Best of the Best Lists: Albums of the Year

December 19, 2006

Starting Dec. 26, the day after Christmas, I'll be posting my picks for BuzzSugar's Top Albums of 2006. But until then, there are plenty of other best of lists to keep you occupied, so I'm posting a few of my favorites for your reading/arguing enjoyment. It has been a rather strange year for music, and the diversity of these lists reflects that.

Pitchfork Top 50 Albums of 2006

Top 5:

The Knife, Silent Shout
TV on the Radio, Return to Cookie Mountain
Joanna Newsom, Ys (Read my review.)
Ghostface Killah, Fishscale
The Hold Steady, Boys and Girls in America (Read my review.)

Most puzzling selection:
Band of Horses Everything All the Time at No. 12. I like that album too, but only because it reminds me of about 10 other indie-rock bands.

Two more, so read more

Rolling Stone Top 50 Albums of 2006

Top 5:

Bob Dylan, Modern Times
Red Hot Chili Peppers, Stadium Arcadium
Sonic Youth, Rather Ripped
TV on the Radio, Return to Cookie Mountain
Ghostface Killah, Fishscale

Most puzzling selection: I understand wanting to give a nod to the Chili Peppers, but No. 2? No way.

NPR Listeners Best of 2006

Top 5:

The Decemberists, The Crane Wife
Neko Case, Fox Confessor Brings the Flood
Bob Dylan, Modern Times
M. Ward, Post War
TV On the Radio, Return to Cookie Mountain

Most puzzling selection:
Regina Spektor's Begin to Hope at No. 10. I like a little Regina too, but just a little.

15 Comments

Kjell 6 years 21 weeks

i agree with most of what you're saying except about the Band of Horses album which is awesome. true it sounds like other bands but it is so much better than the rest.

Padraigin 6 years 22 weeks

Regina Spektor is fine, Joanna Newsom, not so much. If I want beautiful melodies, I'll listen to Neko Case and Rosie Thomas. If I want to hear cats mate, I'll listen to Joanna Newsom.

Padraigin 6 years 22 weeks

I like Calexico's "Garden Ruin" and really thought that Sufjan Stevens did good with "The Avalanche", even though it was outtakes from "Illinois". And Rosie Thomas' "These Friends of Mine" was amazing, but only available online at this time and came out in December.

DCStar 6 years 22 weeks

I give props to the lists containing Joanna Newsom and Regina Spektor. They are godesses of music, I adore listening to their beautiful melodies.

MissRobinson 6 years 22 weeks

John Mayer's "Continuum" is my fav of the year. Oh how I heart John Mayer !!!!

WhatTheFrockBlog 6 years 22 weeks

My top five of 2006, in no particular order are: Cat Power, "The Greatest" Voxtrot, "Mothers, Sisters, Daughters, and Wives" Sunset Rubdown, "Shut Up I Am Dreaming" Belle & Sebastian, "The Life Pursuit" M. Ward, "Post War" I'll probably re-read this and change it in five minutes.

WhatTheFrockBlog 6 years 22 weeks

Ya beat me to it, Buzz!

WhatTheFrockBlog 6 years 22 weeks

"X&Y" was released in 2005. I personally don't really care for any Coldplay albums except for the first one, "Parachutes."

POPSUGAR Entertainment 6 years 22 weeks

I liked X&Y too but that actually came out in 2005.

cravinsugar 6 years 22 weeks

Where is Cold Play's X & Y? That is my fav. I'm all in.

WhatTheFrockBlog 6 years 22 weeks

I don't know how she's become such a critical darling. Almost every review I've read of hers raves about her, but hardly anyone I know can stand her.

Padraigin 6 years 22 weeks

Except Joanna Newsome. Cannot handle the caterwaling.

Padraigin 6 years 22 weeks

NPR list is closest my own list.

nyaradzom2001 6 years 22 weeks

Red Hot Chilli Pepers rock, and so does Alexis Strum, Sugababes, Chantal Kreviazuk and of course my girl Nelly Furtado, they all had good music this year.

WhatTheFrockBlog 6 years 22 weeks

I've got most of these albums, with the exception of Ghostface Killah and the Chili Peppers (who I've never been able to stand). Most of them are really good. I'm actually listening to The Knife right now. Good for TV On The Radio making all three of these top 5 lists!

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15 Comments

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