Albums of 2005
The records from 2005 that made our lists.
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1FeelsAnimal Collective
Feels
A warm, exuberant experimental-pop peak. Inventive and beloved. A high point.
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2GueroBeck
Guero
A return to genre-mashing collage with the Dust Brothers. Fun and varied. A strong mid-career record.
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3Silent AlarmBloc Party
Silent Alarm
A taut, danceable post-punk debut of jittery guitars and urgency. Sharp and exciting. A mid-2000s indie cornerstone.
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4The Campfire HeadphaseBoards of Canada
The Campfire Headphase
A guitar-tinged, hazy electronica peak. Warm and acclaimed. A strong record.
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5PinkBoris
Pink
A loud, eclectic blend of drone, punk and psych. Bold and beloved. A cult favourite.
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6I'm Wide Awake, It's MorningBright Eyes
I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning
A literate, folk-leaning peak of emotional indie songwriting. Earnest and acclaimed. Conor Oberst's breakthrough.
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7X&YColdplay
X&Y
A widescreen, anthemic peak of stadium pop-rock. Polished and huge. A commercial high.
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8BeCommon
Be
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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9Welcome to JamrockDamian Marley
Welcome to Jamrock
A hard-hitting, modern dancehall-reggae peak, home to its title track. Bold and acclaimed. A crossover landmark.
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10From Mars to SiriusGojira
From Mars to Sirius
A crushing, environmentally themed progressive-death record of monumental riffs. Heavy and acclaimed. Their breakthrough.
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11Demon DaysGorillaz
Demon Days
A dark, genre-blending peak of the virtual band, home to 'Feel Good Inc.'. Inventive and huge. Their masterpiece.
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12Blessed Black WingsHigh on Fire
Blessed Black Wings
A thunderous, Albini-recorded peak of riff-driven metal. Heavy and acclaimed. A genre favourite.
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13Late RegistrationKanye West
Late Registration
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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14Confessions on a Dance FloorMadonna
Confessions on a Dance Floor
A seamless disco-house comeback, home to 'Hung Up'. Glossy and acclaimed. A late peak.
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15Catch ThirtythreeMeshuggah
Catch Thirtythree
A single, hypnotic continuous djent piece. Bold and acclaimed. A creative high.
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16With TeethNine Inch Nails
With Teeth
A sharp, song-focused comeback, home to 'The Hand That Feeds'. Polished and acclaimed. A strong return.
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17Ghost ReveriesOpeth
Ghost Reveries
A lush, progressive death-metal peak of dynamic range. Ambitious and acclaimed. A high point.
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18Takk...Sigur Rós
Takk...
Warmer and more melodic than its predecessors, soaring and cinematic. Uplifting and grand. A post-rock high point.
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19IllinoisSufjan Stevens
Illinois
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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20MezmerizeSystem of a Down
Mezmerize
A frantic, political peak, home to 'B.Y.O.B.'. Heavy and huge. A high point.
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21HypnotizeSystem of a Down
Hypnotize
A sharp, political companion to Mezmerize. Heavy and acclaimed. A high point.
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22Push the ButtonThe Chemical Brothers
Push the Button
A varied, hit-laden peak, home to 'Galvanize'. Loud and beloved. A high point.
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23PicaresqueThe Decemberists
Picaresque
A witty, literate indie-folk peak of narrative songcraft. Tuneful and acclaimed. A high point.
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24The DocumentaryThe Game
The Documentary
A polished, Dre-and-50-backed West Coast debut. Tough and huge. A commercial landmark.
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25AlligatorThe National
Alligator
A tense, literate breakthrough of slow-building indie rock. Sharp and beloved. The album that made them.
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26AscendancyTrivium
Ascendancy
A polished, melodic metalcore breakthrough. Sharp and beloved. A high point.