Top Ten Albums of 2006!
10 // Yo La Tengo
I Am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass
Matador
Yo La Tengo has been around since the 80's. I think it's amazing that they can still be together after so many years and still have the ability to write new material that blends different styles of experimental music with fun pop.
09 // Califone
Roots & Crowns
Thrill Jockey
While still embodying the ghost of Red Red Meat, Califone forges deep into electronic sounds with their gothic bluesfolk style.
08 // The Hold Steady
Boys and Girls in America
Vagrant
Craig Finn and his team of rock and roll assassins blast out of the barroom with enough sound to fill a stadium on their new album. Clearly an homage to Springsteen, Finn's lyrics have never been more refined and the band has never sounded sharper. Seeing them in the Lizard Lounge was one of the highlights of my summer.
07 // Cat Power
The Greatest
Matador
Chan Marshall is a dynamic songwriter. Through her discography, she never stays the same for too long. The Greatest shows off her new-found ability to not just write songs, but to write matured classics. Her voice has always been soulful, but for once the music enhances this.
06 // Tom Waits
Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers & Bastards
Anti-
I'm honored to be able to put a Tom Waits album on a top ten list. Since I didn't really understand Real Gone two years ago, I'm glad I get another chance. Tom has never disappointed me. Orphans is a seminal release showcasing 30 new songs amidst 24 rarities spanning his entire career. Tom, if you are reading this, I want you to know that I love you.
05 // The Black Keys
Magic Potion
Nonesuch
Ohio's Black Keys find their inspiration in the Mississippi Delta blues of the early 1900's. What these Ohio boys have the blues over is beyond me, but, real heartbreak or not, they do it well. It's their Nonesuch Records debut and they clearly had a larger budget to work with. They stay true to their lo-fi garage sound, but enhancing it to bring you into their basement with them.
04 // Cursive
Happy Hollow
Saddle Creek
A lot of people were disappointed with Cursive's new release. Sure, it's a polar opposite of 2003's The Ugly Organ, but c'mon. You'd get bored if they kept the same formula for album writing... Gretta left the band (on good terms) to pursue other musical opportunities leaving the rest of the band with a large void to fill. Cursive managed to keep the dynamics of The Ugly Organ but filling Gretta's void with horns, buzzing guitars, and more quirks than usual.
03 // The Pink Spiders
Teenage Graffiti
Geffen
Yeah, go ahead. Make fun of me all you want.
Everyone is quick to trash The Pink Spiders because they are gimmicky, or because Geffen bought their album for $1.3 million. Not to mention their target audience is angsty middle school (pre)teens. None of that matters to me. Maybe it's because they jumped to the major leagues from Lancaster's own CI Records. I am fond of their brand of carefree, yet snotty, rock and roll - especially when Ric Ocasek can add his own touches on production. I find them remniscent of 1950's greasers. It's a good thing to introduce to the teens of today. It has a lot more merit than the Korn and Limp Bizkit that I got introduced to in middle school.
One last comment to you naysayers: I'd like to see your shitty band make an album that is this catchy.
02 // Murder by Death
In Bocca al Lupo
Tent Show
Holy shit. I never thought Murder by Death would be able to come up with another album as intense as Who Will Survive, and What Will Be Left of Them? Jumping from the "wild west" viewpoint of the apocalypse to a trip through hell, singer Adam Turla's imagination runs wild. Turla's vocals seem more confident and realized, showing off a Johnny Cash-type quality to them. Sara's cello playing is more integrated than before. From start to finish In Bocca al Lupo is as diverse as it is enthralling. The only thing better is getting to see them live!
01 // Rocky Votolato
Makers
Barsuk
I'm not gonna lie - I originally pirated this album from teh internetz around Thanksgiving '05. I was too excited to wait 'til January for the release date. When the album came at the radio station, I wanted to be able to know all the songs and be able to review it right there. Surely enough, I did. Fast forward to December of 2006 (now): I still listen to the album regularly, a year later.
Rocky Votolato is a family man. He works hard to support his family. For some reason, you can hear that in his words and voice. He has insight that most indie artists don't. His music is as haunting as it is beautiful, keeping the Americana spirit alive in modern folk music.