Bradley’s Almanac

[Nac Faves] My Favorite Music of 2005

Posted on March 22, 2006 at 1:40 pm | No Comments

2005’s best-of lists started appearing earlier than ever, some even showing up in early November, well before the year was over. Like Christmas decorations, they’ll keep arriving sooner than the year before… and if that’s the case, then I’m that guy who leaves his long-dead tree up until Spring rolls around. I’ve never been so burned-out on year-end lists, and so quickly, as I was this year… so I had to let some time pass to clear my head of them all.

Yes, my list is very late. But I don’t really do it for display, I do it for myself, for future reflection. It’s hardly original, not so surprising, full of predictably white-boy indie-whatever. With a couple of exceptions, you’ll find these releases on many other lists. So be it. I am what I am.

Best of 2005 Candidates:

The Woods by Sleater-Kinney
British Sea Power – Open Season
Headphones – self-titled
The Decemberists – Picaresque
House of Love – Days Run Away
Stars – Set Yourself On Fire
Autolux – Future Perfect
Mary Timony – Ex Hex
Lou Barlow – Emoh
Lucksmiths – Warmer Corners
Portastatic – Bright Ideas
Monade – A Few Steps More
Summer At Shatter Creek – All the Answers
Sigur Ros – Takk
Smog – A River Ain’t Too Much To Love

Explosions in the Sky reissue
Slowdive reissues
Stereolab & Yo La Tengo boxes
Cure reissues

Good riddance to 2005, I said as this now-not-so-new year started. Despite a few personal highlights, it was mostly a tolerable twelve months that became fairly terrible near the end there. As the door closed on it, Oh-Five booted me from behind on the way out, and I’m grateful for the mental reboot that this new year has brought me. Big changes are already in progress, and I welcome them…

http://www.popimage.com/content/viewnews.cgi?newsid1136340342,6038,

movies:

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
Crash
Me and You and Everyone We Know
Syriana
King Kong
The Squid & the Whale
40 Year Old Virgin
A History of Violence
Sin City
Serenity
Thumbsucker
Batman Begins
Howl’s Moving Castle
Kung Fu Hustle
Munich
Millions
Junebug

disappointments:

Aeon Flux
Broken Flowers
Hitchhiker’s Guide
Revenge of the Sith

haven’t seen:

Capote
Brokeback Mountain
The New World

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  • BOSTON-AREA LIVE SHOW ACTION
    Thursday, January 8th
    Ms. Ezra Furman
    doing what she wants
    with Ryan Walsh
    (of Hallelujah the Hills)
    opening with a solo set
    @ the Rockwell

    Friday, January 9th
    Black Helicopter (LP release!)
    Spiller
    Daughter of the Vine
    @ Deep Cuts

    Saturday, January 10th
    Strange Pains (single release!)
    Sinnet
    Good June
    @ Deep Cuts

    Saturday, January 10th
    Detroit Angels
    Headband
    Melvern Taylor
    @ Medford Brewing Co.

    Wednesday, January 14th
    Bishop Allen
    Mates of State
    @ the Sinclair

    Thursday, January 15th
    Cate Le Bon
    @ the Sinclair

    Thursday, January 15th
    Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
    "Piano & Voice" performance
    @ the MFA Boston

    Friday, January 16th
    Bus Crush (LP release show)
    Doss
    Megan From Work
    @ the Lilypad

    Saturday, January 17th
    Silver Screams
    Static Friction
    Screw Cart
    Fear is a Mind Killer
    @ the Midway Cafe

    Monday, January 19th
    Shame
    @ Brighton Music Hall

    Thursday, January 22nd
    Bill Murray and His Blood Brothers
    @ the House of Blues

    Thursday, January 27th
    The Residents
    Eskimo Live! Tour
    @ Brighton Music Hall

    Thursday, January 29th
    Bad Bad Hats
    performing "Psychic Reader"
    Smut
    @ the Crystal Ballroom

    Friday, January 30th
    Greg Freeman
    Golomb
    @ the Red Room at Cafe 939

    Saturday & Sunday
    January 31st & February 1st
    Something In The Way Fest 2026
    with Explosions In The Sky,
    Sunny Day Real Estate, Citizen,
    Tigers Jaw, The Hotelier, Momma,
    Angel Dust, February, First Day Back,
    Glitterer, Glixen, Gollylagging, Guv,
    Graham Hunt, Horse Jumper of Love,
    How Much Art, No Warning, Pelican,
    Park National, Pool Kids, Sheer Mag,
    Wicca Phase Springs Eternal,
    and Teen Suicide
    @ Roadrunner

    Saturday, February 7th
    Twen
    @ the Rockwell

    Thursday, February 12th
    Brandi Carlile
    The Head and the Heart
    @ TD Garden

    Friday, February 13th
    Nine Inch Nails
    @ TD Garden

    Friday, February 20th
    Marissa Nadler
    @ the Somerville Armory

    Saturday, February 21st
    Margo Price
    @ the Royale

    February 28th
    Ratboys
    Florry
    @ the Sinclair

    Tuesday, March 3rd
    Spiritual Cramp
    @ the Sinclair

    Wednesday, March 4th
    Cat Power
    "The Greatest 2026" tour
    @ Roadrunner

    Friday, March 6th
    Michael Shannon,
    Jason Narducy,
    & friends play REM's
    "Life's Rich Pageant"
    with opener
    Eugene Mirman
    @ the Royale

    Friday, March 13th
    Quarters
    Paper Lady
    @ the Royale

    Friday, Saturday, & Sunday
    March 13th, 14th, & 15th
    Dropkick Murphys
    @ MGM Music Hall

    Tuesday, March 17th
    Dropkick Murphys
    @ House of Blues

    Thursday, March 19th
    Julianna Barwick
    & Mary Lattimore
    @ the Somerville Armory

    Friday, March 20th
    The Hives
    The Chats
    @ House of Blues

    Saturday, March 21st
    Cass McCombs
    Chris Cohen
    @ Brighton Music Hall

    Saturday, March 21st
    Joyce Manor
    Militarie Gun
    Teen Mortgage
    Combat
    @ House of Blues

    Sunday, March 22nd
    Maria Somerville
    @ the ICA Boston

    Monday, March 23rd
    Westerman
    @ the Sinclair

    Thursday, March 26th
    The Format
    Piebald
    Adult Mom
    @ Roadrunner

    Sunday, March 29th
    Ladysmith Black Mambazo
    @ Sanders Theatre

    Wednesday, April 1st
    Wednesday (the band)
    @ Roadrunner

    Thursday, April 2nd
    On Cinema Live! with
    Tim Heidecker
    & Gregg Turkington
    @ the Wilbur

    Friday, April 3rd
    Patrick Watson
    @ Somerville Theatre

    Friday & Saturday
    April 3rd & 4th
    Hayley Williams
    Water From Your Eyes
    @ House of Blues

    Saturday, April 4th
    The Dirty Three
    @ the Sinclair

    Saturday, April 4th
    Puscifer
    Dave Hill
    @ the Wang Theatre

    Wednesday, April 8th
    Mclusky
    Pile
    @ the Paradise

    Thursday, April 9th
    Circle Jerks
    Gorilla Biscuits
    @ the Paradise

    Thursday, April 16th
    Rhiannon Giddens
    @ the Orpheum

    Saturday, April 18th
    The Last Dinner Party
    Florence Road
    @ Roadrunner

    Sunday, April 19th
    Heavenly
    Swansea Sound
    Jeanines
    @ the Sinclair

    Thursday, April 30th
    Oklou
    @ the Royale

    Monday, May 4th
    Yumi Zouma
    Ducks Ltd.
    @ the Sinclair

    Thursday, May 14th
    Melody's Echo Chamber
    @ the Royale

    Tuesday & Wednesday
    May 19th & 20th
    Belle and Sebastian
    play "Tigermilk" (19th) and
    "If You're Feeling Sinister" (20th)
    @ the Orpheum

    Thursday, June 11th
    Echo & the Bunnymen
    @ Roadrunner

    Tuesday, June 23rd
    Wolfmother
    @ House of Blues

    Wednesday, June 24th
    The Church
    The Singles Tour
    (rescheduled from 8/1/25)
    @ Somerville Theatre

    Tuesday, July 14th
    Joe Jackson
    @ the Chevalier

    Friday, September 4th
    Peter Hook & the Light
    play New Order's "Get Ready"
    @ House of Blues

    Saturday, September 12th
    Rush
    @ TD Garden