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SAM FORREST
Nine Black Alps vocalist/guitarist
Latest release: "Everything Is" (Universal International)
1. Sleater-Kinney, "The Woods" (Sub Pop).
2. The Chalets, "Check In" (Setanta).
3. The Cribs, "The New Fellas" (Wichita).
4. Low, "The Great Destroyer" (Sub Pop).
5. Giant Drag, "Hearts and Unicorns" (Kickball).
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GIANT DRAG
Latest release: "Hearts & Unicorns" (Kickball)
In no particular order:
Autolux, "Future Perfect" (Epic).
Kanye West, "Late Registration" (Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam).
Marjorie Fair, "Self Help Serenade" (Interscope).
dios malos, "dios (malos)" (Star Time International).
Elliott Smith, "From a Basement on a Hill" (Anti-).
The White Stripes, "Get Behind Me Satan" (Third Man/V2).
The Spinto Band, "Nice and Nicely Done" (Bar/None).
The Like, "Are You Thinking What I'm Thinking?" (Geffen).
Joanna Newsom, "The Milk-Eyed Minder" (Drag City).
Lilys, "Fortune Tellers Door" (Manifesto). I don't know if this will be out by the year's end but it is the best record of the year and must be on my list! It is truly a crime that this band isn't better known and doesn't sell millions of records. Kurt Heasley is a genius and you can quote me on that.
BILLY GILMAN
Latest release: "Everything and More" (Image Entertainment)
1. Trisha Yearwood, "Jasper County" (MCA). Great to see her back.
2. Keith Urban, "Be Here" (Capitol).
3. Gretchen Wilson, "All Jacked Up" (Epic). It's a great traditional, but rockin' CD.
4. Linda Eder, "By Myself" (Angel/EMI). Great vocalist.
5. Michael Buble, "Caught in the Act" (Reprise). One cool cat. This CD/DVD is really cool. Sinatra would be proud.
JIMI GOODWIN
Doves vocalist/bassist
Latest release: "Some Cities" (Capitol)
1. My Morning Jacket, "Z" (ATO/RCA). They've gone and done it again. Just brilliant.
2. Rufus Wainwright, "Want Two" (Geffen). If it didn't come out in 2005, it's one of my faves. And sister Martha too!
3. Cam Butler, "Go Slow" (Broken Horse). Strings- and guitar-laden instrumental music. Side project of Australian band Silver ray guitarist Cam Butler, out on my pal Alan's Broken Horse label.
4. Richard Hawley, "Coles Corner" (Mute). '50s-inspired beauty from Sheffield's finest son.
5. Smog, "A River Ain't Too Much To Love" (Drag City). F***ing singular writer par excellence.
6. Anthony and the Johnsons, "I Am a Bird Now" (Secretly Canadian).
7. Skip Spence, "Oar" (Sundazed). Late '60s masterpiece recorded in three days. F*** Pro Tools!
8. Benjamin Britten, "Peter Grimes" opera. This is my list, right? Er, it didn't come out in 2005 but relevant always. England's greatest composer.
9. Dungen, "Ta Det Lungt" (Kemado). Bonkers Swedish psychedelia.
10. Various Artists, "Monsterism Island" (Heavenly). Compiled by Pete, the Super Furry Animals' sleeve designer.
GOLDFRAPP
Latest release: "Supernature" (Mute)
1. Ladytron, "Witching Hour" (Rykodisc).
2. Franz Ferdinand, "You Could Have It So Much Better" (Domino/Epic).
3. Depeche Mode, "Playing the Angel" (Sire/Reprise).
4. Mum, "Yesterday Was Dramatic -- Today Is OK" (Thule/TMT).
5. Coldplay, "X&Y" (Capitol).
6. Antony and the Johnsons, "I Am a Bird Now" (Secretly Canadian).
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7. Earth Wind & Fire, "Illumination" (Sanctuary).
8. Paul McCartney. "Chaos and Creation in the Back Yard" (Capitol).
9. Richard Hawley, "Coles Corner" (Mute).
10. Wendy Carlos, "Switched On Bach Vol. 2" (East Side Digital).
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ALBERT HAMMOND JR.
Strokes vocalist
Latest release: "First Impressions of Earth" (RCA, Jan. 3)
In no particular order:
The Arcade Fire, "Funeral" (Merge).
Kings Of Leon, "Aha Shake Heartbreak" (RCA). I know we toured with them and it seems like we're always mentioning them, but they really are our close friends and they're an amazing band.
Guided By Voices, "Suitcase 2" (Fading Captain Series). I'm the biggest fan of Guided By Voices ever, so all those "Suitcase" things, I own them. Yeah, that's right.
Elliott Smith, "From a Basement on a Hill" (Anti-).
Mitch Hedberg, "Mitch All Together" (Comedy Central).
JOSH HOMME
Queens Of The Stone Age vocalist/guitarist
Latest release: "Over the Years and Through the Woods" (Interscope)
In no particular order:
Roky Erickson, "Gremlins Have Pictures" (Restless). I'm just glad all the Roky Erickson stuff is available to a wider audience now. "Gremlins" has a lot of live stuff on it.
ZZ Top, "Chrome, Smoke & BBQ: The ZZ Top Box" (Warner Bros.).
The Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster, "Royal
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Society" (Universal). Awesome, although I don't think it ever got released in the States. A shame. Probably because it is too good.
Ween, "Shinola" (Chocodog). You can't go wrong with Ween. In fact, you can't go right with them either, and that's why I love it.
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PATTERSON HOOD
Drive-By Truckers vocalist/guitarist
Latest release: "Live at the 40 Watt: August 27 & 28, 2004" (New West)
1. Centro-Matic, "Fort Recovery" (Misra). The album is coming soon, but I stole a copy and it's my favorite album all year.
2. My Morning Jacket, "Z" (ATO/RCA). My favorite album "released" this year.
3. Sufjan Stevens, "Illinois" (Asthmatic Kitty). Brilliant northern Rock.
4. The Dexateens, "Red Dust Rising" (Estrus). Great band from Tuscaloosa. They almost sound as classic as CCR without ripping them or anybody off. Their songs are fantastic.
5. The White Stripes, "Get Behind Me Satan" (Third Man/V2). My favorite of theirs yet. Big fun.
6. Don Chambers and GOAT, "GOAT" (Self-released). Really great local artist. This is one worth seeking out. >
7. Common, "Be" (G.O.O.D. Music/Geffen). My favorite hip-hop record this year.
8. Eddie Hinton, "Beautiful Dreams (The Songwriting Sessions Vol. 3)" (Zane). Classic southern soul you've never heard before, better than most you have.
9. John Hiatt, "Master of Disaster" (New West). Have to admit to a bit of nepotism here, as my dad plays bass on it, but I've been a Hiatt fan for 20 years and this is his best album since 1988's "Slow Turning."
10. James McMurtry, "Childish Things" (Compadre). The first album he's made that's close to being as good as his songwriting, which is stellar.
IDLEWILD
Latest release: "Warnings/Promises" (Capitol)
1. Sons And Daughters, "The Repulsion Box" (Domino).
2. Marissa Nadler, "Ballads of Living and Dying" (Beautiful Happiness).
3. Devendra Banhart, "Cripple Crow" (XL).
4. Teenage Fanclub, "Man Made" (Merge).
5. Malcolm Middleton, "Into the Woods" (Chemikal Underground).
6. Smog, "A River Ain't Too Much To Love" (Drag City).
7. Animal Collective, "Feels" (Fat Cat).
8. White Stripes, "Get Behind Me Satan" (V2).
9. Bruce Springsteen, "Devils & Dust" (Columbia).
10. Vashti Bunyan, "Lookaftering" (DiCristina/Fat Cat).
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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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