danverlinde (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} danverlinde) wrote,@ 2006-12-21 19:54:00 |
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Top 10 Albums of the Year 2006
I've listened to more new music this year than any year in my life, which if you know me, you know that is saying a lot. So I decided to share my favorite albums of this year. There were some tough cuts to make. The Strokes, The Walkmen and Built to Spill's albums didn't make the list, primarily because their albums were not as spectacular as some of their previous. There are a lot of albums I discovered this year that I would like to have included (Wolf Parade's Apologies to the Queen Mary, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, My Morning Jacket's Z, and the New Pornographers Twin Cinema) that unfortunately were released late last year. So below are my favorite albums released this year:
10. Swan Lake, Beast Moans
This is a Canadian supergroup that features Dan Bejar (The New Pornographers contributor and the man behind Destroyer) and Spencer Krug (Wolf Parade and Sunset Rubdown). The sonic murkiness of this album is at times baffling, frustrating, and frequently amazing. This album is not for everyone, but with repeated listens the murkiness evolves into symmetry.
Listen to these: A Venue Called Rubella, A Partisan But He's Got to Know, Are You Swimming In Her Pools
9. The Raconteurs, Broken Boy Soldiers
Jack White's genius paired up with Brenden Benson's pop sensibility. Enough Said.
Listen to these: Intimate Secretary, Yellow Sun, Call It A Day
8. Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Show Your Bones
It isn't often that a band can add some polish to their sound without departing too far from what made you love them in the first place, but Karen O and company pull if off without a hitch. Maintaining their garage/punk roots, they made an album that not only demonstrated their growth as musicians, but dominated my spring listening rotation.
Listen to these: Gold Lion, Cheated Hearts, Dudley
7. Tapes 'n Tapes, The Loon
This band was described to me as being heavily influenced by Pavement and The Pixies. You can definitely hear touches of both on this album but at the same time they have developed their own very interesting sound.
Listen to these: Manitoba, 10 Gallon Ascot, Omaha
6. ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead, So Divided
Had this album been released earlier in the year it probably would be ranked higher on this list, but I'm still in the discovery stages. This has to be the best band around that nobody has heard of. Three albums into their career, they have made three classics.
Listen to these: Listen to the first two tracks Intro: A Song of Fire and Wine and Stand in Silence. The only way you won't want to keep listening is if you just have to hear that introduction again.
5. Destroyer, Destroyer's Rubies
Dan Bejar is a more poetic David Bowie. When he's not channeling Golden Years Bowie, he's adding his unique vocals to lines like "You disrupt the world's disorder just by virtue of your grace".
Listen to these: Rubies, 3000 Flower, A Dangerous Woman Up to A Point
4. Regina Spektor, Begin To Hope
This is by far the most accessible album featured here but Regina has not lost her Soviet Kitsch edge either. She can still sing about drugs and cigarettes, and throws more vocal loops into radio friendly hooks than Ani DiFranco ever has.
Listen to these: On the Radio, Hotel Song, That Time
3. Sunset Rubdown, Shut Up I Am Dreaming
Let me just assure you right now that I do not work for a Canadian promotional company, nor am I Spencer Krug's personnal assistant. In my opinion, however a lot of the best music is coming out of Canada right now, and specifically Spencer Krugs mouth. His vocals are difficult to grasp at first but he is just a brilliant songwriter. Wolf Parade's Apologies to the Queen Mary would have topped this list if it had been released a bit later.
Listen to these: Stadiums and Shrines II, Swimming, Shut Up I Am Dreaming of Places Where Lover's Have Wings
2. Heartless Bastards, All This Time
Just listen to her voice, which apparently has resided in a time capsule since the 60's. It is perhaps the most emotive voice I've ever heard. This album is a must own for anyone reading this.
Listen to these: Searching For The Ghost, All This Time, Came A Long Way
1. Mates of State, Bring It Back
Take the White Stripes and switch their positions on stage. Then replace Jack White's overlapping pedal magic and replace it with several keyboards. Then overlap vocals that swirl in and out of the foreground and you have Mates of State. Its absolutely amazing how much sound these two create.
Listen to these: Think Long, So Many Ways, Punchlines
I've listened to more new music this year than any year in my life, which if you know me, you know that is saying a lot. So I decided to share my favorite albums of this year. There were some tough cuts to make. The Strokes, The Walkmen and Built to Spill's albums didn't make the list, primarily because their albums were not as spectacular as some of their previous. There are a lot of albums I discovered this year that I would like to have included (Wolf Parade's Apologies to the Queen Mary, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, My Morning Jacket's Z, and the New Pornographers Twin Cinema) that unfortunately were released late last year. So below are my favorite albums released this year:
10. Swan Lake, Beast Moans
This is a Canadian supergroup that features Dan Bejar (The New Pornographers contributor and the man behind Destroyer) and Spencer Krug (Wolf Parade and Sunset Rubdown). The sonic murkiness of this album is at times baffling, frustrating, and frequently amazing. This album is not for everyone, but with repeated listens the murkiness evolves into symmetry.
Listen to these: A Venue Called Rubella, A Partisan But He's Got to Know, Are You Swimming In Her Pools
9. The Raconteurs, Broken Boy Soldiers
Jack White's genius paired up with Brenden Benson's pop sensibility. Enough Said.
Listen to these: Intimate Secretary, Yellow Sun, Call It A Day
8. Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Show Your Bones
It isn't often that a band can add some polish to their sound without departing too far from what made you love them in the first place, but Karen O and company pull if off without a hitch. Maintaining their garage/punk roots, they made an album that not only demonstrated their growth as musicians, but dominated my spring listening rotation.
Listen to these: Gold Lion, Cheated Hearts, Dudley
7. Tapes 'n Tapes, The Loon
This band was described to me as being heavily influenced by Pavement and The Pixies. You can definitely hear touches of both on this album but at the same time they have developed their own very interesting sound.
Listen to these: Manitoba, 10 Gallon Ascot, Omaha
6. ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead, So Divided
Had this album been released earlier in the year it probably would be ranked higher on this list, but I'm still in the discovery stages. This has to be the best band around that nobody has heard of. Three albums into their career, they have made three classics.
Listen to these: Listen to the first two tracks Intro: A Song of Fire and Wine and Stand in Silence. The only way you won't want to keep listening is if you just have to hear that introduction again.
5. Destroyer, Destroyer's Rubies
Dan Bejar is a more poetic David Bowie. When he's not channeling Golden Years Bowie, he's adding his unique vocals to lines like "You disrupt the world's disorder just by virtue of your grace".
Listen to these: Rubies, 3000 Flower, A Dangerous Woman Up to A Point
4. Regina Spektor, Begin To Hope
This is by far the most accessible album featured here but Regina has not lost her Soviet Kitsch edge either. She can still sing about drugs and cigarettes, and throws more vocal loops into radio friendly hooks than Ani DiFranco ever has.
Listen to these: On the Radio, Hotel Song, That Time
3. Sunset Rubdown, Shut Up I Am Dreaming
Let me just assure you right now that I do not work for a Canadian promotional company, nor am I Spencer Krug's personnal assistant. In my opinion, however a lot of the best music is coming out of Canada right now, and specifically Spencer Krugs mouth. His vocals are difficult to grasp at first but he is just a brilliant songwriter. Wolf Parade's Apologies to the Queen Mary would have topped this list if it had been released a bit later.
Listen to these: Stadiums and Shrines II, Swimming, Shut Up I Am Dreaming of Places Where Lover's Have Wings
2. Heartless Bastards, All This Time
Just listen to her voice, which apparently has resided in a time capsule since the 60's. It is perhaps the most emotive voice I've ever heard. This album is a must own for anyone reading this.
Listen to these: Searching For The Ghost, All This Time, Came A Long Way
1. Mates of State, Bring It Back
Take the White Stripes and switch their positions on stage. Then replace Jack White's overlapping pedal magic and replace it with several keyboards. Then overlap vocals that swirl in and out of the foreground and you have Mates of State. Its absolutely amazing how much sound these two create.
Listen to these: Think Long, So Many Ways, Punchlines
