Music of 2005

Some friends of mine are compiling a peer-reviewed list of folk's favorite records from 2005....
I'm posting my additions to the list. and I'm cheating and including albums released in late 2004 (close enough, ok??) ...

1) M.Ward - Transistor Radio (2005)
The perfect blend of folk, blues, and mellow/emo 'indie' rock. Absolutely Brilliant, for reals. There is not one thing wrong with this album. My all time top favorite of the year.

2) Dr. Toast - Oz So Late (late 2004)
down-tempo, alien-abduction, head-bobbin music. LOVE IT. esp. track #8 - always puts a little extra bounce in my step and a smile on face

3) The Arcade Fire - Funeral (late 2004)
This is just an incredible rock album with a really unique (un-pin-pointable) sound. There's nothing 'pop'-y or really 'catch'-y about it, it's just some good tunes

4) The Books - Lost and Safe (2005)
'atmospheric' (for lack of a better word) soundscapes and Bizaar Samples mixed with guitars, harps and other stringed instruments... beautifully strange. endlessly fascinating.

5) Madeleine Peyroux - Careless Love (late 2004)
beautiful bluesy jazzy luscious voice

6) Beck - Guero (2005)
the man can do no wrong

7) LCD Soundsystem (self titled) (2005)
not the most inovative, nothing you haven't heard before, but what he does, he does well. Punk and Dance influenced, at times sounds like early Le Tigre but way more dancey. GREAT RUNNING MUSIC. all I know is that when my head feels like it's going to explode, and i want to die, i get to minute 5 of track 5, i just .. can't ... seem.. to .. stop... (good beats, yo)

And this is a list of brilliant albums from earlier that everyone should have in their collection:
Outkast - Aquemeni :: best hiphop album ever
DJ Shadow - Endtroducing :: 1996 and yet isn't dated, never gets old
DJ Krush - Zen :: chilled out
Modest Mouse - (everything is brilliant) so original, best lyricists on the planet
Aphex Twin :: another genius
Le Tigre - self titled :: grrl rock/pop/punk/electro
Aretha Franklin - Best of the 60s :: the woman can sing
Nina Simone :: her voice gives me chills
Radiohead - Kid A (and beyond) :: i get lost in their music
Jeff Buckley - Grace :: depressed? listen to Jeff and cry your eyes out. this man feels your pain.
Johnny Cash :: don't love Johnny already? see Walk The Line and you will
Led Zepplin :: classic
Pink Floyd :: pyschadelic maaaaan, grooovy
The Pixies - Surfer Rosa :: rock rock on
Nirvana - Unplugged :: more genius at work
The Fugees - The Score :: more classic
Lauryn Hill - The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill :: hard hitting beats and soulful songs
The Pharcyde - Bizarre Ride II :: back in '92 when hip hop was still fun. these guys do anything but take themselves seriously. an entire track dedicated to 'Your Mom' jokes. gotta love it
A Tribe Called Quest- Midnight Merauders
Manu Chao - Clandestino
The White Stripes - self titled
... ok, I'm starting to get carried away... I'll stop here.