My Anti-Grammys: Nominees for the Best of 2005

You may recall in an earlier posting that I've checked out of the Grammy Awards. No longer do I care, really. I'm fed up with the commercial popularity contest they've become, and I'm annoyed that they consistently ignore anything challenging or exciting at all. So I've decided to hold my own (virtual) ceremony...I wonder what I'll wear? Hmmm...

Anyhow, after, like, at least 15 minutes of serious consideration and steel-trap concentration, I've come up with my nominees for what was, admittedly, a pretty damn good year for music. In fact, I think 2005 produced the best new music in at least 10-12 years.

Of course, this is all completely subjective, and I'm curious to hear what you all think. Feel free to make any comment you'd like...as long as it's not negative or critical in any way. :)

I'll announce my winners the day after Christmas.

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Confessions on a Dance Floor—Madonna
The Forgotten Arm—Aimee Mann
As Is Now—Paul Weller
Body of Song—Bob Mould
Aerial—Kate Bush
Golddiggas, Headnodders and Pholk Songs—The Beautiful South

BEST BAND

Out Hud (for “How Long”)
Coldplay (for “Speed of Sound”)
Stereophonics (for “Dakota”)
They Might Be Giants (for “Alphabet of Nations”)
The Beautiful South (For Golddiggas… album)

BEST SOLO ARTIST

Paul Weller (For As Is Now album)
Marianne Faithfull (For “My Friends Have”)
Kate Bush (For Aerial album)
Aimee Mann (For The Forgotten Arm album)
Bob Mould (For Body of Song album)
Bettye Lavette (For I’ve Got My Own Hell to Raise album)

SONG OF THE YEAR

“From the Floorboards Up”—Paul Weller
“Hung Up”—Madonna
“Speed of Sound”—Coldplay
“Comfortably Numb”—Dar Williams
“King of the Mountain”—Kate Bush
“My Friends Have”—Marianne Faithfull

NEARLY WERE’S and ALMOST RAN’s (stuff that was really good but for whatever reason didn't quite reach the upper stratosphere):

Fiona Apple, “Extraordinary Machine”
Kathy Mattea, “Gimme Shelter”
Tiefschwarz and Tracey Thorn, “Damage”
Cowboy Junkies, “Isn’t it a Pity”
Paul Anka, Rock Swings
The Rosebuds, “Shake Our Tree”