by Kate Mackley

Everyone has their picks for the "Best of–" during the past year. Here are a few things that caught my attention.

Everyone has their picks for the "Best of–" during the past year. Here are a few things that caught my attention.

2005 Albums That Ought to Pay My iPod Rent

Lousy Robot, The Strange and True Story of Your Life

The Hourly Radio, The Lure of the Underground, with my #1 Most Played track of 2005, "Fear of Standing Upright" (because of all those hours on the treadmill, I’m sure).

Happy Bullets, The Vice and Virtue Ministry

John Dufilho, I Remain, As Always, a Rabble Rouser from the Mountains

and everything Cory Watson did this year.

My Mix CD 2005

with the songs my friends made sure I had:

"Apple Candy", Ben Lee, Awake Is The New Sleep

"Between Us", Brendan Benson, Alternative to Love

"Take It Easy", Bright Eyes, Digital Ash in a Digital Urn

"Confection", Mommy And Daddy, Fighting Style Killer Panda

"Finding Out True Love Is Blind", Louis XIV, The Best Little Secrets are Kept

"What League Am I In?", Michaelmas, Every Minute A Mystery (Comes With A Smile)

"The Skin Of My Yellow Country Teeth", Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah

"Dinner Bells", Wolf Parade, Apologies To The Queen Mary

and the ones I sent to them:

"On and On", Mission to the Sea, Red Light

"Badlands", Spitfire Tumbleweeds, King James Version

"One Day at a Time", Johnny Lloyd Rollins, Let's Be Poor Together

"Montreal", Salim Nourallah, Beautiful Noise

"Foreigner", Zapruder Sequence, EP

"Good Luck", Chris Holt, Summer Reverb

plus, of course, all the other albums mentioned here.

Best Synchronicity

Black Tie Dynasty and [DARYL] for Bloody Basin

Most Infectious Song

"Willow" by Millicent Friendly. and now it’s stuck in my head, again.

Best Show I Couldn’t Handle

Salim Nourallah @ Bend Studio – Salim, undiluted. I fled in tears.

Best Music Marathon I’d Run Again

Spune’s Wall of Sound @ Hailey’s

Best Sandwich I Ate During a Music Fest

Denton’s Sweetwater Café (around the corner from Hailey’s): shrimp, cheese, and bacon. See those extra pounds on my hips? Uh huh. yum.

Best Time That Was Over Too Soon

Trees, Club Dada, Highlands Café’s first season

Most Improved Club

The Cavern, duh.

Most Innovative and Freakin’ Great Idea, ever.

Bend Studio – the vibe, the art, the shoelessness

Best Thing That Began

Podcasts: yours and mine.

Most Interesting New Band on My Radar

Auto Escape

Most Interesting Personality

Scott Porter

Rocking My 2006

The Lord Henry – in the studio with Stuart Sikes and a new album. The Beatles meet The Strokes.

Au Revoir 2005! Can’t wait for 2006.