2005 Gave Pop Music Fans A 'Great Eight'

It was another year in the iPod driven world of the 'single' and thus another year of slumping album sales. So it came to be that 2005 was The Year of Playing it Safe. Artists weren't as daring as in years past and with pressure from anticipated followups and waning sales, few limbs were ventured onto. And that's OK, at least for my picks for the best albums of 2005. While the majority of artists took their eyes off the prize of innovation, they also ignored the trend of one killer track supported by 10 or 11 mindless ones, making these eight truly great albums of the year.

1. Coldplay, "X & Y"

If anyone can play it safe and still be amazing, it's Coldplay. There were worries: overproduction due to the bands' agonizing, escaping the shadow cast by their previous album which was a monster success, highly publicized additions to families. But in the end, the impossibility of disconnecting Chris Martin's oft-dreamy and universal lyrics of love and wonder from the specifics of his celebrity wife and baby, were replace with the impossibility of picking a favorite song from the lush sonic landscapes the band delivered.

Standout tracks: "Fix You," "Swallowed in the Sea"2. David Gray, "Life In Slow Motion"

Another lad from across the pond who knows the pressure of a follow-up, who has wrestled with the limitations of his own sound and his desire to do more is David Gray. But "Life In Slow Motion" sees him shedding these hang-ups, and sometimes arguing with them, and results in a powerful album from start to finish.

Standout tracks: "Hospital Food," "The One I Love"

3. Missy Higgins, "Sound of White"

And if David Gray was a woman from Australia, he's be Missy Higgins - a smart singer-songwriter with distinct vocals and a pleasing way of delivering them. It's a simple but solid debut, with sweet melodies and Higgins' solid pipes and charming lyrics holding steady throughout.

Standout tracks: "Scar," "Night Minds," "The Special Two"

4. Athlete, "Tourist"

In the event that Coldplay's new album fell short, Athlete was waiting in the wings with their own brand of pretty melancholy. Fortunately for us, both Brit bands delivered the goods and we got two terrific albums.

Standout tracks: "Half Light," "Yesterday Threw Everything At Me"

5. Franz Ferdinand, "You Could Have It So Much Better"

Sophomore slump? Franz Ferdinand doesn't know the meaning of the phrase. Their first single "Do You Want To" has a smarmy little lick that is the best piece of music created this year - and that was just Track 2. The Scots are back a little wiser and with a lot more swagger. Their upfront, animated style that served them so well on their debut album is as prevalent as ever if not better crafted, but now their success spans to include songs that are more dainty yet no less effective. They are becoming a powerhouse.

Standout tracks: "Walk Away," "Eleanor Put Your Boots On," "Evil and A Heathen"

6. Shout Out Louds, "Howl Howl Gaff Gaff"

This power-pop group from Sweden presented the best feel-good album of the year. Peppy and saccharine with plenty of energy and tambourine to spare, the Shout Out Louds were a breath of fresh air in a mundane year for music.

Standout tracks: "100 Degrees," "Very Loud," "Oh Sweetheart"

7. The Magic Numbers, "The Magic Numbers"

Another new group offering a distinct blip on the otherwise flatlined music scene is The Magic Numbers. With an alt-country twang and pop music tendencies, The Magic Numbers gave us a hip-shaking, hand-clapping debut album that included pop songs, sad songs and even a waltz.

Standout tracks: "Long Legs," "I See You, You See Me"

8. Kanye West, "Late Registration"

Probably the most anticipated follow-up album this year, the Grammy-winning Louis Vuitton Don is not one to falter under pressure. While uneven, the album is the exception to my criteria because the half of throwaway tracks are vastly outweighed by the other, mind-blowing half. While critics balk at his use of samples and guest spots, citing lack of creativity, West is making something all his own. Something classy, catchy and unmistakably great.

Standout tracks: "Gold Digger," "Hey Mama," "Touch The Sky"

Source: http://www.billingsgazette.com