2005 - Part 1

"Congratulations to you, with sad regrets. I'm tired of the old shit, let the new shit begin."

I deliberately skipped Christmas and New Year here in The Darkened Room. There was nothing malicious in the act, I'm just a little bored by it all. There isn't much room in my heart for religion, tradition, and all the twee trappings of the holiday season. Personally, I like to think that my various friends, family members, and acquaintances are aware that I wish them well all the fucking time, not just when the occasion demands.

I don't get it. I probably never will.

But enough of all that. It's a shiny new year, and that means promises and expectations and maybe even prophecies from this little corner of the world. Before all that, though, it means taking a little look back at 2005 and going "Whoa, that was kind of awesome." Let's kick off with music.

Memorable Music
1. Blinking Lights And Other Revelations - Eels: A sprawling double album of jaw-dropping quality, Blinking Lights was, in my humble opinion, easily the year's strongest release. As ever, head Eel Mark Everett's lyrical candour, combined with the band's couldn't-give-a-fuck approach to genre, produced compelling results. Almost every song here is a gem, and taking the biographical trip through both discs is a raw and surprisingly emotional experience. An essential album from an essential band who were, once again, criminally ignored in favour of the usual talentless darlings of the alterna-pop scene. Download: Trouble With Dreams, Suicide Life, Last Time We Spoke, Old Shit/New Shit.

2. Mezmerize - System Of A Down: I've had a lot of arguments with metal fans about this record, mainly because a vast majority of those I've spoken to seem to take issue with the fact that System are so obvious and so accessible. If a record isn't impenetrable and heavy as fuck, the argument seems to go, then it isn't really metal. It's just a bunch of pop sell-outs who aren't a patch on Faith No More. Well, the Faith No More thing is another argument for another time, but I find System Of A Down's pop sensibilities both wonderfully subversive and strangely charming. After all, this is full on chunky riffage with some serious screaming and shouting and a downright frightening rhythm section. The genius of Serj Tankian and crew is that they can combine such an unholy racket with melodies and harmonies that'd make Pharell Williams go "Damn, that's catchy," and sledgehammer-subtle lyrics about politics and pop culture that are both cutting and affective. Mezmerize, unlike its follow up, is short, sharp, and very, very good. Download: B.Y.O.B., Cigaro, Violent Pornography, Lost In Hollywood.

3. Employment - Kaiser Chiefs: Several people I know just read this and gasped. My hatred of trendy bands, especially trendy British bands, ordinarily knows no bounds. The Chiefs, however, have won me over. In fact, I was hooked from the first time I heard Everyday I Love You Less And Less, and I bought the album the same day. I wasn't disappointed. There's nothing particularly deep and meaningful here, unless you're the kind of fucker who thinks Morrissey is intelligent and insightful, but that's not really the point. What The Kaiser Chiefs do better than anybody right now is to fire off short, smart pop songs that sound British without resorting to the kind of cliches that make our music scene so insufferably shite. In the current climate, that's an achievement in itself. That they pull it off with such style is what makes Employment such an astonishing debut. Download: Everyday I Love You Less And Less, I Predict A Riot, Born To Be A Dancer.

4. With Teeth - Nine Inch Nails: No, Trent Reznor hasn't changed all that much since Pretty Hate Machine, and this is a record that's unlikely to win over the doubters. It is, however, a far stronger, tighter, and more coherent album than The Fragile, and a welcome return to form for a man whose lyrical and musical prowess is often taken for granted. Singles The Hand That Feeds and the magnificent Only make for a great sampler of NIN's blend of irresistible rhythm, haunting melody, and industrial noise, and while With Teeth never wanders far from this template, you feel it doesn't really need to. Trent Reznor is probably never going to change, and based on this, that's a very good thing. Download: The Hand That Feeds, Every Day Is Exactly The Same, Only, Right Where It Belongs.

5. Crimson - Alkaline Trio: This made nobody's best of lists this year, and that's fine. I'm horribly biased when it comes to the Trio, and this took a while to worm its way into my affections. On first listen, it sounds overproduced and inconsistent, with bassist and co-vocalist Dan Adriano stepping up far more than is healthy for a band that relies so much on the self-destructive charisma and biting lyrics of frontman Matt Skiba. After a few listens, though, the larger pattern becomes apparent. Crimson is overproduced, but it also shows a maturity and coherency that's been absent from previous albums. The stuttering rhythms and layered piano of opener Time To Waste are a testament to that, and while there is plenty of old school AT here (most notably on Mercy Me and Back To Hell), tracks like Sadie and particularly Burn showcase a rather more accomplished rhythm section in the form of Adriano and drummer Derek Grant than had previously been apparent, hinting at a new direction for a sound that was in danger of becoming stale. A transitional record for the Trio, but an excellent listen nonetheless, especially if you're a fan. Download: Time To Waste, Burn, Dethbed, Sadie.

I'll be back later or tomorrow to do movies.