Best Music of 2006
Time for another best music of 2006 list. Here are my nominations for the ten best albums of the year. I should also mention that there is a mix tape floating around on BetA with my favorite track from each of these albums. Just one of the many benefits of joining the group.
1. Rodrigo y Gabriela
2. Garden Ruin
3. The Crane Wife
4. Let’s Get Out Of This Country
5. The Greatest
6. Ben Kweller
7. The Gulag Orkestar
8. We Are the Pipettes
9. Everything All The Time
10. Show Your Bones
Honorable Mention
Magic Potion
The Life Pursuit
The Information
(Leaked tracks and singles), by The Shins (this was too good not to mention)
If you missed it, here are links to the best of 2005 and the best of 2004 according to me. Did I forget anything? Correct me in the comments…
December 18th, 2006 at 2:47 pm
Um. What if you joined the group and then lost the URL to get to the group. It’s so secret that all mentions of the link have been expunged from the rest of BADG. Which is neat and all, but I’m feeling left out.
December 18th, 2006 at 4:59 pm
In the order I heard ‘em:
-Neko Case, “Fox Confessor Brings the Flood”
-Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins, “Rabbit Fur Coat”
-Clearlake, “Amber”
-The Black Heart Procession, “Spell”
-TV on the Radio, “Return to Cookie Mountain”
-Yo La Tengo, “I Am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass”
-M. Ward, “Post War”
-Bonnie Prince Billy, “The Letting Go”
-Califone, “Roots & Crowns”
-Max Richter, “Songs From Before”
-Emily Haines & the Soft Skeleton, “Knives Don’t Have Your Back”
December 19th, 2006 at 4:35 pm
Well, I guess I should look into these, but you left out some greats:
Christina Aguilera, Back To Basics
Prince, 3121
Wolf Mother, Wolf Mother
Arctic Monkeys, Whatever It Is You Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not
Justin Timberlake, FutureSex / LoveSounds
Goldfrapp, Supernature
Fiona Apple, Extraordinary Machine
Thom Yorke, Eraser
December 19th, 2006 at 9:36 pm
DC1974,
Did you get my email?
Eric,
I have only heard one or two tracks off the new TV on the Radio. I might have to listen to them again with all the praise they are getting.
Simanek,
Justin Timberlake? I keep seeing that on people’s “best of” list and I want it to be a joke. Maybe I should stop going out of my way to avoid it and give it a chance.
December 19th, 2006 at 11:06 pm
I saw The Decemberists at the Warfield a few months ago. They really blew me away… particularly on some of their darker songs… like shankhill butchers.
December 19th, 2006 at 11:10 pm
Eric, I have to agree with your selection of M. Ward. I do think that Transfiguration of Vincent is his best album, though. That isn’t to say that PostWar isn’t great.
A gal that is interning for us at BE just finished your class at CCA(noC), and held your class in high esteem. How long have you been teaching over there?
December 20th, 2006 at 8:24 am
Justin Timberlake is the new Michael Jackson, only he’s pouncing on the ladies. It’s pop, it’s shallow, it’s all about sex and it makes you feel like dancing. He’s got some of MJ’s high-pitched screeches and a lot of James Brown’s barks, and has assembled some great talent to back him up. He’s a producer. Like Madonna. Also, if you like James Brown, Prince has been going heavy on the funk in his later career. He even has Brown’s old sax player in his band.
Disclaimer: Every pop album still suffers from the one or two sappy love tracks that usually suck. You gotta take the good with the bad.
December 20th, 2006 at 1:08 pm
Black Keys should be at least number 7, because of Magic Potion I’m planning on buying the other three (or however many they’ve released.) For Honorable mention I would include Lupe Fiasco’s Food & Liquor: Day Dream, and Kick Push II are particularly noteworthy.
December 20th, 2006 at 1:13 pm
Bill, I used to agree with you on the M. Ward, but I’ve been inching towards Post War lately.
I’ve been teaching since 1999. It’s quite the humbling experience from which I never stop learning myself. But I do love it, even if it feels like it gets harder every time I do it. So much to teach, so little time with the students….
December 21st, 2006 at 11:23 am
maybe not a best of, but solid none the less…
Check these out
Portastatic – Be Still Please
The Killers – Sam’s Town
Jose Gonzalez – Veneer
Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin – Broom
John Ralston – Needle Bed
Pet Shop Boys – Fundamental
December 21st, 2006 at 12:48 pm
my top ten (includes some previously mentioned)
Fiona Apple, Extraordinary Machine
Thom Yorke, Eraser
Keane, Under the Iron Sea
Amos Lee, Supply and Demand
Jet, Shine On
Corinne Bailey Rae
Beck, The Information
Zero 7, The Garden
Dixie Chicks, Taking the Long Way
Ray LaMontagne, Till the Sun Turns Black
Black Keys is on my list to buy… love them.
January 23rd, 2008 at 12:23 pm
good taste to all. a lot of my favorites are listed. the band I miss is “whitest boy alive”.
January 23rd, 2008 at 12:24 pm
good taste to all. a lot of my favorites are listed. the band I miss is “whitest boy alive”.
January 23rd, 2008 at 12:24 pm
good taste to all. a lot of my favorites are listed. the band I miss is “whitest boy alive”.