The 15 "Best" Songs of 2006
Well, tis the season, as my fellow blogger Jack Gladney proclaimed, for overblown and self-important music lists. And, try as I might, I just couldn't help but add to the already supersaturated blogosphere my choices for the 15 "best" songs of the year. Best gets the quotation marks because while putting this list together, it became obvious just how entirely subjective my (and everyone else's) choices are. So, while these 15 songs were able to do for me what no other songs this year could, they just might (and some most likely will) sound like horseshit to you. These songs were widdled down from a list of 100, and, while these truly are my 15 favorites of the year, some of them are from album's that, otherwise, I don't particularly care for. Likewise, many of my favorite albums are not represented here (No Bonnie, no Mountain Goats, no Kevin Devine.) So, proceed at your own caution, and please, if these sound interesting to you, give em a quick listen (And hey, weird, these songs fit pretty perfectly on a mix CD!,) because I spent a helluva lot of time uploading em:
15. Anathallo - Hanasakajijii (four: a great wind, more ash)
A lot of people (re: Pitchfork) complain that Anathallo are an unoriginal mishmash of more successful indie acts (re: Sufjan.) But, what these naysayers fail to understand is that Anathallo have been crafting these epic gems for years, pouring themselves into their music long before the Illinois-explosion. Seeing this band live recently only confirmed their passion and grace.
14. Owen - The Sad Waltzes Of Pietro Crespi
In a year when the genre was once again hijacked by embarassing major label MTV travesties, Owen continued to quietly write some of the best "emo" music around. This song, a beautiful acoustic gem from their CD "At Home With Owen," contains a piano line at 2:02 that gives me chills every time.
13. Tilly and The Wall - Bad Education
Tilly's 2nd album was another solid collection of great singles, and so this, the album's actual lead single, leads the bunch in quality and relistenability. I'm shocked that this gem didn't sweep the indie-pop nation, causing millions of 17 year olds with nice haircuts to dance their hearts away.
12. My Latest Novel - Sister Sneaker, Sister Soul
Like the love-child of Belle and Sebastian and The Arcade Fire, My Latest Novel quietly emerged in 2006 with a solid album of, oddly enough, twee-post rock. This song, which contains a fantastic instrumental build up, is the highlight.
11. Defiance, Ohio - Oh, Susquehanna!
The most promising folk-punk band around today returned in 2006 with a CD a bit heavier on the folk than their previous efforts. But, no worries, as the CD, and this single specifically, retained, and even expanded upon, the unique DIY charm of this explosive group's earlier work.
10. Adem - Something's Going Come
A quiet gem from a quiet release, this single by lo-fi folk artist Adem perfectly embodies the otherworldly dreamlike beauty of his sophmore album "Love and Other Planets."
9. Camera Obscura - Let's Get Out Of This Country
Camera Obscura, a twee group from Scotland following in the footsteps of Belle and Sebastian, perfected their sound with this 3-minute pop masterpiece. This is the kind of song I could listen to over and over again anytime.
8. Califone - The Orchids
This song came out of *nowhere.* Wow. A completely enchanting, hypnotic 3-minutes of whistful folk.
7. The Weepies - Gotta Have You
One of the best "teenage angst" songs I've ever heard (up there with some of The Smith's best,) this breaths nostalgia. The lead singer's beautiful voice is unique and fantastic.
6. Belle & Sebastian - Sukie In The Graveyard
Now this is what I'm talking about. Belle and Sebastian, who have yet to release an album that wasn't chock full of indie pop greats, came out fighting last January with "The Life Pursuit." This song is just another reminder of how Murdoch and co. can write em like no one else.
5. The Acorn - Blankets
I know little to nothing about this group, who, to the best of my knowledge, remain unsigned. But, their 4-song EP "Blankets" is far and away my favorite EP of the year. The title track picks up where lit-rock masters Death Cab left off after the Photo Album (right before their bodies were possessed by evil aliens bent on world domination.)
4. Mates of State - Nature and The Wreck
For some reason, right after hearing this 2 minute song from Mates of State's new CD "Bring it Back," I decided that it was, far and away, the most beautiful thing I had ever heard. Now, after an infinite amount of relistens, I've decided that that was most likely a bit of an overstatemen. But, that doesn't mean I still don't think it's totally great.
3. Okkervil River - The President's Dead
It's pretty ridiculous how Will Sheff can write a piece of genius like this with what seems like little to no effort, and then throw it on an Australian tour EP. This song is the antithesis of last years awful Conor Oberst turd "When The President Talks To God." That is, it's personal, melodic and lyricially passionate and original. Simply put, another reminder why Sheff is the most promising songwriter in music today.
2. The Long Winters - Hindsight
As good as indie-pop gets, this song has enough unexpected twists and chill-worthy moments to justify it's place near the top of any music list.
1. Joanna Newsom - Sawdust and Diamonds
In my opinion, no album came close in scope, ambition or success to "Ys" in 2006. Joanna's album is one that is remarkably easy to write off (as it seems many did) based solely on it's inherent pretention. But just under the surface of the otherworldly grandiosity of "Ys" is a deeply personal work. And, never is that more important than in this song, where, in just under 10 minutes, Joanna pushes her songwriting, lyrical and vocal abilities to their absolute core, and emerges with something very close to perfection.
15. Anathallo - Hanasakajijii (four: a great wind, more ash)
A lot of people (re: Pitchfork) complain that Anathallo are an unoriginal mishmash of more successful indie acts (re: Sufjan.) But, what these naysayers fail to understand is that Anathallo have been crafting these epic gems for years, pouring themselves into their music long before the Illinois-explosion. Seeing this band live recently only confirmed their passion and grace.
14. Owen - The Sad Waltzes Of Pietro Crespi
In a year when the genre was once again hijacked by embarassing major label MTV travesties, Owen continued to quietly write some of the best "emo" music around. This song, a beautiful acoustic gem from their CD "At Home With Owen," contains a piano line at 2:02 that gives me chills every time.
13. Tilly and The Wall - Bad Education
Tilly's 2nd album was another solid collection of great singles, and so this, the album's actual lead single, leads the bunch in quality and relistenability. I'm shocked that this gem didn't sweep the indie-pop nation, causing millions of 17 year olds with nice haircuts to dance their hearts away.
12. My Latest Novel - Sister Sneaker, Sister Soul
Like the love-child of Belle and Sebastian and The Arcade Fire, My Latest Novel quietly emerged in 2006 with a solid album of, oddly enough, twee-post rock. This song, which contains a fantastic instrumental build up, is the highlight.
11. Defiance, Ohio - Oh, Susquehanna!
The most promising folk-punk band around today returned in 2006 with a CD a bit heavier on the folk than their previous efforts. But, no worries, as the CD, and this single specifically, retained, and even expanded upon, the unique DIY charm of this explosive group's earlier work.
10. Adem - Something's Going Come
A quiet gem from a quiet release, this single by lo-fi folk artist Adem perfectly embodies the otherworldly dreamlike beauty of his sophmore album "Love and Other Planets."
9. Camera Obscura - Let's Get Out Of This Country
Camera Obscura, a twee group from Scotland following in the footsteps of Belle and Sebastian, perfected their sound with this 3-minute pop masterpiece. This is the kind of song I could listen to over and over again anytime.
8. Califone - The Orchids
This song came out of *nowhere.* Wow. A completely enchanting, hypnotic 3-minutes of whistful folk.
7. The Weepies - Gotta Have You
One of the best "teenage angst" songs I've ever heard (up there with some of The Smith's best,) this breaths nostalgia. The lead singer's beautiful voice is unique and fantastic.
6. Belle & Sebastian - Sukie In The Graveyard
Now this is what I'm talking about. Belle and Sebastian, who have yet to release an album that wasn't chock full of indie pop greats, came out fighting last January with "The Life Pursuit." This song is just another reminder of how Murdoch and co. can write em like no one else.
5. The Acorn - Blankets
I know little to nothing about this group, who, to the best of my knowledge, remain unsigned. But, their 4-song EP "Blankets" is far and away my favorite EP of the year. The title track picks up where lit-rock masters Death Cab left off after the Photo Album (right before their bodies were possessed by evil aliens bent on world domination.)
4. Mates of State - Nature and The Wreck
For some reason, right after hearing this 2 minute song from Mates of State's new CD "Bring it Back," I decided that it was, far and away, the most beautiful thing I had ever heard. Now, after an infinite amount of relistens, I've decided that that was most likely a bit of an overstatemen. But, that doesn't mean I still don't think it's totally great.
3. Okkervil River - The President's Dead
It's pretty ridiculous how Will Sheff can write a piece of genius like this with what seems like little to no effort, and then throw it on an Australian tour EP. This song is the antithesis of last years awful Conor Oberst turd "When The President Talks To God." That is, it's personal, melodic and lyricially passionate and original. Simply put, another reminder why Sheff is the most promising songwriter in music today.
2. The Long Winters - Hindsight
As good as indie-pop gets, this song has enough unexpected twists and chill-worthy moments to justify it's place near the top of any music list.
1. Joanna Newsom - Sawdust and Diamonds
In my opinion, no album came close in scope, ambition or success to "Ys" in 2006. Joanna's album is one that is remarkably easy to write off (as it seems many did) based solely on it's inherent pretention. But just under the surface of the otherworldly grandiosity of "Ys" is a deeply personal work. And, never is that more important than in this song, where, in just under 10 minutes, Joanna pushes her songwriting, lyrical and vocal abilities to their absolute core, and emerges with something very close to perfection.
posted by D-Swizzle at 7:01 PM
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