Top 10 Albums of 2005

#10: "I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning" (2005) Bright Eyes

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Starting off our list is a little indie folk album with minimal production, but one that packs one hell of an emotional punch. With the band's signature quiet and boy-ish vocals, Bright Eyes mixed spoken verses with vocals from the heart, creating an emotional album that impacts through its intense lyricism. It was ranked on various year-end, and even some decade-end lists, and it peaked at #10 on the Billboard 200, proving that you don't need flashy production and lots of band members to be popular. A timeless indie folk record that is both powerful and playful.

#9: "X&Y" (2005) Coldplay

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Speaking of production, Coldplay are masters of mixing high production values with emotional songwriting, and that is just as evident as ever on their third release X&Y. Featuring a more electronic-oriented sound than their previous, softer releases, X&Y was just as big a success, becoming the highest selling album of 2005 with over eight million sold. While some fans were disappointed in their new sound, the album was still critically acclaimed and won the BRIT Award for Best British Album.

#8: "Z" (2005) My Morning Jacket

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A more streamlined and mainstream approach to the band's music, Z proved that you could create amazing music while still experimenting with your sound. More polished than previous releases and introducing reggae and dub influences, Z was a critical smash and was ranked as the second best reviewed album on Metacritic for 2005. It has since been named one of the best albums of the decade, and features some of the best psychedelic rock in modern music. Now if only more people would actually listen to it.

This debut from Canadian rock band Wolf Parade was highly acclaimed upon release, featuring indie rock at its best and most powerful. It was so acclaimed that many publications have put it on their best of decade lists, and regard it as a major influence on the indie rock scene of the mid-2000s, helping to popularize the genre. Shortlisted for the 2006 Polaris Music Prize and produced by Isaac Brock from Modest Mouse, the band hit the ground running with this rocking debut album.

#6: "LCD Soundsystem" (2005) LCD Soundsystem

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Before their legendary final performance at Madison Square Garden, this small, eccentric album was released and helped popularize the band’s nonconformist style of music. The album never really adheres to one style of music, so it's hard to classify just what exactly LCD Soundsystem does, but that is what makes them so unique and memorable. Critically acclaimed for its ambition, LCD Soundsystem had many scratching their heads, but many more dancing along to the peculiar beats and praising the album for its hilarity and its originality.

Another indie rock classic, Spoon's Gimme Fiction only helps to solidify the evidence that 2005 was the year for indie music. Only reaching #44 on the Billboard 200, Spoon gained recognition through stellar reviews and loyal fans that have loved their art rock sound for years. With some seriously catchy singles, and vocals that are as punchy as the instrumentals, Gimme Fiction has become a staple of the genre and a go-to for people just looking to rock out.

A successful independent release, Silent Alarm has gained critical acclaim and peaked at #3 on the UK Album Chart, selling over one million copies, proving the strong word-of-mouth and hype the albumreceived upon release. Geared towards young adults who are just experiencing life for the first time, the album was praised upon release for its fast tempo songs and the delivery of singer Kele Okereke. The album was passionate yet energetic, creating an unforgettable listening experience that was both emotional and fun to listen to.

Before Kanye became the self-proclaimed “Yeezus”, he was laying down some seriously classic hip hop tracks on Late Registration. The album is notable for both its emotional lyrics, and its instrumentation, featuring instruments not typically heard in rap music, including string arrangements. It was critically raved upon release and won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album. It is now considered a seminal album in the rap genre, and proves that, despite his attitude, Kanye is a true master of lyrics and music.

Another independent release, Sufjan Stevens' Illinois was praised upon its release and is considered one of the best indie rock albums of the entire decade. Spanning various topics regarding the state of Illinois, including its people and architecture, Stevens was praised for his emotional lyrics that came from the heart and displayed a cityscape through music. It also featured some complex musical arrangements, helping to round out the album's perfection and achieve its status as the highest rated album on Metacritic for 2005. Before we look at our top album of 2005, here are a few honorable mentions. "The Woods" (2005) Sleater-Kinney "Plans" (2005) Death Cab for Cutie "Takk..." (2005) Sigur Ros "Get Behind Me Satan" (2005) The White Stripes "Alligator" (2005) The National "Arular" (2005) M.I.A.

#1: "Demon Days" (2005) Gorillaz

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The second studio album by virtual rock band Gorillaz, Demon Days proved that great music will always transcend the physical appearance of the band. The band helped to redefine music for the 21st century, introducing their virtual music through the internet and never showing their actual faces. The music itself transcended typical pop music, incorporating hints of hip hop, electronic and rock into their sound. Critically acclaimed for its production, beats, and concept, Demon Days was an incredible feat in music, and proved to be 2005’s most exciting release. Do you agree with our list? What album from 2005 is your favourite? For more beautiful top tens published every day, be sure to subscribe to Watchmojo.com.