Album of the year:: Friday, December 29, 2006 ::
Here it is. The final countdown: the 40 albums of 2006 that I consider my favorites, listed in reverse order, counting down to No. 1. (With a podcast of selections from the top 10).
Several from my mid-year list of the top 11 are still in the hunt, although some of them have shuffled spots to make room for newer, better stuff. The second half of 2006 saw the release of some pretty good music. Will The Life Pursuit, by Belle and Sebastian, still top the list? Or will they have been dethroned by another, more excellent work? Have a look. Keep in mind that this list, like all the others on the Internet, is subjective -- the likes and tastes of one music fan. Feel free to disagree with my picks, and to sound off in the comments below.
Also, I'm too tired, not to mention too sick, to link to all these albums. It's just too much effort at the moment.
40. Kudu - Death of the Party. Danceable electrofunk. (Not that I dance much.)
39. The French Kicks - Two Thousand. They aren't really French, but they do kick.
38. Yusuf - An Other Cup. After 28 years, the Cat is back.
37. Scanners - Violence Is Golden. Nice blend of mostly dark, moody postpunk.
36. The John Doe Thing - For the Best of Us. An old punk still has some of it.
35. The Be Good Tanyas - Hello Love. Don't tell my brother, but I do like some country.
34. Swan Lake - Beast Moans. One of the better side projects of the year.
33. The Fondas - Runaway Bombshell. Garage rock from Motown.
32. Exene Cervenka and the Original Sinners - Sev7en. Another old punk who still has it.
31. The Lemonheads - The Lemonheads. They're back.
30. Hard Fi - Stars of CCTV. Decent Britpop along the lines of Franz Ferdinand, et. al.
29. The Buzzcocks - Flat Pack Philosophy. More old punks.
28. Sufjan Stevens - The Avalanche. A pit stop on his 50-state tour. Only 48 states to go.
27. Frida Hyvonen - Until Death Comes. Lovely voice, from Sweden.
26. Bobby Bare Jr.'s Young Criminals Starvation League - The Longest Meow. Bobby Jr. and a bunch of his friends record in an old church in a single day, using some of Bobby Sr.'s old reel-to-reel tape.
25. The Beatles - Love. Does this really count? The so-called "fifth Beatle," George Martin, and his son play around with holy scripture, remixing a bunch of Fab Four stuff.
24. Prototypes - Prototypes. Electropunk from Paris. The French are our friends again!
23. The Flaming Lips - At War With the Mystics. Another strong outing by the Lips.
22. Wolfmother - Wolfmother. Wolfmother takes you back in time to the '70s with Led Zepp-inspired heavy rock.
21. Mission of Burma - The Obliterati. One of the best postpunk returns with a majestic comeback.
20. Camera Obscura - Let's Get Out of This Country. Beautiful vocals, shimmery pop from Scotland.
19. The Futureheads - News and Tributes. Tributes, indeed -- to the Clash, Big Country, U2 and more influences.
18. Bob Dylan - Modern Times. No. 1 on a lot of lists, but not so great IMHO. Still, it's Bob Dylan.
17. The Bottle Rockets - Zoysia. Fine southern rock with a political message.
16. The Pipettes - We Are the Pipettes. Retro girl group. Amazing sound, prettier than the Pussycat Dolls.
15. Yo La Tengo - I Am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass. Long title, good tunes.
14. Paul Simon - Surprise. I think I've said enough about this.
13. Macon Greyson - Translate. Great rock, discovered too late.
12. The Raconteurs - Broken Boy Soldiers. Jack White's side project was almost as good as the hype.
11. Neko Case - Fox Confessor Brings the Flood. One of the sweetest voices around.
10. Ben Kweller - Ben Kweller. Just good, solid pop that makes me feel happy.
9. Drive By Truckers - A Blessing and a Curse. Mostly a blessing. The Truckers' best yet.
8. Johnny Cash - American V: A Hundred Highways. What can I say? Even in death, Johnny Cash is the man.
7. Art Brut - Bang Bang Rock & Roll. Making fun of the art and music world, and laughing all the way to the bank.
6. The Arctic Monkeys - Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not. Believe the hype.
5. The Hold Steady - Boys and Girls in America. Infectious rock and roll. Plus, I don't think he sounds a bit like the Boss.
4. Asobi Seksu - Citrus. Stellar in any language.
3. Cat Power - The Greatest. Lovely, soulful white woman blues. The Memphis sound lives.
2. Belle & Sebastian - The Life Pursuit. Oh, no! B&S have been dethroned!
1. Tapes 'n Tapes - The Loon. This one just kept growing on me. A weird mix of sounds and songs, but in the end, it works. At least for me.
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So, there you have it. What did I miss? What did I screw up? Just how far off base was I with these picks? Do your worst.
Tags: music, music lists, best music of 2006, CD of the year, lists, 2006, best CDs, podcast, podcasting, mp3Labels: 2006, best CDs, best of 2006, music, music lists
:: Andrew 10:51 + ::
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Still more of the music year in review:: Thursday, December 28, 2006 ::
I'm still a sick pup, but daytime TV sucks (at least until the bowl games begin) so I might as well blog, no? If I'm less coherent than usual, credit the fever. Or the meds.
Anyhoo. On to today's end-of-year installment: comeback of the year, best male artist, best female artist, best rock CD -- all with accompanying podcast.
Comeback of the year
2006 was the year of the geezer, what with Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Paul Simon, the former Cat Stevens, et. al., all releasing new albums. Many of those releases were outstanding (well, I never listened to the Springsteen one, but I heard it was good) and any of these old-timers have a legitimate shot at this coveted honor. But in the final analysis, the comeback kid is none other than:Paul Simon, Surprise
A surprisingly good album, considering how Simon fell from grace after 1986's brilliant Graceland release. (On some fansite discographies, 1990's The Rhythm of the Saints isn't even catalogued; that's how dreadful it was.) But Simon returns to Graceland form with this album. And thanks to some brilliant production work by Brian Eno, the album features all kinds of swamp things crawling around the soundscape. I still have issues with the album art, though.
This album has become a fascinating obsession for one blogger, who is finding all kinds of hidden ideas within Surprise's lyrics.
Runners up:Yusuf, An Other Cup
Twenty-eight years after his last album as Cat Stevens, Yusuf is back, preaching his views on Islam in a spiritually provocative album. (Stevens converted in the '70s and changed his name to Yusuf Islam, which he has since shortened to merely Yusuf.) There's a lot to like about this CD, but in today's politically charged climate in which so many followers of Islam are being lumped in with the fringe elements that are causing a global ruckus, it's doubtful that An Other Cup is getting a fair hearing. Whether you agree with Yusuf's spiritual beliefs or political point of view, you can still appreciate Yusuf's mellow, tranquil vocals, even as he's singing an homage to Allah.
The Lemonheads: The Lemonheads
When I was a kid, I would gorge on the candy version of Lemonheads. Then sometime in the mid to late '80s, along came a power-pop/hardcore band out of Boston that appropriated the sweet candy name for themselves. I wasn't really listening to power pop or hardcore back then, so I couldn't tell you much about them. I think they had a song on the radio one year. And then, in the mid '90s -- poof! No more sonic Lemonheads. Apparently ,front man Evan Dando got caught up in a drug-induced haze. Now, he's apparently out of it, and the Lemonheads are back with a self-titled CD that is, if not great, decent. It's full of flavorful, chiming guitars, if you like that kind of thing (I do). Lemonheads fans everywhere should rejoice.
Best male artistJohnny Cash: American V: A Hundred Highways
Just when you thought that Johnny Cash in the twilight of his career could get no finer than his 2002 release, American IV: The Man Comes Around, along comes this posthumous offering from Cash and light-handed producer Rick Ruben. American V: A Hundred Highways is the fifth and final release in the legendary musician's American series, and it is even more powerful and more touching than any of the previous four releases. It's obvious that Cash was in a race with "Doctor Death" when cutting this album, and that makes it all the more poignant. The vocals are strained and sparse, and that's the way Rubin and Cash both wanted them. This collection of mostly covers is the sound of a man who has lived hard, but well, and who is ready to meet his maker.
Runners up
Paul Simon, Surprise
See above.Ben Kweller: Ben Kweller
At first, I was skeptical. In an earliler review, I poked fun about how young Ben Kweller looks on this album cover. But don't let that youthful appearance keep you from checking out his sound. It's good stuff, and Kweller has been around the music business for longer than you'd think. He was 12 -- yes, 12 -- when he fronted the alt-grunge band Radish. With this self-titled album, he plays all the instruments, he wrote all the songs, and he sings them. Groovy stuff that reminds me of some of the best pop-rock of the '70s.
Best female artistCat Power, The Greatest
2006 was the year of the Cat for Chan Marshall, aka Cat Power, who wooed and won our hearts all year long with this early '06 release. Sultry is the adjective that comes to mind when I think of how Marshall's voice sounds. And with The Greatest, she enlists the help of several "Memphis sound" musicians to give this a special appeal. Cat Power delivers more soul with this than with her past offerings. Overall this is a worthwhile effort that goes down smooth as a shot of Southern Comfort.
Runner up:Neko Case, Fox Confessor Brings the Flood
Paging Patsy Cline... Alt-country darling Neko Case seems to be channeling Patsy at times. But Case's own unique, saccharine vocals draw me in like a Siren's song. It's hard to believe she's the same singer who also performs with the power-pop band the New Pornographers. With Fox Confessor, The vivid, earthy lyrics recount episodes of tragedy, love lost, fingers lost in canning factory incidents -- every song is a story wrapped within a poem, beautifully arranged.
Best rock CD
I'm not the rocker I once was. But every once in a while, like when I'm vacuuming, I still love to rock out. This year, the definitive rock album was:Wolfmother, Wolfmother
AH-WOOOOOO! These guys from Down Under make no bones about their influences. Led Zepp, Black Sabbath, AC/DC, Jethro Tull and a ton of other metal and prog rock acts from the '70s come blasting thick and heavy from the speakers when you put this bad boy on play. (Yes, that is some White Stripes flavor at the beginning of track one, but stick with the Wolfies and you'll soon hear a young Ozzy wannabe cannibalize Jack White.) So what if it's derivative? It rawks, and that's all that matters. Turn it up to 11 and enjoy.
Runner up:The Hold Steady: Boys and Girls in America
For those of you who get tired of Craig Finn's vocals -- think Springsteen when he forgets to take his Sudafed -- get over it. The Hold Steady is here to stay. These erstwhile alt/indie punkers cranked out a flat-out rocker with Boys and Girls in America. Influenced more by Patti Smith than Springsteen, the songs are still prose-poems. But the solid rock is more reminiscent of the Allman Brothers, Thin Lizzy and old-school punk than the Boss. This is the Hold Steady's third album, and it's their best yet.
Coming next installment: my top 40 favorite albums of the year.
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Tags: music, music lists, best music of 2006, CD of the year, lists, 2006, best CDs, podcast, podcasting, mp3Labels: 2006, best CDs, best of 2006, music, music lists, music reviews
:: Andrew 14:02 + ::
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More of the music year in review:: Wednesday, December 27, 2006 ::
(With accompanying podcast.)
Best album in a language I don't understandAsobi Seksu: Citrus
This, the second album from the New York-based quartet is one of the year's best offerings in any language. As it is, Citrus is bilingual, so I can actually understand a few of the songs. Not that it matters. Lead singer/keyboardist Yuki sings in both Japanese and English, and her sweet, sparkling voice, in tandem with the shimmery, reverb-heavy guitar of James Hanna, makes for some beautiful shoegaze sound for the whole world.
Runner up:Prototypes: Prototypes
Now that the French are once again our allies, I suppose it's safe -- or at least not altogether unpatriotic -- for me to profess my love for a certain Parisian electropunk band, Prototypes, whose self-titled album hooked me from its first electronic riffs and nasally, undecipherable Frenchie-girlie vocals. The band has gotten a lot of blog love in recent months, as well as extra exposure thanks to an iPod commercial (YouTube) that features a Prototypes song. This trio blends grungy, garage-rock guitars with new wave synths, pop yeah-yeahs and somee delicious, throaty vocals from lead singer Isabelle LeDoussal. It all adds up to some enjoyable, sassy, funky, danceable sounds, with a certain je ne sais quio. Or however you say it.
Best "roots"/country rock albumDrive-By Truckers, A Blessing and a Curse
The Drive By Truckers have come a long way from their Skynyrdesque Southern Rock Opera, a concept album about a boy from the south who moves north, tries to become a punk, then reconnects to his musical roots. With their 2006 release, A Blessing and a Curse, the Truckers meld a variety of influences, from punk to Southern rock to the jagged shards of Neil Young/Crazy Horse. Even with this stream of eclectic influences, they're still a southern rock band at heart, and A Blessing and a Curse builds on the southern-Gothic storytelling styles that brought their earlier albums critical acclaim. The songs are still tales straight out of a Barry Hannah short story: ruined relationships, loved ones who died too soon, crystal meth in the bathtub, cigarettes in the ashtray -- "and they weren't your menthol lights". (OK, maybe Barry Hannah never wrote about crystal meth, but you get the picture.) Three different lead singer-songwriters -- Patterson Hood, Mike Cooley and Jason Isbell -- create a troika that lends variety and multiple viewpoints to the Truckers' songs. This is a hard-rocking album that any southern rock aficianado should enjoy.
Runners up:Macon Greyson: Translate
Here's one of those artists I discovered too late. But thanks to Paste, I found out about this group in the fall. Paste gave Translate a four-star review and called Macon Greyson one of the best rock bands you've never heard of (or something like that). One listen to this, and you'll know why all the praise. The band can flat-out rock. Guitar riffs fly freely in Translate, and the lyrical content is terrific stuff, at once earthy and spiritual, transcendent. The sound is familiar -- southern band guitars and a laconic, bar-band lead singer with just the right amount of gruffness to his voice. But it comes together -- scorching guitars, steady bass/drums sharp, ironic lyrics with a Texas twang. On Translate, they even do a decent cover of Ramones' "My Brain Is Hanging Upside Down." How could they go wrong? Translate transcends the southern rock genre; it's one of the best rock-and-roll albums of the year.The Bottle Rockets, Zoysia
Hailing from my home state of Missouri, the Bottle Rockets, by their very name, reflect one of the greatest pleasures of summertime for a Midwestern boy: shooting off firecrackers around the Fourth of July. And Zoysia is named after the common lawn grass, which is also plentiful in these parts but also hearty and capable of weathering extreme cold or heat. It's this connection with the common, everyday things of Midwestern life that makes this album so enjoyable. The songs server as vignettes about the heartbreaks and tragedies of life, but they also expand to address the political issues that divide our nation. Three of the best songs on the record ("Middle Man," "Align Yourself" and the title track) all critique the politics of identity and belonging -- not the typical fare of a redneck southern rock band. But even as they offer wily dissections of politics, they treat you to some good foot-stomping, git-tar heavy jams in the best tradition of Lynyrd Skynyrd. You don't even have to listen to the lyrics to enjoy it. But it's better if you do.
Best of the old punks
Punk lives! Some of the heroes of my youth decided to make 2006 their comeback year. And the winner is:Buzzcocks: Flat Pack Philosophy
Remember the Buzzcocks? One of the most important bands to come out of the mid-70s punk scene in the UK, they were also too often overshadowed by more recognizable, high-profile outfits like the Sex Pistols and the Clash. But the Buzzcocks defined the DIY ethos of punk by bypassing the corporate music scene and pressing their first record, Spiral Scratch, on their own in their industrial hometown of Manchester. Now, they're the only surviving band from the '77 scene to actually create something new. With Flat Pack Philosophy, the Buzzcocks return with intelligent, relevant tunes. The original duo of Howard Devoto (formerly estranged from the band) and Peter Shelley infuse this album with the energy of old. The voices are older and perhaps frailer, but they're unmistakably Shelley and Devoto. In Flat Pack Philosophy, the 'cocks also pay tribute to their early punk brothers in arms, the Clash. Listen to the intro of "Big Brother Wheels" and you'll hear echoes of the London Calling opus, "Clampdown." Focus on the lyrics, and you'll hear an updated variation on the "Clampdown" theme.
Runners up:The John Doe Thing: For the Best of Us
The former front man of the L.A. punk band X, John Doe had a terrific year in 2005. That's the year he released the brilliant, rootsy Forever Hasn't Happened Yet. This year's offering doesn't quite achieve the same heights. In fact, you could see For the Best of Us as a slip backwards. Even so, it's great to know that he's staying active with his craft and is continuing to create new music. Doe emphasized alt-country stylings in Forever Hasn't Happened Yet, but For the Best of Us finds him meandering back toward his punk roots while he flavors it with some of the twang of his 2005 album.Exene Cervenka and the Original Sinners, Sev7en
Speaking of former X fronters, John Doe's ex-X partner, Exene Cervenka, also put out a new album in 2006. This is Cervenka's second album with the Original Sinners (although this is her second set of Original Sinners; the first bunch apparently either weren't original or sinful enough), and of the three by the old punks represented here, it's the one that remains truest to the "punk" sensibility. That is, the most like an old X album, right down to the rockabillyzoom guitar. Last year was a transition year for Cervenka, as she moved to St. Louis (score one for Missouri punks!), home to her new Original Sinners, and is trying to lend some street cred to the Loo's underground punk scene. Who knows? Maybe she'll do for St. Louis punk what Nelly did for St. Louis hip hop? Then again, maybe that wouldn't be such a good thing.
* * *
I'm not going to spend much time on the next two categories (biggest disappointment and most overrated/overhyped). I'm also not including any cuts from them in the podcast.
Biggest disappointments
The Strokes, First Impressions of Earth
First impression: Not impressed. Any band that tries to pass off a Barry Manilow chorus and call it a rock tune (i.e., "Razor Blade") deserves whatever it gets.
Leigh Nash: Blue on Blue
Without Sixpence None the Richer, Leigh Nash is much the poorer. A couple of decent cuts, but too much of those syrupy Leigh Nash vocals.
The Dresden Dolls, Yes, Virginia
Even with songs about sex changes, first orgasms and alcoholic friends, the Dolls' freak show seems to be wearing thin.
Most overrated
Joanna Newsom, Ys
People seem to have a love-hate relationship with this album. I know my friend Adam derives some sort of pleasure from Newsom's caterwauling (proof). But I just don't get what all the buzz is about. Call me a philistine. But to Ys, I say yeesh.
Arctic Monkeys, Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
Overrated? Check. Overhyped? Oh yes. But still a damn good album.
The Raconteurs: Broken Boy Soldiers
Another very good album that suffered from the hype machine. And from Jack White's heavy hand.
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Coming next installment: best rock album, best male artist, best female artist.
Tags: music, music lists, best music of 2006, CD of the year, lists, 2006, best CDs, podcast, podcasting, mp3Labels: best CDs, best of 2006, music, music lists, music reviews
:: Andrew 13:46 + ::
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The year in music: best music video:: Tuesday, December 26, 2006 ::
I don't get to watch music videos very much these days. (Not that MTV or VH1 ever show them much anymore.) When I do catch one, it's usually while I'm eating my morning oatmeal and channel surfing before I leave for work. But there were a few times in 2006 when an MTV or VH1 offering would catch my eye.
My favorite music video of the year seems to be a consensus top pick all around the blogosphere.
OK Go, "Here It Goes Again" (YouTube)
The camera never moves in this fun flick of the four OK Go guys performing some sort of synchronized workout on eight treadmills. The camera doesn't have to move, since the guys and their treadmills do all the work. A fun one to watch.
Honorable mentions:
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Dani California
Musically, "Dani" is a blatant rip off of Tom Petty's "Mary Jane's Last Dance." Visually, though, it's a fun tribute to the history of rock and roll. The Peppers play dress-up, appearing first as a rockabilly-era Elvis, then the early Beatles, Cream, Jimi Hendrix, the Sex Pistols, the Misfits and more in this sojourn from rock's roots to the present day. How many different performers can you spot?
Panic! at the Disco - I Write Sins Not Tragedies
An elaborate, theatrical costume production, a dreamlike Fellini flick populated by droogs from Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange. And the song isn't bad, either.
Picks from other bloggers:Blogs are for Dogs' best videos of 2006 The top 50 music videos of the year, according to DoCopenhagen Pitchfork's top 25 music videos All the finalists for the antville Music Video Awards for 2006 The Best That I've Seen: Top Six Music Videos of 2006, from evangelical outpost Director File's top 10 music videos
Tags: music, music lists, best music of 2006, music videos, music video of the year, lists, 2006Labels: 2006, best of 2006, music, music lists, music video, video
:: Andrew 09:57 + ::
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Coming soon: the 2006 bloggedies:: Saturday, December 23, 2006 ::
As promised, I'll soon join the herd of bloggers who have nothing of substance to say but who feel compelled to say it anyway. Yes, I'm about to post my end-of-year "best of" music lists.
Over the coming days, through the end of 2006, I'll be sharing my picks for the best albums of 2006 in the following categories.Favorite music videos of the yearStay tuned for lists and accompanying podcasts.
The year's most fun albums
The year's ugliest album art
Best album title
Best album in a language I can't understand
Best "roots"/country rock album
Best album by old punks
Biggest disappointments
Most overrated
Female artist of the year
Male artist of the year
Comeback artist of the year
Album of the year
Tags: music, music lists, best music of 2006, CD of the year, lists, 2006, best CDsLabels: 2006, best CDs, best of 2006, music, music lists, music reviews
:: Andrew 11:51 + ::
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eMusic's top albums of 2006
The eMusic editors list their top 50 albums of 2006, limited, of course, to albums available on eMusic. No. 1, though, makes me cringe: Ys, by Joanna Newsom. Jesus wept!
Here's the top 10.
music, music lists, eMusic, best music of 2006, CD of the year, lists, 2006, best CDsLabels: best of 2006, eMusic, lists, music, music lists, music reviews
:: Andrew 16:31 + ::
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Pre-Christmas podcast fire sale:: Wednesday, December 13, 2006 ::
Right after Christmas, I'll be dumping all the content out of my bloggedy pod podcast site to make room for a whole slew of podcasts to go with my end-of-year music roundup. So if you want to keep the pods for posterity, start grabbing. Or pick your favorite from the list below and have a listen. Because after Christmas, they're history.
Click here to get your own player.
Tags: podcast, music, rock, rock and roll, rock'n'roll, lists, music lists, countdownsLabels: countdowns, music, music lists, podcast, podcasts, rock, rock and roll, rock'n'roll
:: Andrew 11:38 + ::
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End-of-year music lists coming atcha
By this time last year, music blogger Drake had compiled a comprehensive list of end-of-year "best of" music lists. This year, he's taking a break, instead referring readers to the Largehearted Boy list of end-of-year "best of" lists.
It's a largehearted list indeed. Here are but a few of the links you'll find there:Christianity Today's best Christian albums of the year (hint: No. 1 is a monster of an album). Lists from tried and true musicians, such as Ed Droste of Grizzly Bear and Eddie Argos of Art Brut, who weigh in for Filter Magazine's top 10 albums feature. Best box set of 2006. The year's 20 best reissues of 2006. Most melancholy songs of the year. Lots of readers' polls, like this one.
And much, much more. Me, I'm waiting till closer to the end of the year to unleash my list. Till then, enjoy.
Tags: music, music lists, best music of 2006, CD of the year, lists, 2006, best CDsLabels: best of 2006, lists, music, music lists
:: Andrew 07:22 + ::
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Simon Dawes, 
