Electronic
Readers Poll Results 2005
LCD Soundsystem
LCD Soundsystem (DFA)
"I haven't wanted to dance in about six years until the moment I heard Daft Punk Is Playing at My House.'" Trell Huether, Toronto ON
"A full album of new material and a bonus disc of all the singles? Yes please!" Richard Hodges, Richmond BC
"Every track sounds completely different, which is excellent for those of us with very short attention spans." Alexander Adcock, Toronto ON
"I hate to agree with you guys, but James Murphy rocks my world." Josh Goodbaum, Kingston ON
"Very cool, with edgy sounds" Matthew Anderson, Woodstock ON
"This album is one of all-time favourites already! It fuses so many kinds of music genres (electro, funk, post-punk, disco, etc.) and is for everyone who loves music." Simon St-Pierre, Montreal QC
"I don't even like Daft Punk, but I'd love it if they came and played at my house." Andrew Wilson, London ON
"The production is crisp, the beats are infectious, and James Murphy's lyrics and affectations are both smart and hilarious. What more could you ask for? It's even got a cowbell solo!" Roddy Midmore, Vancouver BC
"James Murphy is the Sydney Crosby of electronic indie rock, overachieving for the last few years without a major league deal. LCD Soundsystem is one of the best debut albums of the past five years. The crappiest psychic in the world saw this one coming." Daniel Sylvester, Windsor ON
"Music nerds unite!" Matt Weed, Toronto ON
2. Caribou
The Milk of Human Kindness (Domino)
"Diverse, coherent and enjoyable." Kara Tokaryk, Lethbridge BC
"Dan Snaith proves that it is possible to be human on a purely sonic level." Eric MacKenzie, Ottawa ON
"The only thing better than Dan Snaith's albums are his shows. How is this guy not a superstar and how big an asshole is that Handsome Dick Manitoba?" Chris Cook, Ottawa ON
"Dan Snaith combines the organic and inorganic perfectly. Everything sounds natural yet somehow out of this world. Good stuff." Stephen Vetsis, Hamilton ON
"A full spectrum of samples layered over mathematically calculated beats. Name problem also solved." Sean MacLennan, Riverview NB
"Full-sounding electronica with smooth guitars and a quaint feeling of warmth." Tim Gilbertson, Hinton AB
"Bliss for my ears. I listen to this while I sleep and dream I'm on acid, fighting mountain lions. Seriously." Ryan Pollard, Saskatoon SK
"What can I say about Caribou, even after the name change he still hits hard and leaves a mark on your mind." Lisa Clark, Vancouver BC
"It's a beautiful album that sounds even better after you see his jaw-dropping live show." Brian Cochrane, Saskatoon SK
3. Boards of Canada
The Campfire Headphase (Warp)
"Engaging. A must have for everyone's record collection." Jon Lyne, Calgary AB
"Nothing comes close to this masterpiece. These Scottish brothers can do know wrong. When LCD's album ends up in next year's used albums bin, BOC's album will still be on your record player 20 years from now." Craig Murray, Windsor ON
"Brilliant, lush and organic in comparison to Music Has the Right to Children and Geogaddi, yet still distinctly Boards. This is the album other electronic acts wish they could make." Chris Leo, Halifax NS
"Dreamy melodic goodness on high rotation at mines." Carla Larson, Toronto ON
"Nice and smooth, like a campfire." Alex Fellows, Montreal QC
"Beautiful and haunting, as it should be." Matt Hoffman, Burlington ON
4. M83
Before the Dawn Heals Us (Mute)
"This is my favourite album of the year in any category and blows me away every time I listen to it. It somehow manages to be a truly epic album without letting its pretentiousness overshadow the fact that it's just flawlessly created. The amount of emotion that it can elicit especially in the unconventional, synthetic way that would feel totally artificial anywhere else is unbelievable. This is one of my favourite albums ever. It's so good." Andrew MacKenzie, Waterloo ON
"I have been listening to this CD non-stop since it was released early this year." Andrew Campbell, Bradford ON
"Seizure-inducing tunes that somehow capture a perfect picture of blue skies and puffy white clouds reflected onto dilated pupils." Birinder Singh, North Vancouver BC
"My album of the year since January, when it was released. Nothing else this year felt as epic, moving, bombastic or amazing. M83 lost the other member and became a solo project, and yet actually became more ambitious. With more vocals, less feedback, more atmospherics and more scope, this was the blow away spectacular album of the year." Caley Middleton, Kelowna BC
5. Four Tet
Everything Ecstatic (Domino)
"This guy breaks out the beats and textures like no one else." Andre LeBlanc, Outremont QC
"Kieran Hebden had a lot to live up to when it came to following up his previous release Rounds, but he did it brilliantly by providing harder beats and a more evolved sound." Adam Crowe, Sarnia ON
"A headphone album that continues to reward me with found sounds, squiggles, chirps and bleeps." Chris Grimshaw, Kingston ON
"Always original." Palmer Bryant, London ON
"Tough decision, but this album is destined to be a classic." Alex Vipond, Toronto ON
Readers Poll Results 2005
LCD SoundsystemLCD Soundsystem (DFA)
"I haven't wanted to dance in about six years until the moment I heard Daft Punk Is Playing at My House.'" Trell Huether, Toronto ON
"A full album of new material and a bonus disc of all the singles? Yes please!" Richard Hodges, Richmond BC
"Every track sounds completely different, which is excellent for those of us with very short attention spans." Alexander Adcock, Toronto ON
"I hate to agree with you guys, but James Murphy rocks my world." Josh Goodbaum, Kingston ON
"Very cool, with edgy sounds" Matthew Anderson, Woodstock ON
"This album is one of all-time favourites already! It fuses so many kinds of music genres (electro, funk, post-punk, disco, etc.) and is for everyone who loves music." Simon St-Pierre, Montreal QC
"I don't even like Daft Punk, but I'd love it if they came and played at my house." Andrew Wilson, London ON
"The production is crisp, the beats are infectious, and James Murphy's lyrics and affectations are both smart and hilarious. What more could you ask for? It's even got a cowbell solo!" Roddy Midmore, Vancouver BC
"James Murphy is the Sydney Crosby of electronic indie rock, overachieving for the last few years without a major league deal. LCD Soundsystem is one of the best debut albums of the past five years. The crappiest psychic in the world saw this one coming." Daniel Sylvester, Windsor ON
"Music nerds unite!" Matt Weed, Toronto ON
2. Caribou
The Milk of Human Kindness (Domino)
"Diverse, coherent and enjoyable." Kara Tokaryk, Lethbridge BC
"Dan Snaith proves that it is possible to be human on a purely sonic level." Eric MacKenzie, Ottawa ON
"The only thing better than Dan Snaith's albums are his shows. How is this guy not a superstar and how big an asshole is that Handsome Dick Manitoba?" Chris Cook, Ottawa ON
"Dan Snaith combines the organic and inorganic perfectly. Everything sounds natural yet somehow out of this world. Good stuff." Stephen Vetsis, Hamilton ON
"A full spectrum of samples layered over mathematically calculated beats. Name problem also solved." Sean MacLennan, Riverview NB
"Full-sounding electronica with smooth guitars and a quaint feeling of warmth." Tim Gilbertson, Hinton AB
"Bliss for my ears. I listen to this while I sleep and dream I'm on acid, fighting mountain lions. Seriously." Ryan Pollard, Saskatoon SK
"What can I say about Caribou, even after the name change he still hits hard and leaves a mark on your mind." Lisa Clark, Vancouver BC
"It's a beautiful album that sounds even better after you see his jaw-dropping live show." Brian Cochrane, Saskatoon SK
3. Boards of Canada
The Campfire Headphase (Warp)
"Engaging. A must have for everyone's record collection." Jon Lyne, Calgary AB
"Nothing comes close to this masterpiece. These Scottish brothers can do know wrong. When LCD's album ends up in next year's used albums bin, BOC's album will still be on your record player 20 years from now." Craig Murray, Windsor ON
"Brilliant, lush and organic in comparison to Music Has the Right to Children and Geogaddi, yet still distinctly Boards. This is the album other electronic acts wish they could make." Chris Leo, Halifax NS
"Dreamy melodic goodness on high rotation at mines." Carla Larson, Toronto ON
"Nice and smooth, like a campfire." Alex Fellows, Montreal QC
"Beautiful and haunting, as it should be." Matt Hoffman, Burlington ON
4. M83
Before the Dawn Heals Us (Mute)
"This is my favourite album of the year in any category and blows me away every time I listen to it. It somehow manages to be a truly epic album without letting its pretentiousness overshadow the fact that it's just flawlessly created. The amount of emotion that it can elicit especially in the unconventional, synthetic way that would feel totally artificial anywhere else is unbelievable. This is one of my favourite albums ever. It's so good." Andrew MacKenzie, Waterloo ON
"I have been listening to this CD non-stop since it was released early this year." Andrew Campbell, Bradford ON
"Seizure-inducing tunes that somehow capture a perfect picture of blue skies and puffy white clouds reflected onto dilated pupils." Birinder Singh, North Vancouver BC
"My album of the year since January, when it was released. Nothing else this year felt as epic, moving, bombastic or amazing. M83 lost the other member and became a solo project, and yet actually became more ambitious. With more vocals, less feedback, more atmospherics and more scope, this was the blow away spectacular album of the year." Caley Middleton, Kelowna BC
5. Four Tet
Everything Ecstatic (Domino)
"This guy breaks out the beats and textures like no one else." Andre LeBlanc, Outremont QC
"Kieran Hebden had a lot to live up to when it came to following up his previous release Rounds, but he did it brilliantly by providing harder beats and a more evolved sound." Adam Crowe, Sarnia ON
"A headphone album that continues to reward me with found sounds, squiggles, chirps and bleeps." Chris Grimshaw, Kingston ON
"Always original." Palmer Bryant, London ON
"Tough decision, but this album is destined to be a classic." Alex Vipond, Toronto ON