OK, I think I'm ready.

1. Arctic Monkeys - Whatever People Say

I'll take the flak. The best this year. As I've said before, the best of the last 20 and the best of the last 40 or 50 or whatver number you want. Numero uno.

2. Eels - Live with Strings
3. Bruce Springsteen - We Shall Overcome

Where is this on any of the critic top 10 lists??

4. Thom Yorke - The Eraser
5. Cursive - Happy Hollow
6. Jon Auer - Songs from the Year of Our Demise
7. Lupe Fiasco's Food and Liquor
8. Black Keys - Magic Potion
9. Sonic Youth - Rather Ripped
10. Strokes - First Impressions of Earth
11. Red Hot Chili Peppers - Stadium Acardium
12. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Show Your bones
13. Gothic Archies - The Tragic Treasuries
14. Built to Spill - You in Reverse
15. Yo La Tengo - I will Beat Your Ass
16. Babyshambles - Down in Albion
17. Gossip - Standing in the Way of Control
18. Cracker - Greenland
19. Drive By Truckers - A Blessing and a Curse
20, Bob Dylan - Modern Times

Very good and consideration given to:
Flaming Lips - At War with the Mystics
Decemberists - Crane's Wife
Hold Steady - Boys and Girls in America
Sufjan Stevens - The Avalanche
Tapes N Tapes - The Loon
TV on the Radio - Cookie Mountain
Art Brut - Bang, Bang Rock and Roll
Beck - The Information
Roots - Game Theory
Los Lobos - The Town and The City
Loose Fur or Golden Smog - I don't remember which one of these Tweedy side projects was real good, the other OK.

I know I'm gonna get blasted for some of these but I spent a fair amount of time relistening to much of the possibles and I'm pretty sure this list is accurate.


xoxo, hal

I know this wont be counted but what the hell...

1. yeah yeah yeahs - show your bones
2. arctic monkeys - whatever people say
3. decemberists - crane wife
4. starlight mints - drowaton
5. strokes - first impressions
6. tapes n tapes - loon
7. gossip - standing in the way of control
8. art brut - bang bang rock n roll
9. loose fur - born again in the USA
10. Two seconds - to pass the time

1. Tapes 'n' Tapes - The Loon
2. Midlake - Trials of Van Occupanther
3. The Roots - Game Theory
4. The Decemberists - The Crane Wife
5. Broken Social Scene - Broken Social Scene
6. Thom Yorke - The Eraser
7. Arctic Monkeys - Whatever People Say I Am...
8. Flaming Lips - At War with the Mystics
9. TV on the Radio - Return to Cookie Mountain
10. M. Ward - Post War
11. Gnarles Barkley - St. Elesewhere
12. Islands - Return to the Sea
13. Cut Chemist - The Audience's Listening
14. Sunset Rubdown - Shut Up I Am Dreaming
15. Belle and Sebastian - The Life Pursuit

1. Joanna Newsom- Y's
2. Man Man- Six Demon Bag
3. Liars- Drum's Not Dead
4. Lupe Fiasco- Food & Liquor
5. Danielson- Ships
6. Sunset Rubdown- Shut Up I am Dreaming
7. Akron Family- Meek Warrior
8. Girl Talk- Night Ripper
9. TV on the Radio- Return to Cookie Mountain
10. Clipse- Hell Hath No Fury
11. The Roots- Game Theory
12. Lily Allen- Alright... Still
13. Junior Boys- So This is Goodbye
14. Gnarls Barkley- St. Elsewhere
15. Grizzly Bear- Yellow House
16. Fiery Furnaces- Biter Tea
17. Rhymefest Blue Collar
18. Half Handed Cloud- Halos and Lasoes
19. Tapes n' Tapes- The Loon
20. Islands- Return to the Sea

I do NOT understand The Hold Steady album, but that may be because I hate Bruce Springsteen, and it just sounds like Springsteen for teens

1. Kaki King - ...Until We Felt Red
2. TV on the Radio - Return to Cookie Mountain
3. Murder by Death - In Bocca Al Lupo
4. Liars - Drum's Not Dead
5. Brand New - The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me
6. Converge - No Heroes
7. Sonic Youth - Rather Ripped
8. Gnarls Barkley - St. Elsewhere
9. Deftones - Saturday Night Wrist
10. Regina Spektor - Begin to Hope

quote:

Originally posted by TRUC:
got a list of sorts:

01 tv on the radio - return to cookie mountain
02 liars - drums not dead
03 mogwai - mr. beast
04 junior boys - so this is goodbye
05 spank rock - yo yo yo yo yo yo
06 technasia - popsoda
07 burial - burial
08 girl talk - night ripper
09 fujiya and miyagi - transparent things
10 glissandro 70 - s/t
11 clark - body riddle ......

I like a lot of stuff on this list. I know that Technasia and Clark are electronic acts, but that's about all I know. What does Technasia sound like? And I've heard a previous Chris Clark that I was moderately impressed with, but not in love with. Does he change things up much with his new one?

1. T.I. - King
2. T.V. on the Radio - Return to Cookie Mountain
3. Ghostface Killah - Fishscale
4. Clipse - Hell Hath No Fury
5. My Chemical Romance - Welcome to the Black Parade
6. Yo La Tengo - I am not afraid and I will Beat your ass
7. Bob Dylan - Modern Times
8. Lil Wayne and Dj Drama - Dedication 2
9. Arctic Monkeys - Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
10. Cat Power - The Greatest
11.Lupe Fiasco - Food and Liquor
12. Lily Allen - Alright, Still
13. Bruce Springsteen - We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions
14. Gnarls Barkley - St. Elsewhere
15. Joanna Newsom - Ys
16. Belle and Sebastien - The Life Pursuit
17. Ghostface Killah - More Fish
18. The Flaming Lips - At War With The Mystics

quote:

And I've heard a previous Chris Clark that I was moderately impressed with, but not in love with. Does he change things up much with his new one

I haven't heard anything by Christopher Clark except Body Riddle and I was pretty impressed. It sounded a lot like parts of DJ Shadow, Aphex Twin, Autechre, and Boards of Canada but was so good at it that I didn't mind it being slightly derivative.

I would propose that we compile two lists. One containing only those that fall under the initial requirements. This one would be used for the Best of 2006 list compilation on MC. We could also do a second lists that compiles everyone's lists, even those with only a few posts. The differences might be interesting, really. I don't think anyone expected this many new members to post lists.

1) Centro-matic "Fort Recovery"
Doesn't anyone else think this album is great?
2) Califone "Roots and Crowns"
3) Tom Waits "Orphans"
4) Bob Dylan "Modern Times"
5) Pearl Jam "PJ"
6) Bruce Springsteen "We Shall Overcome"
7) Drive by Truckers "Blessing and a Curse"
8) Neko Case "Fox Confessor ..."
9) Sufjan Stevens "Avalanche"
10) Magnolia Electric Co. "Fading Trais"

quote:

Originally posted by Antiquity:
1) Centro-matic "Fort Recovery"
Doesn't anyone else think this album is great?

It's #3 on my list right now. Definitely an overlooked masterpiece, though. Can't understand why it isn't being raved about.

It is my Christmas tradition to do a review on the previous year. My top twenty albums are:

1. Smoking Popes - At the Metro
2. Cheap Trick - Rockford
3. Bob Dylan - Modern Times
4. Los Lobos - The City and the Town
5. Yo La Tengo - I Am Not Afraid
6. Rosanne Cash - Black Cadillac
7. Bruce Springsteen - The Seeger Sessions
8. Sonic Youth - Rather Ripped
9. Johnny Cash - A Hundred Highways
10. Robyn Hitchcock - Ole Tarantula
11. My Chemical Romance - The Black Parade
12. Paul Simon - Surprise
13. Belle and Sabastian - The Life Prusuit
14. Sufjan Stevens - The Avalanche
15. Indigo Girls - Despite Our Differences
16. Pet Shop Boys - Fundamental
17. New York Dolls - One Day it will please us to remember even this
18. Van Morrison - Pay the Devil
19. Pearl Jam - Pearl Jam
20. Tom Petty - Highway Companion

Honorable Mentions
MudHoney - Under a Billion Suns
Basement Jaxx - Crazy Radio Itch
AFI - Decemberunderground
Siccor Sisters - Ta-Duh
Pink - I'm not dead
The Little Willies - The Little Willies
Prince - 3121

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Ralph M,

20. Eef Barzelay - Bitter Honey
19. Neko Case - Fox Confessor Brings the Flood
18. Grizzly Bear - Yellow House
17. Califone - Roots and Crowns
16. The Essex Green - The Cannibal Sea
15. The Decemberists - The Crane Wife
14. Oakley Hall - Gypsum Strings
13. Band of Horses - Everything All The Time
12. Belle and Sebastian - The Life Persuit
11. Jim Noir - Tower of Love
10. Tokyo Police Club - A Lesson In Crime
9. Wooly Leaves - Quiet Waters
8. Danielson - Ships
7. The Hold Steady - Boys and Girls in America
6. Cat Power - The Greatest
5. Mates of State - Bring it Back
4. Tapes 'N Tapes - The Loon
3. The Thermals - The Body The Blood The Machine
2. Peter Bjorn and John - Writer's Block
1. TV on the Radio - Return to Cookie Mountain

quote:

Originally posted by RavingLunatic:

quote:

Originally posted by TRUC:
got a list of sorts:

01 tv on the radio - return to cookie mountain
02 liars - drums not dead
03 mogwai - mr. beast
04 junior boys - so this is goodbye
05 spank rock - yo yo yo yo yo yo
06 technasia - popsoda
07 burial - burial
08 girl talk - night ripper
09 fujiya and miyagi - transparent things
10 glissandro 70 - s/t
11 clark - body riddle ......

I like a lot of stuff on this list. I know that Technasia and Clark are electronic acts, but that's about all I know. What does Technasia sound like? And I've heard a previous Chris Clark that I was moderately impressed with, but not in love with. Does he change things up much with his new one?

oh yes. i didnt really like past chris clark. it felt really skeletal and cold without the chops to impress, and i'm not sure why i checked his new one out, but i'm glad i did. it's got a big fur coat of fuzz n sound and is covered in thick beats. there is so much *texture* in this record that it sounds like he's just indulging in the love of sound. after some months with it i still do the drums from "roulette thrift run" to myself. really recommended.

and thanks

quote:

Originally posted by RavingLunatic:

It's #3 on my list right now. Definitely an overlooked masterpiece, though. Can't understand why it isn't being raved about.

Because it sounds nice and pleasant and rockin' at first, and eventually sounds a little boring and samey.
The album peaked at #3 on my list then went to #11, 20, and now I don't think it's going to be on there at all.
Anyway, I listened to the album based on someone's recommendation on this board (maybe yours?).

More about the Hold Steady....

I was somewhat harsh before about "Boy and Girls..." mostly because of the expectations they rightfully earned after "Separation Sunday", and some have commented that they disagreed about "Boys and Girls..." being characterized as a lyrically juvenile excercise by myself and a few others.
In fact, the new album is not horrible (possibly a 5/10), but considering the band that produced it, I held it to a higher standard.
I also fail to see the Bruce Springsteen comparisons. Springsteen sang working class anthems, and also sang of youth, for example, on "Darkness on the Edge of Town" when he was an twentysomehting youth. THS are singing of middle high school shananigans as 30+ year olds, and come across to me as unauthentic and embarrassing, at least in terms of their latest offering. I still love "Separation..", and although their most recent album is somewhat better than most of today's music, I still find it hugely disappointing and I'm surprised a serious music fan could possibly rate it among this year's best.

quote:

Originally posted by Antiquity:
THS are singing of middle high school shananigans as 30+ year olds, and come across to me as unauthentic and embarrassing, at least in terms of their latest offering. I still love "Separation..", and although their most recent album is somewhat better than most of today's music, I still find it hugely disappointing and I'm surprised a serious music fan could possibly rate it among this year's best.

Well, I consider myself a serious music fan, and I enjoy it quite a bit. Not my #1 album of the year, nor my favorite Hold Steady album, but still better than the majority of releases I've heard this year (and with better lyrics too). As for your acertation that Finn is singing about middle school shenanigans, I have to ask, where the hell did you go to middle school?

quote:

Originally posted by FragileKidA:


By the way, the album is titled Illinois not "Illinoise." And I do have to agree with nathanielkt that Joanna Newsom's album is probably the Illinois of this year.

Look at the cover. All Music Guide has it listed as "Illinoise" too...

quote:

Originally posted by Ralph M:
6. Rosanne Cash - Black Cadillac

GAHHH FINALLY SOMEONE ACKNOWLEDGES THE EXISTENCE OF THIS RECORD BUT ME!!!!

But seriously...

Are you Steve Albini? Because he's the only guy I can think of who would put Yo La Tengo and Cheap Trick in the same top ten.

I'm reading all this press about Ys, but I'm reluctant to buy it.

I played the 30 second snippets on iTunes, and her voice was slightly annoying. She plays a harp. That's interesting. I don't think I have any other harp players in my vast collection. There are only 5 songs and the album is 55 minutes long (why can't I download it at $.99 a song?). So, I'm intregued but nor sold yet.

Please, someone tell me why it is worth my $9.99.