Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Favorite Albums of 2005 (6-9)
09. Ryan Adams and the Cardinals - Cold Roses
This double-disc set was the first of three releases for Ryan Adams and his new band in 2005. There is really not a bad song on here. This is a more upbeat, roots-rocky album. He doesn't completely dive into the country of Jacksonville City Nights, but there's still elements of it here. The Cardinals add another dimension to the music, making it sound very full.
08. Big Business - Head for the Shallow
This band is made up of one member of Karp, and one of Murder City Devils. They are a bass and drum duo, but the bass is very distorted and he plays power chords on it (somewhat like the sounds Josh Homme produced in Kyuss). The vocals are gritty and very loud, and the drums keep up a fast pace. This is balls to the wall metal, and I had the privilege of seeing them up close and personal this year at Vino's.
07. Bright Eyes - I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning
I may actually like this album better than the number seven spot I am giving it. Conor Oberst released two albums simultaneously this year, one was the piece of crap electronic album Digital Ash in a Digital Urn, and the other was this great album. Filled with earnest, country-tinged tunes, Conor has finally written an album that defines his sound. He proved that he doesn't need a 15-member strings/woodwinds section to make a great album. The lyrics are poignant, and background vocals from Emmylou Harris and Jim James don't hurt either.
06. Denison Witmer - Are You a Dreamer?
Denison Witmer is the most underrated singer/songwriter of our time. He writes beautiful songs about love and life that cause the listener to reflect on the world around them. This album is based on dreams as the title implies, and the lyrics are still just as honest and heartstring-pulling (if that is a word). Even if his lyrics sucked, his voice would still draw me in. I can imagine angels singing like Denison Witmer. His voice is so clear and demanding (and he sings perfectly live). But he's not just a singer, he also plays guitar wonderfully, and crafts lovely melodies to croon over. In an alternate dimension, this is my favorite album of the year.
This double-disc set was the first of three releases for Ryan Adams and his new band in 2005. There is really not a bad song on here. This is a more upbeat, roots-rocky album. He doesn't completely dive into the country of Jacksonville City Nights, but there's still elements of it here. The Cardinals add another dimension to the music, making it sound very full.
08. Big Business - Head for the Shallow
This band is made up of one member of Karp, and one of Murder City Devils. They are a bass and drum duo, but the bass is very distorted and he plays power chords on it (somewhat like the sounds Josh Homme produced in Kyuss). The vocals are gritty and very loud, and the drums keep up a fast pace. This is balls to the wall metal, and I had the privilege of seeing them up close and personal this year at Vino's.
07. Bright Eyes - I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning
I may actually like this album better than the number seven spot I am giving it. Conor Oberst released two albums simultaneously this year, one was the piece of crap electronic album Digital Ash in a Digital Urn, and the other was this great album. Filled with earnest, country-tinged tunes, Conor has finally written an album that defines his sound. He proved that he doesn't need a 15-member strings/woodwinds section to make a great album. The lyrics are poignant, and background vocals from Emmylou Harris and Jim James don't hurt either.
06. Denison Witmer - Are You a Dreamer?
Denison Witmer is the most underrated singer/songwriter of our time. He writes beautiful songs about love and life that cause the listener to reflect on the world around them. This album is based on dreams as the title implies, and the lyrics are still just as honest and heartstring-pulling (if that is a word). Even if his lyrics sucked, his voice would still draw me in. I can imagine angels singing like Denison Witmer. His voice is so clear and demanding (and he sings perfectly live). But he's not just a singer, he also plays guitar wonderfully, and crafts lovely melodies to croon over. In an alternate dimension, this is my favorite album of the year.
# posted by Sammy @ 6:21 AM 
