In 2005, record sales slowly sank in the first half of the year – 7.6 percent lower than that of the previous year.
The second half of the year did not bode much better for record sales either despite releases from heavy hitters such as Paul McCartney, Kayne West and Eric Clapton. Despite the drop in record sales, 2005 was a good year for music. If one dares to dig below the surface they will inevitably come upon the near dead, twitching and slightly decayed carcass of rock’n’roll.
The year 2005 saw the releases of some of the world’s best singer songwriters since Dylan, Young and even Springsteen and great follow-ups from already established bands.
10. New Order – Waiting for the Sirens’ Call
Bands like the Killers, Bloc Party and Franz Ferdinand would not be where they are today if it was not for the world’s best new wave band that formed some 25 years ago from the shards of Joy Division. New Order is still delivering wonderfully tuneful and melodic dance songs on their eighth proper studio album. Even though Waiting for the Sirens’ Call is a little guitar heavy for New Order they show they can still deliver a great record.
Listen to: “Krafty” and “Dracula’s Castle”
9. Copeland – In Motion
This second full-length album shows these Florida natives developing a new sound by borrowing from the old. Unlike with Beneath the Medicine Tree, In Motion is filled with rocking drums provided by new drummer Jon Bucklew. Just like on its predecessor, front man Aaron Marsh’s voice shines through on almost every track with his overwhelmingly gorgeous falsettos. From pop rock to beautiful weepy ballads, In Motion has it all.
Listen to: “Pin Your Wings Down” and “Sleep”
8. Ben Folds – Songs for Silverman
This second solo release of former Ben Folds Five front man has the singer/pianist singing a more mature tune – well most of the time. From growing old and becoming a bastard that thinks he knows it all to singing a hopeful tune about his daughter to asking the “would Jesus really say that?” Folds covers the spectrum of what a great pop album should be.
Listen to: “Bastard” and “Jesusland”
7. Denison Witmer – Are You A Dreamer?
Witmer has always garnered comparisons to great ’70s singer songwriters as Jackson Browne and James Taylor and for good reason. Witmer’s sullen voice carries Are You A Dreamer? from track to track all while inspiring the listener and infusing a sense of hope that can be derived from your dreams.
Listen to: “Little Flowers” and “East from West”
6. Foo Fighters – In Your Honor
From being in one of the most overrated bands of our time (Nirvana), Dave Grohl has always seemingly been eclipse by the shadow the lingering shadow that Kurt Cobain still casts, and that fact still astounds me. In Your Honor is Grohl and company’s most ambitious record to date, delivering 20 songs on two discs. The first 10 songs find the Foo Fighters delivering music still wondering on the same sonic landscapes as their previous records, but the second disc brings Grohl’s vocals to the forefront accompanied by acoustic guitars, piano and mandolin played by rock legend John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin).
Listen to: “The Deepest Blues Are Black” and “Miracle”
5. White Stripes – Get Behind Me Satan
Most would think that if the White Stripes delivered an album lacking hard rocking guitar and replaced it with pounding piano it would end up being a misstep for the brother/sister errr . husband/wife duo. However Get Behind Me Satan is possibly one of their best releases to date. The album, when listened to as a whole, proves to the nay-sayers that a band can have a successful record without having standout tracks (singles).
Listen to: You must listen to the whole album to truly get it.
4. Death Cab for Cutie – Plans
After much debate and great thought, Seattle indie-rockers Death Cab for Cutie left indie label Barsuk Records for major label Atlantic records, and all around the world you could hear the hearts of elitist musical assholes (I am not saying I am not one of them) break all over the globe. Fortunately for us, Death Cab for Cutie did little to change their sound on Plans and all the elitists rejoice (including myself). Front man and songwriter Ben Gibbard continues to deliver some of the saddest songs one will ever hear, that sound as if you are listening to excerpts of Gibbard’s diary than a song.
Listen to: “I Will Follow You Into the Dark” and “Crooked Teeth”
3. Sufjan Stevens – Come On Feel the Illinoise
The modern day non-crazy Brian Wilson continues his objective of recording a record for every state in the union with the follow up to 2003’s Greetings from Michigan: The Great Lake State, and his first state-titled record. The 20-something Stevens weaves strings and odd state facts together to present a state in a musical composition, and at the same time asks why not a flute solo?
Listen to: “Come On! Feel The Illinoise!: Part I: The World’s Columbian Exposition/Part II: Carl Sandburg Visits Me In A Dream” and “John Wayne Gacy, Jr.”
2. Bright Eyes – I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning
Conor Oberst seemingly in an attempt to match fellow troubadour Ryan Adams released I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning and Digital Ashe In a Digital Urn on the same day. Unfortunately for Oberst, Digital Ashe In A Digital Urn was hit or miss and had Oberst wondering around in foreign territory. Fortunately for us and “rock’s boy genius” I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning delivers Oberst at his very best with his descriptive Dylan-like songwriting to his peculiar voice this is one of the greatest records of the past 10 years.
Listen to: “Landlocked Blues” and “Road to Joy.”
Ryan Adams (and the Cardinals) – Cold Roses, Jacksonville City Nights and 29
Whenever the name Ryan Adams comes up, it is sure to be followed by prolific words, and for Adams there is not a better word to suit the year he had in ’05. With the release of three records throughout the year, Adams continued to wonder from style to style from Cold Roses Grateful Dead-like Americana style to the wistful, country sound of Jacksonville City Nights, to the narrative storytelling and bluesy ballad-filled 29, Adams has done what most do not dare to do.
As if three records in ’05 was not enough, Adams and his Cardinals also recorded 18 songs for Cameron Crowe’s Elizabethtowne and another record that are going to be released this year.
Listen to: “Cold Roses”, “Now That You’re Gone”, “Hard Way to Fall”, “Peaceful Valley”, “Nightbirds” and “Blue Sky Blues.

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