so this is the new year.

top ten albums/ep’s of 2005:
my morning jacket: z.
wolf parade: apologies to the queen mary.
sleater-kinney: the woods.
ladytron: the witching hour.
the raveonettes: pretty in black.
gravy train!!!!: are you wigglin’?
the fiery furnaces: s/t ep.
antony and the johnsons: i am a bird now.
the kills: no wow.
arcade fire: s/t ep (okay, well technically it’s an independent release from ‘03, but it’s clearly too good to ignore. but if you’re such a stickler for the rules and you demand that my selections consist of new music only, then i will abide and fork over the last slot to alternapop heroes of the 90’s, magnapop, with “mouthfeel,” (their first release in nine years!))

worst album: somebody’s miracle: liz phair.
pair this latest atrocity with her previous release, and you might be able to put together a set of huge hologram-esque earrings so magnificent that even the snobbiest of your diy friends will approve.

best single: hung up: madonna.
please allow me to express my complete unabashed love for this song. also, please allow me to challenge you with the following rhetorical question: is it just me or is everyone too hung up on madonna’s ass-cleavage exposing leotard in this video to focus on the sheer brilliance of this insanely danceable 80’s throwback? come on, get into the groove already. you know you want to. sure, it’s sort of embarrassing at first, but at least she ain’t no hollaback girl.

worst single: trapped in the closet: r. kelly.
yes, that includes all four "chapters." h + m, i genuinely appreciate your low-priced high-fashion, however, i will not forgive you for interrupting an otherwise pleasant day of shopping by introducing me to this god awful song until i am long dead and can finally finally forget it. unless, of course, i wind up going to hell, in which case, i am fairly certain that the devil himself will be spinning all four "chapters" in constant devious rotation.

embarrassed i still haven’t heard:
le tigre: the island remixes.
palomar: 3.5 (available in digital format only via itunes).

best concert moment:
sleater-kinney’s ultra-wicked cover of danzig’s, “mother.”
(june @ roseland)

worst concert moment:
the gravy train!!!! screeches to a halt. chunx gets rightfully pissed off when drunk boys start grabbing her chest, and wrongfully cuts the set short.
(july @ knitting factory).

best concert: my morning jacket, (october @ webster hall).

best concert i probably missed out on because i’m a jerk:
it’s a tie. soul asylum @ bowery ballroom, echo and the bunnymen @ irving plaza.