9. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah- S/T

This was the big buzz album of the summer and i didn't give it much attention at the time, but within the last coupel months I have been listening to it a lot. There is a style on this album that is right up my alley. The percussion on Let the Cool Goddess Rust Away blows my mind.

8. Broken Social Scene- S/T

One of many self titled albums released this year. It may not have been better than You Forgot it in People, but it was a respectable effort that resulted in a fuckin sweet album. I appreciate the fact that they didn't just re-record You Forgot it in People, like they easily could have. There is some pretty interesting production going on in this album, the best example I can think of is the vocals on Ibi Dreams of Pavement. They used the same producer (David Newfeld), as they did on their last album and he did a great job of assembling this monster of a band's music together into one amazing album.

7. Trail of Dead- Worlds Apart

I suspect that Interscope may be dissapointed with Trail of the Dead. They put out a great album, but it is not really what I would call "commercially friendly". I can't imagine it sold enough units to please a company looking for the next Hoobastank. Not only that, but for some reason it was a critical dissapointment too, and in a year were American Idiot by Green Day was being compared to Sgt. Peppers. Commerical and critical shortcomings aside this album is an exceptional album that deserves more respect. Worlds Apart is still one of my favorite songs lyrically.

6. Queens of the Stoneage- Lullabies to Paralyze

I have had a reincarnated love of Queens this year and this album had a lot to do with it. Josh Homme prooves on this album that guitar-rock isn't all lame. I saw them twice in 2005 and both times they put on amazing rock shows that have nore balls than virtually any other shows I have been to.

This was by far the most hyped Canadian release of the year. It seemed like people were looking for another Arcade Fire and they unfairly got lumped in with them in a lot of cases. The album speaks for itself and prooves that they really have nothing to do with Arcade Fire other than that they are friends and have toured together. I dig the fact that they have two singers. I hope they make enough money as a band that they can just concentrate on making an even better album.

4. Stephen Malkmus - Face the Truth

Malkmus' third album is really the only one I have listened to more then once or twice. It is the perfect blend of Pavementesque music, with indie-pop. This album stayed under the radar it would seem, which is weird since it is both amazing and from the leadman of one of America's most celebrated indie rock bands.

3. Cuff the Duke- S/T

I was waiting for this album for quite a while and when i finally got my hands on it I was very pleased. Since they aren't that big I couldn't even find a leaked version. I bought it from the show in Gimli and listened to it quite a lot. It is 40ish miutes long, which is a bonus. I would prefer that to a 60 minute album with 20 minutes of b-side material thrown in.

2. The Constantines- Tournament of Hearts

Shine a Light is still better, now that that is over with I have to say that this album is a fantastic album. Lizaveta is the jewel of this album and it has been known ot blow my mind from time to time. The guys from the Constantines worked hard on this album and have became a machine on the road. This ios why Constantines deserve any credit they get.

1. Sufjan Stevens- Illinoise

This is the second year in a row that my number one album is the same as Pitchforks and that is a fact that is entirely coincidental. They have Kanye West as number 2, so... The reason I put it as number 1 is because I felt that no other album that I have heard this year has as many perfect songs to offer. All of the instrumentals are nice too, but i could do with or without them. He is a virtuoso and his songs never cease to tickle the clit inside my ear.