my 2006 in music..
What a year..
Top 13 Albums:
13. The Black Angels - Passover
12. Editors - The Back Room
11. Tapes 'n Tapes - The Loon
10. Asobi Seksu - Citrus
9. Serena Maneesh - Serena Maneesh
8. The Duke Spirit - Cuts Across the Land
7. White Rose Movement - Kick
6. Mellowdrone - Box
5. The Decemberists - The Crane Wife
4. Annuals - Be He Me
3. Jeremy Enigk - World Waits
2. The Secret Machines - Ten Silver Drops
1. Mew - And the Glass Handed Kites Up
Award: Hardest Rocking Song of The Year:
Annuals - Brother
At first I thought 2006 was going to have to do without a "hardest rocking" song.. I waited all year thinking that "Knight of Cydonia" by Muse would have to do.. but in early December a friend came through when he tossed me this album. I followed his instructions specifically. "Take the Disc.. go to your car.. pop it in.. turn it up all the way.. close your eyes.. press play." This song may even beat out 2005's champion (And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead - Will You Smile Again). I highly recommend this track to anyone looking for something to scare the emo kids off the porch with.
Award: Biggest Let Downs:
Kasabian - Empire
So I was in love with the sounds they generated in their previous record.. I at least expected some decent melodies on this one but..
Deftones - Saturday Night Wrist
I guess I had my hopes up because "how can so many listeners be wrong?" but they are.. White Pony was awesome.. but haven't really seen anything from Deftones worthy of mention since.
The Killers - Sams Town
The Killers got huge off their last album.. my hopes were that they would take all their hard earned money and try to win back some of their credible fans with this next record. All "Sams Town" did was further confuse the newest MTV generation of what decent music sounds like. Poor Kids.
Muse - Black Holes & Revelations
Dont get me wrong.. Muse is awesome.. but this band is capable of so much that I refuse to take them off the pedastal. Hence they end up here.. some tracks were awesome on this record.. and some obviously fell short of the glory..
Award: wtf
Angels & Airwaves - We Dont Need to Whisper - lol. Uhh.. yea. I cringe at the thought of how much money was wasted on making this record. But what really gets me is all the money thrown into the hype of its release. wtf.
Award: Darkest Rock
She Wants Revenge - She Wants Revenge
SWR is a highly controversial band in my humble opinion. Either you love it or you hate it but however you take to their sound.. you do it hard. Coincidentally.. that is the general theme of the album. This album was a "go to" album for me when feeling the darkness subdue me. =) I look foward to hearing more from the duo.
The Knife - Silent Shout
The Knife scares me. "Still Light" is the perfect track example. This brother and sister duo literally never show their faces but in place, paint your head full of vague and abstract pictures that seem beautiful & lovely in the darkest ways.
Award: Best Male Vocals
Jonathan Bates - Mellowdrone
Jon's throat and lungs project flawlessly on "Box" but it is for the rumors I've heard from live show experiences that I selected Mr. Bates. From almost everyone I have talked to who has seen Mellowdrone in live performance.. the first thing mentioned is the outstanding vocal work. Jon has a strong and balanced voice that just seems perfect for the kind of wailing Mellowdrone needs.
Runners Up: Jeremy Enigk, and Jonas Bjerre (Mew)
Award: Best Female Vocals
Neko Case - Fox Confessor Brings the Flood
Vocal goddess. I first got into Neko after hearing her work with "The New Pornographers" last year. The further I dig into her catalog the more I am amazed.
Award: Best Unignorable Political Album
The Decemberists - The Crane Wife
It can be argued that almost every album speaks in some political way. But from those artist in 2006 who chose to make a more "flagrant" political stand through their music, the Decemberists exceeded above the rest. This album is extremely catchy and well produced. I highly recommend this album despite its politically misguided themes. =)
Odds & Ends
These tracks found their way onto my playlist and earned repeat after repeat. They are honorable mentions.
15. I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness - According to Plan
14. Band of Horses - The Funeral
13. Fujiya & Miyagi - Ankle Injuries
12. Goldfrapp - Ooh La La
11. Hot Chip - Won't Wash
10. Junior Boys - First Time
9. The Presets - Girl and the Sea
8. The Raconteurs - Level
7. Silversun Pickups - Lazy Eye
6. Small Sins - Stay
5. The Sounds - Painted By Numbers
4. The World Without Magic - Never Begun
3. Yeah Yeah Yeah's - Gold Lion
2. The Good the Bad and The Queen - Herculean
1. TV on the Radio - Wolf Like Me
Top 6 2006 Live Shows
6. Asobi Seksu - Asobi was perfect to see at a small venue like the Chop Suey in Seattle. They had pretty Christmas lights and their reverb drenched sound poured through the sound system very well. ;)
5. Cursive - I have never been a big fan of Cursive.. but I went to Neumo's with a friend to try and figure out what all the hype was about. Although I did not quite enjoy the show as much as some of the cult like followers of the band, I was impressed by Cursive's character and integrity. It was a true no-nonsense show. No special lights, effects, video.. just a bunch of half balding dudes humbly rocking out their newest album, and doing it very well.
4. Serena Maneesh - The memory of this show will always make me smile. Serena fucking tore shit up at Neumos! Their live performance is as every bit progressive as their latest album. I watched from a few rows back as the crazy Norwegians violated every bar & venue rule in Seattle, and they did it from stage. Bottles tossed, cigarettes smoked, intruments destroyed, and, well, "jack daniels had to be served with tea cuz they snorted all the coke."
3. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - At the Exit In in Nashville, TN. I was truly worried after "Elefant" finished up their set. But BRMC gained a new respect from me as they bulled through about 2 hours of songs. At the end I still wanted more. One of the best shows of all time for me.
2. Mew - In reality, the best show of the year. Again at Neumos. Flawless and indescribable. I have never heard a live sound so close to the album. Nor have I ever seen video's of kittens playing fiddles.
1. The Secret Machines - What can I say.. My Bachelor party.. The El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles, CA. It was the CD release party. They played "In The Round" and enveloped the crowd from the center of the room.
* All in all.. a very good year in music.. not only did I discover "likes" in unfamiliar genre's, but I was able to help infect some close friends with similar tastes.
What a year..
Top 13 Albums:
13. The Black Angels - Passover
12. Editors - The Back Room
11. Tapes 'n Tapes - The Loon
10. Asobi Seksu - Citrus
9. Serena Maneesh - Serena Maneesh
8. The Duke Spirit - Cuts Across the Land
7. White Rose Movement - Kick
6. Mellowdrone - Box
5. The Decemberists - The Crane Wife
4. Annuals - Be He Me
3. Jeremy Enigk - World Waits
2. The Secret Machines - Ten Silver Drops
1. Mew - And the Glass Handed Kites Up
Award: Hardest Rocking Song of The Year:
Annuals - Brother
At first I thought 2006 was going to have to do without a "hardest rocking" song.. I waited all year thinking that "Knight of Cydonia" by Muse would have to do.. but in early December a friend came through when he tossed me this album. I followed his instructions specifically. "Take the Disc.. go to your car.. pop it in.. turn it up all the way.. close your eyes.. press play." This song may even beat out 2005's champion (And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead - Will You Smile Again). I highly recommend this track to anyone looking for something to scare the emo kids off the porch with.
Award: Biggest Let Downs:
Kasabian - Empire
So I was in love with the sounds they generated in their previous record.. I at least expected some decent melodies on this one but..
Deftones - Saturday Night Wrist
I guess I had my hopes up because "how can so many listeners be wrong?" but they are.. White Pony was awesome.. but haven't really seen anything from Deftones worthy of mention since.
The Killers - Sams Town
The Killers got huge off their last album.. my hopes were that they would take all their hard earned money and try to win back some of their credible fans with this next record. All "Sams Town" did was further confuse the newest MTV generation of what decent music sounds like. Poor Kids.
Muse - Black Holes & Revelations
Dont get me wrong.. Muse is awesome.. but this band is capable of so much that I refuse to take them off the pedastal. Hence they end up here.. some tracks were awesome on this record.. and some obviously fell short of the glory..
Award: wtf
Angels & Airwaves - We Dont Need to Whisper - lol. Uhh.. yea. I cringe at the thought of how much money was wasted on making this record. But what really gets me is all the money thrown into the hype of its release. wtf.
Award: Darkest Rock
She Wants Revenge - She Wants Revenge
SWR is a highly controversial band in my humble opinion. Either you love it or you hate it but however you take to their sound.. you do it hard. Coincidentally.. that is the general theme of the album. This album was a "go to" album for me when feeling the darkness subdue me. =) I look foward to hearing more from the duo.
The Knife - Silent Shout
The Knife scares me. "Still Light" is the perfect track example. This brother and sister duo literally never show their faces but in place, paint your head full of vague and abstract pictures that seem beautiful & lovely in the darkest ways.
Award: Best Male Vocals
Jonathan Bates - Mellowdrone
Jon's throat and lungs project flawlessly on "Box" but it is for the rumors I've heard from live show experiences that I selected Mr. Bates. From almost everyone I have talked to who has seen Mellowdrone in live performance.. the first thing mentioned is the outstanding vocal work. Jon has a strong and balanced voice that just seems perfect for the kind of wailing Mellowdrone needs.
Runners Up: Jeremy Enigk, and Jonas Bjerre (Mew)
Award: Best Female Vocals
Neko Case - Fox Confessor Brings the Flood
Vocal goddess. I first got into Neko after hearing her work with "The New Pornographers" last year. The further I dig into her catalog the more I am amazed.
Award: Best Unignorable Political Album
The Decemberists - The Crane Wife
It can be argued that almost every album speaks in some political way. But from those artist in 2006 who chose to make a more "flagrant" political stand through their music, the Decemberists exceeded above the rest. This album is extremely catchy and well produced. I highly recommend this album despite its politically misguided themes. =)
Odds & Ends
These tracks found their way onto my playlist and earned repeat after repeat. They are honorable mentions.
15. I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness - According to Plan
14. Band of Horses - The Funeral
13. Fujiya & Miyagi - Ankle Injuries
12. Goldfrapp - Ooh La La
11. Hot Chip - Won't Wash
10. Junior Boys - First Time
9. The Presets - Girl and the Sea
8. The Raconteurs - Level
7. Silversun Pickups - Lazy Eye
6. Small Sins - Stay
5. The Sounds - Painted By Numbers
4. The World Without Magic - Never Begun
3. Yeah Yeah Yeah's - Gold Lion
2. The Good the Bad and The Queen - Herculean
1. TV on the Radio - Wolf Like Me
Top 6 2006 Live Shows
6. Asobi Seksu - Asobi was perfect to see at a small venue like the Chop Suey in Seattle. They had pretty Christmas lights and their reverb drenched sound poured through the sound system very well. ;)
5. Cursive - I have never been a big fan of Cursive.. but I went to Neumo's with a friend to try and figure out what all the hype was about. Although I did not quite enjoy the show as much as some of the cult like followers of the band, I was impressed by Cursive's character and integrity. It was a true no-nonsense show. No special lights, effects, video.. just a bunch of half balding dudes humbly rocking out their newest album, and doing it very well.
4. Serena Maneesh - The memory of this show will always make me smile. Serena fucking tore shit up at Neumos! Their live performance is as every bit progressive as their latest album. I watched from a few rows back as the crazy Norwegians violated every bar & venue rule in Seattle, and they did it from stage. Bottles tossed, cigarettes smoked, intruments destroyed, and, well, "jack daniels had to be served with tea cuz they snorted all the coke."
3. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - At the Exit In in Nashville, TN. I was truly worried after "Elefant" finished up their set. But BRMC gained a new respect from me as they bulled through about 2 hours of songs. At the end I still wanted more. One of the best shows of all time for me.
2. Mew - In reality, the best show of the year. Again at Neumos. Flawless and indescribable. I have never heard a live sound so close to the album. Nor have I ever seen video's of kittens playing fiddles.
1. The Secret Machines - What can I say.. My Bachelor party.. The El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles, CA. It was the CD release party. They played "In The Round" and enveloped the crowd from the center of the room.
* All in all.. a very good year in music.. not only did I discover "likes" in unfamiliar genre's, but I was able to help infect some close friends with similar tastes.
posted by -stewarts- at 11:34 AM
1 Comments:
The Enigk record is that good huh? Guess I'll have to check it out.
An interesting choice for your WTF award. Although I do not give out WTF awards, every year I give an unconscious one to hip-hop. I do not understand how a form of music that has a shelf life shorter than a gallon of milk can be a functional style of music, not to mention all the absurdities that go along with it.
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