It was 97 years ago that the first record was released. Yes in 1909, Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite was slated as a four-disc set by Odeon Records with a retail price of 16 shillings — about $101. A lot has changed in 97 years; from vinyl albums to plastic CDs, from buying records in stores to dowloading them in your home; the music industry, whether advocating change or merely suffering its consequences, has been evolving year after year to incorporate new technology allowing for advancement in all aspects of music production, output, retail, and promotion. A big part of that advancement has been the music blog, considerably occupying any traditional notion of a "grassroots" effort to strengthen the independent music community. With the most records released in 2006 than ever before, it has become even more of a challenge to sift through the surfeit of records released to store shelves and iTunes pages alike to truly find the albums belonging in the upper tier of 2006.
While we certainly hold no claim in providing the most thorough list of the year's best albums (see the bottom of the post for albums we overlooked, intentionally or otherwise), we're confident in the albums we chose. This has been a great year in music, and as our first year as a music blog it has undoubtedly been a learning experience for us. The albums below represent not simply great music, but some even demonstrate advances in music and changes in genres we really never thought possible. Whether these albums will move on as influences in the years to come, only time will tell... but for the time being, in this iPod-toting, hipster-chic, ever-changing landscape we all occupy, this is what we've got. Love it or hate it, here's our list of The Best Albums of 2006:
David Bowie, the perpetual hipster that he is, is quoted as saying of TV on the Radio's Return To Cookie Mountain, "The sampling, multitracking and mashing identifies them as the spawn of a techno-industrial society." The same can be said for this much overlooked album from the ever-ungoogleable +/-. Where TV freaking nails the collective views of essentially an entire body of irritated, fed-up new-generation neophytes, Let's Build A Fire is much more personal, more uninviting, less open. If you can break down its walls you'll find a whole world of meaning to interpret: from tender brushstrokes of love and sorrow to heavy slices of pain and remorse. It's a lovely, quiet, compelling album and certainly one to follow... especially if Bowie's prospect is on the money.[MP3] +/- - Steal The Blueprints
Buy: Amazon | iTunes | Insound
This is my first rendevous with The Thermals, so forgive my ignorance to the rest of their catalog... but first impressions are everything, and with the strength of this album I'll certainly be backtracking through the band's other albums soon enough. As I said when I first posted on the album, this is the record I've been waiting for Ted Leo to release. It's an edgy, clever mix of songs flirting ever-so intently with post punk in a way that 2006 hadn't yet seen. The Thermals have created a great, emotional album which, all intents and purposes aside, has and will continue to hold me over until Ted Leo's new album comes out in March.[MP3] The Thermals - A Pillar Of Salt
Buy: Amazon | iTunes | Insound
Regardless of their unparalleled commerical success in recent years, Stadium Arcadium was a 2006 gem and one of the better albums the Chili Peppers have ever released. For a band that has been making music prior to my conception, I'd be hard pressed not to incorporate this into our 2006 list. "Snow (Hey Oh)" showcases one of the more catchy guitar riffs of the year while "Tell Me Baby" takes the familiar Peppers' sock-cock era sound and blends it with a sweet pop melody that explodes into a Hendrix-like fury when guitarist John Frusciante cuts loose. [WWW] Find MP3s over at The Hype Machine
Buy: Amazon | iTunes | Insound
I never thought I'd get into commercial hip-hop, but Night Ripper apparently had other plans for my indie-track mind. I also never thought I'd see a mash-up quite like this one. Greg Gillis compiled literally hundreds of samples and clips from a variety of different decades and genres and pieced them together into a masterpiece of beats, melodies, and ass-kicking tracks. Even at the quantum level, Gillis has mixed and matched and mashed his way into my ears and more importantly my heart. Nothing pulls at my heartstrings like hearing "Wait until you see my DICK" played repetitiously over the strings from "BIttersweet Symphony." Done and done.[MP3] Girl Talk - Hold Up
Buy: Amazon | Insound
If there's one big success story for a blog band, it's got to be that of Arctic Monkey's debut album, one that sold 300,000 copies it's first week in the UK, ousting The Beatles from the record of fastest-selling album ever. The shit quickly hit the fan, however, as Pitchfork gave the album an unexpectedly mediocre rating and the blogger-backlash began. Sure, the Libertines have made the same music before, but Arctic Monkeys make it look so easy. How else could a bunch of 17 year olds become some of the richest musicians in the UK? The music is fun and oh-so catchy, the lyrics are clever and quirky (even if much of their humor goes right over my American head), and the attitude pisses me off just enough to give the record another spin so I can continue to look to excuses to hate this band. Ultimately, however, few falts exist, and I'm sure that even when 2007 rolls over the band like a snowstorm in Denver, the album will maintain some longevity... even if I don't listen to it again until 2070.[WWW] Find MP3s over at The Hype Machine
Buy: Amazon | iTunes | Insound
Final Fantasy's Has A Good Home! was one of the true unexpected surprises of 2005, leaving many to wonder how he'd treat his next endeavor. When we heard the title, we rolled our eyes. When we heard the album for the first time, we were put off by it's clear lack of instant-likeablilty (especially when compared to his debut). But time moved on and the album grew on us, we prodded deeper and deeper into the album's faint nuances and thick metaphor and came out bewildered but tremendously satisfied. Where Owen Pallett's debut stuck an instant chord with our ears, He Poos Clouds has left a deafening imprint on our minds. If you haven't locked yourself in a room with this album and a box of tissues, do it now... before the success (or lack thereof) gets to Owen's head and he goes Dave Chappelle on our asses.[MP3] Final Fantasy - This Lamb Sells Condos
Buy: Amazon | iTunes | Insound
We're not so much ranking the music here as we are the effort put into the album by George Martin and his son Giles. Clearly the music here is better than anything on this list, but it would be unfair to call this a new album. What impresses us most about Love is the idea that even as every single song on this album has been written about to death, has been analyzed and scrutinized and absorbed and loved, something different can still be procured. I'd never thought that Ringo's drumming from "Tomorrow Never Knows" could be placed so hypnotically under George's vocals from "Within You Without You," or that "Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite" could segue so effortlessly into the refrain from "I Want You (She's So Heavy)." Some call this album a sacreligious throw-away, but for those of us who have exhausted The Beatles we know and love, Love is a breath of fresh air, and a testament to The Beatles' durability nearly forty years after they disbanded.[WWW] Find MP3s over at The Hype Machine
Buy: Amazon | Insound
Taking nods from The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's and their own Aussie eccentricities, The Panda Band really came out of nowhere with this fantastic album. The instrumentation is phenomenally complex and rewarding, specifically the orchestration and guitar work. The vocals aren't for everyone, but that never stopped Joanna Newsom and it shouldn't stop these guys. The future looks very bright for The Panda Band, as long as you all give them the attention they honestly deserve. Check out the song below and click one of the links to buy This Vital Chapter, you'll be glad you did. Trust us.[MP3] The Panda Band - Eyelashes
Buy: Amazon | iTunes
It's been a decade since Cat Power released her first album and The Greatest is, no pun intended, one her greatest releases to date. Her collaboration with session bands in Memphis helps to release the hidden country side of her voice while her elegant lyrics remain as beautiful as ever. With help from her session bands, the remarkable orchestration adds a new facet to Chan Marshall's music - one with a full and bluesy sound that still manages to highlight Marshall's quirky individual talents that all of her fans, including myself, have grown to love and appreciate.[MP3] Cat Power - The Greatest
Buy: Amazon | iTunes | Insound
Regina Spektor only needs a piano and her voice-box to send chills down your spine. Her vocal range and eccentric compositions are fun, mystical, and awe-inspiringly beautiful. Begin To Hope is an album that shrugs off the typical female-to-female comparisons and firmly establishes Spektor as a premiere musician on the rise. Her vocals are an intense attraction, whether she is singing chipper songs such as "On The Radio" or bellowing out dark love tracks like "Apres Moi." Clearly, this release confirms that Spektor is not some novelty female artist looking to seduce listeners with her smooth voice and a bat of her eyes, but rather a musician who appears to naturally create music as a form of honest expression. Spektor's verbosity coupled with overly-creative arrangements on piano and synth make me (entirely too) anxious for her next release.[MP3] Regina Spektor - Fidelity
Buy: Amazon | iTunes | Insound
Supergroups have historically been a slippery slope for many musicians. Frampton and Marriott had Humble Pie, Dylan, Harrison, Petty, and Lynne had Traveling Wilburys, Spencer Krug, Destroyer, and Carey Mercer formed Swan Lake... and with the help of The Greenhornes, Jack White and Brendon Benson formed The Raconteurs. But unlike most of the other supergroups listed here, The Raconteurs clicked and produced an album showcasing literally only the pros from both superstars: White's Zeppelin-like axing and musicality and Bensons's melodic pop sensibilities. Benson's soothing, toned-out croon and White's screeching solos and whiney bellows. Here's to 2007 and beyond; hopefully The Raconteurs continue to fill the area that both Benson's and White's solo work can't seem to grasp.[WWW] Find MP3s over at The Hype Machine
Buy: Amazon | iTunes | Insound
The folk genre has always been a tricky beast to tame, especially after artists like Bob Dylan and Donovan handcrafted their art that made them almost instantly and immortally famous. Paying homage to his folk-based roots, Josh Ritter released his first original peice of work under a major label and created his best album yet. The Idaho native produced an album full of intimate ballads, raw sounds, and top shelf lyrical imagery that will throw any listener for a loop. From creating an epic of sensational proportions with "Thin Blue Flame" to singing a tale about his home with nothing more than a guitar in "Idaho," Ritter's brilliant lyricism and potential appear to have taken full form on The Animal Years. [MP3] Josh Ritter - Thin Blue Flame
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While some music critics review an album solely for its sound, simply for how it tickles their ears and makes them feel, others find it necessary to pretentiously and shamelessly drop a "holier-than-thou" riff and dig-dig-dig-dig deep to find something to dislike about a band that really is producing good music. Such was the case with CWK and Pitchfork. Marc Hogan is entirely entitled to his opinion, but the reason music blogs jumped on this band is because the music is endlessly enjoyable, their live shows are impossibly energetic and and engaging, and most importantly because that impressed us. If you're looking for an entirely original band with phenomenal non-religious lyrics, look elsewhere. If, however, you're like most music fans and just want to hear something good, seriously good, don't let the Cold War Kids pass you by.[MP3] Cold War Kids - Hospital Beds
Buy: Amazon | iTunes | Insound
There aren't many artists that can pull off a musical reinvention successfully, especially those artist that are "past their prime." Despite his recent shift to the country side of music and a head full of gray hair covered deftly by a cowboy hat, Dylan has crafted what appears to be a warmly nostalgic album on the surface, but carefully hides handfuls of vengeful and complex feelings. From coyfully crafted protest lyrics ("If it keeps on raining/ The levee's gonna break"), to the politically charged "Workingman's Blues 2," to the estranged ballad, "Thunder On The Mountain," referencing Alicia Keys, Dylan takes a frisky groove album and disguises it with poetic overtones. With the renaissance of Dylan continuing, Modern Times has proven to be one of Dylan's finest albums to date and can proudly stand toe-to-toe with earlier releases from the 60's.[WWW] Find MP3s Over at The Hype Machine
Buy: Amazon | iTunes | Insound
The Format's second full-length release was anything but problematic. Dog Problems is the closest thing to pop perfection I've heard all year. Catchy melodies were a prevalent theme throughout the album, with songs like "I'm Actual" and "The Compromise" hooking listeners right away. This album was leaps and bounds different and better than their debut, with orchestration on "Dog Problems" and "I'm Actual" that make you wonder why they were dropped from their major label. Shortly after the July release of Dog Problems, Nate told me in an interview that he is really proud of the album but is ready to start working on another release. With a better idea of where they want to take their sound, I'm just as ready for new material as they are. [MP3] The Format - Dog Problems
Buy: Amazon | iTunes
Some bands just never get a break. Arizona is by a very wide margin one of the most overlooked and underappreciated bands of 2006. Their instrumentation might be what struck me first: impressive chord changes, extended intros and outtros, Beatles-like refrains and melodies. Every song on this album has something different to offer. "Diventa Blu" is a short yet remarkably beautiful ballad sung in Italian with vocals like that of Radiohead and Sigur Ros. "Splintering" is an exciting track that builds on percussion and bass-bowing yet ends with a surprising Modest Mouse-like rock freakout. "Away" is a beautiful spiral of piano and drums and acoustic guitar and feedback, and ends wonderfully with a slow-fading overlaid vocal melody. If you've been reading IGIF for a while, by now you must trust our taste in music and have most likely found a lot of great stuff on here... don't let Arizona slip through your hands, it just might be the best thing we've discovered all year.[MP3] Arizona - Splintering
Buy: CD Baby | iTunes | Insound
Beginning with a nine-minute epic about…well, it’s 9 minutes long. It’s about a whole lotta shit. Filled with semi-chaotic guitar riffs, eloquently jumbled words, and Dan Bejar’s extraordinarily awesome voice, this album is undoubtedly Destroyer’s best. However, Destroyer’s music is a paradox. While you can spend months listening to each song, dissecting each phrase and deconstructing each melody, you’re nowhere closer to understanding what Bejar is saying. Along with that, while some people may hear the album and be completely blown away at the first listen, others will be enraged at Dan Bejar’s voice and his songwriting. To be honest, that was my first reaction. I thought, “How the hell can this guy be part of the New Pornographers?” But as I listened through the album, it quickly became one of the most excellent albums I’d heard in a while. Each song is amazingly complex, although “European Oils” and “Painter In Your Pocket” tend to stand out in my mind as the real gems. For those who really love Destroyer, try playing the Rubies Drinking Game—take a shot every time there’s a reference to a previous album, “rubies,” “blood,” or a previous song![WWW] Find MP3s over at The Hype Machine
Buy: Amazon | iTunes | Insound
Sunset Rubdown may take the cake for one of the best side-projects ever created. Perhaps the shared creativity limited Krug before, but Sunset Rubdown seems to showcase the best of Krug's individual abilities. His effortless raw energy captivates on the first listen and only gets better with each subsequent visit. Shut Up I Am Dreaming displays Krug's stunning lyricism and ability to transform his emotionally charged (albeit bizarre) voice into that of a calm and collected musician. "Us Ones In Between" is a piano driven tune that contains the line "And I’ve heard of creatures who eat their babies/ And I wonder if they stop to think about the taste" yet somehow manages to remain oddly romantic. While it may seem that everything Sufjan touches turns to musical gold, Krug is not far off showing that his vast musical abilities make him appear to be a more off-centered and experimental version of Stevens.[MP3] Sunset Rubdown - Stadiums And Shrines II
Buy: Amazon | iTunes | Insound
When the Unicorns disbanded, it was unclear what their next musical venture would be. Then came the news of Islands, a reincarnation of sorts featuring Nick Diamonds and J'aime Tambeur from The Unicons...and the news that members of the Arcade Fire would be helping out too... and quickly we builded high anticipation for Islands' debut Return to the Sea, and when the album was released it was clear that the band had delivered as promised. RTTS is a brilliantly orchestrated album with elemental and quirky lyrics spit from Diamonds' trademark voice. There are cute knock-offs like "Don't Call Me Whitney, Bobby" and epic compositions like "Swans (Life After Death)." There's a glass ceiling for indie-pop that retains some bands into obscurity and that some bands smash through to the point of ridiculousness, but only Islands have managed to create an indie-pop album that's equally meaningful and debonair as it is cute and fluffy...like an Oxford-educated puppy.[MP3] Islands - Rough Gem
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I know, I know: Zach Condon hates being compared to Neutral Milk Hotel. But to be completely honest, who the hell would hate that comparison? Since I first fell in love with In the Aeroplane Over the Sea, I’ve been waiting for an album with similar depth, richness, and power. Enter Gulag Orkestar. From the instant that the vocals started on the title track, I was engulfed in an Eastern European miasma of sounds. Beirut’s Gulag Orkestar presents an amazingly intricate reaction to indie music. With a voice like Jens Lekman’s, a musical sensibility like Jeff Magnum’s, and a depth of sound like The Decemberists at their most decadent, Beirut is one of the best new artists to surface in the past few years. The first time I listened to “Postcards from Italy,” I was stunned and left breathless. From the mandolin intro to the horn breakdown to the beautifully moving bridge, this song is captivating in a way that defies description. It’s no surprise this song is Number 1 on my iTunes Top 25 Most Played list. From start to finish, this album is a magnificent blend of indie sensibilities and European orchestral traditions.[MP3] Beirut - Postcards From Italy
Buy: Amazon | iTunes | Insound
If you haven’t yet seen the December 20th episode of The Colbert Report, you should be informed that Stephen Colbert did defeat Decemberists’ guitarist Chris Funk in their Guitarmageddon Shred-Off. However, Colbert is a double winner because the victory prize was a copy of the Decemberists’ The Crane Wife! Okay, let’s get down to business. For their first jaunt in major-label production, the Decemberists managed to maintain their unique songwriting style while adapting to more expansive sounds. Colin Meloy has never sounded better, nor have his lyrics ever been so sentimental. The album is much more cohesive than their past LPs, as the songs are bookended with The Crane Wife trilogy. With two tracks that last over ten minutes, the album sounds more like The Tain than Picaresque, which is definitely a good thing. As the album’s closer, “Sons and Daughters” is a beautifully simple piece about peace, a song about rebuilding a broken world after war has finally ended. It’s an inspiring closer to an extraordinarily epic album, and it’s another example of the Decemberists’ brilliance.[WWW] Find MP3s over at The Hype Machine
Buy: Amazon | iTunes | Insound
"Brother," the opening track of Annuals debut album, really sets up this album to be something spectacular; it holds a certain level of emotion and intensity that few bands manage to capture in the span of one song. While that track may arguably be Be He Me's best, the remaining 11 don't disappoint in the slightest bit, further demonstrating and propelling Annuals' natural remarkable talents, particularly in lyricism and composition. "Complete or Completing" is a fun waltz on the surface, carrying along almost listlessly like an endless set of crashing waves, but this is a particular highlight of Annuals' craft: all of their songs slowly build and morph into vast and complex amalgamations, sending the listener for a spin both figuratively and literally, as perhaps all great music should. Each song presents itself like a novel, and while that might suggest a daunting listening experience, the reality is quite the opposite. I'll withhold any declarations of profundity within Annuals' lyrics (something that's always in the mind of the beholder)... but as the year comes to an end and emotions sway within each and every one of us, Annuals' singer Adam Baker offers some sound advice: "Remember that everything is round: / Complete or completing."[MP3] Annuals - Complete Or Completing
Buy: Amazon | iTunes | Insound
We've all been there: sitting and enjoying the lovely Milk Eyed Mender when all of a sudden some non-believer directs "WTF is this?!?!" attention your way. Whether you're on the giving end of such statements or the receiving end, there's no denying the extent that Newsom's sophomore effort Ys surpasses her debut, something many of us knew would be a challenging task. Ys is 2006's epic; some of us choose to scale its walls and others don't. But for those of us who can enjoy her vocals, break through the complexity of her lyrics, and subsequently stand wide-eyed in awe of Ys's brilliance, the experience is endlessly worthwhile. With the help of Van Dyke Parks, Joanna has created an album of monumental beauty. "Emily" might be the most beautiful example of Joanna's grace; her voice has blossomed into something more accesible and even reaches points of clear elegance, but the true highlight of the record is her lyricism. Her words are so refined, her imagery so rich and stimulating, as if digging beneath each metaphor might open the gates to a heart-stoppingly beautiful world of endless meaning and attainment. Ys was no doubt one of the most fulfilling albums of 2006, not only smashing through almost all expectations we had but also showcasing the best of Joanna's talents and potential.[MP3] Joanna Newsom - Cosmia
Buy: Amazon | iTunes | Insound
Grizzly Bear's Horn Of Plenty was one of the more underappreciated releases of 2005, considered a gem in some tighter-knit circles while shunned for it's inaccessibility in the broader scope. On this sophomore release, Droste took the best that HOP showcased and upped the ante by the thousands, creating a gorgeously elusive and meditative collection of songs. Yellow House is perhaps the most beautiful recording of the year, yet the strongest aspect of the album is not its most instantly recognizable. Upon spending just under an hour losing yourself in all that Grizzly Bear offers with Yellow House, you'll begin to pick up on the subtle nuances and tender brushstrokes that really give this album its pervasive quality and character: the fluttering flutes that begin the album's opening track "Easier," the infectious percussion and sporadic notes that give close to "Knife," the distorted ambience wafting around "Reprise"-- it's moments like these that give Yellow House its clear durability, and make no mistake: there are hundreds more, just waiting to be plucked from the album's dense soundscapes. Grizzly Bear have not only proved their importance to the progression of their genre, but have produced a testament to the ever-maleable nature of music and art in all forms.[MP3] Grizzly Bear - Easier
Buy: Amazon | iTunes | Insound
"We were talking about the space between us all, and the people who hide themselves behind a wall of illusion, never glimpse the truth, then it's far too late when they pass away. We were talking about the love we all could share when we find it; to try our best to hold it there. With our love, with our love, we could save the world. If they only knew. Try to realize it's all within yourself; no one else can make you change. And to see you're really only very small and life flows on within you and without you. We were talking about the love that's gone so cold, and the people who gain the world and lose their soul. They don't know, they can't see, are you one of them? When you've seen beyond yourself, then you may find peace of mind is waiting there; and the time will come when you see we're all one and life flows on within you and without you." - George Harrison, "Within You Without You"[MP3] TV On The Radio - I Was A Lover
Buy: Amazon | iTunes | Insound
ALBUMS WE OVERLOOKED:
Belle & Sebastian - The Life Pursuit
Neko Case - Fox Confessor Brings The Flood
Liars - Drum's Not Dead
The Knife - Silent Shout
Tom Waits - Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers & Bastards
Man Man - Six Demon Bag
Cursive - Happy Hollow
Danielson - Ships
Yo La Tengo - I Am Not Afraid Of You And I Will Beat Your Ass
Xiu Xiu - The Air Force
All hip-hop albums were relegated to Louie's upcoming list of the Best Hip-Hop Albums of 2006 - stay tuned!
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
IGIF Presents: The Best Albums of 2006
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Pell Carlberg: "I Love You, You Imbecile!"
The last time (which also happens to be the only time) I posted on Pelle Carlberg, I took some heat for admitting that I'm not a big fan of The Velvet Underground & Nico. Well things have changed since that post; it took a particularly dusty piece of vinyl and a generous amount of marijuana, but I am now among the countless thousands who regard that album as perhaps the singular defining album of what is now known as "indie rock." However, none of that matters; you'd be a fool to like a band or album only because it's "important" or "legendary." The music is good, that's all.
But this post isn't about VU & Nico. It's about a man who considers that album a significant influence for the music he produces. Now before you listen to the following songs expecting a sincere, heartfelt testament to 1967 and blow-up when you realize they're nothing of the sort, realize I'm not saying at all that Pelle Carlberg is "Lou Reed: reborn." If anything, he's "Lou Reed: satirized."
In A Nutshell is the name of Carlberg's newest LP, released earlier this month. And, in a nutshell, it's a collection of highly satirical songs with track titles like "Clever Girls Like Clever Boys Much More Than Clever Boys Like Clever Girls" and lyrics like "if I didn't have bad luck I'd have no luck at all." Because of its comedy, much of the album seems destined for "throwaway status"--especially for those who expect all music to fill their lives with the drama and emotion they explicably lack. But for those of us who can listen to a song without needing to identify with it, or without needing to be taken to an emotional place we have trouble finding in real life, Pell Carlberg's music is, in a nutshell, perfect. Here are a couple of songs to have some fun with:
[MP3] Pelle Carlberg - I Love You, You Imbecile!
[MP3] Pelle Carlberg - Clever Girls Like Clever Boys Much More Than Clever Boys Like Clever Girls
Official Site | MySpace Site | More MP3s | Buy In A Nutshell
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