a lot closer to the stage. For the rest of the encore they did the "pull a random kid from the audience" to play the acoustic guitar part on "The Sweater Song" and followed it up with "Hash Pipe", which ended with tons of 'W' stamped confetti shooting into the crowd. Cool rock star show ending, but I'd rather have heard them end with "The Good Life".
Another set-break and the Foos were out. They had a pretty cool stage setup with tons and tons of amps/speakers piled haphazardly behind them and all sorts of funky-shaped screens. It started off with this circular screen obscuring the stage that rose up to reveal the band as they tore into "In Your Honor". Most of the set was taken from the last three albums and definitely focused on the band's rockier side. Dave was screaming his head off the whole time. I'll admit that the dude is one hell of a showman and loves to make sure the kids get their forty bucks worth. Particular highlights for me were an awesome version of "Stacked Actors" which saw Dave pull the same pop up on the other side of the floor trick that Rivers used, and a mostly solo "Everlong" that the rest of the band joined in on later. Dave told a cool story about being in Chicago when he was a kid and seeing his first punk show at the Cubby Bear, Naked Raygun and said that show was what motivated him to play punk rock. I'll admit that we were lame and left before the encore since the main-set ending "Everlong" was what we all wanted to hear anyway, plus we were hungry as hell and wanted to beat the post-show rush.
Overall, fun night at the rock show. Lots of loud music, lasers, smoke, and decent tunes. But I remember why I don't hit up those type of arena shows very often.
And for those interested in such things, here's the setlists for the main two bands:

My Name is Jonas
The Other Way
Don't Let Go
Dope Nose
This is Such a Pity
Big Me (Foo Fighters cover)
Perfect Situation
Why Bother?
El Scorcho
Say It Ain't So
We Are All on Drugs
Surf Wax America
Beverly Hills
Buddy Holly
Photograph/Song 2 (Blur cover)
------
Island in the Sun
Undone
Hash Pipe

In Your Honor
All My Life
My Hero
Best Of You
Learn To Fly
Up In Arms
Times Like These
Stacked Actors
DOA
This Is A Call
End Over End
Breakout
Everlong
-----
Cold Day In The Sun
Monkeywrench