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December 20, 2006
The Year in Music: Top 15 Albums
Well, folks, here are the top 15 albums of 2006 as determined by manyhighways.com. It was difficult to narrow everything down and this list will constantly morph and change as time marches on and I discover the nuances and depth of each of these albums (and perhaps others that I haven't purchased yet), but without further ado...
15. ASOBI SEKSU - Citrus
I got this just a few weeks ago so I haven't fully absorbed it yet but the "shoegazer" label certainly applies. Lots of fuzzy guitars make this one a winner.
14. EDITORS - The Back Room
Seeing Editors at Lollapalooza earlier this year added even more appreciation for this album and because it came out early this year, it's one of the albums I've listened to the most.
13. WE ARE SCIENTISTS - With Love and Squalor
This came out the same day as Morningwood's debut and I still love it. The Morningwood album gets skipped almost every time it comes up.
12. JENNY LEWIS WITH THE WATSON TWINS - Rabbit Fur Coat
Cat Power and Neko Case were both contenders for this list but Jenny Lewis held her own a bit better. This album is quirky and the girls are kind of hot and scary at the same time. Their voices sound wonderful and the collaboration of big indie rock names on "Handle With Care" is excellent.
11. KT TUNSTALL - Eye to the Telescope
This is the only album on here that I discovered through mainstream media. Tunstall was on the Today show and the stamping feet, guitar and loops in her one woman performance impressed me a lot. This album is full of great poppy, folksy songs.
10. HOLD STEADY - Boys and Girls in America
Critics loved this album and, although it didn't grab me as much as I wish it would've, it was a huge improvement over their previous album. Plus, they were one of the best performances at Lollapalooza.
9. CANSEI DE SER SEXY - s/t
I delved into this one late in the year also and it's full of great tracks. It's also much, much better than the Brazilian Girls album which came out this year.
8. NINE BLACK ALPS - Everything Is
I don't think these guys ever made it very big on the mp3 blog scene, perhaps because they are a throwback to the 90s. That's the reason I love them though and they are one of the most rocking bands on this list.
7. YEAH YEAH YEAHS - Show Your Bones
The YYYs are like a good version of Elastica and Karen O sounds great on this album. It took me a while to appreciate this one but I've been listening to it a lot lately.
6. SILVERSUN PICKUPS - Carnavas
The biggest surprise of the year, I picked this up after it was recommended by the Smashing Pumpkins. I wasn't disappointed. This album contains the best guitar work on this list and tons of 4-5 minute songs combine to make a great album best listened to at high volume.
5. GOLDFRAPP - Supernature
I was thinking this came out last year but Amazon is telling me it's 2006 so I was happy to put it on the list. Goldfrapp is like a peppier Imogen Heap with thumpin' beats and contains several of my most played tracks of the year.
4. BAND OF HORSES - Everything All the Time
This is one of the most stereotypically "indie" albums on this list and it's made tons of top ten lists for the year. Everything you've heard about it is well deserved.
3. BELLE AND SEBASTIAN - The Life Pursuit
This is the first and only B&S album I have and it was a great introduction to the band. It has a very unique sound which makes me excited about delving into their back catalog.
2. MY BRIGHTEST DIAMOND - Bring Me the Workhorse
I came very close to putting this in the top spot and I'm quite proud of myself for getting into it well ahead of most of the acclaim it received. It's like Tori Amos with an orchestra, a better voice and better lyrics. Some of the songs are downright haunting and they all have a ton of emotion behind them. It's probably not for everyone and it takes a few close listens to appreciate but it clicked with me like nothing else that I listened to this year.
1. THE DECEMBERISTS - The Crane Wife
If you'd have told me last year that the Decemberists could improve on Picaresque I would've laughed. But somehow they did, and on their first major label release at that. With its ten minute songs and a track about the Civil War, this one earns top honors for the year.
So there you have it! Clicking on the album cover of any of the above will take you to Amazon where you can purchase these albums at fairly decent prices. Comments are open if anyone would like to criticize, agree or argue amongst yourselves.
Posted on December 20, 2006 at 8:37 PM
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Comments
My additions:
The Flaming Lips - At War with the Mystics
Neko Case - Fox Confessor Brings the Flood
Damien Rice - 9
Mates of State - Bring it Back
Golden Smog - Another Fine Day
Soul Asylum - The Silver Lining
Gnarls Barkley - St. Elsewhere (if only because of great memories of a certain friend dancing his heart out)
--SML
Posted by: Sarah L. at December 22, 2006 3:05 AM
CSS are one of the most terrible live acts I have ever seen and they sound totally different live, lot of hack work there. seriously it's like you got your list from the 'how to be indie and what to like' guidebook
Posted by: D at January 14, 2007 2:14 PM