best of ’06

To anyone who actually kept up with b-sides, i sincerely apologize for the lack of posts. I really just haven’t had time to keep up with everything at school and still blog at the same time, but my first semester at Cal is finally coming to a close, and what a wild ride it’s been. I wasn’t able to go to as many shows as i hoped, but I still managed to catch Sufjan at Zellerbach and Mates of State and Voxtrot in the city. Here’s to hoping for more next year. Anyways, I guess I’m here to do my annual top 10, but for once, it probably won’t match the top 10 lists over at Metacritic or Pitchfork. I simply haven’t had time to keep up with reviews, so don’t flame me if you dont see M. Ward or Bonnie “Prince” Billy on this list (you won’t). I’ll get around to them eventually and I’ll abridge this as I see fit. Anyways, without further ado, Albert’s top 10 of 2006:

10. Arctic Monkeys – Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not

OK, so they’re a bit overhyped and they do get kind of tedious to listen to after the 1000th spin, but there is no denying that they put out one of the most energetic rock albums of this year. They hit hard and fast, and they’re so damn catchy. There’s a reason that this album became the fastest selling rock album in British history. (And yes, that means they beat the Beatles.)

9. Hard-Fi – Stars of CCTV

Put in the best of Kasabian and the Kaiser Chiefs into a blender, throw in some good ol’ rage and frustration, and you get Hard-Fi. Hard-Fi captured perfectly the angst of growing up in suburban England with their snappy lyrics and finger-licking good synth beats.

8. The Album Leaf – Into the Blue

In a year with forgettable post-rock albums and merely ok trip hop records, The Album Leaf got it right. The subtle bleeps and bloops drifting over the huanting melodies are at once poignant, beautiful, and absolutely riveting.

7. Mates of State – Bring it Back

Maybe I’m a bit biased, because I really didn’t give this album a chance until I saw them live, where they put on one of the best shows I have ever seen. Regardless, this Nor Cal duo’s trippy hooks and fun beats shouldn’t be missed. Their fourth album sounds fuller, richer, and catchier than their previous ones, making for a complete and utterly enjoyable listening experience.

6. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Show Your Bones

I’m a bit afraid to admit that I didn’t like Fever to Tell, out of fear that I might be jumped by a raving band of indie-hipsters, but it’s true. For some reason, the YYYs previous album seemed inaccessible to me, and I couldn’t deal with Karen O’s jittery voice. Somehow, all of that has changed, and in my opinion, Show Your Bones trumps Fever to Tell in every possible way. Perhaps it’s the fact that they sound more mature and laid back. Regardless, this is one damn good album.

5. Voxtrot – Mothers, Sisters, Daughters, and Wives/Raised by Wolves

Alright, Voxtrot didn’t release a full album this year, but they released two awesome EPs, three including Your Biggest Fan. One listen is enough to convince anyone that they may be the hottest indie band from Texas since Spoon. I was almost convinced that they sounded just like a band I would’ve gone to school with (this is a good thing).

4. Justin Timberlake – FutureSex/LoveSounds

Please, hold the laughter until I’m done. JT’s newest album happens to be one of the finest incarnations of modern pop I have ever heard. The wicked synth beats are enough to lose yourself in, and Timberland has truely outdone himself in producing this album. Some have compared this album to Prince and Michael Jackson, and i must say, those comparisons aren’t unwarranted. I have no idea what the album title means, but i do know one thing: this album is hot.

3. Gnarls Barkley – St. Elsewhere

Really, what more needs to be said? We’ve all heard Crazy 1,239,324,294 times. DangerMouse has done it again – another fresh and impeccable album.

2. The Decemberists – The Crane Wife

How often does an indie band jump to a major record label and put out their best album yet? Almost never, but the Decemberists have managed to do it. Theming the album from a Japanese folk tale, the Decemberists have managed to take their sound to the mainstream with stunning success, albiet with a few less pirate hooks. Hopefully this album will draw some well deserved critical acclaim and a few more fans.

1. Belle and Sebastian – The Life Pursuit

I’m sure I’m going to get more than a couple protests for this one, but I don’t think I had as much fun with an album this year than with this one. Snappy and catchy as ever, Belle and Sebastian roll on with their 7th album. Even after so long, Belle and Sebastian manage to stay fresh, blending their retro ’60s pop influences with candy coated pop perfection.

Honorable Mention:
Asobi Seksu – Citrus
Ratatat – Classics
Junior Boys – So This is Goodbye
Dresden Dolls – Yes, Virginia…
Yo La Tengo – I Am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass
Flaming Lips – At War With the Mystics

Bomb of the Year:
The Killers – Sam’s Town
This one was tough… the year was filled with what I thought were merely mediocre albums, but I think this one topped them all just because Brandon Flowers claimed that this was “the best album of the past 20 years”. It isn’t.