I did nothing whatsoever on New Year's Eve. I worked a bunch of overtime and went home. Hurrah!

Man, I can't wait to get on the Trail. I'm losing it in Greensboro. I'm so bored I can't take it.

Quickly:

2005

1. Crooked Fingers - Dignity and Shame
Favorite record of the year, just barely beating the Decemberists. This one is so full of surprises that it never gets old.

2. The Decemberists - Picaresque
So much better than their second album. Better even than their great first record.

3. Sufjan Stevens - Illinois
It's amazing that people's brains can conceive of albums like this. Beauty.

4. Magnolia Electric Co. - Trials and Errors
This is what Neil Young and Crazy Horse would sound like if Neil Young would stop writing shitty concept albums and boring acoustic albums.

5. Spoon - Gimme Fiction
I have tried a hundred times to rip off Spoon for Dawn Chorus songs and it never works out.

6. My Morning Jacket - Z
Shorter than their last album and more varied in sound. Much, much better than anything they've ever done.

7. Uwharria half of the Crimson Spectre/Uwharria split
The Spectre stuff is good, but Uwharria are unbelievable. "Winter Bear" is the jam of the decade. "Porcupine turd bed!"

8. Death Cab for Cutie - Plans
Did not like this record at first, but it has really grown on me. A few of the songs are a little dopey, though.

9. Lungfish - Feral Hymns
Lungfish is more raw here than on any record in their last few. This one doesn't come close to touch their last, Love Is Love, but still Lungfish is the world's most awesome band.

10. Sun Kil Moon - Tiny Cities
I don't know most the original versions of these songs. Maybe that's the best way to experience this album.

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Ajoe - I've only heard the Ryan Adams album(s) a couple of times. I'd like to have them, but I haven't gotten either yet. I like that he openly admits to trying to write Grateful Dead-like songs for Cold Roses.