JAZZHAMMER.: CLAP YR HANDS SAY BLEH

December 23, 2005

20: KOMPAKT - Total 6
Another year brings another Total Compilation from what is now the most respected electronic music label on the planet. They pretty much put the german in german techno. After 2 relatively disspointing releases (5 and 100), this one is a return to form of sorts. I still think that it would be a much stronger compilation were it "kompakted" into one disc. (Sorry)

19: DELIA GONZALEZ & GAVIN RUSSOM - The Days of Mars
Not exactly the most original music despite its seemingly avant guard appearances. But all I know is that I am a much happier man when albums like this have major label backings that when they are not.

18: JAMIE LIDELL - Multiply
What a treat! Soul music via Warp Records and it works simply because the man can sing and deep down, the arrangements are well rooted.

17: EDAN - Beauty and the Beat
One of the best hip hop records this year comes from a white boy. Early 90s hip hop (true school, right Dave?) with mushroomy psychedelic beats.

16: STEPHEN MALKMUS - Face the Truth
This highly underrated third solo record from Mr. Malkmus is perhaps his strongest to date. It is loaded with odes to all of his favorite guitar records including one great one to his old band.

15: RHYTHM & SOUND - See Mi Yah
Great, great, great versions on the sounds of post dub by the masters featuring the most respected reggae vocalists today.

14: SMOG - A River Ain't Too Much Too Love
Bill Callahan finally finds a way to deal with hope after misery. It took him couple of tries. A good Smog record will always be on my list. Some of the finest lyrics I heard all year are on "Say Valley Maker".

13: BROADCAST - Tender Buttons
The first Broadcast that I really liked. Its kind of strange that it took them the loss of a band member and all their intricacies to make a gem of a record.

12: THE JUAN MACLEAN - Less Than Human
Again, nothing completely new by this other record to take advantage of the DFA distribution deal but it doesn't mean that this album didn't give me good times. Atleast this makes up for the underwhelming album. Kudos to Astralwerks for their business savvy and their good ears --and the Brian Eno reissues!

11: KATE BUSH - AERIAL
Hmm, lets see: Duet with Birds? Check. Singing out the numbers of Pi? Check. Yeah, I'm gay. Gay for Kate Bush!

10: SUPER FURRY ANIMALS - LOVE KRAFT
My favorite pop band returns once again. Though not as good as their last record, the best moments in this make me realize that I am a fan of theirs for life. Zoom!, Ohio Heat and Frequency are perfect pop songs.

09: KELLEY POLAR - Love Songs For Hanging Gardens
Now this is the kind of house music Matthew Herbert should be doing instead of his current overzealous output. I know many of you think you too good for house music, but let me tell you that you are missing out on some tasty business. Good house music is about the obsession of staying in bed all day with your lover. This is the perfect encapsulation of it. If you can't relate to that, then I pity you. Let me just say that the producer, Morgan Geist, will be huge one day soon. I started off my year with his Unclassics Compilation (which would easily make my top 3 for last year had I heard it then) and I could not be happier to end it with this.

08: ISOLEE - We Are Monster
The best electronic album of the year, period. Completely modern -- with nods to the sleek stylings of Berlin Techno and plenty of Autechre-like inticracies. I am thoroughly impressed.

07: Paavoharju - Yha Hamaraa
I was fortunate enough to get a copy of this at the Finish Free Folk Tour/Rolling Gypsy Caravan this summer. Wonderful psyche/fuzz/casio-laden music by a girl who reminds me of the magic bjork has lost.

06: GANG GANG DANCE - God's Money
If there was any album more suited for me this year I don't know what it is. What "Weird America" [Worst Title Ever!] would be with backbone.

05: Superpitcher - Today
Superpitcher has put out one of the finest techno mixes in ages. (Sorry Ellen Ailien, Annie, Ivan Smagghe, the DJ Kicks folk, and all you other wannabies) Today shows you the dynamic musicality that dance music can encompass if done right. If you are trying to get into techno you simply can't go wrong with this.

04: Endless Boogie - Black/White 12"s
Endless Boogie! How could I almost forget these 12"s? Unfortunately, extremely limited (500 and 150 copies respectively) so unless you caught their amazing show you probably never heard of them. The Real Deal. Pure Boogie. Raw, lo-fi, whiskey and stoned-out jams somehow caught on wax. John Lee Hooker would be proud, had he been a Hell's Angel.

03: M.I.A. - Arular
Best hip-hop, dancehall, grime, world, female, ect., ect., album of the year. I don't think anyone can dispute that. You haven't heard 2005 if you haven't heard this.

02: DEAD MEADOW - Feathers
What can I say? I am a psychedelic rock guy. When others are wreaking havoc with doom and lore, these guys cut through the bullshit and just kick out the jams.

01: MAJOR STARS - 4
Simply put, no other record brought me more joy this year than this one. You guys are rock and roll fun. My air-guitar and I salute you.

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Sunn 0))): Black 1 - I have been a little Sunn-ed o))ut these last couple of years to love this like everyone else.
Brendon Anderegg: Falling Air - Closest thing to an indie pop record I can enjoy. I really want to hear the Mountains record.
Cold Bleak Heat: It's Magnificent, But It Isn't War - Anti-war protest free-jazz. What else can I say?
Keith Fullerton Whitman: Multiples - Another hometown hero to root for. He makes academia fun.
Konono No. 1: Congotronics - I don't think any self respecting blogger missed the tour this year.
Bonnie 'Prince' Billy & Matt Sweeny: Superwolf - Oh, you two.
A Band of Bees: Free The Bees - Very surprising. Very nice.
Growing: Live Tour EP - I adore these guys. Ambient Drone/Noise by way of guitar. How can I not love it?

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Circle - Live in Brooklyn: Finally, after all these years I was able to catch one of my favorite bands live. And it rocked harder than anything I could ever imagine. Finland's finest made a lot of converts this fall.
Judee Sill Live Quicktime Video Extra: I remember watching this with my roommate and being completely blown away by her performance. Then our neighbors complained and told us to turn the [FOLK MUSIC!] down.
The Mark E. Smith Stories my good pal told me.
The Konono No. 1 Tip Hat when they played. For a brief moment, the audience had no idea what to do. Culture shock can be funny --Both ways. How do you explain to African people that white people don't dance.
Fursaxa Live makes my heart flutter each time.
Morgan Geist's Incredible Italo-Disco Collection both live and on record was a lot of fun to dance to.
That fucking flute song Dungen played live.
And the whole set Endless Boogie played before it.

Posted by Fran at December 23, 2005 06:22 PM

you can check out some brand new Brendon Anderegg tracks at http://www.myspace.com/charteroak

Posted by: Rob at March 30, 2006 12:11 PM