2005 was a weak year for the music business. The good vines weren't producing in abundance. I did not come across that collective presentation of songs that "knocked me out". I've tried to find a way out of picking a winner this year, but I feel that I have a responsibility to uphold. The Grammy Awards Committee can't just abdicate, now can they? There were some albums that I liked... or at least they had several songs that I liked. I've considered the lot of them and offer these opinions. You can click on any of the following titles to link to these recordings on iTunes.
And my winner is..."Plans" - Death Cab For Cutie
Most of the songs on this record are great. DCFC is an interesting band that started out as college friends in Bellingham, Washington. They have since relocated to Seattle. Lead singer Ben Gibbard's vocal stylings help create their distinctive sound. Its hard to categorize... a little bit folky, for sure, but its too eclectic to fall neatly into any single genre. Their music shows up frequently on TV and movie soundtracks. If you like this album, listen to their previous one, "Transatlanticism", from 2003. It might be even better.
The other nominees, in no particular order...
"Love, Angel, Music, Baby" - Gwen Stefani
"Illinois" - Sufjan Stevens
"How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb" - U2
"Speak For Yourself" - Imogen Heap
"Devils & Dust" - Bruce Springsteen
As for my friend Willy, his award goes to..."Righteous Love" - Joan Osborne
In his words... "My winner caught me way off guard... and late in the game. In many ways, similarly to the way that Lisa Loeb got me a few years back. Joan Osborne "Righteous Love". Can't stop listening to it."
Willy's runner-up is...
"American Idiot" - Green Day
In conclusion, let me say that I think 2005 was the Year Of The Single. The Year Of The Mixed CD. Maybe thats because it was the way I bought my own music. I've become an iTunes junky. I don't, by the way, see that changing anytime soon.
So now its your turn. Who was the best? What music did you like this past year? Post your opinion to the blog comments if you wish.
5 comments:
My two-cents worth of opinion...
Candidates for Album of the Year:
Jackson Browne: Solo Acoustic Vol #1
Bruce Cockburn: Speechless
Mark O'Connor: 30 Retrospective
Bela Fleck & Edgar Meyer: Music for Two
Coldplay: X & Y
Nickel Creek: Why Should the Fire Die?
All are solid performances in their respective genre. My final opinion is based on how often it's vibrating in my iPod ear buds...The winner is:
- Jackson Browne's Solo Acoustic Vol #1
Todd Frimoth
Vienna, Austria
Great to hear from you Mr. Frimoth. I agree with you that the Jackson Browne album is excellent. However, I can't give it too much credit since most of the songs were originally recorded by the artist 30 years ago. From my viewpoint, Album Of The Year is awarded to honor the best new material for 2005. Same deal for "Speechless". Most of these tracks were transposed from earlier recordings. It's pretty good though.
Well, Marshall Frimoth nominates,
Nickel Creek- Why Should the Fire Die?
U2- How to dismantle an Atomic Bomb
Foo Fighters- In your Honor
Coldplay- X&Y
Chris Thile- Deciever
I think your nominations are excellent, Marshall. I also nominated U2 this year, and would agree that Coldplay and Nickel Creek are worthy of consideration. I haven't heard those recordings from Foo Fighters and Chris Thile yet, but I truly admire both of them as well. I must say that your musical tastes are very similar to my own. You have a good ear, no doubt.
Once you've seen Chris Martin's energy on stage, it's hard not to like Coldplay X&Y as the album of the year. Check out www.kmtt.com for the Seattle based radio stations Top Ten albums of the year. You'll find that you've hit on some of them in your blog, but their list is always right up there with the best of the year.
Big J
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