speed of dark

The suspense is killing you, isn't it?

Favorites of 2006, 11 - 14

Earlimart: Answers and Questions from Answers and Questions 7" Vinyl
I was excited as hell to find that Earlimart had released something this year. I hope the full album next year is as good as this one track. If so, you'll see it on my Favorites list next year too. Check out the twittering birdies and gentle piano at the end. I love this.
Website | MySpace | Buy at iTunes



Elf Power: 23rd Dream from Back to the Web
Here's another great band from Athens, GA that I had not known of before. Indie Mom gave me three MP3s a couple of months ago, and I'm not surprised that one of them is on her Best list. That little taste made me want to hear more, and now I know Elf Power have made 7 albums in the last 12 years. I have some listening to do! Meanwhile, this one from their current album became a solid favorite.
Website | MySpace | Amazon



Psapp: Needle and Thread from The Only Thing I Ever Wanted
Yay! Cat people! But I liked Psapp before I knew that. This is actually another band I discovered because of The Eraser. I was looking for more rhythmic dance-type tracks, and I discovered Psapp's "Calm Down" from 2004. I like the soft samba beat here that gets shaken up every now and then by the percussion.
Website | MySpace | Amazon



Mew: The Chinaberry Tree from And the Glass Handed Kites (U.S. release July 2006)
And the Glass Handed Kites is one of the few albums I bought in 2006. There are several good songs here; in fact I could have easily listed "Special" or "The Zookeeper's Boy" or "The Seething Rain Weeps for You" as the favorite instead of "Chinaberry Tree." Between listenings I forget how much I like it even though I have a secret fear that this is the ABBA of this decade. I must mention that Mew have a very attractive flash website for which they have won awards.
Website | MySpace | Buy at Amazon

My previous Favorites posts:
Best and Favorites explained
Favorites 15-18
And here, here and here
Favorite cover of 2006