The -ist List: Best Albums of 2005

Houstonist loves music, and we love sharing good music with you — that right there sounds like a '70s love ballad. We all got together to structure a list of our favorite albums of 2005. After lots of debating and a few bloody noses (OK, OK, Arcade Fire’s album was technically released last year, so we won’t include it — geesh!), we finally settled on our favorite albums of the year, in no particular order:

Spoon: Gimme Fiction

The Austin band's fifth album is its most polished diverse and eclectic album to date. With the first bass strum and vocals of "I Turn My Camera On," you’ll swear your listening to old-school Prince. How long will they stay indie?

Buy: Amazon, iTunes | Reviews | Official site | Listen: "I Turn My Camera On"

The Decemberists: Picaresque

I am a writer, writer of fictions — that line from "The Engine Driver" sums up what the Decemberists are about. And what good fiction it is. Listening to Picaresque is like watching an 11-act play filled with tragedy and literary images. Plus, "16 Military Wives" has to be the catchiest anti-war song we've heard.

Buy: Amazon, iTunes | Reviews | Official site | Listen: "The Engine Driver"

Sufjan Stevens: Illinois

Stevens takes the concept-album idea to heart with Illinois, his second CD dedicated to one of the 50 states. He plans on recording an album for every state — we can’t wait to hear Texas, which we're sure will be a double album. You won't find any radio singles on here, but we definitely recommend picking it up, with or without Superman on the cover.

Buy: Amazon, iTunes | Reviews | Official site | Listen: "The Man of Metropolis Steals Our Hearts"

Andrew Bird: Mysterious Production of Eggs

Few artists can combine many different styles of music (jazz, swing, rock, pop, folk) into one great album, but Andrew Bird accomplishes that feat. He's a singer/songwriter, violinist, guitarist and expert whistler. Yes, whistler. Start with the track "Fake Palindromes."

Buy: Amazon, iTunes | Reviews | Official site | Listen: "Fake Palindromes"

Kanye West: Late Registration

We learned in 2005 that Kanye is definitely not a card-carrying Republican — no surprise there. We also learned that he had a great follow-up to his critically acclaimed debut album The College Dropout. Collaborating with everyone from John Legend to Adam Levine of Maroon 5, Kanye shows us what hip-hop is really supposed to sound like.

Buy: Amazon, iTunes | Reviews | Official site | Listen: "Gold Digger"

New Pornographers: Twin Cinema

We guess we can forgive Canada for bringing us Celine Dion and Bryan Adams now that we have New Pornographers. The Vancouver band takes turns at the mic and instruments, each member showcasing their pop best. We love to hear Neko Case sing anytime.

Buy: Amazon, iTunes | Reviews | Official site | Listen: "Use It"

Okkervil River: Black Sheep Boy

Houstonist caught Okkervil River earlier this year at the Mucky Duck, knowing that it would probably be the last time to see them in an intimate venue — and we're glad we did. Think Old 97's (Will Sheff's voice is similar to Rhett Miller's) but less country, and more orchestration, plus great lyrics.

Buy: Amazon, iTunes | Reviews | Official site | Listen: "Black"

John Vanderslice: Pixel Revolt

Vanderslice pieces his albums together with mini-short stories with personal lyrics and characters so rich that you'll feel a part of the story. This time out, he adds a more melodic, pop feel to the songs while still using analog equipment for a more traditional sound. Check out "Exodus Damage."

Buy: Amazon, iTunes | Reviews | Official site | Listen: "Exodus Damage"

Josh Rouse: Nashville

On Rouse's last release, 1972, he captured the musical landscape of that era but wasn't able to keep us engaged long enough for repeated listenings. This time out, he borrows sounds from that era but mixes it with updated arrangements and melodies, giving him his strongest release to date. "Winter in the Hamptons" will keep you humming for days.

Buy: Amazon, iTunes | Reviews | Official site | Listen: "Winter in the Hamptons" (RA stream)

Louis XIV: The Best Little Secrets Are Kept

Glam rock is still alive, thanks to Louis XIV. Borrowing sounds from T-Rex, Rolling Stones and The Kinks, the San Diego band released one of the funkiest and sexiest albums of the year. "Pledge of Allegiance" has to be the naughty make-out track of the year.

Buy: Amazon, iTunes | Reviews | Official site | Listen: "God Killed the Queen"

If those 10 albums don't totally satisfy your ears, here are 15 more from 2005 that we recommend:

Kate Bush: Aerial
Stereophonics: Language, Sex, Violence
Echo & the Bunnymen: Siberia
Brian Jonestown Massacre: We Are The Radio
M.I.A.: Arular
Hot Hot Heat: Elevator
Reckless Kelly : Wicked Twisted Road
LCD Soundsystem : LCD Soundsystem
Audioslave: Out of Exile
Broken Social Scene: Broken Social Scene
Animal Collective: Feels
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah: Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Iron + Wine/Calexico: In The Reins (EP)
Common: Be
The Fiery Furnaces: EP

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And: 2005's best albums from our sister sites Bostonist and Shanghaiist