I've listened to nearly 300 albums this year. Many of them weren't very good. From that extensive list I created a list of about 60 albums that I genuinely enjoyed and felt could possibly be top 25 material. Then the agony begins. I actually have to whittle that down to 25. That is such a painful procedure as I agonize over nearly every bump from the cut. Some I wonder if I just haven't given them enough of a chance, and I will take the time to listen to all over again, just to be sure. Finally, when I eventually make the list of the final 25, I remember one or two more that I completely forgot and that absolutely must make it into the top 25. It is truly awful.
From there I sort them all. It actually took me three days to finally settle on this list. My criteria and basis for judgement simply just being, "which album do I enjoy the most?" And of course, that answer can even vary from moment to moment. It's a difficult task.
I'm almost surprised by my own rankings in some scenarios. Even with my number one ranked album. I just couldn't bear to put it lower than anything else on the list, despite wanting to put other things above it.
Well, without further ado, here are my top 25 albums of 2006. I hope you find it slightly amusing for one reason or another and possibly maybe find something new to enjoy.
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25.
Pyramids
Following Tracks, Forcing Motion Through Phases
Bonus points to bump them into the top 25 for being local? Possibly. I remember when Mike Brennan first got this LP pressed... he was one extremely excited boy, like a kid who just got a Nintendo 64 for Christmas (I never got one). I didn't think a whole lot of the album at the time, but once I truly gave it a chance and listened to it I was astonished and impressed. Brutal, and passionate controlled chaos. Totally awesome, dudes.
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24.
Yndi Halda
Enjoy Eternal Bliss
Pleasant and thoroughly enjoyable. Yndi Halda plays a brand of instrumental rock that is hopeful and uplifting. I had too much personal attachment to this album to leave it out, notably the track "We Flood Empty Lakes".
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23.
L'antietam
Family
Yesss! Thanks, New Hampshire. Nothing good, off of the top of my mind, has ever come out of New Hampshire until now. This album maintains copious amounts of intensity from start to finish. Their energized brand of hardcore punk is something I just can't resist.
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22.
Subtle
For Hero: For Fool
There was a big hoopla surrounding this album because Subtle signed to EMI to release it. This small collective of creative and unique artists fronted by Doseone can do no wrong. Infectiously poppy and innovative.
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21.
Russian Circles
Enter
If you like Pelican, chances are you'd like these guys. I like Pelican. In fact, the same producer was in on both of their recent albums. Enter is 6 tracks of mesmerizing heavy instrumental rock with dashes of metal-like guitar work.
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20.
TV On The Radio
Return to Cookie Mountain
Perhaps one of the more notable acts to make my list. I genuinely didn't think they would end up putting out an album that I'd like at this point. It's hard for indie rock bands to maintain my interest for long. The first track on the album alone is enough to make up for the weaker tracks that subsequently follow. Regardless, they signed to a major and didn't end up sucking. I only made "Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes" an honorable mention in 2004, and I now feel that that album is superior to this one. Oh well, they were due a crack at the top 25, I guess.
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19.
Magyar Posse
Random Avenger
When I visited Sweden there was a lot of Finland bashing. Apparantly they are total dickheads. And aside from hockey stars like Teemu Selanne and Saku Koivu, I really don't know of anything else particularly impressive coming from Sweden's neighbor. Aside from Magyar Posse, that is. They have an expansive almost cinematic sort of blend of instrumental rock that is thoroughly absorbing. This probably deserves higher than 19 but I've already put so much work into the list to really adjust, okay?
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18.
Té
Naraba, imi kara kaihou sareta hibiki ha "oto" no sekai no shinen wo kataru.
(If that is what is being thought, liberated sound talks the depth of "musical" world.)
They're asian (Japanese, I believe) and they have really long album and song titles. That means they're either full of themselves or awesome. Luckily for us, they're awesome. Very up-tempo driving instrumental rock with totally sweet guitars and lots of charm.
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17.
Spank Rock
YoYoYoYoYo
Spank Rock is an artist receiving a lot more recognition and notoriety as of late. His sound is a fresh blend of hip hop, UK dance and electronic production over amusing excessively lewd raps. Perhaps a novelty album of 2006, but it's really damn awesome and is terrific for dance parties.
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16.
The Evens
Get Even
Ian MacKaye can do no wrong. He's paired up with Amy Farina and again released one of the catchiest albums of the entire year. He plays guitar, she drums, they sing. Such a simple formula, but such a unique blend of pop and folk. This album is a bit more developed than their last and just as enchanting.
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15.
Souvenir's Young America
Self Titled
When I listen to this album there are so many compelling moments through out where in my mind I am just going, "yess, hell yessss! This rules!" A fresh blend of instrumental rock that has a unique flavor of fervency to it. Riveting.
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14.
Icy Demons
Tears of a Clone
Members of Man Man and Need New Body. Mix Chicago and Philadelphia. Poppy, jazzy, entirely awesome indie. I love this album so much. This is something everyone should check out. And if you're not a fan of Man Man or Need New Body, don't be scared. It's just got that dash of flair or distinctiveness to it.
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13.
Red Sparowes
Every Red Heart Shines Towards the Red Sun
This album is so much better than last year's. It is so much more stimulating and deep. It really does annoy me though that they have to go and spell sparrows like that, seriously. This album is so good that I can look beyond that. Wow.
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12.
12twelve
L'Univers
They're from Barcelona. They play jazz. Twelve is my favorite number (bonus points). Plus, I thought it would be funny to put 12twelve in the twelfth position. Actually, now that I'm thinking about it I'd maybe swap Magyar Posse for this slot. I'm kind of making this album sound like it isn't very special now. That is not the case; trust me, it is.
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11.
Converge
No Heroes
Converge destroys, in a good way.
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10.
Don Caballero
World Class Listening Problem
So Damon Che, Don Cab's drummer, decided to reunite the band that has broken up 34 times in the last decade. This time, all new faces are in the mix but little is lost. In fact, I could play guitar (I can't) with Damon playing and it would sound amazing. This album, for the most part, continues the legacy that Don Caballero has built up and deserves recognition.
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09.
Man Man
Six Demon Bag
Philadelphia, represent! These guys are incredibly fun. After their first album I did not expect another album to eventually be released nor for it to ever be great. I was wrong on both accounts. Six Demon Bag is ridiculously infectious in the most unique and bizarre way. The album only continued to grow on me with multiple listens.
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08.
Isis
In the Absence of Truth
This falls into that "hell yes!" category. Add a dash of heavy mixed with some doom and gloom and toss in some experimental rock with a touch of the avant garde and you've got a sense of Isis. In the Abscence of Truth does not disappoint, either. It's a bit more subdued than I expected, but that doesn't hurt the album one bit.
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07.
Feu Therese
Self Titled
I was entirely bummed to learn that Fly Pan Am was on indefinite hiatus. But, Feu Therese popped up in its wake and so thus we have a French-Canadian (read: weirder and more eccentric) version of Fly Pan Am. Actually, that isn't totally true. Feu Therese play a similar style to Fly Pan Am; grooving repetitive rhythms that are absolutely enthralling with slight deviations of it. Very experimental and abstract at times, but so good.
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06.
Growing
Color Wheel
Alright, so in my bedroom I have 5.1 surround sound set up. All around my bed. Seriously. I have a progressive scan DVD player wired to the receiver via fiber optic audio for perfectly clear digital audio. Ohh yeah. Color Wheel is by far the best album of the year to listen to in that setting. Haunting, swirling and intriguing. I never expected myself to be a major fan of drone rock until I met my match with Growing, their ambiance is just enthralling.
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05.
Under Byen
Samme Stof Som Stof
I seriously questioned whether Bjork was doing the vocals on this album at first. I kind of like Bjork. Oh, I sort of like Sigur Ros. You know what? They kind of sound like Sigur Ros with Bjork vocals. Bjork singing in Danish. This is a delightful album. The music is without guitars, instead they utilize cello, violin, saw, organ, and lots of percussion.
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04.
Dosh
The Lost Take
Martin Luther King Chavez Dosh. Seriously. This album is the most enchanting wonderful piece of music on this list. This album is an amiable mix of percussion, piano, various electronic sounds and loops. It's just 40 continuous minutes of delight.
Here is a track from Anticon's site: Um, Circles and Squares.
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03.
Belegost/The Sea, Like Lead
Split LP
This album got a major boost up the rankings for personal reasons, I will admit. Beyond that, however, it is an amazing release with two wonderful artists that have both now since broken up. Total bummer. Belegost have one track, Nighwalker/Deergod. It is heavy, hopeful, explosive and sanguine. One of my favorites songs of 2006. During one of their sets I saw this past year they unfortunately were told they had less than half an hour to set up and play. They pounded out some of the most gripping 20 something minutes of music I've experienced in so long. I was floored. That same show features also The Sea, Like Lead who have two tracks Twilight of the Gods and Anticline/Syncline. While not their best material (their independant album was stunning), it works very well with Belegost track. Anticline/Syncline is particularly noteworthy for it's driving intensity. I really loved this album and the guys in both bands.
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02.
Mono
You Are There
When I first got the advance for this album it was like Christmas day. I was beginning to come under the weather and felt like total shit. I had just recently set up a surround sound room in this ridiculously small room in my old house on Madison. I laid down in it with about 10 pillows and shag carpetting and put it on extremely loud after taking a bunch of cold medicine. I managed to stay awake until the final moments of the album, thoroughly enjoying it the entire way through. This album is phenomenal. Their powerful instrumental rock is intensely cathartic and captivating. Also one of the loudest bands I've ever seen (louder than Lightning Bolt, Mogwai, and lots of others promoted as being loud as shit) while maintaing striking audible clarity to their music.
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01.
Talkdemonic
Beat Romantic
This album is just perfect. I was completely surprised that this ended up number one. It isn't particularly groundbreaking nor emotionally inspiring or anything like that. It is just flawless. I enjoy every track. Every track is fulfilling and enchanting. Each track is remarkably fascinating and unique from the previous. Each track only averages just over 2 minutes in length. It's actually difficult not to listen to it all the way through once you begin. When I make a mix CD and want to throw a track from this album on it, I can't even choose. I just want to put every single song on it. Kevin O'Connor (percussion, piano, synth, etc.) Lisa Molinaro (stings, synth and various other instruments) work together as Talkdemonic to make absolutely tremendously extraordinary music. Try to not enjoy this album. You can't. It's too bad they live all the way out in Washington, I'd love to see them live. TALKDEMONIC, COME TO THE GODDAMNED EAST COAST.
Here is a track from Arena Rock's site, Mountaintops In Caves.
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Honorable mentions:
A Hawk and a Hacksaw - The Way the Wind Blows
A Lily - Wake:Sleep
AFX - Chosen Lords
Agalloch - Ashes Against the Grain
Ascent of Everest - How Lonely Sits the City
Black Ox Orkestar - Nisht Azoy
Boris - Pink
Cappablack - Facades and Skeletons
Coughs - Secret Passage
Comets on Fire - Avatar
Ef - Give Me Beauty... Or Give Me Death!
Genghis Tron - Dead Mountain Mouth
Ghostface Killah - Fishscale
Girl Talk - Nightripper
Gregor Samsa - 55:12
Jeniferever - Choose a Bright Morning
Jesu - Silver
Kill the Vultures - The Careless Flame
La Quiete - Tenpeun
Magic People - Keen Whips I'd Wear As Rubies
Max Richter - Songs From Before
Mt. - Lethologica
Pit Er Pat - Pyramids
Parts and Labor - Stay Afraid
Psapp - The Only Thing I Ever Wanted
Sickoakes - Seawards
Sparrows, Swarm and Sing - O Shenandoah, Mighty Death Will Find Me
Squarepusher - Hello Everything
Suis La Lune - Quiet, Pull the Strings!
We vs. Death - We Too Are Concerned; We Are Too Concerned
Windmills By the Ocean - Windmills By the Ocean
Wizardzz - Hidden City of Taurmond
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