These are not all new (some came out much earlier in the year) but are nonetheless songs that I will associate with Winter 2005.

1) Mobius Band, "Taxicab"

An absolutely lovely and simple evocation of watching snow-covered terrain pass by your passenger window, while simultaneously watching your own thoughts. And then at the end, it rocks out. The ne plus ultra winter song of '05.

2) Clearlake, "Wonder If The Snow Will Settle"

Actually, originally included on their 2003 disc Cedars, but remixed and reissued on their EP from this year, also entitled Wonder If The Snow Will Settle. Melancholy, wistful, and snow-themed.

3) Boom Bip, "The Matter of Our Discussion"

From March's Blue Eyed In The Red Room. Written and sung by NY singer-songwriter Nina Nastasia, with Boom Bip's electronic backing sounding like a frozen Great Lake stretching out to the horizon. Spooky and resigned, but simultaneously warm, thanks to Nastasia's haunting voice and lyrics.

4) Mercury Rev, "In A Funny Way"

Sounds like a marching band trapsing through a frozen forest. Also, the disembodied female opera-voice in the background reminds me of the ghost who finds the lost Arctic hikers in Akira Kurosawa's Dreams.

5) Sun Kil Moon, "Tiny Cities Made Of Ashes" (Modest Mouse cover)

From the band's stunning (or, if you hated it, infuriating) disc of all MM covers, also called Tiny Cities (and our CD Of The Week this week). I got the disc just in time for the first snowfall and it's been on endless loop in my car ever since.