top things of 2005

2005 was just another one of those sad years in between Outkast singles the whole world could get off on. Here's some things that didn't suck.

ten bands that put out awesome albums in 2005

-Gabby Lala - Be Careful What You Wish For (finally, an English language answer to Puffy AmiYumi, why are we always five years behind the Japanese)
-Konono No. 1 - Congotronics
-The Fiery Furnaces - Rehearsing my Choir
-Amadou & Mariam - Dimanche a Bamako
-Diplo/M.I.A. - Piracy Funds Terrorism, Vol. 1 (despite the hype)
-Lady Sovereign - Vertically Chgallenged EP (soon to be the next M.I.A., i.e. hyped to death)
-Seu Jorge - Cru (this is a really good album but it's kinda only serving as space filler because I have a shitty memory)
-Dengue Fever - Escape From Dragon House (not as good as their last album, but better than most the shit I heard this year)
-Heiruspecs - A Tiger Dancing
-Brzowski - MaryShelleyOverdrive

honorable mention:
Nouvelle Vague - Nouvelle Vague (actually 2004 but I just found out)

here are ten bands that I should have found out about before 2005 but didn't

Black Merda
The Screamers
The Deviants
Klaus Nomi
As Mercanarias
Big Boys
Articles of Faith
The Coctails
Os Mutantes
Hawkwind

2005's biggest disappointments:
1. Blockhead's "Downtown Science" - mesdiocre followup to my favorite album of 2004
2. Aesop Rock's "Fast Cars, Danger, Fire and Knives" - mediocre followup to a mediocre album...Aesop come back to us!
3. Busdriver's "Fear of a Black Tangent" - Busdriver's work has always been hit or miss but nothing on this album really did it for me
4. Sage Francis' "A Healthy Distrust" - first album for Epiitaph. Guest spot by Will Oldham...meh
5. Intonation Fest - yawn

Biggest pleasant surprise:
GZA vs. Muggs - Grandmasters (Omigod, ten years ago I would've came over this)

Best local release:
Dove Rock - Sylvia Plath Easybake Oven

Best Album by a Chicago Expatriate
Common's new one

Worst album by a Chicago Expatriate
Billy Corgan's new one

Most overrated artist
Bloc Party

Best label
Sublime Frequencies

Most entertaining movies (not best, just the most entertaining):
Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Kung Fu Hustle, and Sin City

and for the record, the best song of the year was
"Act Five" by Why?