| BEST ALBUMS OF 2006 |
[Dec. 26th, 2006|09:56 am] |
| [ | music |
| | www.bluespaceradio.com | ] |
It's that time of year again... time to look back and discuss the best releases of 2006. Here are my picks... not all are things we play on Bluespace. I do listen to other stuff besides New Wave and related genres :->
1. Modern Times – Bob Dylan
Continues his late-career renaissance with writing as good as anything he's ever done. Timeless.
2. The Diaries of Private Henry Hill – Blow Up Hollywood
For me this will be the most vivid and important album inspired by the Iraq war. Based on diaries of a soldier tragically killed in Iraq, the album traces his development from naive enlistee to numb and confused soldier who has no clue what he is fighting for. Amazingly powerful.
3. Rather Ripped - Sonic Youth
Possibly my favorite Sonic Youth album. Some of the best tunes they have ever written. Worth it just for "Do You Believe in Rapture?"
4. Fear is on Our Side - I Love You But I’ve Chosen Darkness
Dense and hard to penetrate. Would not have been out of place in the post-punk era alongside bands like Joy Division/early New Order, Section 25, A Certain Ratio, Wire, etc. Also harkens back somewhat to My Bloody Valentine. "According to Plan" is one of the most hypnotic rock tracks you'll ever hear.
5. Living with War – Neil Young
A sad album for a sad war. It's a last gasp from a prior generation, wondering why the current generation failed to learn anything from history. Neil let it burst out raw and immediate, and it's a messy affair - as is the norm with Neil - and he wears his heart on his sleeve, and it's not particularly artful..... but it has real feeling and passion.
6. Fundamental – Pet Shop Boys
Razor-sharp as ever. "Fundamental" has some of the PSB's best tunes since early-90's classics "Behavior" and "Very." Trevor Horn's production shines, especially on "Minimal.'
7. Powder Burns – The Twilight Singers
Drug-addled and anguished. Greg Dulli - formerly of Afghan Whigs - has never been written more powerfully. It's a shame so few seem to be noticing, as the Twilight Singers seem to operate mostly in the shadows.
8. Thunderbird – Cassandra Wilson
Sumptuous and gorgeous as ever. Cassandra has the kind of voice that taps right into your soul and doesn't leave.
9. The Captain and the Kid – Elton John
The much older and wiser sequel to "Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy". Not going for pop artifice, it's all about looking back over a long career as it winds to its close. Elton can be so clownish in his public persona, it's a surprise sometimes how great he can be when he really puts his mind to it.
10. In Bocca al Lupo – Murder by Death
A sorta demented netherworld occupied by the likes of Tom Waits and Nick Cave. Best listened to in the dark.
11. Highway Companion – Tom Petty
One of the comeback albums of the year. Solid throughout, "Highway Companion" made it clear that Tom Petty still has a place in rock 'n' roll in 2006 as a wizened elder-statesman.
12. The Eraser – Thom Yorke
Thom York sits at his laptop and emits some gurgles, bleeps, and blips... and it's all so beautiful.
13. Nine Times that Same Song – Love is All
Post-punk revival. Not particularly unique, just damn good. Romeo Void meets X-Ray Spex meets Yeah Yeah Yeahs... a bridge between 1980 and 2006, and it rocks.
14. 3121 – Prince
The man is a genius but so fucking frustrating. Brilliant moments alongside lackadaisacal tripe, but even his most throwaway moments are better than 99% of anything played on pop radio.
15. Everything All The Time – Band of Horses
Gorgeous songwriting, melancholy and sentimental. Great driving music. Reminds me of my trip to Cape Cod this year. We listened to it in the car, along with Grace Jones and Avenged Sevenfold. Fun trip!!
16. Sam’s Town – The Killers
Bombastic and wonderfully over-the-top. "When You Were Young" is one of the best pure pop pleasures of the year.
17. The Flaming Lips – At War with the Mystics
A woeful disappointment after the brilliance of "Yoshimi", but still a great record. Space-rock, suitable for zoning out into the stratosphere.
18. Give Me a Wall - Forward Russia
Demented new wave revivalists with great songs that go off in all sorts of different and odd directions. Not sure why they had the gimmick of all song titles being numbers, but I don't mind... 'Thirteen' is the best of the bunch.
19. I’m Not Dead - Pink
Great pop/rock album. Pink is so much ballsier than her contemporaries. I saw her live at the 930 club in DC, and it was basically a rock show. She's an amazing performer and vocalist. I think she'll be around for a long, long time.
20. Under the Influence of Giants (self-titled)
"In the Clouds" is the most insanely singable song of the year, and it just won't leave my skull. But I don't mind very much 8-)
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