There seem to have been quite a few decent releases so far. My personal favourites in order:
Character - Dark Tranquillity
Candlemass - Candlemass
Ascendancy - Trivium
Mafia - Black Label Society
Elements Of Persuasion - James LaBrie
Apocalyptica - Apocalyptica
Fantomas' Suspended Animation just blew, as did Daft Punk's Human After All. I can't say I thought much of Alien by Strapping Young Lad. The Mars Volta's Frances The Mute was decent and had some really good sections, but overall just felt really confusing.
Of course, there are still some great releases coming out soon, like Octavarium and possibly new studio albums by Silverchair and Black Sabbath.
que onda guero? - beck
elevator - hot hot heat
love music angel hollaback girl - gwen stefani (i don't own this CD, i just think hollaback girl is up there with hanson)
Crossfade. That's all I have to say.
Seventeen Days ~ 3 Doors Down
I haven't really listened to any new releases so far, mainly things that came out in 99-03.
Dark Tranquillity ~ Character
Turbonegro ~ Party Animals
Naplam Death ~ The Code is red long live the code
Trivium ~ Ascendary
Judas Priest ~ The Angel Of Retribution
Graveworm ~ [n]utopia
Black Whitchery ~ Upheaval of satanic Might
*Awaits the Dream Theater fans*
I haven't been all too impressed with the albums released so far this year. Evergrey's live cd is one of the worst ones in my collection and With_Teeth by Nine Inch Nails disappointed me greatly. From all of the feedback I've heard, Ulver's Blood Inside is looking to be great album, and the new Demons and Wizards album has its good moments. Not all is lost, I suppose.
i look forward to the new nightmare cinema album
nothing else seems whining about, elements of persuasion wasn't that great in my opinion :/
the only things from 2005 i've listened to are fischerspooner's "odessey" (good), millencolin's "kingwood" (good), and "frances the mute" (boring).
june 7th, though, brian eno puts out a solo album like he hasn't done since "before and after science". i'm going to pre-emptively say that it'll be the best thing i've heard from 2005.
it's really hard to tell, because honestly, 2005 has sucked so far
yeah, i only found out like a week ago.
check out [url=http://www.recordstore.co.uk/brianeno/]here[/url], [url=http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=ADFEAEE47F18DE46AB7420F3BA1A6AFD9C56DF28FD6BD3A03B13787AFF9E1171AC2559CE12D6A6B0FD8B3FF110F7F66CA6160ACCC9EF49FEDC6638718CEFAC613F344A01185438&sql=10:xpen97lfkrat]here[/url], and, of course, [url=http://enoweb.co.uk]here[/url].
By the way, I haven't listened to much of these albums...
Enemy Of *** - Kreator (pretty decent speed/thrash, but the Exodus-like vocals are dodgy)
Two Shoes - The Cat Empire (much worse than their debut)
Angel Of Retribution - Judas Priest (seems good)
Stabbing The Drama - Soilwork (listenable, but far too formulaic)
Deadwing - Porcupine Tree (I only have the Lazarus single so far, but it's great)
Did I mention new In Flames/Opeth (who signed to Roadrunner, :() albums?
Mafia- Black Label Society
Angel of retribution- Judas Priest
Yhese are the only good 2 albums i've heard so far
I just got the new styx album that was released a few weeks ago. ive been listening to it ever since. its that good! bunch of cover songs from old bands like The Who's and the Beatles. fave song is "i am the walrus". by far, my choice for best album of 2005.
Mudvayne-Happy
System of a down-BYOB
theres a few more that im really into, except like a few mentioned on prior posts, they didnt come out in 2005.
coldplay......i used to hate this band because i thought they were a cheap knock off of U2, but their new single has a beutiful sound.
So far I have enjoyed the new ones from Bruce Dickinson, Overkill, Dream Theater and Nile. I checked out the new one from Obituary and unless there are only 9 albums I listen to this year that will be the only way it makes a top 10 list of mine. Black Label Societys "Mafia" was OK for awhile but after a month I got really tired of it.
Demons & Wizards - "Touched by the Crimson King" is the best album I've heard so far this year. Bruce Dickinson's new solo album "Tyranny of Souls" isn't that bad either...
Architecture in Helsinki's 'In Case We Die' was pretty good, I think it came out this year.
I'm also liking this Decemberists album I just downloaded. Total me music. Sounds like Augie March actually... who will release the best album of 2005 in August or so.
What I've heard of Nevermore's new album is great.