speed of dark

the lovely Getty Gardens

After completing my list of my favorite 10 albums of 2007 and my favorite 25 songs of the year (continued here), I began to look at other people's lists and discovered three things. First, there was a lot of music out there that I had never even heard of, much less ever listened to. Second, there was some music that I didn't give a fair shake - tons of songs and albums that I gave a cursory listen or I didn't give proper attention. And finally, I discovered (much like last year) that I am destined to second guess my choices and moan about the fact that I could have or should have included such-and-such song/album on my lists. So I decided to make a few mini-lists of things I want to share that I liked in 2007.

Albums of 2007: Honorable Mentions
Soulsavers: It's Not How Far You Fall, It's The Way You Land
Feist: The Reminder
The Shins: Wincing the Night Away
Earlimart: Mentor Tormentor
Division Day: Beartrap Island

Albums of 2007 That I Haven't Listened To At All (Yet):
Burial: Untrue
Ryan Adams: Easy Tiger
Maritime: Heresy and the Hotel Choir
J. Tillman: Cancer and Delirium

Best Album I'm Listening To Now But Wish I'd Heard Much Earlier:
UNKLE: War Stories

Albums I Need More Time With:
Iron & Wine: The Shepherd's Dog
Sunset Rubdown: Random Spirit Lover
Interpol: A Time To Admire
Handsome Furs: Plague Park

Best Self-Hate Song That I Heard Live in 2007:
LCD Soundsystem: North American Scum

Awesome Websites I Started Visiting Regularly in 2007:
I Can Has Cheezburger
The Comics Curmudgeon
The Daily Coyote
Etsy
Perry Bible Fellowship
The AV Club
Brand New
Found Magazine

Best Music from 2006 (That I Didn't Hear Until 2007):
Muse: Black Holes and Revelations
Oppenheimer: Oppenheimer
Midlake: The Trials of Van Occupanther

LCD Soundsystem: North American Scum [buy]
UNKLE: Hold My Hand [buy]

Near the end of last year I sent lists of my 2006 favorite songs upon request to several blogs (click the category link below to see my choices), not thinking that anything more would come of it, however one of those submissions has turned into a blogger awards event.

Your own Alt-Gramma was among over 35 music bloggers who submitted nominees in 14 different categories of Best Artist, Best Song, and Best Album. This is how my list of favorites became part of the nomination process for the Music Blogger Awards (MuBA for short).

Now the public gets to vote for the winners. Notice the blinking banner in the sidebar at the right (thanks, Indie Mom). Click there or here to go to the link for list of nominees that were gathered. You can also submit your own choice in each category.

EMusic has picked up the sponsorship for MuBA, so I need to do a little plug on their behalf. I don't mind because I have an EMusic subscription myself, and I often provide an EMusic link with an artist review. That's for YOUR convenience, not because I get anything for it. I think EMusic is an economical way to legally download music in MP3 format and know that the artist gets a cut, and when you collect as much music as I do, economics is important.

When you submit your votes, you'll get an opportunity to subscribe to Emusic and download an exclusive MuBA playlist, featuring tracks and artists from the MuBA nominee list. I am told that you'll get 40 free downloads instead of the usual 25 with a new subscription. I have also been informed that if you try out Emusic for a couple of weeks and don't like it, you can cancel your membership and keep the downloads.

If you're feeling a bit chicken about this and want to see an overview of the categories and nominations, check out the list at The Good, the Bad, and the Unknown blog.

Voting will end on June 15th, 2007, so don't wait too long. You are not required to join EMusic to vote, so do it just for fun, and let's see what happens. Vote link.

Here is what I did get out of this: all MuBA contributors were able to sumbit a playlist to EMusic that can be downloaded by EMusic subscribers. Here is the address for those bloggers and playlists: MuBA playlists, and here my personal selections: Speed of Dark playlist.

Some Speed of Dark 2006 favorites that made the final MuBA nominations for 2006:

TV On the Radio: Hours from Return to Cookie Mountain

Thom Yorke: Cymbal Rush from The Eraser (this version was performed live on KCRW)

We Are Scientists: Textbook from With Love and Squalor

Beirut: The Canals of Our City from Gulag Orkestar

Sunset Rubdown: They Took a Vote and Said No from Shut Up I Am Dreaming

My brother, Indie Mom's Uncle T, is also an avid music connoisseur. He has excellent taste, but he leans more toward blues and country than I do. He has made an annual Best list for years that he distributes to friends and family. I have learned to pay attention to the artists he takes notice of. Over the years he has turned me on to Cat Power, Warren Zevon, Joseph Arthur, Lucinda Williams, the Heartless Bastards, and Alejandro Escovedo. For an entirely different take on 2006 from our usual Speed of Dark fare, here is Uncle T's list of Top 10 Albums for 2006, with his own commentary on each.

10. Various Artists: Rogue's Gallery: Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs, and Chanteys
Producer Hal Willner put together 2-CD’s worth of sea songs sung by contemporary artists (Nick Cave, Joe Arthur, Lou Reed, Jolie Holland), actors (John C. Reilly), and other oddities (Baby Gramps). Some of the songs are a bit risqué, some are stamped by the singer, but most of the songs are done fairly traditionally. Very cool collection. Willner previously put together similar works on the music of Kurt Weill.
Buy at Amazon



9. Joseph Arthur: Nuclear Daydream
Nice CD of modern pop and folk, mining desperate corners of the psyche. This one’s done with a bit less of the layers-of-sound production of his last two CDs.
Buy at Amazon



8. Cat Power: The Greatest
The Moon
On this one Chan Marshall is backed up by a band of crack Memphis musicians. This is nice mellow stuff that definitely casts a spell.
Buy at Amazon



7. Neko Case: Fox Confessor Brings the Flood
Neko’s on a roll, with the New Pornographers last year and this year’s solo CD backed by Calexico, the Sadies, Howe Gelb (Giant Sand) and Garth Hudson (the Band). This one’s full of unique torch songs lifted off by her powerful singing.
Buy at Amazon



6. Bob Dylan: Modern Times
Thunder on the Mountain
This is pretty good, but nowhere near its brilliant predecessor “Love and Theft” (appropriately released on September 11, 2001). Both CDs were produced by Dylan, and both contain up-tempo blues workouts coupled with mellow crooners. On this one, he reworks three classic blues songs with his own lyrics with pretty cool results. But the slower songs mostly prevail. But this being Dylan, the CD is still heads above most of what’s out now.
Buy at Amazon



5. Heartless Bastards: All This Time
The band manages to avoid the dreaded sophomore slump with another great CD. Here they explore new musical directions, expanding their sound with more piano and strings. The (all original) songs are a bit mellower than last year’s bombastic debut, but the band still rocks it hard in spots and Erika’s vocals continue to be amazing. This is one band to watch.
Buy at Amazon



4. Alejandro Escovedo: The Boxing Match
Notes On Air
Back in the pink, with hepatitis and alcohol behind him, Alejandro teams up with producer John Cale (ex-Velvet Underground) for another nice CD of interesting rock and soft root songs. Cale throws in a few modern musical curves to Alejandro’s rootsy style. It’s Alejandro’s best produced work to date.
Buy at Amazon



3. Golden Smog: Another Fine Day
Strangers
This collaborative alternative supergroup (made up of members from Wilco, Jayhawks, Soul Asylum, Run Westy Run) reconvenes again after 8 years to save the world. They’ve moved from their previous alt-country leanings to a more Beatlesque power-pop formula. And it works well, with another fine CD.
Buy at Amazon



2. Calexico: Garden Ruin
Letter to Bowie Knife
On this one Calexico expand their sound from space-age mariachi to a broader pop-sound, with wonderful results. Great CD whose music sneaks up on you. It really captures the zeitgeist of the times.
Buy at Amazon



1. Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins: Rabbit Fur Coat
Handle With Care (Traveling Wilburys cover) with M. Ward and others
Rilo Kiley’s front woman goes solo with this great country-pop gem. All of the songs work, and she’s obviously ready for a solo career.
Buy at Amazon

Following up with the second part of my best songs that didn't appear on my 2006 Best Of list (see part one here):

memphis: i'll do whatever you want
buy the album | myspace

Memphis' incredible album slipped my mind as I was compiling my final list of 25. The album, A Little Place in the Wilderness, was released in August 2006 by Torquil Campbell and Chris Dumont, the former also a member of Stars. The soft, dreamy guitars and soothing piano that dominate these tunes are simply wonderful. This song gives just a taste of the 10-song album, with the title track also a favorite of mine.


joseph arthur: too much to hide
buy the album | official website | fansite

If you hadn't noticed, Alt-gramma has quite a thing for Joseph Arthur (see posts here, here, and also here) and so I haven't given my opinion on much of it yet. A lot of what I have heard is very dark and sad, but at the same time, sweet and lovely. I like his voice a lot, and this song exemplifies for me what Mr. Arthur can do best. What I have heard from this album, Nuclear Daydream, is excellent, and I am sure that he not only has a great future ahead of him, but many, many more mentions in the future by alt-gramma on this blog.


mellowdrone: fashionably uninvited
buy the album | official website | myspace

This song was left off of my list because I didn't realize that Box, the Mellowdrone album from which this song came, was released in 2006 until the list was halfway posted. When Alt-gramma and I went to see Silversun Pickups, we stood next to the kid in the lazy eye video and both he and his friend were wearing Mellowdrone hoodies. I remember thinking, "I've got a Mellowdrones song...but I can't think of what it is..." and so when I got home, I checked. Dammit! I love this song and their probably more well-known song from the same album, "Oh My", which I have heard getting some radio airplay. I haven't heard enough of their songs yet...must hear more.


It's very very late and I'm very very tired. I will post the final "best of the rest" soon. Enjoy!

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.

Here are the also-rans for my Favorites of 2006. There are other albums I wish I had listened to enough to have favorites, but I can't count them in this bunch. I'm sure I will have regrets in the months to come.

The following songs did get played a lot and yet had to be taken off the list in favor of others at some point.

Niobe: Give All to Love from White Hats
So weird, so different from anything else I ever like or listen to, but at the same time so irrestistible. I wish there had been more tracks on White Hats as hypnotic as this one. See previous post.



Fields: Charming the Flames from Seven From the Village EP
This young group has a lot of potential and a very pretty keyboardist. See our concert post on the Fields.



Kaki King: Yellowcake from Until We Felt Red
I've stated before that I am a guitar-aholic. I wanted all acoustic guitar instrumentals at our wedding two years ago. I downloaded a lot of songs from iTunes, including about five from a couple of Kaki King albums. This one from her current album is unusual for having vocals.



Vetiver: Been So Long from To Find Me Gone
A cool-down song from my exercise CD. Very calming and soothing, it led me to a gather a collection of Vetiver tracks.



Joseph Arthur: Automatic Situation from Nuclear Daydream
This is not the only good song on this album, but it's definitely the standout for me. I wish I had liked Nuclear Daydream as much as I've liked his earlier albums. See previous post.



Stoney: Jailbird from The Scene and the Unseen
"Jailbird" is a song I heard on KCRW that stopped me in my tracks. I have a couple of other good songs from this album, but after those they start feeling a bit formulaic.
Downloads at MySpace | Buy it at iTunes

I hope everyone had a fine Christmas. Welcome to Shopping Hell Day!

At last, I can put some order into my jumbled list of Favorites. These last four get top honors because they contain so many excellent songs I can't choose a favorite. The albums in their entirety are excellent, so I can recommend them without reservation.

4. J. Tillman: With Wolves from Minor Works
This is the artist and the album I was afraid I'd have to break our rules for. Minor Works is sold only online at fargo store, which baffled me for a while because it appeared that you could pay only in pounds or euros. I actually wrote to Tillman about it, and he told me just to enter my payment info as usual, and the monies would be converted. Voila! I received an e-mail in French telling me my order has been sent. My account was charged $20 U.S. for the CD plus shipping. I don't think that's too much to pay for something this good. Therefore, since the album can be purchased in the States, I declare it eligible under our rules.

I've had almost all of the songs on "Minor Works" for a good part of the year, and their beauty and ability to move me never fades. The first of Tillman's songs that caught me, with last year's "Seven States Across" and "My Waking Days" from Long May You Run, J. Tillman, are the ones with only his voice and guitar. When songs are this minimal, the singer had better have something to say worth hearing, and Tillman does. They are striking, stark, astute observations of the darker side of people's lives. He has a way of making short lines and simple words deeply touching and meaningful, much like Neil Young, whom he lists as an influence.

At first I wasn't crazy about the band, but now I love that too. The drums, banjo, and pedal steel enhance and brighten without removing any of the intimacy of Tillman's intense, husky vocals.

In the final analysis, I had a terrible time picking a favorite from this bunch. I have changed my mind countless times. I loved "With Wolves" since it was a demo without the band, now it is achingly lovely with addition of violin and slide guitar. It has truly been a song of the year for me in both its versions, and I still can't hear it enough. "Casualties" relates a somber story of desperation and regret. I loved "Restlessness" from the first time I heard it on Tillman's MySpace page. I've posted "Take Care" twice since we started this blog, so it's a favorite for sure, in fact, I posted several from this album before I knew they were on it in my Letter to J. Tillman back in October. The links to those MP3s are down now because--I can't say it any clearer--you should BUY THIS ALBUM. You can listen to clips of all the tracks at the Fargo Store link below.
Website | MySpace | Buy at Fargo Store

Sample lyrics from With Wolves

If you've got one foot out the door
You've packed up all your shoes
You don't have to feel
Like I've been fooled
Cause young men play the part
Play the part of fools
To keep from standing still
To keep their precious youth
Young girls pay the price
Of pairing off with wolves
Who don't know any better
And don't feel like they should

3. Beirut: Mt. Wroclai (Idle Days) from Gulag Orkestar
From the first trembling trumpet notes of "Gulag Orkestar" you feel you have suddenly been transported not just to a different and older land but to what seems like an older time as well, and your trip lasts the entire CD.

Somehow, wunderkind Zach Condon, who invented Beirut in his bedroom, maintains a delicate balance between faded glory and brash youth in this music. He claims that his warbly vocals and those intricate arrangements come about nearly by accident, and that that is his intention. I can understand how Condon acquired his passion for gypsy and Eastern-European style music, passing fancy though it may be. The phenomenon that fascinates me is that he was able to coerce so many of the rest of us into going along for the ride. This is pretty strange music for indie/rock. I am aware of the criticism regarding Condon's lack of authenticity toward the cultural and musical roots of the music he borrows from, but that does not keep me from enjoying these tales of celebration and longing. I don't hear a peep of satire or parody in any of the songs, and I've been inspired to listen to and buy the authentic sources.

I think the question at the end of 2006 is, What's next for Mr. Condon? Even if he could keep the current momentum going with this unlikely stuff--and as far as I'm concerned, he can, because I also am completely in love with "Elephant Gun" from the new Lon Gisland EP--if he has any musical creativity at all, he is going to want to change directions. It will be interesting to see what he tries to sell us on next. A lot has been made of Condon's youth, and it should be remembered that people do a lot of maturing and changing in their early twenties. If he's a faker, as some would have it, time will tell, or he may just decide to surprise us and become a serious musician.

My favorite on this album is still the song I heard first, "Mt. Wroclai," with its jaunty accordion, delicate glockenspiel, and simultaneously melancholy vocals and boisterous rhythms. Oh my!
Official website | MySpace | Buy this album at Amazon, emusic, or iTunes



2. Silversun Pickups: Future Foe Scenarios from Carnavas
I've said a lot about Silversun Pickups in two main posts, one back in September and more lately in this concert review. There is no point in my rehashing the fact that I find this band's sound incredibly energizing and fresh. I have agonized for weeks over which track was going to be the Favorite--it could be any one of six, and all the other songs on Carnavas are good too. No duds here. I heard the wonderful "Lazy Eye" first, but then I was quickly drawn to "Well Thought Out Twinkles." Then I fell in love with "Dream at Tempo 119." The deceptively slow pace of "Rusted Wheel" seems to barely constrain some powerful force. I could keep naming them; each one has been my favorite at some point. Then we went to that concert, and for me, "Future Foe Scenarios" was the mind-blower. It's revolution, baby!
Official website | MySpaceBuy this album at Amazon or iTunes



1. Thom Yorke: The Clock from The Eraser
This is my number one song and number one album for three reasons. First, it's Thom Yorke! Radiohead! Duh! The contest is weighted right there.

Time is running out for us
But you just move your hands upon the clock

Second, "The Clock" is a protest song, and I cut my musical teeth on protest songs in the 60's and 70's, so for me outrage is the essence of rock music. This is the year even President Bush started to get it through his thick head that industrial nations', primarily the U.S., environmental policies are about to permanently demolish mankind's only living-place. If you haven't seen the movie An Inconvenient Truth, my advice is to rent it SOON. It will scare the pants off you even as it attempts to sooth you by saying if we just use alternative fuels and different light bulbs, we won't cook our world well-done in the next two generations. "The Clock," with its lickety-split percussion, conveys the urgency that we wish our leaders would adopt.

You throw coins in a wishing well
Wake up!

Third, this entire album, in which I love every single song, influenced me musically in a tremendous way. It expanded my taste into areas I don't normally explore. It caused me to seek out and be open to dance-beat and percussion-infused tracks. These artists and songs would not have been on my Favorites list if it weren't for The Eraser: D.J. Shadow's "Erase You," Sigur Ros's "Refur," and The Album Leaf's "Red Eye" (see post). Even Mew is here due in large part to Yorke's inspiration. There are older songs as well that I came across in my search for Eraser-like music.
The Eraser site | Buy this album at Amazon or iTunes

I also want to throw in here a bit about whether being able to get free MP3s on the Internet keeps people from purchasing an album. In my case, No, it does not if a majority of the songs are good. I had every single one of the songs from the Eraser the first day they leaked. I still bought it; I pre-ordered it, in fact. You can see me doing it with J. Tillman too. I have most of "Minor Works." I'm still buying it.

I can't guarantee to you that what you download from my posts is the highest quality. The quality here is only good enough for you to evaluate the music. The only way to get the best quality is to buy from the artist. The only way to keep that good music coming is to support the artists.

It's been a great year. I'm sure there's a lot of good music that I missed, and I'm excited about finding it. I'm looking forward, now that this list is done, to exploring what's new and getting caught up with other blogs!

~alt-gramma~

Wow! Indie Mom published our 100th post Friday! Amazing!

Favorites of 2006: 5 and 6

Clearlake: No Kind of Life from Amber
This British group has a sound that is dark and tough as nails while still managing to remind me of The Stone Roses at their best. This song's lyrics, while repetitive, have deep meaning for me, and I have played it over and over without ever getting tired on it. It isn't the only good song on Amber, which is their third album. I like "Good Clean Fun" almost as well as this one, and "Neon" sports a mean harmonica. Listen to that and also "I Hate It That I Got What I Wanted," another standout, on their MySpace page. Album Four will be delivered in 2007, and Clearlake have posted a demo song from it called "Summer's Over" on MySpace. Sounds good, and I'm looking forward to the rest.
Website | MySpace | Buy at Amazon or iTunes



Midlake: Head Home from The Trials of Van Occupanther
Denton, TX band Midlake is near the top of many best album lists, but for me it's the best example why I preferred to collect favorite songs instead of favorite albums. In an album rank, Trials of Van Occupanther ranks lower for me than Bel Auburn's Lullabies in A & C, which actually is my #5 Favorite Album of 2006. However, this song taken by itself comes out higher in listening pleasure than my favorite Bel Auburn song, Metropolitan (watercolor). Does that make sense?

The two are in such close competition with each other for similar reasons. Both albums are just lovely good listening. Most everyone else choosing favorite songs picks "Roscoe", and I like that a lot myself, and I liked "Gathered in Spring" and the title song as well. "Branches" and "Young Bride" never quite hit it with me, however. In the end, it's "Head Home" that comes out best, and playing it never fails to put me in a good mood. A good driving song, a good exercise song.
Official website | MySpace | Buy at Amazon or iTunes

Next week: My final four Favorites.

These are my final five choices for the best songs I heard that were released during the year that was 2006. Check out 6-10, 11-15, 16-20, and 21-25. I have been reading other blogger's best of and favorites lists and I have discovered really excellent music that I missed somehow during the year. There are some tracks that I wished I had heard before I finalized this list, but these artists, if not the songs, were always secure of their top five status on my list.

I could have featured almost any song on the top four albums as being in my top four (the song at number five was clearly the best song on the album, in my opinion). I am fortunate and elated to have seen the top four of five live this year (one of them, twice!).

5. tv on the radio: wolf like me
when the moon is round and full/gonna teach you tricks that'll blow your mongrel mind

buy the album | official website | myspace

When I heard this song for the first time, the buzzy guitar sounds and thumping drum and bass of the werewolf-themed tune grabbed me and didn't let go. I discovered that this song is best heard at top volume while careening down the freeway in a speeding automobile. I immediately bought the Return to Cookie Mountain album that all the blogs were praising, but I found it a tough listen. Upon repeated listens to the other songs on the disc, I have grown to like them, but this song is the centerpiece of a fine release. Look for TVOTR on tour, since I hear they put on an amazing live performance:

select dates: (see myspace page for complete list)
Mar 3 Olympia Theater Montreal, Quebec
Mar 4 Koolhaus Toronto, Ontario
Mar 12 Metro Chicago, Illinois
Mar 23 Roseland Portland, Oregon
Mar 24 Commodore Ballroom Vancouver, BC
Mar 25 Moore Theatre Seattle, Washington
Mar 28 Fillmore San Francisco, California
Mar 30 Henry Fonda Hollywood, California
Mar 31 Henry Fonda Hollywood, California
Apr 1 Belly Up Solana Beach, California
Apr 4 Gypsy Ballroom Dallas, Texas
Apr 5 La Zona Rosa Austin, Texas
Apr 13 Variety Playhouse Atlanta, Georgia
Apr 18 930 Club Washington DC, Washington DC

4. the decemberists: the crane wife 1 and 2
there's a bend in the wind and it rakes at my heart

buy the album | official website | myspace

I love The Decemberists, and I fully believe that Colin Meloy can do no wrong. That said, I struggled with this album too, most because I still actively listened to and adored their excellent and highly recommended Picaresque, Castaways and Cutouts, and Her Majesty the Decemberists. The Crane Wife was none of those albums, but instead is a concept album partly based on a Japanese folk tale and almost totally based on the themes of love and death and the kind of longing we feel in both situations. One song is based on Shakespeare's The Tempest, another a story of two star crossed gang youths. So it was at first difficult to become as enamored with this album as I am with their previous releases.

But then I saw The Decemberists live, and that all changed for me. The band displayed a screen and lovely red lanterns, and performed much of the album when I saw them in October. The other band members (although it was clearly the Colin Meloy Show) are so musically talented, each with several instruments mastered between them, that you stop and think, oh that's what that noise is...it's a hurdy gurdy! The sing-a-long that occurred during this song and many others sealed the deal for me - I love this sad, two part, hindsight-is-20/20 love song and The Decemberists, without question.

3. the dears: i fell deep
the kind of hell i'm in just ain't enough to keep me down

buy the album | official website | myspace

At this point, I realized that all of my top three songs, and virtually any song on their 2006 releases, could have substituted for each other. I absolutely adored Gang of Losers and I debated with myself for a very long time which song to put on this list. Alt-gramma chose "Hate Then Love" as her favorite early on, so I knew that song wasn't eligible. Finally, I let the decision be made by which song I listened to the most, as tallied by iTunes. "I Fell Deep" is a pretty solid representation of the album, of Murray Lightburn's haunting wails and the rest of the band's excellent musicianship. I was lucky enough to see this band twice this year, and they were fantastic both times. If you're lucky enough to be in one of the cities on their tour in January, give yourself the opportunity to be blown over by this band.

January 16 Paradise Rock Club, Boston
January 17 TLA, Philadelphia
January 19 Webster Hall, New York
January 20 9:30 Club, Washington
January 22 Cat's Cradle, Chapel Hill
January 23 Jack Rabbits, Jacksonville
January 24 Studio A, Miami
January 25 The Social, Orlando

2. thom yorke: the eraser
the more you try to erase me the more, the more that i appear

buy the album | official site | at ease web [radiohead site]

Even more so than Colin Meloy, Thom Yorke can do no wrong. As with all of the Radiohead albums, I bought this on the day it was released and listened to it nearly non-stop for over a month until finally I had to hear something else for a while. His melancholy, soft voice, the strange noises, and the odd beats come together in a short but absolutely solid album in which there is something for everyone. Alt-gramma adores the tracks I like, I adore the tracks she merely likes. I love the title track, but for a while I thought I might post "Skip Divided", on which Thom admits he (or the narrator) is someone's "lap dog".

1. silversun pickups: lazy eye
i've been waiting for this moment all my life/but it's not quite right

buy the album | official website | myspace

My mind is still reeling from seeing them in concert last weekend. Silversun Pickups' 2006 release, Carnavas, is a stellar album on which every song is a masterpiece. I cannot praise this album highly enough, nor their live show, which is a spectacle of raw energy and excitement. I was so lucky to be right up front and be able to interact with lead singer Brian Aubert during the show (OMG! He touched me! OMG! He gave me his guitar pick!) and after (OMG! He signed my poster and thanked me!). The rest of the band were excellent, but it was Brian Aubert who put on the show, jumping all over and performing with a ferocity that I haven't seen matched, ever. Do yourself a favor and buy this album and play it non-stop as I have. Every song on the album could have been my number one song of 2006. Snow Patrol better be warned that their opening band might overshadow them.

Silversun Pickups opening for Snow Patrol
select dates (see myspace page for complete list):
Feb 26 Memorial Coliseum Portland, Oregon
Feb 27 Key Arena Seattle, Washington
Mar 1 Bill Graham Civic Auditorium San Francisco, California
Mar 2 Gibson Amphitheater Universal City, California
Mar 3 SDSU Open Air Theatre San Diego, California
Mar 6 The Fillmore Auditorium Denver, Colorado
Mar 10 Stubb's Bar-B-Que Austin, Texas
Mar 21 The Arena At Gwinnett Center Atlanta, Georgia
Mar 26 Theater At Madison Square Garden New York, New York
Mar 28 Agganis Arena At Boston University Boston, Massachusetts
Mar 30 Metropolis East Montreal, Quebec
Mar 31 Canada Ricoh Coliseum Toronto, Ontario
Apr 1 State Theatre Detroit, Michigan
Apr 2 Aragon Ballroom Chicago, Illinois
Apr 4 The Pageant St. Louis, Missouri
Apr 5 Eagles Ballroom Milwaukee, Wisconsin

And that's all, folks...I'll put out my "Best Songs That Didn't Make The List" soon.

I ordered and received Little Drummer Boy Live after I had already plotted out my 25 (or so) Favorites of 2006, so I wasn't sure at first if I was going to include anything from it or not. This double CD set is Mark Kozelek's latest release and his first live release if you don't count the limited edition "White Christmas Live" (2002). I guess he got tired of all those poor-quality bootlegs that have been passed around and decided he could make a recording with much better results. He was right. The quality is wonderful on most of it although a tiny bit overdriven in a few places, and you don't have any hoots and hollers from the audience or clinking beer bottles.

I am a late-comer to the Mark Kozelek Adoration Society. I did not wander through the ups and downs of the Red House Painter years or hold my little torch in the darkness waiting for random shooting stars during the solo years. I came on board when Sun Kil Moon rose brilliantly in 2003.

I remember when I first heard "Carry Me, Ohio" played on KCRW. I dropped what I was doing and stood awe-struck in front of my speakers with my mouth open. I said to my husband, "I MUST have that." That song was and still is stunning to me. That's when I began to find out about Mark Kozelek, the man behind this magic.

I dragged my husband out to a concert at the Troubadour last year, where I found Kozelek to be an enigmatic performer. He really doesn't care what you want to hear; he's going to play what he likes. When the audience yelled for certain songs, he said, "Don't tell me my back catalog." He also said he wasn't going to play any AC/DC songs, which disappointed me because I think "Bad Boy Boogie" is right up there with his best stuff. We ended up listening to a lot of Red House Painter songs that I wasn't familiar with. He played only a couple of songs from Ghosts of the Great Highway. He played "Katy Song" but not "Bubble," another big favorite of mine.

For those reasons, Little Drummer Boy Live is a very satisfying album for me. It contains more of my favorites, so I get to experience more of the concert I would have liked to hear. There are two brand new songs as well: "Unlit Hallways" and "Moorestown." What you get is a wonderful overview of Kozelek's musical career from 1993 right up to present. I'm still mystified by the Modest Mouse covers; they seem tuneless, especially the ones he chose here. "Ocean Breathes Salty" would have been great; instead he chose "Tiny Cities."

Indie Mom says it all sounds alike to her. That's true; it does. But when you love that gentle tickling of the 12-string like I do, that's not a problem. I once played "Bubble" for He Might Be Giant (my grandson). I told him the music reminded me of a stream flowing over rocks with sunlight sparkling off the water. He listened and then said he thought so too. That is what it's like, as near as I can describe it. Another thing that comes out in concert is how much richer and more beautiful Kozelek's voice is than on any recording. I'm still not sure this CD quite captures that either.

Do I recommend this CD set? YES, absolutely, either as an introduction to Kozelek for those who enjoy fine acoustic guitar or as a must-have for the devoted fan. Even if you already have many of these songs, the treatments here are gorgeous and different, especially the Sun Kil Moon tracks. Another plus is that the words are much clearer than on previous CDs. Somewhere there is an entire forum where people debate what Kozelek's lyrics are. Wonder no more! You can hear them! And if you've never seen him perform, this is an opportunity to get a sense of that.

But the one I would pay the whole $14.99 to get if it were the only good song here, and I'd consider it a bargain, is "Down Colorful Hill" from way, way back in the earliest Red House Painters' work. I am ga-ga over "Carry Me Ohio," "Bubble," and "Glenn Tipton," but this is the one that has me enraptured. I can't get enough of it. The original is also nice, but it is punctuated with military drumming that negates the tenderness of the words. Those disturbing rat-a-tats are replaced here with rippling guitar.

Does it belong in the Favorites of 2006? YES, absolutely. So here it is, unnumbered and all.

Mark Kozelek: Down Colorful Hill from Little Drummer Boy Live

Mark Kozelek: Moorestown

Website | Buy this album at Caldo Verde Records | Fan MySpace

See Cool Christmas Caroling for the title song, "Little Drummer Boy."

Now we're getting far enough up on the list that I can start talking about full albums. A couple in this group are a bit darker than some of the previous Favorites. I love those minor chords.

Favorites of 2006, 7 - 10

The Dears: Hate Then Love from Gang of Losers
This fall, for the first time, Indie Mom and I saw the same band not only twice in one year, but twice within a couple of months. The Dears are the reason for this recordbreaker, and both times they closed their set with this song. For me, it's the height of wonderfulness from an album with many wonderful songs. I used to think the Dears were Morrissey clones, but that idea has been thoroughly put to rest. I love how the melody rolls up and back down in this song.
Website | MySpace | Buy at Amazon



The Heartless Bastards: Brazen from All This Time
Of the three songs I liked a lot from the Heartless Bastards' sophomore album, this is the one that has stood the test of time. It's been on my exercise CD for six months, and I'm not sick of any of that stuff yet. See my previous October post, where there is a video of Erika Wennerstrom and Heartless Bastards in concert. They have a solid, rich guitar sound, and Erika's vocals drive it rather than get drowned in it.
Website | MySpace | Buy at Amazon



Razorlight: In the Morning from In the Morning
This is another track from the exercise CD that is guaranteed to make me pick up my step every time. I love the repeated "Areyoureallygonnadoitthistime?" and the accompanying jangly guitar. "America" from this CD is another really good song that could also have been a favorite. Unfortunately after those two and the equally-stellar "Girl with the Golden Touch" from 2004, you realize Razorlight's other songs are pretty much the same except they aren't as good as these.Website | MySpace | Buy at Amazon



Birdmonster: The Bar in the Back of the Basement from No Midnight
In one of our earliest posts back in September, Indie Mom posted "Janine" by Birdmonster. I wasn't impressed so much by that track, but now I think I should give it another listen. I found this one one night while letting the Hype Machine flash player just go down a page of songs. When "Bar in the Back of the Basement" played, I had to stop what I was doing and see what it was. Then I had to play it again. Then I had to have it! I love how it starts out really quiet and slow and then accelerates to full-out frenzy. I also like the spooky idea that some stranger could creep out from behind the tiki bar at the dark end of the rec room. Also good from this album: "Ball of Yarn," and "All the Holes in the Walls."
Website | MySpace | Birdmonster's blog | Buy at Amazon

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