Best of 2005

Anchors' picks (2005)

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Jordan "Anchors" Rogowski is a staff reviewer here at Punknews.org -ed

Introduction

What a year, what a year. It was my first with Punknews, and I'm extremely grateful to have had, and to continue to have the opportunities to write reviews for you guys. When somebody actually takes the time to say to me, "I checked out so and so's album because of your review, I really dug it," that's what I enjoy the most, and I'm extremely glad my words have impacted some of you enough to go support a certain band. That's what it's all about. This job, and I hesitate to call it that, because you're not supposed to enjoy your job, has opened me up to so much different music I'd have never gotten a chance to hear. So, I‘d like to thank the following people, in order of importance; Chuck Norris, Rasputin, Pavel Bure, whoever invented Hot Pockets, each and every member of the Wu-Tang Clan. (R.I.P Dirt McGirt) I couldn't have done it without guys. Anyhow..

So much has happened this year, musically and otherwise, it seems kind of crazy to try to fill everything in here, but I'll do what I can. Seems like too many good bands have left us this year. Malady, Bear Vs. Shark, and Wow, Owls! among those that seemingly threw in the towel far too soon in their careers. Conversely, there's just as many bands that should never have recorded an album in the first place. Aiden, I'm looking at you. On a more serious note, there have been some truly unfortunate passings in the music community, too many to name without forgetting some one important, so my deepest condolences to all the families and friends affected by loss this year. 2005 was seemingly a year rooted in the past. Every band to ever step foot in a recording studio had their albums re-issued, re-released, re-recorded, and anything else that could possibly be done. Bands like Lifetime, Coalesce, and 108 came out of nowhere for reunion shows, only to have the summer hardcore institution of Hellfest cancelled. The show went on, however, and anyone who saw one of those bands play again would attest that they forever hold just a little bit of history.

I was tempted to make this top 20 a list of nothing more than my favorite Neil Young records, if nothing more than to spite Adam, but since the curiosity of my real list would no doubt kill each and every one of you, here it is;

Top 20 of 2005

#20. Bob Mould - Body Of Song
August 2nd On Yep Roc Records
A triumphant return for the former Husker Du front man, boasting a strong, varied collection of sounds that would not have at all felt out of place on a Sugar album. His best solo work to date.

#19. Latterman - No Matter Where We Go
August 9th On Deep Elm Records
Out of seemingly nowhere, Latterman have dropped one of the years best punk albums by way of Deep Elm records. Full of grit, energy, and endless sing a long opportunities, it‘s an album sure to make you remember why you ever liked punk rock in the first place. Proof that studio polish can‘t replace true musical spirit.

#18. Sinaloa - Footprints On Floorboards
July 26th On Waking Records
The first of many albums on my list that a lot of people this year are seemingly overlooking. Combing a touch of D.C.s post punk past and hardcore of bands like 400 years, Sinaloa have brought all the passionate, dissonant rock that you could hope for. Just two guitarists and a drummer, these guys make a whole lot of noise and end up with a lot of really killer tracks.

#17. The Apprentice - An American Portrait
July 29th On Future Destination
In a year full of concept albums, how about one with a decent concept? Novel, I know, but The Apprentice have written just that. In an album deconstructing every facet of the American Family, the voice of Eric Delong is as riveting as the stories he tells.

#16. Darkest Hour - Undoing Ruin
June 28th On Victory
Hidden Hands Of A Sadist Nation was a terrific album, but Undoing Ruin manages to surpass that with 40 minutes of sheer metal greatness. There's no gimmick, no extravagance, just an extremely aggressive and extremely tight metal sound fronted by one of the best voices in the genre, John Henry. Not a weak song on the entire album.

#15. The Mountain Goats - The Sunset Tree
May 10th On 4AD
After years of telling other people's stories, John Darnielle finally decided it was time to focus on his own demons. Warm and introspective, the songs on this album tell tales of abuse and depression in such a way that it seems impossible, despite your own experiences, to not connect. The man has not written a bad album yet, and this is no exception.

#14. Wow, Owls! - Pick Your Patterns
April 12th On Perpetual Motion Machine
Easily the best debut album of the year, Richmond's now deceased Wow, Owls! offer up thirty minutes of spastic and intense hardcore that would have fit in nicely to the Gravity Records catalogue in the mid 90's. The songs may seem relatively tame at first, but once Jeff Byers lets go, there's no holding back. Unfortunate that this will be the only album ever heard from the band, but it's definitely left a mark.

#13. In Pieces - Lions Write History
July 8th 2005 on Escape Artist
In Pieces showed a notable progression and maturation in the three years between full lengths, and this album is the final product after a lot of hard work and artistic adjustment. Sprawling and atmospheric, but with a strong sense of power, the songs are intelligently crafted and performed just the same.

#12. British Sea Power - Open Season
April 7th On Rough Trade
Marking a real departure from their previous record, British Sea Power have released an album chock full of beautiful indie pop tunes, rather than the much harder sounds of The Decline… It works well for the band, however, each track is more charming and delightful than the last.

#11. Thrice - Vhiessu
October 18th On Island
The award for most positive progression between two albums has to go to Thrice. Scrutinized to no end, Thrice have delivered and then some with this mammoth effort. The soundscapes the band have created are truly memorable, the Thrice of old is not lost, only improved.

#10. Marathon - Marathon
May 31st on Reignition
Upstate New York's Marathon are doing the best they can to reenergize the punk scene. With intelligent, socially aware energetic punk rock tunes, Marathon show that music can still have something important to say, and be presented in a damn enjoyable manner.

#9. With Honor - This Is Our Revenge
October 18th on Victory
I'll be honest, I was worried about this one. I wasn't sure how Victory would affect the recording process of the New England natives, but things could not have possibly turned out better. Opting for a sound a bit more akin to Strike Anywhere, With Honor blaze through 11 tracks with reckless abandon. The anthemic sing a longs and ever present gang vocals have never sounded better.

#8. A Silver Mt. Zion-Horses In The Sky
April 5th on Constellation
Originally formed as a side product for some of the members of Godspeed You! Black Emperor, A Silver Mt Zion have taken on a life of their own. The gorgeous Horses In The Sky implements more vocals than have ever previously existed, but the orchestral nature of the music is as poignant as ever before.

#7. Paint It Black-Paradise
October 18th on Victory
It's a good thing that Dam Yemin has a proper musical outlet, because the man has a lot of anger. A scathing analysis of much that is wrong with the world, Paradise offers us themes that we can all relate to, in an old school hardcore style that's perfectly suited for the lyrics. Here's to hoping this is only a prelude of what's to come from this talented outfit.

#6. Red Sparowes- At The Soundless Dawn
February 22nd on Neurot
Featuring members of both Isis and Neurosis, there's really no way you can go wrong with Red Sparowes. The lush, soaring instrumental beauty is something to truly behold.

#5. The Decembrists - Picaresque
March 22nd on Kill Rock Stars
I love when an album actually lives up to the hype that surrounds it, this is one such release. These guys are really at the forefront of the indie rock world, there's not many bands that write music more heartfelt and enjoyable. I challenge anyone to listen to "Eli, The Barrow Boy" and not be caught up in the emotion.

#4. Modern Life Is War - Witness
June 21st on Deathwish
Hardcore that means something, it feels good to say that again. Iowa's proudest have delivered and then some on Witness, every track just oozing the energy and conviction bands wish that they could match. Every song tells a new story, and there's not a boring moment to speak of. If hardcore is resurging, here's your four star general.

#3. Funeral Diner - The Underdark
March 29th on Alone
Ah.. now we're getting down to it. Top 3. Funeral Diner are one band that can truly carry the screamo flag in the absence of bands like City Of Caterpillar and Joshua Fit For Battle. The Wicked displayed a band in the midst of an identity crisis, and The Underdark shatters all that with the most passionate album of the year. Seth Babb's cathartic screams are ear shattering and throat ripping just the same, and the post rock instrumentation takes the listener through all the highs and lows you can imagine.

#2. Pelican - The Fire In Our Throats Will Beckon The Thaw
July 26th on Hydra Head
Absolutely awe inspiring, there's no way around it. Pelican's gorgeous compositions have forgone their similarities to Isis, and instead have opted to go for gorgeous, multi-layered soundscapes. Each song will offer something new every time you hear it, the album is the definition of a true listening experience.

#1. Buried Inside - Chronoclast
February 1st on Relapse
This is it folks, when it comes to 2005, you will find no better. In fact, this very well be the best heavy album of the last 3-4 years, it's on plane with Miss Machine for that crown. The album truly encompasses so much. On a basis of explaining through each song how time has come to control every aspect of existence, Buried Inside rage through forty five minutes of music with the most punishing musical assault you could possibly imagine. The cohesive, fluid feel between each track, the thought put into crafting every bridge, every interlude, every single minute of the album is jaw dropping. The sheer power of "Time As Imperialism," and the rage in "Time As Ideology" will make your head spin. Incredible.

Honourable Mentions

Desert City Soundtrack - Perfect Addiction (Deep Elm,) Against Me! - Searching For A Former Clarity ( Fat Wreck,) A Wilhelm Scream - Ruiner ( Nitro,) Dead Hearts - No Love No Hope (Reflections,) Dirty Three - Cinder ( Touch & Go,) The A-Sides - Hello, Hello ( Prison Jazz,) Ed Gein - Judas Goats & Diesel Eaters ( Hex ) Sigur Ros - Takk ( Geffen, ) Lords - Swords ( Jade Tree,) The Mars Volta - Frances The Mute ( MCA, ) Anberlin - Never Take Friendship Personal ( Tooth & Nail ) The New Pornographers - Twin Cinema ( Matador ) The Holy Mountain - Entrails ( No Idea )

Top 5 EP‘s Of 2005

#5. Mikoto - Mikoto
November 8th on Level Plane
Taken disbanded far too soon, but the formation of Mikoto is a solid, albeit not perfect replacement.

#4. Palehorse - Secrets Within Secrets
August 9th on Martyr
Just some solid straight ahead, no frills hardcore. These guys have a powerful presence and solid songwriting ability.

#3. Headlights - The Enemies
November 8th on Polyvinyl
With one male and one female vocalist, Headlights create some lush indie pop tunes. Simplistic and beautiful.

#2. This Is Hell - This Is Hell
June 17th on State Of Mind
Continuing virtually right where Scraps And Heart Attacks left of, Trustkill‘s most recent signing put some tinges of metal into their hardcore sound, the result couldn‘t have come out better.

#1. Balboa - Manifeste Cannibale
April on Forge Again
If Converge had politically minded lyrics, their name would be Balboa. Full of drive and fury, these four tracks hint at a band on the verge of something spectacular.

Biggest Disappointments

#3. Coheed And Cambria - Good Apollo I‘m Burning Star IV: Fear Through The Eyes Of Madness
Equal Vision/Columbia
Undoubtedly the most unnecessarily extravagant album I‘ve ever heard. People bag on The Mars Volta, but they can still write a good tune, where as Coheed just become completely lost and engrossed in themselves. Terrible.

#2. Lagwagon - Resolve
Fat Wreck
This is one that's not necessarily a disappointment because of the album itself, only because it did not live up to the rave reviews it got.

#1. Every Time I Die - Gutter Phenomenon
Ferret
Honestly, what in the hell happened? I don‘t even understand. This isn‘t progression, this is throwing yourself into traffic to see what happens. They‘ve gone from kicking you in the teeth to a nice pat on the head.

2004‘s Best Album That I Didn‘t Hear Until 2005

Glass & Ashes - Aesthetic Arrest
No Idea
Raw, honest, emotional hardcore that just never relents. A perfect fit on an already stocked No Idea roster.

Best Discography

The Spirit Of Versailles - Discography
Init
I may be a bit late on this, but a big thank you from me to the fine people over at Init records for putting out a discography for one of my all time favorite bands. This is a truly comprehensive history of one of the most passionate bands to ever pick up instruments. It's breathtaking.

Album I‘m Most Indifferent To

Alkaline Trio - Crimson
Vagrant
It could have been so much, and in some rights, it was. There were some fantastic tracks and some that fell short. I feel like this is an album that overzealous expectations killed, but it's good for some listens.

Albums That If I Ever Have To Hear Again, I Will Impale Myself On A Butter Knife

#5. Aiden - Nightmare Anatomy
Victory
I don‘t know why this album was put out, but I want the heads of all responsible parties.

#4. Bedlight For Blue Eyes - The Dawn
Trustkill
Congratulations, Trustkill, on continuation of your current reign as worst record label on the face of the earth that is not named Fearless.

#3. Bullet For My Valentine - Hand Of Blood
Trustkill
Terrific band name, look for these guys on tour soon with The Bleeding Hearts Of My Dying Mid Novembers Knife Blade Romance.

#2. Donnybrook - Lions In This Game
Hand Of Hope
When you bring a whole new level of stupidity to tough guy hardcore, that‘s a problem.

#1. Fight Paris - Paradise Found
Trustkill
Part III of the Trustkill Trifecta, here‘s a band who takes the new found cock rock style of Every Time I Die, sleazes it up, adds lyrics that would make Hellen Keller put fingers in her ears, and the most arrogant attitude I‘ve ever witnessed. Congratulations guys, you put out the single worst record of 2005. Proud day for you and your families.

2005 Mixtape

Most Anticipated in 2006

Hot Cross, Murder By Death, Boysetsfire, Explosions In The Sky, This Is Hell, Saves The Day, Ghost Mice, Dillinger Four, Wilco, Radiohead, Sick Of It All, A Silver Mt. Zion, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Cursive, Ruiner, Strike Anywhere, Bigwig, The Ataris, Dead Hearts, Rise Against, Brand New, Thursday, RX Bandits, Park, Ted Leo, Funeral Diner, Racebannon, Kite Flying Society, (Discography) In Loving Memory, (Discography) Mogwai, The Mercury Program,(?) Aloha,(?) Circle Takes The Square,(?) None More Black, Alexisonfire.

Conclusion

Thank you guys for reading, not only this, but everything I write, it really does mean the world to me. Here's to hoping 2006 will deliver on all our anticipation, and that the Buffalo Sabres will finally win the god damn Stanley Cup. Respek.