The 25 best albums of 2006

I didn't think I was going to make a list this year. One of the main reasons was I listened to a lot of older stuff this year, and it kind of all blended in. For example, I spent more time with stuff like the old Okkervil River and Rainer Maria albums this year. I was gonna make a "best albums I listened to for the first time this year" list, but that got way too complicated. On January 1st I made a rough draft if this list, and fine tuned it over the last week or so, and in the last hour jotted down some comments that came to the top of my head about each album. I tried to weigh out older albums by how much I remember enjoying them when they came out, but it's hard to compare. I did my best. This is what I'm left with. I didn't include any EPs on this list, so sorry to Bishop Allen, Voxtrot, Land of Talk and others.

25 - The Strokes - First Impressions of Earth
I think some of their best songs ever are on this album. But it overall doesn't stand up to the earlier stuff.
24 - Peter Bjorn & John - Writers Block
Good album, for sure, but not the great album it seems to be getting credit for.
23 - Brand New - The Devil and God are Raging inside Me
Solid Effort, but not as timeless as Deja Entendu. As somebody in the comments said a while ago, I liked the direction the leaked demos where heading in better.
22 - Mountain Goats - Get Lonely
I liked that he made a real album with real recording equipment. The purists seem to disagree, but this is a painfully disarming record.
21 - Blood Brothers - Young Machetes
I seem to be one of the few that really liked Crimes that much, and while this album is a great creative step in a new direction, I liked the 'descent to hell' feel of the earlier stuff to the 'world's gone mad' approach here, but this is no fantastic nonetheless.
20 - Destroyer - Destroyer's Rubies
This one fell off quick. Thought I'd be listening to it for years to come, found myself ignoring it for most of the year. Loved it for a while, tho.
19 - Muse - Black Holes and Revelations
Really underrated album. Epic almost to a fault. Are you telling me your heart didn't start racing when you first saw the children of men trailer with "Map of the Problematique" blaring in the background?
18 - Phoenix - It's Never Been Like that
Got lost in the mess in the middle of the year. No shame admitting that it was pitchfork's top albums list that reminded me how enjoyable this record is.
17 - Sonic Youth - Rather Ripped
I can't claim to be a longtime SY fan, and I can't compare this to their entire body of work, but what a fantastic record. Stands up to itself, and still stands out from every band they've influenced along the way.
16 - The Kingdom - K1
Frustrating record, but I listened the shit out of it. If it was 20 minutes longer and had a took a few more different directions it'd be top 3.
15 - Taking Back Sunday - Louder Now
So strong, all around. TBS was one of my most listened to bands of the year by far, only eclipsed by maybe Okkervil.
14 - The Walkmen - A Hundred Miles Off
I really loved this too when it came out. Much like Destroyer, it didn't last me as long as I expected. Still, even in their old fashioned direction, no band feels more relevant to me than these guys.
13 - Love is All - Nine Times the Same Song
Fun Fun Fun. This is a 2006 record, right?
12 - Twilight Singers - Powder Burns
Such an underrated record. Beautiful, smart, on point. Been a while since I listened to it. Suffered from early release syndrome. Might be top 5 if it came out in October.
11 - Band of Horses - Everything All the Time
Out of everything on this list, in 2 years, when I'm looking at this post, I suspect this album might be the one I'll first want to revisit. Kind of sick of it by now cause i listened to it so much for so long, but in time, it'll stand back out.
10 - The Sounds - Dying to Say This to You
Who knew? I dismissed this album because of the silly cover art. Like most people I know. Then I heard it and really really liked it! Still listening to it 8 months after first hearing it. That's gotta be worth something, right.
9 - Forward Russia - Give me a Wall
It takes a lot for me to get fired up, but these guys, and this record, get me going more than anything. Moreso than sunday brunch.
8 - Thursday - City by the Light Divided
My friend Joey teased me a while ago that I would love this album and it'd end up in my top 5 by the end of the year. Close, but I refuse to give him the satisfaction.
7 - Clipse - Hell Hath no Fury
I know it's lame to include one Hip Hop record in a list like this, but I seriously dug this record more than any rap album in years. Top to bottom, lyrics to beats. Simply top notch.
6 - Girl Talk - Night Ripper
Like any mashup it already feels superoverplayed, but amazingly in no way less enjoyable.
5 - My Chemical Romance - Welcome to the Black Parade
Saying you don't like MCR is like saying you don't like Jesus. You may not love everything that's come about as a result, but it's hard to knock em for doing what they do. Anyone who automatically dismisses this band because of their fanbase is completely unreasonable. I'm not saying you have to like them, but if you haven't listened to this yet, and you just don't like MCR for whatever preconceived reason, I really think you owe it to yourself to give it a listen. If you really don't like them after that? That's ok. We can still hang out.
4 - Silversun Pickups - Caravas
These guys get a LOT of hate from places I'd suspect would like them, and a lot of love from people who I'd expect to hate. I don't see anything wrong with it.
3 - Mew - And the Glass Handed Kites
This one didn't get the credit it deserves. Almost perfect in every respect.
2 - Sunset Rubdown - Shut Up I am Dreaming
Don't think it ever surpassed Wolf Parade, because that album had such an emotional range, but for what this goes for, it couldn't be better.
1 - Bound Stems - Appreciation Night
Enough has been said. The best album of the year.

Thoughts?

Comments

you're fucking awful dude. really horrible list.

[Stephan]

To previous poster: the only awful one here is you. Last time I checked, music was still a matter of personal taste. This guy gave this list a lot of thought, explained why he liked the albums. That is enough justification.

You, on the other hand, just burnt this down in one, unsoundly based sentence.

Good job... not.

While it is possible not to agree, at the very least come up with a few solid arguments.

As for me, I just hopped in here from Google and don't know a lot of these bands , so I naturally look forward to trying some out. Respect for making the effort to create a list such as this.

[JK]

I can relate to a lot of these picks. the only other hip hop album that deserves mention is ghostface. i've listened to bound stems' album several times and while good, i'm not totally convinced. Also, i think if you line up the new Muse and MCR, there is really no comparison. I think Black Holes blows Black Parade away. SSPU, Forward Russia, and BOH also great selections...

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6 - Girl Talk - Night Ripper
Like any mashup it already feels superoverplayed, but amazingly in no way less enjoyable.

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