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MELISSA AUF DER MAUR
Latest Release: "Auf Der Maur" (Capitol)
1. Priestess, "Hello Master" (Indica).
2. Moufette, "Chew Your Heart" (MapleMusic).
3. Vaux, "Beyond Virtue, Beyond Vice" (Lava).
4. Scout Niblett, "Kidnapped by Neptune" (Rough Trade).
5. Mary Timony, "Ex Hex" (Lookout!).
6. Martha Wainwright, "Martha Wainwright" (Zoe).
7. Regina Spektor, "Soviet Kitsch" (Sire).
8. Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra, "Horses in the Sky" (Constellation).
9. Sleater-Kinney, "The Woods" (Sub Pop).
10. Richard Hell, "Spurts: The Richard Hell Story" (Rhino).
BECK
Latest release: "Guerolito" (Geffen)
1. Boards Of Canada, "The Campfire Headphase" (Warp).
2. Jamie Lidell, "Multiply" (Warp).
3. Tom Vek, "We Have Sound" (Star Time International).
4. Broadcast, "Tender Buttons" (Warp).
5. M.I.A., "Arular" (XL).
6. Deerhoof, "The Runners Four" (Kill Rock Stars).
7. Superthriller, "Superthriller 1" (Mint).
8. Vashti Bunyan, "Lookaftering" (DiCristina/Fat Cat).
9. White Stripes, "Get Behind Me Satan" (V2).
10. Konono No. 1, "Congotronics" (Crammed).
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DIERKS BENTLEY
Latest release: "Modern Day Drifter" (Capitol Nashville)
1. Stoney LaRue, "The Red Dirt Album" (Smith Music Group).
2. Cross Canadian Ragweed, "Garage" (Universal South).
3. Coldplay, "X&Y" (Capitol).
4. Kings Of Leon, "A-ha Shake Heartbreak" (RCA).
5. George Strait, "Somewhere Down in Texas" (MCA Nashville).
6. Foo Fighters, "In Your Honor" (Roswell/RCA).
7. White Stripes, "Get Behind Me Satan" (Third Man/V2).
8. Shout Out Louds, "Howl Howl Gaff Gaff" (Capitol).
9. Lee Ann Womack, "There's More Where That Came From" (MCA Nashville).
10. Lucero, "Nobody's Darlings" (Liberty & Lament).
ADELE BETHEL
Sons And Daughters guitarist
Latest release: "The Repulsion Box" (Domino)
1. Bright Eyes, "I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning" (Saddle Creek).
2. Smog, "A River Ain't Too Much To Love" (Drag City).
3. Queens Of The Stone Age, "Lullabies To Paralyze" (Interscope).
4. Willy Mason, "Where the Humans Eat" (Team Love).
5. The Arcade Fire, "Funeral" (Merge).
KIX BROOKS
Brooks & Dunn
Latest release: "Hillilly Deluxe" (Arista Nashville)
1. Sheryl Crow, "Wildflower" (A&M/Interscope). Can't believe how hard she's trying to make it look like her and Lance. She's crazy about me!
2. Alicia Keys, "Unplugged" (J). Like her better this way, when I'm moody. She's got a neat voice, better without production for my money.
3. Nickelback, "All the Right Reasons" (Roadrunner). My kind of rock, actually find some melody in there!
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4. Black Eyed Peas, "Monkey Business" (A&M/Interscope). Tons of fun, unpredictable, energy to run to.
5. Green Day, "American Idiot" (Reprise). There's a reason these guys are in stadiums -- the gun is always cocked here. "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" feels like it could explode at any minute and they've defined a look and vibe of their own since they first came out.
6. Faith Hill, "Fireflies" (Warner Bros.). Always fun to see an old friend do good. When you wait as long as she did, whether your having babies or not, there's always a great pressure to do something superhuman. She did something honest and good. I think that's better.
7. Santana, "All That I Am" (Aristsa). Hell yeah! Bring it. Don't know what they're saying half the time, but who cares. Love him, always have. Great guest cut with Los Lonely Boys kills me.
8. Keith Urban, "Be Here" (Capitol). Think he's the most talented guy we got in country music. Wish it was me, but it's not. I could practice guitar all day every day and not play half that good.
9. Coldplay, "X&Y" (Capitol). Rock with some sense to it. Fun in the car.
10. Beck, "Guero" (Interscope). Though not my favorite Beck album, I like it a lot. He's my favorite "new" rock guy.
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CARRIE BROWNSTEIN
Sleater-Kinney guitarist
Latest release: "The Woods" (Sub Pop)
1. Judee Sill, "Dreams Come True" (Water).
2. Stephen Malkmus, "Face the Truth" (Matador).
3. Bill Fay, "Bill Fay" (Eclectic Discs).
4. Fiery Furnaces, "Rehearsing My Choir" (Rough Trade).
5. Antony and the Johnsons, "I Am a Bird Now" (Secretly Canadian).
6. Common, "Be" (G.O.O.D. Music/Geffen).
7. Sufjan Stevens, "Illinois" (Asthmatic Kitty).
8. Dungen, "Ta Det Lungt" (Kemado).
9. Mars Volta, "Frances the Mute" (GSL/Universal).
10. Wilco, "Kicking Television: Live in Chicago" (Nonesuch).
COWBOY TROY
Latest release: "Loco Motive" (Warner Bros.)
You deserve to be entertained. If you listen to these albums, you will be.
In no particular order:
Nickelback, "All the Right Reasons" (Roadrunner). This album drives hard from the opening guitar lick. Songwriting is great.
Coldplay, "X&Y" (Capitol). This album made sense to be in my top 10 after seeing Coldplay in concert in New York at Madison Square Garden.
Big & Rich, "Comin' to Your City" (Warner Bros.). Yes, they are personal friends of mine, but if you listen to their album you will agree that the songwriting and vocals are awesome. The imagery used to convey their messages and ideas is on point.
Kathleen Edwards, "Back to Me" (Rounder). I thought the overall sound of this album captured the combination of Canadian folk rock and Americana perfectly.
Chamillionaire, "The Sound of Revenge" (Universal). Flat out, off the meter! This album is the truth.
Gretchen Wilson, "All Jacked Up" (Epic). G-Dub is another friend of mine and an outstanding singer. From the first track to the last, it is for real.
Jon Nicholson, "A Lil Sump'm Sump'm" (Warner Bros.). Yeah, he's my buddy. Jon has soul. He combines rock and soul in each song and it comes through the speakers when you crank it.
Dwight Yoakam, "Blame the Vain" (New West). A hero to me and an outstanding songwriter and performer.
David Banner, "Certified" (Universal). Intense lyrical delivery and hard beats.
Shooter Jennings, "Put the 'O' Back in Country" (Universal South). He's the real deal in my opinion. When you hear his music, you believe every word he sings.
THE CRYSTAL METHOD
Latest release: "London" (Tiny E, Jan. 24)
Ken Jordan:
1. The Crystal Method, "Community Service Vol. II" (Ultra).
2. JDS, "Adventures of Purple Funky Monkey" (TCR).
3. Evil 9, "You Can Be Special Too" (Marine Parade).
4. Gorillaz, "Demon Days" (Virgin).
5. Plump DJs, "Saturday Night Lotion" (Finger Lickin').
Scott Kirkland:
1. Chemical Brothers, "Push the Button" (Astralwerks).
2. She Wants Revenge, "These Things" EP (Geffen).
3. New Order, "Waiting for the Siren's Call" (Reprise).
4. Death Cab for Cutie, "Plans" (Atlantic).
5. Kanye West, "Late Registration" (Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam).
JOHN DOE
Latest release: "Forever Hasn't Happened Yet" (Yep Roc)
In no particular order:
The Bad Plus, "Suspicious Activity" (Columbia).
Neko Case, "The Tigers Have Spoken" (Anti-/Epitaph).
Feist, "Let It Die" (Cherry Tree/Interscope).
Anders Parker, "Tell It to the Dust" (Baryon).
Elliott Smith, "From a Basement on a Hill" (Anti-/Epitaph).
Juliana Hatfield, "Made in China" (Ye Olde).
Spoon, "Gimme Fiction" (Merge).
Kathleen Edwards, "Back to Me" (Rounder).
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Tom Brosseau, "What I Meant to Say Is Goodbye" (Loveless).
John Doe, "Forever Hasn't Happened Yet" (Yep Roc).
The Knitters, "The Modern Sounds of the Knitters" (Zoe/Rounder).
Honorable mentions for great songs go to "The United States of Whatever," Liam Lynch, and "I Bet You Look Good on the Dance Floor," the Arctic Monkeys.
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THE EARLIES
Latest release: "These Were the Earlies" (Secretly Canadian)
1. Silver Jews, "Tanglewood Numbers" (Drag City).
2. Tunng, "Mother's Daughter and Other Songs" (Static Caravan).
3. Aberfeldy, "Young Forever" (Rough Trade).
4. King Creosote, "KC Rules OK" (Fence).
5. Fiery Furnaces, "Rehearsing My Choir" (Rough Trade).
SARA EVANS
Latest release: "Real Fine Place" (RCA)
1. Rascal Flatts, "Feels Like Today" (Lyric Street/Hollywood).
2. Keith Urban, "Be Here" (Capitol).
3. Gavin DeGraw, "Chariot" (J).
4, Gwen Stefani, "Love. Angel. Music. Baby" (Interscope).
5. Sheryl Crow, "Wildflower" (A&M/Interscope)
JACE EVERETT
Latest release: "Jace Everett" (Epic)
1. Lee Ann Womack, "There's More Where That Came From" (MCA Nashville). Lee Ann gets back to what she does best, singing the hell out of country music. This album feels so good it hurts.
2. Dierks Bentley, "Modern Day Drifter" (Capitol Nashville). Honestly, I lumped Dierks in with a bunch of other things I didn't like. Then I actually listened to his music. Wow. His producer, Brett Beavers, seems to understand the art of making traditional country music for a modern rock audience. Really well done.
3. Miranda Lambert, "Kerosene" (Epic). Definitely a Natalie Maines disciple, but that's a good thing when you've got the songs. Miranda does. Frank Liddell does some truly inspired production here as well.
4. John Mayer Trio, "Try" (Columbia). I'm a blues nut like any good Texas boy. Turns out, so is John Mayer. I've always respected this guy as a writer and player. Watching him sing always made me uncomfortable though. It turns out Stevie Ray and Joe Cocker had a love child! It's good for John to finally let him out to play.
5. U2, "How To Dismantle an Atomic Bomb" (Interscope). U2 continues its paean to their past while doing an even better job of embracing the present. This is probably the most lyrically mature effort of their almost 30-year career thus far. Bono has apparently given up smoking, as his voice sounds 20 years younger than last go-around.
6. The Rolling Stones, "A Bigger Bang" (Virgin). The best Rolling Stones record since "Tattoo You." How the hell did this happen? I love it.
7. American Music Club, "Love Songs for Patriots" (Merge). Folk/rock for manic depressives that hate to dance! Not something you pop in the car on the morning drive, but if you don't mind a little morphine with your bourbon I highly recommend these guys.
8. Ray Scott, "My Kind of Music" (Warner Bros.). Here's a debut country artist that sounds like a full grown man, singing about full grown things. I like this record a lot, and if you like Merle, Waylon and Don Williams there's a good chance you will too.
9. Alicia Keys, "Unplugged" (J). Damn! This is musicianship at its finest.
10. Chris Whitley, "Soft Dangerous Shores" (Messenger). Chris just passed away in November. I will miss his music dearly. A truly hopeful record with a dark line drawn through it and a fitting bookend to a beautiful library. I'll miss you Chris. Thank you for sharing your gifts with us.
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Beck, Oakenfold, members of Rascal Flatts, QOTSA, Doves & more share their faves of 2005.
The personal picks of the year's best from the Billboard Information Group staff and our freelance writers.
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MELISSA AUF DER MAUR
Latest Release: "Auf Der Maur" (Capitol)
BECK
Latest release: "Guerolito" (Geffen)
DIERKS BENTLEY
Latest release: "Modern Day Drifter" (Capitol Nashville)
ADELE BETHEL
Sons And Daughters guitarist
Latest release: "The Repulsion Box" (Domino)
KIX BROOKS
Brooks & Dunn
Latest release: "Hillilly Deluxe" (Arista Nashville)
CARRIE BROWNSTEIN
Sleater-Kinney guitarist
Latest release: "The Woods" (Sub Pop)
COWBOY TROY
Latest release: "Loco Motive" (Warner Bros.)
THE CRYSTAL METHOD
Latest release: "London" (Tiny E, Jan. 24)
JOHN DOE
Latest release: "Forever Hasn't Happened Yet" (Yep Roc)
THE EARLIES
Latest release: "These Were the Earlies" (Secretly Canadian)
SARA EVANS
Latest release: "Real Fine Place" (RCA)
JACE EVERETT
Latest release: "Jace Everett" (Epic)
SAM FORREST
Nine Black Alps vocalist/guitarist
Latest release: "Everything Is" (Universal International)
GIANT DRAG
Latest release: "Hearts & Unicorns" (Kickball)
BILLY GILMAN
Latest release: "Everything and More" (Image Entertainment)
JIMI GOODWIN
Doves vocalist/bassist
Latest release: "Some Cities" (Capitol)
GOLDFRAPP
Latest release: "Supernature" (Mute)
ALBERT HAMMOND JR.
Strokes vocalist
Latest release: "First Impressions of Earth" (RCA, Jan. 3)
JOSH HOMME
Queens Of The Stone Age vocalist/guitarist
Latest release: "Over the Years and Through the Woods" (Interscope)
PATTERSON HOOD
Drive-By Truckers vocalist/guitarist
Latest release: "Live at the 40 Watt: August 27 & 28, 2004" (New West)
IDLEWILD
Latest release: "Warnings/Promises" (Capitol)
MIRANDA LAMBERT
Latest release: "Kerosene" (Epic)
BLAINE LARSEN
Latest release: "Off To Join the World" (BNA)
LAUREN LUCAS
(Warner Bros. Nashville debut forthcoming)
ROCKIE LYNNE
(Universal South debut due in March)
M83
Latest release: "Before the Dawn Heals Us" (Mute)
JAMES McNEW
Yo La Tengo bassist
Latest release: "Prisoners of Love: A Smattering of Scintillating Senescent Songs: 1985-2003" (Matador)
NATE MENDEL
Foo Fighters bassist
Latest release: "In Your Honor" (Roswell/RCA)
SERGIO MENDES
Latest release: "Timeless" (Concord/Starbucks Hear Music, Feb. 14)
PETE MOSELY
Yellowcard bassist
Latest release: "Lights and Sounds" (Capitol, Jan. 24)
BOB MOULD
Latest release: "Body of Song" (Yep Roc)
JAMES MURPHY
LCD Soundsystem
Latest Release: "LCD Soundsystem" (DFA)
THE NATIONAL
Latest release: "Alligator" (Beggars Banquet)
JAMIE O'NEAL
Latest release: "Brave" (Capitol Nashville)
PAUL OAKENFOLD
Latest release: "Perfecto Presents ... The Club" (Thrive)
O.A.R.
Latest release: "Stories of a Stranger" (Lava)
ADAM OLENIUS
Shout Out Louds vocalist
Latest release: "Howl Howl Gaff Gaff" (Capitol)
STEPHEN PEDERSEN
Criteria vocalist/guitarist
Latest release: "When We Break" (Saddle Creek)
ROBERT POLLARD
Latest release: "From a Compound Eye" (Merge, Jan. 24)
RASCAL FLATTS
Latest release: "Feels Like Today" (Lyric Street/Hollywood)
JULIE ROBERTS
Latest release: "Julie Roberts" (Mercury)
MORGAN ROSE
Sevendust drummer
Latest release: "Next" (Winedark)
MATT RUBANO
Taking Back Sunday bassist
Latest release: "Louder Now" (Warner Bros., spring 2006)
SASHA
Latest release: "FundacionNYC" (Global Underground)
SEN DOG
Latest release: Cypress Hill, "Greatest Hits From the Bong" (Columbia)
AARON TIPPIN
Lyric Street recording artist
JEFF TWEEDY
Wilco vocalist
Latest release: "Kicking Television: Live in Chicago" (Nonesuch)
CARRIE UNDERWOOD
Latest release: "Some Hearts" (Arista Nashville/19 Recordings/J Records)
JOHNNY VAN ZANT
Van Zant vocalist
Latest release: "Get Right With the Man" (Columbia)
MARTHA WAINWRIGHT
Latest release: "Martha Wainwright" (Zoe)
RICKY WILSON
Kaiser Chiefs vocalist
Latest release: "Employment" (Universal)
LEE ANN WOMACK
Latest release: "There's More Where That Came From" (MCA Nashville)
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