top 30 albums of 2006

Here’s the list of my top 30 albums of 2006… again, please comment and tell me your favorites!

30. Muse: Black Holes and Revelations
Black Holes and Revelations features countless loud and memorable guitar riffs, it is simply a good pure rock album.

Starlight
Knights of Cydonia

[myreview] [myspace] [buy]


29. Controlling the Famous: Automatic City
So not one song on Automatic City really stands out for me… that’s not a bad thing consider the entire thing is one outstanding record.

Easy Life
Two Sides

[myreview] [myspace] [buy]


28. Xiu Xiu: The Air Force
This is probably the "catchiest" Xiu Xiu album ever. (I know, catchy and Xiu Xiu in the same sentence?) But with that being said, the album is still dominated by the experimental/low-hi sound.

Boy Soprano
Hello From Eau Claire

[myreview] [myspace] [buy]


27. Jeremy Enigk: World Waits
World Waits is the perfect escape album... listen to this album on a set of headphones and it will take you to another dimension.

City Tonight
World Waits

[myreview] [myspace] [buy]


26. Senses Fail: Still Searching
This is the most mature and best release by Senses Fail to date. Still Searching is more than generic "scremo", it is a brilliant sounding record.

Still Searching
The Priest and the Matador

[myreview] [myspace] [buy]


25. The Album Leaf: Into The Blue Again
Into The Blue Again is another memorable record by The Album Leaf. Jimmy LaValle has a gifted ability to create this never-ending dream-like/lethargic atmosphere.

Always for You
See in You

[myreview] [myspace] [buy]


24. Girl Talk: Night Ripper
Gregg Gillis is the king of mixing. The coolest thing about Night Ripper is the surprise element: you discover a new simple with each listen.

Too Deep

[myreview] [myspace] [buy]


23. Bat For Lashes: Fur And Gold
Bat For Lashes, aka Natasha Khan, is one of the most talented and promising new artists. Fur And Gold is a beautifully composed adventurous record.

Trophy
The Wizard
Bat's Mouth

[myreview] [myspace] [buy]


22. Brand New: The Devil And God Are Raging Inside Me
I bet many of you are pretty surprise to see The Devil And God Are Raging Inside Me so early on the list. It is a lyrically great album, but some of the songs just do not feel right... but then again, I expect a lot from Brand New.

Sowing Season (Yeah)
Millstone

[myreview] [myspace] [buy]


21. Anti-Flag: For Blood And Empire
I am usually not a big fan of political albums, but Justin Sane won me over with this insanely catchy album.

Hymn For The Dead
One Trillion Dollars

[myreview] [myspace] [buy]


20. Peter and the Wolf: Lightness
This easily is one of the best folk records to come out in recent years. Lightness is a nostalgic sounding record.

My Grey Overcoat
Dear Old Robyn
Lightness

[myreview] [myspace] [buy]


19. My Chemical Romance: The Black Parade
Wow, this The Black Parade is epic! It is a theatrical-hard-rock-musical. Read a very detail review by clicking on the link below. Please, give this album a try before you judge!!!!

The End
Mama
Teenagers

[myreview] [myspace] [buy]


18. Set Your Goals: Mutiny!
Set Your Goals is not your little sister’s sappy pop punk band of the moment; Mutiny! is intelligent, witty, and fun.

Work In Progress
We Do It For The Money, OBVIOUSLY!

[myreview] [myspace] [buy]


17. The Walkmen: "Pussy Cats" Starring The Walkmen
This would be higher up (or down?) on the list, but I have to consider the fact that this is entirely a cover record. As a result, I had to take a few points off for originality, but otherwise, it is a great rock n' roll record.

Subterranean Homesick Blues
Loop de Loop
Rock Around the Clock

[myreview] [myspace] [buy]


16. Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins: Rabbit Furcoat
This was my favorite at the beginning of the year when I first started this blog. In a strange way, I see Rabbit Furcoat as a perfect pop record with a hint of folk and county instead of the other way around. Ps, Jenny voice is beautiful!

Big Guns
Melt Your Heart
Handle with Care

[myreview] [myspace] [buy]


15. Plan B: Who Needs Action When You Got Words
Who Needs Action When You Got Words features incredible rhymes and flows by Plan B... and some of the lyrics are deliciously violent!

Kidz
Charmaine
Tough Love

[myreview] [myspace] [buy]


14. Cold War Kids: Robbers & Cowards
Ok, so I’ve only been listening to Robbers & Cowards for a short while, but I am so hooked on it! There is absolutely nothing bad to say about this record. Robbers & Cowards displays a brilliantly mix genre style along with sharp sounding vocal.

We Used To Vacation
God, Make Up Your Mind

[myreview] [myspace] [buy]


13. MC Lars: The Graduate
The Graduate is like an anthropological report on youth and pop culture today. Lars commentaries on this generation/youth today is smart and at times, beyond hilarious!

Hot Topic Is Not Punk Rock
Ahab
Signing Emo

[myreview] [myspace] [buy]


12. Thom Yorke: The Eraser
Many critised that The Eraser sounds like Radiohead b-sides/leftovers; however, I don’t think the record is Radiohead-like at all (other than Yorke’s vocal style)… I mean, for me, there is quite a distinction between Radiohead and Yorke’s solo work!!! My only problem with The Eraser: nine songs?

Black Swan
Skip Divided
And It Rained All Night

[myreview] [myspace] [buy]


11. Be Your Own Pet: Be Your Own Pet
Hardcore Yeah Yeah Yeahs brings the house down! Be Your Own Pet is a perfect post-punk album!

Bunk Trunk Skunk
Adventure

[myreview] [myspace] [buy]


10. Underoath: Define the Great Line
Define the Great Line has the best mixture of post-hardcore and metal music of the year. Whether you agree with the band’s views/lyrics or not, this is an amazing sounding album.

In Regards to Myslef
You're Ever So Inviting
Writing on the Walls

[myreview] [myspace] [buy]


9. Final Fantasy: He Poos Clouds
An absolutely marvelous sounding record which of course, includes the signature witty lyrics by Owen Pallett.

He Poos Clouds
Song Song Song
Many Lives -> 49 MP

[myreview] [myspace] [buy]


8. Mickey Avalon: Mickey Avalon
Rude, harsh, sexy, I love it! Mickey Avalon is what I called “the male Peaches!”

Waiting to Die
Friends and Lovers
Romeo and Juliet

[myreview] [myspace] [buy]


7. The Early November: The Mother, The Mechanic, And The Path
This is a triple discs release by TEN. I absolutely loved The Path (third disc) when it came out; but I wasn’t too happy with the other two discs. Well, it turns out, The Mother and The Mechanic are also great! In addition, it has the most original concept for a record in recent years.

Runaway (Part 1)
Decoration

[myreview] [myspace] [buy]


6. Moneen: The Red Tree
Moneen’s best release to date. The Red Tree is honest, and it is lyrical and musically emotional.

If Tragedy's Appealing, Then Disaster's An Addiction
The Song I Swore To Never Sing

[myreview] [myspace] [buy]


5. Test Icicles: For Screening Purposes Only
For Screening Purposes Only is loud... very freaking loud!! Why don't more bands combine the hardcore and dancepunk sound? (I still can't get over the fact that such a creative band broke up... so sad)
Note: For Screening Purposes Only came out in the UK in 2005, but not till January of 2006 in North America, so I’m including this one on the list.

Your Biggest Mistake
Circle Square Triangle
All You Need Is Blood

[myreview] [myspace] [buy]


4. Beirut: Gulag Orkestar
Gulag Orkestar is the most original sounding album of the year. It features a romantic sounding rendition of Eastern European folk music by the very talented Zach Condon.

Postcards from Italy
Mount Wroclai (Idle Days)
Bratislava

[myreview] [myspace] [buy]


3. Scott Walker: The Drift
Scott Walker at his best... The Drift is an extremely experimental record: dark, scary, and adventurous, I just can't stop listening to this weird album for some strange reason.

Hand Me Ups
The Escape

[myreview] [myspace] [buy]


2. Cursive: Happy Hollow
This is the best lyrical album of the year. Its commentaries on religion, dreams, and small town America hit me in a very personal level.

Dorothy At Forty
Big Bang
Rise Up! Rise Up!

[myreview] [myspace] [buy]


1. The Format: Dog Problems

Hands-down, this has been my favorite album since April. Everything is perfect: from the orchestral-like music to the poppy-sing-along-friendly, cheesy but brilliantly smart and ironic lyrics, making Dog Problems my favorite of 2006!

I'm Actual
She Doesn't Get It
Oceans
Snails
If Work Permits

[myreview] [myspace] [buy]

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10 excellent albums of 2006 that did not make it on the list:
The Matches: Decomposer
Portugal. The Man: Waiter: "You Vultures!"
This Is Hell: Sundowning
Manchester Orchestra: I'm Like A Virgin Losing A Child
Hot Chip: The Warning
Emily Haines: Knives Don't Have Your Back
Band Of Horses: Everything All The Time
The Blow: Paper Television
Junior Boys: So This Is Goodbye
The Lawrence Arms: Oh! Calcutta!

So that’s my top albums list... the next one will be a 'best of the rest list' including best concerts, best music videos, best movies, etc.