Album of the year contenders so far:

MIA - Arular

Mars Volta - Frances the Mute

...Trail of Dead - Worlds Apart


trail of deads new more pop direction blew me at first but that album is incredible.

new herbaliser album soon too

The obvious nominees for me:
Sleater-Kinney
White Stripes
The Evens

I haven't heard the new SOAD album yet, but if it fulfills the promises of the few really good songs on their last record, it'll probably be on that list, too.

[Edited on May 29, 2005 by Libella]

I'd add "Blinking Lights and Other Revelations" by the Eels.

I'll have to second the Mars volta.

so far i really like the new Norma Jean, SOAD, AYWKUBTOD, NIN & Turbonegro...these are some of the newer releases that i spent a lot of tiem listening to....maybe some more noteworthy stuff will hit soon...

2005 revival bands for james:
cursive, drowningman, botch.

Gorillaz - Demon Days

-TM

Robot Hive/Exodus - Clutch

for me it's:

The white Stripes
Nine Inch Nails
System of a Down

I'm so mainstream

I've been very lax on keeping up with the new stuff this year, but I think these are the two I've been most impressed with:

The Decemberists--"Picaresque"
Sleater-Kinney--"The Woods"

MESMERISE-SOAD OR WEEZER-MAKE BELEIVE! .But heard some of the Avenged sevenfold lp out next week sounds awesome

There really hasnt been much thats great.

Bloc Party was good but no album of the year
same goes for Gorillaz, Beck, and from what Ive heard of it, the White Stripes
The Mars Volta is prett boring as a whole and doesnt really do much
I dont think there really are any contenders yet its been a dissapointing first half of the year
Im gonna have to nominate Mark Mulcahy for In Pursuit of Happiness, I havnt even heard it, but Ive heard his solo stuff, he was in Polaris the band on Pete and Pete and is insanely badass

Tonedeff - Archetype
Sage Francis - A Healthy Distrust

Alec Empire - The Futurist

Arcade Fire anyone?
I liked it a lot, but for me, not a contender for the album of the year.
Suprised no one mentioned it yet though.

SOAD-mezmerize of course but I'm really feeling that new Audioslave-Out of Exile.

Why are you people mentioning albums that haven't come out, and won't come out for six months or more?

shhhhh...I downloaded nothing, NOTHING i say....

I don't know if it counts but

Pop Will Eat Itself Reformation Tour Live CD of the Shpherd's Bush Empire Gig 25 Jan 2005.

My favourite band, back again after 10 years. the gigs rocked. I rocked. The CD sounds superb. I miss them and am looking forward to new releases which are being talked about for the near future.

The Eels Blinking Lights.... maybe?

But yeah, it does feel like a let down year for my usual go-to, clutch performers (White Stripes, Beck)

Arcade Fire's Funeral was undoubtably the album of the year -- last year. Not sure about 2005 though.

UK release was this year

Million Dead - Harmony no Harmony or
Yourcodenameis:milo - Ignoto

The Books "Lemon of pink", also the latest by the Eels.

Hell No to Mars Volta.
I really dig Arular though.