sextonseven said:

Moonbeam said:

I'm holding off on making any more lists. I've already sent my list in to the acclaimed music poll, which I now regret as I just picked up an album that I've been playing obsessively.

My impatience always does me in.

::: BEST OF '06



The Presets :: Beams ::: Cyantific :: Ghetto Blaster ::: Lo-Fi-Fnk :: Boylife ::: Kudu :: Death of the Party ::: Nelly Furtado :: Loose ::: (row 2) Bonobo :: Days To Come ::: The Knife :: Silent Shout ::: Infadels :: We Are Not The Infadels ::: Goldfrapp :: Supernature ::: Darin :: Break The News ::: (row 3) Linda Sundblad :: Oh My God! ::: Jonas Brothers :: It's About Time ::: Van She :: Van She ::: Amy Diamond :: Still Me, Still Now ::: Bent :: Intercept! ::: (row 4) Misstrip :: Sibylline ::: Tigercity :: Tigercity ::: Cicada :: Cicada ::: Hot Chip :: The Warning ::: Muallem :: Frankie Splits

This list was in no real order. More detail on each album + rankings will be available @ my blog.

Jonas Brothers: oh, those Christian twinks.

Well the year is over for me, nothing on the way out till Late January so let me get this down now, though i didnt want too i have included a few collections, thats how few and far between good albums were this year.



1. Elton John- the captain and the kid.
right off the bat i knew i was going to love this cd, just because there was no HYPE around it, no promotion, no videos, Nothing, like the good old days.

2. Cheap Trick- Rockford
One of the best Rock albums, done by one of the most underrated, ignored rock bands, how Grammy missed this one i will never know.

3. Paulina Rubio -Ananda
Thats right a latin album, since right now, the most creative work is going on in Latin Rock and Pop, here its done best by Paulina. Paulina mixes live bands,mexican traditionals and Sex for her best album yet.

4. Prince-3121
The return of fun for Prince, a bit more dependant on machines this time around, Prince seems to be getting nasty again.

5. Styx- One with Everything
Well this is a live album, but with a Youth Orchestra, which is an accomplishment since its rare that kids play instruments and also when Rock Bands do stuff with orchestras it sucks (ex. Floyd and Yes) but i realized it was because those bands were boring and Styx isnt, this album is showcased by the best drummer i have ever heard or seen, Todd Sucherman.

6. Pearl Jam- Pearl Jam
In my mind this band should be given all the credit that Nirvana was given, since mainly Pearl Jam was able to survive and grow, Nirvana were not.

7. Little Willies- Little Willies
One of two Norah Jones un-credited side projects this year. Great bluegrass covers mixed with originals.

8. Bruce Springsteen- We shall Overcome (deluxe)
Well Bruce keeps going, always taking another turn when you think he will just do another rock record.

9. Van Hunt- On the Jungle Floor
Yet another victim of Labels, time for this guy to just break free and become the next Jeff Gaines.

10.Joan Jett- Sinner
So why is Joan not in the hall of fame???

11. Jesse Harris- Mineral
Songwriter with Norah Jones, Jesse continues to do his best singer songwriter stuff, low key, NYC clubs, the way him and Norah started and the way they have gone back too. Norah is also on this CD uncredited of course.

12. Paul Simon- Surprise
Very overlooked record, mainly because it was a big leap of sounds for Paul, i guess people were waiting for Graceland 3.

13. Billy Joel- 12 Gradens
this is perhaps my favorite Live cd of all time. 2cds 32 tracks, very rare stuff played and recorded here, this cd gets high marks just for doing "The Night is Still Young" one of the best Joel songs ever.

14. Christina Aguilera- Back to Basics
This cd would have been higher if the "Basics" were the only thing included, the modern stuff isnt anything special or different and sometimes stale.


As for the rest I have to include 3 collections

REM - I feel Fine
Amazing document of their unknown years by many

Girls Aloud- Sounds of Girls Aloud
A best of from the Brit Pop ladies, all their top 10 hits included, and 3 new tracks which have already become top 10 hits in the UK

George Michael- Twenty Five (3cd Version)
Though mostly available on other sets, this package is a strong document of one of the most underrated stars of the last 25 years. You never hear his name mentioned in any 80's talk, despite having more hits than just about anyone.


Looking ahead to 2007
Well January will have Jennifer Lopez and her Latin Album (finally), Norah Jones new studio record, and if all goes right Amerie in Late January also, and then MYA in February unless Motown screws it up again.

NorthernLad said:

50 albums between us and this is the only crossover. I thought our tastes would be a little more similar than that.

sextonseven said:

You have a great list!! There were several of yours that were almost on my top 20. I adore the Pipettes CD... It was on my spreadsheet of possibilities... as was Van Hunt, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and The Raconteurs. Goldfrapp would have been, but I didn't list anything that was released in the UK in 2005... i had it on import so I think it was on my list last year. I didn't even know there was a Fields of Nephilim album out this year!! I will have to check it out I haven't listened to the Nellie McKay CD yet, I'm not sure why... I adored her debut album. I'll get it eventually, I'm sure.

There are a couple others on your list I want to check out - I love Rufus Wainwright, so the Joan as Policewoman album intrigues me. Also, I've heard so many things about the Camera Obscura record, that I'll probably get that soon as well.


And Joanna Newsom.... I really really want to love her - I do - but there is just something about her voice that I can't penetrate. It's hard for me to listen to. I know it's a great album, and I really respect what she is doing, but for whatever reason she just doesn't connect with me. Oh well.

All in all it's been a pretty decent year! I thought when I first sat down to do my list that it would be hard to get to 20 total, but actually I found it hard to limit it to 20.

lastdecember said:

wonderful record!!

Mara said:

nice job!! Alot of these I've never heard of. I need to get busy with all the cool 2006 stuff I missed

damosuzuki said:

What new album have you been playing obsessively?

Amaxx said:

Good choice! I really liked this one as well. Very mellow and relaxed... I listened to it at work quite a bit.

NorthernLad said:

Thanks!

I think you and I are the only people that liked 2006 musically. I've been making best-of lists since 1992 and this is the first time I've been able to think of 20 good releases (much less 30).

The one record you mentioned that I want to hear is the Love Is All album. I mean "Romeo Void meets X-Ray Spex meets Yeah Yeah Yeahs"--how in the world have I not swallowed this band whole yet??? Gotta find that one.

add edit
[Edited 12/20/06 21:22pm]

NorthernLad said:

Thanks much. This year: W-O-W. I was really impressed by the amount of great albums, acts and sounds I discovered. 2006 has been one of my favorite musical years of this decade. And, surprisingly, this list isn't really definitive of alllll the stuff I was listening to the last 12 months. I haven't bought this many albums and this much music in a longgg time. There were some moments this year that transported me, that were like epiphanies that just felt good. I felt bliss. And I missed a lot of great shows/festivals/dance nites, too, because I couldn't teleport or be 10 places @ once, but I liked the excitement of it all. I truly enjoyed mostly every sonic minute of 2006. Fun, rich year of music.

Not to mention I danced my ass off... Right.off. Ok. lllol Let me just state that. lol. It was not a game!
[Edited 12/20/06 21:58pm]

CinisterCee said:

im more of a songs guy than an album person so it takes alot for me to like most of the album. but these were the ones i was feelin this yr!
















[Edited 12/21/06 0:05am]

CinisterCee said:

I really dug St. Elsewhere, especially the "who cares" song. It's funny how they covered the V Femmes and in an eerie way the music reminds me of them, except electro-sized. Complex meaning in songs broken down into easy lyrics, very playful melodies and the cover of fun over top of some serious issues.

"Everybody is somebody/but nobody wants to be themselves"

alva noto & ryuichi sakamoto - Rev EP





bert jansch - the black swan





thom yorke - the eraser





fionn regan - the end of history





beck - the information





pet shop boys - fundamental (2 disc edition)





prince - 3121





justin timberlake - futuresex/lovesounds





sufjan stevens - songs for christmas





nelly furtado - loose





van hunt - on the jungle floor





frida hyvönen - until death comes

come to think of it, there were quite a lot of nice albums after all.
i just didn't go out and buy them anymore, lol.

NorthernLad said:

Mastodon - Blood Mountain

Albums I liked were:

Kasabian - Empire
Audioslave - Revelations
Muse - Black Holes & Revelations
Beck - The Information
The Decemberists - The Crane Wife
P!nk - I'm Not Dead
Prince - 3121
James Whitelaw - The Performing Shot

andersongs said:

Yankee Bayonet was my favorite song of the year.

Marc Cary -- Focus: A refreshing modern jazz album that sparkles with the energy heard in the early days of bop.

Just when I thought no one was listening to real music. Thank you for the pick

sextonseven said:

It's a really cool record. Definitely for fans of late 70's/early 80's post-punk. Singles are "Busy Doing Nothing" and "Make Out Fall Out Make Up".

And yeah, I think 2006 was pretty good It seems most of my favorite artists were missing this year - Annie Lennox, The Cure, Radiohead, Bowie, Tori Amos, etc - but there were plenty of other good things to keep me occupied!



.
[Edited 12/21/06 6:19am]

damosuzuki said:

ah, cool. my roommate has that album and likes it, but i haven't listened to it yet. I'm not a huge metal fan, but every once in a while I get in the mood. i really liked the new Slayer CD.

Christopher said:

YOU TWO ARE A MESS!!!!! *DEAD*

IstenSzek said:

What version is this?

1) LOVE - The Beatles
(of course, highlight: Strawberry Fields Forever mash-up)

2) The Eraser - Thom Yorke
(can do it without band)

3) The Information - Beck
(great funky return after dissapointing Guero)

4) Modern Times - Bob Dylan
(voice is nearly gone but sounds wonderful! album has a live feeling. And I'm going to his concert april 8 in Amsterdam!!!)

5) The Warning - Hot Chip
(diverse but accessable)

6) The Avalanche - Sufjan Stevens
(outtakes but sounds nothing like left-overs)

7) 3121 - Prince
(Prince on automatic pilot still is better than most of today's artists))

8) Broken Boy Soldiers - The Raconteurs
(vocals Jack White are always great, big 60's influences)

9) The World Is Happy Now - Stijn
(is from Antwerpen(!) heavily borrowd from 80s Prince)

10) Hell Hath No Fury - Clipse
(Pharrell kept his best beats for Clipse this year)


...Honorable mentions:


On The Jungle Floor - Van Hunt

Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not - Arctic Monkeys

St. Elsewhere - Gnarls Barkley

Afro Strut - Amp Fidler

Once Again - John Legend

I cannot believe, after 2 pages of thread,...mine is the first list to include John Mayer. on the other hand, very happy to see no-one mentioned the dixie chicks
[Edited 12/21/06 7:51am]
[Edited 12/21/06 8:11am]