A few days are left before 2007 is ushered in, and with it, lots of new albums. This year was a strange one indeed as artists like the Streets, the Strokes and the Flaming Lips who are known for solid albums, well, failed to deliver.

As with every year, 06 opened our ears to loads of new talent like Annuals, Lily Allen and Girl Talk.

From the sounds of early albums leaks, 2007 looks like it will easily be one of the best years for music. Let’s keep our fingers crossed.

Now, out of all of the music I listened to this year, here’s what stuck out as the 15 best releases of 2006.

Ariel Pink’s latest side-project is certainly a grower. It took me about 6 listens before I could appreciate the album. For those of you who pick it up, be warned. Pink’s one to never really care about digital mastering, so song quality ranges from tolerable to craptacaular. One cool thing that can be said of this mastering technique is that the entire album sounds like a mixtape of demos from your friend’s favorite local bands.

Holy Shit: Tokyo Gamblers

Six Demon Bag is just that: a tortured album that sounds like it was recorded with six different personalities. Styles are spastic and fleeting, and oddity runs amok throughout Bag, but somehow, it’s all good.

Man Man: Ice Dogs

A little band I first wrote about in Totally Twee Tuesdays, Arrah and the Ferns debut is a real charmer. Their little twee-pop jingles just got better and better each time I listened. Plus, it’s pretty hard to beat the pairing of a banjo and lyrics about a MySpace emo-ster.

Arrah and the Ferns: Emo Phillips

Math and Physics Club is an acoustic pop album with some emotion behind it. It started out with me listening to this album in the evenings to wind down, and eventually turned into it becoming one of my favorites of 06.

Math and Physics Club: Darling, Please Come Home

Bat For Lashes’ Fur and Gold is a pretty neat little album that’s meant to be listened to from dusk til dawn. It starts out at dusk on the edge of a forest and with a quest. During our journey through said forest, we encounter magic, foxfire and enchanted creatures which give the album a supernatural atmosphere.

Bat For Lashes: Horse and I

British soulstress lends her unique voice over 50s and 60s Motown beats to make one hell of an R&B album.

Amy Winehouse: Rehab

Lily Allen’s debut is brash, cool, playful breathe of fresh air in the watered-down pop world. Alright, Still is the beacon of hope that talent still exists.

Lily Allen: LDN

TV on the Radio’s Return To Cookie Mountain is like nothing you’ve ever heard. It’s an extremely complex and sophisticated rock album that throws in everything, including the kitchen sink, into its sound.

TV on the Radio: Wolf Like Me

One of my favorites because I can’t pinpoint exactly what the heck it is. Electro? Dance? Pop? Tribal? World Music? Whatever it is, it’s wickedly delightful and dark. And oh-so danceable.

The Knife: We Share Our Mother’s Health

The first few times I listened to The Crane Wife, I was pretty sure it would be my favorite album of 06. While I now see it’s flaws more so than before, it’s still a beautiful journey through lands filled with scoundrels, baby-butchers and magic. Easily the Decemberists best effort.

The Decemberists: The Crane Wife III

I don’t think there’s a CD that I’ve listened to more this year than Girl Talk’s Night Ripper. Not only is it one of the most important releases of our time — it combines more than 150 sampled sources without permission and mashes those old songs together to create new ones — it’s also one of the coolest and most fun.

Girl Talk: Bounce That

From the moment I listened to the November 05 leak, I knew this would be one of my favorites for 06. Chan Marshall’s songwriting and musicianship go unmatched on this one.

Cat Power: Love & Communication

Even I am surprised at how high I rated Singer. But after giving it much thought, it really goes unrivaled as one of this year’s best because of how simple it is and enjoyable it. It’s not life-changing, but it is heart-warming twee-pop.

The Besties: Pirate Song

If it’s possible to fall in love with an album, Boys and Girls in America would be it for me. Hands-down some of the finest songwriting and stories to appear in music this decade.

The Hold Steady: Stuck Between Stations

I pretty much already said everything I wanted to say about Ys here. If you haven’t read it, I’ll save you the time by saying this: It’s magical. It’s captivating. It’s a very rewarding listen. It’s a modern-day masterpiece.

Joanna Newsom: Emily

Biggest disappointment of 2006 goes to

When I first read about Swan Lake I was estatic. An indie supergroup comprised of Carey Mercer (Frog Eyes), Daniel Bejar (Destroyer and the New Pornographers) and Spencer Krug (Wolf Parade and Sunset Rubdown) was every audio junkie’s wet dream. Their lead single “All Fires” brought even more hype and with it expectations that Beast Moans just may be the best album of the year. I mean c’mon, just look at the lineup. Maybe it was the rough production (Beast Moans was meant to sound like a live recording from the Daytrotter Sessions) or the fact that there just wasn’t anything as immediately accessible as “All Fires,” but Swan Lake disappointed on colossal levels. The album sounded like a rushed jam session, in which arrangements just wondered aimlessly under the muddy production. I have yet to make it through the album in just one sitting.

Swan Lake: All Fires

So it looks like the mad dash is almost over for most of the bloggers and fanzines to post their Top-whatever album list of 2006. The one thing I’ve noticed is that most have left out the EP — y’know, those little mini albums that generally include 3 to 5 songs and serve as like a sampler of what’s to come or a different direction the artist wanted to pursue. Well, sometimes bigger isn’t always better, and there’s been some great EPs released this year. Without further ado, here’s my shorties need love too list, in no particular order.

Voxtrot: Mothers, Sisters, Daughters & Wives

The first of two EPs released in 2006 by the Austin pop group, this was the album that started all of the attention, and is one of my most anticipated full-lengths for the next year.

Voxtrot: Mothers, Sisters, Daughters & Wives




Sparrow House: Falls

Score a hit for eMusic’s recommendations. Voxtrot keyboardist Jared Van Fleet’s solo album is a real stunner, and easily one of the best releases of the year, full-length or otherwise. This is the reason I love music.

Sparrow House: When I Am Gone




Cassius: Toop Toop

Probably more of a single than a true EP since it’s all remixes, “Toop Toop” is one of my favorite songs of the year. With it’s dance-demanding rhythm, 80′s-inspired guitar solos and shout along chorus, how can you deny greatness like this?

Cassius: Toop Toop

Klaxons: Xan Valleys

Proof that dance influences are still alive and well in rock. England’s Klaxons’ were one of the breakout groups pioneering the new-rave genre. After repeated listens, the dark lyrics and freaky dancefloor grooves really had me wanting more. Another of my most-anticipated full-length releases for 2007.

Klaxons: Alantis To Interzone [Crystal Castle Remix]




Guillemots: From the Cliffs

Probably not an essential release for those who own the group’s full-length Through the Windowpane since most of these tracks appear on that album, this EP was almost like a “best of” Windowpane by cutting the filler tracks.

Guillemots: Trains To Brazil



DeVotchKa: Curse Your Little Heart

This was really DeVotchKa’s year as the duo released their best effort so far and started making a name for themselves after appearing on the Little Miss Sunshine soundtrack. If you like beautifully orchestrated music with a classical tinge, don’t overlook this group.

DeVotchKa: I Cried Like A Silly Boy




Lucky Lucky Pigeons: Happy Birds Day

Sweden’s never failed to deliver syrupy pop outfits, and their latest export is every bit as good as their previous ones. Happy Birds Day is a completely irreverent in the big scheme of things. But it’s also completely essential to any pop enthusiast’s catalog.

Lucky Lucky Pigeons: Who Smells Marshmallows?




Tokyo Police Club: A Lesson In Crime

Another EP that would have been included on my best full-length release list if it didn’t clock in at just 16 minutes. After a pretty disappointing release from The Strokes this year, TPC was a welcomed group (especially with the addition of female vocals), and one of the best New York-rock sounding bands of 2006. Expect to hear about this group in the future.

Tokyo Police Club: Be Good



Uffie: Hot Chick In Charge

For me, Uffie is one of those artists that works best on EP format, as a little bit of her grimey brand of dance goes a long way. Her song “Hot Chick” though was one of the year’s best club songs that was surprisingly absent in the clubs.

Uffie: Hot Chick


Professor Murder: Professor Murder Rides the Subway

One of the most gushed about EPs of the year due to its creativity and 70′s-inspired post-punk musicality. This album doesn’t skimp on the fun factor.

Professor Murder: Champion




Scissors For Lefty: S/T

Four tracks. Four kicks in the butt to get on the floor and move. Did you comply?

Scissors For Lefty: Ghetto Ways



Little Ones: Sing Song

A group I compared to the Shins earlier this year. While this album probably won’t “change your life” or have Natalie Portman giggle at you while a dog dry humps your leg, it will deliver 6 delicious tracks and make you long for more.

Little Ones: Lovers Who Uncover


Bobby Baby: Loves To Dance

Without a doubt my most listened to EP of 2006. Period. Another Swedish act, Bobby Baby focuses more on dreamy indie pop backed by strong lyrics as opposed to the spastic Swedish bubblegum I typically write about. Every time I listen to Loves To Dance I fall in love with it all over again. Hopefully you will too.

Bobby Baby: Later




Van She: S/T

There’s no denying that I’m a pushover when it comes to a great piece of pop, and in the case of Van She’s 80′s-infused debut, they had me on the ground faster than I could say “this album’s bitchin’.” The odd thing about the group is that every remix they’ve done for similar Modular artists swaps the cool pop for massive guitar crunches.

Van She: Kelly



Robbers On High Street: The Fatalist

A buzz worthy group that’s making bluesy gypsy rock similar in vein to Cold War Kids. Another group to keep your eye on for 2007 as bloggers are anticipating they’ll be “the next big thing.”

Robbers On High Street: The Fatalist

If you happen to like what you heard, most of these releases can be found on eMusic.