code meets music

So, after the first album review (I think that’s a bit too generous a term…) comes the roundup of the year’s best albums, in my humble opinion naturally. Due to some patchy internet connectivity before Christmas I didn’t get a chance to finish writing the entry back then, so it’s here now. Imagine it was written before Christmas.

So, to start with, my 10 favourite albums of 2006. I think the list in its entirety is more important than the particular ordering; I find it very difficult to compare music directly in such a way…

So, after the first album review (I think that’s a bit too generous a term…) comes the roundup of the year’s best albums, in my humble opinion naturally. Due to some patchy internet connectivity before Christmas I didn’t get a chance to finish writing the entry back then, so it’s here now. Imagine it was written before Christmas.

So, to start with, my 10 favourite albums of 2006. I think the list in its entirety is more important than the particular ordering; I find it very difficult to compare music directly in such a way…

10 Show your Bones (Yeah Yeah Yeahs)

When I first heard the YYYs, around the time Pin came out I think, I really didn’t like them. Ms. O’s voice annoyed me, and (perhaps the main reason…) they played the same song (Pin) every time I went out. Someone I work with got the new album, and as soon as Gold Lion came on I was hooked. I went home, bought the album, and then a few weeks later went out and got Fever to Tell.

9 Bitter Tea (The Fiery Furnaces)

A lot of people who seem to share my tastes in music really dislike this band, but since seeing them live a couple of years ago I’ve been quite a fan. The band’s songs in general vary between long, rambling tales and catchy pop songs, but Bitter Tea is very much the former. It took a few listens for me to like it, but the stop and start of the melodies, interrupted by what is almost chanting, makes an album that’s pretty unique.

8 The Eraser (Thom Yorke)

A must for anyone who likes Kid A, and a ‘probably’ if you like music at all.

7 Return to Cookie Mountain (TV on the Radio)

Heard good things about this band from a friend. Listened to a song he sent me, and bought the album. Highlight: Province.

6 Nine Times that Same song (Love is All)

They owe a lot (including their name) to The Rapture, but nonetheless their album impressed me. It’s catchy, exciting and while continuing the ‘indietronica’ (as music genre names go, I’m quite liking this one) goes, it ain’t half bad, and retains enough uniqueness that it doesn’t fade into the background.

5 Counter Culture 05 (Various Artists)

Despite the name, this album was released this year. Each since (since 2003, I think) Rough Trade Shops put out a compilation that contains their music of the previous year. And what good compilations they have turned out to be. Before even continuing, it’s worth pointing out that for the cost of a regular album (£10 or so) you’re getting 50 songs. On this latest collection, there isn’t a song that I don’t like. Some aren’t necessarily ‘good’, but none are worthy of the ‘next’ button so as far as cost goes, you’re getting a lot for your money. The highlight for me from this was ‘My Machine’ by Princess Superstar. It’s not something I would otherwise have come across, but is a really good song. There will most probably be a Counter Culture 06 out early next year, I would reccomend it off-plan!

4 Silent Shout (The Knife)

Described by someone I know as the result of ‘throwing a synth down the stairs’. That’s a compliment, and well deserved. Good in its entirety, the title track is as good as any.

3 Yes, Virginia (The Dresden Dolls)

Ferocious piano playing, dark lyrics and amanda’s powerful voice combine to make one my favourite bands and this: A superb album. Backstabber is probably my favourite song, but as an album it’s not quite as good as their (self-titled) debut.

2 CSS (Cansei de Ser Sexy)

“do you like the beach, bitch?”.

“Let’s make love and listen death from above”.

Probably not an album to play to your grandma, but definitely an awesome album. It’s an album that can definitely be described as ‘funky’: Every single song is catchy, so addictive it should probably come with a health warning (did I really just say that?!)

1 Forward, Russia (self-titled)

Another really cool album that just edges out CSS due to the fact it came out first, and so I’ve listened to it more. It’s definitely the most original album of the year, and in entirety is unsurpassed.

While I like to keep on top of new albums and what’s good, some things pass me when they’re released. Luckily, there are a few from 2005 that I discovered this year:

• Clap your hands say yeah (self-titled) Such an odd album, with a lot of odd songs, but very good. I hear rumours there will be a follow-up early next year.

• Arular (M.I.A) Not a lot of rap impresses me, but this album is amazing. The rhythm of the songs is energetic and exciting, while the lyrics and singing/MCing seem to have real feeling behind them.

And finally, as I’m writing this before christmas, there are a few albums that I’ve heard good things about that made it onto my christmas list:

• Everything Must Go 10th Anniversary Edition (Manic Street Preachers) As my ‘first favourite band’, I bought EMG a long time ago, but managed to snap the CD and so felt justified in getting this re-issue, pretty box and all. Bit disappointed that they haven’t kept the original listing on the ‘main’ CD (there’s some live recordings added to the end), but I’m not going to lose a lot of sleep over it.

• Live it Out (Metric) Emily Haines’ voice is wonderful. When I first heard Anthems for a Seventeen Year Old Girl on Broken Social Scene’s ‘You Forgot it in People’ and commented on it to a friend, I followed the advice to ‘check out metric’ straight away, and with Grow up and Blow Away I wasn’t disappointed. Live it Out isn’t, from what I’ve heard, quite as good, but still something

*Standing in the way of Control (The Gossip) This has been reccomended to me by a number of people, and I’m very interested to hear what the songs other than the title track (which I’ve heard, and liked) are like.

• The Peel Sessions (PJ Harvey) Live recordings of Ms Harvey playing for John Peel (and the nation…) from 1991 through to 2004. There’s a couple of songs I don’t know on there, plus a lot I do, but one can never have to much of Polly.