My Top 20 Songs Of 2005:

I know... this is fairly late. I'm lazy O.K.! ...Also, because I've a lot on my plate at the minute and it's not as if anyone's taking any notice of what's going on here... Anyway, Although some of these might have actually been released in 2004 I didn't discover them until 2005. It's my personal list and I'm fine with it... so you have to be... he he.

Hear (Pun) it is:

1) Black Refuge - Junip
2) John Wayne Gacy, Jr. - Sufjan Stevens
3) Cripple and the Starfish - Antony & The Johnsons
4) Michael A Grammar - Broadcast
5) The Well - Smog
6) Where The Humans Eat - Willy Mason
7) Sunshowers (SearchAndDelete Remix) - M.I.A.
8) The Matter (Of Our Discussion) [feat. Nina Nastasia] - Boom Bip
9) Lost In Hollywood - System Of A Down
10) Wait - Ying Yang Twins
11) Mr. Raven - MC Lars
12) With Love From America - The Congregation Of Vapors
13) Black Horse and the Cherry Tree (Live) - KT Tunstall
14) Single Again - The Fiery Furnaces
15) List Of Demands (Reparations) - Saul Williams
16) Noah's Ark - CocoRosie
17) Die - Carissa's Weird
18) Love You From The Heart - Kevin Blechdom
19) Extraordinary Machine - Fiona Apple
20) Gold Digger (feat. Jamie Foxx) - Kanye West

Jesus Is Super, Man

Well it's gotta be everyone's album of the year, few would argue that it doesn't deserve it. Few would not be so stupid. For me Sufjan Stevens' Illinois brings up a lot of lingering points worth thinking about. For one, I was shocked to hear that Sufjan was a christian. Though it's not exactly a crazy thing to have Christian Musicians in the States (Remember Styx... sigh), it's very rare to see in the U.K.. I am trying to think of anyone other than Cliff Richard with very little luck. To have such substantial content in an album by a christian that merely doesn't state: 'You are so Great' or 'I am worthless, and so I worship', is outstanding...
Anyway, one of the stand-out tracks on the album is 'The Man of Metropolis Steals Our Hearts'. This track, although not a direct look at Superman has various insights to a saviour or an ideal of a strong influential 'man'.
When you look at the story of Superman you will see it's similarity to the story of Jesus. Just like God, Superman's Father 'Jor-El' sends his only son to show man the difference between right and wrong. Brought up in a rural community by a stepfather, we are told of his childhood and then skip forward to his manhood (Until Smallville of course). We are also witness to Superman giving his life to save those he loves.
You could say that this is mere coincidence or simply 'looking too hard'. I cannot help think though that Shuster & Siegel (Both Jewish) re-wrote the New Testament to create a modern day saviour...

Further Reading:
Jesus Vs. Superman
Jesus as Superman
Jesus, Superman & Me
Jimmy Caviezel is Both?