I, too, have a hard time remembering everything, especially movies. In now particular order. ALBUMS:
ETHIOPIQUES VOL 4/MULATO ASTATKE (groooovy cats) JACK ROSE – KENSINGTON BLUES (the lap steel stuff is the best) MOUNTAIN GOATS – ALL HAIL WEST TEXAS (some of his best for sure) FIERY FURNACES – BLUEBERRY BOAT (believe the hype!) KINGSBURY MANX – LET YOU DOWN A HAWK AND A HACKSAW – THE WAY THE WIND BLOWS FOLK AND POP MUSIC OF MYANMAR/BURMA VOL. 2 LOOKYLOOS – YOU’RE LOOKING VERY BEAUTIFUL MAN (great swan song) WEST BY SWAN – S/T CAT POWER – THE GREATEST (I now own a cd with a hot pink cover) ROUGH GUIDE TO MUSIC OF CENTRAL ASIA 11TH DREAM DAY – ZEROES AND… PAPA M – WHATEVER, MORTAL (awesome, whatever) MISSION OF BURMA – OBLITERATI
LIVE:
MISSION OF BURMA (old guys rule) THE JOGGERS (the best live undie band out there now) JACK ROSE/PETER WALKER THE DEAD SCIENCE JASON LYTLE LOSIN’ STREAKS MICHAEL HURLEY (brought my dad to the show) SIX ORGANS OF ADMITTANCE DENGUE FEVER (too sexy) MOORE BROS. (I could see these guys every week) DEAD WESTERN QUASI WOODEN WAND (Laurel Canyon flashbacks) MOUNTAIN GOATS (Micah could barely get into Amoeba, this was so packed) JONATHAN RICHMAN
BOOKS:
AUGUSTEN BURROUGHS – POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS AND MAGICAL THINKING EMMA LARKIN – FINDING GEORGE ORWELL IN BURMA PAUL FEIG – SUPERSTUD JOHN HALLIDAY – FLYING THROUGH MIDNIGHT
DVD:
THE WIRE – SEASON 1 (I finally took a peak and loved it. Fucking McNolte!) SIX FEET UNDER – SEASON 5 THE CONSTANT GARDENER CITY OF GHOSTS IN AMERICA BARBERSHOP 2 TOWNES VAN ZANDT DOCUMENTARY MUNICH CRASH SYRYANA GOOD NIGHT AND GOOD LUCK INCONVINIENT TRUTH
*Self-promo dept.: SF dudes - On Sunday, Jan 28, myself, the Envelope Peasant (Harrasser), Doug Sheperd, and Adam Goldman are playing solo acoustic sets at Hotel Utah. We're also doing shows in Chico and Sacto.
Originally intended to use this new blog thing to post album covers and links to songs so you could check out all the new and amazing music I listened to. But in the spirit of expediency (and beating Rick, Colby, Kevin, Conrad and others to the punch), I am posting my list bare-bones. Standard disclaimer...not limited to 06 releases, but recordings released to my stereo this past year.
Mission of Burma -- The Obliterati Enjoyed seeing them in front of a sparse but appreciative Sacto crowd http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/38702/Mission_of_Burma_Tour_Diary_Part_Six. I recommend the This Is Not a Photograph documentary as well.
Carquinez Straits -- Humiliation Jacket Confusion Island, Standards, and H-Bomb make this my fave CS album.
Lookyloos -- You're Looking Very Beautiful Man So good, so unknown, so sad...more refined than their first album. I love every song on this disc.
Dear Nora -- There Is No Home Saw them open for the Bats. A couple nights later met the singer at a party at our house. Katy asked me to do layout for this CD.
Ghost Club -- Suicide Train David Mitchell and Denise Roughan's second full length. This one is slightly more upbeat (3ds-y) than Ghostclubbing, but recorded in one day in a crumbling, abandoned basement London pub, it is still pretty dark.
Sisters on the Highway -- 4 songs from Wim and Waldemar of the Bingo Trappers.
Robert Pollard -- From A Compound Eye, Normal Happiness, Bubble Soundtrack The hair is grey, the tour is canceled, but the records are still just as solid and enjoyable (notice I didn't include his other 3 full-lengths or the "comedy" album of stage banter)
Go Betweens -- 78-79 The Lost Album, Best of The Go Betweens Was given the brilliant Lost Album as my introduction to the band. A week later Grant McLennan died in his sleep.
The Outsiders -- Strange Things Are Happening 60s Legends of Amsterdam ..."We were very much into the Kinks because they were original, far more important than the Rolling Stones were for British Music." -- Wally Tax
Other music I liked this year: Times New Viking -- long live Siltbreeze Gorky's -- Barafundle Mojave 3 -- Puzzles Like You The Walkmen Destroyer -- Destroyer's Rubies Akron/Family Fats Thompson, Anti-Clockwise, Maryrose Crook (all New Zealand) Alvarius B -- the weirder Bishop brother from Sun City Girls White Whale -- this one is still growing on me, but the live show was solid 13th Floor Elevators
El Perro Del Mar – El Perro Del Mar. Very cool Swedish chantuese (is that a word?). Claire loves the song Coming Down the Hill.
Tap Tap – Lanzafame. Definitely an album of the year contender. People say the guy’s voice sounds like Arcade Fire…I guess so. But the music is so great. It makes me think of everything I like in indie rock…especially the New Zealand sounds.
Yo La Tengo – I’m Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass. A little long winded, and it seems at times to be stylistically diverse just for the sake of being diverse. Some of the songs are just outstanding, and this album has one of my favorite Ira “wanker” songs – The Story of Yo La Tengo.
Band of Horses – Everything All The Time. I loved this when it first came out. The guy’s voice sounds too much like The Shins, and that bothers me, but the music is great.
Mission of Burma – The Obliterati. No doubt this will make countless lists. I will let their eloquence go on and on. I love 2twice and 1001 Pleasant Dreams. Great show at Harlow’s.
The Bats – At The National Grid / Raw Eggs – I enjoyed both releases immensely. Raw Eggs was a tour only CD. I, of course, didn’t see them on tour, but I now have this collectible CD that makes it seem like I did.
Snowglobe – Oxytocin. This album has a great feel from start to finish. Lots of different instrumentation. My daughters love the song Happy.
Mojave 3 – Puzzles Like You. As I understand, they normally play slow songs. This is decidedly uptempo pop. Again an album of the year contender.
Bears – Bears. Classic indie rock/pop.
Belle & Sebastian – The Life Pursuit. Yes this is a departure, but there is still plenty of classic B & S sound. Plus, I like the “new” sound.
The Capitol Years – Dance The Terror Away. Am I the only one who likes these guys? I haven’t heard an album of theirs that I don’t like. His voice can sound a bit like Tom Petty, but that dude from the Walkmen sounds just like Dylan.
Dirty Pretty Things – Waterloo To Anywhere. This is my “bad-for-you” treat. This album makes me happy…probably doesn’t hurt that Stacey loves it.
The Futureheads – News and Tributes. Might fall into the guilty pleasure as well. Again, Stacey loves these guys, as do Moira and Claire.
Carquinez Straits - Humiliation Jacket and The Lookyloos - You're Looking Very Beautiful Man. I do not yet own both of these albums, but Micah has played a lot for me, and I can't wait till I get off my ass and buy them.
Eleventh Dream Day – Zeroes and Ones. Not much has changed, just another great album. Close to album of the year for me.
Euros Childs – Chops. Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci lead man goes solo. Not all is great, but most is!
Hey Paulette – Long Ball Into Nowhere. OK, so this music was made in the 80s…as far as I can tell it hasn’t been properly released until now. Great REM/Wedding Present/Pastels sound! I think they were from Dublin.
Midlake – The Trials of Van Occupanther. This might get album of the year for me. Yes, it sounds like Fleetwood Mac. I love this band!
Singles
1. These Are the Ghosts – Free the Bees. Great 60’s sound without sounding like a direct 60’s ripoff band. The rest of the album isn’t as strong…this song alone is enough for me. 2. Cope – The Futureheads. Just hearing Moira and Claire chant “HOW DARE YOU?” makes this song worthwhile. 3. The Past That Suits You Best – The Delgados 4. Bonzo Goes To Bitburg – The Ramones 5. Scritti Politti – The Boom Boom Bap 6. Come On! Feel The Illinoise – Sufjan Stevens. This song…I love it. It might be the best historical song I’ve ever heard. Have you ever heard They Might Be Giants “James Polk”. That one is good too. 7. The Ballad of the Sin Eater – Ted Leo / Pharmacists. 8. Slow Fade – Teenage Fanclub. I heard this song in The Gap of all places. 9. Nine Good Fingers – White Whale. Great song on a pretty good album.
Other albums (non 2006)
1. The Go-Betweens – Before Hollywood 2. The Smiths – The Smiths 3. Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci – Barafundle 4. Gruff Rhys – Yr Atal Genhrflaeth – from the Super Furry Animals 5. The High Llamas – Retrospective, Rarities and Instrumentals 6. The Jam – Greatest Hits. Have you ever heard Down In The Tubestation At Midnight? It is amazing. 7. Jens Lekman – I listened to Jens so much last year. Every album or single makes this list for me. 8. Marmoset – Record In Red 9. Ted Leo / The Pharmacists – Ted Leo continues amaze me. I listen to his three most recent albums all the time. I hope to see him at the Great American Music Hall in February.
Books (mostly history books)
The Control of Nature – John McPhee (I can’t say enough about this book…I learned so much) Assembling California – John McPhee Guns, Germs and Steel – Jared Diamond Freedom From Fear – David Kennedy Denmark Vesey – David Robertson (great story about a forgotten slave revolt in the early 1800s) Slave Nation - Alfred and Ruth Blumrosen Trapped! The Story of Floyd Collins – Robert Murray and Roger Brucker
Best of 2006 (although some of the more recent titles may have come out in Ought Five)
Top 13: Music Now Bon Vivants – Soul Action 10” (Old Gold) This baby would likely turn the cranks of Mr. Crandy, Colby, Micah, Jedidiah and a cast of thousands – check out their MySpace site. Brainbombs – I Need Speed / End Up Dead 7” (Big Brothel) Comets on Fire – Avatar (Sub Pop) Eyes and Arms of Smoke – A Religion Of Broken Bones LP (Cenotaph) Home Blitz – 1st and 2nd 7”s (Home Blitz) Same endorsement as that of the Bon Vivants 10" and HB has a MySpace site as well. Knaughty Knights – anything by these guys (Shattered, Goner, etc.) Mammatus – s/t CD (Holy Mountain) Charlemagne Palestine - Live at an art gallery in the Berkeley Hills, early Jan. 2006 - What a great way to start off the new year. Jack Rose – s/t CD (Archive) Sic Alps – The Soft Tour In Rough Form 12” (Mt. St. Mtn.) My former roommate put out one hell of a great record! Reminds me of a cross between Simply Saucer and the Strapping Fieldhands - Micah would probably enjoy. Standard Tribesmen – 7” (Borox) Davis kids who know how to put the hammer down! Tokyo Electron – s/t LP (Shattered) Wooden Shjips – Shrinking Moon For You 10” (private) & Dance, California / Clouds Over Earthquake 7” (Sick Thirst)
Top 13: Music Then (most of these dusty discs will only appeal to old, twisted skudders like Trouchy) Aphrodite’s Child – their first 3 albums on CD (Vertigo) Big Boys – The Fat Elvis CD (Touch and Go) Ornette Coleman – Change of the Century CD (Atlantic) Colby should dig this one... Hawkwind – their first 5 albums on CD w/ bonus tracks (EMI) Skip James – Hard Time Killing Floor Blues CD (Biograph) If you don't have this one in yer collection, I can hardly see how you can claim to have wax in yer ears! Takehisa Kosugi – Catch-Wave CD (Showboat/Sky Station) Maypole – The Real LP (Anopheles) Moolah – Wo Ye Demons Possessed LP (Annuit Coeptis) Just like dying and going to heaven... Sheriff Lindo and the Hammer – Ten Dubs that Shook the World CD (EM) Ought Six was the year of dub for this kid - don't ask... Swell Maps – Jane From Occupied Europe & A Trip To Marineville CDs (Secretly Canadian) Masayuki Takayanagi – Mass Hysterism (In Another Situation) CD (Jinya Disc) Marlin Wallace – anything this guy touched (The Corillions) I'm predicting that '07 will be Marlin's breakout year Robert Wyatt – Shleep CD (Hannibal/Ryko) An acquired taste, to be sure, but so is 99% of the shit you gobblers listen to...
Hats off to Jed for finally coming clean with his Magma addiction. Peace be with you, Brother. Stay tuned for a list of movies, and possibly even a list of beers, that made life worth livin' in '06. Much Love - Trouchy
The Hold Steady Boys and Girls in America, Separation Sunday, Live These guys stepped up to fill the rock and roll void that GBV left for me. The live show I caught in Minneapolis, singer Craig Finn’s home town, was one of the more memorable in years. As I wrote on the blog earlier, he seems to enjoy fronting a band more than anyone I’ve seen since Pollard’s heyday. And his enthusiasm is infectious. The lyrics are chock full of references and his vocals are equal parts Mark E. Smith, Eddie Money, and Elmer Fudd, but in the best of ways. The band is pretty E. Street by way of The Replacements and GBV. I read a quote from Finn recently that went something like this: “We get a lot of letters from a certain type of guy that says ‘I heard about your band on NPR. I don’t buy many records or get out to many shows anymore but my wife and I are going to see your band play when you come to town. We have a baby sitter lined up, we’re taking the next day off, and we’re going to get drunk.’ I know we’d sell more records if we appealed to nineteen year olds, but I’d rather put on a great show for that guy.” I can dig it.
Jenny Lewis and The Watson Twins Rabbit Fur Coat, Live I didn’t really see this one coming. I knew Lewis was a former child star and that Rilo Kiley’s “Portions For Foxes” was totally catchy. I saw her do “Rise Up With Fists!” on late night TV and recommended the solo record to Amy. Next thing I know it is the only CD in her car for nine months and Olivia is in the back seat singing along. The songs are great in a Jayhawks or early Wilco rootsy pop kinda way. And the Watson Twins are real twins that wear matching outfits and sing gospel-ish harmonies.
Robert Pollard From A Compond Eye, Normal Happiness, Live I don’t think I can top Micah’s line (“The hair is gray, the touring is over, but the songs are still great”) so I’ll just agree. The songs ARE still great, especially “U.S. Mustard Company”, “Dancing Girls and Dancing Men” and “Super Natural Car Lover”. The live show was fun in a non-nostalgic way and he brought a great band out (w/ Tommy Keene and Superchunk’s Jon Wurster). Sure the encore was all GBV, but the main set was just as enjoyable. Long live Rockathon.
Other things I enjoyed: Alexi Murdoch’s Time Without Consequence Band Of Horses “The Funeral”, “Great Salt Lake” Bruce Springsteen “Pay Me My Money Down” Built To Spill “Going Against Your Mind” Cat Power’s The Greatest, especially “Lived In Bars” Centro-Matic “Calling Thermatico” Destroyer’s Rubies Drive-By Truckers “A World Of Hurt” Devil and Daniel Johnston (doc) Fearless Freaks (Flaming Lips doc) Futureheads’ News and tributes Keene Brothers “Death Of The Party” Killers “Mr. Brightside”, ‘Smile Like You Mean It”, “When You Were Young” M. Ward’s Post-War, especially “Chinese Translation” Ornette Coleman’s Sound Grammer Pernice Brothers’ Live a Little Replacements’ Don’t Know Who You Think I Was Sondre Lerche’s Duper Sessions Two Gallant’s ‘Steady Rollin’” Walkmen’s A Hundred Miles Off and Live White Whale’s “Nine Good Fingers” Yo La Tengo’s I Am Not Afraid Of You…
There you have it. It felt like a somewhat lack luster year but putting this together made me realize that there was some pretty good stuff.
Thanks to everyone for their great lists...lots of things I hope to check out.
New Stuff I Liked (in no particular order)
Human Television – Look at Who... The Lemonheads – s/t Bob Dylan – Modern Times Cat Power – The Greatest Yo La Tengo – I'm Not Afraid... Carquinez Straits – Humiliation Jacket Sloan – Never Hear the End of It The Hold Steady – Boys and Girls in America Tom Petty – Highway Companion Bruce Springsteen – Hammersmith Odeon, London ’75 CDs from Kevin, Jed and Conrad
Not So New Stuff That Was New To Me And I Liked
Explosions in the Sky – The Earth is Not a Cold, Dead Place Bob Dylan – Street Legal (thanks for the heads up Andy), Bootleg Series Vol. 5 Live 1975 The Flaming Lips – Hit to Death in the Future Head
Thanks to Colby for inviting me to the list party here...
Best of 2006 list
The Rapture – Pieces of the People We Love I’m a sucker for all the Williamsburg funk punks (LCD Soundsystem, !!!, etc.). This one does not disappoint.
Stereolab – Fab Four Suture I had lost interest in Stereolab after the last two albums, which just sounded too smooth, but this one has a good rockin’ edge to it.
Bonnie Prince Billy – The Letting Go Didn’t actually catch this until a couple weeks ago, thanks to someone else’s top 20 list.
Cat Power – The Greatest Love & Communication is my favorite track
Darondo – Let My People Go Reissue of a 1974 album by a guy from the Fillmore – really good Al Green funk. Got some Prince and James Brown in there too. Great article about him in the SF Chron http://snipurl.com/187hp Listen here http://hype.non-standard.net/artist/darondo
Sufjan Stevens - presents Songs for Christmas I also love Illinoise, but the copyright said 2005 so I thought I’d list this instead…
Arctic Monkeys – What Ever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not Sometimes the hype is right.
The Flaming Lips – At War With the Mystics I’ve read many reviews that claim that this album is not as good as The Soft Bulletin or Yoshimi… I like it…
ESG – Keep Moving So good…
Tortoise – A Lazarus Taxon Way better than their last 2-3 proper releases.
Albums to look forward to in 2007: The Shins, Wilco, LCD Soundsystem, !!!.
Shows I missed in 2006 I don’t know if I made it out to a single show last year - everytime I got into a band and thought “I wonder if they’re touring…” I was 2 weeks late and said band had just passed through town. This happened with Sufjan Stevens, The Rapture, The Go Team, & ESG. Lets see if I can improve my record in 2007…
Grizzly Bear! How could I forget Grizzly Bear? 'Yellow House' (Warp), my favorite album of the year, and they're coming to the Great American on 2/20. Anyone want to join me there?
16 Comments:
The Miracle of Episodic TV on DVD
1) The Wire (HBO)
2) The Shield (Fx)
3) The Comeback (HBO)
4) The Office (US Version, NBC)
5) The Corner (HBO)
I, too, have a hard time remembering everything, especially movies. In now particular order.
ALBUMS:
ETHIOPIQUES VOL 4/MULATO ASTATKE (groooovy cats)
JACK ROSE – KENSINGTON BLUES (the lap steel stuff is the best)
MOUNTAIN GOATS – ALL HAIL WEST TEXAS (some of his best for sure)
FIERY FURNACES – BLUEBERRY BOAT (believe the hype!)
KINGSBURY MANX – LET YOU DOWN
A HAWK AND A HACKSAW – THE WAY THE WIND BLOWS
FOLK AND POP MUSIC OF MYANMAR/BURMA VOL. 2
LOOKYLOOS – YOU’RE LOOKING VERY BEAUTIFUL MAN (great swan song)
WEST BY SWAN – S/T
CAT POWER – THE GREATEST (I now own a cd with a hot pink cover)
ROUGH GUIDE TO MUSIC OF CENTRAL ASIA
11TH DREAM DAY – ZEROES AND…
PAPA M – WHATEVER, MORTAL (awesome, whatever)
MISSION OF BURMA – OBLITERATI
LIVE:
MISSION OF BURMA (old guys rule)
THE JOGGERS (the best live undie band out there now)
JACK ROSE/PETER WALKER
THE DEAD SCIENCE
JASON LYTLE
LOSIN’ STREAKS
MICHAEL HURLEY (brought my dad to the show)
SIX ORGANS OF ADMITTANCE
DENGUE FEVER (too sexy)
MOORE BROS. (I could see these guys every week)
DEAD WESTERN
QUASI
WOODEN WAND (Laurel Canyon flashbacks)
MOUNTAIN GOATS (Micah could barely get into Amoeba, this was so packed)
JONATHAN RICHMAN
BOOKS:
AUGUSTEN BURROUGHS – POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS AND MAGICAL THINKING
EMMA LARKIN – FINDING GEORGE ORWELL IN BURMA
PAUL FEIG – SUPERSTUD
JOHN HALLIDAY – FLYING THROUGH MIDNIGHT
DVD:
THE WIRE – SEASON 1 (I finally took a peak and loved it. Fucking McNolte!)
SIX FEET UNDER – SEASON 5
THE CONSTANT GARDENER
CITY OF GHOSTS
IN AMERICA
BARBERSHOP 2
TOWNES VAN ZANDT DOCUMENTARY
MUNICH
CRASH
SYRYANA
GOOD NIGHT AND GOOD LUCK
INCONVINIENT TRUTH
*Self-promo dept.: SF dudes - On Sunday, Jan 28, myself, the Envelope Peasant (Harrasser), Doug Sheperd, and Adam Goldman are playing solo acoustic sets at Hotel Utah. We're also doing shows in Chico and Sacto.
Ooops. That last anonymous post is from Jed. Sorry I forgot to identify. -Jed
I just remembered a couple of key reissues:
EXODUS - BONDED BY BLOOD (a highschool favorite and one of the few metal albums I still listen to)
MAGMA - UDU WUDU (really interesting/funny Kraut prog - heard this at Edberg's years ago and promised myself to evetually pick it up)
-Jed
The 2006 Best-Of...
Originally intended to use this new blog thing to post album covers and links to songs so you could check out all the new and amazing music I listened to. But in the spirit of expediency (and beating Rick, Colby, Kevin, Conrad and others to the punch), I am posting my list bare-bones. Standard disclaimer...not limited to 06 releases, but recordings released to my stereo this past year.
Mission of Burma -- The Obliterati
Enjoyed seeing them in front of a sparse but appreciative Sacto crowd http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/38702/Mission_of_Burma_Tour_Diary_Part_Six. I recommend the This Is Not a Photograph documentary as well.
Carquinez Straits -- Humiliation Jacket
Confusion Island, Standards, and H-Bomb make this my fave CS album.
Lookyloos -- You're Looking Very Beautiful Man
So good, so unknown, so sad...more refined than their first album. I love every song on this disc.
Dear Nora -- There Is No Home
Saw them open for the Bats. A couple nights later met the singer at a party at our house. Katy asked me to do layout for this CD.
Broadcast -- Tender Buttons
Kinda 60s girl group, kinda Nico, kinda Stereolab, kinda great
Ghost Club -- Suicide Train
David Mitchell and Denise Roughan's second full length. This one is slightly more upbeat (3ds-y) than Ghostclubbing, but recorded in one day in a crumbling, abandoned basement London pub, it is still pretty dark.
Sisters on the Highway -- 4 songs from Wim and Waldemar of the Bingo Trappers.
Robert Pollard -- From A Compound Eye, Normal Happiness, Bubble Soundtrack
The hair is grey, the tour is canceled, but the records are still just as solid and enjoyable (notice I didn't include his other 3 full-lengths or the "comedy" album of stage banter)
Skygreen Leopards -- One Thousand Bird Ceremony
Jeweled Antler folkiness/field recordings
Tap Tap -- Lanzafame
The kids are alright.
Go Betweens -- 78-79 The Lost Album, Best of The Go Betweens
Was given the brilliant Lost Album as my introduction to the band. A week later Grant McLennan died in his sleep.
The Outsiders -- Strange Things Are Happening
60s Legends of Amsterdam ..."We were very much into the Kinks because they were original, far more important than the Rolling Stones were for British Music." -- Wally Tax
Other music I liked this year:
Times New Viking -- long live Siltbreeze
Gorky's -- Barafundle
Mojave 3 -- Puzzles Like You
The Walkmen
Destroyer -- Destroyer's Rubies
Akron/Family
Fats Thompson, Anti-Clockwise, Maryrose Crook (all New Zealand)
Alvarius B -- the weirder Bishop brother from Sun City Girls
White Whale -- this one is still growing on me, but the live show was solid
13th Floor Elevators
Happy New Year!
I forgot Cat Power -- The Greatest...Stacey has been hoarding it at work.
Actual 2006 Releases!! (In no particular order)
El Perro Del Mar – El Perro Del Mar. Very cool Swedish chantuese (is that a word?). Claire loves the song Coming Down the Hill.
Tap Tap – Lanzafame. Definitely an album of the year contender. People say the guy’s voice sounds like Arcade Fire…I guess so. But the music is so great. It makes me think of everything I like in indie rock…especially the New Zealand sounds.
Yo La Tengo – I’m Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass. A little long winded, and it seems at times to be stylistically diverse just for the sake of being diverse. Some of the songs are just outstanding, and this album has one of my favorite Ira “wanker” songs – The Story of Yo La Tengo.
Band of Horses – Everything All The Time. I loved this when it first came out. The guy’s voice sounds too much like The Shins, and that bothers me, but the music is great.
Mission of Burma – The Obliterati. No doubt this will make countless lists. I will let their eloquence go on and on. I love 2twice and 1001 Pleasant Dreams. Great show at Harlow’s.
The Bats – At The National Grid / Raw Eggs – I enjoyed both releases immensely. Raw Eggs was a tour only CD. I, of course, didn’t see them on tour, but I now have this collectible CD that makes it seem like I did.
Snowglobe – Oxytocin. This album has a great feel from start to finish. Lots of different instrumentation. My daughters love the song Happy.
Mojave 3 – Puzzles Like You. As I understand, they normally play slow songs. This is decidedly uptempo pop. Again an album of the year contender.
Bears – Bears. Classic indie rock/pop.
Belle & Sebastian – The Life Pursuit. Yes this is a departure, but there is still plenty of classic B & S sound. Plus, I like the “new” sound.
The Capitol Years – Dance The Terror Away. Am I the only one who likes these guys? I haven’t heard an album of theirs that I don’t like. His voice can sound a bit like Tom Petty, but that dude from the Walkmen sounds just like Dylan.
Dirty Pretty Things – Waterloo To Anywhere. This is my “bad-for-you” treat. This album makes me happy…probably doesn’t hurt that Stacey loves it.
The Futureheads – News and Tributes. Might fall into the guilty pleasure as well. Again, Stacey loves these guys, as do Moira and Claire.
Carquinez Straits - Humiliation Jacket and The Lookyloos - You're Looking Very Beautiful Man. I do not yet own both of these albums, but Micah has played a lot for me, and I can't wait till I get off my ass and buy them.
Eleventh Dream Day – Zeroes and Ones. Not much has changed, just another great album. Close to album of the year for me.
Euros Childs – Chops. Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci lead man goes solo. Not all is great, but most is!
Hey Paulette – Long Ball Into Nowhere. OK, so this music was made in the 80s…as far as I can tell it hasn’t been properly released until now. Great REM/Wedding Present/Pastels sound! I think they were from Dublin.
Midlake – The Trials of Van Occupanther. This might get album of the year for me. Yes, it sounds like Fleetwood Mac. I love this band!
Singles
1. These Are the Ghosts – Free the Bees. Great 60’s sound without sounding like a direct 60’s ripoff band. The rest of the album isn’t as strong…this song alone is enough for me.
2. Cope – The Futureheads. Just hearing Moira and Claire chant “HOW DARE YOU?” makes this song worthwhile.
3. The Past That Suits You Best – The Delgados
4. Bonzo Goes To Bitburg – The Ramones
5. Scritti Politti – The Boom Boom Bap
6. Come On! Feel The Illinoise – Sufjan Stevens. This song…I love it. It might be the best historical song I’ve ever heard. Have you ever heard They Might Be Giants “James Polk”. That one is good too.
7. The Ballad of the Sin Eater – Ted Leo / Pharmacists.
8. Slow Fade – Teenage Fanclub. I heard this song in The Gap of all places.
9. Nine Good Fingers – White Whale. Great song on a pretty good album.
Other albums (non 2006)
1. The Go-Betweens – Before Hollywood
2. The Smiths – The Smiths
3. Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci – Barafundle
4. Gruff Rhys – Yr Atal Genhrflaeth – from the Super Furry Animals
5. The High Llamas – Retrospective, Rarities and Instrumentals
6. The Jam – Greatest Hits. Have you ever heard Down In The Tubestation At Midnight? It is amazing.
7. Jens Lekman – I listened to Jens so much last year. Every album or single makes this list for me.
8. Marmoset – Record In Red
9. Ted Leo / The Pharmacists – Ted Leo continues amaze me. I listen to his three most recent albums all the time. I hope to see him at the Great American Music Hall in February.
Books (mostly history books)
The Control of Nature – John McPhee (I can’t say enough about this book…I learned so much)
Assembling California – John McPhee
Guns, Germs and Steel – Jared Diamond
Freedom From Fear – David Kennedy
Denmark Vesey – David Robertson (great story about a forgotten slave revolt in the early 1800s)
Slave Nation - Alfred and Ruth Blumrosen
Trapped! The Story of Floyd Collins – Robert Murray and Roger Brucker
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Best of 2006 (although some of the more recent titles may have come out in Ought Five)
Top 13: Music Now
Bon Vivants – Soul Action 10” (Old Gold) This baby would likely turn the cranks of Mr. Crandy, Colby, Micah, Jedidiah and a cast of thousands – check out their MySpace site.
Brainbombs – I Need Speed / End Up Dead 7” (Big Brothel)
Comets on Fire – Avatar (Sub Pop)
Eyes and Arms of Smoke – A Religion Of Broken Bones LP (Cenotaph)
Home Blitz – 1st and 2nd 7”s (Home Blitz) Same endorsement as that of the Bon Vivants 10" and HB has a MySpace site as well.
Knaughty Knights – anything by these guys (Shattered, Goner, etc.)
Mammatus – s/t CD (Holy Mountain)
Charlemagne Palestine - Live at an art gallery in the Berkeley Hills, early Jan. 2006 - What a great way to start off the new year.
Jack Rose – s/t CD (Archive)
Sic Alps – The Soft Tour In Rough Form 12” (Mt. St. Mtn.) My former roommate put out one hell of a great record! Reminds me of a cross between Simply Saucer and the Strapping Fieldhands - Micah would probably enjoy.
Standard Tribesmen – 7” (Borox) Davis kids who know how to put the hammer down!
Tokyo Electron – s/t LP (Shattered)
Wooden Shjips – Shrinking Moon For You 10” (private) & Dance, California / Clouds Over Earthquake 7” (Sick Thirst)
Top 13: Music Then (most of these dusty discs will only appeal to old, twisted skudders like Trouchy)
Aphrodite’s Child – their first 3 albums on CD (Vertigo)
Big Boys – The Fat Elvis CD (Touch and Go)
Ornette Coleman – Change of the Century CD (Atlantic) Colby should dig this one...
Hawkwind – their first 5 albums on CD w/ bonus tracks (EMI)
Skip James – Hard Time Killing Floor Blues CD (Biograph) If you don't have this one in yer collection, I can hardly see how you can claim to have wax in yer ears!
Takehisa Kosugi – Catch-Wave CD (Showboat/Sky Station)
Maypole – The Real LP (Anopheles)
Moolah – Wo Ye Demons Possessed LP (Annuit Coeptis) Just like dying and going to heaven...
Sheriff Lindo and the Hammer – Ten Dubs that Shook the World CD (EM) Ought Six was the year of dub for this kid - don't ask...
Swell Maps – Jane From Occupied Europe & A Trip To Marineville CDs (Secretly Canadian)
Masayuki Takayanagi – Mass Hysterism (In Another Situation) CD (Jinya Disc)
Marlin Wallace – anything this guy touched (The Corillions) I'm predicting that '07 will be Marlin's breakout year
Robert Wyatt – Shleep CD (Hannibal/Ryko) An acquired taste, to be sure, but so is 99% of the shit you gobblers listen to...
Hats off to Jed for finally coming clean with his Magma addiction. Peace be with you, Brother. Stay tuned for a list of movies, and possibly even a list of beers, that made life worth livin' in '06.
Much Love - Trouchy
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The Hold Steady
Boys and Girls in America, Separation Sunday, Live
These guys stepped up to fill the rock and roll void that GBV left for me. The live show I caught in Minneapolis, singer Craig Finn’s home town, was one of the more memorable in years. As I wrote on the blog earlier, he seems to enjoy fronting a band more than anyone I’ve seen since Pollard’s heyday. And his enthusiasm is infectious. The lyrics are chock full of references and his vocals are equal parts Mark E. Smith, Eddie Money, and Elmer Fudd, but in the best of ways. The band is pretty E. Street by way of The Replacements and GBV. I read a quote from Finn recently that went something like this: “We get a lot of letters from a certain type of guy that says ‘I heard about your band on NPR. I don’t buy many records or get out to many shows anymore but my wife and I are going to see your band play when you come to town. We have a baby sitter lined up, we’re taking the next day off, and we’re going to get drunk.’ I know we’d sell more records if we appealed to nineteen year olds, but I’d rather put on a great show for that guy.” I can dig it.
Jenny Lewis and The Watson Twins
Rabbit Fur Coat, Live
I didn’t really see this one coming. I knew Lewis was a former child star and that Rilo Kiley’s “Portions For Foxes” was totally catchy. I saw her do “Rise Up With Fists!” on late night TV and recommended the solo record to Amy. Next thing I know it is the only CD in her car for nine months and Olivia is in the back seat singing along. The songs are great in a Jayhawks or early Wilco rootsy pop kinda way. And the Watson Twins are real twins that wear matching outfits and sing gospel-ish harmonies.
Robert Pollard
From A Compond Eye, Normal Happiness, Live
I don’t think I can top Micah’s line (“The hair is gray, the touring is over, but the songs are still great”) so I’ll just agree. The songs ARE still great, especially “U.S. Mustard Company”, “Dancing Girls and Dancing Men” and “Super Natural Car Lover”. The live show was fun in a non-nostalgic way and he brought a great band out (w/ Tommy Keene and Superchunk’s Jon Wurster). Sure the encore was all GBV, but the main set was just as enjoyable. Long live Rockathon.
Other things I enjoyed:
Alexi Murdoch’s Time Without Consequence
Band Of Horses “The Funeral”, “Great Salt Lake”
Bruce Springsteen “Pay Me My Money Down”
Built To Spill “Going Against Your Mind”
Cat Power’s The Greatest, especially “Lived In Bars”
Centro-Matic “Calling Thermatico”
Destroyer’s Rubies
Drive-By Truckers “A World Of Hurt”
Devil and Daniel Johnston (doc)
Fearless Freaks (Flaming Lips doc)
Futureheads’ News and tributes
Keene Brothers “Death Of The Party”
Killers “Mr. Brightside”, ‘Smile Like You Mean It”, “When You Were Young”
M. Ward’s Post-War, especially “Chinese Translation”
Ornette Coleman’s Sound Grammer
Pernice Brothers’ Live a Little
Replacements’ Don’t Know Who You Think I Was
Sondre Lerche’s Duper Sessions
Two Gallant’s ‘Steady Rollin’”
Walkmen’s A Hundred Miles Off and Live
White Whale’s “Nine Good Fingers”
Yo La Tengo’s I Am Not Afraid Of You…
There you have it. It felt like a somewhat lack luster year but putting this together made me realize that there was some pretty good stuff.
Great lists so far. Things I am looking forward to checking out:
Moore Bros' Murdered by...
Jack Rose
I've never heard of this guy but I'm usually a sucker for lap steel.
New/last Lookyloos album
Cub's design work on the Dear Nora record
Mojave 3 not playing slow songs.
Bon Vivants
Texas T is on fire with those posts.
I should add that I saw these music dvds in recent months:
FUGAZI: INSTRUMENT
Some pretty good live footage.
THE DEVIL AND DANIEL JOHNSTON
Just saw this last night at the True Love Cafe. Pretty nuts.
THE NEGATIVELAND DOC - SONIC...?
THE FLAMING LIPS DOC
The tackle football home movies were the best!
WE JAM ECONO: MINUTEMEN DOC
I was never a big follower, but this made me want to be.
BLACK SABBATH VOL 1
Tower fire sale pick up.
-Jed
Thanks to everyone for their great lists...lots of things I hope to check out.
New Stuff I Liked (in no particular order)
Human Television – Look at Who...
The Lemonheads – s/t
Bob Dylan – Modern Times
Cat Power – The Greatest
Yo La Tengo – I'm Not Afraid...
Carquinez Straits – Humiliation Jacket
Sloan – Never Hear the End of It
The Hold Steady – Boys and Girls in America
Tom Petty – Highway Companion
Bruce Springsteen – Hammersmith Odeon, London ’75
CDs from Kevin, Jed and Conrad
Not So New Stuff That Was New To Me And I Liked
Explosions in the Sky – The Earth is Not a Cold, Dead Place
Bob Dylan – Street Legal (thanks for the heads up Andy), Bootleg Series Vol. 5 Live 1975
The Flaming Lips – Hit to Death in the Future Head
Thanks to Colby for inviting me to the list party here...
Best of 2006 list
The Rapture – Pieces of the People We Love
I’m a sucker for all the Williamsburg funk punks (LCD Soundsystem, !!!, etc.). This one does not disappoint.
Stereolab – Fab Four Suture
I had lost interest in Stereolab after the last two albums, which just sounded too smooth, but this one has a good rockin’ edge to it.
Bonnie Prince Billy – The Letting Go
Didn’t actually catch this until a couple weeks ago, thanks to someone else’s top 20 list.
Cat Power – The Greatest
Love & Communication is my favorite track
Darondo – Let My People Go
Reissue of a 1974 album by a guy from the Fillmore – really good Al Green funk. Got some Prince and James Brown in there too. Great article about him in the SF Chron http://snipurl.com/187hp
Listen here http://hype.non-standard.net/artist/darondo
Sufjan Stevens - presents Songs for Christmas
I also love Illinoise, but the copyright said 2005 so I thought I’d list this instead…
Arctic Monkeys – What Ever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not
Sometimes the hype is right.
The Flaming Lips – At War With the Mystics
I’ve read many reviews that claim that this album is not as good as The Soft Bulletin or Yoshimi… I like it…
ESG – Keep Moving
So good…
Tortoise – A Lazarus Taxon
Way better than their last 2-3 proper releases.
Albums to look forward to in 2007: The Shins, Wilco, LCD Soundsystem, !!!.
Shows I missed in 2006
I don’t know if I made it out to a single show last year - everytime I got into a band and thought “I wonder if they’re touring…” I was 2 weeks late and said band had just passed through town. This happened with Sufjan Stevens, The Rapture, The Go Team, & ESG. Lets see if I can improve my record in 2007…
--Kevin (Rafter)
Grizzly Bear! How could I forget Grizzly Bear? 'Yellow House' (Warp), my favorite album of the year, and they're coming to the Great American on 2/20. Anyone want to join me there?
http://snipurl.com/187i5
--Kevin
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