KB Panel: Top 3 Albums of 2006

by Susan M

Top Ten lists are a tradition of the holiday season as much as egg nog or mistletoe. So permit us, as the Lords of Kulturblog, to present to you each our own Top Ten Three Albums of 2006.

Susan M:
1. Midlake — The Trials of Van Occupanther. I once mentioned to a friend that there is some music I wish I could gather up in my arms and squeeze so tightly that it sinks into my body, into my bones, and becomes a part of me, so that I could carry it around with me all the time. I don’t feel that way about Midlake’s Trials—because it actually happened. I hear these songs inside me all the time. I wake up at night and hear them in my head. You can learn more about them here and here.

2. Converge — No Heroes. Converge are a hardcore metal band. This is their 9th release, and the third in a string of brilliant albums (2001’s Jane Doe and 2004’s You Fail Me). They’re extremely abrasive—they’re just intense, raw passion. But they have power. It hits you like a fist in the face—no, that’s too tame. It’s like a full sonic blast that knocks you off your feet and pummels you into the ground. So loud and abrasive, coming at you full speed. And then they slow it down and take it back a notch, and put all this craziness in… They have a depth and complexity that you can miss at first listen. (Or maybe, for a lot of people, at 10th listen.) But they really do create masterpieces. Not just their song structures, but their album structures, are so interesting and intense. The lyrics, the artwork, the music, it all comes together to create a brilliant whole.

3. Voxtrot — Mothers, Sisters, Daughters and Wives EP. I had a hard time choosing what to use as my third pick, there were so many good releases this year. But when I thought in terms of which release could I not live without, I decided it’d have to be Voxtrot. So catchy and fun, and packed full of so many words, you can take forever getting to know songs. Can’t wait for this band to finally release a full length (sometime next year).

Albums it was painful for me to leave off: The Frames — The Cost, Built to Spill — You in Reverse, Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova — The Swell Season, The Melvins — A Senile Animal, The Brought Low — Right on Time, Calexico — Garden Ruin, Jesu - Silver EP, Ladyhawk - ST, Twilight Singers - Powder Burns.

Supergenius:
1. The Decemberists — The Crane Wife. 11-minute long folksongs about legendary creatures? Check. Haunting ballads with odd images? Check. Occasionally addictive rhymes and a completely eclectic sound? Check. The Decemberists have always been the go-to band for refreshing music that sounds almost ancient and holy in a folk sense, and their latest is even more amazing than their previous offerings. While there aren’t the same standout songs as, say, “Red Right Ankle,” The Crane Wife as a complete narrative song cycle is one of the most ambitious and ultimately rewarding sound experiences in recent memory.

2. The Hold Steady — Boys & Girls in America. There’s a lot to love about The Hold Steady. They have a great conventional rock sound that explores the traditional high points of rock and roll: sex, drugs, self-discovery and having a great time. The newest offering is a series of power chords, drug trips and really catchy ballads, cementing The Hold Steady as the premier “meta-bar” band. It’s as if John Cougar Mellencamp grew a pair and collaborated with a young Springsteen.

3. TV on the Radio — Return to Cookie Mountain. Totally innovative and entertaining, TV on the Radio’s latest album is loose and free in exploring all kinds of rhythms and beats. It is “alternative” rock in the best sense of the word — utterly different and yet still approachable. The whole album sounds experimental, almost improvisational, and yet it is completely fun.

Greg Call
In no particular order:

1. Destroyer — Destroyer’s Rubies. Thanks for the notice SG. I liked what John Darnielle said about this one: “Rubies . . . is straight gravy, virtuoso lyricism and weightless melodies from ceiling to floor. With practically every exaggerated phrase, Bejar invokes poetic traditions unknown to all but the most sunken-eyed MFA students; everybody will claim they know what he’s talking about, and almost everyone will be lying.”

2. Band of Horses — Everything All the Time. These guys may end up being a flash in the pan, but this disc is a great half hour of refreshing, affecting guitar rock.

3. Bob Dylan — Modern Times. The jokerman commits yet another loving theft: “I laugh and I cry/ and I’m haunted by/Things I never meant nor wished to say.”

Honorable Mention: Neil Young, Living With War; Cat Power, The Greatest; The Mountain Goats, Get Lonely; Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Show Your Bones.

Caveat: I still haven’t listened much to 2006 releases from Bonnie Prince Billy, Joanna Newsom, Neko Case, or Built to Spill; from what I’ve heard, any of these could crash my top three.

Tom
1. Destroyer — Destroyer’s Rubies. Pop songwriting at it’s finest. I’ll admit that I have no idea what he’s talking about. The important thing for me is the sounds and drama and intrigue in the songs.

2. Joanna Newsom — Ys. I haven’t had enough time with this record to really absorb it, but I couldn’t leave it off. I am thoroughly in it’s spell at the moment. Newsom’s voice is beautiful and affecting, the sound is rich and full thanks to Van Dyke Parks’s orchestral work complementing Newsom’s harp, and the songs take you on a ride. At this point I haven’t paid a lot of attention to what the words are saying, but the sounds and rhythms and rhymes of the words are enchanting. Newsom has a way with words that approaches Dylanesque. Give this album a chance even if you were turned off by Newsom’s debut. This is unquestionably a major step forward.

3. Danielson — Ships. It’s what you’d get if you mixed Sufjan Stevens’s orchestral pop sound with Deerhoof’s quirky noise rock; and surprise, surprise, Stevens and Deerhoof members were among the many collaborators on this rollicking good time of a record. The backup chorus from Illinois even makes a couple of appearances.

Honorable mention: TV on the Radio, Neko Case, Built to Spill, Midlake, the Decemberists, Belle & Sebastian, Band of Horses. Biggest disappointment: the Flaming Lips.

Logan
1. The Dresden Dolls — Yes, Virginia . . . . Perhaps not the most impressive or groudbreaking album of the yearh, but it’s by far the one I most find myself wanting to listen to again and again. Amanda Palmer’s compelling lyrics convey real mental and emotional anguish, and the spare, piano-and-drum instrumentation allows both of them to stretch out and show their chops. I love the cabaret style, too.

2. Yo La Tengo — I Am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass. I’ve never been able to get into Yo La Tengo until this album, but now I’m a believer. There are great melodies throughout, and I love how the band switches so effortlessly from style to style, building a groove flawlessly one minute and throwing out a well-crafted pop song the next. Oh, and bonus points for what may be the best album title ever.

3. Joanna Newsom — Ys. (Much as I hate to pick the same album Tom did, this is a goodie.) You can’t mention Joanna Newsom without tackling the issue of her voice, so here goes. No, it’s not conventional—or even “good”—but it’s really quite expressive and nuanced. If you can get past it, I think you’ll find her music very rewarding. She is also very literate in contemporary classical music, but beyond just using that influence impressively or interestingly (think Sufjan Stevens—sorry fans), she makes music I actually want to listen to.

Honestly, though, I’ve found 2006 to be a mildly disappointing year for music. Plenty of “good” stuff, but not much that really wows me. A lot of artists I love released work that wasn’t their best: the Mountain Goats, Scissor Sisters, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Damien Rice, the Strokes, Tool, and that’s just off the top of my head. That said, I did like the albums by the Decemberists, TV on the Radio, the Hold Steady, the Raconteurs, Mastodon, Converge, Destroyer, and even the Killers.

Songs posted to the radio.blog:

Midlake - It Covers the Hillsides
Converge - Plagues
Decemberists - When The War Came
TV On the Radio - Hours
Destroyer - European Oils
Band Of Horses - Wicked Gil
Joanna Newsome - Cosmia
Danielson - Two Sitting Ducks
Dresden Dolls - Backstabber
Yo La Tengo - Sometimes I Don’t Get You

45 Comments

  1. Top 3 albums I wish I’d mentioned, but I’ve only listened to once or twice:

    1. Beck — The Information
    2. Regina Spektor — Begin to Hope
    3. Yo La Tengo — I Am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass.

    Joanna Newsom? Man, her voice just is a cheese grater on my soul.

    And I just plumb forgot about Band of Horses, Destroyer, and Neko Case this year. I love those three artists and their albums — but they just weren’t in my mind when I looked at what I’m listening to from this year.

    Comment by Supergenius — December 13, 2006 @ 12:51 pm

  2. I thought there were a lot of good releases this year. I have even more than I left off of my “honorable mention” list.

    I’m hoping to post reviews of Damien Rice’s latest (plus his show I just saw), and the Frames and the Swell Season, soon.

    Comment by Susan M — December 13, 2006 @ 1:00 pm

  3. Newsom’s voice has become less grating. There are still moments that some will find unbearable, but nothing like the shrillness of her Milk-eyed Mender stuff. Really, though, her voice has never bothered me. It’s no uglier than Bob Dylan’s or Neil Young’s at their ugliest. Anyways, she is a fantastic singer.

    Yo La Tengo’s is one well-received album that I just can’t get into. It all kind of mashes together in one impenetrable mass to me. I like some other Yo La Tengo albums. I don’t know what it is about this one.

    Comment by Tom — December 13, 2006 @ 1:12 pm

  4. 1. Ringleader of the Tormentors — Morrissey

    After a couple of later so-so albums, Morrissey proves he’s still got it. Worth the price of the album just for the track “Life is a Pigsty.”

    2. Sam’s Town — The Killers

    Certainly not perfect, nor as good as their debut, but several very strong tracks.

    3. Under the Iron Sea — Keane

    I love love love this album. Miles better than their debut.

    Comment by NFlanders — December 13, 2006 @ 1:19 pm

  5. That Keane album is good. Didn’t know Morrissey had a new one out. So much music, so little time! I love it.

    Comment by Susan M — December 13, 2006 @ 1:23 pm

  6. Man, Converge rocks.

    Comment by Greg — December 13, 2006 @ 1:26 pm

  7. Yeah. And the song I posted is one where they’re taking it down a notch. I love the chomping guitar at the begining…coming to get you.

    Comment by Susan M — December 13, 2006 @ 1:29 pm

  8. I haven’t hear a whole lot of complete albums this year, but I can’t get enough of Springsteen’s The Pete Seeger Sessions. It transformed me from an agnostic on Springsteen to a true believer. The arrangements, the improvisational freedom and virtuosity of his band, and his voice all take already wonderful songs and make the songs do something new.

    I keep hearing Newsome, and I’m with SG–Dylan and Young may have grating voices, but I’d take their songwriting (and their voices) any day.

    Comment by Sam B — December 13, 2006 @ 1:31 pm

  9. Poo poo on you!

    Newsom’s songcraft is solid.

    Comment by Tom — December 13, 2006 @ 1:36 pm

  10. Yeah, Sam and Steve. Anytime Tom and I agree on something, you can take it to the bank. Joanna’s fantastic!

    Comment by Logan — December 13, 2006 @ 1:44 pm

  11. Logan, I’m fully on board with her songwriting and her melodies. But I just cringe for most of her songs whenever she opens her mouth. Perhaps she is the definition of an “acquired taste.”

    Comment by Supergenius — December 13, 2006 @ 1:51 pm

  12. I concur with NFlanders on The Killers album. It would be my #1 pick.

    Comment by cantinflas — December 13, 2006 @ 2:03 pm

  13. KB Panel: Top 3 Albums of 2006…

    http://love2learnblog.blogspot.com/ …

    Trackback by Asymmetric — December 13, 2006 @ 3:10 pm

  14. I’m with Flanders, that Keane album is fantastic. I’m also going to throw Pearl Jam’s latest out there.

    Comment by Melissa DLM — December 13, 2006 @ 3:40 pm

  15. I’ll agree that Keane is fun pop, but I just don’t see them as serious artists. I think they are largely a laboratory-created pop band that pretends to a Morrissey-level angst sound. And really, the same goes for the Killers, who have a fun sound but are little more than that — and their new one is far inferior to their prior offering. Just my two cents, and that’s two cents in Canadian funds, to boot.

    Comment by Supergenius — December 13, 2006 @ 3:55 pm

  16. I didn’t listen to enough music this year to participate, but I like reading everyone’s tips. I know that one of my choices for next year will be The Shins’ Wincing the Night Away.

    Comment by BTD Greg — December 13, 2006 @ 4:08 pm

  17. I’ve hardly heard any of these albums.

    I am interested in listening to more Midlake, due to one of the songs posted here on Kulturblog.

    Comment by danithew — December 13, 2006 @ 4:23 pm

  18. BTD Greg, You know because you’ve heard it or you know because you have that much faith in the Shins?

    I have faith in Deerhoof, Modest Mouse, and Wilco for the upcoming year. And maybe even Radiohead.

    Comment by Tom — December 13, 2006 @ 4:25 pm

  19. I share BTD Greg’s assessment. The new Shins album is their best.

    Comment by Supergenius — December 13, 2006 @ 4:38 pm

  20. Tom, I’ve heard it, and it’s excellent. I’d disagree with SG because I think Chutes Too Narrow is slightly better.

    Expect a review up on KB sometime soon (with songs on radio.blog).

    Comment by BTD Greg — December 13, 2006 @ 5:11 pm

  21. The Brought Low - Right on Time
    Melvins - A Senile Animal
    Tom Waits - Orphans

    Comment by Brian V — December 13, 2006 @ 5:23 pm

  22. Good choices, Brian V. I was listening to a song from both of your top 2 this morning and going crazy that I couldn’t include both. It’s too hard to just choose 3.

    Comment by Susan M — December 13, 2006 @ 5:42 pm

  23. Dang. I was all excited about this thread until I realized that this last year I’ve not listened to music that much. I’ve been too exhausted with a newborn to listen as much at the gym and too busy building a factory to be listening as much as well.

    I will say that I really dislike the Killer’s new album.

    But I really feel bad about missing out on music for a year.

    Comment by Clark — December 13, 2006 @ 6:16 pm

  24. Well, I haven’t heard almost any of these, because I am out of the loop, but I do like the Decemberists a lot! And thanks for posting the Joanna Newsome to the Radio blog, because all my friends back in SF are going nuts about her and fighting to get sold out tickets, etc., and I have no idea about her. From this one track I can’t really tell if she’s good and fun in a Bjork-ish way, or if she takes herself too seriously and is a little affected and witch-y. I like the harp.

    Comment by meems — December 13, 2006 @ 7:08 pm

  25. Is it true that she has an actual speech impediment, or is that just a myth?

    Comment by Susan M — December 13, 2006 @ 7:19 pm

  26. How have you guy’s listened to the new shins? Where do I get on that train?

    The Hold Steady, Beck, the decemberists and Gnarls Barkley came out with great albums this year.

    I liked the Thom Yorke disc, but it wasn’t his A-game.

    I was impressed with the cuts I’ve heard from Dresden Dolls, Regina Spektor, Muse, the Raconteurs, Joanna Newsome, Black Angels, and Built to spill. But being limited with funds and time I can’t attest to the quality of the whole LP.

    However, this year I stumbled upon Full of Light and Full of Fire from the Mendoza Line, and I can’t listen to anything else.

    Comment by gibbyg — December 13, 2006 @ 8:49 pm

  27. 1. Howe Gelb - ‘Sno Angel Like You (he does double duty on Calexico’s album)
    2. Neko Case - Fox Confessor Brings the Flood (very good live show too)
    3. Califone - Roots and Crowns

    All these albums have a similar vibe - sort of into this sound right now.

    Honorable mention:
    Decembeists’ Crane Wife, Belle and Sebastian The Life Pursuit, Built to Spill You in Reverse, M. Ward Post-War Josh Ritter The Animal Years

    Disappointing: Drive-By Truckers’ A Blessing and a Curse

    New discoveries:
    The Hidden Cameras, Heartless Bastards

    Comment by Dallin I — December 13, 2006 @ 10:23 pm

  28. Hey Dallin,

    I saw the Heartless Bastards at the Fillmore in October (opening up for Lucinda Williams) and they were really great. Lucinda praised them, calling them a mix of the White Stripes and the Ramones.

    Comment by Greg Call — December 13, 2006 @ 10:39 pm

  29. Greg - I was astounded by the power of Erika Wennerstrom’s (Heartless Bastards’ leader) voice. She’s no more than say, 5 foot 1 and 90 pounds soaking wet, but she belts it like she’s the last rock singer on earth. She doesn’t move much on stage, but still has this amazing presence because of her voice. Amazing set of pipes. She’s got a real Janis Joplin thing going on.

    Also, her drummer is this hulking guy so the contrast between them makes for an interesting sort of stage dynamic. I first saw them two years ago and only recently bought their new album. Highly recommended.

    Comment by Dallin I — December 14, 2006 @ 6:59 am

  30. Susan,

    Any chance you’ll get to see Midlake live? I just noticed that they are playing here at the end of February. They live nearby, though, so I don’t know if this is part of a tour.

    Roadtrip and crash at our place if you want. :)

    Comment by BTD Greg — December 14, 2006 @ 8:58 am

  31. They’re playing LA in March! I might try to catch the San Diego show as well.

    Comment by Susan M — December 14, 2006 @ 9:04 am

  32. More Midlake stuff: something called “Milkmaid Grand Army EP” just showed up as #3 in the list of my favorite record store’s top twenty sellers this week. I don’t know anything about it.

    Comment by BTD Greg — December 14, 2006 @ 9:11 am

  33. you guys nailed it when you crossed out “ten” and switched to “three.” There just weren’t enough great records this year.

    That being said, the newest Long Winters is excellent, and, with some iTunes editing, the Sufjan B-sides album was too.

    of course, plenty of the stuff already mentioned too (boys and girls in particular)

    Comment by Jeremy — December 14, 2006 @ 6:13 pm

  34. I don’t get people who say nothing good was released this year. I have 78 albums that were released this year (yikes, let’s not talk about how I’ve obtained them all) and I’d say at least half of them are really good, solid releases.

    Comment by Susan M — December 14, 2006 @ 6:19 pm

  35. Yeah, Susan’s right — this was a pretty scattered year, with lots of great bands putting out albums that didn’t blow me away (Death Cab), but overall there were still some great ones. I think we did top 3 just to keep the post size down and to make sure we actually did it on time…

    Comment by Supergenius — December 14, 2006 @ 6:29 pm

  36. I’m with you, Jeremy. Disappointing year, overall.

    I do agree, Susan and Steve, that there are a lot of “good” albums, but not very much that would (as I’ve said before) have made last year’s top ten list for me. On the other hand, I’ve only gotten 58 albums this year (the year’s not over yet, though!), so maybe my sample size just isn’t big enough . . . .

    Comment by Logan — December 14, 2006 @ 7:12 pm

  37. The Killers - Sam’s Town: Those who criticize them for supposedly abandoning their sound need to listen to The Strokes’ first two albums back to back. Then The Killers’ first two back to back. You’ll be amazed and suddenly agree with me.

    TV On the Radio - Return to Cookie Mountain: Like nothing you’ve heard before. But in a good way.

    Springsteen - Seeger Sessions. Buy it. Now. You’ll be amazed you never listened to him before.

    Honorable Mentions to Built to Spill, Sonic Youth, Thom Yorke (knee jerk), Band of Horses, Yo La Tengo, Beck, Tapes & Tapes, The Raconteurs, Gnarles Barkley.

    Comment by Jared — December 15, 2006 @ 3:51 pm

  38. Jared, comparing the Killers to the Strokes does not help them.

    Comment by Supergenius — December 15, 2006 @ 4:17 pm

  39. This is kind of funny: Pitchfork’s worst album covers of 2006.

    Comment by BTD Greg — December 15, 2006 @ 5:20 pm

  40. Some of those are really horrendous, BTD Greg, but some of them are actually cool. Pitchfork is so annoying sometimes.

    Comment by Susan M — December 15, 2006 @ 7:40 pm

  41. Worst ever: Rod Stewart spread eagle.

    Comment by Tom — December 15, 2006 @ 8:36 pm

  42. And I thought the Built to Spill cover art was pretty cool.

    Comment by Tom — December 15, 2006 @ 8:37 pm

  43. Supergenius - Good point. But for all the hype The Strokes lived through, the only critique I remember hearing on later albums was it was too much like the first (I agreed with it by the way). Where as most people I’ve talked to say The Killers album doesn’t sound enough like their first.

    Comment by Jared — December 17, 2006 @ 12:18 am

  44. I agree with Sam’s comment about Springsteen’s “Seeger Sessions” CD. I can’t say I’m a big Springsteen fan. I like his early stuff (”Wild & Innocent thru Darkness”), but he kind of lost me with “Born in the USA” and all that solo, “look at me, I”m Woody Guthrie” material. The Seeger CD, though, is unreal. Where has this Springsteen been hiding all these years? It’s “Rosalita” given a Dixieland arrangement as performed by the Chieftans. It’s also easily one of the best albums of the year - to my astonishment.

    Anyone who thinks they know Bruce will think again.

    Keep it coming, Boss man. Keep blowing our minds..

    Comment by David — December 23, 2006 @ 10:16 pm

  45. My other top fav’s for 2006..

    1. TV on the Radio - “Return to Cookie Mountain”
    2. Peter, Bjorn and John - “Writer’s Block
    3. Camera Obscura - “Let’s Get Out of This Country”
    4. The Brother Kite - “Waiting for the Time To Be Right”
    5. Destroyer - “Destroyer’s Rubies”

    Comment by David — December 23, 2006 @ 10:22 pm