in the year 2006

2006 was unquestionably an amazing year for music. too many highlights to mention, but here are a few... and a list of my 20 favorite records (below)

- HOT SH*T - the emergence of Hot Chip, armed with a sophomore record that perfectly married pop, rock and electro like no one before.

- GANG OF WINNERS! - the Dears returned with Gang of Losers, a fantastically focused, smart and irresistible pop album that's so good, it makes their earlier work (which i once loved) practically unlistenable by comparison.

- STROKED - way back in January, The Strokes delivered a killer third album which pretty well reaffirmed their status as leaders of a rock revolution. beyond reminding us all of their unmatched ability to write searing, hooky rock songs, First Impressions of Earth proved that The Strokes have grown into exceptional musicians. Guitarist Nick Valensi especially, who on songs like Ize of the World and Heart in a Cage sounds like he's showing off. amazing!

- BABY BANDS - 2006 was also a year of new discoveries and excellent EPs. debuts from Voxtrot, Land of Talk and The Good Soldiers were played endlessly. all bands show amazing promise and are off to fantastic starts.

- KEYS - Mates of State and another new discovery, Headlights took keyboard pop to a new level. Mates' flawless record Bring it Back had an amazing energy to it, filled with some seriously intense pop hooks and undeniable harmonies. the Headlights record too, Kill Them With Kindness (how dear, i thought when i first heard the title) is equally as beautiful and also has more than a few soaring rock tracks.

- TWANG - alt-country and Americana-type records ruled supreme with the awesome debut from Band of Horses, Destroyer's Rubies and one half of Rilo Kiley's songwriting duo, Blake Sennett's side-project The Elected. thought i was going to say Jenny Lewis? yea, her album is good too, but it pales in comparison to The Elected's Sun, Sun, Sun - a warm and gorgeous, outlaw-pop album.

- VIVE LES QUEBECOIS - credit is also certainly due to the band that might finally unite French and English Canadian music fans - Malajube. the buzz started early in the spring and was certainly legitimized by their inclusion in the Polaris Music Prize shortlist. Trompe-L'oeil is a masterpiece - one of the most inventive and creative rock records i've heard in ages. (look out for a feature on Malajube and the French- Canadian new wave on the NewMusic early in the new year).

- two bands though, really took me by surprise in 2006 - Phoenix and The Hold Steady.

- THE HOLD STEADY - pitchfork i believe were first out the gate to hype up The Hold Steady's fall release, Boys and Girls in America and their enthusiasm was spot on. here's a band from Minneapolis via Brooklyn, New York who's written the quintessential American rock album, that speaks directly to young people and teenagers in every corner of the country. what's particularly remarkable is how it manages to speak to everyone else too and remind us all of what it was like to be young and irresponsible and carefree. the stories of the songs are universal and the writing is brilliant. the music and band absolutely recall a late 70s Born to Run era E-Street Band, but with an energy and intensity rooted in 2006. it perfectly suits the attitude of the songs. also, 'gonna walk around and drink some more' (Party Pit) - best refrain of 2006.

- PHOENIX - the story with Phoenix is much simpler. It's Never Been Like That arrived in May, just in time to be the record of the summer and ultimately the record of the year. the album is without a doubt the poppiest of their three records and also the most accessible. it's absolutely crammed with amazing moments, fantastic hooks and just downright clever songwriting. the lyrics are honest and raw and tell stories of love and longing. i couldn't have dreamed up a more enjoyable record if it tried. i literally, played it to death.

- without further a due, my 20 favorite records of 2006:

1. PHOENIX - It's Never Been Like That (Arts+Crafts)
video: Long Distance Call (live) / NewMusic story: Aug. 8, 2006

2. THE HOLD STEADY - Boys and Girls In America (Vagrant)
video: Chips Ahoy!

3. MATES OF STATE - Bring It Back (Barsuk)
video: Like U Crazy / NewMusic story: July 3, 2006

4. HOT CHIP - The Warning (DFA/Astralwerks)
video: Over and Over

5. MALAJUBE - Trompe-L'oeil (Dare to Care)
video: Pate Filo / (look out for NewMusic story Jan. 2007)

6. THE DEARS - Gang of Losers (Maple)
video: Ticket to Immortality / NewMusic story: Oct. 9, 2006

7. THE STROKES - First Impressions of Earth (RCA)
video: Heart in a Cage / NewMusic story: July 9, 2006

8. THE THERMALS - The Body, The Blood, The Machine (Subpop)
video: A Pillar of Salt

9. LAND OF TALK - Applause, Cheer, Boo, Hiss (Dependent)
video: Seafoam (live) / (look out for NewMusic story Jan. 2007)

10. HEADLIGHTS - Kill Them With Kindness (Polyvinyl)
video: Put Us Back Together Right (live)

11. BAND OF HORSES - Everything All the Time (Subpop)
video: The Great Salt Lake

12. DESTROYER - Destroyer's Rubies (Merge)
video: Rubies (live clip)

13. THE ELECTED - Sun, Sun, Sun (Subpop)
video: Not Going Home

14. FRENCH KICKS - Two Thousand (Startime/Vagrant)
video: Also Ran (live)

16. LOVE IS ALL - Nine Times That Same Song (What's Your Rupture)
video: Make Out, Fall Out, Make Up

17. SONIC YOUTH - Rather Ripped (Geffen)
video: Incinerate / the NewMusic story: Sept. 9, 2006

18. THE LONG WINTERS - Putting the Days To Bed (Barsuk)
video: Fire Island, AK

19. BECK - The Information (Geffen)
video: Nausea / NewMusic story: November 9, 2006

20. YEAH YEAH YEAHS - Show Your Bones (Interscope)
video: Cheated Hearts

Posted by Geoff M at December 17, 2006 11:14 PM

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Posted by: kate_28 at January 17, 2007 11:04 PM

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