Best of 2006

Another fucking year come and gone. While I didn't obsess over music as much this year as previous years I still managed to pick some favorites.

Top 10:
TV on the Radio // Return to Cookie Mountain
Gnarls Barkley // St. Elsewhere
The Decembrists // The Crane Wife
Tapes N Tapes // The Loon
J Dilla // Donuts
Belle & Sebastian // The Life Pursuit
Lupe Fiasco // Food & Liquor
Artic Monkeys // Whatever People Say I Am That's What I'm Not
Art Brut // Bang Bang Rock and Roll
Bears // Bears

Honorable Mentions:
The Little Ones // Sing Song
Ghostface Killah // Fishscale
Grizzly Bear // Yellow House
Thom Yorke // The Eraser
Built To Spill // You in Reverse
Danielson // Ships
Destroyer // Destroyer's Rubies
Islands // Return To The Sea
The Roots // Game Theory
Lily Allen // Alright, Still...
Comets On Fire // Avatar
Cat Power // The Greatest
Clipse // Hell Hath No Fury
Herbert // Scale
Mastadon // Blood Mountain
Mylo // Destroy Rock N Roll
Sunset Rubdown // Shut Up I Am Dreaming

Albums I still want to hear that might otherwise be on this list:
The Raconteurs // Broken Boy Soldiers
Mission of Burma // Obliterati
Oh No // Exodus Into Unheard Rhythms
Asobi Seksu // Citrus
Ali Farka Touré // Savane
Fucked Up // Hidden World
The Hold Steady // Boys and Girls In America


What's your list look like?

Ratatat

So, I went to this show the other night with a buddy of mine, to see a band called The Faint. He is from Omaha, and went to high school with a bunch of them. Anyway, the opening band was called Ratatat. They were fuckin insane! It's 3 guys: one guitar, one bass, one keyboard. They sample beats for percussion. It is all instrumental, but it fucking rocks... especially live. They are touring the West Coast right now and then are off to Europe for a few months. However, they indicate they will be doing a US Tour in the spring. I'll keep you updated.

In the mean time, check out their website, and their myspace page for a sample of their stuff. Or just go get one of their albums online. It won't disappoint.

A review of their new album "Classics":

Classics remains resolutely instrumental, but the band has introduced a wealth of new sounds, from acoustic and slide guitar to sleigh bells and cello. Their vastly improved production and writing makes this record a refinement of their art. "Ratatat lay squealing metal harmonies over choppy Neptunes-style dance thumps, then break into pastoral waves of keyboard tone, riding dub tempos and hip-hop struts. They're crotch-pumping arena pimps and introverted minimalists..." - Blender.

By the way, The Faint is really good as well. However, I suggest seeing them live before buying an album. The show here in San Fran was only $15... one of the best purchases I've made in a while.

Madvillian Figure

Check out this sweet figure to hit shelves this winter.

awww

wine bottle music