Dear Local,

I'm sending you this note in hopes you're well and to let you know I'm listing Philly's Best of 2005. CDs! This isn't about artistry, [your name here], so if you didn't release a 2005 record, don't wonder why doesn't he like me? (Then again—if you did and I didn't, I probably don't. Siiiike.)

Likewise, if four-fifths of your membership is in Brooklyn (Clap Your etc.), your record dropped December 2004 (Undergirl, Franzschubert), was recorded 30 years ago (Notekillers), is a compilation of your best between 1986 and 1998 (David E. Williams), features you gloriously splicing 'n' spinning others' tunes (Diplo's Fabric 24, Cosmo's Mothafucking Remix) or has anything to do with Sears (Spinto Band)—no matter how much I dig you—you ain't here.

Golden Ball, The Luxury of Pause (HoneyMoon): Eno's Taking Tiger Mountain meets Devendra Banhart. Laughs ensue.

Persona, Hard-Work for Hang-Ups (self-released): Histrionic synth-oscillating glam pop with lyrics as theatrical as the music.

Bebek, Bebek (Bebek): Murkily complex yet remarkably spare and clear (thanks to Lynn Michalopoulos' operatic voice), Bebek is Goth-rock, dub and Middle Eastern Airto-jazz with myth-allegorical lyrics. (Splinter band 722's self-released We're Taking Over mines similar gold, only faster and sillier.)

V, The Revelation Is Now Televised (BBE): Smoothly crooned cut 'n' paste space-soul—innovative, traditional, elegant—for fans of Dwele and Jazzanova.

Uri Caine & Bedrock, Shelf-Life (Winter & Winter): Avant-jazz classicist gets zestily electronic with snark and showtune-iness. Bravo, piano man.

Phil Moore Browne, Motel Moore (self-released): Blackskronkrock that's unafraid to take its shirt off and Ziggaboo Gospel prose-juggling jive at its live-est.

Sympathizers, Dread at the Controls (thnthn): Smush The Clash's ABBA-dub-punk Sandinista into one album. Add better vocals. Stir to taste.

Make a Rising, Rip Through the Hawk Black Night (High Two): If The A-Sides remade Pet Sounds (brilliantly), MaR mimicked the weirdly harmonious symphonies to God of Brian Wilson's Smile with eerie glee and rough aplomb.

Various Artists , 1935 Presents...

(self-released): Pete Rydberg and Paul Smith offered space and production heat to the metal-est morass this town can handle: Angus Khan, Jukebox Zeros, KeN—all of whom dropped thick rousing CDs on ya in 2005. Grrrr.

Various Artists, Songs From the Sixth Borough (Plain Parade): Philly covers by Philly artists. Dragon City doing Todd. A-Sides on Gamble & Huff. Hail Social having at Mazarin. Evil Janet meets Cynthia G. Mason. Shows you love each other. You really love each other.

Various Artists, Up the Stairs and Through the Hall (Large Marge): Rich Wexler's smelly compilation of West Philly's quirkiest rawkers (The Teeth), game-synth faves (Chromelodeon), avant-rock finds (The Doctor and Philip) and odd-inbetweenies (Tiananmen Squared) all makes sense in context.

Love,
A. D. Amorosi