Music Makes the Bourgeoisie and the Rebel

I gotta say, 2005 is shaping up to be a pretty decent year musically. There have been good to great releases from perennial favorites such as Doves, Beck, Sleater-Kinney, Steve Roach, and The Pernice Brothers, as well as a few acts I'd never heard before this year such as Tarentel, Andrew Bird, and The Decemberists.

Of course, there were a few stinkers as well (=ahem!= Audioslave), but it might actually be difficult to narrow the field once it comes time to craft my top ten.

Speaking of which, a question for the Constant Commenters. Although my number one album is pretty much set in stone (and has been almost since it's release), I'd be curious to read what all of you think stood out this year. For that matter, which slabs of sound really stank up the joint?

Don't be shy! Step right up!