I've always wanted to put one of these together. I thought about a couple of different ways to put this list together. At first I thought I would put together a list of albums I bought in this past year, whether they were released in 2006 or not; mainly because there are albums that I have bought or will buy from this past year that might crack my top 10 but alas no one is paying me to listen to albums on a non stop basis. I also thought it was a cop-out to just talk about the best albums that I've bought, knowing that it would take a little more work to figure out which albums released in this past year I liked. Let me just say that I haven't given any of these albums the in-depth listen they deserve, but only a few people are going to be reading this so...who cares. So, I took on the daunting task and found that there were actually more than 10 albums I liked this year so I had to narrow down my choices. . .and they are...
10. Natalie Walker--Urban Angel I don't think there will ever be the U.S. answer to Beth Orton, but Natalie Walker comes pretty close. She has the ability to sing whisper quiet and yet still put enough power behind your voice to pay attention. Beside a brilliant cover of Counting Crow's "Colorblind" such tracks as "Red" and the title track prove that she is more than just a pretty voice laid over some good beats. Natalie at least staved off me giving up on the whole Electronic genre for another year and that means something. Hopefully, she will continue and garner some praise in spite of her choice in genre; either that or she will find some other type of music to grace. Oh and she's from Indiana, so that's cool.
9. Amplivate--Kid Beyond To be fair this is an EP, but the music on this album is too cool not to include on this list. I was concerned when I heard of Kid Beyond that it would be gimicky, Bobby McFerrin on crack or something. You can't help but think that when you hear that every track on this album is completely composed using only Kid Beyond's voice and beatboxing skills. What saves the album from my deepest fears are Kid Beyond's lyrics. His songs have meaning and resonance beyond just some cool beatboxing because his words express some deeper perception of the world around him.
8. The Essex Green--Cannibal Sea Lead singer Sasha Bell is cool. I really have nothing to base this on excpet for Essex Green's album. The music is quirky and cool and Bell's vocals float over the chords like a ship would on the waves on their cover. This is an album that I need to listen to more, but I can't get past a couple of the songs, they are too good. On "Snakes in the Grass" the repetitive bass line echoes Bell's voice in perfection. Some of the songs are funky, some are extremely poppy, but all of them are a great listen.
7. The Loon--Tapes n' Tapes Tapes n' Tapes are not the pardigm shift in indie rock that some are claiming, but there album is very good. I think that some were confused that while "The Loon" is a great indie rock album, it is also just a great ROCK album. TnT seem be more concerned with rocking than being clever or unique and that in turn has the effect of being clever and unique. There is no 5 star song on the album, but there are many just quality 4 star songs that seem to reach out and grab you through the speakers. Every year there is one album that reconnects me to my hard rock roots and this year its this one.
5. Ganging up on the Sun--Guster Alright look people, Guster is still Guster. Yes, their last album is somewhat of a departure of their previous work, but at its core it contains all of the things that make Guster great. I really hate when people begrudge a band for making a change in direction, especially when the overemphasize the change itself. Guster is still producing great pop/rock songs but on this album you can tell the group not only took some time with the lyrics, but took time crafting the music. "Satellite" is by far the best track and "Captain" shows some great lyrics. An added plus is the best album cover of the year.Okay due to some unforeseen circumstances I have a tie, I know its now a top 11, but get over it.
5. (tie) Love--The Beatles Part of the reason that I have a tie is because I was very hesitant to put this album in my top 10. For the most part, there are no "new" recordings on this album (George Harrison did put down some new vocals for "While my Guitar Gently Weeps") However, at the very least, these songs are reimagined or reworked or however you want to phrase it and the fact that Sir George Martin worked on the tracks means that they are good, really good. This is like a Beatles mash up record, mashed up with, well, the Beatles. Songs are interwoven and put together in ways never thought of and it pays off it a great way to hear all the best songs again. Can't wait to see this show in Vegas. 
5. (tie) The Greatest--Cat Power The other reason that I had to have a tie was that I just bought this album and in the quick listen I gave, it instantly broke into the list. I was always a little leary of Chan Marshall a.k.a. Cat Power. I really like Fiona Apple and one female vocalists who has a tendency to melt down on stage seemmed to be enough. But it seems Fiona has gotten her act together, so I decided to give Cat a shot. Besides, after seing her perform on Austin City Limits, I was blown away and instantly bought the album. This album is sexy and soulful, quiet and powerful and just a great listen. The title track makes you sad and happy all at the same time and "Where is My Love" is haunting. (And I hate that description of a song, feel that the term as gotten overused, but in this case it is perfect.) Go buy this album now.
4. Into the West--Pilot Speed I don't know much about this band other than they are Canadian and are good. They represent what Coldplay could have been if they weren't COLDPLAY. There songs are sweeping in scope and just feel like they could take you away. There is nothing surprising on the album, but it doesn't matter. You know, for the most part, where each song is going, but you don't care because it is okay that they are taking you there. You can tell that this album and this band are a ripple of Coldplay's effect on the music scene today, but it doesn't feel copied or a tribute, it just feels that this band now has permission to be, which is nice. "Over-Ground" probably is the best example of this as it abounds with a slow release from something.
3. How We Operate--Gomez Anyone who knows me knows that I love Gomez. The band is always a fav of mine, I love the trading off of lead vocals and the use of electronic undertones that make for an interesting and powerful listen. "How We Operate" is not the album for you if want a sens of the band's past work. This is Gomez's best attempt at the mainstream here in the U.S. (the band is huge in the UK) and probably as far as it will ever reach out to us Yankees. The songs are catchy and sincere with just a hint of the usualy Gomez quirk. (The one exception is "Woman! Man!") Whereas Gomez is usually cheeky almost to a fault, these songs represent some really deep thoughts. Even "Cry on Demand" which contains the words "boo hoo" and even whistling, at least seems sincere. I knew that this album was making some progress when of friend of mine had this CD in her stack along with Red Hot Chili Peppers and Dave Matthews.
2. High Society--The Bees (U.S.) I have to be honest, the main reason that this album is in my top 2 is that I love this band. The Bees have become my new favorite band. Take the rock twang of The Jayhawks, mix it with Guster's pop sensebility and then add just a bit of brit rock's bravado, and there you have The Bees. This album is not as good as there first "Starrey Gazey Pie" but it is still really good. From "Imaginary Girl" to "Catch Your Own Train" the songs are straightforward and fun, the kind that you want to learn the words to quickly so you can sing along. While the lyrics aren't Dylan, they do inspire some thought and touch certain parts of your soul. I really hope this band does well.
1. The Dust of Retreat--Margot and the Nuclear So and So's Through a loophole, my top album of 05 is my top album of 06. While the local version of this album was released at the end of 05, the national label version, complete with some re-recordings of songs and a new song, dropped at the beginning of the year; and I kept thinking, "Man, this album is good, but Margot's is better." Am I biased becasue they are from Indy? Sure I am, but this is a great band. I recently saw them on the 30th after a lengthy national tour and they looked a little burnt out and I think their lead singer Richard Edwards needs to watch how much of the tortured rock star life he adapts and their second percussionist needs to get a clue and they need some better management, but if they can somewhat pull their shit together I have no doubt that they will succeed even more than they have already. The album itself is great, I love every track except the damn cat song which I refuse to remember its title. It would take me a long time to go though this album only to say that if you enjoy thoughtful, metaphor filled (not in a cheesy way) lyrics over quirky, rocking grooves that not only remind you of your life or the life you wish you would have led, but challenge your current situation of apathy giving way to feeling as though you have sold out somewhere, this album is for you. "Quiet as a Mouse" is epic in a small chamber pop sort of way, "Skeleton Key" does exactly as it sounds, squirms and slinks, and "Barfight Revolution" makes you want to dance and fight with a girl all at the same time.There you go there is the list. Give these a listen, if you don't like them, sorry your taste sucks...not my fault.
