Best releases of 2005 .....so far

Posted by: Squonk on 19 March 2005

Well as we approach the end of Q1 2005,
I am already certain of a few CD's that will be on my end of year best of list. Would love to hear from you on your best of the year to date releases......

1.) Pat Metheny Group - The Way Up - huge piece of work, that is far more challenging than other Metheny Group releases. It takes repeated listenings to get into it but when you are there it is magnificent.

2.) Kelly Joe Phelps - Tap the Red Cain Whirlwind - luckily got into this guy when it was playing in my local CD shop whilst browsing. So pleased I did, this live CD is a grower that is very impressive. Sounds great on the Naim and is now a test CD for me.

3.) Helene Grimaud - Chopin/Rachmaninov - impressive and beautiful piano playing from a beautiful lady

4.) Tord Gustavsen Trio - The Ground - more of the same exquisite late night melodic, spacy piano playing. Gone to the top of the Norwegian Rock and Pop charts!! Sublime

5.) TBD
6.) TBD
7.) TBD
8.) TBD
9.) TBD
10.) TBD

Cheers
Adrian

Posted on: 20 March 2005 by Mike Hughes

For me there have been only two stand outs so far.

1) Antony and The Johnsons - Now I Am A Bird
2) Josh Rouse - Nashville

Mike

Posted on: 20 March 2005 by Kevin-W

Doves - Some Cities

Various - Hallucinations (Psychedelic Pop Nuggets From The WEA Vaults)

The Kills - No Wow

Mogwai - Government Commissions

That new one by The Mars Volta but I can't remember what it's called off the top of my head...

Some new Led Zep bootlegs.

Kevin

Posted on: 20 March 2005 by dsteady

Adrian,

I'm glad to see your high marks for Tord Gustavsen's The Ground. Changing Places hs been in heavy rotation for me, and I'm waitng most impatiently for the April 5 US release date of The Ground. I plan to see him perform here in late April.

I'll add,
Bonnie Prince Billy/Matt Sweeny -- Superwolf. Kaki King -- Legs to Make us Longer
dn'l

Posted on: 21 March 2005 by greeny

LCD Soundsystem for me. Glorious ark rock with a great groove.

Posted on: 21 March 2005 by Bruce Woodhouse

Rilo Kiley: More Adventurous. Sparky.
Iron and Wine:Woman King (EP). Sam Bean employs a band, and a producer. Good stuff.

Bruce

Posted on: 21 March 2005 by Anna Tooth

Digital Ash in a Digital Urn by Bright Eyes
Want 2 by Rufus Wainwright
Also a second nomination for the Josh Rouse album.

Anna

Posted on: 21 March 2005 by Tim Collins

M.Ward - Transistor Radio. Very good if you have not heard it, totally took me by surprise!

Rgds,
Tim

Posted on: 21 March 2005 by Simon Matthews

Josh Rouse is a dead cert to be in my end of year favourites.

After two plays I think Beck's new one is going to be in there also.

Posted on: 21 March 2005 by alex95

KT Tunstall "Eyes To The Telescope" is a good one.

Posted on: 21 March 2005 by iiyama

Im with Greeny, LCD Soundsystem, it also has the best track of the year in Yeah (crass version).

Posted on: 21 March 2005 by barolo60

Only three so far for 2005:
*Naturally- Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings
*Dave Holland Big Band- The Dave Holland Big Band
*Legacy- Joey DeFrancesco with Jimmy Smith

I would very much like to add two highly note-worthy releases from last year that I just discovered:
*Night Train to Nashville; Music City Rhythm & Blues 1945-1970 (there will be a follow-up released middle of this year)
and
*It Always Will Be- Willie Nelson

Posted on: 21 March 2005 by barolo60

Ooops,
The title of the Dave Holland album is "Overtime". Sort of forgot that there. Anyway, it's tasty and BIG!

Posted on: 24 March 2005 by bhazen

Not sure if these are 2005; apologies if not (I can't read the tiny typeface on the back of CDs)...anyway, they're among my latest CD purchases.

Happiness In Magazines, Graham Coxon
Solarized, Ian Brown
Everybody Loves A Happy Ending, Tears For Fears (very Beatlesque)

I'm counting the days until the new Oasis album is out...

Posted on: 25 March 2005 by i.walker

SunhouseCrazy on the weekend.

This is definately not 2005 but is totally brilliant and ive only just got it,buy it asap as its getting rare.

Ian.

Posted on: 25 March 2005 by Neill S

Sunhouse is indeed amazing! It's sadly now deleted so I just ordered a copy from Amazon's marketplace... get in there quick before they all go!

Posted on: 26 March 2005 by i.walker

Also check out
clayhill:Cuban Green which is a 6 track ep and their full length album called Small circle,these are both amazing too.It would be nice to try and help these guys get on the map a bit,it would be a real shame if they went the same way as Sunhouse,same vocalist by the way.
Have a listen at www.clayhillmusic.com .

Thanks,

Ian.

Posted on: 26 March 2005 by Mike Hughes

May we also add a vote for Want Two by Rufus Wainwright (I don't think it's half the album that was Want One but you have to applaud the ambition... and a new one on me... Funeral by The Arcade Fire. Excellent stuff.

Mike

Posted on: 26 March 2005 by Jono 13

Lemonjelly - 64-95, fantastic, their best yet. Anybody got the DVD version?

Jono

Posted on: 27 March 2005 by nap-ster

the "onetwo" EP

Claudia Brucken (ex Propaganda) and Paul Humphries (ex OMD). Propaganda meets early Omd and it works.

Posted on: 30 March 2005 by RichardM

The new Queens of the Stone Age sounds excellent on first listen today.

Posted on: 30 March 2005 by Lomo

Richard, please enlighten me . With a monikar like that just what type music do these guys or girls put out. I have fairly catholic tastes but help I need direction.

Posted on: 31 March 2005 by greeny

Lomo, QotSA are Heavy Rock. I suspect if you havn't heard of them then this may not be the best purchase for you. The album has had pretty mixed reviews and there are undoubtedly better albums available in the Genre for the newby.

Posted on: 31 March 2005 by Lomo

Thanks Greeny , like the way you all come up with the abbreviations. Hey, is there a band with that name???

Posted on: 31 March 2005 by RichardM

Lomo, I would not necessarily agree that QotSA are heavy rock. It depends on what that means. They are certainly very loud, but there are some great tunes in there and it sounds particularly good on a decent car system when the rythymn goes right round the car. They are more in the 'grunge' category along with Nirvana, Pixies, Foo Fighters and Dinosaur Jr. If you like that type of band you will definitely enjoy QotSA. If not, I would avoid.

Posted on: 31 March 2005 by cdboy

Thanks Adrian - as we totally agree with your numbers 2 and 4, perhaps I should investigate the other two you mention.