HOBBY BOX'S TOP ALBUMS OF 2006
From roots rock veterans to blog-discovered newbies, so many seemed to get it right in 2006. It was also a year when there was something great going on in every sub-subgenre imaginable. Whether you're into psychedelic folk, art metal or indie dance, 2006 offer a stellar crop of albums to obsess over from beginning to end. Proof that any claims that the iPod is killing the album are completely bogus.
1. BELLE & SEBASTIAN
The Life Pursuit
Dear Catastrophe Waitress was a nice comeback for the archetypical twee pop band, but it's the back-to-back gems of The Life Pursuit that will forever solidify them as one of the most important bands in indie rock history.
2. MEW
And the Glass Handed Kites
Danish band Mew creates a world where aggressive riffs and soaring melodies artfully coexist on this collection of gorgeously dynamic hard rock fables. Never thought an album could simultaneously make me feel like a metalhead and a big wuss.
3. DESTROYER
Destroyer's Rubies
I used to think that too much Dan Bejar was a bad thing. His wandering vocal schtick grated on the nerves after a while. But on Destroyer's Rubies, he exhibits brilliant control, toning it down to let each impressively unique pop song glow.
4. THE DECEMBERISTS
The Crane Wife
Just listen to the epic track "The Island" and it's apparent what separates The Decemberists from most folk-inspired indie acts. Colin Meloy isn't the type of songwriter who'll ever rely on a single trick. He seems to enjoy to challenge of constantly reinventing roots rock.
5. CLIPSE
Hell Hath No Fury
The long delayed sophomore CD from Clipse turned out to be well worth the wait. At a time when there are few mainstream rap acts putting out memorable material, the Pharrell-produced album came to resuscitate life into hip-hop.
6. BONNIE "PRINCE" BILLY
The Letting Go
Will Oldham's latest simmers with quiet intensity. A traditional folk rock album carefully furnished with abstract arrangements and harmonies.
7. ALOHA
Some Echoes
Semi-psychedelic Ohio band Aloha take ownership of their eclectic sound on this meticulously-designed progressive indie pop album.
8. GNARLS BARKLEY
St. Elsewhere
Try to forget about all the overexposure that made us sick of Gnarls Barkley by summer's end, then perhaps it'll be easier to remember how many of the album's tracks blew us away on first listen.
9. M. WARD
Post-War
Singer/songwriter M. Ward attempts a fuller sound on his fifth effort, resulting in a confidently-composed, rich roots rock album.
10. ESPERS
II
Psychedelica, post-rock and folk are all reimagined on the Espers' second full-length -- a mood-commanding and dreamlike experience.
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11. BEIRUT
The Gulag Orkestar
12. TV ON THE RADIO
Return to Cookie Mountain
13. SNOWDEN
Anti-Anti
14. GRIZZLY BEAR
Yellow House
15. CALIFONE
Roots and Crowns
16. GHOSTFACE KILLAH
Fishscale
17. THE LIARS
Drum's Not Dead
18. MIDLAKE
The Trials of Van Occupanther
19. NEKO CASE
Fox Confessor Brings the Flood
20. THE BLOW
Paper Television
21. BEACH HOUSE
Beach House
22. THE KNIFE
Silent Shout
23. JUANA MOLINA
Son
24. DANIELSON
Ships
25. ARCHIE BRONSON OUTFIT
Derdang Derdang
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26. ISLANDS
Return to the Sea
27. THE ROOTS
Game Theory
28. JOSH RITTER
The Animal Years
29. HOWE GELB
'Sno Angel Like You
30. HIS NAME IS ALIVE
Detrola
31. MARGOT AND THE NUCLEUR SO AND SOS
The Dust of Retreat
32. SCISSOR SISTERS
Ta-Dah
33. MOGWAI
The Beast
34. CSS
Cansei de Ser Sexy
35. ASOBI SEKSU
Citrus
36. BAND OF HORSES
Everything All the Time
37. JOANNA NEWSOM
Ys
38. CAT POWER
The Greatest
39. THE EVENS
Get Even
40. ROBERT POLLARD
From a Compound Eye
41. JUNIOR BOYS
So This is Goodbye
42. SWAN LAKE
Beast Moans
43. EMILY HAINES AND THE SOFT SKELETON
Knives Don't Have Your Back
44. PHOENIX
It's Never Been Like That
45. JENNY LEWIS with THE WATSON TWINS
Rabbit Fur Coat
46. EL PERRO DEL MAR
El Perro Del Mar
47. CURSIVE
Happy Hollow
48. CAMERA OBSCURA
Let's Get of Out This Country
49. YO LA TENGO
I'm Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass
50. SERENA MANEESH
Serena Maneesh
See also:
HOBBY BOX'S TOP SINGLES OF 2006
YEAR-END LISTS 1995-2005
tags: music | albums | best of 2006
posted on Wednesday, December 20, 2006 | [permalink] | 0 comments