Albums of 2005

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1. 1
   The Massacre50 Cent

   The Massacre

   50 Cent · 2005 · Hip-Hop

   The blockbuster follow-up that arrived as the best-selling album of 2005, all hard-bitten bravado and polished G-Unit production.

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2. 2
   FeelsAnimal Collective

   Feels

   Animal Collective · 2005 · Alternative & Indie

   A warm, exuberant experimental-pop peak. Inventive and beloved. A high point.

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3. 3
   GueroBeck

   Guero

   Beck · 2005 · Alternative & Indie

   A return to genre-mashing collage with the Dust Brothers. Fun and varied. A strong mid-career record.

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4. 4
   Silent AlarmBloc Party

   Silent Alarm

   Bloc Party · 2005 · Alternative & Indie

   A taut, danceable post-punk debut of jittery guitars and urgency. Sharp and exciting. A mid-2000s indie cornerstone.

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5. 5
   The Campfire HeadphaseBoards of Canada

   The Campfire Headphase

   Boards of Canada · 2005 · Electronic

   A guitar-tinged, hazy electronica peak. Warm and acclaimed. A strong record.

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6. 6
   PinkBoris

   Pink

   Boris · 2005 · Metal

   A loud, eclectic blend of drone, punk and psych. Bold and beloved. A cult favourite.

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7. 7
   I'm Wide Awake, It's MorningBright Eyes

   I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning

   Bright Eyes · 2005 · Alternative & Indie

   A literate, folk-leaning peak of emotional indie songwriting. Earnest and acclaimed. Conor Oberst's breakthrough.

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8. 8
   X&YColdplay

   X&Y

   Coldplay · 2005 · Pop

   A widescreen, anthemic peak of stadium pop-rock. Polished and huge. A commercial high.

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9. 9
   BeCommon

   Be

   Common · 2005 · Hip-Hop

   A warm, soulful return powered by Kanye West's production, concise and assured. Smooth and grown-up. A conscious-rap high point.

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10. 10
    Welcome to JamrockDamian Marley

    Welcome to Jamrock

    Damian Marley · 2005 · Reggae & Dub

    A hard-hitting, modern dancehall-reggae peak, home to its title track. Bold and acclaimed. A crossover landmark.

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11. 11
    From Mars to SiriusGojira

    From Mars to Sirius

    Gojira · 2005 · Metal

    A crushing, environmentally themed progressive-death record of monumental riffs. Heavy and acclaimed. Their breakthrough.

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12. 12
    Demon DaysGorillaz

    Demon Days

    Gorillaz · 2005 · Electronic

    A dark, genre-blending peak of the virtual band, home to 'Feel Good Inc.'. Inventive and huge. Their masterpiece.

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13. 13
    Blessed Black WingsHigh on Fire

    Blessed Black Wings

    High on Fire · 2005 · Metal

    A thunderous, Albini-recorded peak of riff-driven metal. Heavy and acclaimed. A genre favourite.

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14. 14
    Late RegistrationKanye West

    Late Registration

    Kanye West · 2005 · Hip-Hop

    A lush, orchestral leap forward with Jon Brion's strings behind soul-sample beats. Ambitious and warm. A peak of his early run.

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15. 15
    Confessions on a Dance FloorMadonna

    Confessions on a Dance Floor

    Madonna · 2005 · Pop

    A seamless disco-house comeback, home to 'Hung Up'. Glossy and acclaimed. A late peak.

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16. 16
    Catch ThirtythreeMeshuggah

    Catch Thirtythree

    Meshuggah · 2005 · Metal

    A single, hypnotic continuous djent piece. Bold and acclaimed. A creative high.

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17. 17
    With TeethNine Inch Nails

    With Teeth

    Nine Inch Nails · 2005 · Metal

    A sharp, song-focused comeback, home to 'The Hand That Feeds'. Polished and acclaimed. A strong return.

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18. 18
    Ghost ReveriesOpeth

    Ghost Reveries

    Opeth · 2005 · Metal

    A lush, progressive death-metal peak of dynamic range. Ambitious and acclaimed. A high point.

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19. 19
    Takk...Sigur Rós

    Takk...

    Sigur Rós · 2005 · Alternative & Indie

    Warmer and more melodic than its predecessors, soaring and cinematic. Uplifting and grand. A post-rock high point.

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20. 20
    IllinoisSufjan Stevens

    Illinois

    Sufjan Stevens · 2005 · Folk & Singer-Songwriter

    A maximal, orchestral song-cycle about a US state, brimming with marching-band flourishes and tender storytelling. Ambitious and joyful. His most acclaimed record.

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21. 21
    MezmerizeSystem of a Down

    Mezmerize

    System of a Down · 2005 · Metal

    A frantic, political peak, home to 'B.Y.O.B.'. Heavy and huge. A high point.

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22. 22
    HypnotizeSystem of a Down

    Hypnotize

    System of a Down · 2005 · Metal

    A sharp, political companion to Mezmerize. Heavy and acclaimed. A high point.

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23. 23
    Push the ButtonThe Chemical Brothers

    Push the Button

    The Chemical Brothers · 2005 · Electronic

    A varied, hit-laden peak, home to 'Galvanize'. Loud and beloved. A high point.

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24. 24
    PicaresqueThe Decemberists

    Picaresque

    The Decemberists · 2005 · Folk & Singer-Songwriter

    A witty, literate indie-folk peak of narrative songcraft. Tuneful and acclaimed. A high point.

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25. 25
    The DocumentaryThe Game

    The Documentary

    The Game · 2005 · Hip-Hop

    A polished, Dre-and-50-backed West Coast debut. Tough and huge. A commercial landmark.

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26. 26
    AlligatorThe National

    Alligator

    The National · 2005 · Alternative & Indie

    A tense, literate breakthrough of slow-building indie rock. Sharp and beloved. The album that made them.

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27. 27
    AscendancyTrivium

    Ascendancy

    Trivium · 2005 · Metal

    A polished, melodic metalcore breakthrough. Sharp and beloved. A high point.

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