| 2005 |
| Lil Wayne Tha Carter II | 1.5 |
| System of a Down Hypnotize | 3.0 |
| Foo Fighters Five Songs and a Cover | 2.5 |
| The Mars Volta Scab Dates | 3.0 |
| Rammstein Rosenrot | 2.5 |
| Demon Hunter The Triptych | 2.0 |
| Through the Eyes of the Dead Bloodlust | 2.0 |
| Maylene and the Sons of Disaster Maylene and the Sons of Disaster | 3.5 |
| Animal Collective Feels | 3.5 |
| Flyleaf Flyleaf | 3.0 |
| Panic! at the Disco A Fever You Can't Sweat Out | 1.5 |
| Imogen Heap Speak For Yourself | 3.0 |
| Soulwax Nite Versions | 3.5 |
| God Forbid IV: Constitution of Treason | 2.5 |
| Coheed and Cambria From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness | 4.5 |
| The Absence From Your Grave | 2.5 |
| Between the Buried and Me Alaska | 3.0 |
| Protest the Hero Kezia | 2.5 |
| Ludo Broken Bride EP | 3.5 |
| Five.Bolt.Main Venting | 3.0 |
| DevilDriver The Fury of Our Maker's Hand | 3.0 |
| dredg Catch Without Arms | 4.0 |
| Evergreen Terrace Sincerity is an Easy Disguise in this Business | 2.5 |
| As I Lay Dying Shadows Are Security | 2.5 |
| The White Stripes Get Behind Me Satan | 3.0 |
| Thine Eyes Bleed In the Wake of Separation | 2.5 |
| M.I.A. Arular | 4.0 |
| Animal Collective Prospect Hummer | 3.0 |
| System of a Down Mezmerize | 3.5 |
| Nine Inch Nails With Teeth | 3.0 |
| The National Alligator | 5.0 |
| Alligator is where The National went from being a good band to being a perfect band, and it is the perfect set-up album for Boxer. While Boxer is all about coming to grips with newly discovered adulthood, becoming distant from once-close friends and colorless work routines, Alligator reminds us of the more hopeful time of late youth before that when the whole world was on the horizon waiting to be experienced. Even so, despite the unbridled confidence of "All the Wine," the child-like ambition in "The Geese of Beverly Road" and the spontaneous adventure seeking in "City Middle," Matt Berninger's lyrics occasionally hint at a sense of doubt starting to sink in and climaxing in the remarkable closer "Mr. November." Alligator is the perfect prequel to Boxer and High Violet and an outstanding album on its own. I highly recommend it. |
| Queens of the Stone Age Lullabies to Paralyze | 3.0 |
| Trivium Ascendancy | 1.5 |
| The Mountain Goats The Sunset Tree | 1.5 |
| The Mars Volta Frances the Mute | 3.5 |
| Frances the Mute vs. De-Loused in the Comatorium: the debate swings back and forth. I've always preferred the latter, and after a recent listen to the former, I still do. Proponents of Frances... point to how each of the five songs sound different from one another and each have their own feel. While this is true, I don't necessarily see this as a strength for the album. "L'Via L'Viaquez" in particular, despite being a great effort, seems out of place. Even within the songs, transitions seems unnatural and even a little forced. Finally, De-Loused... boasts a better and more interesting story. That being said, the excellent moments on Frances... are still excellent, and this is still outstanding. |
| Apocalyptica Apocalyptica | 3.5 |
