Top 10 Albums of 2006
Jafar proudly presents the now web 2.0 industry standard top 10 list for most remarkable, amazing, inspiring, and fucking awesome albums of 2006. Although Angela feels '06 was unremarkable, I would say it was a solid year, though I feel that '05 and '07 will/did surpass '06. After all, we have Animal Collective and Radiohead to look forward to. Without further rambling, here it is.......your comments are expected.
1.) Joanna Newsom - YS
No surprise here, you all know my feelings on this album. Joanna has cemented herself as the greatest female singer-songwriter of all time. YS has single-handedly transformed the landscape of music, catapulting her into the best among the best of her contemporaries. Now with full control over her vocal range, she finds herself also responsible for the best lyrics of 2006. No other singer-songwriter in their 20s can hold a candle, a harp (or a fucking guitar for that matter) up to this dame.
2.) Jóhann Jóhannsson- IBM1401 - A User's Manual
Unfortunately for you, this album has not even been mentioned on the Feldheim. At #2 it's a good place to make it's debut. This Icelandic composer has composed his way into the soul of every listener with a heartbreaking and emotional record that is just about as moving as anything else I've heard in a long time. An exploration into the relationship between man and machine, it is a touching tribute to Jóhann Jóhannsson's father.
3.) Liars - Drums Not Dead
The Liars decided to bring back a little Rock & Roll for your cerebral cortex in 2006. The Liars cemented their status as one of the most intriguing and vital bands currently making music. Drums Not Dead is a perfect harmony of rhythm, melodies, and vocals......a creative work that will pass the test of time, and finds a way to always sound good........always.
4.) Mogwai - Mr. Beast
Not by any stretch of the imagination the best Mogwai album, but that doesn't even matter. Mogwai are one of the most powerful and awesome bands that has ever existed. Their unique sound and ambitious songwriting will always hold a place in my heart, and they definitely deliver on this record. Vocals return, but instrumentals prevail. Mogwai continue to stay true to who they are and what their music is all about, and we all owe them our thanks.
5.) Xiu Xiu - The Air Force
Walla walla walla walla walla walla hey.
Jamie Stewart is haunted. Don't believe me? Either ask Ritter or give this album a spin. Stewart blends pop, electronica, and gayness? in a way that lets you know what he's thinking and what his dreams (nightmares) consist of. A provocative and powerful album, this one cannot escape mention for 2006. Stewart's most accessible album to date, he is beginning to master his craft, and continues to deliver music that will molest your mind.
6.) The Knife - Silent Shout
Expect a post later on about the importance of the middle class to music. Countries like Sweden, Iceland, and Finland have a large middle class, so expect more and more great music from their neck of the woods. Sweden delivers with a sibling punch of hypnotic electronica that will leave you dazzled. At times haunting, and at others fun, this album is full of hits and has no misses. A departure from their previous album, it's going to be interesting to see where these Swedes take their Machinedrums and vocoders.
7.) Califone - Roots & Crowns
Rutili being Rutili. Simply stunning.
8.) TV on the Radio - Return to Cookie Mountain
Although I do think this album is overrated, there is no doubt it is great. A solid work from a band that seems to fill a certain space in today's music that no one else can.
9.) The Fiery Furnaces - Bitter Tea
One of the more misunderstood and underappreciated bands, The Fiery Furnaces are a band to be reckoned with. Perhaps a bit ahead of their time, Bitter Tea finds itself swept under the rug of hipsterdom. Fear not young hipsters, give it a couple spins and you will begin to realize the brilliance that spews forth.
10.) Danielson - Ships
If you love pop, then you will love Danielson's Ships. An inventive blend of pop with a solid cast behind him. Danielson's godloving doesn't offend the Richard Dawkins' of the world, and manages to make you feel good (or god).
Notable Mention at 11 (Sorry Lucas)...
11.) Destroyer - Destroyer's Rubies
Bejar is at it again, and he delivers with a mesmerizing album of pop brilliance. If it wasn't for some of the weaker tracks, this album would be up in the single digits.
1.) Joanna Newsom - YS
No surprise here, you all know my feelings on this album. Joanna has cemented herself as the greatest female singer-songwriter of all time. YS has single-handedly transformed the landscape of music, catapulting her into the best among the best of her contemporaries. Now with full control over her vocal range, she finds herself also responsible for the best lyrics of 2006. No other singer-songwriter in their 20s can hold a candle, a harp (or a fucking guitar for that matter) up to this dame.
2.) Jóhann Jóhannsson- IBM1401 - A User's Manual
Unfortunately for you, this album has not even been mentioned on the Feldheim. At #2 it's a good place to make it's debut. This Icelandic composer has composed his way into the soul of every listener with a heartbreaking and emotional record that is just about as moving as anything else I've heard in a long time. An exploration into the relationship between man and machine, it is a touching tribute to Jóhann Jóhannsson's father.
3.) Liars - Drums Not Dead
The Liars decided to bring back a little Rock & Roll for your cerebral cortex in 2006. The Liars cemented their status as one of the most intriguing and vital bands currently making music. Drums Not Dead is a perfect harmony of rhythm, melodies, and vocals......a creative work that will pass the test of time, and finds a way to always sound good........always.
4.) Mogwai - Mr. Beast
Not by any stretch of the imagination the best Mogwai album, but that doesn't even matter. Mogwai are one of the most powerful and awesome bands that has ever existed. Their unique sound and ambitious songwriting will always hold a place in my heart, and they definitely deliver on this record. Vocals return, but instrumentals prevail. Mogwai continue to stay true to who they are and what their music is all about, and we all owe them our thanks.
5.) Xiu Xiu - The Air Force
Walla walla walla walla walla walla hey.
Jamie Stewart is haunted. Don't believe me? Either ask Ritter or give this album a spin. Stewart blends pop, electronica, and gayness? in a way that lets you know what he's thinking and what his dreams (nightmares) consist of. A provocative and powerful album, this one cannot escape mention for 2006. Stewart's most accessible album to date, he is beginning to master his craft, and continues to deliver music that will molest your mind.
6.) The Knife - Silent Shout
Expect a post later on about the importance of the middle class to music. Countries like Sweden, Iceland, and Finland have a large middle class, so expect more and more great music from their neck of the woods. Sweden delivers with a sibling punch of hypnotic electronica that will leave you dazzled. At times haunting, and at others fun, this album is full of hits and has no misses. A departure from their previous album, it's going to be interesting to see where these Swedes take their Machinedrums and vocoders.
7.) Califone - Roots & Crowns
Rutili being Rutili. Simply stunning.
8.) TV on the Radio - Return to Cookie Mountain
Although I do think this album is overrated, there is no doubt it is great. A solid work from a band that seems to fill a certain space in today's music that no one else can.
9.) The Fiery Furnaces - Bitter Tea
One of the more misunderstood and underappreciated bands, The Fiery Furnaces are a band to be reckoned with. Perhaps a bit ahead of their time, Bitter Tea finds itself swept under the rug of hipsterdom. Fear not young hipsters, give it a couple spins and you will begin to realize the brilliance that spews forth.
10.) Danielson - Ships
If you love pop, then you will love Danielson's Ships. An inventive blend of pop with a solid cast behind him. Danielson's godloving doesn't offend the Richard Dawkins' of the world, and manages to make you feel good (or god).
Notable Mention at 11 (Sorry Lucas)...
11.) Destroyer - Destroyer's Rubies
Bejar is at it again, and he delivers with a mesmerizing album of pop brilliance. If it wasn't for some of the weaker tracks, this album would be up in the single digits.
posted by How To Swim at 6:16:00 PM
4 Comments:
Interesting list. I agree with the Xiu Xiu comment and Jamie Stewart being haunted.
When I was in 7th grade I purchased the White Album by The Beatles and listened to the whole cassette through in my room late one schoolnight. When "Revolution #9" came on, I shuddered as it was the most terrifying, cacophony of sound I have ever heard. It was as if an icy, determined hand was reaching down the front of my Fruit of the Looms. I was obsessed. "The Air Force" is the only album since that has given me the same horror (thrill) of being sonically molested. Yeah. Weird.
That's so analogue, baby. I can only hope, that one day I shall purchase jeans tight enough to appreciate the thrift store gestapo wonderment that has been posted here.
At least I can use Africa as an excuse that I haven't listened to a single one of these albums all the way through.
I was really hoping there would be at least one reference to avocados and a couple of demented analogies that would make me laugh out loud in the library and disturb everyone. A good list. All I take issue with TV on The Radio and don't really feel like explaining why right now because I've been doing a lot of explaining lately and my brain wants to take refuge in an unsubstantialted statement of what i think right now. But i do appreciate your discussion of things norse but you already know I'm a sucker for that stuff.
Props on the richard Dawkins reference. Next time i see you we can have a long discussion of evoltionary psychology and some reserach out there suggesting that we are evolutionary hard wired to engage in religous and superstitous thought, and how not too long ago (relative to the age of the earth that is) it may have actually served as an adaptive advantage - Thus using the theroy of evolution to explain why people believe in things like creationism. Take that Henry Morris.
I also agree with Angela. One of the awesome things about this particular list is that every single one of these albums prides itself on being smarter, better, and more innovative than any other crap out there.
It's so elite that even just reading this list from my Dell Laptop my shoulders are brushing themselves off.
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