Top 10s for 2005: Navy Keophan
01. Knugen Faller - Inte Som Ni (Ny Våg): I loved the first 7-inch. I love this one even more. More catchier and fun to play at loud volumes in your home as kids wander by trying to figure out what language it is. I can't wait to hear the full-length.
02. Regulations - s/t (Havoc): The return of early-'80s L.A. punk. What's with the water in the north of Sweden that makes bands like Regulations so awesome? I'd go on about it but I know Avi wants to keep this short. [ed: fine, blame me! be that way.]
03. The Soundtrack of Our Lives - Origins, vol. 1 (Universal): I know it got released in Europe last year but I managed to pick up the U.S. release earlier this year. Another fine release by these gentlemen and a testament to their pyschedelic-pop-rock that is just amazing and beautiful.
04. Randy - Randy the Band (Burning Heart): Seriously, everybody needs to know how great these guys are. They're great live and this album is a great follow up to 2003's "Welfare Problems". Fifteen tracks of catchy punk that has their trademark sound but with a sense of growing up. Plus, who doesn't love harmonies?
05. Sir Henry Fiat's Bastard - Your Mom Is A Fucking Mongo (Pandacide): The frontman of Henry Fiat's Open Sore embarks on a solo side project that is more snarling and rock 'n' roll-based. You can't help but sing along with him on the chorus of "Senorita, I'm In Spain".
06. Turbonegro - Party Animals (Burning Heart/Abacus Recordings): This is the album "Scnadinavian Leather" should have been. Over-the-top, cheeky and my guilty pleasure.
07. Six Finger Satellite discography: I know it's not Scandinavian but these Providence, Rhode Island-based Chrome and DAF worshippers came back onto my radar this year. This is the stuff I wished I had listened to when I was in high school.
08. Junior Senior - Hey Hey My My Yo Yo (Crunchy Frog): It's just so happy.
09. The Juan Maclean live: One of the best shows I've been to all year. Even with the bad joke he told, never have I seen such a diverse crowd dance into the wee hours of the night.
10. Made In Mexico - Zodiac Zoo (Skingraft): More Rhode Island madness. Former members of Arab On Radar and La Machine and a lead singer who could give Karen O a run for her money. Noisy, hypnotic and good enough to make me sleep after a hard night of work.
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Navy Keophan only hopes 2006 can live up to 2005.
(Navy is a regular contributor to IAT)