December 14th, 2005
MARC HAWTHORNE
1) The Go! Team, Thunder, Lightning, Strike (Columbia)
Filled with jubilant music for people who consider Violent Femmes' debut a "party album," this Brighton sextet's debut full-length never lets up in its quest to cheerlead listeners into believing that even amid depressing world events, great beats and triumphant melodies will make everything all right. The album was originally issued last year overseas, but the new stateside version—with some reworked samples to avoid legal problems—is even better, thanks to the inclusion of the glorious "We Just Won't Be Defeated," which acts as a perfect subtitle for Thunder, Lightning, Strike.
2) Rogue Wave, Descended Like Vultures (Sub Pop)
Rogue Wave's debut received plenty of glowing reviews, but Descended Like Vultures makes Out Of The Shadow sound like leader Zach Rogue was just warming up. And in a way, he was—Vultures is Rogue Wave's debut as a solidified band, and the Oakland quartet has delivered a full-bodied album that feels bigger, stronger, and more focused than its predecessor. Rogue's tales of strained and broken relationships are buoyed by such dreamy pop instrumentation that it's easy to forget you're joyously singing along with songs about divorce.
3) Coldplay, X&Y (Capitol)
There were all sorts of reasons to dismiss Coldplay's third studio full-length before even hearing it, the main one being that major-label bands tinkering with an album for too long usually translates into a product that's about as flavorful as a rice cake smeared with poi. But Chris Martin and those other three guys have made what could very well be their crowning achievement, and they've done it (once again) with melancholy pop songs that are easily digestible for the crossover crowd and sharp enough to keep discerning ears coming back for more. Oh, and "Fix You" is arguably the best emo song released this year.
4) Maria Taylor, 11:11 (Saddle Creek)
5) Broken Social Scene, Broken Social Scene (Arts & Crafts)
6) The New Pornographers, Twin Cinema (Matador)
7) Sigur Rós, Takk… (Geffen)
8) Eels, Blinking Lights And Other Revelations (Vagrant)
Mark Oliver Everett's latest is a monster, but a thorough investigation of the 33-song, 94-minute album reveals so many emotions and different shades of pop that it's worth clearing some time to ingest it as a whole. Opening with the author's birth and closing with the wonderful confessional "Things The Grandchildren Should Know," Blinking Lights And Other Revelations is a moving song cycle that makes listeners think about where they've been and where they're going. And "I'm Going To Stop Pretending That I Didn't Break Your Heart" is like a reminder of everyone who deserves an apology.
9) Sun Kil Moon, Tiny Cities (Caldo Verde)
Mark Kozelek's past is littered with covers of everyone from Simon & Garfunkel to John Denver to The Cars, but his decision to rework songs written by a hip, active band still came as a bit of shock. The 11 songs on Tiny Cities originated on a wide range of Modest Mouse releases, but Kozelek has delicately, beautifully, cohesively brought them together on the most unique covers record since What's Next To The Moon, his take on Bon Scott-era AC/DC.
10) Bloc Party, Silent Alarm (Vice)
What Have You Done For Us Lately?
Bands get back together all the time, but the number of significant groups that have retied the knot over the past couple of years has made the trend difficult to overlook. Of all these acts, however, the most notable has to be the college-rock heroes in Pixies. After strutting around the world last year on their version of the Eagles' Hell Freezes Over tour, the almighty quartet went for another spin in 2005, with decidedly underwhelming results. The problem? They still don't have a new album.
Armed with lesser discographies, reunited groups like Echo And The Bunnymen, Camper Van Beethoven, and American Music Club had more energy in 2005 than Black Francis, Kim Deal & co. simply because they were being driven by creative urges, not just nostalgic or financial ones. Jane's Addiction proved a few years ago that just because a band makes a new record doesn't mean its reunion is a success, but the members of groups like The Olivia Tremor Control, the original Dinosaur Jr., and Slint (if they choose to re-form yet again) would be wise to learn from the Pixies' mistake and start writing before hitting the road again.
It's Called A Breakup Because It's Broken
Bands that shouldn't get back together, even if they have albums up their sleeves:
The Smiths. The recent public flare-up between Moz and Mike Joyce is yet another nail in the coffin for a band that has nothing left to prove.
The Stone Roses. If you don't think this band ran out of gas early in its career, grab a copy of Second Coming from the cutout bin.
Pavement. Acting like they didn't give a shit stopped being cool when they actually stopped giving a shit.
Guns N' Roses. Even if Slash, Duff, and Cowbell Adler were back in the fold, a reunited version of this previously intimidating group of gutter-dwellers is destined to become the house band for Clowntown, USA.
U2. Preemptive wishful thinking.
Gas Left In The Tank
Bands that should give it another shot:
The Afghan Whigs. Greg Dulli is doing just fine as The Twilight Singers, but every time he pulls out an old jam, there's a sparkle that suggests a Whigs reunion would be righteous.
The Smashing Pumpkins. This could quickly turn into a mess, but The Bald One's heart is definitely in the right place.
Lync. Led by Love As Laughter's Sam Jayne, this spastically beautiful (and extremely short-lived) punk band set its drums on fire during its final show, and would probably be just as incendiary if it returned to action.
Unrest. A performance during the 20th-anniversary celebration for Mark Robinson's Teenbeat label proved this is certainly a possibility, and a lack of any downturn in the discography of the influential indie-rock band suggests new music could be just as solid.
Polvo. Though it lost the plot on its final album, this Chapel Hill outfit known for its detuned guitars and odd melodies fought conventions with the kind of energy that makes it seem like there are more chapters to be written.
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