Year 2005 in music

After reading Simon's blog (http://inspiral.org.au/WordPress) where he did a 2005 compilation album, I decided I would give it a go. As a fan of High Fidelity (the Nick Hornby book and movie with John Cusack), it was something that should have taken a lot of time and care. It didn't, but here it is all the same.

In brackets is either a line that sticks with me or why it's so memorable. For what it's worth, the musical class of 2005:

1. Mr Brightside - The Killers (I'm doing what the Killers should've done, and put this driving song as track one of the album)

2. City Of Blinding Lights - U2 ("Oh you look so beautiful tonight, in the city of blinding lights". Almost every weekend away I get this in my head as we walk the blindingly-lit streets of some of the most beautiful cities in the world)

3. Light at the End of the Tunnel - Something for Kate (Had to squeeze the boys in somewhere while I wait for a new album)

4 .Gamble Everything for Love - Ben Lee ("Make a list of things you need, leave it empty, 'cept for number 1, write love, gamble everything". This album is my number for 2005. See my Awake is the New Sleep post [http://moylesinlondon.blogspot.com/2005/09/awake-is-new-sleep.html] for the wrap-up of the concert he played at the 100 Club on Oxford Street)

5. London Still - The Waifs ("I took the tube over to Camden just to wander around, bought some funky records with that old Motown sound". Ok so I don't buy funky records with or without Motown sound but I am Aussie and have taken the tube over to Camden [as well as the bus and overland train] a number of times and this place is awsome! Saw the Waifs a few months ago too and they were very good live)

6. Smile Like You Mean It - The Killers (another goodie off the Hot Fuss album)

7. Bless My Soul - Powderfinger ("Cover me in the red and gold". Bernard wrote this when they were in Spain so I had it in my head through Spain in March)

8. Holiday in Spain - Counting Crows ("Or we could simply pack our bags and catch a train to Barcelona cos this city's a drag". Completes the double on Spain, for the same reason as Bless My Soul. If you don't own the Hard Candy album, shame on you)

9. Nightminds - Missy Higgins (Jane would kill me if Missy wasn't in there. Great remix on MoS Chillout Sessions by her brother Dave too)

10. Fix You - Coldplay ("Lights will guide you home, and ignite your soul". This was no. 1 in the UK for a while, but I like it all the same...)

11. Catch My Disease - Ben Lee ("My head is a box full of nothing". Deep. I can relate to it nonetheless)

12. A Sort of Homecoming - U2 ("For tonight, at lastI am coming home". To say I think of home from time to time would be an understatement. Actually, it sprung back to mind when Chris Martin [lead singer of Coldplay] said he sings his baby to sleep with this song every night)

13. Swallowed in the Sea - Coldplay ("And I could write a song a hundred miles long, well, that's where I belong, and you belong with me")

14. Miracle Drug - U2 (What a song: absolutely brilliantly performed at the concert we saw at Twickenham in June)

Hidden Track: We're all in this Together - Ben Lee ("Every 12 seconds, someone remembers, that we're all in this together". Ben played this at the end of the concert after he'd started to walk off stage. Instead of leaving, by popular demand he unplugged his guitar, stood at the edge of the crowd and sang this, with everyone singing along. Great moment and great outro to my 2005 annual)

It's only been while we're over here that we've realised just how much we love Australian music, so we can't wait to get stuck into it when we get back again. The great thing is that you can go and see some of the better (or maybe just bigger) Aussies in small venues for an affordable price a'la Ben Lee at the 100 Club on Oxford Street when we got Claire Danes' mobile number and Ben complemented Jane on her smile. Bring on 2006.