Top 50 of 2005

40 to 31

40

Bodyrockers - I Like The Way

For someone who doesnt really like rock or dance music, I surprised myself for liking this one! Seeing as the verses seem to be a creepy sounding man growling at his object of lust, it must have those other important ingredients that make a good pop tune: A simple chorus, (quite) a good looking singer, and a good guitar riff. What more do you want?

Veronica S

No of votes: 5, Score: 22, Highest vote: 2nd

Bodyrockers - I Like The Way

39

McFly - All About You

Charity singles in general and Comic Relief singles in particular can be something of a mixed bag. At one end of the spectrum you've got The Stonk by Hale and Pace, and all they way across at the other end you've got Amarillo by Tony Christie & Peter Kay. This track is definitely more Tony & Peter than Gareth & Norman, and even if Amarillo did end up stealing its fundraising thunder, we shouldn't forget just how good a single this is. It's a beautiful, instantly hummable, little tune with a classically simple (or simply classical) arrangement for guitars, drums and orchestra. Next time your mum says they don't write them like they used to, just point her in this direction.

Greg B

No of votes: 5, Score: 23, Highest vote: 4th

McFly - All About You

38

Elbow - Forget Myself

Artist link:Link to Top 50 of 20086 Link to Top 50 of 200815

Elbow have been earnestly been peddling their trade for over half a decade, producing some gems already in their previous 2 albums. This, the lead single from the third album "Leaders Of The Free World", shows that the musical masterclass continues unabated. I can almost picture this song as some sort of march through the streets of Manchester. It all starts quite understated, the verse being a simple bassline, a rhythm sounding like a beaten bin lid and Guy Garvey's vocal sounding like he's breathing it into your ear from an inch away - as if they start the proceedings in their own living room. But as it nears the chorus, they throw open the door and emerge into Deansgate with a 100 piece marching band, majorettes, and Guy Garvey belting out the chorus sitting astride an Indian elephant. Lord alone knows what it may actually mean (and it's getting late and I'm not going to investigate), but it shines so brightly anyone who thinks it's grim up north would be choking on their southern shandies.

Jason M

No of votes: 5, Score: 23, Highest vote: 3rd

Elbow - Forget Myself

37

Kaiser Chiefs - Everyday I Love You Less And Less

Artist link:Link to Top 50 of 20052 Link to Top 50 of 20074 Link to Top 50 of 200841 Link to Top 50 of 200544

Well it kicks off like an angry mob itching for an argument, finds the focus for its splenetic and frenetic outpourings and cuts loose. You'll do well to follow the machine-gun lyrics first time but if you want to tell someone that you're over them and you just can't do it face to face then a copy of this in the post will get the job done. It's defiant in tone although perhaps if "the break-up" hadn't hurt so much there'd be no need to list all those who still loved them.

Jon B

No of votes: 5, Score: 26, Highest vote: 3rd

Kaiser Chiefs - Everyday I Love You Less And Less

36

Doves - Black And White Town

Artist link:Link to Top 50 of 200212 Link to Top 50 of 200213 Link to Top 50 of 200044

Blunt metal beats over minor keys conjure perfectly the romanticised bleakness of the souls living in what Weller once described as a "drab and colourless place". Doves take this further with sharp budget films and symphony in their strings. They dropped the video in behind them whilst playing this at Southampton Guildhall. It looked stunning. For me, rich, warm, goose-pimple music.

Paul H

No of votes: 5, Score: 26, Highest vote: 1st

Doves - Black And White Town

35

Editors - Munich

This the Editors' second single was a deserving hit, and a introduction for many to their distinctive style - half sung-half spoken lyrics and driving yet strangely sad guitars. 'I'm so glad I found this' exclaimed the punters in V-shop (its one of the lyrics, geddit). Not sure why its called 'Munich', though - perhaps an attempt to reach out to overseas audiences who loyally purchase anything connected with their hometown. Now if they're clever guys they'll name their third single 'Tokyo' or 'Mexico City', thus increasing their target market size ... Lead singer Tom Smith could do with taking heed of his own lyrics before hooking up with Guy Garvey of Elbow's ex Edith Bowman: - 'People are fragile things, you should know by now'. To be honest Guy's a broken man, his career can only nosedive from here (in 2005) ...

Isaac H

No of votes: 5, Score: 30, Highest vote: 1st

Editors - Munich

34

The Futureheads - Hounds Of Love

Tricky fellow, Johnny Cover Version; if you make a carbon copy you lose all your credibility unless you're a tribute act. Whereas, if you make a gutless, half-baked squib, it looks like your creative juices are naught but gruel. And the fans of the act you cover will almost certainly hate you. So picking something from Kate Bush's extensive and luxurious canon really is setting yourself up for a kicking. What's required is to do it very differently, with verve and above all - make it your own. So replacing the Blessed Kate's sumptuous mid-80's terrorscape with guitars, bass, drums and football terrace-style a capella chanting was probably the only way to go. Chock-full of passion and intent, it's still a huge wave bearing down on the listener, just like the original. All delivered in Sunderland accents - a welcome slap in the face for Geordie dialect expansionism.

P Shoo

No of votes: 5, Score: 39, Highest vote: 2nd

The Futureheads - Hounds Of Love

33

Arcade Fire - Rebellion (Lies)

Artist link:Link to Top 50 of 200750

Personally, the one great find of 2005 was the album "Funeral" by a hitherto unknown Canadian band. By turns anthemic, beguiling, melodic, and raucous, the album was a massive musical lucky dip, every song a prize in itself. The star prize in the barrel is this gem, from the moment the metronomic rhythm kicks off you can't help but be blown away by the sheer wealth of what's going on - a piano being relentlessly hammered, a violin offering a haunting refrain, Win Butler's vocals slowly and inexorably cranking up the intensity, and the backing vocals wailing like a tormented choir. It's a masterful piece of arrangement, every element layering into the musical whole without it ever daring to become anything like the cacophony it could so easily have been. To be truly blown away, find the YouTube performance of it on Jools - they can do it live too!

Jason M

No of votes: 5, Score: 44, Highest vote: 1st

Arcade Fire - Rebellion (Lies)

32

Franz Ferdinand - Do You Want To

Artist link:Link to Top 50 of 20042 Link to Top 50 of 200435

Boy, they don't mess around, do they? It's quite a strong work ethic that allows you to turn around a follow-up to your debut album in the next year, but nonetheless, that's exactly what Franz Ferdinand did. I get the feeling that Kapranos and co knew that being the flavour of the year for 2004 if they wanted to capitalise on their success, they'd have to get something out sharpish to prevent the always fickle music public losing patience and getting their attentions diverted elsewhere. This lead single from the second album continues to hone their trademark sound, sharp angular guitar riffs combining with a stomping rhythm to devastating effect. It's undeniably anthemic, and the public lapped it up, but one minor irk for me - what IS that ending (it builds and builds and builds and then wimps out with a single "yeah!") about? No matter, the preceding 3 and a half minutes certainly make me forget that quickly enough.

Jason M

No of votes: 6, Score: 28, Highest vote: 3rd

Franz Ferdinand - Do You Want To

31

Goldfrapp - Ooh La La

Artist link:Link to Top 50 of 200838 Link to Top 50 of 200842

Delicious, luxuriant, sumptuous synth art-pop. Alison's husky, velour-clad voice could cause a nasty case of 'not now Kato' on public transport in unguarded moments. Lovingly woven, stitched and embroidered it's a real aural tapestry that makes the Human League's peak sound like skiffle. It's a million miles beyond disco.

P Shoo

No of votes: 6, Score: 30, Highest vote: 3rd

Goldfrapp - Ooh La La

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Credits

Site designed by Jason "He Plays Music" Mansfield, 2009 (you see, I couldn't be arsed to do it in 2005, but in 2009 we came back and did it retrospectively).

Thanks go to the following people for assisting with getting together our comprehensive aide-memoire: Greg B, Kat B, Dan Mc

A MASSIVE THANKS also to all those who slaved over a hot keyboard to produce the write ups: Danny G, Paul H, Kat B, Andrew S, Isaac H, P Shoo, Jon B, Dan Mc, Harley R, Emyr I, Greg B, Veronica S, John M, John C

Any thoughts, comments on the site are welcomed, just mail me.