Best of 2006
#40 The Hylozoists “La Fin Du Monde” (Boompa)
- Great album for fans of Stereolab. Probably deserved to be higher considering how much I listened to it.
#39 Islands “Return To The Sea” (Equator)
- Islands > Unicorns…nuff said.
#38 Anathallo “Floating World” (Artist Friendship/Nettwork America)
- This band is fascinating. A bit over the top? Sure, but if you have seen them live then you will have a deeper appreciation for this record.
#37 Tapes ‘n Tapes “The Loon” (XL Recordings)
- I have a feeling nobody will remember this band in a few years. But, in the meantime this is a damn good album and catchy as hell too.
#36 The Draft “In A Million Pieces” (Epitaph)
- I did not expect much from the new band containing 3/4 of Hot Water Music but I was pleasantly surprised. The Draft have created quite a debut record here.
#35 Eulcid “Hope: And Songs To Sing” (Exotic Fever)
- Beautiful swan song from one of the scene’s most underrated and underappreciated bands.
- While I did not find myself as enthralled with “Classics” as I did Ratatat’s debut record, this one still got a lot of repeat listens.
#33 The Loved Ones “Keep Your Heart” (Fat Wreck Chords)
- Smart, intelligent and simply rocking pop/punk! Go Fat Go!
#32 Chin Up Chin Up “This Harness Can’t Ride Anything” (Suicide Squeeze)
- Mathy emo-pop should not work this well and sound this good.
#31 Channels “Waiting For The Next End Of The World” (Dischord)
- I’m going to get a lot of heat for putting this so low. But it ranks this low simply because J. Robbins has set the bar so high for so long. Any fan of his former bands will love this though.
#30 Latterman “…We Are Still Alive” (Deep Elm)
- While not as overly impressive and over the top posi as last year’s “No Matter Where We Go”, this album proves Latterman has more than a few tricks up their sleeve for the future.
#29 Sunset Rubdown “Shut Up I Am Dreaming” (Absolutely Kosher)
- Spencer Krug is one of the most unique and talented songwriters today.
#28 Moneen “The Red Tree” (Vagrant)
- Less dynamic and more straightforward than past efforts, yet, Moneen still sound miles ahead of their peers.
#27 The Black Heart Procession “The Spell” (Touch And Go)
- Accesibility meets the dark sounds of Black Heart Procession and it makes for the band’s most rewarding listen.
#26 Peter Bjorn And John “Writer’s Block” (Wichita)
- More time with this album would have probably seen it crack the top twenty. That being said, this is as fantastic an indie pop album as you will hear in 2006, or 2007 for that matter.
#25 The Brother Kite “Waiting For The Time To Be Right” (Clairecords)
- Power pop + Shoegazer = The Brother Kite
#24 The Falcon “Unicornography” (Red Scare)
- This is Brendan Kelly’s fourth recorded band and for the record they all rule. But, who is keeping track?
#23 Neko Case “Fox Confessor Brings The Flood” (Anti)
- Neko Case’s voice belongs in the another time and place. Simply gorgeous.
#22 Pyramids “Following The Tracks, Forcing Motion Through Phases” (Paramnesia/Slave Union)
- Pyramids have created a dark, aggresive and rewarding journey. You just have to be willing to go along for the ride.
#21 Beirut “Gulag Orkestar” (Ba Da Bing)
- Eastern European folk music mixed with indie rock? No doubt that Beirut’s Zach Condon is one of indie rock’s bright young stars.
#20 mewithoutYou “Brother, Sister” (Tooth And Nail)
- This band just keeps getting better and better. For confusing genres…I’ll call it intellectual post-emotional hardcore.
#19 Aloha “Some Echoes” (Polyvinyl)
- How many bands create their best work four albums and seven years into their career? Not very many…but you can add Aloha to that list.
#18 Set Your Goals “Mutiny!” (Eulogy)
- West coast pop/punk with emo tendencies and hardcore breakdowns? Yup, so damn good! This album makes me smile and jump around like I’m 16 all over again!
#17 Built To Spill “You In Reverse” (Warner Bros.)
- A return to form? Pssh, I’m happy to just have a return period. This album is classic Built To Spill and that is good enough for a top twenty finish in my book.
#16 Electric President “Electric President” (Morr Music)
- Electro-pop at its finest. These guys could give The Postal Service a run for their money.
#15 Silversun Pickups “Carnavas” (Dangerbird)
- The return of the 90’s…Silversun Pickups took me back in time in a grand way.
#14 Calexico “Garden Ruin” (Quarterstick)
- For a band built on such complexities, Calexico’s simplest album was also their most moving.
#13 The Decemberists “The Crane Wife”(Capitol)
- Rarely does a high profile indie band sign with a major label and in turn release their finest album. Yet, The Decemberists did just that.
#12 Rocky Votolato “Makers” (Barsuk)
- It seems Rocky V. is destined to live in relative obscurity. The man writes beautifully sad songs. Is anybody listening? They certainly should be.
#11 Band Of Horses “Everything All The Time” (Sub Pop)
- While certainly not the most original album of 2006 (My Morning Jacket Jr. anyone?), this was still a hell of a debut. Band Of Horses flex some remarkable songwriting and it will be interesting to see what the band does next.
#10 Brand New “The Devil And God Are Raging Inside Me” (Interscope)
A real “alternative rock” band in 2006? Brand New just might fit the bill.
#9 The Lawrence Arms “Oh! Calcutta!” (Fat Wreck Chords)
- The Lawrence Arms continue to remind me with every album what I love about punk rock.
#8 Drag The River “It’s Crazy.” (Suburban Home)
- Two unique songwriters that come from pop-punk bands play alt-country to remarkable results.
#7 Drive-By Truckers “A Blessing And A Curse” (New West)
- A modern day Lynard Skynard? This band is dirty, ugly and beautifully brilliant.
#6 The Futureheads “News And Tributes” (Startime International/Vagrant)
- More polished production allows the band’s infectious songwriting to shine for all to see.
#5 The Appleseed Cast “Peregrine” (The Militia Group)
- The Appleseed Cast remain vital with an engaging return to the experimental and atmospheric pastures of their earlier work.
#4 Life At These Speeds “To Your Health” (Level Plane)
- Life At These Speeds have matured into something so incredibly powerful and moving. Can they make it to album three without breaking up? Fingers crossed!
#3 Mogwai “Mr. Beast” (Matador)
- How many times can you reinvent yourself within the framework of post-rock? This is Mogwai’s fifth album and the band shows no signs of a creative dryspell.
#2 Mew “And The Glass Handed Kites” (Sony)
- Yeah yeah, originally released in Europe in 2005…I know and I don’t care. This band is so damn good.
#1 Samiam “Whatever’s Got You Down” (Hopeless)
- No surprise here…this was by far my top played album of 2006. Samiam are one of my all-time favorite bands and this is their first album in six years. It simply exceeds all expectations. Let’s just hope we don’t have to wait six more years for the next one. If I get to see Samiam live in 2007 it shall be a successful year!
