I saw some good shows; I saw some bad shows. I listened to some good albums; I listened to some bad ones. So, here�s my �Best of� list. It�s not really exhaustive and everything is either in chronological or alphabetical order. I prefer not to get into what is �best� really, everyone knows that since Radiohead didn�t release an album or tour in �04 that there is no best. So, here you go. Click on album covers to purchase from Amazon
BEST CDs
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I really have no idea what to say about this one, and I think that�s why I like it so much. It�s really like nothing else I�ve ever heard. Maybe if Talking Heads had more instruments, more background choirs, more drama, joined forces with Roxy Music and moved to Canada. I don�t know.
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This is on here for no other reason then she�s just so damn cute. Seriously, sometimes experiments like this don�t work�think Bobby McFerrin�but this is great, weird, spooky, beautiful music.
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If one of your New Year�s resolutions was to listen to more art rock, start here.
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I don�t care if it�s popular, it�s good. I�ll be anxious to see if they suffer the same fate as the also overly-hyped Strokes, that is, making a second album as good as the first but getting panned for making a second album as good as the first.
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It�s been written about to death, but this Jack White produced gem is the epitome of what I mean when I say I love country music.
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Two words: �Float On.�
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For years Shira has been trying to get me to listen to Nick Cave. I never got it. Now I do.
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Fun pop rock. Shades of less angst ridden Robert Smith vocals mixed with a bunch of other early 80s musical nuggets.
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Tom Waits + new album = instant best of the year.
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Okay, so twelve minutes of feedback almost knocked it off the list. But what awaits those who persevere? Pop perfection in the song, �The Late Greats.�
BEST SHOWS
Rufus Wainwright: February 20, Riviera Theater and October 13, Vic Theater. I preferred the February show where Rufus played with a full band that allowed his flamboyance to shine through. At the Vic show I was busy keeping Shira from hurling herself on stage as he sang with just piano and guitar. Awesomely gay.
Stereolab: April 7, Vic Theater. This one surprised me. I didn�t expect to be blown away by forty people on stage playing hyper-electronic-go-go music to vocals that sound like Edith Piaf and Nico�s love child�I mean, if that sort of thing was possible. But they kicked ass.
My Morning Jacket: May 21, Metro. Hair! Hair! Hair! Absolutely the most rockin� show I saw all year.
Wilco: June 12, Vic Theater. Luckily if you have �A Ghost is Born� you can hear this concert.
The Ponys and Fiery Furnaces: June 17, Metro. The Ponys are a Chicago act that you�ve got to run out and listen to if you haven�t heard them. The Fiery Furnaces play whacky rock-n-roll circus music set to tales of lost dogs, tropical icy lands, and asthma attacks. Brilliant.
Magnetic Fields: June 26, Old Town School of Folk. �Papa was a Rodeo� made me cry.
The Hives: July 26, Metro. Okay, I�m not a big fan of their albums, but their show is a spectacle. Nobody has more fun on stage than these guys and it�s infectious.
Curiosa Tour: August 12, Tweeter Center. Interpol and The Cure. It was a time warp back to the 80s except without the Polo cologne. There�s really nothing better than watching an old man wear makeup and sing about killing an Arab.
Pixies: November 13, Aragon Ballroom. Good show, although it was a little like watching an aging Pixies cover band play Pixies songs; we�re not seeing them in their prime. Almost got into a fight with a drunk guy. He ran into my woman and I had to defend her honor. Luckily, security escorted the guy from the place before he could kick my ass in front of Kim Deal. That would have been embarrassing.
And M. Ward gets a special nod for Best Opening Act. He played with My Morning Jacket and toured with Jim James and Conor Oberst back in February. Good stuff.
There you go. I�m sure I�ve left something off that I was absolutely in love with six months ago, oh well. Here�s to a musically enriched �05!
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