2005 music review

My "best of" music picks of this year aren't necessarily going to be centered around 2005 - since this was really my first year playing records publicly since my days at WTBU in Boston, I had a lot of catching up to do in the music acquisition department. So this will be the "Best of 2005 and a Few of What I Got Around to Finally Finding and Purchasing in 2005" list. I never do anything on time, why should music selections be any different? That being said, there were certainly some stellar standouts that happened to come out in the last twelve months, both singles and entire albums. (No numbered lists either. Math bad.)

Singles first. This is also the year of Holy Crap I Spent a Lot of Money on Music. Since the beloved other half has well taken care of the moodier power ballad department, I'll try to only go there occasionally and instead subject you to the list of Booty Shakin' Techno (um, ok...not really, but thanks Trent. ;)

In no particular order (of course):

LCD Soundsystem - "Tribulations" - DFA The video from this is also amazing. This is probably the most electro track on the album, and probably why it is my favorite. Seeing this live was one of my favorite concert moments ever.

Ladyron - "International Dateline" - Island. I've yet to hear the entire album but i know this is a fabulous release by just the few I have previewed..it just squeaked in for the end of 2005. So very, VERY dark. Woke up in the evening, to the sound of screaming Through the walls it was bleeding... all over me...Let's end it here... Dark, dark DARK! I think electroclash is ok again because it is darker. Yes. OMG BATS! Yay for dark powercheesegoth love/mope ballads. "Destroy Everything You Touch" is pretty incredible too.

Vitalic - "You are my High" - Different Recordings (The whole album should get a 'best of' also, but I think I have opinions on too many single tracks to bother with writing that list.) My Friend Dario also kicks major ass. I think this will be the year Detroit finally realizes how awesome Vitalic is.

Martin Peter - "Bad Day With JJ" - Compost Black Label #2 - CompostSo. Freaking. Good. Horrible things...inside me...horrible. Somewhere between NeoGoth/Dark Electro and I don't know what.

Zombie Nation - "Souls at Zero" - Dekathalon. 2003, but so what. Absorber, the full album, is also without a doubt a full favorite.

Also from the 2003 department, GDX - "Pain" - Interdimensional Transmissions. Probably one of the darkest and most evil releases ever, and very overplayed by yours truly. Always pantomimed by Mr.Burnlab and I. This 7" also has a version of the Sister's of Mercy "Corrosion" on it that is about the most faithful cover ever made. Always such a great idea at 2am...

And from the Zombie Nation camp again, John Starlight - "John's Addiction"- Television. A superlative electro standout. If you can't moodily dance to this one there's something wrong with your ass.

Alter Ego - "Rocker (Earl Shilton Remix)" - Klang From Rocker: The Final Chapter the argument still rages whether this metal version should be played at 33 or 45. I like things that both rock and confuse me.

T.Raumschmiere - "Sick Like Me (Motor Remix Tokyo)" - NovaMute. Opening for Mr. Raumschmiere ruled, and I made sure to remove all his records from my crate so as not to commit the Ultimate Faux Pas. In the age of on-demand music, this is why I do not use a laptop. Besides, I have someone else for those honors! ;)

Anthony Rother - "Father" - Subliminal. Most overplayed track this side of DethLab. I'll propose a New Year's resolution to not play it anymore, but that'll last about two hours and two drinks into a set.

Back to 2004 - Two Lone Swordsmen - "Sex Beat (Remix)" - Warp. Mr. Doyle played the original version right after. Far too much fun.

M83 - "Teen Angst" - EMI
A DethLab favorite, especially considering we dropped it twice in one set...actually, in the same 10 minutes. I was early..er...on time (for once), so it was an honest mistake.

Oh! speaking of the unfortunately much maligned Bravery...(bad segue...really, I didn't plan that...really.)
The Bravery - "Honest Mistake" - Island. Yeah call me a soulless pop-obsessed twit, I still like them. I don't care how MTV they are or their spat with the Killers, I like that damned track!

Also from the maligned department: Nine Inch Nails -"Right Where it Belongs" - Nothing. I don't think this has been released as a proper single yet, but I like the song, not exactly a dancefloor hit, but so what. The occasional "lay back and be goth" hits are just fine with me. This track literally made me stop what I was doing and lean back and listen, and I know it also incited some mutual 2am iTunes emailing (and the requisite lay back and sigh. Or something. Heh heh.) The DFA "Hand that Feeds" 12" remix is quite good too, but the remainder of the album is pretty crap.

And just flat out awesome to dance to:
Tiefschwarz - Wait & See (Alter Ego Rmx) - Four .
VHS or Beta - "Night On Fire (Cut Copy Remix)" - Kitsuné Music .
Le Tigre - "After Dark (NDB Vocal Disco Mix)" - Chicks on Speed Records
Lindstrøm - "I Feel Space" - Playhouse

(This list subject to editing and revising as the mood strikes.)

2005 rocked beyond belief, but not just in the chapter of music - but any review other than a music review would be decidedly not PG-13, and we wouldn't want that, now would we? Heh. Heh. Rhetorical question, thank you...

And as for this whole holiday apart thing...NOT OK!