My favorites (not including reissues and comps) of 2005
1. Open Season - British Sea Power
2. Arcade Fire - Funeral
3. Elevator - Hot Hot Heat
4. Slient Alarm - Bloc Party
5. Every kind Of Light - The Posies
6. Oceans Apart - The Go-Betweens
7. Some Cities - The Doves
8. Plans - Death Cab For Cutie
9. The Back Room - Editors
10. Tourist - Athlete
I realize some may have been released late 2004
These following releases topped many critics lists, I should check them out.
Illinois - Sufjan Stevens
Z - My Morning Jacket
Takk... - Sigur Ros
Broken Social Scene - Broken Social Scene
This is a cool site
http://www.metacritic.com/music/bests/2005.shtml
Edit: Oh and I should thank Blir for persistently raving about British Sea Power, honestly after hearing the song "Apologies to Insect Life" I didn't think they'd ever make it into my collection. I realized later that once you get past thier more "manic" material they are execellent song writers.