Dr. Jones' Musical Highlights - 2005

My grandmother always says there are two things we all have in commone: We live. We die. There's a third actually: We all at least like Dr. Chris Jones; if you haven't met him you just don't know that you like him. Last week he sent out his take on 2005's musical output. I thought it was so great I'm going to share it with you after the jump!

Album of The Year (there can be only one)

LCD Soundsystem
Somehow, last year at this time, I knew that this would be a great album. And it is. Those of you who bought the CD got a second disc in there with all the old singles too!! James Murphy is a genius. Guitars and beats sound so good together.

The Next Bunch

Bloc Party - Silent Alarm
Some people seem to think these guys are a one-album wonder. I beg to differ. This is the most exciting rock album I've heard in a while. The remix album's not bad either. Too bad they left the very best remixes off of it.

Tiefschwarz - Eat Books
The sound of guitars never meant anything before you. I am a walking disaster. Shake! (those are lyrics from one of the songs. listen.)

Isolee - We Are Monster
Didn't see this one coming! techno-wants-to-be-minimal-but-just-really-electrifying.

Vitalic - OK Cowboy
Techno - MAXimal - makes you loopy. Makes Daft Punk look like John Mayer.

Depeche Mode - Playing the Angel
Ok, so there's two really horrible songs on here. But the rest is fantastic.

Eric Powa B - Minute Mind
Maybe you have to be a dj to appreciate these awesome loopy electro-influenced techno tracks. But I doubt it. The cover art is a take-off on the old game "Master Mind".

The Bravery
These guys chewed up those disgustingly cute one-trick ponies called the Killers and spat them out. Some people think those two bands are kinda similar. I don't.

The Glimmers - DJ Kicks
Bis doing a cover of "Shack Up". Right there alone is reason enough to listen.

Cut Copy - Bright Like Neon Love
Please continue, without haste, the electro-pop comeback.

Fischerspooner - Odyssey
I didn't like "Just Let Go" that much but once I heard "Never Win" I was hooked.

MIA - Arular
She's awesome. Original beats and real live MCs.

Ladytron - Witching Hour
Ladytron should stick to doing this - what they do best - instead of trying to be djs.

Soulwax - Nite Versions
Thank you for redeeming yourselves after last year's utter disaster.

Sweatshop Union - United We Fall
Now THIS is some fun-as-hell positively forward thinking hip hop that you probably didn't hear this year. They're a treat to see live too.

Beck - Guero / Guerolito
You got a problem with Beck? Didn't think so. The boy's still got it, y'all. Another album way ahead of its time. The remixes are very original...and a bit wacky too.

Single of The Year

Tiga - You Gonna Want Me
Tiga was the man you couldn't mess with this year. Seriously. "Louder than a Bomb" was pretty rad too. AND... Tiga did awesome remixes of LCD Soundsystem "Tribulations", Thomas Andersson's "Washing Up", the Kills' "The Good Ones", Depeche Mode's "Shake the Disease"... the list goes on. Not just single of the year, Man of the Year. All Hail Tiga. Again.

Supremely Sweet Dance Singles and Artist (from artists not mentioned in the "albums" section)

Northern Lights "Treat Me Better" (voltique remix)
Those who know, know. The rest of you will just have to find out.

Freeform Five "No More Conversations" (Mylo remix)
The bassline takes over right away, and by the end of the vocal breakdown, there you are on the dancefloor swinging your pants over your head.
That's what I said in the Georgia Straight about this one.

Annie "Chewing Gum" (Mylo remix)
Hey Annie, well look at you. Is that a new boy stuck on your shoe? .... Annie's fun, no question, but this version is AWESOME.

Mylo - Destroy Rock & Roll (Tom Neville remix)
The singalong name-dropping anthem of 2005. I'd say that this Mylo character had a pretty freakin' good year too.
And speaking of Tom Neville, his versions of Ladytron and New Order (my faves of his huge lot of remixes this year) are excellent.

Boys Noize: the remix of Bloc Party "Banquet"... .first and foremost. Their single "volta 82" destroyed me too. as well as other remixes for german singles that I can't pronounce. And the remix of Kaiser Chiefs "Everyday I Love you Less and Less" stomps all over you.

Electric Press & Electrolicious : cheeky remixes of songs you remember. That WORK.

Hoxton Whores: the groovier, housier side of cheeky remixes of songs you remember.

Dirty Funker: the unstoppable dancefloor destroyer with vocal (but, for me, primarily, the dub versions) remixes of "Immigrant Song" "Smells Like Teen Spirit" "Whole Lotta Love" "Welcome to the Machine". Can't wait to see what comes next.

The Undah Dub "Live Together" (dj Timeline remix)
Slays dancefloors wherever it goes.

Buick Project aka Skylark aka Nic Fanciulli
DOPE. So awesome. Smooth, housey, techy, bliss.

Sander Kleinenberg - The Fruit
It's the funk....that makes it funky...it's the junk...that makes the junky...I got pretty sick of this song but it sure does get stuck in your head.

Telepopmusik - Love Comes Calling
It's beautiful. The rest of the new album's not bad too. But this is the best.

Franz Ferdinand - Do You Want To - Erol Alkan remix
Franz's new album is really good too. This vocal-less version inspires windmill guitars and fist pumping. Infectious to say the very least.

Midnight Star - The Midas Touch (starskee remix)
Le Tigre - After Dark (a touch of class remix)
I don't care how cheesy you think these two are. They're Grrrr-eat!

Sikk - Washing Machine
And, finally, it's about damn time that SOMEONE asked THE question that's been on everybody's mind for YEARS:
"Why did you fuck my washing machine?.....FUCK!!!"

DJ Sets of The Year

The Hacker @ the Waldorf
The whole time, seriously, I was nodding my head & exchanging glances with Mr. RC Lair as the both of us were silently saying "OMFG that's awesome!!"

John Digweed @ Plush
This was taking the dj set to a new level, he had loops & samples going nuts the whole time too... proving - once again - why he remains on top of his game and one of the world's best after all these years.

Tommie Sunshine @ the Commodore
Betcha you weren't there like I told you to be. There was only 125 people or so, and everyone present HAD A FREAKING BLAST. We had the Commodore to ourselves.

Phil K @ Summerbreak
The way this man drops beats in should be a crime. Insane, I tell you. I have a recording of this set if you'd like to witness the techno mayhem.

Z-Trip @ Richards
Zach proves - also once again - that he's always four steps ahead of the rest of us. Drum kits! Effects boxes! This was way more than just a dj set. It was a performance.

Krafty Kuts @ Sonar (Feb.)
You couldn't get Nikki & I off the dancefloor for this one. Not even if you tried.

Concerts of The Year

LCD Soundsystem @ the Commodore
Need I say more? What one man can do in the studio takes 7 people to re-create live. the closing "Yeah" was UNREAL.

Me First and the Gimme Gimmes @ Richards
My first time seeing these fellows. Hope it won't be the last. So Much Fun!!!!

Depeche Mode @ GM Place
2+ hours of classic DM - and half of the new album. Go see this tour if you get a chance, wherever you may be.

Bloc Party @ the Commodore
I even bought the T-shirt, ok? It's purple, it has a collar, and it's rad.


My Own Personal Favourite DJ Set of The Year

Dr Jones vs OJ vs James E @ Spanish Banks, all night & morning, July something.

So that's it!
Thanks everyone for a great year, and let's get ready for a fantastic 2006!!!!

Early highlight of 2006

Tiga's Sexor. It's fantastic. Get it. Go. Now.