quote:

Originally posted by Yay!:
I'm honestly surprised Liars has not shown up en masse with peoples' lists. I was thinking the band's record would be as ubiquitous, if not more than, TV on the Radio's.

It's #6. That's pretty decent. I can't speak for others, but it's one of those albums that I appreciate more than I like (Joanna Newsom falls into the same category). I think it's interesting and original, but it's not something I have the urge to put on very often, aside from a few tracks.

I must say this year was a little weak for me. Nothing blew me away quite like previous years. You won't find any of the big 3 here (TVotR, Newsom, or Hold Steady) as I haven't heard any of them in their entirety, and don't care to based on song samples I've heard (well, I do like "Wolf Like Me"). I have high hopes for 2007 though, so cross your fingers.

1. Band of Horses - Everything All The Time:
It ain't groundbreaking, but heck, I like it. No point in arguing that, right?

2. Built to Spill - You In Reverse:
Not their best, but a consistently pleasant listen. They've definitely got a Neil Young thing goin' here.

3. Neko Case - Fox Confessor Brings The Flood:
Maybe the "best" album I've heard this year. I've only had it about a couple weeks, so time will tell if it moves up higher. Beautiful voice with equally lovely arrangements that defy predictability.

4. Figurines - Skeleton:
The most fun I've had with a new album all year. As a straight listen, it gets a little tiresome, though. Best to listen to in 4-5 song chunks.

5. Grandaddy - Just Like The Fambly Cat:
Slightly disappointing, as this was my most anticipated album of the year. Nonetheless, there's plenty to like, as always. If you hate cats, avoid "Where I'm Anymore." I miss Grandaddy.

6. Thom Yorke - The Eraser:
Maybe my least anticipated album of the year, being that I, nor anyone else, knew it was coming. I like this as much as Hail to the Thief, and it gives me hope for the next Radiohead album.

7. The Flaming Lips - At War With The Mystics:
Not a fan of "Free Radicals," but "Pompeii" more than makes up for it. The zaniest Lips album since Clouds Taste Metallic.

8. Yo La Tengo - I Am Not Afraid…:
A few big misses ("Sometimes I Don't Get You," "Watch Out For Me Ronnie" most notably), but pared down to about 10 songs, this would stand as one of YLT's best. Oh, and I wholeheartedly approve of "Pass the Hatchet…"

9. Starflyer 59 - My Island:
Jason Martin picks up the pace a bit, adding a touch of Franz Ferdinand to the SF59 sound. Not his most spectacular album overall, but solid nonetheless. Check out "I Win."

10. Islands - Return To The Sea:
Snubbed by critics, it makes my list. "Rough Gem" and "Where There's A Will…," are two of my favorite tracks of the year. A couple bummers, but mostly satisfying.

11. Camera Obscura - Let's Get Out Of This Country:
I feel a bit emasculated listening to this, but I can't deny how catchy these tunes are. Reminds me a bit of '60s girl bands. Everyone loves "Lloyd…," but what about "If Looks Could Kill"?

12. The Walkmen - A Hundred Miles Off:
The vocals seem to be more and more of an obstacle on each new Walkmen album. Overall, though, there's still enough gems here to warrant a spot on my list. I still haven't heard Pussycats. And I call myself a Walkmen fan?

1. Bluebottle Kiss - Doubt Seeds
2. Sonic Youth - Rather Ripped
3. Neko Case - Fox Confessor Brings the Flood.
4. Joanna Newsome -Ys
5. Sunset Rubdown - Shutup Im Dreaming
6. Liars - Drums not Dead
7. Yo La Tengo - I will Kick Your Ass
8. TV on the Radio - Return to Cookie Mountain
9. Islands -Return to the Sea
10. Howe Gelb - Sno Angel Like You
11. Herbet - Scales
12. Bob Dylan - Modern Times
13. The Raconteurs - Broken Boy Soldiers

For those that like Guitar rock in the style of the above, but with a Aussie flavour, check out my number 1. It is a genuine stunner.

My list:

1.Tv On the Radio - Return to cookie mountain
2.Belle & Sebastian - The Life Pursuit
3.Destroyer - Destroyer's Rubies
4.Joanna Newsom - Ys
5.Bob Dylan - Modern Times
6.Sunset Rubdown - Shut up i'm dreaming
7.Peter,Bjorn & John - Writers Block
8.M Ward - Post-War
9.Beirut - Gulag Orkestar
10.Guillemots - Through the window pane
11.Gnarls Barkley - St Elsewhere
12.Cat Power - The Greatest
13.Herbert Scale
14.Hot Chip - The Warning
15.Clipse - Hell hath no fury
16.Jarvis - Jarvis
17.Sonic Youth - Rather Ripped
18.Thom Yorke - Eraser
19.Subtle - For Hero:For Fool
20.Arctic Monkeys - Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not

I's been the worst year ever musically. Here is my list

1. tool -- 10,000 days
2. destroyer -- destroyer's rubies
3. the flaming lips -- at war with the mystics
4. wolfmother -- wolfmother
5. red hot chili peppers -- stadium arcadium
6. muse -- black holes and revelations
7. morrissey -- ringleader of the tormentors
8. yeah yeah yeahs -- show your bones
9. mars volta -- amputechture
10. outkast -- idlewild

quote:

Originally posted by general_zod:
Well, I guess I'm going to be the one guy for everyone to make fun of because my list doesn't include the more popular choices for the year like Island, TV On The Radio or Band Of Horses. I guess I'm slightly more mainstream than I thought, at least this year. So go ahead and poke away, everyone.

1. The Damnwells - Air Stereo
2. Sloan - Never Hear The End Of It
3. Carbon Leaf - Love Loss Hope Repeat
4. Gomez - How We Operate
5. Tom Petty - Highway Companion
6. Pete Yorn - Nightcrawler
7. Soul Asylum - The Silver Lining
8. Barenaked Ladies - Are Me
9. Sugarcult - Lights Out
10. Cheap Trick - Rockford
11. Switchfoot - Oh! Gravity
12. Brian Vander Ark - Angel Put Your Face On
13. L.E.O. - Alpacas Orgling

I'm sort of surprised I didn't see any of these albums on anyone's list. Mainstream aside, a good album is a good album. Oh well, to each his own. Regardless of what anyone says, it was a darn fine year for music.

I really like the Damnwells album, even though the indie snobs would probably scoff at it. It's #32 on my list, which won't get it any points here, but a pretty good distinction, considering I've listened to around 400 albums this year.

I definitely enjoyed the Cheap Trick album too, though it fell a little short of my top 50. Of the rest of these, the Tom Petty album was the only one I heard (admittedly some were ignored because of distaste for the artist), and I thought it was OK.

quote:

Originally posted by crabsody:
I's been the worst year ever musically.

I disagree. The year 1475 was crap musically.

quote:

Originally posted by SDF:
I must say this year was a little weak for me

My goodness SDF, every album on your list seems like they gave you a "meh" reaction. 'Sup with that? You didn't LOVE anything?? That's too bad. I like your list, but I think better of most of your choices, even though they ended up higher on your list than mine.

By the way, "sometimes I don't get you" and "watch out for me Ronnie" are two of my faves off the YLT album.

Honestly though, if Pass the Hatchet, I Think I'm Goodkind was the only song on the album, I'm pretty sure it would still make my year end list. Psychedelic grooves rarely get this good.

quote:

Originally posted by general_zod:
2. Sloan - Never Hear The End Of It

Sloan broke my music loving heart. I had high hopes for them, thought they'd take over the world after Twice Removed. Followed it up with the beautiful, Beatles-esque One Chord to Another...then went jock rock and lost me.

Their first three LPs were so solid, each taking a different direction, showing more and more promise, but then something changed and lost me forever.

I don't mind that some people still like Sloan, but they qualify as my biggest musical dissappointment. I'm going to go in a corner and cry now...

quote:

Originally posted by ericg75:

quote:

Originally posted by crabsody:
I's been the worst year ever musically.

I disagree. The year 1475 was crap musically.

Well you've obviously never listened to the works of Bordesholmer Marienklage

quote:

Originally posted by Il Mago:
By the way, "sometimes I don't get you" and "watch out for me Ronnie" are two of my faves off the YLT album.

I love "Watch Out For Me Ronnie" too. Easily my favorite song from that album. I defy anyone to listen to that track and not engage in some headbanging.

quote:

Originally posted by Il Mago:
Sloan broke my music loving heart. I had high hopes for them, thought they'd take over the world after Twice Removed. Followed it up with the beautiful, Beatles-esque One Chord to Another...then went jock rock and lost me.

Interesting. I thought Sloan put out some weak albums after One Chord but I'm floored that nobody is giving any recognition to their new album. It's a modern day gem and a real return to the Beatles-esque sound they mastered. I don't want to hold any grudges, but I have trouble understanding how all these new indie artists are ruling the year end lists and bands like Sloan get completely snubbed. To me a good portion of these bands sound exactly alike, but what do I know.

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

quote:

Originally posted by LD:
I really like the Damnwells album, even though the indie snobs would probably scoff at it.

I'm not really sure why it hasn't made anyone's list. I guess indie is king this year. Who would've thought music critics would only be interested in melancholy music this year. Maybe I'll get lucky and power pop will be king next year.

quote:

Originally posted by general_zod:
Who would've thought music critics would only be interested in melancholy music this year.

I wouldn't say that. The Arctic Monkeys and The Hold Steady are hardly melancholy, and they released two of the year's most acclaimed albums.

Have you checked out Phoenix's It's Never Been Like That? That's been on several lists and it seems like something that would be up your alley.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by SDF:

5. Grandaddy - Just Like The Fambly Cat:
Slightly disappointing, as this was my most anticipated album of the year. Nonetheless, there's plenty to like, as always. If you hate cats, avoid "Where I'm Anymore." I miss Grandaddy.

6. Thom Yorke - The Eraser:
Maybe my least anticipated album of the year, being that I, nor anyone else, knew it was coming. I like this as much as Hail to the Thief, and it gives me hope for the next Radiohead album.

7. The Flaming Lips - At War With The Mystics:
Not a fan of "Free Radicals," but "Pompeii" more than makes up for it. The zaniest Lips album since Clouds Taste Metallic.

8. Yo La Tengo - I Am Not Afraid…:
A few big misses ("Sometimes I Don't Get You," "Watch Out For Me Ronnie" most notably), but pared down to about 10 songs, this would stand as one of YLT's best. Oh, and I wholeheartedly approve of "Pass the Hatchet…"

QUOTE]

4 really good albums...i m glad to see Grandaddy in someone's chart.what a miss.an album with one of the best outro ever (shangri la)

quote:

Originally posted by ericg75:
I disagree. The year 1475 was crap musically.

Don't tell me you didn't like Madrigals for Moog? I'm waiting for that one to come out on parchment.

quote:

Originally posted by Il Mago:

quote:

Originally posted by SDF:
I must say this year was a little weak for me

My goodness SDF, every album on your list seems like they gave you a "meh" reaction. 'Sup with that? You didn't LOVE anything?? That's too bad. I like your list, but I think better of most of your choices, even though they ended up higher on your list than mine.

I wouldn't say "meh" about any of them, really. I like them all quite a bit, especially the top 3. I just think that each could have been a little better (except maybe Neko's). The year overall was "meh" though. There weren't any albums that completely blew my mind like there have been in most recent years. I'll be interested to see how people still feel about this year's top albums a year from now. Maybe I'll feel differently about 2006 by then.

1. Y’s, Joanna Newsom
2. Ships, Danielson
3. Return from Cookie Mountain, TV on the Radio
4. Drum’s Not Dead, Liars
5. Everything All The Time, Band Of Horses
6. Silent Soul, The Knife
7. Yellow House, Grizzly Bear
8. The Warning, Hot Chip
9. So This Is Goodbye, Junior Boys
10. The Avalanche, Sufjan Stevens
11. Serena-Maneesh, Serena-Maneesh
12. The Drift, Scott Walker
13. Roots and Crowns, Califone
14. Buzzin’fly Vol. 3, Ben Watt
15. Beirut, Gulag Orkestar
16. Peng Peng, Voom Voom
17. Sexor, Tiga
18. Rabbit Fur Coat, Jenny Lewis And The Watson Twins
19. Cansei De Ser Sexy, Cansei De Ser Sexy
20. Escape from Dragon House, Dengue Fever

Here's my top ten for the year:

1. Centro-matic - Fort Recovery (the vinyl version has an excellent extra three tracks. A bit like Michigan by Sufjan Stevens, the extras are just as good if not better than some of the tracks on the main album).
2. The Knife - Silent Shout (Much better than I initially thought)
3. Liars - Drum's not Dead
4. Peter, Bjorn and John - Writer's Block
5. Califine - Roots and Crowns
6. Yo La Tengo - Ass
7. Joanna Newsome - Ys
8. The Decemberists - The Crane Wife
9. Victory at Sea - All Our Things Are Gone
10. TV on the Radio - Return to Cookie Mountain
11. Islands - Return to the Sea
12. Ali Farka Toure - Savane

Just as an afterthought. The lists make for really interesting reading, but you're never sure what the compiler hasn't listened to. Maybe it would be useful to know what percentage of the top 25 (easy to work out) albums in the list at the time the list was compiled the compiler had listened to. For example of the top 25 albums I have only had time to listen to 32% well enough to consider them in my list.

My list...

1. Thom Yorke - The Eraser
2. The Knife - Silent Shout
3. Destroyer - Rubies
4. Neko Case - Fox Confessor Brings the Flood
5. Cat Power - The Greatest
6. Belle and Sebastian - The Life Pursuit
7. Serena Maneesh - Serena Maneesh
8. TV on the Radio - Return to Cookie Mountain
9. Beirut - Gulag Orkestar
10. Liars - The Drum's Not Dead

With all honesty, there's a gigantic drop between the first two albums in the list and the rest. I just keep coming back to "The Eraser" and "Silent Shout" no matter what.