speed of dark

After spending a few days in lovely San Diego and watching Cal kick some A&M ass, I am back to share with you some of the songs that didn't make it onto my 25 Best Songs of 2006 lists (see those posts here: 1-5, 6-10, 11-15, 16-20, and 21-25).

Some of the tracks listed below were left off of my "best of" list because I hadn't heard them when I was compiling the list, or because I felt that while the song was good, it wasn't in the top 25. Others were narrowly left off of the list during my last revision, shortly before I began posting. But once I finalized the list, I vowed not to change it. These songs are not in any particular order, and do not include artists whose songs actually made it onto the list.

the annuals: bleary eyed
buy the album | official website | myspace

The Annuals, an outfit from North Carolina renowned for their amazing live shows, released Be He Me in October 2006. In December, the band played a live set on KEXP, which can be streamed here. The Annuals will be on tour with our beloved The Dears starting in Boston in January (check out their myspace page for complete tour info) and will appear on Conan O'Brien on January 18.


lost ocean: everything is
buy the EP | official website | myspace

Lost Ocean hails from Bakersfield, California and released the Night to Life EP in August 2006. The band will release their first full-length album on February 20 and will tour along the West Coast, beginning in January. This lovely piano driven song almost made it onto my best of list.


pilot speed: into your hideout
buy the album | official website | myspace

Another song that was almost on my 25 best songs list, "Into Your Hideout" comes from Pilot Speed, from Toronto, Ontario. Pilot Speed (formerly Pilate) released Into the West in August 2006 and instantly this song went into heavy rotation on my iPod. The band will tour with The Annuals and The Dears in January at some select shows (see their myspace page for more details).


stars of track and field: movies of antartica
official website | myspace

Stars of Track and Field take their name from one of my favorite Belle and Sebastian songs, who in turn take their name from one of the best cartoons Nickelodeon ever chose to show (but that's another post for another day). This Portland, Oregon band originally planned to release Centuries Before Love and War in June 2006, and the songs are available to buy on iTunes, but the album won't actually be released officially in print until Spring 2007. However, there are copies for sale on Amazon. Go figure, go buy their songs on iTunes, and listen to another near-miss for my list.


my chemical romance: welcome to the black parade
buy the album | official website | myspace

I am a little hesitant to post this song, but it was almost on my best of list. I think MCR are extremely creative in marketing themselves and their music. I was first attracted to them when I saw their video for "I'm Not Okay (I Promise)" from their 2004 release, Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge. The video for this song perfectly highlights the music and it's easy to see why they have such a large and devoted fanbase (including my son). MCR are very theatrical in both their lyrics, their videos, and how they package themselves as emo-goth-rock-death-gods. I've heard their 2006 album The Black Parade a zillion times now, due to the album being on constant repeat in the bedroom next to mine, and I have to admit that it's not a bad album, but not one of the best of the year. I liked this song quite a bit when it first came out, but I'm very tired of it now.


Stay tuned for more of the best of the rest.