The absolute best albums of the last 5 years?

There are over 500 album reviews in the CLUAS archives. While they've always been accessible via our archive pages, the way the reviews have been presented (one big long unordered list of reviews for each year) is not very user friendly. Which is a pity as there are some terrific reviews in there, as well as reviews of great albums that may have slipped under one's radar. Thankfully the chances of missing out on some such gems over the years has now decreased dramatically. Read on for the fabulous details...

The CLUAS album archive pages have now been reorganised to ensure that our album reviews are listed, for each year, in order of the rating that the reviewer gave the album out of 10. Is that a collective 'Wow' I hear?

Anyways. What's interesting to see is the albums that came out on the top of the pile each year. Most of the top ranking albums are solid but some are, ehhm, let's just say "curious". Below are listed the very top ranking albums (i.e. albums that scored 8.5 or more out of 10) as reviewed by CLUAS writers from 2005 to 2009. Are these the best albums of that period? Certainly not, although many are gems that will stand the test of time. One thing for sure is that the list of albums and their accompanying reviews make for interesting reading.

So what was the top rated album released between 2005 and 2009, according to the CLUAS writers? The answer is, of course, obvious. It has to be the, ehh, all time classic 'Holiday Mix 2005' released by DFA Records.... Read on for even more mind-bending insights revealed in the list (including releases by 10 Irish acts).

10 out of 10

• DFA Records 'Holiday Mix 2005'

9.5 out of 10

• Ray LaMontagne 'Trouble' (2005 release)
• C O D E S 'Trees Dream in Algebra' (2009 release)
• Placebo 'Battle For The Sun' (2009 release)

9 out of 10

• Biffy Clyro 'Only Revolutions' (2009 release)
• Pearl Jam 'Backspacer' (2009 release)
• Fnessnej 'Stay Fresh, Ey' (2009 release)
• Pearse McGloughlin 'Busy Whisper' (2009 release)
• Alela Diane 'To Be Still' (2009 release)
• Graham Coxon 'The Spinning Top' (2009 release)
• Julie Feeney 'Pages' (2009 release)
• Dark Room Notes 'We Love You Dark Matter' (2009 release)
• Antony and the Johnsons 'I am bird now' (2005 release)
• The Black Keys 'Rubber Factory' (2005 release)
• Go! Team 'Thunder, Lightning Strike' (2005 release)
• Joanna Newsom 'Milk-Eyed Mender' (2005 release)
• Modest Mouse 'Good News For People Who Love Bad News' (2005 release)
• Rufus Wainwright 'Want Two' (2005 release)
• David Byrne & Brian Eno 'My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts' (2006 release)
• Clap Your Hands Say Yeah (2006 release)
• Artic Monkeys 'Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not' (2006 release)
• Future Kings of Spain 'Nervousystem' (2007 release)
• Alessandra Celletti 'Esoterik Satie' (2007 release)
• Electrelane 'No Shouts, No Calls' (2008 release)

Between 8.5 and 9 out of 10

• Rilo Kiley 'More Adventurous' (8.9 out of 10, 2005 release)
• Arcade Fire 'Funeral' (8.75 out of 10, 2005 release)

8.5 out of 10

• Ryan Adams & the Cardinals 'Jacksonville City Lights' (2005 release)
• Bell X1 'Flock' (2005 release)
• Bloc Party 'Silent Alarm' (2005 release)
• Martin Finke 'Crown Time' (2005 release)
• M83 'Before The Dawn Heals Us' (2005 release)
• The Frank and Walters 'A Renewed Interest in Happiness' (2006 release)
• Luxembourg 'Front' (2006 release)
• Hope of the States 'Left' (2006 release)
• Islands  'Return To The Sea' (2006 release)
• OK GO 'Oh No' (2006 release)
• Goodtime John 'I'll Sing Till The Sun Turns Cold' (2006 release)
• Neil Young 'Live At Massey Hall' (2007 release)
• 'Death Proof' (soundtrack) (2007 release)
• Jape 'Ritual' (2008 release)
• Elbow 'Seldom Seen Kid' (2008 release)
• Ham Sandwich 'Carry The Meek' (2008 release)
• Mumford & Sons 'Sigh No More' (2009 release)
• AFI 'Crash Love' (2009 release)
• Tommy Reilly 'Words On the Floor' (2009 release) 

More ...

[Read More...]