2006 - Albums of the Year

[Doug Gilmour]

I was reluctant to do this so soon (at risk of being a bit premature), but seeing that the release schedule for the rest of the year is rather weak (http://www.metacritic.com/music/upcomingreleases.shtml), I've decided to start compiling my "top 50 albums of 2006" list. When I'm done, I'll have it posted to my blog, along with several mp3s for each entry. To prepare, I've been listening to an ungodly amount of music (10h+ for the past 4-5 days), going through my entire '06 catalogue.

Here are some of my picks, not yet ordered, and not yet complete with about 20 more to add.

Belle & Sebastian - The Life Pursuit
Camera Obscura - Let's Get Out of this Country
Ghostface Killah - Fishscale
The Roots - Game Theory
Aceyalone and RJD2 - Magnificent City
Lupe Fiasco - Food & Liquor
J. Dilla - Donuts
The Pipettes - We Are the Pipettes
CSS - Cansei de Ser Sexy
TV on the Radio - Return to Cookie Mountain
The Grates - Gravity Won't Get You High
Beirut - Gulag Orkestar
Destroyer - Destroyer's Rubies
Tokyo Police Club - A Lesson In Crime EP
Voxtrot - Mothers, Sisters, Daughters & Wives EP
Islands - Return to the Sea
Phoenix - It's Never Been Like That
I'm From Barcelona - Let Me Introduce My Friends
Peter Bjorn & John - Writer's Block
The Radio Dept. - Pet Grief
Yo La Tengo - I Am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your ###
Asobi Seksu - Citrus
The Rapture - Pieces of the People We Love
LCD Soundsystem - 45:33
The Knife - Silent Shout
Hot Chip - The Warning
kid606 - Pretty Girls Make Raves
Venetian Snares - Calvacade of Glee and Dadaist Happy Hardcore Pom Poms
VA - Marie Antoinette OST

Overall I think this has been a fairly good year in music. Lots of impressive releases, no one standout classic. A great return from Yo La Tengo and some promising new artists.

Thoughts? Which releases have been your favourites?

[Nader172]

It has been a good year for music, and so far 2007 is looking good too. Some older bands are coming back for reunions too. Cannot wait for what’s ahead.

Nate

[MellowTone41]

In no particular order:
Bob Dylan - Modern Times
Damien Rice - 9
Ray LaMontagne - Till the Sun Turns Black
Bela Fleck & the Flecktones - The Hidden Land
Gomez - How We Operate
Mark Knopfler and Emmylou Harris - All the Roadrunning
Neil Young - Living With War
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Show Your Bones

Honorable Mentions (live albums, compilations, double albums, and various other types that I don't associate with normal full length releases of new material):
Ben Harper - Both Sides of the Gun
Ben Folds - Supersunnyspeedgraphic
My Morning Jacket - Okonokos
Jack Johnson & Friends - Sing-A-Longs and Lullabies for the Film Curious George

[mjmoonwalker]

I haven't really listened to many of the new albums this year. The only two I've started listening to are:
Prince - 3121
John Mayer - Continuum

[Kristiano]

Arctic Monkeys- Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
Bob Dylan- Modern Times
Belle & Sebastian- The Life Pursuit
Dirty Pretty Things- Waterloo to Anywhere
Dixie Chicks- Taking The Long Way
Fergie- The Dutchess
Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan- Ballad Of The Broken Seas
Jennifer O'Connor- Over the Mountain, Across the Valley and Back to the Stars (favorite album of year)
Jenny Lewis With The Watson Twins- Rabbit Fur Coat
Pearl Jam- Pearl Jam
Some Girls- Crushing Love
Sonic Youth- Rather Ripped
Stone Sour- Come What(ever) May
Thom Yorke- The Eraser
Yeah Yeah Yeahs- Show Your Bones

[Adam]

Deftones - Saturday Night Wrist
Placebo - Meds
Tool - 10,000 Days
The Butterfly Effect - Imago

In that order, for me.

+ many other notable mentions which were damn good, but not album of the year material.

[RatherPlayHalo]

I'm kind of disappointed this year. Thought there would be more. Here are the candidates:

Thursday - "A City By the Light Divided"
Deftones - "Saturday Night Wrist"
Tool - "10,000 Days"
Thom Yorke - "The Eraser"
Evanescence - "The Open Door"
Breaking Benjamin - "Phobia"
Pearl Jam - "Pearl Jam"
Red Hot Chili Peppers - "Stadium Arcadium"
Stone Sour - "Come What(ever) May"
Wolfmother - "Wolfmother"


10,000 Days is made up of many great songs, but they don't flow together as well as previous Tool albums. I had very high expectations for Thom Yorke and he met them. A City By the Light Divided is still growing on me. The Open Door is pretty bad overall. Every song sounds samey and uninspired. The same is true for Come What(ever) May. Phobia has too many extremes. Some songs are awesome, others are barely good. There's nothing too special on Pearl Jam. Wolfmother was really good, but not the best. Stadium Arcadium was awesome, but just a bit too much filler over the 2 discs. The Deftones CD however, totally blindsided me. I'm a huge Deftones fan, but even I wasn't expecting something of this caliber. "Saturday Night Wrist" wins.

[camille]

top 10 of '06

1 - Ys -- Joanna Newsom (no question about it. IMO one of the best of this decade)

2 - The Greatest -- Cat Power
3 - Moon Over The Freeway -- The Ditty Bops
4 - Rabbit Fur Coat -- Jenny Lewis with The Watson Twins
5 - Begin To Hope -- Regina Spektor
6 - ULTRA BLUE -- 宇多田ヒカル
7 - I'm Not Afraid Of You And I Will Beat Your ### -- Yo La Tengo
8 - Bitter Tea -- The Fiery Furnaces
9 - Taking The Long Way -- Dixie Chicks
10 - Thumbelina's One Night Stand -- Melissa McClelland

*Nellie McKay's album, "Pretty Little Head" would be one the list as well, if it weren't delayed week after week in Canada...

[mrdantownsend]

Razorlight - Razorlight
Milburn - Well Well Well
Belle & Sebastian - The Life and Pursuit
Beck - The Information
The Arctic Monkeys - Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not

[Emultion_Rawks]

Well, these would be my picks...

Milburn --- Well Well Well
The Arctic Monkeys --- Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
Babyshambles --- The Blinding EP (Still to come out, but is amazing...)
The Kooks --- Inside In/Inside Out (Lyrically pretty bad, but some nice tunes...)
The Blizzards --- A Public Display Of Affection

I was hoping The View would release their Album before the end of the year, but that's not going to happen... Oh well, quite a few more I could have mentioned!

[ctg115]

The 2 that stand out the most for me:

Boys and Girls in America- The Hold Steady
The Crane Wife- The Decemberists

There are a few others that were good, but overall I thought 06 was weaker than 05.

[papayaninja]

Belle And Sebastian for me, but honestly, Weird Al's new one is top notch... :D

[antiditz]

All in all, it wasn't the best year in music for me. Some of these are less awesome and ground-breaking than the others, but still made the best-of-2006.


Mates of State - Bring It Back
Beirut - Gulag Orkestar
Camera Obscura - Let's Get Out of This Country
Belle & Sebastian - The Life Pursuit
Dirty Pretty Things - Waterloo to Anywhere
Arctic Monkeys - Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
The French Kicks - Two Thousand
+/- (PlusMinus) - Let’s Build a Fire
The Decemberists - The Crane Wife
Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan - Ballad of the Broken Seas
Margot & the Nuclear So and So's - The Dust of Retreat


And, saving the best for last:

My Latest Novel - Wolves

[bdb]

Top 5, in no particular order
Juana Molina - Son
Sparklehorse - Dreamt For Lightyears in the Belly of a Mountain
Califone - Roots & Crowns
Margot & the Nuclear So and So's - The Dust of Retreat
My Latest Novel - Wolves

Honorable mentions
Guillemots - Through The Windowpane
Midlake - The Trials of Van Occupanther
Rocky Votolato - Makers
Michael Talbott and The Wolfkings - Freeze-Die-Come To Life
The Weepies - Say I Am You (still a bit new to me)

[enjoilax]

Top Albums:
Klaxons - Xan Valleys (EP)
Ghostface Killah - Fishscale
LCD Soundsystem - 45:33
Modill - Midnight Green
Oh No - Exodus into Unheard Rhythm
Peter, Bjorn and John - Writer's Block
The Futureheads - News & Tributes
Tokyo Police Club - A Lesson In Crime (EP)
Voxtrot - Mothers, Sisters, Daughters, Wives (EP)
¡Forward, Russia! - Give Me A Wall
Basement Jaxx - Crazy Itch Radio
Camera Obscura - Let's Get Out Of This Country
Cold War Kids - Robbers & Cowards
CSS - Cansei De Ser Sexy
Ellen Allien & Apparat - Orchestra Of Bubbles
Gnarls Barkley - St. Elsewhere
Herbert - Scale
Islands - Return To The Sea
Junior Boys - So This Is Goodbye
Kashmere Stage Band - Texas Thunder Soul
Lily Allen - Alright, Still
People Under The Stairs - Stepfather
Murs & 9th Wonder - Murray's Revenge
Madlib - The Beat Konducta: Vol. 1-2: Movie Scenes
J Dilla - The Shining
J Dilla - Donuts
RJD2 - Magnificent City Instrumentals
Yo La Tengo - I Am Not Afraid Of You And I Will Beat Your ###
TV On The Radio - Return To Cookie Mountain
The Thermals - The Body The Blood The Machine
The Pipettes - We Are The Pipettes
The Knife - Silent Shout
Tapes 'n Tapes - The Loon
Sunset Rubdown - Shut Up I Am Dreaming
Rhymefest - Blue Collar
Phoenix - It's Never Been Like That
Lupe Fiasco - Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor

[maddMorten]

I've been unlucky with music this year...I really only have two that stands out...of all those I bought this year...Justin - Futuresex... probably my favourite of this year. And on a close second John Mayer - Continuum.
I kinda like the "new" Beatles album too, but it isn't that remarkable.

And Stadium Arcadium is easily the biggest dissapointment this year.

[Jackonicko]

Compared to 2005 (Supergrass, Beck, Coldplay, 18th Day of May, Fried, Gorillaz, Jamiroquai, Lakeman, Oasis), I think 2006 has been disappointing. Lot's of good and patchily good albums (probably more than in 2005), but very few solid end-to-end great CDs, and nothing to compare with Road to Rouen (Supergrass), Guero (Beck) and Dynamite (Jamiroquai).

But top CDs this year?

Lily Allen: Alright Still (OK, classes as great)
The Answer: Rise
Arctic Monkeys: Whatever people say I am....
Chris Difford: South East Side Story (great but no-one will ever hear it!)
Dixie Chicks: Taking the Long Way
David Gilmour: On an Island
Gomez: How we Operate
The Like: Are you thinking....
Primal Scream: Riot City Blues
Raconteurs: Broken Boy Soldiers
Razorlight: Razorlight
Rifles: No Love Lost
Sunshine Underground: Raise the Alarm
The Zutons: Tired of Hanging Around

[papayaninja]

The Zutons: Tired of Hanging Around

Sorry for being off-topic, but I wasn't really impressed with it, especially in comparison to "Who Killed..." because it seemed less interesting and diverse. I classified it as yet another bad sophomore effort, but maybe I'll have to listen again?

[Jackonicko]

Don't get me wrong. Not a classic, but in my top 20 from 2006.

And it did have some great tracks

Valerie, Why Won't You Give Me Your Love? and Hello Conscience were ring-a-ding.....

But only Lily Allen and Chris Difford come anywhere close to the consistency of 2005's top three picks, for me.

[Petary791]

I think it's gonna be Robert Randolph and the Family Band's Colorblind.

[MellowTone41]

I think it's gonna be Robert Randolph and the Family Band's Colorblind.
Colorblind was okay, but it's definitely their weakest release to date (Wetlands was the strongest). RRFB's music just doesn't have the same power in the studio.

[Petary791]

Colorblind was okay, but it's definitely their weakest release to date (Wetlands was the strongest). RRFB's music just doesn't have the same power in the studio.

True. I don't even have the Wetlands CD... gots to get me that! I really dig Unclassified though. I have the Bonnaroo Official Bootleg and that's pretty awesome. They have a real nice jam on it.

[cmarley87]

Incubus - Light Grenades

[neb]

In no particular order:


The Racontuers - Broken Boy Soldiers
Beirut - Gulag Orkestar
Lupe Fiasco - Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor
Jarvis Cocker - Jarvis (No love for this one?)
Beck - The Information (Favourite this year)
Hot Chip - The Warning
Lily Allen - Alright, Still
Gnarls Barkley - St. Elsewhere
Arctic Monkeys - Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
Thom Yorke - The Eraser
Peter, Bjorn & John - Young Folks - EP

[mastrmateo]

Hey all, new to the forum, but wanted to share my albums of 2006:


Built to Spill - You in Reverse
Ben Harper - Both Sides of the Gun
Beck - The Information
The Wood Brothers - Ways Not to Lose
Widespread Panic - Earth to America
The Slip - Eisenhower
RHCP - Stadium Arcadium
The Disco Biscuits - The Wind at Four to Fly
Pearl Jam - Pearl Jam


I have to say, pretty good year overall. Happy Thanksgiving!

[LonelyRoad]

Best Album

Elton John's - The Captain And The Kid

[neb]

Is there no love for Jarvis Cocker? Has anyone heard it? Opinions?

[bdb]

Is there no love for Jarvis Cocker? Has anyone heard it? Opinions?I downloaded the free (DRMed) version from allofmp3 earlier today based on your previous mention. Not bad! A similar sound to Elvis Costello (a good thing!).

Unfortunately it seems to be only available as an import in the US, making it pretty pricey right now.

[ipodmini868]

I've been unlucky with music this year...I really only have two that stands out...of all those I bought this year...Justin - Futuresex... probably my favourite of this year. And on a close second John Mayer - Continuum.
I kinda like the "new" Beatles album too, but it isn't that remarkable.

And Stadium Arcadium is easily the biggest dissapointment this year.


thts surprising, I really liked stadium arcadium

[Eric Lewis]

stadiun arcade blew! only good song is danny california---rest suck

good - justin timberlake futuresex./love sounds!

[NiTRO]

Here are my 10 favs of the year (In no particular order):


Boris - Pink (USA release in 2006)
Band of Horses - Everything All The Time
Grandaddy - Just Like The Fambly Cat
Sunset Rubdown - Shut Up Am I Dreaming
The Decemberists - The Crane Wife
Jenny Lewis & The Watson Twins - Rabbit Fur Coat
The Thermals - The Body, The Blood, The Machine
kanYeWest - Late Registration
Tapes 'n Tapes - The Loon
CSS - Cansei de Ser Sexy


Honorable Mentions:

Beck - The Information
Viva Voce - Get Yr Blood Sucked Out
Driveblind - Driveblind
The Raconteurs - Broken Boy Soldiers

[Sime]

The Butterfly Effect: Imago.

[Ipodforlife]

Like others have said this year wasn't my particular favourite with regards to new releases but here is my list nonetheless

Gnarls Barkley - St. Elsewhere
Thom Yorke - The Eraser
The Decemberists - The Crane Wife
Army of the Pharoahs - The Torture Papers
and also a late edition since it just came out today but
Clipse - Hell Hath No Fury

[AlphaRob]

Stadium Arcadium by the Red Hot Chili Peppers
Endless Wire by the Who
Pearl Jam's Self-Titled Album
Broken Boy Soldiers by the Raconteurs
The Pick of Destiny by Tenacious D (lolz)
AND MORE!!! (lol)

It was a great year for music.

[antiditz]

I'm officially ready to add The Weepies' 'Say I am You' to my list. I downloaded it last week and have listened to little else since.

[papayaninja]

I'm officially ready to add The Weepies' 'Say I am You' to my list. I downloaded it last week and have listened to little else since.

I bought it a couple hours ago due to this thread, and it's a little "meh" in my mind. I'm going to listen to it more and maybe it'll grow on me, but for now, I wish it were The Weepies Without The Girl Singer. I'm pretty sure I'll like it more, because I like the guy, and I like the music, but she is a touch annoying. [/offtopic]

[Signal to Noise]

Beck - The Information (easily #1)
Muse - Black Holes & Revelations
Snow Patrol - Eyes Open
Gomez - How We Operate
TV On The Radio - Return to Cookie Mountain

Honorable mentions:

The Sadies - In Concert Vol. 1 (Live)
Widespread Panic - Earth To America
Mark Knopfler & Emmylou Harris - All the Roadrunning
Neko Case - Fox Confessor Brings the Flood
KT Tunstall - Eye to the Telescope

[enjoilax]

1. J Dilla - Donuts
2. Voxtrot - Mothers, Sisters, Daughters And Wives (EP)
3. Basement Jaxx - Crazy Itch Radio
4. The Roots - Game Theory
5. Oh No - Exodus Into Unheard Rhythms
6. The Pipettes - We Are The Pipettes
7. Junior Boys - So This Is Goodbye
8. Chin Up Chin Up - This Harness Can't Ride Anything
9. Islands - Return To The Sea
10. The Rapture - Pieces of The People We Love
11. J Dilla - The Shining
12. Klaxons - Xan Valleys (EP)
13. CSS - Cansei De Ser Sexy
14. LCD Soundsystem - 45:33
15. Peter Bjorn and John - Writer's Block
16. The Hold Steady - Boys And Girls in America
17. Tokyo Police Club - A Lesson In Crime (EP)
18. Clipse - Hell Hath No Fury
19. The Thermals - The Body, The Blood THe Machine
20. The Knife - Silent Shout
21. Phoenix - It's Never Been Like That
22. I'm From Barcelona - Let Me Introduce My Friends
23. Ghostface Killah - Fishscale
24. Herbert - Scale
25. Lily Allen - Alright, Still...
26. People Under The Stairs - Stepfather
27. Rhymefest - Blue Collar
28. RJD2 - Magnificent City Instrumentals
29. Modill - Midnight Green
30. The Futureheads - News & Tributes
31. Van She - Van She (EP)
32. ¡Forward, Russia! - Give Me A Wall
33. Arctic Monkeys - Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
34. Asobi Seksu - Citrus
35. Camera Obscura - Let's Get Out Of This Country
36. Gnarls Barkley - St. Elsewhere
37. Justin Timberlake - FutureSex/LoveSounds
38. Lupe Fiasco - Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor
39. M. Ward - Post War
40. Joanna Newsom - Ys
41. Girl Talk - Night Ripper
42. Ellen Allien & Apparat - Orchestra Of Bubbles
43. Mates of State - Bring It Back
44. Scissor Sisters - Ta-Dah
45. Sway - This Is My Demo
46. Tapes 'n Tapes - The Loon
47. The Streets - The Hardest Way To Make an Easy Living
48. TV On The Radio - Return To Cookie Mountain
49. Yo La Tengo - I Am Not Afraid Of You And I Will Beat Your ###
50. MSTRKRFT - The Looks

[Derek McNelly]

I almost put down Demon Days by Gorillaz until I realized that was an '05 album.

I'm so lost anymore about that stuff.

But for albums this year, I really have to say that nothing impressed me.

A bunch of great singles this year ("When You Were Young" "Welcome to the Black Parade") but nothing amazing.

Well, actually, now that I think about it, I really love Blue October's "Foiled" album. My favorite new album of the year.

[Nader172]

I liked Muse's Black Holes and Revolations, anyone else like this album?

Nate

[ipodcb]

I liked Muse's Black Holes and Revolations, anyone else like this album?

Nate

I was just skimming through this thread with this title in mind. It's my choice as well. Terrific CD! My favorite tracks are Take A Bow, Starlight, and City Of Delusion.

[Doc Evils]

Nas - Hip Hop Is Dead

Clipse- Hell Hath No Fury

Lupe Fiasco - Food & Liquor

[t.y.c]

The Killers

Stadium Arcadium

The Emancipation of Mimi

Confessions of a Dance Floor

2007 Ministry of Sound Annual Release

[smastroyin]

The Long Blondes - Someone to Take You Home. After several single releases, I think this record is getting ignored by some, I haven't seen it mentioned.

Of course, maybe noone else likes that sound.

My favorite is The Knife's Silent Shout, I think. But it's still too early to tell. I consider anything before about March of next year to be too early to really judge 2006.

[LPsoldier76]

in no particular order...

Incubus - Light Grenades
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Stadium Arcadium
NaS - Hip Hop is Dead
The Fray - How To Save A Life
Lupe Fiasco - Food and Liquor
The Roots - Game Theory

[bdb]

I've been listening to a few albums lately.

I wouldn't add The Weepies. Its a nice album, but not a great album.

I'd definitely add - Grizzly Bear - Yellow House. This is just a wonderful album.

I may want to add Annuals - Be He Me. I'd heard a few songs from this album and they were OK, but as an album its surprisingly good.

[crewchief]

Ok it was a January release, but I am disappointed that there is no mention of She Want's Revenge, and Audioslave Revelations came out in Sept.

[NiTRO]

I can't comment on She Wants Revenge because I've only heard the singles and a couple other album tracks but honestly, I think the reason we haven't seen a lot of votes for the newest Audioslave record is that it's far from being one of the best albums of 2006. If its one of your favorites, I respect that but it's far from mine and I'm not exactly seeing high praise from many others around here or anywhere else. A 3-star type album rating isn't going to cut it for best of the year.

[Just_Sam]

So many good albums released this year

Rise Against - The Sufferer And The Witness (In my opinion best)
NoFx - Wolves In Wolves Clothing
Against Me! - Americans Abroad!!! Against Me!!! Live In London!!!
The Falcon - Unicornography
Unpaid Debt - Southern Cross Bones

[Step666]

We Are Scientists - With Love and Squalor

[bdb]

I didn't think it should be one of my top albums because its quiet and kind of wierdly sweet music, but Tunng - Comments of the Inner Chorus seems to be the album I can't stop listening to. At this point its my favorite album.

http://www.emusic.com/img/album/109/183/10918345_60_60.jpeg (http://www.emusic.com/album/10918/10918345.html)http://www.emusic.com/album/10918/10918345.html

[Galley]

2006 was a fairly lackluster year for new releases, so instead I'm gonna give you my top five reissues/compilations of 2006.

The Monkees - The Monkees [Deluxe Edition]
The Monkees - More Of The Monkees [Deluxe Edition] - Once again, Rhino's Monkees reissues put Capitol's Beatles reissues to shame.
Def Leppard - Hysteria [Deluxe Edition] - a phenomenal reissue of a landmark album, complete with all of their excellent B-sides.
Roxette - Hits! - A truly deserving band gets an overseas-only release with 20 hits from 1988-2006.
R.E.M. - And I Feel Fine: The Best Of The I.R.S. Years 1982-1987 - 42 tracks from R.E.M.'s early days

[huyi]

Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor
Beyonce - B-Day
Scissor Sisters - Ta-Dah
India.Arie - Testimony Vol 1 - Life & Relationship
Outkast - Idlewild
Gnarls Barkley - St Elsewhere

[Joshcui2389]

my top would be

Gnarls Barkley - St. Elsewhere
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Stadium Arcadium
Evanescence - The Open Door
James Blunt - Back to Bedlam (not too many ppl mentioned it...i like it)
Nickelback - All the Right Reasons
DragonForce - Inhuman Rampage

[enjoilax]

Nickelback - All the Right Reasons

What, please tell me you're kidding. I mean literally Nickelback is the avatar of exactly what is wrong with the music industry.:shake:

[Kristiano]

What, please tell me you're kidding. I mean literally Nickelback is the avatar of exactly what is wrong with the music industry.:shake:

I actually agree with Enjoilax on this.

And btw All The Right Reasons is a 2005 album, not 2006.

[Step666]

And btw All The Right Reasons is a 2005 album, not 2006.As for that matter is Back to Bedlam.



I don't agree with the two of you that Nickelback is necessarily all that bad.
They're not my cup of tea but that's no reason to have a go at someone else for liking them.

In fact, it could be seen as somewhat hypocritical of someone to criticise a person for liking Nickelback when they list albums by Britney Spears and Avril Levigne as part of the 5 most important in their life.

Everyone has their own tastes and you can do a lot worse than Nickelback.

[gobosox5]

Daughtry- Daughtry
30 Seconds to Mars- A beautiful lie
The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus- Don't You Fake It
Foo Fighters- Skin and Bones
Panic! At the Disco- A Fever You Can't Sit Out
RHCP- Stadium Arcadium
and my guilty pleasure
Christina Aguilera- Back to Basics (best Pop Album in the last 5 years) amazing compared to Fergie, PCD, and Gwen Stefani

[antiditz]

I'd definitely add - Grizzly Bear - Yellow House. This is just a wonderful album.

Ditto to that. It is a superb album. Just gorgeous all-around.

It's funny, this topic came up pretty late in the year (naturally), but I discovered some of my favorite 2006 albums quite late in December. Beach House - Beach House deserves an honorable mention IMO, and despite being only an EP, The Little Ones - Sing Song is great fun, definitely up there with '06's best.

[Ethan120]

1. The Devil and God are Raging Inside Me - Brand New
2. The Air Force - Xiu Xiu
3. Food & Liquor - Lupe Fiasco

[a7dk]

in no particular order:

Josh Ritter - The Animal Years
Decemberists - The Crane Wife
Vienna Teng - Dreaming Through the Noise
Camera Obscura - Let's Get Out of This Country
Mark Knopfler & Emmylou Harris - All The Roadrunning
Neko Case - Fox Confessor Brings The Flood
Guster - Ganging Up On The Sun
Gomez - How We Operate
The Weepies - Say I Am You

Fun thread! I can't wait to look up some of the things you guys have posted that I'm not aware of!

[Dim]

Hmmm. In no order, these are my favorites but keep in mind I listened to maybe 20 new albums last year.

Beck - The Information (liked it much more than Guero)
Tool - 10,000 Days
Built To Spill - You In Reverse
Pearl Jam - Pearl Jam
Christina Aguilera - Back To Basics
John Mayer - Continuum
Gwen Stefani - Sweet Escape (not proud of this, but I was pleasantly surprised considering I never liked No Doubt all that much)
Foo Fighters - Skin And Bones

Disappointments:
RHCP - Stadium Arcadium
The Flaming Lips - At War With The Mystics

[LPsoldier76]

Gym Class Heroes - As Cruel As School Children.
awesome album of 06, one of my favorites.

[Just_Sam]

^
I agree, though there were better ones, that one was good.