10 Best of 2006
Time for some of my personal year end lists.
Top 10 Records of 2006
1. Destroyer- Destroyer's Rubies
This record has been sitting pretty up here since it came out in January. Stunning, wholly unique "Eastern European Folk" or whatever he calls it. Dan Bejar is also a part of the New Pornographers and Swan Lake.
2. Portastatic- Be Still Please
Mac is batting a thousand right now. My favorite record last year was Bright Ideas (though it would be second now to the National). Be Still Please has some of the strongest songwriting around. At once obscurely personal and affecting. I've been harping about Mr McCaughan's music since 2005. If you haven't given him a listen, it's about damn time you have. Without a doubt, consistently the best songwriter making music today.
3. Camera Obscura- Let's Get Out of This Country
I was never a big Camera Obscura fan until this record. I owned Your Biggest Blues in Hi-Fi, but it was too light and "twee" pop for my taste. The songwriting wasn't strong enough and the singing wasn't definitive; too quaint and impersonal. That being said, John Henderson leaving the group was clearly the best thing that's ever happened for them. They hired a Swedish producer who challenged Tracyanne to push the limits of her voice, as well as her songwriting. Vulnerable, personal, and full of great tracks. All 3 singles from this (Lloyd, If Looks Could Kill, Let's Get Out...) are some of the catchiest songs this year.
4. Bowerbirds EP
When I first heard Bowerbirds online, I instant messaged everyone on my list who was around (and who I still talk to). It's brilliant. I haven't been this excited about a band in a long long time.
5. The Decemberists- The Crane Wife
There are still people out there who think that The Crane Wife is the Decemberists selling out and becoming more accessible and commercial. To that I say, "that's retarded." I read a guy's post online saying that it was more "guitar based" and thus, selling out. Anyone who thinks 12 minute songs and prog rock are more accessible than folk should wikipedia themselves some music genre and history articles. Anyone who can tell me what "When The War Came Home" is about gets a gold star. Because it's not about the war in Iraq, I can guarantee you that. My point is, this is the least accessible Decemberists record to date, next to the Tain, and perhaps their best.
6. Yo La Tengo- I'm Not Afraid Of You And I Will Beat Your Ass
I can already say that this is my favorite Yo La Tengo album. Sometimes it's hard to trudge through Electr-O-Pura and I Can Hear The Heart Beating As One, but this one just fascinates me. Even with the 10-minute opener. Their genre-hopping has led to a collection of some of the most catchy, "rockin", and touching songs of their long and distinguished career. And I hear the title is from a Tim Thomas quote.
7. M. Ward- Post-War
M. Ward's set at Tanned Tin this year was one of the most intense and inspiring sets I've seen. He's a furious guitar player, easily handling a looping board and shredding on the neck simultaneously. Post-War is a bit short, and the Daniel Johnston cover doesn't really stand up to the strength of his own songs, but the album is full of moments that are just life affirming. When the strings come in on Today's Undertaking...
8. Phoenix- It's Never Been Like That
I wrote about this earlier in the year. Super catchy. Loud. Definitive. Anthematic? Not really, but some of the most fun you can have listening to music. Don't even get me started about driving to this. Take away the useless instrumental and you have yourself a red-bull can of an record.
9. Built to Spill- You in Reverse
Built to Spill's triumphant return! For those of you who don't know BTS, they're a guitar band... and when they're on, they write some of my favorite songs of all times. The Weather, Twin Falls, Randy Described Eternity... I could go on. You In Reverse suffers from some production issues (Doug's vocals seem restrained), but hearing a great song for the first time and KNOWING it's a great song is just beautiful, you know? The Wait.
10. Maritime- We the Vehicles
To quote chromewaves, the "dark horse" of the list. Catchy and innocuous. Great collection of songs. All I can really say about it, I guess. I love driving to this and just... existing? God, I can't wait until I get to drive again.
Just missed the cut:
A lot of things that either didn't make the cut, or I didn't manage to fully feel out this year.
The Hold Steady, Lambchop, Richard Buckner, Magnolia Electric Company, Sparklehorse, Joanna Newsom, The Roots, Grandaddy, Lupe Fiasco
Top 5 Songs of 2006
1. Portastatic- Song for a Clock
2. Camera Obscura- Return to Send Her
3. Camera Obscura- Lloyd, I'm Ready to be Heartbroken
4. Phoenix- Second to None
5. The Blow- Parentheses
Best films of 2006
1. The Departed
2. Borat
3. Casino Royale
4. The Prestige
5. Superman Returns
The film list wasn't given much thought. At all. In fact, I forgot most of what came out this year, so I'm relegated to the ones off the top of my head. Normally it's just a bunch of foreign films, though! I'm cultured, really! Not really. No, not at all.
Best books of 2006!
Sorry, I'm not even going to pretend that I read that many books this year.
I did read Blink (Malcolm Gladwell) though. I thought it was great. And that's the only book published in 2006 that I've read.
Later rise and falls (rhymes with guys and dolls).
Top 10 Records of 2006
1. Destroyer- Destroyer's Rubies
This record has been sitting pretty up here since it came out in January. Stunning, wholly unique "Eastern European Folk" or whatever he calls it. Dan Bejar is also a part of the New Pornographers and Swan Lake.
2. Portastatic- Be Still Please
Mac is batting a thousand right now. My favorite record last year was Bright Ideas (though it would be second now to the National). Be Still Please has some of the strongest songwriting around. At once obscurely personal and affecting. I've been harping about Mr McCaughan's music since 2005. If you haven't given him a listen, it's about damn time you have. Without a doubt, consistently the best songwriter making music today.
3. Camera Obscura- Let's Get Out of This Country
I was never a big Camera Obscura fan until this record. I owned Your Biggest Blues in Hi-Fi, but it was too light and "twee" pop for my taste. The songwriting wasn't strong enough and the singing wasn't definitive; too quaint and impersonal. That being said, John Henderson leaving the group was clearly the best thing that's ever happened for them. They hired a Swedish producer who challenged Tracyanne to push the limits of her voice, as well as her songwriting. Vulnerable, personal, and full of great tracks. All 3 singles from this (Lloyd, If Looks Could Kill, Let's Get Out...) are some of the catchiest songs this year.
4. Bowerbirds EP
When I first heard Bowerbirds online, I instant messaged everyone on my list who was around (and who I still talk to). It's brilliant. I haven't been this excited about a band in a long long time.
5. The Decemberists- The Crane Wife
There are still people out there who think that The Crane Wife is the Decemberists selling out and becoming more accessible and commercial. To that I say, "that's retarded." I read a guy's post online saying that it was more "guitar based" and thus, selling out. Anyone who thinks 12 minute songs and prog rock are more accessible than folk should wikipedia themselves some music genre and history articles. Anyone who can tell me what "When The War Came Home" is about gets a gold star. Because it's not about the war in Iraq, I can guarantee you that. My point is, this is the least accessible Decemberists record to date, next to the Tain, and perhaps their best.
6. Yo La Tengo- I'm Not Afraid Of You And I Will Beat Your Ass
I can already say that this is my favorite Yo La Tengo album. Sometimes it's hard to trudge through Electr-O-Pura and I Can Hear The Heart Beating As One, but this one just fascinates me. Even with the 10-minute opener. Their genre-hopping has led to a collection of some of the most catchy, "rockin", and touching songs of their long and distinguished career. And I hear the title is from a Tim Thomas quote.
7. M. Ward- Post-War
M. Ward's set at Tanned Tin this year was one of the most intense and inspiring sets I've seen. He's a furious guitar player, easily handling a looping board and shredding on the neck simultaneously. Post-War is a bit short, and the Daniel Johnston cover doesn't really stand up to the strength of his own songs, but the album is full of moments that are just life affirming. When the strings come in on Today's Undertaking...
8. Phoenix- It's Never Been Like That
I wrote about this earlier in the year. Super catchy. Loud. Definitive. Anthematic? Not really, but some of the most fun you can have listening to music. Don't even get me started about driving to this. Take away the useless instrumental and you have yourself a red-bull can of an record.
9. Built to Spill- You in Reverse
Built to Spill's triumphant return! For those of you who don't know BTS, they're a guitar band... and when they're on, they write some of my favorite songs of all times. The Weather, Twin Falls, Randy Described Eternity... I could go on. You In Reverse suffers from some production issues (Doug's vocals seem restrained), but hearing a great song for the first time and KNOWING it's a great song is just beautiful, you know? The Wait.
10. Maritime- We the Vehicles
To quote chromewaves, the "dark horse" of the list. Catchy and innocuous. Great collection of songs. All I can really say about it, I guess. I love driving to this and just... existing? God, I can't wait until I get to drive again.
Just missed the cut:
A lot of things that either didn't make the cut, or I didn't manage to fully feel out this year.
The Hold Steady, Lambchop, Richard Buckner, Magnolia Electric Company, Sparklehorse, Joanna Newsom, The Roots, Grandaddy, Lupe Fiasco
Top 5 Songs of 2006
1. Portastatic- Song for a Clock
2. Camera Obscura- Return to Send Her
3. Camera Obscura- Lloyd, I'm Ready to be Heartbroken
4. Phoenix- Second to None
5. The Blow- Parentheses
Best films of 2006
1. The Departed
2. Borat
3. Casino Royale
4. The Prestige
5. Superman Returns
The film list wasn't given much thought. At all. In fact, I forgot most of what came out this year, so I'm relegated to the ones off the top of my head. Normally it's just a bunch of foreign films, though! I'm cultured, really! Not really. No, not at all.
Best books of 2006!
Sorry, I'm not even going to pretend that I read that many books this year.
I did read Blink (Malcolm Gladwell) though. I thought it was great. And that's the only book published in 2006 that I've read.
Later rise and falls (rhymes with guys and dolls).
posted by Chris at 7:02 PM
2 Comments:
You read almost the entirity of murakami's works, how can you say you've read nothing?
sweet, im dling a lot of ur songs as i type
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