"Same as it ever was..."
For those of you just tuning in, its January 9th, and I've yet to make a year end list of favorite albums...and I'm not going to. Honestly, it would be very similar to Pitchfork's, Tiny Mix Tapes', and several bloggers lists I've run across. To be completely honest I spent most of 2006 slowly building my record collection, and purchased far more dusty old vinyls than crisp new ones. Big shout out to Love Garden's bargain room by the way.
However, I will list some of my favorite songs of the year just because I can.
Islands - "Swans (Life After Death)"
The first time I heard this song I was terribly unimpressed. In fact, I was unimpressed with just about every song this band had to offer with the exception of "Where There's a Will, There's a Whalebone", mainly because of that song's contrast to the rest of the album. I went to see them live hoping that would convert me, but was instead forced to endure the show after J'aime Tambeur left the band, which by most accounts was a total disaster. (The show in question even gets a brief mention in a Pitchfork interview) Then, several months later, something strange happened: I listened to the album again. The album became my unofficial "pack and get ready to move" album, then my unofficial "driving to school" album. While I could have very easily picked a different song from this album ("Volcanoes" comes to mind), I felt this song deserves the most credit for getting me back into the band in the first place. After all, at over 9 minutes in length it would have been easy to get bored, turn the album off and forget about it for good. In the end this song, and eventually the rest of the album, won the day.
Belle and Sebastian - "The Blues are Still Blue"
Derivative of simple pop, reliant on cheesy blues licks and intentional play on words, and yet one of the most catchy and infectious songs I've heard this side of the New Pornographers. I absolutely love it.
TV on the Radio - "Providence"
"Wolf Like Me" is actually my favorite song of '06, but shit, I think even my own mother has heard enough hype about that song. Instead, I thought I'd give some love to "Providence", which features a guest appearance by an up and comer named David Bowie, and sounds like the TV on the Radio I hoped they would become after hearing their debut album back in '04.
Hot Chip - "And I Was a Boy From School"
I have to admit, I only very recently heard this song. Acually, it was New Year's Eve to be exact. And yet in the late hours of what remained 2006, I was able to hear this song twice and fall in love with it. Now I can't get it out of my head.
Yo La Tengo - "The Room Got Heavy"
It seems the popular thing to do is knock on And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out and Summer Sun, so maybe saying that "The Room Got Heavy" sounds like the best songs off those two albums morphed into one groovin' jam won't convert any new followers, but hey, I call it like I see it.
Thom Yorke - "Harrowdown Hill"
This was a tough choice because of the nine songs that make up Thom Yorke's, uh, first album he made by himself* I love Love LOVE five of them so very fucking much. I chose this one because my girlfriend and I used to sing this song to each other (love you baby!)
Beirut - "Postcards from Italy"
Mmmmm...I've really fallen for this song, fuck it, this whole album, over the past month.
I'm sure there are more songs I could mention. I'm so sure in fact that I'll list a few more, just without my explanations. Don't call them honorable mentions, instead just call me lazy.
Joanna Newsom - "Emily"
Annuals - "Brother"
Grizzly Bear - "On a Neck, On a Spit"
Peter Bjorn and John - "Young Folks"
Swan Lake - "Widows Walk"
Destroyer - "Your Blood"
Sonic Youth - "Jams Run Free"
Tapes 'n Tapes - "Manitoba"
That's enough I think. You get the idea, don't you? Besides, you didn't come here to hear the same crap you read in Pitchfork months ago, did you? I mean, you'll get that anyway regardless, but we both know you came for the hardcore nudity. If only I had some lying around...
*In a message Thom sent out to members of the W.A.S.T.E. fanclub, Thom made his feelings about the term "solo album" very clear, and how he
"...don't wanna hear that word solo. doesnt sound right."
Neither did that quote, but I kinda like it that way.
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