Critics' Choice 2005

1. Arcade Fire Funeral [Rough Trage]
An album that could have been designed by Edward Gorey, filmed by Tim Burton and written by Edgar Allan Poe. Funeral was a slow grower that introduced Roy Orbison to Echo & The Bunnymen, and wedded Spector and Motown to pre-punk Springsteen and post-punk big music. The four part ‘Neighbourhood’ suite and the anthemic ‘Crown Of Love’ proved that the Arcadians were the first credible stadium contenders since U2 and REM.
2. Bloc Party – Silent Alarm [V2]
3. Anthony & The Johnsons – I Am A Bird Now [Rough Trade]
4. Sufjan Stevens – Illinoise [Rough Trade]
5. Franz Ferdinand – You Could Have It So Much Better [Domino]