2006 was a very slow year. Normally we have a hard time making a decision for a top spot, but Joanna Newsom really ran away with the title; there was nothing that even put up a fight. Which, to tell you the truth, is disappointing not only because the lack of competition killed any sort of mid-December drama, but because it was the weakest year-killer in a decade. Now, that's not to say it's not a great album, and it will be a record that has great lasting power. It's just no Elephant Eyelash or Milk-Eyed Mender. Here's the year, enjoy.
- Joanna Newsom - Ys
- Jolie Holland - Springtime Can Kill You
- Red Sparowes - Every Red Heart Shines Towards The Sun
- Don Caballero - World Class Listening Problem
- Damien Jurado - And Now That I'm in Your Shadow
- B. Fleischmann - The Humbucking Coil
- Angel Eyes - Something To Do With Death
- Under Byen - Samme Stof Som Stof
- Sunset Rubdown - Shut Up I Am Dreaming
- The Advantage - Elf-Titled
- Kayo Dot - Dowsing Anemone With Copper Tongue
- Rf - Views of Distant Towns
- Mono - You Are There
- The Black Heart Procession - The Spell
- Zaar - Zaar
- Tenebre - In Everything Give Thanks
- Calexico - Garden Ruin
- Because Of Ghosts - The Tomorrow We Were Promised Yesterday
- Ahleuchatistas - What You Will
- Nina Nastasia - On Leaving
- Seawhores - Forest
- Jason Molina - Let Me Go Let Me Go Let Me Go
- Noxagt - Noxagt
- Mogwai - Mr Beast
- Gregor Samsa - 55:12
- Helios - Eingya
- Condre SCR - Jar Marsen
- A Whisper In The Noise - As The Bluebird Sings
- STNNNG - Fake Fake
- Flying Lotus - 1983
- Black Moth Super Rainbow + The Octopus Project - The House Of Apples & Eyeballs
- The Plastic Constellations - Crusades
- Magnolia Electric Co. - Fading Trails
- Lone Wolf And Cub - Wonder
- Sibylle Baier - Colour Green
- Zebulon Pike - Zebulon Pike II: The Deafening Twilight
- Parenthetical Girls - Safe As Houses
- Band Of Horses - Everything All The Time
- Danielson - Ships
- Haley Bonar - Lure the Fox
- Tone - Solidarity
- Talkdemonic - Beat Romantic
- The Seven Mile Journey - The Journey Studies
- The Mountain Goats - Get Lonely
- Half-Handed Cloud - Halos & Lassos
- Converge - No Heroes
- Jeremy Enigk - World Waits
- I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness - Fear Is On Our Side
- Chihei Hatakeyama - Minima Moralia
- Bonnie 'Prince' Billy - The Letting Go
- Spider - The Way To Bitter Lake
- Casey Dienel - Wind-Up Canary
- I Am Robot and Proud - The Electricity In Your House Wants to Sing
- Subtle - For Hero: For Fool
- Vetiver - To Find Me Gone
- Horse Feathers - Words Are Dead
- Swan Lake - Beast Moans
- Mastodon - Call of Mastodon
- Spitfire - Self-Help
- Gnarls Barkley - St. Elsewhere
- Thunderbear - Thunderbear
- Cat Power - The Greatest
- Dosh - The Lost Take
- Mammatus - Mammatus
- Emily Haines & The Soft Skeleton - Knives Don't Have Your Back
How to read the list: This is a top 21 and a top 65 list rolled into one [Get it? 2165?] Start with number 1, check the top 10, then number 21, 11-20, dig 65, and finally glance through 22-64.
Previously: Best Albums of 2005, 1994-2004
Comments (18)
with regards to josephine foster: if you are going to make an album of german folk songs, you might want to learn how to pronounce german first.
Posted by zakcq | December 20, 2005 7:08 AM
Posted on December 20, 2005 07:08
Maybe it's Chicagoan german? They're not so hot at english, either.
Posted by ryan | December 20, 2005 8:03 AM
Posted on December 20, 2005 08:03
aww, dude, there is so much metal near the top of the list... you have to be stopped...
I got my tickets to Lake City. Be there from the wednesday after xmas (late) until the wednesday after new years (late). Plan fun stuff. can't wait to see you guys.
Posted by zakcq | December 15, 2006 10:32 AM
Posted on December 15, 2006 10:32
i agree with z about the metal
Posted by bethany | December 15, 2006 5:10 PM
Posted on December 15, 2006 17:10
thank you bethany. you are a woman of taste.
Posted by zakcq | December 15, 2006 7:37 PM
Posted on December 15, 2006 19:37
06 was an awesome year for metal. Bad for pop music. Awful for hip hop and electronica. On the other hand, I could just be extremely cranky now, which would explain it.
Posted by ryan | December 15, 2006 8:30 PM
Posted on December 15, 2006 20:30
2005 was also a great year for Metal if where counting. I think it will be the next driving force in rock. I returned to it about 4 years ago after swearing it off after middle school. People are tired of indie rock that doesn't rock. If you have been out of the loop for a while I highly recommend High on Fires release from a few years ago Surrounded by Thieves--amazing. I was a bit sad to not see Blood Mountain on your list, it is not without it's missteps, but what a feat!
Love the Metal, There will be even more next year. It's because the world is cranky.
Posted by Sheraton | December 18, 2006 3:23 PM
Posted on December 18, 2006 15:23
I had #65 down to Emily Haines and Mastodon. The first two tracks of the Emily Haines were the tiebreaker.
Posted by ryan | December 18, 2006 4:00 PM
Posted on December 18, 2006 16:00
A couple of those Mastodon tracks, would break anything. Anyway, if you want to go see Mastodon and Converge in the mainroom let me know. I will be going.
Posted by sheraton | December 18, 2006 4:16 PM
Posted on December 18, 2006 16:16
Oh man, Jane Doe-era Converge is tough to beat.
Posted by ryan | December 18, 2006 4:30 PM
Posted on December 18, 2006 16:30
Unless you are Through Silver In Blood-era Neurosis
Posted by Sheraton | December 18, 2006 4:44 PM
Posted on December 18, 2006 16:44
\m/
Posted by ryan | December 18, 2006 5:11 PM
Posted on December 18, 2006 17:11
i'm not going to pretend I don't want something to rock a bit, but metal? come on.
Posted by zakcq | December 18, 2006 8:18 PM
Posted on December 18, 2006 20:18
i no longer follow these types of music that closely, but my meager 2 cents:
Posted by zebediah | December 19, 2006 5:12 PM
Posted on December 19, 2006 17:12
Josephine Foster's worst album, a collection of traditional german folk songs, sorry, not on the list. It was barely an album at 7 songs, anyway. I can't quite see how somebody could like Foster but not understand Newsom. You need to listen to that Don Cab again. Shallow it is not. You can't deny it doesn't sound fuller and denser than their lower quality recordings from the mid 90s. Bonnie Prince Billie's record was nearly ruined by the singer from Faun Fables, who is Joanna Newsom without musical depth.
Posted by ryan | December 20, 2006 12:19 AM
Posted on December 20, 2006 00:19
There is a type of german that they teach opera singers who don't really speak german. I think that's what she's using. I doesn't work well in folk singing (or opera for that matter, but you aren't supposed to be able to understand that).
Posted by zakcq | December 20, 2006 5:04 PM
Posted on December 20, 2006 17:04
Yay, four overlaps with my list (I think). (That Call of Mastodon's an olde album right? Isn't it Blood Mountain what should be there?)
I actually thought the Gnarls Barkley was the most overrated record of the year (which is why I'm not surprised it's so low in your list). Not because I am a backlash slut, but because it's just kinda boring.
Posted by Mark Desrosiers | January 24, 2007 8:58 PM
Posted on January 24, 2007 20:58
Yeah I agree that the Gnarls Barkley was mostly weak. It made the list on the strength of only three songs, and was helped by a lack of noteworthy 06 albums. I noticed there wasn't much overlap on your list. We'll have to do something about that.
--------Posted by ryan | January 24, 2007 9:34 PM
Posted on January 24, 2007 21:34