justin's 2006 picks.

As 2006 came to as close, of course all the blogs, websites and such posted their lists of the year, and while it may already be 2007, that isn't going to stop us here at different weblog from sharing our favorites from 2006. Here are my picks:

Top 10 Albums of 2006

10. Junior Boys - So This Is Goodbye

My newest acquisition of all of these on the list, Junior Boys are masters of making me dance while using what seems like the least amount of music in each song. The vocals are lustful, desparate, and hauting. Junior Boys downbeat techno is also extremely relaxing. This is some sexy music.

9. Page France - Hello, Dear Wind

I adore this album. Page France creates the most charming folk-pop I've ever heard. Catchy lyrics, a tinge of religious influence (see the wonderful song "Jesus"), and the nasally vocals of Michael Nau makes for the cutest album of the year. Yes, I just used the word 'cute' to describe an album, I'm not above that.

8. Anathallo - Floating World

The concept album based around a Japanese folk tale about a dog that finds treasure, Anathallo uses an array of instruments a la Sufjan Stevens and Broken Social Scene to craft an album that dances around dark corners and angelic beauty. Floating World is dazzling from start to finish, and I can't wait to see what results from their collaboration with Page France (see no.9 album).

7. Matt & Kim - Matt & Kim

The first time I heard this duo, it was the video for their song "Yea Yeah," which hilariously features the two being pelted with various foods. The song was catchy as hell, as I soon found out so was the rest of their self-titled debut. With Matt on synths/keys and Kim on drums, the duo cranks out extremely poppy, catchy songs about baseball, track and field, and pretty much whatever they want! One of my favorite discoveries of 2006.


6. Ghostface Killah/Lupe Fiasco/Clipse - Fishscale/Food & Liquor/Hell Hath No Fury


I just started to get back into hip hop this year, and these are the three records that did it for me. Ghostface has a ferocious delivery that I think is the best in the game. "The Champ" is my favorite song of the year. Clipse a la Ghostface provided us with another album in the evolving "coke rap" genre, showing that the wait for this album was well worth it. The Neptunes cooked up the hottest beats of the year for this album, and Pusha T and Malice trade raps coolly and confidently. Lupe Fiasco put out a wonderful debut of thoughtful hip-hop, making fun of the genre Clipse and Ghostface are pioneering right now. A rising star channeling the likes of Kanye West and Talib Kweli, this guy will be around for a while. All equally strong albums, and that is why they all occupy one space on this list.

5. Xiu Xiu - The Air Force

While it's is most likely Xiu Xiu's most accessible release, it's also one of thier best. Jaime Stewart still retains the extreme emotions that are trademark of his recordings, but to an extent that it doesn't completely freak the listener out. Xiu Xiu still remains as one of the most unique artists I have ever heard, and that's what draws me to the dark twisted electronic/post-punk music they create.


4. The Thermals - The Body, The Blood, The Machine

This is what punk rock should be. Loud, yet melodic. Protesting, but not preachy. The Body, The Blood, The Machine is politically and religiously charged, but not in a way that bangs the listener over the head with their beliefs. Call it the thinking man's punk rock: Hutch Harris yells and hollars his controversial vocals amidst a blistering charge of guitar shredding, bass and drums. Punk's never sounded so good.

3. Hot Chip - The Warning

Hot Chip is just another reason among many for my love of DFA Records. The label puts out release after release that keep me dancing all through the day. The Warning is no different. They had me sold the first time I heard "And I Was A Boy From School" and the rest of the album to boot. Filled with great electronic sampling, synths, and all sorts of other goodies, Hot Chip know how to keep kids on the dance floor.

2. Islands - Return to the Sea

The first album post-Unicorns era for J'aime Tambeur and Nick Diamonds is more than just a "Rough Gem" (LOLZ PUN). What's great is it's not just The Unicorns Part 2, but Islands developed a great pop sound, but also managed to really rock with tracks like "Swans (Life After Death)." Add in a little hip-hop from Subtitle and Busdriver on "Where There's A Will, There's A Whalebone," (which also has my favorite lyric of the year, 'laying low in a tropical hideout/ if anyone finds out i'll turn their lights out), and you've got a album that is diverse, has great lyrics, and shines from beginning to end.

1. Ghostland Observatory - Paparazzi Lightning

I have to thank David for recommending this one to me. Released on Ghostland drummer/synth man Thomas Ross Turner's own label, Trashy Moped Recordings, Ghostland Observatory sound like a dancier Neon Blonde. The "electro-dance soul rock" beats cooked by the duo of Turner and Aaron Behrens are nasty, and get me dancing every time I heard them. Behrens yelps and wails throughout the whole disc, creating a funky, fresh new sound. The album does die out and slow down a little bit towards the end, but that can be ignored to appreciate the upbeat tracks the dominate the majority of the album. Paparazzi Lightning is that crazy whacked-out disco party you wish you had in your basement that you could visit anytime you wanted to, and always fucking enjoy it.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Thursday - A City by the Light Divided, Grizzly Bear - Yellow House, Tapes 'n' Tapes - The Loon, Destroyer - Destroyer's Rubies, The Hold Steady - Boys + Girls In America, Annuals - Be He Me, The Foundry Field Recordings - Prompts/Miscues, Band of Horses - Everything All the Time, Sunset Rubdown - Shutup I Am Dreaming, Beach House - Beach House, Justin Timberlake - FutureSex/LoveSounds

ALBUMS THAT HAVEN'T BEEN MENTIONED YET BECAUSE I (EMBARRISSINGLY) HAVEN'T HEARD THEM IN THEIR ENTIRETY

The Decemberists - The Crane Wife
TV On The Radio - Return to Cookie Mountain
Joanna Newsom - Ys
Belle & Sebastian - The Life Pursuit
Herbert - Scale

FAVORITE EPs OF 2006

Born Ruffians - Born Ruffians
Cars & Trains - 2 A.M.
Klaxons - Xan Valleys
Sparrow House - Falls

FAVORITE CONCERTS OF 2006

1. The Flaming Lips, (Ween), Sonic Youth, (The Magic Numbers) - New York State Fair, Syracuse, NY
2. Jamie Lidell - Harbourfront Centre, Toronto, ON
3. The Hold Steady - Mohawk Place, Buffalo, NY
4. Xiu Xiu, Cong for Brums, The Dirty Projectors - Bug Jar, Rochester, NY
5. Matmos - Pitchfork Festival, Chicago, IL