my top reviews 2005
from my shelves to your desktop

I listened to a lot of music this past year, but didn't do a lot of writing until the fall. Oddly enough six of my top ten this year were actually from 2007. I'm often mining stuff from all over, and I'm pretty arbitrary about what I consider my favourite reviewed albums. I don't have a set of rules or anything - so I'm able to include or exclude anything I want to.

Without further working from the bottom to the top starting with ...

Nickelback

Silver Side Up (©2001)

Yes, Nickelback. I'll probably burn in rock and roll hell for this, but I can't help it. I LIKE THIS ALBUM. In fact I like all their stuff. I'll admit it's tough to tell their stuff apart at times. But hey, AC/DC has been recycling the same riff for 30 years - so why is everyone so hard on these guys for giving the masses what they want to hear?

Steve Miller Band

Young Hearts Complete Greatest Hits (©2003)

Number 9 - number 9. This is it kiddies. The best collection of Steve Miller songs out there. Period. Keep on rockin' me baby, this is some killer stuff.

Peter Pan

Days (©2007)

Holy crap - progressive rock from Poland. Go figure. This was one of the biggest surprises I came across this year. The band doesn't have an especially great singer, but it works. The musicianship though is kick ass.

Scripture Memories (©2007)

Rick Altizer is a pop genius. Yeah, you've probably not heard of him, but you should look him up. He's sold literally dozens of people, and impressed even more. Heck, he's worked with Adrien Belew, Johnny Cash, and Mike Roe. Scripture Memories is an odd album, and I wasn't sure what to expect with a bible verse driven album, but this is a great pop album.

Saga

10,000 Days(©2007)

10,000 Days will be Saga's last album with Michael Sadler. This was an album I was surprised even happened given Michael's announcement that he was leaving the band. While this isn't a brilliant album, it is a Saga album, and that's always a cause for celebration.

Collective Soul

Afterwards (©2007)

Heading into the home stretch. My top five picks start with with Afterwards. Collective Soul continues to surprise me. For a band that for many has gone past its best before date, the boys are still creating meaningful and great rock albums.

Sam Roberts

Chemical City (©2006)

After listening to this one off and on for a year I've decided that I think this is Sam's best work yet - and he's only just starting out too! Sam puts just about everything into this swirling psychedelic homage to good old fashioned rock and roll.

Liberty N' Justice

Independence Day (©2007)

Justin Murr assembles another all star cast and puts out one of his best albums yet. I figured it would be good, but by taking a slightly different approach with Independence Day, Justin managed to hit almost all the right notes this time out. Except for poor Ez, who managed to be on the only stinker this time out. Oh well, you can't win 'em all.

This marks the second straight year Liberty N' Justice has made my top 10.

2

Dream Theater

Images and Words (©1992)

This year's runner up is Dream Theater. I have to say this was not what I expected - it was a killer album. I guess I was expecting an atonal technically marvelous but ultimately unlistenable album. Instead, I was blown away. Yeah, it's not new, but it's new to me.

Neon Bible (©2007)

Hands down my favourite album this year. It's not every day hype and expectations meet. I actually wanted to dislike this one. After all, it was getting so much positive press, that I really wanted to crap all over it. Montreal's Arcade Fire have created an album that grows on me more with each listen.