about a dose of thrush you got while you were licking railings

Well Ben Folds was top notch on Monday, playing a solo show as his drummer had food poisoning. The NIA is a strange cavernous venue but he coped admirably, even treating us to some drumming and funky bass guitar when the piano had to be repaired. And as if his own tunes weren't great enough he played his version of Dr Dre's 'Bitches Ain't Shit' again to much amusement and general awe.

So as we spiral helplessly to the end of the year it's time for a list.

Top 20 albums of 2005
1. Malcolm Middleton - Into The Woods
2. Antony & the Johnsons - I Am A Bird Now
3. Rufus Wainwright - Want Two
4. Sigur Ros - Takk
5. Clem Snide - End Of Love
6. The Decemberists - Picaresque
7. Sufjan Stevens - Illinoise
8. Silver Sun - Dissapear Here
9. Suburban Kids With Biblical Names - 3
10. The New Pornographers - Twin Cinema
11. The Lucksmiths - Warmer Corners
12. Andrew Bird - & The Mysterious Production of Eggs
13. Ben Folds - Songs For Silverman
14. King Creosote - KC Rules OK
15. Grandaddy - Excerpts from the Diary Of Todd Zilla
16. Bright Eyes - Digital Ash In A Digital Urn
17. Half Man Half Biscuit - Achtung Bono
18. Martha Wainwright - Martha Wainwright
19. Rilo Kiley - More Adventurous
20. Saint Etienne - Tales From Turnpike House

Top 3 Compilation albums of 2005
1. Luke Haines - Is Dead
2. Fountains Of Wayne - Out Of State Plates
3. Belle & Sebastian - Push Barman To Open Old Wounds

And finally today's header is from 'Lazy Line Painter Jane' by Belle and Sebastian