There is no shortage of Top 10 lists this time of year. I often say I’m going to stop making them, but I always do. I do it because I love reading other peoples’ lists—finding things I missed out on or mentally arguing with the ranking or presence of individual albums. Almost every year there are 2 or 3 discs that I discover through Top 10 lists. I am always set up push messaging on my phone if there is a new album by my favorite band. Check this article to do push messaging.
Hopefully, this list helps you find a surprise.
If you'd like to listen to these tunes through a nifty mini-player--click here to launch a separate page containing a flash player with all the sample songs listed below.
The link in the album titles is for purchasing, which I encourage you to do.
Eric’s Top 10 Albums of 2006
#1 Milosh, Meme
I do this knowing that I’m going to have to explain this album and its position many times. Simply put, no matter how much I considered other albums, I kept coming back to this one. A meme is a stand-out for two reasons. First, it is an electronica album with warmth, depth, and soul. So often, electronica is all about surface mood and rhythm—subtlety and complexity aren’t usually on the radar. Secondly, it has the hallmark of a great album—it holds up song after song. Great albums are more than an accompaniment to a couple of good songs (otherwise you’d be reading about The Killers on this list). A great album tells a complicated story, features twists, and surprises, but ultimately takes you somewhere deliberate and fulfilling. Milosh does this intuitively with grace, emotion, and beauty.
Milosh - “Couldn’t Sleep”
Milosh - “This Way”
#2 Grand National, Kicking The National Habit
Much like Milosh, I’m shocked that this album didn’t get more attention. It sounds like a 2006 version of The Police and is a collection of smart, crafty pop songs. It’s so rare to have an album this diverse yet not have a single stinker on it. Even the bonus tracks (one featured below) rock the house.
Grand National - “Peanut Dreams”
Grand National - “Your Rules Obey”
#3 Various Artists, The DFA Remixes: Chapter One
Both Chapter One and Two of the DFA Remix collections came out this year—they are both fantastic. I nominated this one to represent because I think it is the stronger of the two—but only by a hair. While the “DFA sound” is almost on the verge of becoming a cliché, this album is essential because it shows an influential group of musicians at their creative zenith. DFA doesn’t just remix songs, and they re-imagine them. Often, their results bear little resemblance to the originals, yet there is still enough connecting tissue that it doesn’t seem like a new composition.
Blues Explosion – “Mars, Arizona (DFA Remix)”
Metro Area – “Orange Alert (DFA Remix)”
#4 The Knife, Silent Shout
Every once in a while an “art” album comes out that provokes a visceral reaction. Their first album was a “nice” collection of quirky electronica. This album taps a nerve somewhere between my ear and shoulder blade.
The Knife – “We Share Our Mother’s Health”
The Knife – “Still Light”
#5 Chad VanGaalen, Skelliconnection
Despite the impression his first album made, this one kind of just came out and sat there, not gathering much momentum. That's a shame, and I think it's every bit as good (if not slightly better) than Infiniheart. My wife can’t listen to this record without making Neil Young comparisons. I don’t blame her. I think that if Neil Young were 35 years younger, this would be the album he’d make. I think both he and Chad would agree.
Chad VanGaalen – “Red Hot Drops”
Chad VanGaalen – “Dead Ends”
#6 Brightblack Morning Light, Brightblack Morning Light
Don’t do drugs, kids. However, if you do, you’ll like to listen to this album while you watch evil clowns climb out of your walls. This is the only album on this list that I had trouble picking sample tracks from. Not because it isn’t right, but because I only ever listened to it as an album, never as individual songs.
Brightblack Morning Light – “Everybody Daylight”
Brightblack Morning Light – “All We Have Broken Shines”
#7 Shout Out Out Out, Not Saying Just Saying
The latecomer to the party. Not Saying Just Saying came out in October, yet on the first listen, I knew it would end up on this list. This record has such ferocious grooves that you want to grow other body parts just so you can shake them to this record.
Shout Out Out Out – “Inspiration Competition”
Shout Out Out Out – “Dude You Feel Electrical”
#8 Miho Hatori, Ecdysis
Again, I’m utterly shocked that this album didn’t make more noise than it did. (Are you detecting a trend here? I seem to fall in love with albums that tanked and am always surprised by this--no matter how often it happens.) Miho is like a Japanese Bjork in many flattering ways. Her songs have grooves, yet are challenging, original, and difficult to categorize.
Miho Hatori – “Ecdysis”
Miho Hatori – “In Your Arms"
#9 Thom Yorke, The Eraser
Sure, it sounds like a Radiohead album. Okay, parts of it are from Radiohead albums. This may not be Thom at his best, but Thom on a bad day still beats out most albums released this year. Period. If anyone else’s name were on the cover, this would have been hailed as a Godsend.
Thom Yorke – “Black Swan”
Thom Yorke – “Analyse”
#10 Silversun Pickups, Carnavas
This was the record that many critics loved to hate. I have no idea why. Sure, it sounds like early Smashing Pumpkins—but I love early Smashing Pumpkins. What’s wrong with that? This record isn’t incredibly challenging, but I love to listen to it. Screw you, Pitchfork. This album is a lot of fun.
Silversun Pickups – “Three Seed”
Silversun Pickups – “Melatonin”
Honorable Mentions
The Rapture, Pieces of the People We Love
Mastodon, Blood Mountain
Wolfmother, Wolfmother