As with the singles, I’ve awarded my #1 slot to the album which has given me (and K) the most enjoyment in 2005 – and their live show is dynamite as well. In fact, the only gig I saw this year which surpassed Amadou & Mariam was the artist at #2, the incomparable Rufus Wainwright. Madonna damn nearly swung it this year, but I’ve decided to value songcraft and musicianship above impact and spectacle. Wow, must be growing up at last…
1 Dimanche à Bamako – Amadou & Mariam
2 Want Two – Rufus Wainwright
3 Confessions on a Dance Floor – Madonna
4 Chavez Ravine – Ry Cooder
5 I Am A Bird Now – Antony & The Johnsons
6 Tender Buttons – Broadcast
7 Coles Corner – Richard Hawley
8 Orientation – Thione Seck
9 Kongo Magni – Boubacar Traore
10 Echu Mingua – Miguel ‘Anga’ Diaz
11 Held on the Tips of Fingers – Polar Bear
12 Funeral – Arcade Fire
13 Back To Mine – (mixed by) Pet Shop Boys
14 Ruby Blue – Roisin Murphy
15 M’bemba – Salif Keita
16 ’64 – ’95 – Lemon Jelly
17 Lindstrøm & Prins Thomas – Lindstrøm & Prins Thomas
18 Illinoise – Sufjan Stevens
19 Supernature – Goldfrapp
20 Ceasefire – Emmanuel Jal & Abdel Gadir Salim
21 Some Cities – Doves
22 Stars Of CCTV – Hard-Fi
23 Introducing Daby Balde – Daby Balde
24 OK Cowboy – Vitalic
25 Plat Du Jour – Matthew Herbert
26 A Certain Trigger – Maxïmo Park
27 Cru – Seu Jorge
28 The Magic Numbers – The Magic Numbers
29 Love Songs of the Hanging Gardens – Kelley Polar
30 Feels – Animal Collective
31 How to Kill the DJ Vol.2 – (mixed by) Optimo
32 Clor – Clor
33 The Understanding – Röyksopp
34 Noah’s Ark – Cocorosie
35 Multiply – Jamie Lidell
36 In the Heart of the Moon – Ali Farka Toure & Toumani Diabate
37 Get Behind Me Satan – White Stripes
38 Kitty Jay – Seth Lakeman
39 You Could Have It So Much Better – Franz Ferdinand
40 Come And Get It – Rachel Stevens
2 Want Two – Rufus Wainwright
3 Confessions on a Dance Floor – Madonna
4 Chavez Ravine – Ry Cooder
5 I Am A Bird Now – Antony & The Johnsons
6 Tender Buttons – Broadcast
7 Coles Corner – Richard Hawley
8 Orientation – Thione Seck
9 Kongo Magni – Boubacar Traore
10 Echu Mingua – Miguel ‘Anga’ Diaz
11 Held on the Tips of Fingers – Polar Bear
12 Funeral – Arcade Fire
13 Back To Mine – (mixed by) Pet Shop Boys
14 Ruby Blue – Roisin Murphy
15 M’bemba – Salif Keita
16 ’64 – ’95 – Lemon Jelly
17 Lindstrøm & Prins Thomas – Lindstrøm & Prins Thomas
18 Illinoise – Sufjan Stevens
19 Supernature – Goldfrapp
20 Ceasefire – Emmanuel Jal & Abdel Gadir Salim
21 Some Cities – Doves
22 Stars Of CCTV – Hard-Fi
23 Introducing Daby Balde – Daby Balde
24 OK Cowboy – Vitalic
25 Plat Du Jour – Matthew Herbert
26 A Certain Trigger – Maxïmo Park
27 Cru – Seu Jorge
28 The Magic Numbers – The Magic Numbers
29 Love Songs of the Hanging Gardens – Kelley Polar
30 Feels – Animal Collective
31 How to Kill the DJ Vol.2 – (mixed by) Optimo
32 Clor – Clor
33 The Understanding – Röyksopp
34 Noah’s Ark – Cocorosie
35 Multiply – Jamie Lidell
36 In the Heart of the Moon – Ali Farka Toure & Toumani Diabate
37 Get Behind Me Satan – White Stripes
38 Kitty Jay – Seth Lakeman
39 You Could Have It So Much Better – Franz Ferdinand
40 Come And Get It – Rachel Stevens
Delayed but played:
1 Amassakoul – Tinariwen
2 Bamba – Orchestra Baobab
3 Lagrimas Negras – Bebo & Cigala
4 The Art and Soul of the Mande Griots – Mandekalou
5 The Futureheads – The Futureheads
6 Tarefero De Mis Pagos – Chango Spasiuk
7 Kerrier District – Kerrier District
8 Legends of East Africa – Orchestra Makassy
9 The Rough Guide To Franco – Franco
10 Love Angel Music Baby – Gwen Stefani
11 Tekitoi – Rachid Taha
12 Buena Vista Social Club Presents… – Manuel ‘Guajiro’ Mirabal
13 Let It Die – Feist
14 The Living Road – Lhasa
15 Deb – Souad Massi
16 Seadrum/House Of Sun – Boredoms
17 Unclassics – (compiled by) Morgan Geist
18 Boomerang – Daara J
1 Amassakoul – Tinariwen
2 Bamba – Orchestra Baobab
3 Lagrimas Negras – Bebo & Cigala
4 The Art and Soul of the Mande Griots – Mandekalou
5 The Futureheads – The Futureheads
6 Tarefero De Mis Pagos – Chango Spasiuk
7 Kerrier District – Kerrier District
8 Legends of East Africa – Orchestra Makassy
9 The Rough Guide To Franco – Franco
10 Love Angel Music Baby – Gwen Stefani
11 Tekitoi – Rachid Taha
12 Buena Vista Social Club Presents… – Manuel ‘Guajiro’ Mirabal
13 Let It Die – Feist
14 The Living Road – Lhasa
15 Deb – Souad Massi
16 Seadrum/House Of Sun – Boredoms
17 Unclassics – (compiled by) Morgan Geist
18 Boomerang – Daara J
troubled diva 