Ten Albums Of 2006

The year is winding down.
There's a lot of music I listenend to this year.
There are a lot of albums coming out early 2007 (winter/spring) that I am anticipating...Lovedrug, Explosions in the Sky, Mae, The Arcade Fire to name a couple...
But for now, a list of ten albums, all released in 2006 that I enjoyed/anticipated...(meaning, there were some albums I enjoyed more fully, but this is a 2006 release list)



10. Snow Patrol- Eyes Open
-I have thouroughly enjoyed this album, its soft, sort of mushy feel ("If I just lay here, would you lie with me...")with a rock vibe, some piano, and music box tines...but I definetley have to be in the mood for Snow Patrol. Nonetheless, number 10. Recommend "Make This Go On Forever" and "You Could Be Happy"


9. Show Your Bones- Yeah Yeah Yeahs
I'd never really listened to the famous "Karen O" but I gave the new album a try. Garage-esque rock with girl vocals, that don't make you cringe. Karen O. just makes it work, and I proceeded to listen to their other stuff. Recommend "Gold Lion" and "Phenomena"


8. Sam's Town- The Killers
I would have liked this album to number one, like Hot Fuss was, but The Killers stripped away some of the glam and glitz that I loved them for. A solid album, but my expectations were too high, leaving me still hungry for a "Mr. Brightside" single....
Recommended "Bones" (the video is directed by Tim Burton), "Read My Mind" and "My List".


7. Zombies! Aliens!Vampires!Dinosaurs!- Hellogoodbye
Dancing, synths, electronic drum beats, (There's even a banjo...see the Sufjan post for my opinion on the banjo.) Its not for everyone, but its fun for dancing around the room, or driving in the car (or for cell-phone ringtones)...recommended: "Here in Your Arms" and "Saw it On Your Keyboard"


6. The Devil and God are Raging Inside Me- Brand New
I'm not too into...loud rock...Blindside and Brand New are a few of the exceptions, and Brand New's newest album blew me away. To me it has an angry feel, so it works well if you're in the mood for brooding...but it just rocks pretty hard...I listened to it once at work, and was seriously grooving. (How corny does that sound!?) but its true. Recommended: "Jesus Christ"...(and...I can't really say how they meant this song...but I read the lyrics...and it makes me feel so sad for them, and I kind of get it at the same time, if they meant it as 'vulgarity' its over my head.) and "Luca".


5. Marie Antoinette Original Soundtrack- Various Artists
Okay, I guess this movie was somewhat of a flop, but I personally LOVED it. It was a visual delight, as well as an amazing mixture of modern, 80's and classical sounding pieces for the soundtrack. There's some New Order, Bow Wow Wow, (I Want Candy, not, Bow Wow the rapper) The Strokes, Air, and Dustin O'Halloran...Its fun, its moody, its light-hearted, and it brings back the visuals I so enjoyed. Recommended: "Opus 36-Dustin O'Halloran", "Ceremony-New Order", "Fools Rush In- Bow Wow Wow" and "Il Second Giorno (Instrumental)- Air"


4. Songs For Christmas- Sufjan Stevens (pronounced: Soof-yawn)
This man can make a banjo sexy. Quirky, sometimes a bit awkward sounding, charming, endearing and just plain fun for my ears. Sufjan is one of my favorite artists. Banjo, bells, chimes, synths, piano, a tin can, whatever it is, Sufjan can play it and make it fit. This set is FIVE, got that? FIVE CD's. Forty tracks altogether. Traditional songs (but not traditional, because its Sufjan) and original Sufjan stuff. I keep talking to different people who have it, and, everyone seems to find something to latch onto. My favorite was Phil W., who said, "Some of the stuff, you're like, 'what....?', but then you're like, 'aaahhh...'..." Recommended: any of the three versions of "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" and "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" for some banjo action. There's forty tracks...so I'll stop now.


3. Begin to Hope- Regina Spektor
There's something incredibly endearing about Regina Spektor. She's got an amazing voice, but I'll admit she does some quirky things with it. Little trills and echoes may not be for everyone, but it makes me love her more. She's a brilliant pianist, and her video for Fidelity is adorable. Some of her songs are odd, but I'm into embracing the whole album. (P.S., I loved Regina Spektor before she was on...Grey's Anatomy, was it?....)Recommended: "Fidelity", "Samson", "Better" and "On The Radio".


2. Eat, Sleep, Repeat- Copeland
Number two...getting close....If you read my blog at all regularly, you know I've been obsessing over this album since before it came out. And rightly so. But if you haven't picked it up and enjoyed it yet, its no fault of mine. My job here is done. Copeland is genius. And that's all I'll say. Recommended "Love Affair" and "When You Thought You'd Never Stand Out"

drum roll......(I'm getting butterflies in my stomach...geeze, I'm such a nerd.)


1. Everything Starts EP- Lovedrug
Am I cheating? I know, its not a full album. That's in February. But, in my defense, this EP has got my ears waxing (ew?) for "Everything Starts Where it Ends LP", as well as I had the opportunity to see these guys live a couple months ago, and was able to preview some of the new material. And also, the opportunity to be blown away by the magic of Lovedrug. (which, if you ever have the chance, you should do) These guys amaze me on their CD's, and live, they're even more unbelievable. Guess what I'll be getting myself for my birthday? (Hint, February) This EP contains three tracks from the new album, and two that are only available on the EP. Recommended "Heart Shaped Box" (a cover of a Nirvana song...but...okay...sorry...but I can't imagine liking any version better...besides...I've never done the whole 'Nirvana Thing'...I can only do so much.) "The Praxter" and "American Swimming Lesson"...which is dark, and loud, but still Lovedrug.

Merry Christmas All...
I'm off to Florida tomorrow-22nd...to get a December sunburn.