It's never too early. Their are already a handful of releases that qualify. This thread is for the best records of the year so far.

I'll pony up a first choice for 2006. I have about a half-dozen 2006 releases, and I've enjoyed the new East River Pipe and Jenny Lewis records plenty, but Richard Ashcroft's Keys To The World keeps pushing them out of my player. I was so-so on his second record, but this one is solid from tip to tail.

Though I still don't think it's as good as You are Free, I think Cat Power's The Greatest is the best release of 2006 so far.

So far Destroyer - Rubies and Band of Horses - Everything All the Time have been my favorites. Although I liked Cat Power and Jenny lewis a lot. The new Neko Case and Secret Machines sounded great on first listen as well.

My favorites so far...out of five..

So far it's a toss up between Jenny Lewis and Cat Power.

Jenny Lewis' release is a strong combination of Rilo Kiley songwriting with country-folk aesthetic, with a handful of extremely catchy tunes. Though I can't stand the title track 'Rabbit Fur Coat'.

Cat Power...over the course of the album I go back and forth from really enjoying it to being sort of indifferent.

Dano, are those ones out, or are you speaking based on having heard them from some other source? I'm just asking because you're mentioning albums I didn't think were out yet.

Only Cat Power is out officially, the others have only leaked.

My favorite album of the new year so far is the Jenny Lewis cd.

The Secret Machines single, "Alone, Jealous, Stoned" is really good. It sounds more loose and spacey than most of their last album. I like it about as much as "Nowhere Again," but there's a lot more jamming.

quote:

Originally posted by Bobthespirit:
Jenny Lewis' release is a strong combination of Rilo Kiley songwriting with country-folk aesthetic, with a handful of extremely catchy tunes. Though I can't stand the title track 'Rabbit Fur Coat'.

Amen. I find the song "Rabbit Fur Coat" to be immensely precious and VERY annoying. I like the record, on the whole, although it was much more country than I expected. I don't really care for the indie-rock all-stars cover of "Handle With Care", either, because (besides Jenny) none of them have voices that make me excited about hearing them sub for the various Wilburys...

Nothing's blown me away so far this year. I heard a lot about Arctic Monkeys and though I can understand why people like them, it's still 'Strokes/Franz Ferdinand/Kaiser Chiefs/flavour of the month' kind of stuff.

I want something revolutionary. If anyone's heard ANYTHING that steps away from convention, please post it up here, because generic stuff and the current crop of 80s throw backs are making me old and cynical! I need a change of scenery.

I'm 32 - do I qualify for 'grumpy old man' yet?

My favourite album last year was Fantomas' 'Suspended Animation'.

there's a track posted from Neko Case's new album on www.anti.com. I think it is great, and given how much I've liked Neko in the past, the album will probably easily be one of my favorites of the year.

01. Islands - Return to the Sea
(big gap)
02. Jenny Lewis OR Liars
04. Cat Power - The Greatest
05. Plastic Constellations

What does everybody expect from Loose Fur? They only caught my radar because Jeff Tweedy is involved.

Um, ya'll will probably disagree with me, but I really enjoy the new Strokes album. Granted it does have some weakish songs on it, but I think it jams.

People seem to be ripping on the Strokes new album because of the simplistic lyrics and repetitive instrumentation...but simplistic lyrics and repetitive instrumentation is what make the Strokes great. I dig it.

I'm gonna get the new Cat Power soon and it sounds like, from all the rave, that I should check out the Jenny Lewis album too.

I review albums for an internet rag, which will remain nameless, and I have in my hands Belle and Sebastian's album The Life Pursuit, which will be released next week. It's always difficult for albums released in January and February to end up on a particular year's best of, but I feel confident this album will appear on many by the end of this one. Pursuit is one of Belle and Sebastian's best, and I plan on giving it a very favorable review indeed. Murdoch has done it again!

Edit: Spelling correction

This message has been edited. Last edited by: zoetrope,

quote:

Originally posted by Bobthespirit:
What does everybody expect from Loose Fur? They only caught my radar because Jeff Tweedy is involved.

I have little-to-no tolerance of noise rock, so I found the first Loose Fur release to be almost totally unlistenable. I like Tweedy and I can handle the noisy excursions in the most recent Wilco incarnations, but Loose Fur sounds like a bad Sonic Youth ripoff, but with more noise and less melody. I have no expectations of the new one. I doubt I'll buy it unless I can find it used somewhere...

My favorite January releases are Cat Power - The Greatest, Liz Durrett - The Mezzanine, and Electric President - s/t. Granted, none of these are groundbreaking, but all very enjoyable listens, in my opinion.

I'll have to give Jenny Lewis another listen, because so far I just don't see what all the rage is.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: ChaSimone,

Well I've only bought three 2006 releases so far, so I guess I'll rank them.

1. MF Doom - Special Herbs Box Set
2. Cat Power - The Greatest
3. We Are Scientists - With Love and Squalor

I found an album today that caught my attention. It's a re-issue of The Wombles greatest hits. A steal at £5.99. I also found a Sparks record. They'd run out of Rolf Harris.

The Wombles rock. Their 70s youth-anthem 'Remember you're a Womble' was a call to arms for eco warriors across the globe.

I reckon they'd win in a fight with the Strokes. All that 'roughing it' on park benches has probably toughened them up over the years. They outnumber the Strokes and their costumes are much more frightening than Slipknot.

quote:

Originally posted by philosopherEric:

quote:

Originally posted by Bobthespirit:
What does everybody expect from Loose Fur? They only caught my radar because Jeff Tweedy is involved.

I have little-to-no tolerance of noise rock, so I found the first Loose Fur release to be almost totally unlistenable. I like Tweedy and I can handle the noisy excursions in the most recent Wilco incarnations, but Loose Fur sounds like a bad Sonic Youth ripoff, but with more noise and less melody. I have no expectations of the new one. I doubt I'll buy it unless I can find it used somewhere...

I haven't heard the first album, but the new Loose Fur definitely couldn't be called noise rock. Theres a few mostly acoustic tracks, and on the whole it's a very low-key, laidback listen. Unlike the first, most of the songs are in the 2.5-4 minute range, only two are over 3:35 (one weighs in at a hefty 8:38 though, the other 4:58).

Not to say there aren't a few forays into guitar noise, but it's not intrusive or overdone. A lot of it sounds like it could have been on YHF or A Ghost is Born. The only track that could be seen annoying with the noise/droning is the 8:36 one, which has a ton of noise and a 3 and a half minute drone session (it reminded me a little of the Reservations), but it's not too bad.