I wanted to make a top albums of 2005 list, but when I sat down to think of what my top albums would be, I couldn’t really come up with a list that I felt was representative of the best of the year. It was actually more representative of the fact that my listening tastes have finally returned to the singles-based love of my childhood. Most of these are available on iTunes or other legitimate downloading services, but some are available for free through their websites or labels, so links are provided when I could find them.

So here, in no particular order, are my top songs of 2005.

The Decemberists – “The Engine Driver”
I’d never really caught on with the buzz surrounding The Decemberists until the release of “Picaresque” this year. The music is beautiful, and that chorus line “And if you don’t love me, let me go” manages to pull of the tricky paradox of being simultaneously melodically uplifting and an emotional downer.
download from insound.com
decemberists.com

Andy Bell – “Crazy”
I’m not sure if I could tell you this was Andy Bell solo (as opposed to new Erasure) if I didn’t already know, but I can tell you this single was far catchier and far closer to the Erasure standard of quality than anything off the proper Erasure release of 2005.
streaming from andybell.com
video at virgin.net

Bloc Party – “Banquet”
I ignored the hype until I heard this single and had to ask who was playing.
download the Phones Disco Edit from blocparty.com

Gorillaz – “DARE”
Blur has been my favorite band for years, so it was frustrating that they were still just known as “The Song 2 band.” At least there is some satisfaction in knowing that Damon Albarn’s melodies are being ingrained in the minds of the masses, even if it is through the cartoon side project. Fantastic pop songs are what they are, and when a fantastic pop song also includes reviving Shawn Ryder (or at least his head — watch the video), then even better.
gorillaz.com
watch the video at virgin.net

Calla – “Stumble”
They’ve been perfecting this delicately-beautiful indie pop formula for a few years now, and once you hear this song, the almost-whispered chorus “Hold me closer / don’t let me go” will be stuck in your head forever.
callamusic.com

Dungen – “Du Ar For Fin For Mig”
These psychedelic Swedes re-issued an album this year, and this 8-minute quasi-hippie stomp was the highlight for me. They don’t have any downloads on their site, but you can stream the song here.
dungen-music.com

Rasmus Farber – “Get Over Here”
Some songs just sound like they were supposed to be played in the middle of the night. This is one of them.

Depeche Mode – “Precious”
I cannot tell you how excited I was when I heard this single. I love Depeche Mode, from their early 80s ouput onward, but once you get to “Songs of Faith and Devotion” (in other words, around 1993) I could only listen to a few songs on the album. Around then, they really seemed to be trying to fit in with the changing musical world rather than doing what made them great. Not that there’s anything wrong with evolving, but it seemed like a contrived attempt to change with the times rather than following artists growth.

“Precious” is an amazing single and it would have been an amazing Depeche Mode single in 1987. “Playing the Angel” sounds like a band that has gotten back in touch with what made them great without trying to recreate an era that has passed. I can’t get enough of this song.
digital downloads at depechemode.com

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah – “The Skin of My Yellow Country Teeth”
I somehow missed the obvious Talking Heads emulation when I first heard these folks – a bit of mimicry that keeps some people from enjoying the band at all. I’ve found myself having trouble getting into some of the other songs from the album, but this song is just a beautifully sloppy indie song that seems to be held together only by its melody.
clapyourhandssayyeah.com

Jack Johnson – “Breakdown”
The first time I heard this song, or at least a version of this song, was from Handsome Boy Modeling School’s 2004 album “White People,” only at that time, it was simply a HBMS hip hop beat with Johnson singing and whistling over it. I heard a commercial on the radio for the new Jack Johnson album with a familiar melody that I couldn’t quite place, and that’s when I realized he’d re-recorded the song for his own release. I can’t really say which version I prefer, but I can’t deny that the Handsome Boy version made me wish he’d record it solo. He did, and it’s exactly what I had hoped for.
streaming at jackjohnsonmusic.com
watch a video clip at virgin.net

Eels – “Trouble with Dreams”
I loved “Hello Cruel World” from E when it came out, but in spite of numerous repeated recommendations, I could never really bring myself to make the effort to get into Eels. Thanks to their latest album, the 2-disc “Blinking Lights and Other Revelations,” getting added to heavy KRNU rotation, I quickly realized a taste of what I’d been missing. “Dreams” was the runaway KRNU hit off the album, but there are a number of standout songs that make it worth checking out.
watch the video at eelstheband.com

Shapeshifters – “Back to Basics”
I keep coming back to the house music formula, but one of the classics has to be “woman with strong voice sings over string sample.” Shapeshifters made their name with “Lola’s Theme” in the summer of 2004 and the disco orchestra lived up to their legacy with this follow-up. This one has the added bonus of “Very happy looking man playing bass.” I go back and forth on which one I like best, usually depending on which one I’m listening to at the time.
watch the video at virgin.net
and watch Lola’s Theme too

M. Ward – “Hi-Fi”
It’s really a toss-up for me between “Hi-Fi” and “Fuel for Fire” – both represent driving around at night with the windows down, listening to KRNU.
mwardmusic.com

Ladytron – “Destroy Everything You Touch”
I love how, even as Ladytron seems to get darker as time goes by (comparing their singles to earlier releases like “Playgirl” and “Seventeen,” at least), they still manage to keep a beautiful aesthetic level to the driving beats and sinister textures. I’m not sure if it’s ironic, but I think it’s amusing to sing along to a catchy melody that just happens to include the words “destroy everything you touch.”
streaming from ladytron.com

Heaven is a Hotel – “Second Story Man”
I’ve pimped this song already enough in two separate blog posts, but if you haven’t checked out this band, just do yourself a favor and download this song from heavenisahotel.com. The listeners and staff of KRNU voted it the #1 song of 2005.

Human Television – “Tell Me What You Want”
The listeners and staff of KRNU voted this song #100 of 2005, but it’s right up there with my favorites. This song stood out from the rest of the tracks on their album “All Songs Written By…” largely because it wasn’t an up-tempo janglefest. Just a short, sweet song that feels like it should have left a much bigger mark on the world.
watch the video from wearethehumantelevision.com

Jenn Cuneta – “Come Rain Come Shine”
It’s such a formula – pick a classic pop song, sample it with a house beat and sing some new lyrics over it. But when it works, it’s beautiful in all its sugary glory. Cuneta (or her producers, Andy and the Lamboy, more likely) picked “Silly Love Songs” by Paul McCartney to be the beneficiary of their four-on-the-floor and pop magic ensued. Lots of dancing in swimsuits in the video.
mp3 samples at jenncuneta.com
video at virgin.net

Turbotito – “Losing Their Heads”
One of the catchiest and funkiest songs I have ever heard. turbotito.com has been a waste of time in my experience, so visit his myspace page for the good stuff.

Of Montreal – “The Party’s Crashing Us”
Of Montreal lost me a few years ago when I just felt like the cute singalong pop song had run its course and I wasn’t getting any sort of new experience. This song came along and proved I had a little more love in me. I wish I could find a site that streams it at the very least, so you could have a little of the love in you.
ofmontreal.net

Madonna – “Hung Up”
About 95% of the time, Madonna annoys the heck out of me. The other 5% of the time, she’s amazing. I do kind of wish she’d stop trying to prove she’s a sex symbol. The pink leotard kind of grosses me out.
watch the video at virgin.net

Uniting Nations – “You and Me”
As far as I know, the only attention they’ve received in the US is because of their cheesy Hall and Oates “Out of Touch” remix, but their later singles like “Ai No Corrida” and this song deserve a little more credit in my opinion. It never ceases to amaze me – how formulaic house music sounds, yet how some people can get it so right and others can mess up something that seems so simple. This belongs with the former.
mp3 samples at unitingnations.co.uk

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