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Here they are, loyal readers. None of the bad, most of the good, and all of the great albums of 2006, as picked by our mighty staff
of opinionated music folks here at Static And Feedback. If you feel like you've been locked in the basement this year, here's a
chance to scope out what you might've missed. – NT
of opinionated music folks here at Static And Feedback. If you feel like you've been locked in the basement this year, here's a
chance to scope out what you might've missed. – NT
NICK TAVARES
The Flaming Lips - At War With The Mytics
Years of experiments, hysterics, lavish
stage shows and exiting band members
have all built up to this moment. Here, the
Lips meld all of their strengths into an
album that's fun, engaging and insanely
catchy while holding its own as a strong
commentary on society today.
Years of experiments, hysterics, lavish
stage shows and exiting band members
have all built up to this moment. Here, the
Lips meld all of their strengths into an
album that's fun, engaging and insanely
catchy while holding its own as a strong
commentary on society today.
1.
RACHEL HODGES
Eagles of Death Metal - Death By Sexy
I consider myself to be a bit of a feminist:
I'm grateful for suffrage; I don't support
glass ceilings. And yet, I cannot stop myself
from dancing along with this album,
despite the fact that I am neither barefoot
nor in the kitchen. Pop it in and soak up the
hilarious sexism.
I consider myself to be a bit of a feminist:
I'm grateful for suffrage; I don't support
glass ceilings. And yet, I cannot stop myself
from dancing along with this album,
despite the fact that I am neither barefoot
nor in the kitchen. Pop it in and soak up the
hilarious sexism.
1.
MATT BERRY
Pearl Jam - Pearl Jam
In a time when they needed a successful,
acclaimed album, Pearl Jam delivered its
best effort in a decade. The opener "Life
Wasted" kicks off the disc with a unified
concept and a single refrain which
beautifully summarizes the entire album: "I
have faced it, a life wasted. I'm never going
back again."
In a time when they needed a successful,
acclaimed album, Pearl Jam delivered its
best effort in a decade. The opener "Life
Wasted" kicks off the disc with a unified
concept and a single refrain which
beautifully summarizes the entire album: "I
have faced it, a life wasted. I'm never going
back again."
1.
DIANNE BROWN
The Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Show Your Bones
Karen O has grown up (all that band
drama, I'd imagine). On Show Your Bones,
she actually wants to DRINK her beer
instead of spitting it on you. If "Phenomena"
doesn't turn you on just a little, you're
probably dead inside.
Karen O has grown up (all that band
drama, I'd imagine). On Show Your Bones,
she actually wants to DRINK her beer
instead of spitting it on you. If "Phenomena"
doesn't turn you on just a little, you're
probably dead inside.
1.
Pearl Jam - Pearl Jam
Their hardest-rocking album in more than a
decade doesn't register because of the
volume, necessarily, but rather the weight
of the music. The anger and tension here
isn't born from the desire for a hit, but from
the restlessness of watching the world they
love crumble, making another heavy, deep,
thoughtful collection from the rock survivors.
Their hardest-rocking album in more than a
decade doesn't register because of the
volume, necessarily, but rather the weight
of the music. The anger and tension here
isn't born from the desire for a hit, but from
the restlessness of watching the world they
love crumble, making another heavy, deep,
thoughtful collection from the rock survivors.
2.
The Hold Steady - Boys & Girls In America
This is an album that will stimulate your
cerebellum and raise adrenaline
simultaneously. If you memorized all of the
literary references thrown out by The Hold
Steady, you'd be a genius. Thankfully, for
those of us who aren't, they throw in
angst-filled shouts and guitars to hold our
interest.
This is an album that will stimulate your
cerebellum and raise adrenaline
simultaneously. If you memorized all of the
literary references thrown out by The Hold
Steady, you'd be a genius. Thankfully, for
those of us who aren't, they throw in
angst-filled shouts and guitars to hold our
interest.
2.
Ani DiFranco - Reprieve
Ani (Or should we call her Mama DiFranco,
now that she has her own Little Folksinger
on the way?) has done some growing up
as well. Joined by a talented bassist, she
continues to be the brightest star in the
feminist-folk firmament. Less angry, more
chill, all good.
Ani (Or should we call her Mama DiFranco,
now that she has her own Little Folksinger
on the way?) has done some growing up
as well. Joined by a talented bassist, she
continues to be the brightest star in the
feminist-folk firmament. Less angry, more
chill, all good.
2.
The Artic Monkeys - Whatever The People
Say I Am, That's What I Am Not
If you lived through 2006 without dancing to
"I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor,"
you must reside in a cave or a monastery.
Overplayed? Maybe. Rockin'? Definitely.
The Arctic Monkeys gave us a taste of life in
Sheffield and left us at last call, asking for
just a pint more.
Say I Am, That's What I Am Not
If you lived through 2006 without dancing to
"I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor,"
you must reside in a cave or a monastery.
Overplayed? Maybe. Rockin'? Definitely.
The Arctic Monkeys gave us a taste of life in
Sheffield and left us at last call, asking for
just a pint more.
3.
Sonic Youth - Rather Ripped
Easily the leanest record in the mighty
Sonic catalog, Rather Ripped puts most of
the noise to bed in favor of tight, dynamic
compositions. The tension lies in the lyrics,
whether it's Thurston Moore's harrowing
"Pink Steam," Kim Gordon's "Reena" or
Lee Ranaldo's menacing "Rats."
Easily the leanest record in the mighty
Sonic catalog, Rather Ripped puts most of
the noise to bed in favor of tight, dynamic
compositions. The tension lies in the lyrics,
whether it's Thurston Moore's harrowing
"Pink Steam," Kim Gordon's "Reena" or
Lee Ranaldo's menacing "Rats."
3.
The Hidden Cameras - Awoo
These much-hyped Toronto natives have
always had potential, but this is their first
offering that sounds like it's fully flushed
out. This is the type of album that makes it
impossible not to smile – the type of album
that refuses to be dampened by cloud-
cover days.
These much-hyped Toronto natives have
always had potential, but this is their first
offering that sounds like it's fully flushed
out. This is the type of album that makes it
impossible not to smile – the type of album
that refuses to be dampened by cloud-
cover days.
3.
Neil Young - Living With War
You don't have to be a relic of the 1960s to
love this album. You don't even have to
agree with the title of the single, "Let's
Impeach the President," to appreciate the
genius illustrated by Young on this effort.
Young's ideology aside, this album and its
gritty, rushed, raw emotion resonated more
than any other album of 2006.
You don't have to be a relic of the 1960s to
love this album. You don't even have to
agree with the title of the single, "Let's
Impeach the President," to appreciate the
genius illustrated by Young on this effort.
Young's ideology aside, this album and its
gritty, rushed, raw emotion resonated more
than any other album of 2006.
2.
The Black Keys - Magic Potion
The fourth outing for the Akron, Ohio, duo is
not so much a departure from their past as
an evolution towards their future. When
listened with the speakers blaring, this
album rocks harder than just about
anything the Keys have put out, and that's
quite an accomplishment.
The fourth outing for the Akron, Ohio, duo is
not so much a departure from their past as
an evolution towards their future. When
listened with the speakers blaring, this
album rocks harder than just about
anything the Keys have put out, and that's
quite an accomplishment.
3.
4. Eagles Of Death Metal - Death By Sexy
5. Thom Yorke - The Eraser
6. The Raconteurs - Broken Boy Soldiers
7. David Gilmour - On An Island
8. The Who - Endless Wire
9. Yo La Tengo - I Am Not Afraid Of You And I Will Beat Your Ass
10. Ben Harper - Both Sides Of The Gun
Honorable mention: Tortoise - A Lazarus Taxon
5. Thom Yorke - The Eraser
6. The Raconteurs - Broken Boy Soldiers
7. David Gilmour - On An Island
8. The Who - Endless Wire
9. Yo La Tengo - I Am Not Afraid Of You And I Will Beat Your Ass
10. Ben Harper - Both Sides Of The Gun
Honorable mention: Tortoise - A Lazarus Taxon
4. The Flaming Lips - At War With The Mystics
5. The Long Winters - Putting The Days To Bed
6. Sonic Youth - Rather Ripped
7. Mudhoney - Under A Billion Suns
8. Pearl Jam - Pearl Jam
9. Built To Spill - You In Reverse
10. TV On The Radio - Return To Cookie Mountain
Honorable mention: Spoon - Telephono and Soft Effects EP
re-release
5. The Long Winters - Putting The Days To Bed
6. Sonic Youth - Rather Ripped
7. Mudhoney - Under A Billion Suns
8. Pearl Jam - Pearl Jam
9. Built To Spill - You In Reverse
10. TV On The Radio - Return To Cookie Mountain
Honorable mention: Spoon - Telephono and Soft Effects EP
re-release
4. The Raconteurs - Broken Boy Soldiers
5. Red Hot Chili Peppers - Stadium Arcadium
6. Tom Petty - Highway Companion
7. Bob Dylan - Modern Times
8. The Black Angels - Passover
9. The Who - Endless Wire
10. Robert Randolph & the Family Band - Colorblind
Honorable mention: The Black Keys - Chulahoma
5. Red Hot Chili Peppers - Stadium Arcadium
6. Tom Petty - Highway Companion
7. Bob Dylan - Modern Times
8. The Black Angels - Passover
9. The Who - Endless Wire
10. Robert Randolph & the Family Band - Colorblind
Honorable mention: The Black Keys - Chulahoma
4. Morrissey - Ringleader Of The Tormented
5. The Decemberists - The Crane Wife
6. Pretty Girls Make Graves - Élan Vital
7. Joanna Newsom – Ys
8. Neil Young – Living With War
9. Cursive – Happy Hollow
10. Damien Rice – 9
Honorable mention: None, because I actually live in a hovel
and listen solely to Smiths B-sides. So get bent! *xo*
5. The Decemberists - The Crane Wife
6. Pretty Girls Make Graves - Élan Vital
7. Joanna Newsom – Ys
8. Neil Young – Living With War
9. Cursive – Happy Hollow
10. Damien Rice – 9
Honorable mention: None, because I actually live in a hovel
and listen solely to Smiths B-sides. So get bent! *xo*
| WHAT ABOUT YOU? What were your favorites from 2006? Write to us and let us know, and we'll publish your replies soon. |
E-mail Rachel Hodges at rachel@staticandfeedback.com
E-mail Matt Berry at mattberry05@yahoo.com
E-mail Dianne Brown at powbamitsdianne@yahoo.com
| YOUTUBE COMES ALIVE Through online video clips, Nick Tavares highlights his favorite live moments of 2006. Story |
| AN ULTIMATE MIX Rachel Hodges compiles the best songs of 2006 into one easy compilation. Story |