Top Albums of 2006
How's it going? As some of you may know, I did a radio show with my good friend Phantastik back in 2004. It was called JENNY EATS SOMETHING and it was probably the best thing anyone's ever heard. As we've become accustomed to doing a best album list every year (and about a month late every year), the 2006 list is now ready to be unleashed like a rabid wombat in a nursery full of orphans. In my opinion, 2006 was such a great year for music, I couldn't limit myself to picking just ten albums, so I picked twenty. Phantastik spent a lot of his 2006 earnings on hookers and a new waffle iron, so he picked his top five. But I allowed him to explain his choices, whereas you'll just have to blindly trust mine (and you should). Our rules have remained the same since the beginning: no live albums, no compilations, no non-music. Keep in mind that we don't get to hear everything that comes out, and that our lists can change everyday. So enough of the explanation, onto the fun!
Phantastik's Picks
5. Red Hot Chili Peppers - "Stadium Arcadium"
It's hard to think that the Chili Peppers have been around as long as they have been. But I've liked just about everything and this album was no exception. Mixing funk, rock and a million other types of sounds into one in classic RHCP ways. But Kiedis still apparently doesn't like to wear shirts. I blame Iggy Pop.
4. Prince - "3121"
Prince made a 2nd album since his "comeback" and it was much better than "Musicology." Each track has a very different sound and was a little bit close (but not close enough) to the Prince of yesteryear. "Black Sweat" actually sounded like it could've almost come off of his "Black Album." Many people see it as a great album, but when put next to "Purple Rain," "Sign 'o' the Times" & "Rainbow Children," it falls short. Is it better than most of the stuff on the radio? Without a doubt. I may be a bit more critical about it since I'm such a huge Prince fan, but it left me wanting more. And not in a good way; in a "You couldn't put a few more tracks on there?" way. But he'll be per4ming at the Superbowl.
3. Incubus - "Light Grenades"
It's a killer Incubus album. More rock-sounding than before.
2. John Mayer - "Continuum"
John Mayer's latest album shows his change musically as well as lyrically. Maybe with playing with a wide variety of musicians over the last few years expanded him. John Mayer has played with people such as Common, Just Blaze, Sir Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy, ?uestlove, and Ben Harper over the last few years, among others. Its first single, a socially conscious song "Waiting on the World to Change," was a bit of shock considering he has been considered more of a love song / 20-30something life type of musician.
1. Gnarls Barkley - "St. Elsewhere"
This album without a doubt is my number one choice for 2006. The very unique sound that Cee Lo & DJ Dangermouse brought together is almost mesmerizing. When I heard the two artists were going to do an album together, I was excited. And this still blew me off of my feet with how great it was. "Crazy" was played quite a bit on the radio, which is great for it being so unique. Mostly because the radio is filled with the same sound over and over again. Not only was it played a lot, but it was played just about everywhere. Local rap & local rock-inspired stations both played the track. Which today is still amazing; not many artists can do such a feat.
Justin Case's (my) Picks
20. Pearl Jam - "Pearl Jam"
19. Josh Rouse - "Subtítulo"
18. As Fast As - "Open Letter to the Damned"
17. Thom Yorke - "The Eraser"
16. Gnarls Barkley - "St. Elsewhere"
15. Muse - "Black Holes & Revelations"
14. Pepper - "No Shame"
13. The Decemberists - "The Crane Wife"
12. Phoenix - "It's Never Been Like That"
11. State Radio - "Us Against the Crown"
10. Jack Johnson - "Sing-A-Longs & Lullabies for the Film Curious George"
9. Oppenheimer - "Oppenheimer"
8. Incubus - "Light Grenades"
7. Red Hot Chili Peppers - "Stadium Arcadium"
6. Arctic Monkeys - "Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not"
5. The Kooks - "Inside In / Inside Out"
4. The Submarines - "Declare a New State!"
3. The Flaming Lips - "At War with the Mystics"
2. Hellogoodbye - "Zombies! Aliens! Vampires! Dinosaurs!"
1. Head Automatica - "Popaganda"
We are looking forward to 2007, which will see releases from Mad Caddies, Michael Jackson, Animal Liberation Orchestra, Dangerous Thoughts, Radiohead, Spiraling, Maxïmo Park, and fingers crossed tightly: Hall & Oates.
Phantastik's Picks
5. Red Hot Chili Peppers - "Stadium Arcadium"
It's hard to think that the Chili Peppers have been around as long as they have been. But I've liked just about everything and this album was no exception. Mixing funk, rock and a million other types of sounds into one in classic RHCP ways. But Kiedis still apparently doesn't like to wear shirts. I blame Iggy Pop.
4. Prince - "3121"
Prince made a 2nd album since his "comeback" and it was much better than "Musicology." Each track has a very different sound and was a little bit close (but not close enough) to the Prince of yesteryear. "Black Sweat" actually sounded like it could've almost come off of his "Black Album." Many people see it as a great album, but when put next to "Purple Rain," "Sign 'o' the Times" & "Rainbow Children," it falls short. Is it better than most of the stuff on the radio? Without a doubt. I may be a bit more critical about it since I'm such a huge Prince fan, but it left me wanting more. And not in a good way; in a "You couldn't put a few more tracks on there?" way. But he'll be per4ming at the Superbowl.
3. Incubus - "Light Grenades"
It's a killer Incubus album. More rock-sounding than before.
2. John Mayer - "Continuum"
John Mayer's latest album shows his change musically as well as lyrically. Maybe with playing with a wide variety of musicians over the last few years expanded him. John Mayer has played with people such as Common, Just Blaze, Sir Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy, ?uestlove, and Ben Harper over the last few years, among others. Its first single, a socially conscious song "Waiting on the World to Change," was a bit of shock considering he has been considered more of a love song / 20-30something life type of musician.
1. Gnarls Barkley - "St. Elsewhere"
This album without a doubt is my number one choice for 2006. The very unique sound that Cee Lo & DJ Dangermouse brought together is almost mesmerizing. When I heard the two artists were going to do an album together, I was excited. And this still blew me off of my feet with how great it was. "Crazy" was played quite a bit on the radio, which is great for it being so unique. Mostly because the radio is filled with the same sound over and over again. Not only was it played a lot, but it was played just about everywhere. Local rap & local rock-inspired stations both played the track. Which today is still amazing; not many artists can do such a feat.
Justin Case's (my) Picks
20. Pearl Jam - "Pearl Jam"
19. Josh Rouse - "Subtítulo"
18. As Fast As - "Open Letter to the Damned"
17. Thom Yorke - "The Eraser"
16. Gnarls Barkley - "St. Elsewhere"
15. Muse - "Black Holes & Revelations"
14. Pepper - "No Shame"
13. The Decemberists - "The Crane Wife"
12. Phoenix - "It's Never Been Like That"
11. State Radio - "Us Against the Crown"
10. Jack Johnson - "Sing-A-Longs & Lullabies for the Film Curious George"
9. Oppenheimer - "Oppenheimer"
8. Incubus - "Light Grenades"
7. Red Hot Chili Peppers - "Stadium Arcadium"
6. Arctic Monkeys - "Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not"
5. The Kooks - "Inside In / Inside Out"
4. The Submarines - "Declare a New State!"
3. The Flaming Lips - "At War with the Mystics"
2. Hellogoodbye - "Zombies! Aliens! Vampires! Dinosaurs!"
1. Head Automatica - "Popaganda"
We are looking forward to 2007, which will see releases from Mad Caddies, Michael Jackson, Animal Liberation Orchestra, Dangerous Thoughts, Radiohead, Spiraling, Maxïmo Park, and fingers crossed tightly: Hall & Oates.