Top 15 albums in 2005

Of course, this is not a comprehensive selection mainly due to fact of the lack of $$$ to buy all the albums that I want, and also the time to listen to them. However, these are 15 good albums that I have listened to this year.


15) 周杰伦 《十一月的肖邦》

Of course he is repeating himself. He has been doing that ever since 2003. However, you can repeat yourself until you sound boring, or repeat yourself but still be refreshing. I think Jay belongs to the latter. The critics have been very harsh on him, but then again, maybe it is because he is Jay Chow. If this had come from another artiste, the critics would be gushing over this album.


14) Sleater Kinney 《The Woods》

Forget punk. To quote David Berman, it has been dead ever since the last kid said “Punk’s not dead”. Forget grrrl rock. If Avril Lavagne (or what’s her name) is the best many people can think of when they associate “women” and “rock” together, then this is dead as well. But then again, there is still Sleater Kinney.


13) Silver Jews 《Tanglewood Numbers》

I remembered someone said that poets are the most cruel and sadistic people around. They are the kind of people who fight the demons of their own existence in which most of us would not even think about, get wounded in the process, and then examine those wounds in order to come out with poetry. Think of sprinkling salt on your wounds to justify your existence. Hence, is it any surprising that David Berman of the Silver Jews, an accomplished poet in his own right, writes about his battle with depression and attempted suicide for the past year in his new album? And there must be a sadistic streak in most of us, for we immerse ourselves in the catharsis of this outcome that manifests itself as songs in this album.


12) Bonnie “Prince” Billy and Matt Sweeney 《Superwolf》

In Superwolf, Will Oldham (Bonnie “Prince” Billy) strips off the lush aural backdrops of his previous Bonnie “Prince” Billy albums and returns to his Palace days, with hints of Vivas Las Blues. Although Matt Sweeney has been included in this album as a supposedly “challenge” to Will Oldham and to add something new to the music, make no mistake about it, this is an album with Will Oldham’s name all over it.


11) 陈绮贞 《华丽的冒险》

The album title “Beautiful Risks” probably refers to the bold change in musical style by Cheer Ego. This album sounds more like a rock record when compared to her previous folksy albums, even though the folk reference is obvious. It is refreshing to hear the new versions of the singles “The Meaning of Travel” and “Sentimental Kills”.


10) 陈升 《鱼说》

Okay, I admit. I’m very biased. This is shameless idolizing. I mean, he is clearly recycling some of his own tunes in his new songs. There is a tone of resignation in his voice that is uncharacteristic of the old Bobby Chen. However, the fact that this albums still ranks above most Chinese albums out in the market speaks volumes about the dumbing down of listeners rather than to his talents. Oh, by the way, his lyrics are still one of the best around town.

9) Fiery Furnaces 《EP》

Catchy tunes and fun beats! Quirky effects and unexpected musical twists! This is what pop music should be all about: simple, elegant and catchy hooks. After releasing their masterpiece 《Bluesberry Boat》 in 2004, Fiery Furnaces followed up with this compilation of b-side tracks. Some hardcore fans would even say that this ranks above 《Bluesberry Boat》, as the Fiery Furnaces let go of their inhibition and become more experimental in these b-sides.


8) M83 《Before The Dawn Heals Us》

For me nothing could beat their epic album 《Red Seas, Dead Cities & Lost Ghost》. 《Before The Dawn Heals Us》 attempts to pick up from where the previous album left off, including in it more voice cuts to add dramatization to the music. However, this is probably the reason why I prefer 《Red Seas, Dead Cities & Lost Ghost》, for the emotion is carried by the strength of the music. However, having said this, this doesn’t mean that 《Before The Dawn Heals Us》 is a bad album. It is always so difficult to surpass oneself, like an old saying: “What if you had suddenly realized that the peak in your life has passed?”


7) Martha Wainwright 《 Martha Wainwright 》

I fell in love with this album upon the first listen, and I challenge anyone to listen to the opening track 《Far Away》 and not be touched. Reminds one of an early Joni Mitchell, except Martha Wainwright is probably a more agitated and wrecked version, but complete with the wistful voice and poetic sound.


6) Sigur Ros 《Takk》

If 《( )》 completely sucked because it was oozing over the brim with faked artistic pretensions and, then Sigur Ros salvaged their reputation with 《Takk》. Even though the approach is similar to their previous albums, 《Takk》 sounds much warmer and hopeful. If 《Ágætis Byrjun》 remind one of the wintry chills of desolation and despairs, then 《Takk》 must surely remind one of the springtime of hope.


5) Keith Jarrett 《Radiance》

Is Keith Jarrett just a pretensious fuck or is he the greatest jazz pianist alive? You decide. But then again I challenge anyone to listen to the opening track of 《Koln Concert》 and not be touched. Of course, 《Radiance》 might not pack the same emotional punch as 《Koln Concert》, but it does find Keith Jarrett at his best technique-wise, yet without losing that experimental touch that has been with him throughout his solo-piano playing career.


4) The Decemberist 《Picaresque》

I’ve said all there is to say about the Decemberist in an early posting on this blog. So if you did not read it, go check the archives and read it again.


3) Wolf Parade 《Apologies To The Queen Mary》

It is perhaps unsurprising to find traces of Modest Mouse in Wolf Parade, given that Issac Brock, the lead singer of Modest Mouse, produces this album. However, it would be unfair to just write off Wolf Parade as a Modest Mouse rip-off, as they have their own distinctive sound, which is something like a cross between Modest Mouse, Arcade Fire and Interpol. If you’re a fucking fan of indie rock music and you haven’t got this album, get off your ass.


2) Vashti Bunyan 《Lookaftering》

Unlike Nick Drake who died from an overdose of anti-depressant drugs, Vashti Bunyan managed to see her music earn recognition. Her cult-classic 《Just Another Diamond Day》 was deservingly given a reissue after thirty years in 2000, and if one listen to this album, it might not be surprising why she did not go down the self-destructive path that Nick Drake has chosen. Unlike Drake’s depressive personality as reflected in his music, Vashti Bunyan’s music revealed her cheerful yet whimsical character. She followed up with the album 《Lookingaftering》 in 2005, the title a reference to the years of looking after her family after she dropped out from the music industry. And listening to the songs, it seems as though Vashti Bunyan has not aged a day.


1) Antony and the Johnson 《I Am A Bird Now》

I can write the same adjectives that most music critics used when they describe Antony’s newest album: powerful, simple, emotional, intimate, exhilarating and disquieting. I can make references to his obvious androgyny and his obvious yearnings to be freed from a body whose sex that is not of his choice. I can talk about the various guest singers on this album, a veritable who’s who in the indie music scene, and that even with all these Antony’s voice and music remains the highlight of the whole album. But I will not. Because words will not even convey even the slightest portrait of this album. Whenever I choose my album of the year, my friends will always (after listening to my choice) disagree with me. Well, some like Pepsi and some like Coke. I can spend the rest of my time describing to you why this is the album of the year for me, but a more simple way will be for you to listen to the album itself. None of those friends who had disagreed previously disagrees.