speed of dark

Notice that we have two different lists going on here. Indie Mom has a "Best of 2006" list, and I have my Favorites of 2006. Her list is super-organized and numbered. I'm just kind of throwing mine out there in no particular order as I feel like it. I really admire her format, though. It looks great.

The rules:

a) All songs must have been released during the 2006 year (duh) in the US.
This may be duh, but it is causing me problems. One problem is the word released. I have a few real favorites that were never actually released for sale. Notable among those is Alaska In Winter. I may do a special little post for those artists. The other problem is U.S.
I'll explain that one at a later time.

b) Only one song per artist (very hard to follow).
Yep, there were some very tough decisions to make.

c) Alt-gramma and I must not pick the same songs (she will post her own).
Although our tastes are very similar, amazingly, there is not much crossover when it comes down to our favorites. We both have 20-something songs (well, she has precisely 25; I'm not counting) on our lists, but at this point I know of only 2 songs that are on both lists. They are still Favorites of mine, but I will let Indie Mom post them, and I'll just chime in and say I agree.

What surprised me about myself this year is that I have some Favorites that are instrumentals, including the aforementioned Glasgow Mega-Snake by Mogwai. Last summer, when it was so hot my cats slept straight through July and August, I put together a set of songs I called my "Ice Cold" Mix just to give myself goosebumps. These three songs, as well as "Glasgow Mega-Snake," are from that mix.

Favorites of 2006

Sigur Rós: Refur from Saeglopur

In the past these Icelanders' freaky, high-pitched vocals and echo-y space melodies have put me off, but on Saeglopur Sigur Rós have at last published several songs that I find appealing. I still can't sit through a full album, but since "Refur" is one of the shorter tracks, I listened to it repeatedly and grew to love it.
Band website | MySpace | Another website | Amazon



The Album Leaf: Red Eye from Into the Blue Again

The Album Leaf is basically the hugely talented Jimmy LaValle, a San Diegan who has been associated from time to time with Sigur Rós. This album was produced in Iceland with the assistance of some of the Sigur Rós team, which all helps explain the kinship between this song and the one above and their similar mood. While other folks go for "Always For You," from the same CD, I am drawn to these bell-like tones. This was my MySpace profile song for several weeks.
Website | MySpace | Amazon



DJ Shadow (feat. Chris James): Erase You from The Outsider

I don't know much about Josh Davis (a.k.a. DJ Shadow). I never thought I would have any "DJ" or any music labelled hip-hop on MY favorites list. I blame it on Thom Yorke, whose percussion-fest "The Eraser" put me in the mood to listen to music a little more out there than my usual layered-harmony jangle rock. It's so smooth and cool--Is this REALLY hip-hop? Somebody tell me it ain't so.
Website | MySpace | Amazon

And of course, all are available at iTunes.