Top 21 of 06
21. Tom Waits - Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers, and Bastards
20. Islands - Return to Sea
19. Ghostface Killah - Fishscale
18. Bob Dylan - Modern Times
17. Neko Case - Fox Confessor Brings the Flood
16. Destroyer - Destroyer's Rubies
15. Belle and Sebastian - The Life Pursuit
14. Joanna Newsom - Ys
13. Bruce Springsteen - We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions
12. The Knife - Silent Shout
11. Phoenix - It's Never Been Like That
10. The Killers - Sam's Town
I tried to hate it...I really did...I
tried to hate everything about it....making fun of how he kinda sounds
like Meatloaf, how there is a ram on the cover, how he is a
Mormon...but nothing worked, and God!!! Every time he sings that part
'Higher and higher, we're gonna take it down to the wire,' I just want
to shout along and dance. My advice: listen, crank it...just don't tell
anyone and try not to think too much about it.
9. Scott Walker - The Drift
A truly, truly horrifying record. Like
honestly, do NOT listen to this album alone, late at night.
Seriously...he makes Sigur Ros sound like Sugar Ray.
This 60+
year old man worked over 7 years writing and producing this record, and
although not an easy listen, it is ultimately a rewarding and
interesting one. And addicting...did I mention addicting?
8. Morrissey - Ringleader of the Tormentors
My favorite artist of all time proves
his relevance and genius by creating one of his best and most original
albums of his career.
7. The Mountain Goats - Get Lonely
Many critics, myself included, found
this album to be a bit dull and monotonous at first listen. This is
probably why it received so many 7.something reviews. However, this
album was made for repeated listens, and what once seemed dull and
depressing now seems hopeful and powerful.
6. Band of Horses - Everything All The Time
Debut album of the year. This is an
impossible album to hate...I dare you...hate it....hate it now.
5. Clipse - Hell Hath No Fury
Great rap album. Without a doubt. Best
rap album of the year. Definitely. Best rap album ever? Very possible.
Key tracks: "We Got it For Cheap," "Wamp Wamp," "Hello New World," "Keys Open Doors," "Trill"
4. Josh Ritter - The Animal Years
Do you know how refreshing it is to hear an album from 2006 that had absolutely no hype, no Pitchfork review to squander my thoughts, no indie backlash, yet no mainstream hit singles to be overplayed to death...? The Animal Years came to me miraculously and from out of nowhere and I have not let it go since. The songs are stories to themselves, as epic and powerful as Springsteen, as timely and thought-provocative as Dylan, and as intimate and folksy as The Mountain Goats. Special props for containing not only my two favorite songs of the year, but quite possibly, two of my favorite songs ever: "Girl in the War" and "Thin Blue Flame."
Key tracks: "Girl in The War (SONG OF THE YEAR)," "Wolves," "Idaho," "In The Dark," "Thin Blue Flame (SONG OF THE YEAR)"
Alright, so maybe I am a little biased...seen them live three times, own everything they have ever put out...but hey...The Crane Wife in no way is a bad album. Probably even better than last year's Picaresque which, if you can recall, topped that list.
Key tracks: "The Crane Wife 3," "The Island," "Yankee Bayonet," "The Crane Wife 1 + 2,"
Powerful, country-infused, soul-rock with folky effects and inspiring hooks. Does it get better than this?
Key tracks: "The Greatest," "Living Proof," "Lived in Bars," "Willie"
Up until last night, this record was a little lower on the list. But, when it came time to do my final listening to make sure that all albums were in the right place, it occured to me that I love every song on this CD. It is honestly near perfect, and it is not only the best album of the year, but also the best rock album to come out in the past six years. Long live The Hold Steady!
Key tracks: "Stuck Between Stations," "Chips Ahoy," "Hot Soft Light." "You Can Make Him Like You," "Citrus," "Chillout Tent"
Comments