411 Music presents...2006 Year In Review: Part 2 - Review Roundup

Posted by Mitch Michaels on 01.03.2007

Check out the 411 Music review crew's required listening for 2006 as our Year In Review continues. From metal to alternative to indie to rap to rock to metal, we've got you covered...



PART 2: REVIEW ROUNDUP
A New Year is upon us. That means resolutions, taking down Christmas decorations, upcoming snow days and all manner of winter activities. But January also marks the end of our journey through the old year. With 2006 in the bag, the 411 Music review crew is taking a moment to look back at some our favorite (and not-so-favorite) albums of the past twelve months. To this end, we've rounded up a couple dozen or so records that, one way or another, just may rock those parkas and long johns right off. So study this list, print it off and take it to your local CD store. Whether you're a metal head, indie snob, rap aficionado or just like to rock the fuck out, these are 411 Music's best buys of the year that was:

Note: Just click on any album for their full, original review!



With each passing year, the term "indie music" seems to mean less and less. Originally it was used to identify artists, primarily from a punk background, who lacked the support (i.e. money) of a big-time record label. Artists would periodically "sell out" by cashing in their credibility for a fat check and a more mainstream sound. Today, at the conclusion of another eclectic year in music, the term and all the baggage that came with it is hardly applicable. The Decemberists "sold out" by joining forces with Capitol records and releasing a myth inspired, prog infused masterpiece. Mike Patton went "mainstream pop" with Peeping Tom, an album that featured the cute and cuddly Norah Jones uttering lyrics like, "Keep it in your pants will you, sucker." That's something Soccer Moms everywhere will rally around.

The artists that 411Mania chose to spotlight in 2006 were as varied as the individual tastes of our writers. Harp playing savants (Joanna Newsom) rubbed shoulders with scruffy, bluesy white boys (Two Gallants). A brother/sister electro-indie (there's that term again) group (The Knife) mingled with an ex-husband/wife psych pop outfit (Quasi). Trying to group all these bands together, each with their own sound and aesthetic, is nearly impossible.

At 411, an indie website if there ever was one, we review albums as fans. We recommend artists because we truly believe they deserve to be better known. We're not writing from an indie-elitist standpoint, spouting off about obscure records to sound important. Whether we're recommending an emerging artist (Regina Spektor), a modern icon (Thom Yorke), or our own favorite band that I swear you'd love if you just gave them a chance and isn't Amanda Palmer just the coolest…cough…or our own favorite band (Dresden Dolls), it's because we believe in good music. Maybe these bands aren't indie anymore. Maybe indie is about as meaningful as alternative. Each of these bands released a good album in 2006. And in the end, isn't it all about good music. – Morgan Marx

	#1 The Decemberists - The Crane Wife The 411: An ambitious album that succeeds wildly on multiple fronts…The finds a band at both the peak of its ability and at a time of change…The Decemberists have pushed their sound in new directions without loosing any of the charm that pervaded prior works…If this is "selling out" in the 21st century, more bands should follow The Decemberists lead.
	#2 Two Gallants - What The Toll Tells The 411: …much darker than their debut. Their lyricism and musicianship have improved, while the raw production compliments the overall tone of the album…Two Gallants' sound is unique and easily identifiable
	#3 Thom Yorke - The Eraser The 411: …will definitely please Radiohead fans, but by no means sounds like a pared down Radiohead album…Yorke has taken [throwaway] elements and produced a soft and beautiful electronica album that is relatable in a way that his band has shied away from…songs are soothing and surprisingly engaging, but don't require a deep concentration to enjoy…If there was an album that could bring Yorke back to mainstream radio and MTV, The Eraser…could definitely do the job.
The lasting effects of the album certainly won't be fading from the listener's mind for a while. - Morgan Marx	#4 Regina Spektor - Begin To Hope The 411: A true surprise, both in terms of quality and musical terrain… definitely one of the better releases of 2006…Regina Spektor should see her profile increase with the success of this album and should finally be able to discard the tag of "that chick that opened for the Strokes."
	#5 Quasi - When The Going Gets Dark The 411: …an impressive modern psych-pop record that jams out, with heavy licks throughout. [A songwriter that] writes challenging lyrics and lush, experimental melodies [and] an inventive drummer who isn't just "keeping a beat."
	#6 Peeping Tom - Peeping Tom The 411: …the highly anticipated "mainstream pop" project from Mike Patton has finally arrived…not comparable to anything currently on the scene…aggressive, intricate, and experimental…those who understand Patton's vision of what "mainstream pop" should be will enjoy it immensely.

2006 was a pretty interesting year in Hip-Hop...in both good and bad ways.

People were surprised at the news of Jay-Z being the President of both Rocafella & Def Jam Records in 2005, and this year, his skills as a labelhead were put to the test. While he did make some good moves (signing Nas and the Roots; giving Ghostface a push; finally letting LL go after one too many weak albums; trying to help Lupe Fiasco get some mainstream publicity), he's also proven that he still has much to learn (giving Bland R&B Sensation #6561854 Ne-Yo more promotion than everyone else; getting Ghost to make a second album and not doing much to promote it; playing the Vince McMahon role and using his CEO status to give HIMSELF a main event push while other artists on his roster are still out in the cold). But it's still only one year, so who's to say he won't get better next year? (By the way, who's still in the Rocafella family? There's Bleek, there's Kanye, there's the Young Gunz...anyone else?)

Karma ran wild on a lot of deserving people this year. After years of running the once-influential Source Magazine to the ground, David Mayes and Ray Benzino were tossed out of the magazine. Similarly, Suge Knight, after single-handedly killing the momentum of the West Coast's dominance in Hip-Hop 10 years ago, and turning the once great label, Death Row Records, into a barren wasteland, had all his assets (including Death Row Records) snatched right from under him, leaving him with nothing. Talentless, unfunny radio personalities Star & Bucwild were tossed out of their radio show after threatening to rape some other DJ's kid. DMX has become the butt of jokes, as he continued to get himself arrested over the dumbest shit and doing group prayers in the middle of the street in order to promote his comeback album, which bombed. 50 Cent continues to spend his time making snide, immature comments about random people (Oprah, Jigga & Beyonce, etc.) when he should be more worried about himself, as G-Unit Records continued their losing streak this year with the failure of both Mobb Deep's G-Unit debut and Lloyd Banks' latest album. (By the way, you notice that every G-Unit related project since they tossed out the Game has been a DUD, right?)

This year saw the departure of some very notable people in Hip-Hop. There was the untimely death of J-Dilla, who despite being afflicted with lupus, continued making music to the very end, resulting in two of the best records of the year. Another Detroit native, Proof of D-12, was murdered due to Black on Black violence. Proof raised heads when both he and Royce the 5"9' ended their bitter feud years ago when they were both put in jail. The death of Professor X, the Overseer of X-Clan, drove another stake through the heart of conscious/revolutionary Hip-Hop. And finally, the most recent death of the Godfather, James Brown, also impacted Hip-Hop, as his contributions to Black music in general was definitely felt. When things got too synthesized and mechanical in the mid-80's, Hip-Hop pulled out those old, dusty James Brown records and injected the music world with a much needed dose of funk and soul.

This year saw a few surprises, as Christina Agiulera sought out DJ Premier and Kwame (yes, THAT Kwame) of all people to work on her new album, Back To Basics. Also, Ceelo of the Goodie Mob hooked up with Dangermouse for the Gnarls Barkley project. Many thought that these colabs would never get over with today's audience, since according to conventional wisdom, making records with people connected to "that backpacker shit" won't get you any plaques. Both Christina Ag's Back To Basics and the Gnarls Barkley project stomped a mudhole in that argument, since both albums have gone Platinum.

Other than those examples, very few wanted to take any chances at all, choosing instead to simply make more dreadful, dumbed down, imbecilic garbage passed off as music. In fact, the radio has gotten even more unlistenable this year, with such garbage such as "Fry That Chicken", "Chicken Noodle Soup", "Chain Hang Low", and other such bullshit, given regular rotation. Every week, we were inundated with the latest shirtless scrub from off the street--whether inner city street or suburban street, it doesn't matter--painted up as a hardened street thug. Many of them resort to some of the dumbest tactics in order to get attention, like starting beef over stupid shit (with none of the beef resulting in a single good record) and getting arrested for stupid reasons. To make matters worse, if anyone were to criticize any of this bullshit, that criticism would be seen as "HATE", and we'd all be urged to "respect their hustle" because "they gotta eat, too", which is a COP-OUT argument, since music history has shown us many people who have struggled far worse and yet made some of the greatest recordings of all time. Even more tragic, today's industry treats rappers like the Spanish teen pop group, Menudo: they think there should be an ago limit to this music, and if an artist reaches a certain age (in the case of Hip-Hop, 30), they should be cut off ("You 38 and you still rappin'? UGH!")

Most of the people involved in today's Hip-Hop industry have no idea that today's mainstream Hip-Hop is in the same EXACT position that Disco was in right before that Comiski Park incident, or the 80's hair metal/power ballad age right before Nirvana blew up. Where there was once a wide variety of sounds and distinguishable artists, everything soon started looking and sounding the same, and the music started becoming a parody of itself. The same people would get massive airplay all the time, and there was hardly any creativity anymore...but it didn't matter: they were making that MONEY, and with a money-making formula, many artists having their own labels, and lots of outlets for exposure, they all thought this gravy-train would ride on FOREVER! Sounds familiar, doesn't it? Yup...and almost overnight--*POOF*--ALL GONE! As that old saying goes, those that don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Sounds like a bunch of DOOM AND GLOOM, but trust me: DON'T THINK IT CAN'T HAPPEN! Will Hip-Hop be dealt a cruel hand like what happened to disco, or will Hip-Hop be able to reinvent itself and cut the fat like Rock music did after the death of Hair Metal? I'm hoping the latter happens, since it's happened before in Hip-Hop (remember the impact that NWA made when they first came out?)

Hip-Hop is NOT dead. Not yet, anyway. These six albums are an example of this. But will Hip-Hop be able to learn from history in time to save it? We'll all find out together. - Phil Watts, Jr.

#1 Murs & 9th Wonder - Murray's Revenge The 411: …about as close to perfection as there is…the only thing keeping it from a perfect 10 is the fact that there are only ten tracks on this album…every track is well done and even the worst here is better than almost anything on the radio is today. If you have been sleeping on Murs then this was your wake-up call; cop this album immediately.
#2 Lupe Fiasco - Food & Liquor The 411: …in 2006, Chicago [gave] us another legend in the making in Lupe Fiasco…rivals what many MCs have been working on their entire careers…[a] unique brand of hip hop with great stories and a very wise point of view…real…Lupe Fiasco…holds our hand across the street to a new wave of hip hop…an album like this doesn't come around everyday.
#3 J Dilla - The Shining The 411: "My man Dilla do it without even tryin'/The greatest hip-hop producer of all time."- (The Roots)...Obscure, compact, atmospheric, soulful, and most likely ahead of its time…a fitting finale to J Dilla's incredible career…quite the amazing set…Easy recommendation here.
#4 E-40 - My Ghetto Report Card The 411: …a solid disc, front to back…a definite contender for rap album of the year…shows how good meetings of rap styles can be…fulfilled potential	Murray's Revenge is a very short and simple album. It is not over thought or a victim of overproduction. 9th Wonder provides simple yet entertaining beats while Murs laces them with his witty, positive, sometimes egotistical flow. It touches on subjects ranging from relationships to showing his hometown love to racism that still exists in today's world. The album proves that, while Murs may remain one of the most underrated MC's in the game today, he is still one of the most important. - Selwyn DeSa
#5 T.I. - King The 411: If you liked Urban Legend, then there's no doubt you'll enjoy King…Tip is in his regular top form, rapping like he's the King of the South with an eye on the rest of the US. There are some great, tough, catchy tracks that you'll surely wanna hear over and over… a worthy successor to T.I.'s recent successes…
#6 Jay-Z - Kingdom Come The 411: Beyond his CEO maneuverings, mainstream appeal and path of broken bodies, we're left with a collection of music that could stand on its own merits without any crutches or stilts…tackles more difficult and personal issues than he has on any other record up to this point… All-Star cast…[tries] hard to change the perception that Hip Hop is a young mans sport…a well-rounded record that touches every area of the globe without compromising it's homegrown East Coast ideals…one of the most consistently entertaining and enriching releases of the past 12 months

2006 has been an interesting year in alternative and modern rock, seeing the rise of several new bands (Wolfmother became the saviors of stoner rock, the Arctic Monkey surprised everyone by breaking huge) and the cementing of others (Snow Patrol proved that "Run" was no fluke, Incubus' fifth album earned them some of their best reviews yet). Even some familiar faces pulled out surprising turns. Tom DeLonge traded blink-182 for a more serious college radio sound with his impressive Angels And Airwaves band. Brand New moved even further away from the trite pop-punk of their debut and more towards a mature indie rock style. Members of Filter and Stone Temple Pilots formed a hard rocking supergroup that actually DIDN'T just rely on name recognition. And Jack White stepped out on his own…well, not really. And there's My Chemical Romance, a band that, despite the wishes of many music fans, managed to have their best year yet with a #2 debut on the Billboard charts. 2006 was further proof that, as long as there is mainstream music, there will always be an alternative. - Mitch Michaels

#1 My Chemical Romance - The Black Parade
The 411: …arguably the best rock album of the year…never stops being an incredibly fun album to listen to.

#2 Wolfmother - Wolfmother
The 411: [A] blistering album that will delight both fans of old school hard rock and the modern day indie scene.

#3 Army Of Anyone - Army Of Anyone
The 411: One of the best records of the year…displays the best parts of Stone Temple Pilots and Filter, with musicianship that is bar-none and nearly epic vocals… Army of Anyone is the current cream of the crop in the world of "supergoups" and surpasses all expectations. Highly recommended.

#4 Snow Patrol - Eyes Open
The 411: … nearly a masterpiece…an album of great music that folks in the UK have been anticipating for two years and people in the US might be caught off-guard by…really great songs…If you enjoy smooth indie-style rock with introspective lyrics (that aren't whiny) and beautiful, catchy pop sing-a-longs, then you absolutely can't go wrong with Snow Patrol.

#5 Brand New – The Devil & God Are Raging Inside Me
The 411: …a classic in its own right, deserving a permanent spot in your regular rotation for the foreseeable future.

#6 Muse – Black Holes And Revelations
The 411: ...a good album from a great band...my favorite...the most abrasive album thus far...and the most "in your face" lyrically...[Bellamy's vocals are] very unique and well done on this album. If you're a fan of this genre of music, then you'll definitely be a fan of this album. If you have it, you rock. If you don't, go get it right now.

…one hell of a ride from start to finish. - Marques Furumoto

Heavy fuckin' Metal (Thanks EM). Needless to say, the year that contained the anticipated calendar date of 06.06.06 was a banner period for the blackest of genres. Millions of minions banged their head to everything from the rumble of Manowar to the screaming torture of As I Lay Dying. Horns were thrown like never before. I'm the devil, I love metal. - Satan

	#1 Angel Blake - Angel Blake The 411: The surprise sleeper album of the year…just sheer brilliance from start to end. The staging, instruments, sound, everything is done to perfection. This is everything metal should be.
	#2 Unearth - III: In The Eyes Of Fire The 411: Definitely my top release of this year… will very likely be at the top of a lot of year end lists. Unearth somehow managed to take their sound and expand on it to the point of perfection…Extremely recommended for any metal fan out there. Buy this album and love it. I know you will.
	#3 Manowar - Sons Of Odin The 411: Manowar…continues to not only soldier on, but also to progress. Their music and statement only gets stronger and stronger over time and their very existence is a testimony to the power and glory of heavy metal. This EP only whets the appetite for the forthcoming Gods Of War and The Day The Earth Shook - The Absolute Power DVD…functions equally well for fans as well as newcomers to the band. Recommended.
The songwriting is so skillful and the arrangements so perfect and the playing so adept that one can only marvel over and over again at this album. - Evocator Manes	#4 Tool - 10,000 Days The 411: …a startling, surprising album that elevates this band to legendary status. Tool simply has no peers when it comes to adventurous, exciting musical composition. They manage to tear down the very construct of "song" while not alienating their fan base. …this album will tide the masses over for years to come.
	#5 Lamb Of God – Sacrament The 411: The [ferocity, anger, aggression and drive are] still there…a terrific album…highlights features of the band that many people probably would have never guessed were there…a great addition to any metal collection. Even if you aren't a huge metal fan, but dabble occasionally trying to find something new, then this album is right up your alley…great [band] chemistry…lyrics are direct and to the point…a tightly-wound and cohesive piledriver of a band…Damn-near a force of nature in the form of Heavy Metal…the musical equivalent of the quiet but dangerous fellow at the corner of the biker bar declaring his intent to throw you through a table and then bang your girlfriend.
	#6 Bleeding Through - The Truth The 411: …a flawless metal album. Very well put together and brilliant, musically, the two year wait was well worth it.

At our heart, 411 Music may just be an indie website, but that doesn't keep us from enjoying what is available in the mainstream. 2006 has been a good year for pop and rock. Justin Timberlake surprised nearly everyone with the goodness that was FutureSex/LoveSounds, as did Beyonce, with B'Day, her most well-written and adventurous album ever. The old guard proved why their still around, with terrific new albums by rockers like Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen and The Who and R&B stalwarts like Mary J Blige. And the young folks hung in there, too, as John Mayer recorded one of the most vital rock albums in a decade, Jaheim pulled out his first #1 debut and Robert Randolph & The Family Band told the world to take notice. Needless to say, people who say there' "nothing good on the radio" have never heard these next six albums. - Mitch Michaels

#1 Bruce Springsteen - We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions The 411: … one of Bruce and folk's greatest albums ever. The loose and fun feeling, the crack band, the vitality injected into these some centuries old songs are surprising and amazing. This is truly what making music is all about...everything you'd expect from "The Boss"…a welcome change from the solemn and serious material Springsteen has focused on for the past couple years.
#2 Johnny Cash - American V: A Hundred Highways The 411: ... truly Johnny Cash's last will and testament…vocals are powerful, even in his failing health, and the music is beautiful and inspired…each track gives [the theme of death] its own slant, from gallows humor to wistful reminiscence to heartbreaking despair…the only depressing aspect…is the fact that it's the last we'll hear from Johnny Cash on this side of heaven…best American album, hands down…has a clear identity…a must have album for any music fan.
#3 John Mayer - Continuum The 411: … John Mayer takes all of his previous work and burns it to the ground…one of the most well-written, gorgeously played full albums by anybody from Mayer's generation. The gentle blues, funk and R&B of this set will have you coming back again and again, but it's Mayer's songwriting that will ultimately stick with you…This is the John Mayer album we've all been waiting for.
#4 Tom Petty - Highway Companion The 411: …a great CD. Its heavy theme of time mixed with the light road songs are the perfect blend of rock maturity and whimsy…some of [Petty's] best and most cohesive songwriting…the CD's "small staff" feel is a welcome change to previous bombastic Tom Petty/Jeff Lynne productions…a warm set of very personal songs that will surely stand as one of TP's many fine achievements.	In a word, this album sounds great. - Mitch Michaels
#5 Matisyahu - Youth The 411: …just a stunning album…Matisyahu delivers a message that religion can play a huge part in music and shows doubters everywhere that it's a lot more than a gimmick or a publicity stunt. If you listen to any kind of ska, hip hop, or reggae...you won't be disappointed.
#6 The Who - Endless Wire The 411: …a satisfying experience overall for anyone that truly appreciates music as a form of expression…as opposed to something tacked onto a MySpace profile to make you seem cool…a clinic in rock and roll as art put on by two of the masters…a thought- and emotion-provoking record…what good music should be about.

Blame commercialization, blame poor taste or blame it on the rain. Whatever the case, every year, no matter how many great albums find their way to stores, there are always more than a few stinkers. 2006 has been no different. Whether you're a fan of hardcore rap, country pop or even indie rock, there's always a danger that you're going to fall prey to these artists' crap traps. Hell, some of the worst reviewed albums have spent time on the top of the charts! Lucky for you, 411 reader, the music staff has taken the proverbial bullet for you. Heed our wisdom, children: stay away from these albums at all costs! - Mitch Michaels

#1 Now That's What I Call Music! 22 The 411: ... bad, even for a Top 40 compilation…far from [relevant]. The song ordering is terrible and the selection is less than stellar…lacking in memorable hits …completely worthless.
#2 Celebrity - Mining For Twilight The 411: …definitely not for me…If you really want to hear a 3rd rate version of Coldplay, by all means go ahead and grab this one today…
#3 Busta Rhymes - The Big Bang The 411: …more a shot from a cap gun than a cannon…finds Busta sounding more tired and less inspired than ever… a terrible lead single that, unfortunately, is indicative of the entire album…Big Bang isn't even worth a free listen.
#4 Pink - I'm Not Dead The 411: …a grade C pop album with enough "attitude" (re: swear words) strewn about to make those not listening think Pink is legitimately rebelling against something…[Pink] does little more than embarrass herself…the sort of CD that high school girl basketball players crank up in their bedrooms, only to look back a few months later and think, damn, that was lame…Pink's middle finger to anybody who wastes $15 on this trash…Don't be a stupid consumer.	Now That's What I Call Worthless! - Mitch Michaels
#5 Crossfade - Falling Away The 411: Is this [someone's] idea of a joke?...seems like there was no effort put into it whatsoever…one sad excuse for a radio ballad after another…absolutely no musical intensity…think of Papa Roach's "Scars" and then take ANY sort of musical balls out of that song...yeah, it's that bad...Avoid this album…
#6 Kinnie Starr – Anything The 411: …ranges from yawner pop to embarrassing hip-hop. Starr has a message of girl power and uplifting minorities, but it gets lost in her lack of ability to express it in a sane, attractive or pleasant manner…rare [bright] moments only lift Anything up from "complete disaster" to "avoid". Save your money.

And that's all, folks. We'll see you tomorrow for Part 3 of our 2006 retrospective, where we look at some brilliant musical careers that were sadly ended over the year. Also, be sure to stay glued to 411mania's album review section so you'll never miss out on what the music world has to offer.