Welcome to the 2005 Indy Music Awards and congratulations to our nominees. Thanks to our readers for offering their ideas on musical accomplishments in the past year. As we noted in our year in review, close to 400 CDs, singles and LPs came out of the Triangle and joining environs–a pretty amazing output.
Following are a list of the records, songs, bands and artists that our readers and music writers felt warranted recognition as the best of the year. Now it’s your turn. We hope you’ll take a minute to fill out a ballot or vote online and cast your ballots.
More importantly, though, we hope you’ll pay a visit to the bands’ Web sites and check ’em out next time they’re playing.
Best Rock Band
Des Ark
(www.desark.org)
Eyes to Space
(www.eyestospace.com)
The Moaners
(www.themoaners.com)
Nathan Asher & The Infantry
(www.nathanasher.com)
Valient Thorr
(www.valientthorr.com)
Best Rock Record
Birds Make Good Neighbors
The Rosebuds
(Merge Records)
Released: Sept. 13, 2005. Recorded at Brian Paulson’s studio. Produced by Brian Paulson.
(www.therosebuds.com)
The Fast Rise & Fall of the South
Kingsbury Manx
(Yep Roc)
Released: Sept. 20, 2005. Recorded at Key Club Recording. Produced by Kingsbury Manx & Mike Jorgensen.
(www.thekingsburymanx.com)
Loose Lips Sink Ships
Des Ark
(Bifocal Media)
Released: March 8, 2005. Recorded at Mango’s Place & Quiet Places. Produced by J. Mascis & Zeno Gill.
Sex Without Love
Nathan Asher & The Infantry
(self-released)
Released: Sept. 2005. Recorded live at Martin Street Music Hall. Produced by Nathan Asher & Rob Farris.
Terry Anderson and the Olympic Ass Kickin’ Team
(self-released)
Released: Sept. 17, 2005. Recorded at Jack Cornell’s house & at Vista Point. Produced by Jack Cornell.
(www.terryandersonrocks.com)
Best Rock Song
“Boxcar”
The Rosebuds, from Birds Make Good Neighbors. Written by Kelly Crisp & Ivan Howard.
“Ghosts of Germany”
STRANGE, from Things in Night. Written by David Mueller.
(www.thisisstrange.org)
“Some are Love”
Des Ark, from Loose Lips Sink Ships. Written by Des Ark.
“Sunglasses and Headlights”
The Cherry Valence, from TCV3. Written by The Cherry Valence.
(www.thecherryvalence.com)
“You Cannot Quit Smoking”
Nathan Asher & The Infantry, from Sex Without Love. Written by Nathan Asher.
Best New Rock Band
Birds of Avalon
(www.birdsofavalon.com)
Cities
(www.myspace.com/citiesnc)
DeYarmond Edison
(www.dyemusic.com) Dirty
Little Heaters
(www.thedirtylittleheaters.com)
The Physics of Meaning
(www.thephysicsofmeaning.com)
A Rooster for the Masses
(www.aroosterforthemasses.com)
Best Hip Hop Group/Artist
Cesar Comanche
(cesarcomanche.8m.com)
Inflowential
(www.inflowential.com)
L.E.G.A.C.Y.
(www.6hole.com)
Little Brother
(www.littlebrothermusicinc.com)
Robosapien
(www.myspace.com/robosapien)
Best Hip Hop Record
Cave Livin’
Endless Mic
(Trekky Records)
Released: Nov. 25, 2005. Produced by Zano, Deez & Sleepy D. (www.endlessmic.com)
Louder than Words
Twip
(Iced Records)
Released: Aug. 16, 2005. Produced by Megahertz, Chris Styles & Midi Mafia.
(www.twipmusic.com)
The Minstrel Show
Little Brother
(Atlantic Records)
Released: Sept. 13, 2005. Recorded at Chop Shop Studios. Produced by 9th Wonder & Khrysis.
(www.atlanticrecords.com/littlebrother)
The Perfection Xperiment 2
The Thyrday
(Street Flava)
Released: June 25, 2005. Produced by Khrysis, 9th Wonder, K. Slack & Nicolay.
(thethyrday.com) Project Mayhem L.E.G.A.C.Y. (6 Hole Records) Released: May 17, 2005. Recorded at Chop Shop Studios & Missie Ann Studios. Produced by 9th Wonder & Khrysis.
(www.6holerecords.com)
Best Hip Hop Song
“Comfortable”
Median (with Spectac & L.E.G.A.C.Y.), from The Path to Relief EP.
Written by Median.
(www.thejustusleague.com)
“Grown Folks”
Shelly B, from No Co-Signs. Written by Shelly B.
(www.shelly-b.com)
“Let’s Go”
Twip, from Louder than Words. Written by Twip.
“Likka Hi (Last Call)”
The Away Team, from National Anthem. Written by Sean Boog & Khrysis.
(www.thejustusleague.com)
“Lovin’ It”
Little Brother (with Joe Scudda), from The Minstel Show. Written by Little Brother.
Best Country Group
Caitlin Cary & Thad Cockrell
(www.caitlinandthad.com)
Hooverville
(www.hooverville.org)
Stillhouse
(www.stillhousetheband.com)
Tres Chicas
(www.treschicas.org)
Best Country Record
Begonias
Thad Cockrell & Caitlin Cary
(Yep Roc)
Released: June 14, 2005. Recorded at Alex the Great Recording. Produced by Brad Jones, Thad Cockrell & Caitlin Cary.
Bury Me in the Swamp
Brothers Grim
(self-released)
Released: March 2005. Produced by Brothers Grim.
Home is Loud
Tift Merritt
(Junketboy)
Released: Nov. 1, 2005. Recorded live at the N.C. Museum of Art in June 2005. Produced by Zeke Hutchins.
(www.tiftmerritt.com)
Route 23
Chatham County Line
(Yep Roc)
Released: Feb. 22, 2005. Recorded at Modern Recording. Produced by Chris Stamey & Chatham County Line.
Through the Winter
Stillhouse
(Vella Records)
Released: Oct. 2005. Recorded at Bill Denny’s in Rougemont. Produced by Ryan Pickett.
Best Country Song
“Louisiana Freight Train”
Chatham County Line, from Chatham County Line.
“Please Break My Heart”
Caitlin Cary & Thad Cockrell, from Begonias.
“You’re Killing Me”
Brothers Grim, from Bury Me in the Swamp.
Best Folk Group/Artist
Charles Pettee & FolkPsalm
(www.folkpsalm.com)
Chris Titchner
(www.christitchner.com)
Joe Newberry
(www.joenewberry.com)
Jon Shain
(www.jonshain.com)
Tad Dreis
(www.taddreis.com)
Best Folk Record
Moving Day
Chris Titchner
(Bridgefolk Records)
Released: May 2005. Recorded at Overdub Lane. Produced by Thom Canova & Chris Titchner.
Promise of Light Jamie Anderson
(self-released)
Released: April 2005. Recorded at Outlaw Hill Studios. Produced by Kiya Heartwood.
(www.jamieanderson.com)
Tomorrow’s American Treasures
Michael Holland
(Sit-n-Spin)
Released: Oct. 18, 2005. Produced by Michael Holland.
(www.sit-n-spinrecords.com)
Twice in a Blue Moon
Brian Hershberger
(self-released)
(www.brianhershberger.com)
World Without End
Karl Ruch
(self-released)
Released: Oct. 18, 2005. Recorded at Second Story. Produced by Wade Baynham & Mark Williams.
Best Bluegrass Band
Big Fat Gap
(www.bigfatgap.com)
Chatham County Line
(www.chathamcountyline.com)
The Grass Cats
(www.grasscats.com)
Kickin’ Grass
(www.kickingrass.com)
Old Habits
(www.old-habits.com)
Best Solo Artist
Cole Guerra
(www.coleguerra.com)
Kenny Roby
(www.kennyroby.com)
Shannon O’Connor
(www.shannonoconnor.com)
Yasmine White
(www.yasmusic.com)
Best Solo Record
Angles
David Karsten Daniels
(Bu Hanan Records)
Released: July 19, 2005. Recorded at home. Produced by David Karsten Daniels.
Low in Paradise
Shannon O’Connor
(Varrga Records)
Released: Sept. 13, 2005. Recorded at Overdub Lane. Produced by Michael Binikos.
Scarves & Knives
Cole Guerra
(Cleave Recordings)
Released: Sept. 20, 2005. Produced by Michael Binikos.
Skeletons for Tea
Jane Francis
(Eskimo Kiss Records)
Released: July 26, 2005. Recorded at home. Produced by Jane Francis.
Yasmine White
Yasmine White
(self-released)
Released: April 2005. Recorded at Overdub Lane. Produced by Wes Lachot.
Best R&B/Soul Group
Corey Parker Band
(www.coreyparker.net)
Mosadi Music
(www.mosadimusic.com)
The Remix Project
(www.theremixproject.com)
Who’s Bad?
(www.whosbadmusic.com)
Best Jazz Group/Artist
Chris Boerner Quartet
(www.chrisboerner.com)
“Crowmeat” Bob Pence
(www.retroactivedynamics.com)
John Brown Quintet
(www.jbjazz.com)
Nnenna Freelon
(www.nnenna.com)
Tyson Rogers
(www.tysonrogers.com)
Best Salsa/Reggae/International Group
Dromedary
(www.dromedarymusic.com)
Jaafar
(www.jaafarmusic.com)
Saludos Compay
(www.saludoscompay.com)
Samecumba
(www.samecumba.net)
Best Blues Artist
Captain Luke
(www.musicmaker.org/artistroster/captluke.htm)
Cool John Ferguson
(www.musicmaker.org/artistroster/Cooljohn.htm)
John Dee Holeman & Billy Stevens
(www.musicmaker.org)
Mel Melton & The Wicked Mojos
(www.melmelton.com)
The Mighty Lester Band
(www.mighty-lester.com)
Best DJ
DJ Chela
(www.chelaonline.com)
DJ FM
(www.djfm.com)
DJ 40 Oz.
(dj40oz.com)
DJ Ill Digitz
(www.themidnightsnack.com)
DJ Marco
(www.solidsoundsystem.com)
DJ Rozeman
(www.rozeman.com)
