1. Fall Out Boy - From Under The Cork Tree
Shrewd pop music made by hardcore kids. Aware of its audience, speaks to it, and speaks above it, as well. Smart, shrewd and so fucking catchy. Shrewd, shrewd, shrewd. And fun to shake yer ass to.

2. Lucero - Nobody's Darlings
Alt country… better than Ryan Adams. Sweeping, achingly beautiful songs about love of yer significant other and love for your music/guitar. And how one is always sacrificed for the other. Not as good as "Tenessee" or "Lucero," but still better than most album that came out this year. Haunting, touching, and tugging at the heart strings, while celebrating the love of beer.

3. Opeth - Ghost Reveries
Godlike. Perfect. Brilliant. From 1:07 through 1:47 of "Ghost Of Perdition" is my favourite :40 of music this year. Nothing short of miraculous.

4. The Red Chord - Clients
Grind/death. Brutal. Fast. Vicious. With lyrics about vagabonds and mental cases that frontman Guy Kozowyk met during his time working at a pharmacy in his native Mass. Extreme music for extreme people.

5. A Life Once Lost - Hunter
Another one that is just vicious from start to finish, where the band finally sheds its Meshuggah, Jr. tag. Gruesome, tech metal. And they're from my former stomping grounds in Philly/South Jersey!

6. Every Time I Die - Gutter Phenomenon
Southern rock metalcore. Need I say more? Andy Time I Die and K. Buck stepped up their performances here.

7. The Agony Scene - The Darkest Red
Makes me want to punch babies. Love Mike Williams talk-sing vocals, and the moshy breakdowns on "When Screams Turn To Silence" and "Scapegoat." Best, nastiest metalcore record of '05 and I don't care what you think!!!!

8. Byzantine - And They Shall Take Up Serpents
Straight ahead, savage metal from West (By God) Virginia, my fave state after NJ. No trends, no gimmicks, no bullshit. Just dirty, headnbangable metal and I love this band and this record, which lyrically explores snake handling churches.

9. Neil Diamond - 12 Songs
Neil, that sexy man. This is his best record in years, since the Jazz Singer days. A true talent, a show man, with a smoov voice. I'm not a 40 year old divorcee, but I luvs me some Neil!

10. Dane Cook - Retaliation
3 discs (2 audio, 1 DVD) of comedy genius. Not as good as Harmful If Swallowed, but brilliant no less. "Makes me want to punch babies," "Finish blowing me," "Someone shit on or around the coats," "The brown one smells like assholes," "I'm sitting in the Pro-V aisle reading Us Weekly at the Wal," "tell this twat to get jelly," "Karen is a douchebag, Fucking Brian is coming."

Honorable Mentions: HIM - Dark Light, Still Remains - Of Love And Lunacy, Crowbar - Lifesblood For The Downtrodden, Clutch - Robot Hive/Exodus, Throwdown Vendetta

In alphabetical order:
1. Angra - Temple of Shadows
2. Dream Theater - Octavarium
3. Exodus - Shovel Headed Kill Machine
4. Kamelot - The Black Halo
5. The Mars Volta - Frances the Mute
6. Nevermore - This Godless Endeavor
7. Opeth - Ghost Reveries
8. Porcupine Tree - Deadwing
9. Shadows Fall - The War Within
10. System of a Down - Mezmerize

1. Nine Inch Nails - With Teeth
Hands down, everything this guy does is amazing, I'm biased, had to be #1.

2. The Letters Organize - Dead Rhythm Machine
Probably the most Underated album of 2005, if you haven't heard it you should.

3. Fionna Apple - Extraordinary Machine
This album has been a long time coming, and it was worth the wait.

4. Lucero - Nobody's Darlings
This band is proof that country music is punk rock. Ryan Adams eat your heart out…

5. Trivium - Ascendancy
They've got the sweet riffs….

6. The Suicide Machines - War Profiteering Is Killing Us All
A return to form, this album takes the best parts of their first 2 releases and combine ska with hardcore like only the machines can do it.

7. Still Remains - Of love & lunacy
Best Metal-Core album of the year. These mosh parts are so heavy they'll make you wanna beat your momma.

8. System Of A Down - Mesmerize
Took a while to grow on me, but is a fantastic record.

9. Kanye West - Late Registration
Best Rap album of the year, Jay-Z on "Diamonds Are Forever" is the Jam…

10. Roadrunner United - The All Star Sessions
This record came together so quickly I was absolutely amazed at how well it came out. Every artist gave 110% and it shows with some of the best Metal and Rock songs to come out this year.

1. Iron & Wine - Woman King EP
2. Death Cab For Cutie - Plans
3. Bright Eyes - I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning
4. My Morning Jacket - Z
5. Andrew Bird - The Mysterious Production Of Eggs
6. Fiona Apple - Extrodinary Machine
7. Still Remains - Of Love And Lunacy
8. Kanye West - Late Registration
9. Jimmy Chamberlin Complex - Life Begins Again
10. The Decemberists - Picaresque

1. Doves - Some Cities
2. LIVE SHOW - Dan Zanes at Brooklyn Academy Of Music
3. DVD - Knowing Me, Knowing You with Alan Partridge
4. Open Hand - You And Me
5. Opeth - Ghost Reveries
6. LIVE SHOW - Roadrunner United
7. And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead - Worlds Apart
8. Swervedriver - Juggernaut Rides-Anthology
9. Dead Meadow - Shivering King and others
10. Early Man - Closing In

1. High on Fire - Blessed Black Wings
2. And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of The Dead...... - Worlds Apart
3. Kane Hodder - The Pleasure to Remain so Heartless
4. Big Business - Head for the Shallows
5. Golden Gods - The Thorny Crown of Rock and Roll
6. Queens of the Stage - Lullabies to Paralyze
7. Coldplay - X&Y
8. The Agony Scene - The Darkest Red
9. Still Remains - Of Love and Lunacy
10. Post Stardom Depression - Prime Time Looks A Lot Like Amateur Night

1. Armor for Sleep - What To Do When Your Dead
2. Fall Out Boy - Under The Cork Tree
3. Demon Hunter - The Tryptych
4. Chimaira - Chimaira
5. Opeth - Ghost Reveries
6. As I Lay Dying - Shadows Are Security
7. Bloodsimple - A Cruel World
8. Roadrunner United
9. Corrosion of Conformity - In the Arms of God
10. Judas Priest - Angel of Retribution

1. Sons & Daughters - The Repulsion Box
2. Stephen Malkmus - Face The Truth
3. Still Remains - Of Love and Lunacy
4. Neil Diamond - 12 songs
5. The Decemberists - Picaresque
6. Black Mountain - Black Mountain
7. Sleater-Kinney - The Woods
8. Bruce Springsteen - Devils & Dust
9. Block Party - Silent Alarm
10. Bright Eyes - I'm Awake it's Morning

1. Nine Inch Nails - With Teeth
2. Every Time I Die - Gutter Phenomenon
3. Fantomas - Suspended Animation
4. American Head Charge - The Feeding
5. A Life Once Lost - Hunter
6. Soilwork - Stabbing The Drama
7. Bloodsimple - A Cruel World
8. Queens Of The Stone Age - Lullabies To Paralyze
9. System Of A Down - Mezmerize
10. Dredg - Catch Without Arms

1. Roadrunner United - The All Star Sessions
A monumental heavy metal project. It has something for everyone.

2. Chimaira - Chimaira
It's loud, it's fast, and it's unapologetic. There is none higher than Chimaira.

3. Trivium - Ascendancy
A brilliant and exciting album. It shreds!!!

4. God Forbid - IV: Constitution Of Treason
A concept album that delivers on all fronts. Heavy and melodic, God Forbid continues to progress.

5. Leng Tch'e - Process Of Elimination
Razorgrind from the masters. They say "fuck you" to everyone.

6. Opeth - Ghost Reveries
Opeth's best!!!

7. 1349 - Hellfire
Awesome death metal. There are songs within songs on this album. Amazing.

8. Bloodsimple - A Cruel World
Tim Williams sheds VOD and delivers something new and worth listening to.

9. Devil Driver - The Fury Of Our Maker's Hand
Dez's best album. Not a bad song on the record.

10. A Dozen Furies - A Concept From Fire
Cookie-cutter metalcore from guys with some chops. It rocks, even if they're not offering anything groundbreaking.

1. Chad Van Gaalen - Chad Van Gaalen (Sub Pop)
Nightmarish scapes of Luddites being plugged into big scary machines. That and it sounds like Neil Young.
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2. The Black Angels - The Black Angels
Sounds like Black Rebel - which just sounds like The Jesus and Mary Chain - which is all I anyone needs to do to make in in my book

3. Antony & the Johnsons - I am Bird Now
Because people like this should always win

4. Social Distortion - Sex, Love and Rock and Roll
Tough guys learning it's ok to love. "Highway 101" is the best song of last year.

5. Gogol Bordello - Underdog World Strike
Because gypsy punks should always win.

6. Youth Group - Skeleton Jar
Because it's not punk and it's on Epitaph. And "Shadowland" is awesome.

7. Warrior King - Hold On Earth
Finally a reggae artist shunning dance hall for ROOTS (bloody roots)

8. Okkervil River - Black Sheep Boy
That song "For Real" is strong enough to get this whole record into my top 10.

9. Ariel Pink
I'm totally joking - that shit is terrible. I'm sure it's on every dude from LA's list this year.

10. This Space is reserved for when XTC decides to put out a new record.

In no particular order:

Pinback
Foo fighters
Shinedown
John Butler Trio
James McMurtry
Avenged Sevenfold
Nine Inch Nails
Mars Volta
Madeline Peyroux
Demon Hunter

1. Behemoth - Demigod
2. As I Lay Dying - Shadows are Security
3. U2 - How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb
4. Meshugga - Catch 33
5. Aborted - The Archaic Abattoir
6. Black Dahlia Murder - Miasma
7. Asesino - Corridos De Muerte
8. Fantomas - Suspended Animation
9. Paul Wall - The Peoples Champ
10. Fear Factory – Demanufacture/Remanufacture Reissue (still stands the test of time)

1. White Stripes - Get Behind Me Satan
2. System Of A Down-- Mezmerize/Hypnotize
3. Queens Of The Stone Age - Lullabies To Paralyze
4. Neil Young - Prairie Wind
5. Porcupine Tree - Deadwing
6. Foo Fighters - In Your Honor
7. Avenged Sevenfold - City Of Evil
8. Louis XIV - The Best Little Secrets Are Kept
9. Coheed And Cambria - Good Apollo I'm Burning Star IV Vol. 1: From Fear Through The Eyes Of Madness
10. Original Soundtrack (tie): Shopgirl / Brokeback Mountain

1. Opeth - Ghost Reveries
Much as I tried to resist, in the end there was no avoiding picking yet another Opeth album as my #1 for, like, the 3rd year out of the past 5! Just when you thought Akerfeldt and company couldn't possibly top themselves, here they are, weaving in keyboards and other softer nuances learned during their mellow/acoustic foray Damnation, into this brutal return to their usual template. I'm still discovering new sounds every time I spin it - fucking brilliant!

2. Swallow the Sun - The Morning Never Came
This one came out of left field: A melodic/gothic death/doom album from Finland, which pretty much proves that NO country is hotter in the metal world right now (although I still say H.I.M. are terribly overrated - like the Wildhearts with more eyeliner and less songs!). Anyway, this record was uncommonly catchy and wouldn't leave my CD player for months - sure throws down the Finnish doom gauntlet in challenge of the also wonderful Reverend Bizarre.

3. System of a Down - Hypnotize/Mesmerize
System of a Down come up with more unexpected ways to deliver great hooks than any metal band in history, and even though Mesmerize's commercial reaches initially had me a little worried, I soon found myself singing jigging in my chair to songs like "Revenga" and "Violent Pronography." This is metal you can play at your wedding and cram the dance floor! Hypnotize is only starting to infiltrate the brain, but I already like it even more than the first, so why fight it?

4. Enslaved - Isa
One of the few happy events within the Viking metal field lately (following the untimely passings of genre godfather Quorthon, of Bathory, and inspired disciple Valfar, of Windir - in less than a year), Enslaved's latest was another winner. Like Opeth, they still manage to broaden heavy metal without turning their backs on it, and Isa's memorable use of organs achieves a unique brand of psychedelic progressive metal.

5. Sunn O))) - Black One
I've never been a huge fan of Sunn O)))'s oppressive droning, but O'Malley & Anderson won me over by draping Black One in unprecedented quantities of black metal. They deconstruct Immortal's "Cursed Realms (Of the Winterdemons)" into a primordial soup of tonal thrumming, loop the most evil sounding melody ever into "It Took the Night to Believe," have Malefic screeching from inside a coffin on "Báthory Erzsébet," and name a song "Candlegoat"! Need I say more?

6. Buried Inside - Chronoclast
None of the year's progressive metalcore albums really slayed me (sorry, Pelican), but this one stuck around my CD player longer than most. I can't say there was anything necessarily groundbreaking about it, but just enough evocative excursions into cinematic sonic-scapes and slow-building crescendos leading into excellent climactic payoffs, to help it stand out in what, in my opinion, was a pretty shit year for music (more on that below).

7. Slough Feg - Atavism
I only just got this album a few weeks ago (thanks Christine) but I'm ready to go out on a limb for it at #7. Sucker that I am for heritage metal these days (age creeping up?) Atavism had me at first listen thanks to its authentically retro NWOBHM influences (circa 1981), Maiden-like fantasy/adventure/historical lyrics, pre-thrash thrash bursts (you know what I mean), and the inherently quirky way (think Mercyful Fate) in which main man Mike Scalzi puts it all together.

8. Evoken - The Antithesis of Light
Evoken liven up their unnaturally morbid funeral doom dirges somewhat by recording their guitar melodies to sound like tolling bells! Draw those out into absurdly long, ten-plus-minute songs, and most listeners will probably succumb to the ill effects of suicidal depression before they make it halfway through this monolith of musical molasses...but I dig it.

9. Candlemass - Candlemass
Damn, another doom album! But keep in mind that "Black Dwarf" - the best track and maybe best riff of the year - is pretty damn upbeat, and that we are talking about the long awaited comeback LP from one of the genre's all-time masters here. Nothing wrong with hearing Messiah Marcolin's operatic wail one more time.

10. The Darkness - One Way Ticket to Hell...And Back!
Yes, I like The Darkness, and even though I already rate this new album way below their first, it's easily nostalgically fun enough to carry the last slot here. Inevitable sophomore slump aside, choosing Roy Thomas Baker to produce was probably the band's big mistake on this overwrought and overly self-conscious LP. I mean, as proven by his earlier extra-Queen jobs, Roy was just twiddling the knobs for Freddie Mercury - NO pun intended!

I do have a few honorable mentions to add, but, as stated above, this HAD to be a lousy year or else I'd have my usual 20 leftovers - not just 6 or 7:

- Danko Jones - We Sweat Blood (This album would have been my #1 had it not actually been released two years ago in Canada (only last April, Stateside)! Imagine Thin Lizzy, minus the guitar harmonies and hamming up the Lynott-the lad persona to outrageously fun, unapologetically raunchy, and even sexist levels (ala "Bad Reputation") and what have you got? Rock & Roll, motherfuckers.

- Queens of the Stone Age - Lullabies to Paralyze (easily their worst album ever, but still has its moments)

- Kreator - Enemy of God (not as stunning as predecessor Violent Revolution but still separates the thrashing men from the boys)

- Dark Tranquility - Character (Another fine outing by one of the Gothenburg scene's last melodic death metal purists, but starting to sound just a little bit tired, nevertheless)

- Grand Magus - Wolf's Return (I only just got this fucker, but I bet it would have made the top ten given time)

- Manilla Road - Gates of Fire (ditto - no one does retro metal better than these underground legends)

- Witchcraft - Firewood (Didn't grab me as immediately as the first, but growing steadily)

1. Bloc Party - Silent Alarm (Vice)
No clever comments for this one. All I can say is that I hope the next one is just as good - then we might just have a real band on our hands here.

2. LCD Soundsystem - LCD Soundsystem (DFA/Capitol)
Awesome full length from the king of the indie-dance 12"s. Question: Is it me or does it sound like James Murphy had a really bad cold when he was doing the vocals?? Seriously!

3. Out Hud - Let Us Never Speak of it Again (Kranky)
Indie(ish) electronic that puts me back into the clubs circa 1995. They capture the spirit of underground dance music at its peak without scaring away the hipsters.

4. The Go! Team - Thunder, Lightning, Strike (Columbia)
Hip-hop mixed with funk mixed with rock mixed with… CHEERLEADING? Genius! I can't stop listening to it!

5. The Giraffes - The Giraffes (Razor & Tie)
Yeah - the Giraffes. That's who! NYC band on Razor & Tie. Look into them now - www.thegiraffes.com.

6. Beck - Guero (Interscope)
Beck takes it back to the Midnight Vultures days, infusing all the funky, hip-hop, b-boy shit you can handle. Go Beck! Go Beck!

7. White Stripes - Get Behind Me Satan (V2)
Not their best effort in my opinion, but ANY White Stripes record kicks the ass of just about anything else coming out. You've also gotta give them credit for changing things up a little…

8. Opeth - Ghost Reveries (Roadrunner)
So I'm about 7 albums behind on these guys. Amazing music!

9. Kaiser Chiefs - Employment (Universal)
LOVE this record. I almost jumped off the balcony at their Bowery show - although that may have had something to do with the number of drinks I had consumed.

10. Louis XIV - The Best Little Secrets are Kept (Atlantic)
I've never said this about a man before, but this guy is oozing sex. He must get laid like 25 times a day to write songs like this!

1. Ramallah: Kill Celebrity
2. 1349: Hellfire
3. Scum: Gospels for the Sick
4. Dead to Fall: Villainy and Virtue
5. Madball: Legacy
6. Clutch: Pitchfork and Lost Needles
7. The Red Chord: Clients
8. Candlemass: Candlemass.
9. Napalm Death: The Code is Red… Long Live the Code
10. Bolt Thrower: Those Once Loyal

1. Fort Minor - The Rising Tied
2. HIM - Dark Light
3. MIA - Arular
4. Gorillaz - Demon Days
5. Roadrunner United - The All Star Sessions
6. LCD Soundsystem - LCD Soundsystem
7. Morrissey - Live at Earl's Court
8. DangerDoom - The Mouse & The Mask
9. Prefuse 73 - Surrounded By Silence
10. Theory of a Deadman - Gasoline

1. Sigur Ros - Takk
"The first track of this album (skipping the intro) says it all about this band and this album. When I saw them live, they opened with Glósóli. This song was so powerful live that I had Goosebumps, was stunned and speechless well into the next song. It was hard to follow up ( ) but they certainly put up a great argument with Takk."

2. Bloc Party - Silent Alarm
Basically after seeing this band live, I was going to protest this album. But that didn’t work too well. I put Silent Alarm in for a "One last chance listen" and I haven't stopped listening to it since. I would even add the Remix CD to the list, If I could.

3. Thrice - Vheissu
At first listen, I was completely unimpressed. The second listen I started to "hear" a little more, by the 5th listen, Vheissu started to go on repeat in itunes. The British sound (new Brit producer) combined with the edgy singing and guitar lines create an amazing atmosphere truly apparent in tracks like; For Miles and Atlantic. Just simply powerful.

4. Underoath - They're Only Chasing Safety
The way this band combines their screaming with amazing melodies, it's no wonder why this band has had so much success, truly overlapping Metal and "Emo" fans. Not only are there amazingly written songs, "Reinventing Your Science" But they also combine amazing emotion with the production in "It's Dangerous Business Walking Out Your Front Door"

5. We Are Scientists - With Love And Squalor
I got this CD like 3 weeks ago, and its already made it on my top 10. That’s probably because I have listen to it about 10 times a day. It's in my Itunes "most played" list and its only been in my Itunes for 2 weeks. Not only do this guys hit it right on the mark, but they also ROCK live. done.

6. NIN - With Teeth
Its Nine Inch Nails, Enough said. I don’t care if he is "Happy" now, or "Clean" or whatever people are saying. This album is genius, He is genius.

7. Still Remains - Of Love and Lunacy
Still Remains! One of my favorite bands to see live. My favorite Roadrunner album that we have put out this year. Its all about the tasteful screaming with great singing, combined with the keyboard and metal guitar licks,I was sold the first time I heard the record.

8. Coldplay - X&Y
Coldplay has strayed far away from the reason I fell in love with them, with Parachutes. But the tasteful production in this new record was the sell for me. With the orchestra of vocals in "Fix You" just created a wall of sound that brought X&Y into my top 10.

9. Circa Survive - Juntunra
Ok I don’t care what anybody says, This guy sounds like a male Bjork. With the backing of a Grungy / Emo bands his vocals are almost mesmerizing. Of course if you've seen him live, all you can picture when you hear these songs is his weird almost convulsing dancing. Amazing album non-the less.

10. Receiveing End Of Sirens - Between the Heart and the Synapse
Multiple alike sounding singers and loop based rhythms really create a powerful sound with the addition of the hard guitars. I saw this band as an opener and they blew the main act off the stage. I see great things in this bands future.

1. Roadrunner United - The All Star Sessions
I wasn't going to include any RR albums on this to be fair to everyone else because quite frankly, a ton of great shit came out of this office this year and would suck up most of this list, but from the concept to the lineup to the songs, this album… Fuck, how can this not be number one on any best of 2005 list? The rest is what happens if you sort my iPod by "most played" minus RR bands.

2. H.I.M. - Dark Light
3. Most Precious Blood - Merciless
4. Coheed and Cambria - Good Apollo I'm Burning Star IV Volume One: Fear Through The Eyes of Madness
5. Hypocrisy - Virus
6. Circa Survive - Juturna
7. Children Of Bodom - Are You Dead Yet?
8. Municipal Waste - Hazardous Mutation
9. Alkaline Trio - Crimson
10. Porcupine Tree - Deadwing

Honorable Mentions: Fantomas: Suspended Animation, Strapping Young Lad: Alien, Dredg: Catch Without Arms, Mars Volta: Frances The Mute, 3: Wake Pig, Reggie And The Full Effect: Songs Not To Get Married To.

1. Low - The Great Destroyer
2. The Mars Volta - Francis The Mute
3. Emiliana Torrini - Fisherman's Woman
4. Red Sparrows - At The Soundless Dawn
5. Every Time I Die - Gutter Phenomenon
6. As I Lay Dying - Shadows Are Security
7. Open Hand - You And Me

1. Shooter Jennings -Let's Put the "O" Back In Country!
This cd blew me away!

2.Ben Folds - Songs for Silverman
Ben can do no wrong!

3. Still Remains - Of Love And Lunacy
I love this band!

4. Ryan Adams & The Cardinals Cold Roses

5. Son Volt - Okemah & the Melody of Riot

6. Dane Cook - Retaliation
I love a good comedy album, this one kicks ass!

7. Opeth - Ghost Reveries
Marc Schapiro was right about this one!

8. Arcade Fire - Funeral

9. Wilco - Kicking Television: Live from Chicago

10. Roadrunner United - The All Star Sessions

1. OPETH – GHOST REVERIES (Roadrunner) – another work of epic genius from my favorite folk-prog-death metal band out there. How they keep topping themselves is an unsolvable mystery.

2 THE GIRAFFES – THE GIRAFFES (Razor & Tie) – some dirty rock from Brooklyn, kinda sounds like Thin Lizzy if they watched a lot of porn. Watch the video for “Man. U” at thegiraffes.com

3. MARS VOLTA – FRANCES THE MUTE (Universal) – As I say every year, I love when bands trick a group of kids into liking Rush-inspired prog rock. MV has fooled all the hipsters into liking 10 minute songs and bass solos…I love it!

4. TRIVIUM - ASCENDANCY (Roadrunner) – Just a straight-ahead amazing metal record. This is the band’s second record and the singer was only 18 when they recorded it. They will be huge.

5. ULVER – BLOOD INSIDE (The End) – Ulver has evolved from tin-can death metal, to folk chanting, to jazz-metal, to soundtracks and now to a record of great evolutionary music.

6. STILL REMAINS – OF LOVE AND LUNACY (Roadrunner) – The first of a few “Christian” bands on my list. I just love the Christian metal…what is a Jew to do? SR is the perfect cross between In Flames and Thrice…heavy and melodic.

7. EXTOL – THE BLUEPRINT DIVES (Century Media) – I never really liked the first Extol records, but this one just grabbed me and sucked me in. Another great blend of screaming metal blended with an “ethereal” vocal/sound reminiscent of Deftones. “Pearl” is one of my favorite songs of the year.

8. H.I.M. – DARK LIGHT (Sire) – It took me a few listens to really enjoy this record (finally didn’t have to buy an import first). Just another great goth-rock record of depressing love songs.

9. EVERY TIME I DIE – GUTTER PHENOMENON (Ferret) – No, I did not have to have a Ferret band on the list because I work here. ETID just wrote a great album blending hardcore, southern rock and my favorite thing…sarcasm. Always fun to work records that you like.

10. NINE INCH NAILS – WITH TEETH (Interscope) – After “The Fragile”, I wasn’t sure if Trent would put together a great in-your-face record. Well, he did and they still put on a live show that is hard to beat.

1. Shinedown - Us & Them
This is what happens when a great band steps up to the next level. This should wind up being a big career breakthrough for these guys. Brent Smith is easily one of the best Rock singers out there today. Period. Between "I Dare You" and "Lady So Divine" rock has been officially saved for another year. Cover to cover this album is THE GOODS!

2. Slipknot - 9.0: Live
Everything that a double live Slipknot is supposed to be! Ferocious, awesome! I mean what needs to be said about a great live album from one of the best live bands I know that I have ever seen. I think the moment for me though has to be Corey channeling Russell Crowe from Gladiator in "Surfacing, well, that and "People=Shit just because

3. Theory of a Deadman - Gasoline
Wow. Here the band truly and defiantly stepped out from Nickelback's shadow and made a statement! Theory is simply a great Rock band that writes great rock songs. A great step-up record

4. Sevendust - Next
While it is the first Sevendust record that I have not felt was the best one they have ever done it is still a great disc. This is a band that has always been very inspired when they are pissed off and the parting with Clint gave them some great tunes. But at the same time, they also have the best song about a new baby I have yet to hear, "This Life" was like reading my mind from when my daughter was born.

5. Roadrunner United - The All Star Sessions
I have been at Roadrunner for 13 years, I have worked just about everyone on this record (almost, thankfully I didn't have to work Glassjaw) and so my history is laid out here on this disc. If the record didn't come out great I would still have to put this on here, good thing it came out GREAT!

6. Audioslave - Out of Exile
OK, it may not have been as good as the first one but that one, in addition to being great, also benefited from all the spectacle of the event that was AUDIOSLAVE. That being said, this is a GREAT album that is just filled with great songs! Chris Cornell is easily one of the best Rock singers out today (although at the moment he is getting his butt kicked by Brent from Shinedown)

7. Gorillaz - Demon Days
"Feel Good, Inc." was such a massive song that it in itself should earn a spot here but the whole record is just way cool. These guys are pretty amazing. Such a trippy but cool disc. And, yes, they get extra points for the whacked out "Fire Coming Out of a Monkey's Head"

8. Rush R30 - Live Discs
You had to get the deluxe package of the R30 live DVD to get the discs but here is one of the greatest bands of all time sounding better, smoother and more comfortable and mature on their 30th Anniversary than most bands at the height of their prime. It's all here from "Working Man" all the way through recent covers like "Summertime Blues"

9. Mudvayne - Lost & Found
Seriously, "Happy?" would earn this record a place on the Top 10 alone (just like "Duality" would have done for Vol. 3) but the whole record is great. This band actually gets better each disc.

10. Opeth - Ghost Reveries
I just got turned on to these guys shortly before we signed them but fall in love with them I certainly did. Little did I know that what I fell in love with (Blackwater Park & Damnation) was just the appetizer for the true meal. This disc is just, in a word brilliant. Majestic, huge, awe-inspiring.

1. Strapping Young Lad - Alien
2. The Mars Volta - Frances The Mute
3. Soilwork - Stabbing The Drama
4. Crowbar - Lifesblood For The Downtrodden
5. Chimaira - Chimaira
6. God Forbid - IV: Constitution Of Treason
7. Every Time I Die - Gutter Phenomenon
8. A Life Once Lost - Hunter
9. Nine Inch Nails - With Teeth
10. Roadrunner United - The All-Stars Sessions

1. The Agony Scene - The Darkest Red
The greatest musicians-no (although an amazing drummer in Brent Masters), but an album that I have listened to constantly since I got the advance in early 2005. Dark lyrics and imagery with fierce music to back it up is right up my alley. "The Darkest Red" really hit me and made an impression on me. The production AND the mix were perfect for this band, really bringing out the raw elements.

2. God Forbid - IV: Constitution of Treason
Another album, another progression for the band, and another masterpiece. Still a shame they don't get the credit they deserve.

3. Avenged Sevenfold - City of Evil
Having been a fan since I first saw these dudes live in 2002 OPENING for Five Pointe 0 and From Autumn to Ashes, I was worried after hearing they signed to Warner Bros., real worried. "Waking the Fallen" was pretty much a perfect record for me too. BUT, they totally delivered. Total shredding guitars all the way through and sick drum chops on every track. This CD pretty much makes me just want to do coke and bang chicks :)

4. From Autumn to Ashes - Abandon Your Friends
"The Fiction We Live" was an OK follow-up to "Too Bad You're Beautiful", but the band rebounded and REALLY re-invented themselves for this one. A was a lil' skeptical as to what this CD would bring considering they had lost 2 members-1 being a key songwriter. Not a bad song on this album. An underrated gem actually!

5. Opeth - Ghost Reveries
Do I really need to elaborate on this? If you wanted me to, just listen to it. Not enough attention span? Just listen to "Baying of the Hounds". Amazing musicianship as usual, and they actually tried a plethora of new things on this-new guitar sounds, new interaction with the keyboards, etc. Plus, I had the pleasure of being on the road with these guys-don't you wish you got to watch 2 hours of live Opeth a night?

6. Foo Fighters - In Your Honor
If not for 20 great songs, then for the 2nd disc of 10 songs that they billed as 'quiet'. More like 'folk' to me. At any rate, 10 beautifully constructed songs that all invoke emotions.

7. Dredg - Catch Without Arms
Very unique sounds, and great vocal melodies.

8. Open Hand - Me and You
A logical change in direction for these guys. Beautiful stoner rock.

9. Coheed & Cambria - Good Apollo I'm Burning Star IV Volume One: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness
Another band I was nervous what the future held after jumping ship to a major label, but this CD did NOT disappoint. Who doesn't know about this band yet? Just great at what they do, and that’s writing great sci-fi songs.

10. Bedlight for BlueEyes - The Dawn
A clever combination of pop rock (ala Creed), punk rock, and 'emo'. Every once in a while, Trustkill records puts out an off-center gem and 2 are on my Top 10 this year (the other being the Open Hand record). Props to Dave "6-pack, Traylor) Taylor on this pick up. Some great leads, and a bunch of great vocals.

1. Nine Inch Nails - With Teeth
Call me an old fart or a sentimental fogie, but I will always love NIN. Trent is clean and sober and the music has a more poppy edge, but the songs still rock and there is just a predictable sense of angst that goes with . . . with teeth.

2. Roadrunner United - The All Star Sessions
Who cares how good this album is? The mere fact that it was made is a testament unto itself. It just ended up being a plus that songs like "In The Fire", "The Rich Man", "Army of the Sun" and "The Dagger" shook my bowels so hard that I became incontinent.

3. Iron & Wine - Woman King EP
Who would've thunk that a big bearded dude with a guitar could have recorded the most impressive feminist album of the year? Beautiful and poignant - it almost makes me wish I had ovaries.

4. Alkaline Trio - Crimson
Just because the opening track "Time To Waste" is so infectiously good.

5. Thrice - Vheissu
OK, so I am jumping on the bandwagon super-late on this one, but up until now I just didn't get this band. All the hype surrounding them and I was just never impressed. On Vheissu it sounds like they stopped trying to be great and just became it.

6. Deftones - B-sides and Rarities
How dare I put a B-sides album on a year's best list! I don't know if it is more a statement of the low quality of releases this year or the strength of the Deftones musical abilities, but this collection of throwaways and covers is stronger than most bands' actual releases.

7. Pelican/Red Sparowes - The Fire In Our Throats Will Beckon The Thaw/At The Soundless Dawn
I know it is kind of a cop-out to lump two bands together, but they are both instrumental metal - and how much can you really say about instrumetal? A lot in fact. Sans words, both of these albums create tension and release of epic proportions.

8. Maria Taylor - 11:11
One half of Azure Ray and the female voice for The Postal Service, Maria Taylor serves up misery and pain all wrapped up in pretty ribbons and bows. Songs of pain, anguish and loss all polished and pretty - a surprisingly sweet bitter little pill.

9. Amos Lee - Keep It Loose, Keep It Tight
Modern day soul recorded with real instruments (gasp!). A true storyteller. I would have liked this album much better if it hadn't come out the same week as Chimaira and kept it off the top of the New Artist chart.

10. Oceansize - Everyone Into Position
The band is named after a Jane's Addiction song for one. For another thing, they kick some serious ass. Lulling soundscapes that crescendo and crash like giant waves on the sonic beach.

1. Depeche Mode - Playing the Angel
Their best in years!!!

2. Nine Inch Nails - With Teeth
Who knew a sober, bulky Trent could still be pissed off? Great to have him back.

3. Circa Survive - Juturna
My FAVORITE discovery this year.

4. Coldplay -X&Y
I hated this record the first time I listened to it, now I've grown to love it.

5. Terminal - How the Lonely Keep

6. Team Sleep - Team Sleep
Cool to see Chino do something different.

7. Starflyer 59 - Talking Voice vs. Singing Voice
Just doesn't put out a bad record.

8. Still Remains - Of Love & Lunacy
Love, love, love them!

9. DevilDriver -The Fury of our Maker's Hand
Brutal, in a good way of course!

10. The Black Halos - Alive without Control
Saw them live for the first time @ SXSW in 2001 and I haven't been the same since. I've been patiently waiting for this release.

1. Opeth - Ghost Reveries
Fucking transcendant. The past thirty years of underground and not so underground music collide in the space of sixty five minutes. The Swedish fivesome conjure Jimmy Page, Peter Hammil, Voivod's Piggy and Trey Azagthoth for not only their best record to date but one of the greatest rock records of the decade. Then again, "Ghost Reveries" is about making deals with the devil. No coincidence there.

2. H.I.M. - Dark Light
Ville Valo & Co. make a record that borders on happy. Within reason, of course. The choruses are beautifully bummed yet sooo damn sweet. A light at the end of Ville's tunnel of un-love? Naw. But songs like "Vampire Heart" or "Killing Loneliness" do rub hard against the labia of the dark n' forlorn.

3. (tie) Still Remains & The Agony Scene - Of Love and Lunacy& The Darkest Red
Shameless, utterly shameless….the A&R guy cannonizing two of his baby bands. Yep. Two great records that were made in the Winter of '05 that still get played on a near-daily basis. Stilly took the sounds of Sweden, mixed them up with American metalcore, gave it TJ Miller's tortured soul and churned out an insanely memorable debut. The Agony Scene, meanwhile, gave the anger of growing up ugly n' poor an nasty, fucked up voice. Kinda like Sabbath if they were from food stamp America.

4. The Mars Volta - Frances The Mute
At first, this 77 minute morass of polyrhythms, Latin beats, Zeppy aspirations, King Crimson-y proficiency, punk rawk abandoned and other bits of the kitchen sink seems nearly impenetrable. The more you give it, the more you get out of it. Makes ya feel like one of them apes staring at the monolith in "2001: A Space Oddysey".

5. (tie) Pelican & Coheed & Cambria -The Fire In Our Throats Will Beckon the Thaw & Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV
Two records with long-ass titles and bigger musical ambitions. Pelican does it without saying a word: "The Fire…" being the most adroit moment of instrumental rolling thunder since the glory days of Blind Idiot God. Coheed seems to navigate through slightly calmer but no less affecting sonic galaxies on the third installment of their space-rock trilogy. My, how Rush's "2112" casts one long-ass shadow.

6. Fall Out Boy - From Under The Cork Tree
Generation My Space lands a knockout pop punch with this big bucks installment from TRL's most stomachable band. Let's not forget that a member of FOB was once in a band called Race Traitor. From Under The Cork Tree might just be the smartest Ameri-pop since that guy from Weezer checked out and started making mediocre records.

7. (tie) Trivium & Nevermore - Ascendency & This Godless Endeavor
Trad-metal has its revenge. The barely-in-their-20's Trivium check in with a slab that may just revitalize 'tallica school of breakdown-fee thrash whilst old pros Nevermore practice the art of the almighty riff better than just about anyone. Here's the real American metal if anyone had any doubt.

8. Avenged Sevenfold - City of Evil
It took a few months to realize that A7X just plain don't give a hoot about being in anyone's scene anymore. Once you "get it", their first slab of corporate plastic might just be the most ambitious and musically hyperactive records of the year. They're more LA Guns than GNR, but what they also crib from Metallica, Priest and yes, DREAM THEATRE sets them far away (and occasionally ahead) of the pack.

9. Witchcraft - Firewood
Two songs in and these Swedes do the best bit of Sabbath-conjuring since The Obsessed's "Lunar Womb" -- then it starts to echo the rest of the 70's! Cream to Jethro Tull to the frequently overlooked and underappreciated Camel. From the songs to the sound of the record itself, "Firewood" is a fantastic grand conjuration of a bygone era.

10. Storm Warrior - Northern Rage
Gottendammerung Now! These Huns wield their primo Maiden-meets-"Kill Em All"-era -tallica riffs like battleaxes. Total swords-upon-the-fjords BATTLE METAL that vexes warfare and sends praises to Odin with every song. The song "Valhalla" might as well be the best song that Manowar never wrote. Catchy and slaked with a bloodthirsty energy, Storm Warrior emerge victorious.

HONORABLE MENTION
Clutch-Exodus//Robot Hive, Darkest Hour-Undoing Ruin, Corrosion of Conformity-In The Arms of God, Ill Nino-One Nation Underground, Enslaved-Isa, NIN-With Teeth

1. Trivium - Ascendancy
2. CKY - An Answer Can Be Found
3. Primal Fear - The Seventh Seal
4. Avenged Sevenfold - City Of Evil
5. Mindlless Self Indulgence - You'll Rebel To Anything
6. Anthrax - Alive 2
7. DevilDriver - The Fury Of Our Maker's Hand
8. Opeth - Ghost Reveries
9. System Of A Down - Mesmerize
10. Clutch - Robot Hive/Exodus

1. ROGER JOSEPH MANNING, JR. - SOLID STATE WARRIOR
EX-JELLYFISH GENIUS RETURNS IN TOUR-DE-FORCE MODE AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY THROUGH WEEDSHARE.COM

2. MY MORNING JACKET - Z
A NEARLY PERFECT COLLECTION OF DESPAIR AND REDEMPTION

3. FIONA APPLE - EXTRAORDINARY MACHINE
BRILLIANT IN ANY CONFIGURATION.

4. SEXTUS - STRANGER THAN FICTION
THE YEAR'S BEST ROCK 'N' ROLL RECORD AVAILABLE THROUGH WEEDSHARE.COM YOU MIGHT SHOULD KNOW!

5. WHITE STRIPES - GET BEHIND ME SATAN
RISING FROM THE HYPE RUBBLE, OUR JACK STANDS TALL.

6. LEWIS TAYLOR - STONED
HOW MODERN R&B SHOULD SOUND.

7. 50 CENT - THE MASSACRE
MUSIC TO GET IN TROUBLE BY.

8. THE GAME - THE DOCUMENTARY
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR. HATE IT OR LOVE IT!

9. JOHN DAVIS - JOHN DAVIS
SPIRITUALITY WITHOUT THE PREACHINESS. ALSO VERY CATCHY!

10. KANYE WEST - LATE REGISTRATION
KANYE & FILM SCORE EXTRAORDINAIRE JON BRION CREATE A TASTY MUSICAL BUFFET.

1. System of a Down - Mesmerize
2. Chimaira - Chimaira
3. Dew Scented – Issue IV
4. God Forbid – IV: Constitution of Treason
5. Roadrunner United – The All-Star Sessions
6. Audioslave – Out of Exile
7. Darkane – Layers of Lies
8. Seemless - Seemless
9. eXodus – Shovel Headed Kill Machine
10. Corrosion of Conformity – In The Arms of God

1. Avenged Sevenfold - Bat Country
2. Theory of a Deadman - Gasoline
3. Roadrunner United - The All Star Sessions
4. Slipknot - 9.0 Live
5. System of a Down - Mezmerize/Hypnotize
6. Trivium - Ascendency
7. Shinedown - Leave a Wisper
8. Opeth - The Ghost Reveries
9. Nickelback - All The Right Reasons
10. Big Cock - Year of the Cock

1. Vains Of Jenna- Long Gone With A Smile EP
Four guys in their early 20's from Sweden. If Axl Rose would let these guys record under the name Guns 'N' Roses the world would be a better place. www.myspace.com/vainsofjenna

2. Danger Danger - Live And Nude
The Double-D Boys always rocked harder live - and here's the proof. Recorded in 2003, "Live And Nude" captures the latest incarnation of the band, with Swedish guitar slinger (and lifelong DD fan) Rob Marcello on guitar.

3. From First To Last - Dear Diary, My Teen Angst Has A Bodycount
The album title has no shame but the double bass drum work won me over. The fact that the singer wore a Dresden Dolls T-shirt in their video didn't hurt.

4. The Black Halos - Alive Without Control
Channeling Raw-Power-era Iggy Pop.

5. Hotshot - S/T
Long Island legends finally release their first record. A lot of different players contributed to the Hotshot cause over the years and many are captured on this record including members of Motley Crue, Danger Danger, Megadeth, Trans Siberian Orchestra, Mountain, Foreigner and even Enrique Iglesias!

6. Toby Keith - Honkytonk University
My guilty pleasure. "As Good As I Once Was" is a mid-life crisis kind of anthem. You'll know what I'm talking about once you get there.

7. All American Rejects - Move Along
Perfect pop rock. The start of "Dirty Little Secret" reminds me of "Fox On The Run" by Sweet - and that's a good thing!

8. kENT - Du Och Jag Doden
After a couple of failed attempts to break into the English-speaking market, these Swedes are back to singing in their native tongue. It doesn't matter. Their songs are rich musicscapes reminiscent of Bryan Ferry/Roxy Music at his/their best. And for those keeping score at home, that's 3 different Swedish artists on the same Top 10 list!

9. The Like - Are You Thinking What I'm Thinking?
An all-girl-power-trio! The tunes range from trippy and dark to upbeat and jangly. If you missed hearing bands like the Breeders and Belly on the radio over the last decade - the wait is over!

10. Avenged Sevenfold - City Of Evil
This is the album Yngwie Malmsteen thought he was going to make when he convinced Joe Lynn Turner to join his band.

1. Bright Eyes
2. She Wants Revenge
3. Death Cab For Cutie
4. Trivium
5. Brazilian Girls
6. Doves
7. LCD Soundsystem
8. Still Remains
9. Stereophonics
10. Death From Above 1979

1. Green Day - American Idiot
Their strongest, most cohesive album featuring their best songs ever.

2. My Chemical Romance - Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge
The title says it all…

3. Thelonious Monk Quartet w/ John Coltrane - At Carnegie Hall
Newly discovered jazz classic featuring two of the absolute Gods of the genre.

4. Nickelback - All The Right Reasons
They just keep getting better. Their best album to date. Chad Kroeger is a master songwriter.

5. Cream - Royal Albert Hall
These old guys still rock hard. Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker re-capture the magic of Cream.

6. Lifehouse - Lifehouse
Chicks love this. Great music for when you're getting up close and personal.

7. The All-American Rejects - Move Along
My son, Stephen, loves this band. "Dirty Little Secret" rocks.

8. SplitSense - Purify
Like a younger, edgier Linkin Park. Sort of. Don't forget who told you.

9. Various Artists - Roadrunner United
Rather than just a bunch of random tracks by numerous different artists, this actually hangs together as one great album. Nice job, Monte.

10. Charlie Brown, Jr. - Imunidade Musical
Alternative reggae/rock group from Brazil. Katie's favorite band. What, you don't know them?

1. Sugarland - Twice The Speed of Life
One of the best country albums this year!! Really, you should check this one out!

2. Theory of a Deadman - Gasoline
Love to rock out to this on my iPod.

3. Miranda Lambert - Kerosene
She adds some grit to her twang!!

4. Dierks Bentley - Modern Day Drifter

5. Deana Carter - The Story of My Life

6. Tommy Lee - Tommyland: The Ride
This one is just fun.

7. Hot Apple Pie - Hot Apple Pie
Love "Hillbillies".

8. LeAnn Rimes - This Woman
I love her voice.

9. Natalie Imbruglia - Counting Down The Days
She can do no wrong by me.

10. Sheryl Crow - Wildflower