Chris DeWitt:
1. Andrew Bird - "The Mysterious Production of Eggs" Classically trained violinist Andrew Bird knocked it out of the proverbial park with this one. It's an irresistible trove of inventive instrumentation and lyrics that are equal parts snarky and moving. By far the year's classiest release.
2. Patrick Wolf - "Wind in the Wires" Patrick Wolf wrote this album while living in a cottage near some cliffs in England, alone but for a ukulele and a broken piano. It's a brilliant follow-up to his debut, "Lycanthropy," even more shimmering and textural than the previous effort.
3. Sufjan Stevens - "Illinoise" Sure to top numerous best of lists across the board, Stevens pulled out all the stops for this ode to the Prairie State. The album is trademark Stevens, big and lush and heartbreaking. Extra points for the precious cheerleader outfits.
4. Architecture in Helsinki - "In Case We Die" The second album from this Australian octet brings the band closer to their collective passion for dance music. As drummer Jaime Mildren put it, the band can "hold a groove together," which is delightfully and abundantly clear with such danceable tracks as "Do the Whirlwind" and "Wishbone."
5. The Mountain Goats - "The Sunset Tree" This is The Mountain Goats' 13th album in a mere ten years, and apparently it's the first record that main man John Darnielle wrote using personal stories and feelings. The outcome is actually very similar to much of what he's done in the passed: really, really good.
Adam Bender:
1. Beck - "Guero" The opening riff of "E-Pro" says it all: this album is undeniably the coolest of the year. Beck's messed around in a lot of genres over the years, but he's really found a groove on his latest disc.
2. Franz Ferdinand - "You Could Have It So Much Better" This fun sophomore effort from the outgoing Scotland quartet isn't as immediate as their debut, but it's definitely a grower. Franz Ferdinand is one of today's best and most enthusiastic bands, and just another reason music fans should keep an eye on the UK.
3. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - (Self-titled) OK, so the lead singer's voice is pretty whack. Granted. But give it another listen and suddenly it's not so bad. One more listen and it's awesome! Eighteen more listens and...
4. Gorillaz - "Demon Days" Music fans who claim to be too indie for Gorillaz are deluding themselves. The group is led by Blur's Damon Albarn, a guy who knows how to write mainstream and keep it cool ("Song 2," anyone?). Give him kudos, not hate.
5. Nada Surf - "The Weight is a Gift" Yeah, they're that band that did "Popular" in the mid-1990s. Since then they've gone indie and been writing some excellent tunes. While their new album, produced by Chris Walla of Death Cab for Cutie, is not as genius as 2002's "Let Go," it still serves up a plethora of catchy tracks worthy of the music lover's attention.
Drew Rosensweig:
1. Sufjan Stevens - "Illinoise" Treated with adoring respect from every hipster worth their weight in ironic T-shirts and star belt buckles, Sufjan treated us to a classic piece of Americana and the best album of the year.
2. The Shortwave Set - "The Debt Collection" Absolutely beautiful indie pop from the other side of the Atlantic, you really should grab the import of this. Honestly, love.
3. Clipse - "We Got It 4 Cheap Vol. 2" Cocaine dealers Pusha and Malice push some of the best rhymes of the year onto the best mainstream rap beats of the year, and end up with a mixtape that betters any other rap release this year.
4. Girls Aloud - "Chemistry" British teen pop or God's work? I think you know my answer.
5. Smog - "A River Ain't Too Much To Love" Personal and heartfelt, an album that really is an experience, from top to bottom.
Jeff Lambert:
1. Sigur Ros - "Takk..." Iceland's favorite post rock band does it again with this intricately constructed opus. The album reaches climax after climax, taking the listener on a sonic journey through glacial plains and elf-ridden forests, which is facilitated by the fact that the band's Icelandic lyrics sound like Elvish.
2. Lightning Bolt - "Hypermagic Mountain" The art students that built Fort Thunder have built a mountain of sound for their latest release. Drum and guitar, with the microphone shoved down the drummer's mouth, "Mountain" doesn't lose the raw passion of their earlier albums.
3. Architecture in Helsinki - "In Case We Die" These Aussie-rockers have a whole lot of fun on their 2005 release, and the listener is sure to as well. Track after danceable track can't help but leave a smile on my face.
4. Sleater-Kinney - "The Woods" These riot grrls change their sound on their latest album, but can never change their fan's opinions, and are likely to gain more by making the music more acceptable.
5. Sufjan Stevens - "Illinoise" Two states down, 48 to go. Stevens's falsetto references Abe Lincoln, serial killers and Superman. You're my man of steel, Sufjan.
Josh Levitz:
1. Animal Collective - "Feels" The best band of the decade released their best album yet for the third year in a row. Somehow, it's better than Sufjan and it has the best track of the year ("Banshee Beat").
2. Sufjan Stevens - "Illinoise" "Stephen A. Douglass was a great debater, but Abraham Lincoln was the Great Emancipator." Sufjan IS America (actually, not a bad thing).
3. Antony and the Johnsons - "I Am A Bird Now" Proof that one amazing voice can carry an entire record. "Hope There's Someone" would make Juelz Santana cry.
4. Okkervil River - "Black Sheep Boy" Emotional indie rock is still relevant when it's done this well. This is an album that was extremely overlooked and has a very timeless quality.
5. Jamie Lidell - "Multiply" The most WTF-worthy album of the year. Even with his blue-eyed soul, Lidell doesn't sound white, and that's his best quality.
Since today's edition of The Scene closes out fall 2005 at American University, five Scene writers offered up their picks for the best five albums of 2005. See how your record collection compares. Have a safe and bountiful holiday season and we'll see you in 2006!
