I Can't Listen to Everything...

I can only give so many albums their proper due in a given calendar year. It takes at least 5 or 6 listens with most albums to determine how much I like them anyway, and I don't spend more than 2 or 3 hours a day MAX with music on. Hey, give me a break, there are movies to be watched.

So it's only natural that a whole lot of great stuff would slip between the cracks every year. Now that I've had a few weeks to go through all the Best Music of 2005 lists and what have you, I've heard a number of really solid albums that would have had a strong chance at making my Best of the Year list, had I heard them in time. Here are a few examples.

Okkervil River - Black Sheep Boy

It's really stupid that I only started listening to this album last week. I heard Okkervil River near the beginning of 2005, when they opened for The Decemberists. I liked their set a lot, but I guess I just forgot to actually look into their recorded music. Duh. Anyway, I saw their name pop up on all these critics' lists, so I gave this album a try. Holy shit, it's awesome. Creepy murder ballads and hooky indie rock songs combine to form a twisted, searching, folky masterpiece.

Track #4, "Black," is one of the flat-out best rock songs of 2005. Download it, legally, from right here.

Wolf Parade - Apologies to the Queen Mary

I know I'm way behind the curve in discovering these guys. Whatever. Dock me 3 Indie Snob points. Anyway, this album is really cool and infectious. I wasn't crazy about it the first time I heard it, but it has grown on me over the last week or two. Like a lot of current Canadian indie pop, Wolf Parade sounds kind of like the Talking Heads - bouncy and full of energy and just 80's enough without feeling faddishly retro. If that makes any sense. It's also a really consistant album - if you like the first track, available by right-clicking here, you'll probably like them all.

Iron & Wine/Calexico - In the Reins

I've listened to a bit of both of these guys' individual projects. Iron & Wine's "The Creek Drank the Cradle" was in my rotation for a little while, but I tired of it quickly. And I listened to Calexico's "Feast of Wire" a bunch, but the only song that has really stuck with me is the Morricone-inflected "Black Heart," one of my most-listened-to songs according to my mp3 player.

Their sounds compliment each other pretty perfectly, almost as if they were designed to go together. It's just really beautifully arranged, subtle and melodic music. "16, Maybe 17" is the highlight out of the 7 songs on the EP. Sorry, I couldn't find a free download for this one. (Honest! I actually bought this album, legit!)