Review of 2005: The Year's Best Albums

  Jeremy Lloyd - Gigs Editor:

1. Editors - The Back Room
Forget the Interpol/Joy Division copyist accusations, with The Back Room Editors proved they're a magnificent band in their own right. Haunting, dark and thrilling in equal measure, there isn't a bad song on the album. Global fame surely awaits.

2. The Departure - Dirty Words
One of 2005's criminally overlooked and underrated albums, Dirty Words more than lived up to the hype surrounding it - whatever you may have read elsewhere. Twin guitar attacks, thick basslines and some distinctly British vocals recalled the likes of early U2 and The Cure, giving some of the best music of the year.

3. Tom Vek - We Have Sound
Debut album from Essex born garage recorder Tom Vek was an eclectic feast of a record, combining rock, funk, electro and dance to produce one of the most exciting set of songs for quite some time. The fact that he managed to write lyrics like "You said I was the glove compartment" and pull it off points to a rather bright future, too.

4. The Rakes - Capture/Release
Wetherspoon's pubs, low income 9-5 jobs and Old Street on a Friday night - just some of the tales documented by Eastenders The Rakes, in their 11 track, incedinary debut. Capturing the latent energy of their live shows, this record left us asking only one question: who were The Libertines anyway?

5. Bloc Party - Silent Alarm
Released all the way back in February, Silent Alarm has seen Bloc Party turn into wordwide stars, in much the same way Franz Ferdinand had done a year previously. It's totally understandable given the quality of songs that made it on to the album. All widescreen in their scope, emotive and uplifting, Kele and co. did really produce a timeless, modern day masterpiece.

  Tim Lee - Albums Editor:

1. The Kills - No Wow
Come on, what have a guy, a girl and a drum machine got that that a small army of slightly mental Canadians don't? Well, aside from being the most hypnotically malevolent live act you'll ever see, they produced the most stark, sleazy and spectacular record of the year. Mean, moody and cooler than you - just like a band should be.

2. Arcade Fire - Funeral
You know it's brilliant. I know it's brilliant. What more is there to say? Oh, it's absolutely brilliant.

3. The Rakes - Capture/Release
Capture/Release is 30 odd minutes which manages to simultaneously delight and despair at a large section of British 'culture'. Even if you've never gone to work smelling like "the smoking bit in a Wetherspoon's pub" you can love The Rakes. And if you have, you'll love 'em even more.

4. The White Stripes - Get Behind Me, Satan
As contrary as he wants to be, Jack managed to circumvent the pressures of becoming one of the biggest bands on the planet by releasing The White Stripes' oddest album yet. And introduce a field of confused festival goers to the delights of the marimba.

5. Super Furry Animals - Love Kraft
While the The Furries have been consistently brilliant over the course of their career, Love Kraft is their masterpiece. Multicoloured, psychadelic and delightfully tropical.

  John Murphy - Editor:

1. Martha Wainwright - Martha Wainwright
Rufus may get all the headlines but his little sister is even better. An album of beautifully crafted, intense and fragile songs sung by possibly the most talented of the McGarrigle clan - and that's saying something.

2. Arcade Fire - Funeral
Another triumph from Montreal, Arcade Fire were a genuine word of mouth success. Have songs of death, despair and grieving ever sounded so uplifting? Not this year for sure.

3. The Magic Numbers - The Magic Numbers
Two sets of siblings produced the most bittersweet music of the year. They may be very hairy and a bit portly but they sung like angels and produced harmonies to die for.

4. Elbow - Leaders Of The Free World
In which Guy Garvey's status of one of Britain's finest lyricists rose to a whole new level. Most songs concentrated on relationship break-up yet never sounded self-pitying or maudlin.

5. Gorillaz - Demon Days
A joke band? With Demon Days, Damon Albarn rivalled the best of Blur - a stellar list of guest singers made this the most varied listen of 2005. With their residency in Manchester in November, they also produced the gig of the year.

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