Best Albums of 2006?

[Zoots]

Keane – Under The Iron Sea - These guys write beautiful songs and Tom Chaplin has the voice to deliver them. This album is darker than their debut but we’re all in a pretty dark place. Atlantic. “And if I need anything at all / I need a place that's hidden in the deep / Where lonely angels sing you to your sleep / Though all the world is broken”

!!! so fucking beautiful! Why don't more people like Under The Iron Sea? Why don't more people recognize Keane? Easily the band of the year for me!

Pearl Jam - Pearl Jam

It's the band at their most political, and arguably best. Worldwide Suicide gets my vote for most visceral song of the year.

Stadium Arcadium - Red Hot Chili Peppers

While some say this collection is bloated, there's something very special, unrefined, and organic that carries across these two CDs. Along with some trademark funk, there's also a warmth to many of the songs, like Hard to Concentrate and Snow (Hey Oh). It's certifiable proof that this is a band with true musical range.

The Eraser - Thom Yorke

Murky, desolate, and completely moving. The perfect soundtrack to a rainy day and a world gone mad. Harrowdown Hill is a beautifully haunting standout.

I love your descriptions and wholeheartedly agree with all 3!

That brings us to my Top 5...

1. Pearl Jam - Pearl Jam

2. Under The Iron Sea - Keane

3. Eyes Open - Snow Patrol

4. Stadium Arcadium - Red Hot Chili Peppers

5. Black Holes & Revelations - Muse / The Eraser - Thom Yorke.. tie.

The Killers just missed out.

Such a great year for music!

 

[bonojr62]

Pearl Jam
Stadium Arcadium-RHCP
Sam's town- the killers
Eyes open-Snow patrol
Continuum-John Mayer

 

[impy13]

Off the top of my head, here's a Top Ten:

10. Beck - The Information
9. The Beatles - Love
8. The Raconteurs - Broken Boy Soliders
7. Ray LaMontagne - Till The Sun Turns Black
6. The Killers - Sam's Town
5. Damien Rice - 9
4. The Flaming Lips - At War With The Mystics
3. Thom Yorke - The Eraser
2. Secret Machines - Ten Silver Drops
1. The Decemberists - The Crane Wife

I can do a write-up if need be. Not right now since I'm in the midst of a study break and should get back to reading my ass-tronomy book shortly.

 

[zoobeatle]

Snow Patrol..Eyes Open, This band has really hit me this year, listened to Final Straw which is fantastic,then heard this one a week later and all i can say is watch this band in the coming years.

 

[mikal]

Beck
Snow Patrol
Pearl Jam
The Decemberists
RHCP

would be my top 5.

 

[VertigoGal]

No one's mentioned Begin to Hope by Regina Spektor. Although it's her fourth album, it's sort of been a breakout album for her and even had some hype on VH1 as one of their "you oughta know" artists or whatever. It's got a bigger budget (=more production) than some of her earlier stuff, but it's still got the same quirky style and of course incredible piano (she's classically trained). She has a naturally beautiful voice, but the unique ways she uses it really set her apart. Her songs go from funny to strange to cute to devastating, effortlessly.

I admit to not owning that many releases from this year, but this is definitely my favorite I've heard and I highly reccomend it. I've seen it at most CD stores.

others I liked:
Band of Horses- Everything All the Time
Islands- Return to the Sea

I really should get the Decemberists album, shouldn't I?

 

[Lancemc]

The Crane Wife =

 

[Judah]

1. You in Reverse by Built to Spill
2. How Strange Innocence by Explosions in the Sky (a rerelease of their first one...whoa)
3. Return to Cookie Mountain, TV On The Radio
4. I Am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass, Yo La Tengo
5. Happy New Year, Oneida
6. Ships, Danielson
7. And the Glass-Handed Kites, Mew
8. First Impressions of Earth, Strokes
9. Rather Ripped, Sonic Youth
10. Shut Up I Am Dreaming, Sunset Rubdown

 

[Jack In The Box]

2. How Strange Innocence by Explosions in the Sky (a rerelease of their first one...whoa)

that re-issue was released in 2005

 

[hippy]

Okay, I've been occupied writing papers lately, and since we're getting closer to the end of the year, I thought I'd at least list my top ten albums of this year... I'll post more about WHY they are my top ten when I get the chance These are the albums that I've found myself listening to the most and any album that makes me want to listen on repeat for hours counts as a "best" for me

(These are in no particular order)

Muse - Black Holes & Revelations
Jet - Shine On
Keane - Under the Iron Sea
The Secret Machines - Ten Silver Drops
Ratatat - Classics
Kasabian - Empire
Hot Chip - The Warning
Editors - The Back Room (okay, it did come out in 2006 in the US!)
Embrace - This New Day
Dirty Pretty Things - Waterloo to Anywhere

 

[angelordevil]

!!! so fucking beautiful! Why don't more people like Under The Iron Sea? Why don't more people recognize Keane? Easily the band of the year for me!

That's high praise! I really love Is It Any Wonder, but I haven't heard very much of the album at all. I should give it a listen.

With regards to Muse, I wish I liked them more. Maybe I'm musically delayed.

 

[Salome]

10. Los Lobos - The Town and the City
9. Pet Shop Boys - Fundamental
8. Yo la Tengo - I am not Afraid of You and I will Beat your Ass
7. Belle & Sebastian - The Life Pursuit
6. Bonnie 'Prince' Billy - The Letting Go
5. Joanna Newsom - Ys
4. Lambchop - Damaged
3. Comets on Fire - Avatar
2. Lindsey Buckingham - Under the Skin
1. TV on the Radio - Return to Cookie Mountain

I might write why these albums are in my top 10 some day soon

 

[Judah]

that re-issue was released in 2005

Yeah...late October 05?...but i kinda picked it up in early 06 (let's say i was using the award nominations year...fall 05 to fall 06!)

 

[qball7200]

A few nice albums from this year.

Yo La Tengo - I Am Not Afraid of You and I'll Spank Your Ass
Mogwai - Mr Beast
The Demberists - The Crane Wife
Bob Dylan - Modern Times
Joanna Newsom- Ys

 

[MrBrau1]

That Dylan record is hard to top.

 

[Tarvark]

The Crane Wife
Modern Times
Live at the Fillmore East - Its the start of the Young Archive box set series!

 

[LemonMelon]

Beck - The Information
Flaming Lips - At War With The Mystics
Sonic Youth - Rather Ripped

I want to listen to the Decemberists' record.

 

[U2ME3]

Cold War Kids- Robbers & Cowards
Ben Kweller- Ben Kweller

 

[Jack In The Box]

finally my list! it was a pain in the ass to rank these amazing albums

is not the best, is just what I liked this year

50. Sparta - Threes
49. Sonic Youth - Rather Ripped
48. Sparklehorse - Dreamt for Light Years in the Belly of a Mountain
47. Pretty Girls Make Graves - Elan Vital
46. Sparrows, Swarm and Sing! - O Shenandoah Mighty Death Will Find Me
45. Russian Circles – Enter
44. We Are Scientists - With Love and Squalor
43. Liars - Drum's Not Dead
42. Mono - You Are There
41. Isis - In the Absence of Truth
40. Thom Yorke - The Eraser
39. The Raconteurs - Broken Boy Soldiers
38. Tapes and Tapes - The Loon
37. Tv on the Radio - Return to Cookie Mountain
36. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Show Your Bones
35. The Appleseed Cast - Peregrine
34. Pajo – 1968
33. The Pipettes - We Are the Pipettes
32. Magnolia Electric Co. - Fading Trails
31. Belle & Sebastian - The Life Pursuit
30. Envy - Insomniac Doze
29. Agalloch - Ashes Against the Grain
28. The Allstar Project - Something To Do With Death
27. Laura - Radio Swan is Down
26. Katatonia - The Great Cold Distance
25. Comets on Fire - Avatar
24. Don Caballero - World-Class Listening Problem
23. The Hold Steady - Boys and Girls in America
22. Destroyer - Destroyer's Rubies
21. Mogwai - Mr. Beast
20. Helios - Eingya
19. EF - Give Me Beauty... or Give Me Death!
18. Eluvium - When I Live by the Garden and the Sea
17. Neko Case - Fox Confessor Brings the Flood
16. Mastodon - Blood Mountain
15. M. Ward - Post-War
14. Red Sparowes - Every Red Heart Shines Toward the Red Sun
13. Beirut - Gulag Orkestar
12. Band of Horses - Everything All the Time
11. Magyar Posse - Random Avenger

10. Ratatat - Classics

09. Final Fantasy - He Poos Clouds

08. Hammock - Raising You Voice... Trying to Stop an Echo

07. The Black Heart Procession - The Spell

06. Joanna Newsom - Y's

05. Genghis Tron - Dead Mountain Mouth

04. The Decemberists - The Crane Wife

03. The Diableros - You Can't Break the Strings in Our Olympic Hearts (*self released in 2005, released by Baudelaire in 2006)

02. Islands - Return to the Sea

01. The Ascent of Everest - How Lonely Sits the City

.

 

[yertle-the-turtle]

Wow nice list, JITB. Really nice looking album covers.

I'm listening to 'Molotov' by The Ascent of Everest on their myspace now because I like the album cover. I really like it. Glacial.

 

[MrsSpringsteen]

Was already mentioned but this is my pick

Ray LaMontagne - Till The Sun Turns Black

Haunting voice, I love it. I'm seeing him live soon and I can't wait to see how he measures up live, I hope I won't be disappointed.

Plus he's from Maine and when do you ever hear great singers who come from Maine Born In NH too

 

[Jack In The Box]

Wow nice list, JITB. Really nice looking album covers.

I'm listening to 'Molotov' by The Ascent of Everest on their myspace now because I like the album cover. I really like it. Glacial.

yeap, great art work for great music

glad you liked The Ascent of Everest, that album is truly amazing

 

[Anu]

I fear the people who complained about no good music need to give themselves a new music allowance, which is either cash or time or bandwidth or gigabytes on the hard drive or some magickal combination of all of the above.

I used to smoke cigarettes. Now, I simply spend the rough equivalent on CDs. And I love to go to the store and linger and look as opposed to ordering them or downloading them. I love the new CD smell. I love the challenge of getting all the extra wrapping off.

1.Tool—10,000 Days
2.The Killers—Sam's Town
3.Red Hot Chili Peppers—Stadium Arcadium
4.Black Angels—Jerusalem
5.My Morning Jacket—Okokonos
6.The Flaming Lips—At War with the Mystics
7.TV On the Radio—Return to Cookie Mountain
8.Michael Franti & Spearhead—Yell Fire!
9.Ben Harper—Both Sides of the Gun
10.Gnarls Barkley—St. Elsewhere
11.The Black Keys—Magic Potion
12.Scissor Sisters—Ta Dah
13.The Strokes—First Impressions of Earth
14.Snow Patrol—Eyes Open
15.Thom Yorke—The Eraser
16.Espers—Espers II
17.Damien Rice—9
18.Sean Lennon—Friendly Fire
19.Goldfrapp—Supernature
20.Matisyahu—Youth
21.The Alarm—Under Attack
22.Bruce Springsteen—We Shall Overcome: the Seeger Sessions
23.Keane—Under the Iron Sea
24.Wolfmother—Wolfmother
25.Pearl Jam—Pearl Jam
26.Cat Power—The Greatest
27.Dresden Dolls—Yes, Virginia
28.Peaches—Impeach My Bush
29.Madonna—Confessions on a Dancefloor
30.Live—Songs from Black Mountain
31.Raconteurs—Broken Boy Soldiers
32.Sonic Youth—Rather Ripped
33.Richard Ashcroft—Keys to the World
34.Chumbawamba—A Singsong and a Scrap
35.Belle and Sebastian—The Life Pursuit
36.Sarah McLachlan—Wintersong
37.Muse—Black Holes & Revelations
38.The Mars Volta—Amputechture
39.Beck—Information
40.Jet—Shine On

Good. Someone posted a list of 50 best, so I don't have to feel guilty about the time I spent compiling the Anu Top 40.

 

[Anu]

Yes, and I forgot Bob Dylan and Paul Simon.

I need to listen to the Joanna Newsom and Decemberists some more. I like the people who like these.

I should have stuck it out and gone for 50. Before 12-31, I easily could have had 50 -- especially after I comb through these lists and go out and buy more music.

 

[PookaMacP]

There weren't too many albums released this year that stood out for me, until in November I got round to buying Beirut's debut album 'Gulag Orkestar'. As a fan of Neutral Milk Hotel's 'In The Aeroplane Over The Sea', I'd read the reviews with intrigue, and loved the idea of what Zach Condon was trying to do. And then, I listened to the album. It's a fabulous tour de force through some imaginary Europe where Balkan sounds mix with German landscapes through Bratislavan side streets, where the ancient meets the modern (see 'Scenic World'), and where the listener is transported from the simple confines of western pop to a fresh and invogorating sound. A superb album and one that reveals more and more with each listen. Throw in the Lon Gisland EP with the re-release and you've got one of the albums of the decade thus far.
Stand-out tracks: 'The Gulag Orkestar', 'Postcards From Italy', 'Bratislava' (from 'Gulag Orkestar') and the new version of 'Scenic World' from the Lon Gisland EP.

 

[Harry Vest]

1. AEREOGRAMME - My Heart Has A Wish That You Would Not Go
2. NIKKI SUDDEN - The Truth Doesn't Matter
3. RICHARD BUTLER - Richard Butler
4. TOM WAITS - Orphans
5. BOB DYLAN - Modern Times
6. DESTROYER - Destroyer's Rubies
7. TOOL - 10,000 Days
8. D RANGERS - The Paw Paw Patch
9. RADIO BIRDMAN - Zeno Beach
The rest...not sure yet...give me a few weeks

 

[love_u2_adam]

Snow Patrol - Eyes Open
The Killers - Sam's Town
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Stadium Arcadium
Arctic Monkeys - whatever....Not
muse - black holes and revelations
the kooks- inside in/inside out

 

[The OOTS]

My Morning Jacket - Okonokos. Live LP, but so good that it can stand out as the best record of the year.

This is so good. I recently discovered this and I think it tops my best of 06 list. Can't wait to see them in a couple weeks. One of the best live albums I've ever heard.

Others:

Muse - BH & R
Pearl Jam
Decemberists - The Crane Wife
Sonic Youth - Rather Ripped

 

[BonosLil'Pal94]

Stadium Arcadium- Red Hot Chili Peppers

Broken Boy Soldier- The Raconteurs

Sam's Town- The Killers

Eyes Open- Snow Patrol

U218 Singles- U2 if it counts....

 

[Anu]

This is so good. I recently discovered this and I think it tops my best of 06 list. Can't wait to see them in a couple weeks. One of the best live albums I've ever heard.

Another Jacket convert -- Blessed be!

Check out some of the friendliest forums (outside Interference, of course) at mymorningjacket.com

Where are you seeing 'em? I'll be at the Denver shows, Jan 12-13.