David Correll Studio, Brooklyn, NY

Starting a new tradition this year: the “best of.” These are just my opinions. And you know what they say about opinions…

So with that, I give you:

Top 5 Best New Releases:

• 5. M83: Before the Dawn Heals Us
• 4. Calexico/Iron & Wine: In the Reigns
• 3. Six Organs of Admittance: School of the Flower
• 2. Alva Noto & Ryuchi Sakamoto: Insen
• 1. Iron & Wine: Woman King

Honorable Mention:

• - Bonnie “Prince“ Billy & Matt Sweeney: Superwolf
• - Sufjan Stevens: Come On Feel the Illinois;
• - Antony & the Johnsons: I Am a Bird Now
• - Sunn 0))): Black One
• - Jesu: Jesu
• - The Books: Lost & Safe

Top 5 Albums I’m Glad I Dusted Off:

• 5. Skinny Puppy: Last Rites
• 4. Phish: Junta
• 3. Bad Religion: Suffer
• 2. Ride: Nowhere
• 1. (tie) Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds: The Good Son
• 1. (tie) Black Sabbath: Sabbath Bloody Sabbath

Top 5 (ok, 6) Albums That Didn’t Get Very Dusty:

• - Opeth: Blackwater Park
• - Dream Theater: Images & Words
• - Bruce Springsteen: Darkness At the Edge of Town
• - Calexico: Feast of Wire
• - Genesis: The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
• - Blonde Redhead: Misery Is a Butterfly

Top 5 Bands I’m Glad I Discovered or Was Introduced to:

• - Dark Tranquility
• - Pig Destroyer
• - Mother Mallard’s Portable Masterpiece Co.
• - The Congos
• - Linval Thompson

Top 5 Most Overrated Bands/Artists

• - Block Party
• - New Pornographers
• - Franz Ferdinand
• - The Hold Steady
• - The Game

Top 5 Shows:

• 5. New Order at the Hammerstien Ballroom
• 4. Dinosaur Jr at Irving Plaza
• 3. Sage Francis both at Coachella and at the Knitting Factory
• 2. Iron & Wine & Calexico (with suprise guest Sufjan Stevens) at Webster Hall
• 1. Arcade Fire at Coachella

Worst Show:

• - Six Organs of Admittance at the Mercury Lounge

Indispensable in 2005:

• - Nick Cave
• - Neil Young