411 Music presents...2006 Year In Review: Part 1 - Staff Picks
Posted by Mitch Michaels on 01.03.2007
The 411 music staff looks back at some of their favorite albums and artists of 2006. What were the best CDs? Who made the biggest breakthrough? What songs made us want to drive an ice pick through our skulls? How many times will TV On The Radio appear in the column? Find out the answers to these questions and more, in this first part of our four part 2006 Year In Review!!!
PART 1: STAFF PICKS
Well, folks, it's that time of year when every good music lover is making his or her lists and reflecting on the past 365 days of rock ‘n‘ roll. The esteemed staff here at 411 Music is no different. We've assembled all the 411 brothers, sisters and cousins for one last family holiday gathering. Put down your Wii controller for a moment (doesn't your fucking arm hurt yet?) and peep what really rocked our individual socks off this year.
MITCH MICHAELS (Editor, Reviewer, Ask 411 guru, Guy that put this shit together)
Top Six Albums of 2006:
1. Johnny Cash - American V: A Hundred Highways
2. Chris Knight - Enough Rope
3. Drive-By Truckers - A Blessing And A Curse
4. The Killers - Sam's Town
5. John Mayer - Continuum
6. Red Hot Chili Peppers - Stadium Arcadium
Honorable Mention: Bruce Springsteen - We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions, Tom Petty - Highway Companion, Counting Crows - New Amsterdam: Live At Heineken Music Hall, T.I. - King, Lucero - Rebels, Rogues & Sworn Brothers, Garth Brooks - The Lost Sessions
2006 started out pretty slow, but by December, I'd decided this has been one hell of a year for music, especially rock. When Tom Petty can put together a great new album and it doesn't make my Top 6. you know it's been one fuck of a CD buying year. RHCP's set was a bit bloated, but it seems like I discover a new gem on that one every day. John Mayer shocked the hell out of me with the most mature, gorgeous, well-written pop/rock album by anybody in their 20's, possibly ever. The Killers took a while to grow on me, too, but Sam's Town, while not as great as their debut, is just chock full of fun, playful singles. DBT thought outside the box and wound up with another very cohesive set that, when given the proper amount of time, can really mean a lot to you. Chris Knight hit his usual backwoods, plain spoken homerun. And then there was The Man In Black, whose final set of songs proved just as vital and amazing as his first Rick Rubin-produced disc. It has been a HELL of a year folks.
Most Annoying Album of the Year: Pink - I'm Not Dead. Bar none. I'd rather take a 6-hour car trip with Paris Hilton than listen to this piece of shit again.
Biggest Music News of 2006: Kid Rock: House Husband. With Britney and K-Fed breaking up, poor Kid Rock and Pamela Lee's split kind of got buried. Sure, more important, groundbreaking things happened this year, but when the American Badass is revealed to be the guy that stays home and takes care of the kids while his old lady parties all night, you just can't look at the world the same again.
Favorite Concert of 2006: Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers' 30th Anniversary Tour. Petty shared his stage with some giant names (Pearl Jam, The Strokes, John Mayer, The Allmans) and made for one of the most special big tours in recent history. Celebrating a stellar career, there's just no band better than the Heartbreakers, and even in their 50's, these guys rock harder and BETTER than any young band. I was lucky enough to catch this tour twice, culminating at Amsterjam in NYC, when Petty and The Foo Fighters tore the house down in Rock 'n' Roll style.
Biggest Disappointment of the Year: This is a personal one, but mine would have to do with the aforementioned Amsterjam. Supposedly, the big acts were supposed to "mash up" to end their sets, which is the theme of the festival. LL Cool J teamed up with Tego Calderon for "Doin' It". Busta Rhymes grooved with Yerba Buena. Then when it was time for the first ever holy rock union of the Foos and the Heartbreakers, we instead get Dave Grohl playing rhythm guitar on "Runnin' Down A Dream". WHAT THE FUCK??
Biggest Surprise of the Year: Beyonce is good. Her current Dreamgirls troubles are getting all the press, but Beyonce's new album, B'Day, shocked the hell out of me by being a groovy, smartly written pop masterpiece. If you've only heard the annoying "Irreplacable", give it another chance.
Best Breakthrough Artist of the Year: Gnarls Barkley. Sure, the album sucks, but when you can get a fucking awesome soul song over on the MTV Movie Awards, and dressed as DARTH FUCKING VADER, then you earn my respect.
Comeback Artist of 2006: Meat Loaf. Everyone was prepared to laugh at old Meat, with his lack of Jim Steinman, his age, his weight and the fact he was making a "sequel" to his two best selling albums, but then something happened. Bat Out Of Hell III was good. No, it was fucking GREAT! Not only did Meat Loaf kill the shit out of Celine Dion's "It's All Coming Back To Me Now", he turned outan even better album than part II. Bow down to this man. Give us Bat Out Of Hell IV!
MORGAN MARX (Reviewer Extraordinaire)
Top 6 Albums of 2006: 1. The Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Show Your Bones.
2. Tool - 10,000 Days.
3. Regina Spektor - Begin To Hope
4. Mastodon,- Blood Mountain.
5. The Decembrists - The Crane Wife.
6. Neko Case - Fox Confessor Brings the Flood.
Honorable Mentions: The Cardigans - Super Extra Gravity, Cat Power - The Greatest, Joanna Newsom - Ys, The Knife - Silent Shout, The Dresden Dolls - Yes, Virginia.
2006 was about the quantity of quality releases. There were a plethora of really good albums made this year, as opposed to one universal "Best Album." My Top 6 (I'm cheating, it's more like Top 11) are the albums that I find myself returning to again and again. Cat Power's latest was released way back in January while I didn't purchase Mastodon's epic until December. Though Tool is my favorite band, I went with the YYY's as #1 because each time I listen to Bones I'm surprised at just how solid it is. Hopefully, 2007's Top 7 will be just as difficult to choose.
Most Annoying Album of the Year: Danity Kane - Danity Kane. I have a big problem with people who complain about the music industry. They seem to think that the evil corporations who run record companies intentionally suppress "good music" in favor of producing terrible crap. Records companies make albums to make money. They release terrible, contrived records made by horrible, over-produced, supposed sex symbols because those albums constantly debut in the Billboard Top Ten. It's our fault people. Stop buying these records. Remember, only you can prevent shite albums from going gold.
Biggest Music News of 2006: The Indies Go Mainstream. I'm obviously terrible at my job, but no singular story stands out. That leads me to believe that 2006 wasn't a monumental year in music. One newsy event seems to be the mainstreaming of bands signing to mainstream labels. It used to be grounds for a mini-riot when your favorite indie band signed to a major label. Now it hardly makes waves. Bands like Interpol and The Decemberists have jumped to the big leagues with no discernable change to their sound or philosophy. This is a good thing people. We can finally put the "sell out" issue to bed and keep the focus on the music, and off the business.
Favorite Concert of 2006: Tool. Any year that Tool tours, this is a forgone conclusion. Watching those four men, experts at their craft, recreate their songs in a live setting is always an event to be cherished. It also reminds me just how damn difficult it must be to play that sort of music live. 10,000 Days just upped the ante, particularly the stunning title composition.
Biggest Disappointment of the Year: Big new releases from big name artists. 2006 featured a litany of new albums from famous artists that failed to live up to the hype. Pearl Jam, Beck and the Red Hot Chili Peppers all delivered so-so efforts. The Strokes continue to underwhelm (Albert Hammond Jr might have released a better album). Thom Yorke's much anticipated solo debut was good, but the man has set the bar too high to deliver "good." Similarly, Jack White's not-so-solo offering was buried under all the "supergroup" headlines. We spent an awful lot of time discussing albums that, when released, faded quickly.
Biggest Surprise of the Year: The "success" of Gnarls Barkley. "Crazy" is a great song. Hearing it on the radio or on MTV never gets old (all right, it can get old when it's played twice an hour, every hour). The rest of the songs St. Elsewhere…not so much. Besides a rather pedestrian cover of a classic Violent Femmes song, the debut album from Danger Mouse and Cee-Lo didn't really have much of an impact. I'm not disappointed; I like that more people know of Cee-Lo now, and I think some of his lyrics were remarkably honest and insightful for pop music. It's just that the album isn't that much better than Danger Mouse's other big time hit, Demon Days. Oh well, I think I'm just cynical. Great band name though.
Best Breakthrough Artist of the Year: Regina Spektor. The very antithesis of your average pop star. A classically trained, Russian born pianist with myriad vocal tics and eccentricities. I couldn't be happier that "Fidelity" is actually featured in a TV commercial. Begin To Hope is all over the "Best Of" lists (including mine) and hopefully marks the start of a great mainstream career. Heck, even my girlfriend loves Regina now.
Comeback Artist of 2006: Several of rock's monumental institutions released generally well received new albums this year, including Bob Dylan and The Who. Less heralded comebacks were made by artists like Scott Walker and Richard Ashcroft. Both released albums that garnered critical acclaim and both are connecting with audiences who may be unaware of their prior work. I can't believe The Verve is entering "classic" status.
BRIAN BERRY (Editor, Reviewer, Lord of the "Top 5")
Top 6 Albums of 2006:
1. TV On the Radio - Return To Cookie Mountain Return To Cookie Mountain is far and away the best album I've heard in 2006. At its core, this is a soul record. As on their impressive debut album, Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes (my #5 album of 2004), the vocals and melodies are straight up rhythm & blues, with dollops of doo-wop thrown in.
Singer Tunde Adebimpe has incredible vocal range, mixing well with TVOTR's mix of early Peter Gabriel, shoegaze (see: My Bloody Valentine), and Northern Soul. Musically, this is just dense enough with sound effects and atmospheric textures (thanks to founding member and producer David Sitek), so as to not overcrowd the record with too much sound. While the loops are still in place, one positive addition to their second album is the use of live drums rather than drum machines. This gives the band a more organic sound whereas before they sounded more mechanical. Just as haunting as it is beautiful, edgy, and thought provoking, Return To Cookie Mountain is the next album you need in your collection.
2. The Hold Steady - Boys and Girls In America
Despite sounding like a mash-up of Thin Lizzy, The Replacements, and Bruce Springsteen, these Minneapolis cats have somehow have found themselves as one of the coolest uncool bands in the indie-rock universe. This is The Hold Steady's best album to date…and while I like to recommend individual tracks that highlight an album, every track is just as good as the next.
3. Two Gallants - What the Toll Tells
Over the course of two albums, a few b-sides, and a handful of live shows, Two Gallants have steadily climbed the ranks of bands that I hold in the highest regard. Their sound meshes the best elements of drunken pub music and Southern blues with the passion of the purest punk rock. Two Gallants' albums tell tales of heartache, grief and loss and these themes are best showcased on What the Toll Tells. Highlights include "Las Cruces Jail", "Steady Rollin" and "16th St. District", a highly personal ode to San Francisco's troubled Mission District.
4. Danielson - Ships
Deerhoof and Islands are great, but Daniel Smith's band of merry pranksters take the prize for the band making the best freak-pop music today. Past collaborators Sufjan Stevens and Deerhoof help out on some of the demented, yet always upbeat tracks on Danielson's best album to date.
Did I mention all members of Danielson are Christian and sometimes their lyrics expose some of their religious beliefs? Non-believers (of which I'm company) need not think these cats should be avoided; after all, they make Jars of Clay and Switchfoot look like a bunch of dorky little bitches. Daniel Smith, the mastermind of this outfit, sings in a high pitched voice about subjects ranging from apologizing when you're at fault ('Did I Step On Your Trumpet'), reading books ('Bloodbook On the Half Shell'), and not cutting other people down ('He Who Flattened Your Flame Is Gettin Torched'). Somehow, these clichéd topics of Christian youth groups, far and wide, are contorted through the twisted lens of a musical genius. Ships is one of the best albums of the year. Overlook the religious undertones and you have one of the best pop records in recent memory.
5. Grandaddy - Just Like the Fambly Cat
Grandaddy's final album is just as good (if not better) as their previous best work, The Sophtware Slump (2000). The musicianship and songwriting here isn't as loosey goosey as on the mediocre Sumday (2003). Like on The Sophtware Slump, Jason Lytle and company use outdated electronics liberally, while creating an endless collage of genres ranging from '60s neo-psychedelia, '70s progressive, and '80s new wave to '90s indie-rock (a la Yo La Tengo). Lytle's trembly, boyish vocals recall Neil Young more often than not. Fans of the Flaming Lips style of acid fried pop, who have yet to hear Grandaddy, will be pleasantly surprised at how much better this album is than the 'Lips forgettable 2006 album, At War With the Mystics. While it's unfortunate Grandaddy disbanded, at least they went out with a nearly flawless record.
6. Thom Yorke - The Eraser
If you liked the electronica based Radiohead classic, Kid A (2000), you'll love Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke's debut album. The Eraser far exceeded the expectations of most people.
HM -Six Organs of Admittance - The Sun Awakens, Sunset Rubdown - Shut Up I'm Dreaming, The Thermals - The Body The Blood The Machine, Black Heart Procession - The Spell, E-40 - My Ghetto Report Card, Band of Horses - Everything All the Time, Cat Power - The Greatest
Most Annoying Album of the Year: Hinder - Extreme Behaviour. These guys are the epitome of all I loathe in music. Untalented and unoriginal musically, but also obnoxious and offensive in their interviews. They dress like women, sound like Puddle of Mudd, and talk like 16 year old jocks. It's all bad. "Whoa dude, I was so wasted" is so 1987.
Favorite Concert/Tour of the Year: I can't decide between Radiohead w/ Deerhoof (Greek Theatre, Berkeley, Ca.) or Brian Wilson (Keswick Theatre, Glenside, Pa.) performing all of Pet Sounds and others of his & The Beach Boys' hits. Both shows left me slack jawed and proud to be a fan of good music.
Biggest Disappointment of the Year: Download Festival (San Francisco). With exception to Beck's marionette aided performance and sets by Muse and TV On the Radio, the U.S. import of this festival was a clunker. Low ticket sales and lackluster performances by The Shins, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and Coheed & Cambria (not to mention a no-show by Wolfmother) made this show a flop.
Best Breakthrough Artist of the Year: TV On the Radio. All of the sudden they're MTV and alternative rock staples this year with the release of Return To Cookie Mountain. Their first album was only given nods by college radio and online press, but with their major label debut these New York musicians are getting their well deserved dues.
Best Comeback Artist of the Year: Justin Timberlake. I can't think of anybody who came back in a bigger way than Justin Timberlake. He made skeptics eat their boot with an album far more fun, mature, and danceable than even Justified. The only person who can steal Timberlake's heat at this point is the real King of Pop (we all know Jacko's comeback will be huge).
Mikey MiGo (Reviewer, Tamer of the "Savage Animal")
Top 6 Albums of 2006:
1. Fashion Bomb - Devils to Some, Angels to Others
I'm partial to Fashion Bomb. They're the hottest thing in the underground of Chicago right now and while I'm not on payroll, I do help them out with a few different things. However, I'd not be doing that if I didn't enjoy the fuck out of their music and wasn't a fan way before any of that. I grew up loving Nine Inch Nails, Rob Zombie, Marilyn Manson and other hard rock groups. While I love mostly all types of music, the edgier hard rock is where my heart will always lie. With that being said, I've not heard an album of that genre that even comes close to Devils to Some, Angels to Others in 2006. Before 2007 is over, I honestly believe that these guys will be signed and will be everywhere you turn. In a world of "T shirt and jeans" and "growl" metal, these guys bring melody back to metal. Until then, pick up the album and see exactly what I mean when I tell you this is the best album of 2006.
2. Justin Timberlake - FutureSex/LoveSounds
Growing up in Gary, Indiana you have to have a spot in your heart for R&B and especially Motown. At the same time as one gets older they appreciate the likes of Prince and David Bowie a lot more. While you have other artists completely ripping off the sounds, styles, and looks of classic artists, Timberlake absorbs those classics and makes them his own on this album. When this album came up for review, I jumped all over it despite my cowriters avoiding it. The hit single "Sexy Back" was awesome and a great pop tune so I was curious about the rest of the album. The rest of the album was in fact a great piece of work. There's only been two singles off it thus far, but with the collection of songs on this one we could be hearing new singles come until the middle of this upcoming year. All for good reason, it's the best R&B and pop album of the year and possibly the decade.
3. TV on the Radio - Return to Cookie Mountain
This is a band I got into this past year so much that I had to go out and get my hands on every single track they've put together. I got into them mainly because of the "Staring at the Sun" track from their last album, but it was just in time for Return to Cookie Mountain to come out. When you have the support of Trent Reznor and work with David Bowie you automatically get a chance on my playlist. They got their chance and haven't left it this year. Return to Cookie Mountain has only one single thus far, but they could easily have a handful more with this album. "Playhouses," "Wolf Like Me," and "Province" specifically are the reason why this album gets the #3 spot on my list this year. Of the bands I've been exposed to in 2006, TV on the Radio has potential to become one of my Top 5 favorite living bands. That says a lot because they'd be joining the likes of Nine Inch Nails, U2, David Bowie, Fashion Bomb, and Mindless Self Indulgence.
4. Method Man - 4:21
Many said that Method Man was washed up, a cartoon character, and would never have the lyricist credibility he had back with Tical. And many would be wrong after hearing what I consider the best hip hop album of 2006. Method Man made a huge comeback with a very under appreciated album. I think the main reason it's under appreciated is because he's not catering to the mainstream and the content of most of the tracks really wouldn't fly as a radio single. To me what makes a great hip hop album isn't always the hooks. The creative lyrics and subtle beats make this something you can bump at 10 AM when you're first waking up.
5. Nas - Hip Hop is Dead
Jay Z was right when he proclaimed "The King is Back," but was wrong when he claimed it to be himself. Nas proves that even when both of them put out music on an off year he still wins. Fuck it. I'm going to single handily bring back the Jay Z/Nas feud. Nas' album Hip Hop is Dead is MUCH MUCH better than Jay Z's new album. As I say in my "Comeback" pick, Nas' title track of "Hip Hop is Dead" is one of my favorite tracks of 2006. Rehashed beats? Yes, but he takes it to a new place that I hope he continues to build on. Many other critics have tossed this one to the side, but I'll gladly pick it up, dust it off, and crank it loud and proud.
6. Tech N9ne - Everready
This one grew on me. Initially I wasn't too thrilled with this album because it wasn't Absolute Power or Angelic, after hearing a few of the tracks live I've found a new respect for it. Tech N9ne is one of those rappers who you'll see in the mainstream after he's already put out a half dozen albums. When he breaks out to the masses, everyone is going to go back to these albums, pick them up, and then kick themselves for not getting into him sooner. "'Bout The Bubble" is single from this one and in my opinion the best track on the entire disc. Check out The Savage Animal column from a few months back to get a full bio and history on Tech N9ne. If you're a fan of hip hop in the least bit give Tech N9ne a listen and you won't be disappointed.
Most Annoying Album of the Year: My Chemical Romance - The Black Parade. David Bowie is someone you cannot imitate. Then toss in whinny Emo-like pop punk you have the most overrated album and band of the year. As I said in a Savage Animal column recently, why are they dressing "Hot Topic gothy"? Many bands owned that look in the past with a lot better music. If you're going to cry any other eyeliner will run just as good as black. My Chemical Romance is the "Flock of Seagulls" of this generation and I can't wait for everyone else to realize this.
Biggest Music News Of 2006: Spears and K-Fed Break Up. I know it's more of a gossip piece, but it's really the most talked about news of this past year. After a sham of a marriage, The Queen of Pop dumped The King of Sleaze. She gained some weight (but I'd still stick it in her) and he had one of the biggest tour flops and albums in recent memory. She gave internet geeks a crotch shot and he's working in WWE. This whole thing makes me realize how much I miss the days of the classy relationships like Pam and Tommy.
Favorite Concert/Tour of the Year: Nine Inch Nails "With Teeth" Tour. This one is easy for me. When you quit your job of three and a half years so you can hit up three shows within a week and a half it should be your pick for the winner. This tour lasted around a year and a half and overlapped with 2005, but when it was all said and done I went to six shows on this tour. Four of those were in 2006 though, so it works out for my pick. On the winter leg it was The Moving Units opening all three shows I went to and they weren't entertaining in the least bit, but Trent Reznor and the gang made up for it all. However, the summer tour is the one I wish I'd have seen more shows because when you have Nine Inch Nails, Bauhaus, and Peaches you have a winner.
Honorable Mentions: I enjoyed the "Cursing in Braille" Tour that MSI ran through Chicago, all of the Fashion Bomb shows this past year, and most recently the Tech N9ne tour.
Biggest Disappointment of the Year: Incubus - Light Grenades. Dammit! I hate to put a band I at least respect in this one, but I guess that's why it's the biggest disappointment for me. I have been a fan since S. C. I. E. N. C. E. when I saw a dred locked Brandon Boyd on a local video show. I used to always say that "Old Incubus sounds like they're ripping off Old Chili Peppers" and on the flip side "New Chili Peppers sounds too much like New Incubus" but that old idea is now invalid. Peppers put out a damn good album and Incubus threw out "A Crow Left of Murder" Part 2. If it had been "Morning View" Part 2 then we'd be in business.
Biggest Surprise of the Year: Justin Timberlake being acceptable. His new album was so good that enjoying it doesn't make you a "fag." With the funk of Prince, the smoothness of Bowie, and the pop of Mr. Jackson himself I really dug the Futuresex album a lot. There were a few acceptable tracks from the first album, but I honestly thought he'd fall into a sophomore jinx and put out a flop. Instead he brought "sexy back" and most importantly "pop back" from before the days of Boy Bands.
Best Breakthrough Artist of the Year: Lupe Fiasco. I loved his first album and it's slowly catching on after a disappointing start. If I remember correctly, another Chicago rapper didn't exactly make waves right after his first album dropped. Of course I'm talking about Kanye West. To me though, Lupe is a lot better than the great Kanye. With "Kick, Kick, Push" and "Day Dreamin'" getting more and more exposure this guy is on his way to the top.
Best Comeback Artist of the Year: Nas. After making us wait too long for Hip Hop is Dead, Nas came back with a rocktastic new album. While others could say Jay Z, but I've been bored with him lately and I've almost been completely ruined on him due to Cameron's dis track "Swagger Jacker." Nas's title track to Hip Hop is Dead may have a rehashed beat, but it's still one of the best songs I've heard all year long.
MICHAEL MELCHOR (Editor, Newsman, Reviewer, Father of our nation)
Top 6 Albums of 2006:
(In no particular order)
Lamb of God - Sacrament - In a neck-and-neck tie for the year's best Metal album. Lamb of God brought more progression and precision to their performance while Randy Blythe brought more vocal violence. A teriffic straight-ahead Heavy Metal album.
The Who - Endless Wire - I didn't know how to read this one at first; where are the anthems? Why aren't Pete and Roger rocking their asses off? The answer is because they've matured with age and what they have to say now can be said elegantly and with emotional resonance. A welcome return.
The Streets - The Hardest Way To Make An Easy Living - Who'da thought that a white guy from the UK could make this great of a Hip-Hop album? Stark and maddeningly addictive beats with lyrics that left me holding my sides and a delivery that sounds like he's the deer caught in the headlights, this is infectious stuff.
OutKast - Idlewild - OutKast made the best overall Hip-Hop album this year - pretty sad considering that, in overreaching their goals just a tad (especially Andre 3000), that they threw in damn near every other genre they could get their hands on. It's a little tiring and a little too ambitious, but the end result still has some great hoks and even better flavor.
Strapping Young Lad - The New Black - My other candidate for year's best Metal album goes all over the place as well; this isn't the typical wall of noise that Strapping Young Lad is normally known for. Reportedly, Townsend's own bipolar disorder inspired and influenced this work, which makes perfect sense in retrospect; The New Black goes from ecstatic to explosive at the drop of a dime. The record still reigns in enough focus and roar to be an impressive work.
Stone Sour - Come What(ever) May - I said it in the review teaser: "The new frace of rock radio? I damned sure hope so." Stone Sour can do convincing ballads (read: they don't sound like they're on the album to please the female audience or the record label execs) and turn right around and wedge their foot in your mouth (the opener, "30/30-150" is one of the year's single shining hard rock moments).
Most Annoying Album of the Year: Nick Lachey - What's Left Of Me. Nick, I really didn't care what there was of you to begin with, never mind what's left.
Biggest Music News Of 2006: It just happened not too long ago. It looked to be a boring year of no real consequence (come on, we all knew Jessica Simpsoin can't sing...and I could care less about her and Lachey's divorce...) until Christmas Day. That's when it became apparent that the year 2006 would be remembered for the loss of a real legend in James Brown. The man who'd made Soul, Funk, and R&B all by his-damn-bad-self had left this world, and the entirety of music was a little poorer for it.
Favorite Concert/Tour of the Year: OzzFest. Not only were there some star-making performances (Lacuna Coil), some sign-offs (Strapping Young Lad), and some up-and-comers bringing their A-game (Walls Of Jericho, Full Blown Chaos, Norma Jean) but I got to spend quite a bit of the time backstage capturing memorable moments like Ray Mazzola from FBC changing into his rancid stage shorts before going onstage:
Biggest Disappointment of the Year: Body Count - Murder 4 Hire. Not because this was a horrible album (although the production is so far below par it makes me shed a tear), but because this could have been one hell of a return to form, considering their politics and what's going on in the world. Alas, there was no sign of any "Cop Killer"s, so no one cared. Chalk that up to our fast-food, all-about-me, MySpace-obsessed culture.
Biggest Surprise of the Year. Two of them, really. Justin Timberlake ("My Love") and Gwen Stefani ("Wind It Up") both put out singles that I really shouldn't like - but they're both so smooth and hook-laden that I couldn't help it. I don't know if I'm getting soft in my old age or if someone keeps drugging my drinks with GHB.
Best Breakthrough Artist of the Year: Who else would go here but Gnarls Barkley? I love both of these guys to death, and St. Elsewhere is a great album, but I'm so fucking sick of "Crazy" that if I hear it one more time, I'm going to rip the head off of the person sitting next to me and use it as a bowling ball. That's a sure sign that they've arrived.
Best Comeback Artist of the Year: I'm not that big of a fan, admittedly, but Bob Dylan had one hell of a year. The Beatles' "remix" album, Love, was unfairly yawned off (as was The Who's Endless Wire), but Dylan made it clear that he's still a Folk icon.
PHIL WATTS JR. (Reviewer, "Loop Digger")
Top 6 Albums of 2006
The Roots - Game Theory: After trying to carry the last two Roots albums on his own, Black Thought reunites with Malik B and Dice Raw in one of the Roots best albums in years.
J-Dilla - Donuts: It's obvious that the time he's spent working with Madlib has unleashed him creatively, as he really started reinventing himself in this instrumental album.
Oh No - Exodus Into Unknown Rhythms: Madlib's brother Oh No gets a hold of some Galt McDermat records, and madness ensues! This is one of the many reasons why Stones Throw Records should be given some credit for holding down West Coast Hip-Hop with their constant innovation.
Murs & 9th Wonder - Murray's Revenge: Murs reunites with 9th Wonder with this second go 'round. They actually outdo their first album, as this album is much more solid.
The Boot Camp Clik - The Last Stand: Nas went on his "Where Are They Now" song asking what ever happened to Buckshot. Well, he'd be happy to know that Buckshot never left...and neither did the rest of the BCC, who all came back at full strength in this solid album.
Ghostface Killah - Fishscale: Ghost gives us another in a string of solid albums, and shows everyone how crack music is supposed to be done.
Most Annoying Album of the Year: James Blunt - Back To Bedlam. In all my years of listening to music, I have not seen a record being given the down-our-throats push that this one has. I don't know about you, but I am sick and tired of all these effeminate-sounding, whiney male vocalists. We need some Teddy Pendergrass-style singers back.
Biggest Music News Of 2006: Benzino & Dave Mayes officially tossed out of the Source Magazine, and Suge Knight loses Death Row Records. I have a visceral hatred for these three individuals, and it gives me great pleasure to see them get the treatment they so richly deserve. Too bad it came long after it should've, considering the damage they have done.
Biggest Disappointment of the Year: Mobb Deep - Blood Money. Listening to this album makes you wonder what happened to the guys that gave us The Infamous and Hell On Earth. Back when Hav gave us ill two-bar loops and P gave us some of the illest opening lines in Hip-Hop. Now, Hav can't make a beat worth a shit, and P has become an embarrassment.
Biggest Surprise of the Year: DJ Premier works with Christina Aguilera. In a move that no one saw coming, the former Mouseketeer sought out the services of DJ Premier for her latest album, Back To Basics. Even more surprising, it was one of his singles, "Ain't No Other man" that helped bring the album to platinum status. And you know what? It ain't over, because he has plans on resurrecting the career of WHITNEY HOUSTON!
Best Breakthrough Artist of the Year: Dangermouse. Few years ago, Dangermouse was one of many aspiring beatmakers who tried to make a name for themselves by remixing Jay-Z's Black Album. Yet, Dangermouse's effort wound up getting a lot of press because he remixed the album by using Beatles samples...and as many have learned the hard way, sampling Beatles records is a big NO-NO (Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson will send you to the poor-house if you even think about sampling Beatles records!) Fast-forward to 2006, he's gone from remixing Jigga accepellas to working with Ceelo Green for the Gnarls Barkley project, St. Elsewhere.
JESSE COY NELSON (very new reviewer)
Top 6 Albums of 2006: While I purchased about 100 CD's this year, nearly all were backlog. Sadly, I must confess, only one CD off
the top of my head is a 2006 release, so I guess that means... uh, Queensryche - Operation: Mindcrime II. Huh? What are you looking at me for? I did really like the damn album, alright! C'mon... "The Chase," Tate and Dio in a duet? That was quite cool.
Most Annoying Album of the Year: Thank god I don't listen to the radio, because in 2005, when I had a membership to a certain national gym chain, some of those current radio "hits" I heard over and over in the changing room were poison to malaria (god awful)! I'm sure 2006 had just as many crappy radio "hits" from equally crappy and annoying albums. [Ed. Note: Way to stick to format, Jesse!]
Biggest Music News Of 2006: Keith Richards falling out of a coconut tree.
Favorite Concert/Tour of the Year: Public Enemy. Here in Tucson, Public Enemy came to town and put on an incredible show. A close second might be... well, two Alice's. Alice in Chains were great, and Alice Cooper bestowed upon his home state Welcome to My Nightmare performed nearly in its entirety, sandwiched between other great tunes from his extensive catalogue. Thankfully, he was so excellent that any visions of him in my head clothed in dorky golf pants were erased.
Biggest Disappointment of the Year: No new David Bowie album, and also, this was the year I stumbled upon the rotten news that Mojo Nixon had retired (back in 2004, though he did perform for Kinky Friedman's bid for the Texas governorship in 2006, yet I'm disappointed I didn't see it, damn-it). Also, Iron Maiden was nowhere near Arizona on the tour front for 2006.
Biggest Surprise of the Year: The Slits, whose 1979 album Cut I fell in love with at the end of 2005, not only reformed, but made a tour stop in Tucson. Boy, was I loving that show.
Best Breakthrough Artist of the Year: Sadly, I know not. I heard stuff about Lady Sovereign, and downloaded her "Love Me or Hate Me" track, and kind of liked that. That's 2006, right?
Best Comeback Artist of the Year: If they only had a new album to support, I would certainly pick the Bauhaus, because they were great while opening for Nine Inch Nails. I only wish for that concert that the order was reversed, and Trent was opening for the far superior Bauhaus. Oh well....
JAMES MUNSON (Reviewer, Regular Concertgoer)
Top 6 albums of 2006:
1. The Decemberists - The Crane Wife
2. TV On the Radio - Return to Cookie Mountain
3. The Raconteurs - Broken Boy Soldiers
4. Ghostface Killah - Fishscale
5. The Hold Steady - Boys & Girls In America
6. Mastodon - Blood Mountain
Most Annoying Album Of The Year: Fergie. The winner by a mile is Fergie's "Fergalicious". Are you kidding? Does anybody remember when the Black Eyed Peas were actually a respectable hip-hop group? Hint: It was well before this poseur joined.
Biggest Music News of 2006: This just in: the death of the album is upon us. While I agree that I've downloaded and enjoyed more singles this year (and by artists I normally wouldn't purchase a whole CD from), I think there's still a demand for musicians who put integrity into their work as a whole and not just for profit off of single downloads.
Favorite Concert/Tour Of The Year: While seeing Radiohead and The Decemberists amaze small theatres of fans this spring and winter respectively, the winner goes to the "Monsters of Goth" carnival of Nine Inch Nails with openers Bauhaus and Peaches. I think I've seen my quota of strobe lights for the year.
Biggest Disappointment Of The Year: Sam's Town by The Killers. I wanted this one to be awesome because these guys generally deliver great singles, no matter how cocky they appear to be. I found myself listening to this once or twice and then shelving it indefinitely (though I am a fan of "When You Were Young").
Biggest Surprise Of The Year: She Wants Revenge actually has fans! It's true. I caught the co-headlining tour with Placebo at the Riviera in Chicago and people actually left after SWR's opening, endlessly-dragging set of faux-gloom-and-doom Interpol thievery. One dismal song bled into the next for an entire hour. Pure torture.
Biggest Breakthrough Artist Of The Year: Regina Spektor. It's about time she gained recognition from someone other than The Strokes.
Best Comeback Artist Of The Year: I never thought I would say this, but (gulp) Justin Timberlake. It's like he did a complete 180 from his N'Sync days without shedding a tear. This is definitely a good thing, because look what happened to JC Chasez. Not so promising.
LEAH K BAKER (Reviewer, Actual Girl)
Top 6 Albums of 2006:
Margot & the Nuclear So & So's – The Dust of Retreat
Muse – Black Holes & Revelations
Ben Kweller – Ben Kweller
The Sounds – Dying to Say This to You
Sean Lennon – Friendly Fire
Most Annoying Album of the Year: I haven't listened to this album, but I'm pretty sure that Paris Hilton's album is highly annoying, because it's her's.
Biggest Music News Of 2006: Jessica Simpson can't sing. I was shocked to learn this.
Favorite Concert/Tour of the Year: I went to more concerts this year than I ever have and the best collective touring effort I saw is easily the Ben Kweller/Sam Roberts Band collaboration.
Biggest Disappointment of the Year: Thom Yorke – The Eraser. I'm a fan of Radiohead as much as the next person, and I loved this album when I listened to it the first ten times, but honestly, it's gotten to the point now where all the "bleeps" and "bloops" are making me insane.
Biggest Surprise of the Year: Beck's surprise mini tour after his national tour this past fall.
Best Breakthrough Artist of the Year: Imogen Heap. She's been popping up everywhere, and it seems like she just emerged from nowhere. The girl has talent and skills beyond all the other pop princesses out there.
Best Comeback Artist of the Year: Bob Dylan. He released Modern Times this year, and it further explains why he's such a bad ass.
MARQUES FURUMOTO (Reviewer, Paris Hilton Listener)
Top 6 Albums of 2006:
1. TV On The Radio - Return To Cookie Mountain
2. Ghostface Killah - Fishscale
3. My Chemical Romance - The Black Parade
4. J Dilla - Donuts
5. Destroyer - Destroyer's Rubies
6. Nellie McKay - Pretty Little Head
Deserving Mention – The Roots, Arctic Monkeys, Regina Spektor, Lupe Fiasco, Cat Power, Gnarls Barkley.
Most Annoying Album of the Year: Most annoying single of the year was definitely Fergie taking shameless self-promotion to new heights with "Fergalicious." Look out for Gwen Stefani's "Gwentastic" and Nelly Furtado's "Furtadorful" in 2007. Most annoying album? I guess it'd be a crime to not give proper recognition to Kevin Federline's Playing With Fire.
Biggest News of 2006: Pete Doherty is apparently on drugs. Say what? Lance Bass is apparently gay. No way! Britney Spears makes a series of questionable decisions. Get out of here! Unfortunately, the year 2006 was marred by the obvious and the recurring. However, we did regrettably lose a legend in James Brown – may the Godfather of Soul rest in peace.
Favorite Concert/Tour of the Year: Caught a Talib Kweli show in June, and needless to say, it was off the hook. By the way Mr. Kweli, whatever happened to Eardrum? "Listen!" is a dope single, but your fans would like to listen to that new record of yours.
Biggest Disappointment of the Year: Jurassic 5's Feedback. The Dave Matthews Band experiment was a mild disaster, and Scott Storch's "Brown Girl" has J5 sounding like today's Fergie-fied Black Eyed Peas. Not to say that the album is completely without merit, but overall it's an uncomfortable misstep from one of the most talented hip-hop groups out there.
Biggest Surprise of the Year: Tower Records goes bankrupt. Not so much a surprise because the numbers didn't add up, but because you never thought you'd see the day. With CD sales plummeting every year, the crystal ball bears only bad news for the future of the compact disc. Note to music fans – start buying CDs. Or at the very least, support your favorite artists.
Best Breakthrough Artist of the Year: Gnarls Barkley. If you would have told me that 2006 would be the year that Cee-Lo finally gets his due by teaming with Danger Mouse, rocking a wardrobe like every gig is the 31st of October, and sweating like, well, a fat dude in a Darth Vader suit, I would have thought you were CRAZY (pun very much intended). Over 1 million records sold in a little over 8 months? Can't argue with that type success.
Best Comeback Artist of the Year: Mr. Bob Dylan.
JOHN MALADY (Reviewer, Interviewer, Concert Viewer)
Top 6 Albums of 2006:
Lamb of God – Sacrament: Lamb of God proved this year that they are the definitive and most important American Metal band of the 21rst century. If you don't believe then pick this one up and let it take you on its journey. Side note- No other drummer out there right now can touch Chris Adler's innovative and creative drumming.
The Sword - Age of Winters: The Sword got the hype and it was well deserved. They didn't sell as many records as Wolfmother but stoner rock fans know The Sword are much more than a retro band. This record did not leave my car or stereo for over 7 months. It is a record that gets deeper and thicker upon each and every listen.
Mastodon - Blood Mountain: It is hard to describe just how damn crazy and kick ass this record is. If you haven't taken this ride you are behind the times. Progressive, metallic, creative, and musically challenging. I saw them 4 days after the release of this with hardcore legends Converge and I am still weeping from the pleasure.
The Raconteurs - Broken Boy Soldiers: Jack White teamed up with fellow Detroit songwriter Brendan Benson and proved yet again that he is in this for the music not the fame.
My Chemical Romance - The Black Parade: All the fame, fans, and hype have not destroyed this band. They followed up their success with a great record. My Chemical Romance wants to give you something not gain something for themselves.
Army of Anyone - Army of Anyone: The Deleo brothers just do not put out anything bad and this record yet again proves there is life after Weiland. Kudos to Richard Patrick (the ex-Filter band leader) for getting sober and getting soulful.
Most Annoying Album of the Year: Hinder- Extreme Behavior. Talentless and probably the worst songs I have heard in my lifetime thus proving the masses do not know what they do. Shame on us all.
Biggest Music News Of 2006: On Christmas morning Heaven got a brand new bag of funk. Get up Jesus! James Brown played his biggest show to date. R.I.P. Godfather!
Favorite Concert/Tour of the Year: Bang for the buck - The Unholy Alliance Tour.
JAMIE BUTTINEAU (Fiddler)
Top Six Albums Of ‘06:
1. TV On The Radio – Return To Cookie Mountain. The best album of the year bar none. It's impossible to place this album into any particular genre, it's weird, unique, and just plain fun enough to be the best album of the year.
2. Final Fantasy – He Poos Clouds. A very close second place. The violinist for The Arcade Fire goes out on his own and makes a gorgeous album of chamber pop full of references to Dungeons & Dragons. Geektacular.
3. The Decemberists – The Crane Wife. They weren't able to beat Stephen Colbert, but they were able to release a major label debut that doesn't suck. Hell they even made a good 13 minute song with a prog keyboard solo. That takes mad skills.
4. Yo La Tengo – I Am Not Afraid Of You And I Will Beat Your Ass. This album could have total crap and it would have still made the list for the title alone. Luckily there was a kickass album to go with the title. This album seems to shift gears constantly going from hard rock to indie pop within seconds. Hell that happens in the first two songs alone.
5. Lupe Fiasco – Food & Liquor. The best hip hop album of the year. The guy raps about skateboards and makes it awesome. You can see that hanging out with Kanye has rubbed off on him. And the string arrangements are some of the best I've heard in hip hop. I can't wait to see what he does next.
6. Joanna Newsom – Ys . A harpist put out one of the best albums of the year. Didn't see that coming. If The Decemberists are considered hyper-literate, than this has to be freakin' MENSA level-literate. Probably the only album released this year where the word "thee" doesn't seem out of place.
Most Annoying Album Of The Year: Paris Hilton – Paris. No I haven't heard it. And I will never hear it. Because it is crap pure and simple. But the thing that annoys me about this album is the fact that some critics actually gave it a pretty good review. This! Got some good reviews! Billboard actually called it "An enjoyable pop romp." I know it's just Billboard but still! I'm sorry, this is Paris Hilton. With her money she could come into a studio, say "that's hot" into a microphone repeatedly, and then get every producer in the world to turn it into something resembling music. She can't sing, she can't write music, she can't play an instrument, there is no reason for her to make a record other than she's Paris Hilton and she felt like it. Of course going by that logic, she can't act, she's not intelligent, she's not really all that attractive, she's not a humanitarian, why the hell is she famous?...Oh yeah a nightvision sex tape and the fact that when her parents die she'll have enough money to create a scale replica of the Earth made out of cocaine. Sigh, society, oh how she crumbles.
Biggest Music News Of 2006: Johnny Marr joins Modest Mouse. Originally I was going to go with the death of CBGB's, since that was a pretty huge story and all. But in the end I thought that story was kind of a downer, so I decided to go with something more upbeat. The story of the guitarist for The Smiths teaming with Modest Mouse for a new album is definitely the most uplifting story of the year. I mean Modest Mouse on their own are freakin' fantastic enough as it is, but combined with the insane crazy coolness that is Johnny Marr? This could create a supernova of rock that would cause a rift in time and space altering the course of humanity due its incredible awesomeness. If for some ungodly reason this album is a huge disappointment…Well I don't even want to think of the ramifications of an event that heartbreaking. Do not let me down Isaac Brock, do not let me down.
Biggest Disappointment of the Year: Sleater Kinney breaks up. The most disappointing story of the year for me personally. They had just come out with The Woods last year which has become one of my favourite albums. I was truly looking forward to whatever they had planned next. Had I known that this was what they had in mind I probably wouldn't have been so excited. I guess it's nice that they went out on a high note, and the members of the band will probably resurface elsewhere in one way or another. Not to mention the possibility of a reunion in 5 or 10 years like most broken up indie bands. Still, probably one of the most depressing moments of 2006.
Biggest Surprise of the Year: Justin Timberlake releases a good album. Seriously. I did not see that coming at all. Now don't get me wrong, it's not one of my favourite albums or anything. But, it's not offensive. Hell it's not even bad. It's actually ok in certain parts. I can't believe I'm saying it, but I think Justin Timberlake may be closer than ever to shredding his reputation as a former boy band member and becoming an honest to God musician. Seriously, we just had a year where a Justin Timberlake album was better received critically than a Prince album. What is happening?!!
Best Breakthrough Artist of the Year: The Decemberists. After being signed to Capitol records, many people were wondering what a major label album from The Decemberists would sound like. Unsurprisingly, despite breaking through into the mainstream the band still stuck to their guns and played their own type of weird, indie prog-rock. In fact, they got even proggier. They made appearances on Letterman, MTV, and even battled Stephen Colbert. Sounds like a pretty big year for Meloy and the gang to me.
Best Comeback Artist of the Year: Weird Al Yankovic. Weird Al has had a much longer career than someone who makes song parodies should have had. I mean he writes song parodies, and he's been around for how long now? Like over 20 years! He basically seems to make a comeback every three or four years, goes underground for a while and then makes yet another comeback when people are least expecting it. He's kind of a genius that way. Plus the 11 minute "Trapped In The Drive-Thru" parody of "Trapped In The Closet"? Brilliant.
TIM O'SULLIVAN (Soccer Enthusiast, Movie Guy, What the hell is he doing here?)
Top 6 Albums of 2006:
1. Justin Timberlake - Future Sex / Love Sounds
2. Dirty Pretty Things – Waterloo to Anywhere
3. John Legend – Once Again
4. Jaheim – Ghetto Classics
5. The Roots – Game Theory
6. Amy Winehouse – Back to Black
Honestly. JT. He bagged it. I can't believe it myself, but I just can't get enough of this set. It's just strong as hell from start to finish, and the production is huge. Elsewhere, Jaheim and Legend helped fill the R&B void left by Musiq, Maxwell, D'Angelo, Craig David, et al, with a third quality disc, Dirty Pretty Things produced a killer indie disc, The Roots are The Roots, and Amy Winehouse is a gem……sober.
Most Annoying Album of the Year: Jurassic 5. The most inconsistent disc of the year. Some cracking tracks on it, like, "End up like this" make you wonder why it wasn't one of the years best.
Biggest Music News Of 2006: For me, as a Brit, its got to be a tie between the emergence of the Arctic Monkeys complete with some incredible sales figures, and nineties band, Take That getting back together and people buying it.
Favorite Concert/Tour of the Year: Only saw Craig David, Keisha White and Olly Dabblers in ‘06. Need to get back on the gigs in ‘07, because I went to a ton in ‘05 and it was quality. The gigs I did see were quality though.
Biggest Disappointment of the Year: Red Hot Chilli Peppers – Stadium Arcadium. Some great tracks, but it was a disappointment because it had the potential to be a cracking album. Too long. Over produced. Disappointing.
Biggest Surprise of the Year: For me, it was Justin Timberlake.
On further listens, it was evident his debut solo offering was all about the singles and pedestrian filler, and subsequently I presumed follow up albums would produce the same. However, Timbaland jumped on ship and was a big part in creating a killer album. I've overplayed it a little, but I still love it. I never thought it was possible.
Best Breakthrough Artist of the Year: Arctic Monkeys. The British indie band are for an acquired taste only, and the occasional media claim of their debut being one of the greatest in music history are way, way off…….but its still a very good set. The pressure on the follow up is going to be off the scale…..this side of the pond, at least.
Best Comeback Artist of the Year: Shit, I don't know. Erm…..let me think……I guess, Jay-Z. Yeah, why not? He delivered a good album, and he was meant to be retired. So, yeah, that could be called a worthy comeback.
TOLLAH (General slacker, somehow still on the 411 payroll)
Top 6 Albums of 2006:
1. Meat Loaf - Bat Out Of Hell III : The Monster Is Loose
2. Muse - Blacks Holes & Revelations
3. Audioslave - Revelations
4. The Strokes - First Impressions of Earth
5. The Answer - Rise
6. Prince - 3121
Meat Loaf wins by a mile with a bona fide classic album. The beautiful piano rock, awesome melodies, genius lyrics and of course *that* voice are still rocking the block 30 years after the original Bat Out of Hell. Elsewhere, Muse and Audioslave did a good job of revealing things.
Most Annoying Album of the Year: Justin Timberlake's horrendous effort at being Prince.
Biggest Music News Of 2006: Guns N' Roses touring.
Favorite Concert/Tour of the Year: The Darkness. Proved that true rock music still exists and also that Justin Hawkins is one of the greatest rock stars on the face of the planet.
Biggest Disappointment of the Year: No new Avril or GnR albums.
Biggest Surprise of the Year: The leak of Chinese Democracy tracks.
PART 1: STAFF PICKS
Top Six Albums of 2006:
Top 6 Albums of 2006:
Top 6 Albums of 2006:
Top 6 Albums of 2006:
Top 6 Albums of 2006:
Top 6 Albums of 2006
Top 6 Albums of 2006: While I purchased about 100 CD's this year, nearly all were backlog. Sadly, I must confess, only one CD off
Top 6 albums of 2006:
Top 6 Albums of 2006:
Top 6 Albums of 2006:
Top 6 Albums of 2006:
Top Six Albums Of ‘06:
Top 6 Albums of 2006: 
Top 6 Albums of 2006:
