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| From | "Gene Good" <javagene@hotmail.com> |
| Subject | Tops in 2006 |
| Date | Thu, 18 Jan 2007 21:12:44 +0000 |
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Looking over all my cd's before I started creating my list told me one
thing.Great year for music.Lot of new discoveries for me.Still have lots I
haven't heard.But what I did listen to plays out like this:
1-Lullaby Baxter="Garden Cities of To-morrow"- Bewitching cabaret-rock
artist who was my biggest find this year.She stole my heart with her voice
and word play on such gems as "Little Song" and "Rattled little clam".And
after viewing her videos she has the vision to back it all up.Her live clip
of "Little Song"is awesome.Last year it was Sylvie Lewis.This year it is
Lullaby.
2-Camera Obscura-"Let's get out of the Country"- Traceyanne what you've done
to this man.This is simply exquisite pop.The lilt in her voice sends me.Not
a bad tune here,but "The False Contender" is my absolute fave.
3-Roddy Frame-"Western Skies"-When it ia all said and done it is quality
song writing that I admire the most.No one wrote a better set of songs this
year.His most mature effort.And the sparse performances are perfect."Dry
Land" is a great example.The gentle bossa of "Marble Arch"is a winner.
4-Peter Bjorn and John- "Writers Block"-Wonderful guitar pop from Sweden
with this year's catchiest song"Young Folks".The whistling is the hook.The
guitar army that leads into "Object of my affection"is amazing as is my
favorite cut "Roll the Credits" with it's slow burn.
5-Boo Hewerdine- "Harmonograph"- Master singer /songwriter records a whole
album of songs recorded by other artists.It is a thing of beauty.So many
great songs,but my faves are "Slow Learner" and "Submarines".Love hearing
his version of Swan Dive's "Mountains".A must for pop fans.Boo, please come
to Chicago.
6-Belle and Sebastian_ "The life Pursuit"-The best production yet from this
group,and I am a huge fan.Even better than "Dear Catastrophe Waitress" which
was my favorite at the time."Act of the Apostle" and "Funny little frog"
move and groove me.Nice packaging also[I got the book form with the dvd].
7-Jules Shear- "Dreams don't count"-Backed by gutar,cello,viola,and
accordian give these an austere sound.But after hearing gems like
"Accustomed to the Clearness" and "Sinners who Believe"there can be no doubt
that this is Jules.Love it!
8-Mohave Three-"Puzzles like you"-The snappy pop songs surprise ar first but
really settle in for a smooth ride."Running with your eyes closed" and
"Most Days" are stand outs.
9-Sean Lennon- "Friendly fire"=Break up song cycle with lovely
orchestrations.Sad songs make the best songs ring true here.The downcast
mood is almost too much until you live with these songs a while.Then tunes
like "Dead Meat" and "Spectacle" take hold of your heart.
10-David Mead- "Tangerine"- My introduction to this terrific artist[already
bought 2 older ones].These are great songs for sure but what got me was that
Brad Jones production.It has that "Swan Dive" pop sheen,.Key cuts: "Sugar on
the knees" and "Choosing Teams".Can't wait to hear all his albums.
11-Decemberists "Crane wife"- Not quite "Picaresque"but still an excellent
album.Colin Meloy is just a great singer.Key songs: "Crane wife 3" and "O
Valencia".
12-Neko Case- "Fox Confesser brings the Flood"- Her best album by far and
she wrote the songs this time.Everyone says it and so do I.What a voice.Key
songs:"Hold on hold on" "That Teenage Feeling"
13-Grandaddy+ "Just like the Fambly cat" -Perfect pop.Songs like
"Summer..It's gone"and "Rear View Mirror" cascade through my brain as I go
through my day.I will continue to follow Jason wherever he goes.
14-Elope-"3WD"- Swedish power trio with shades of Cream.Second great album
I've heard in 2 years and a new one is already coming. key cuts:
"Misbehaving in the Summernight"[a classic!]and "Not even Close". Sweden is
the new Liverpool!
15-Essex Green- "Cannibal Sea"-Together with Ladybug Transister ,who they
share members with,this is distinctive Americana pop.Got to love them.Strong
cuts: "Penny and Jack" and "Rue de Lis".
16-Lambchop-"Damaged"- Elegant and graceful set from Kurt and co.Album moves
from song to song with beauty that shatters. Strong cuts: "Prepared [2]" and
"A day without Glasses".
17-Destroyer- "Destroyer's Rubies"-My first Destroyer album,and I don't
think I heard anything like it all year.With swirling guitars and
pianos,these songs tell tall tales with tons of word play.Somehow it all
works.The whole thing makes me dizzy. key cuts: "Your Blood" and "European
Oils".
18-M. Ward- "Post War"- My first by him as well.Had to get it after I was
blown away by seeing him perform "Chinese Translation" on Letterman.Cool
video far that song also included.
"What do you do with the pieces of a broken heart,,,"
19-Casey Dienel- "Wind up Canary"-Yet another "new cabaret" artist that I am
drawn to.Quirky voice,great piano,and lines like " the toyota became a baked
alaska...".I play this one a lot.
Cool cuts: "Everything", "Cabin Fever" and "The coffee Beanery".
20-Pipettes- "We are the Pipettes"- All hail the girl groups.This is the
most fun one of all 20 with cool tunes like "Pull Shapes" and "Your kisses
are Waisted on me".Love the videos as well.
Other sonic delights:
Jenniffer O'Conner-"Over the Mountains Across the valley Back to the Stars
Roger Joseph Manning Jr.- "Land of Pure Imagination"- Never heard a
Jellyfish album before.This sure changed that.
Frida Hyvonen- "Until Death comes" Swedish ! album cover of the year.
David and the Citizens-"Stop the tape" More Sfrom Sweden.
Sonic Youth "Rather ripped"
The Boy least likely to "The best party ever" - "Be gentle with me' is one
of the year's best songs.
Flaming Lips-"At War with the Mystics"-Some outstanding tunes here
Sleepy Jackson- "Personality" Way Cool!
Minus Five_"The gun album"
Loose Fur- "Born again in the USA"
Zutons- "Tired of hanging around" "Valerie" kills!
Beth Orton- "Comfort of Strangers"
Donald Fagen- "Morph the Cat"
Tender Trap- "6 Billion People" Just like Traceyanne,Amelia has my heart.
Guillemots- "From the Cliffs" -"Trains to Brazil is a song of the year.
Monty Locos- "Man Overboard"- Swedish.
Johnossi- "Johnossi"- Heavy rock from Sweden.
Sparks- "Hello young lovers"
Vetiver-"To find me gone"- Sublime folk rock from San Francisco.
Beach House- "Beach House" Dream pop.
Roman Candle- "Wee hours Revue"
Eugene Kelly- "Man Alive"
Lane Steinberg "Return of Noel Coward's Ghost"
Laura Viers ""Year of Meteors"
Jazz album of the year: Ornette Coleman -"sound Grammar"- so great to hear
something so fresh from a musical hero of mine.
A couple from 2005 that moved me:
Marjorie Faire- "Self help Serenade"- Amazing sad-core.Why hasn't this been
raved about?
Matt Pond PA- "Several Arrows later" "Halloween" is one killer song,
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