Here's the top-rated albums for our long-abscent writer, CMcG...
This year has probably been one of the finest alternative music has had to offer. Whether you be an indie, punk, metal or grindcore fan, music has had something to offer everybody. Every band has stepped up their game, and almost every new band has made a worthy contribution. To condense this list down to a Top 30 has been incredibly hard. Hope there's something for everyone though.
30 - ROTTEN SOUND - EXIT
Absolute top-notch grindcore. I remember receiving this as a promo in December last year, and it wasn't leaving my CD player. Rest assured, if you like your grind ridiculously violent, this absolute treat is for you.
29 - SUPERGRASS - ROAD TO ROUEN
Oxford's coolest band came back with probably their lightest release to date. However, the beautiful, meandering sound, mixed with a the more confident musicianship, go together to make a delightful album indeed.
28 - ENTRANCE - WANDERING STRANGER
Apparently, it's cosmic blues. Karen O thinks this guy's wonderful. I personally have to agree. A cross between Tom Waits and the White Stripes, you will get lost in this record. Considering how much I paid for it (£1.96?!?), it was a fabulous purchase.
27 - DESOLATION - THE STONE ORACLES
Life-affirming doom metal. My promos seemed to get less interesting soon after hearing this. I think this was more than part due to the overwhelming quality of Desolation's debut.
26 - ART BRUT - BANG, BANG ROCK 'N' ROLL
Just over half an hour of sublime indie. Eddie Argos is a more than charismatic frontman, and the sound is just pure magic.
25 - WHITE STRIPES - GET BEHIND ME, SATAN
Subdued, but this is no bad thing. The new White Stripes album is definitely their best yet, largely because they stopped dicking around and wrote some decent songs.
24 - GORILLAZ - DEMON DAYS
Don't need to say a lot, other than that a darker sound suits Gorillaz far more and Damon was well shut of Blur.
23 - THE PADDINGTONS - FIRST COMES FIRST
It's punk. Not particularly original punk, but who cares when they write such gems as 'Sorry'? Buy if you like the Clash.
22 - DOGS - TURN AGAINST THIS LAND
Obnoxious debut by one of the better London bands. Brattish, biting and very, very cool.
21 - 10,000 THINGS
This band are undoubtedly the coolest thing to come out of Yorkshire. They sound like the New York Dolls, but they dress like the Jam. Every track is a winner, and the ending is particularly funny. Don't miss out.
20 - MAXIMO PARK - A CERTAIN TRIGGER
Newcastle's latest prodigies are clearly heavily influenced by Television, and the NY punk contribution does them a favour. Sharp, catchy and with some fabulous singles. 'Graffiti' will pack moshpits for years to come.
19 - THE FORECAST - LATE-NIGHT CONVERSATIONS
The Forecast were a bit of an unusual signing. Unlike metalcore stars Atreyu, The Forecast are a fine mix of soulful indie, grunge and some of the more powerful hardcore. This is accessible rock music for people who are just a tad bored of the Foo-fighters-esque dirge. Lovely clean vocals too.
18 - THE SUBWAYS - YOUNG FOR ETERNITY
Pure, unadulterated rock, very much in the vein of The Jam and The Clash. For a band so young, this is a terrific debut. Definitely worth a look.
17 - CORALIE CLEMENT - BYE BYE BEAUTE
Sarcastic, sultry and possessing a very arousing voice, Coralie Clement is everything French music should be but often isn't. Fantastic acoustic melodies compliment a superb vocal performance. Perfect French pop.
16 - THE CORAL - THE INVISIBLE INVASION
Psychedelic rock courtesy of Liverpool's finest. They get better with every album, and tracks like 'Arabian Sand' confirm The Coral as one of Britain's most exciting bands.
15 - DEPECHE MODE - PLAYING THE ANGEL
A subdued return for Depeche Mode actually sees them releasing one of their best albums to date. It is very much an old-school goth record, but it's brilliant nonetheless, and while there's nothing new to speak of here, the rehash of the old is done to great effect.
14 - KATE BUSH - AERIAL
Kate returns after twelve years, releases a double album, and finally manages to better 'The Dreaming'. Eighty minutes of eccentric, ethereal pop. Single 'King of the Mountain' barely begins to touch the surface of a record with so many surprises in store. To be honest, most of today's female solo singers still can't compare.
13 - COLDPLAY - X&Y
Coldplay's best to date, but very much following in the vein of the 2nd LP. Having said that, It was a wise move to avoid being too ambitious though, as every track is pure gold. Not one for your average metal fan, but definitely one for someone who appreciates brilliant musicianship.
12 - PUSSYCAT DOLLS - PCD
They used to be baroque dancers; now they make R'n'B. I'm sure there's some logic there somewhere.... This album should be dire. However, it's really not. I'd go as far as to say that this is the best R'n'B album I've heard in years. Funky, infectious and very, very showy. But what do you expect?
11 - JULIETTE AND THE LICKS - YOU'RE SPEAKING MY LANGUAGE
Ok, she may be a film star, but one listen is enough to tell you that Juliette Lewis was wasted in movies. Garage rock done by someone who clearly loves music more than anything. The passion shows.
10 - DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE - PLANS
Beautiful lo-fi album, which confirms Death Cab as the masters of mellow indie. Every song is stunning, but the exceptional 'Your heart is an empty room' won't fail to tug at your heartstrings.
9 - THE CAVES - THIS WAY TO...
Twenty-three minutes of blistering ROCK. Don't expect anything fresh, but do anticipate something essential. The Caves are to modern music what the NY Dolls were to punk - not major players, but without them, you'd be lost. One of the few records you simply have to buy.
8 - THE DEPARTURE - DIRTY WORDS
Northampton brings us yet another New Order copy. Or do they? The Departure are far better than The Bravery, and significantly more talented songwriters than the Killers. I doubt they'll last longer than two albums, but what a pair of albums they'll be.
7 - KANYE WEST - LATE REGISTRATION
Hip-hop with the unique flavour of cynical mockery. Kanye West has done wonders for the genre, and this latest LP goes to show why gangster rap is utter rubbish. Funny, well-written and incredibly poignant rap music.
6 - BLOC PARTY - SILENT ALARM
So uniform, so well-played, so impossible to get rid off. This album reminds you just how brilliant rock can get. The fact that the album needed to be remixed soon after release is testament to just how cool it is.
5 - FRANZ FERDINAND - YOU COULD HAVE IT SO MUCH BETTER
How to describe this album... Like the first, except heavier, darker and with far more bite. Thought Franz had peaked with their debut? No bloody way. Practically every track makes you want to jump around and hit someone.
4 - THE OTHERS - SELF-TITLED / EDITORS - THE BACK ROOM
Needless to say, I raved about this record. I still maintain that I was right to. This is brattish, energetic rock that has neither aged over the past few months, nor lost any of its kick. Dom Masters adds an energetic performance to an already incredibly raucous record, and the effect is effortlessly sublime. / This will bring the Top 30 to a Top 31, but on a par with the Others was definitely the Editors' debut, which manages to recreate Joy Division's sense of foreboding to marvellous effect. This is an equally terrific record, with every song possessing more than a stylistic nod to the great Ian Curtis (R.I.P)
3 - ANTONY & THE JOHNSONS - I AM A BIRD NOW
It's like the musical equivalent of haiku. So much beauty, pain and emotion captured into just 35 minutes. Mixed with Antony's marvellous voice, the impact of this album just can't be described in words.
2 - BABYSHAMBLES - DOWN IN ALBION
I know what you're thinking - how did Doherty avoid the top spot? it's simple - I think Doherty's a magnificent songwriter, and this album borders on flawless, but while he proves once again to be a genius of our age, there is something better than Babyshambles' model CD of indie anthems.
1 - DEAD FLY BUCHOWSKI - LAND OF THE ROUGH
If someone suggested marrying the bluesy sound of Entrance with the Pixies and the Ramones, no-one would agree to it. The very thought sounds barbaric. DFB have done just that, only the Glasgow band have pulled it off, and it's awesome to listen to. From the first time I heard 'Russian Doll', I was hooked. I have no doubt that you would be too, and when you consider that, by some travesty of music consumerism, this album can be bought on CD for less than a pound, you really can't afford not to invest in DFB's debut.
2005 closes, with possibly some of the finest albums I have ever heard. If 2006 can top it, I'll be very surprised, but hey - let's just get pissed on snowballs and ponder the possibilities.
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