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Jaesin
12-20-06, 01:16 AM
Just curious as to what albums others out there really enjoyed this year, for me, my top albums have to be, in no particular order.

Brazillian Girls - Talk to La Bomb
---Some of the best dance music I've heard in a while, more rockish than techno, reminscent of daft punk. The lead singer can speak 5 languages, and often sings various parts of songs in other languages, which is a nice touch. The music is deep, interesting, and keeps your attention; great album.
Thom Yorke - The Eraser
---I'm a huge fan of radiohead, so it's no surprise I loved this album, especially after doing a bit of research into the songs. Horrodown hill for instance is the location where the police found the body of one of tony blair's leading opponents towards the iraq war, it's a song of espionage and thinly veiled threats. Makes me look forward to the next instalment of radiohead even more :).
Muse - Black Holes and Revelations
---Another highly political album, this one goes a bit more rock than what I'm used to with muse, and I have to stop myself from listening to Knights of Cydonia while driving, it's not a good combination, last time I caught myself going 95 just rocking out. As with every muse album, it has a kickass ballad, this time with Starlight, which I think was a great choice for the second radio single.
Basement Jaxx - Crazy Itch Radio
---A real departure from what I'm used to with Basement Jaxx, but most definately, it's them. It opens with a radio-style introduction, then kicks into Hush Boy, probably my favorite track on the album, it's fun, light, and makes you want to get up and dance.
Beck - The Information
---With tracks like Nausea, and Think I'm in Love, Beck is fun again. He's still got all the random noises and other crazy things in his music, but it keeps it interesting. Over all a very well made album.
Tom Waits - Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers and Bastards,
---What can I say, I'm a Tom Waits fan, and this album delivers.
Damien Rice - 9
---You wouldn't think an accoustic album would float in this market, but I really, really hope Damien does well for himself, this album is a marked improvement over his first.
Corinne Bailey Rae - Self Titled
---I discovered Corinne when she guest stared on Studio 60, with her track, "Trouble Sleeping", it's a modern update to Jazz, vocals put over pop-ish music, with some throwbacks to her Jazz roots. Young singer, who only stands to get better, can't wait for her sophomore album, big hopes for her.
Scissor Sisters - Ta Dah
---With the assisstance of Elton John, the Scissor Sisters release their second album, strange story behind this band, American by origin, however, they became a wildfire success in the UK after their debut album, which didn't take off as well as they had hoped in the US. I'm glad to see they're doing much better on this second album, and was terribly amused by the fact that Elton John helped write two songs, in addition to playing the piano on another (Interlude, one of my favorite tracks on the album), Superb Lyrics, fun music that really reminds me of another age.
The Decemberists - The Crane Wife
---No band tells a story like the Decemberists, this album isn't nearly as good as their old ones, but that's still saying it's remarkable. Track number two, "The Island, Come See, the Landlord's Daughter, You'll not feel the drowning" is a 12 and a half minute epic, that tells an epic story about romance and intrigue, with four key parts, each musically and lyrically different. I absolutely love this storytelling style of music, one of my favorite songs ever is "We both go down together", off Picaresque.


Been a good year for Music I think.

Edit: got bored and figured I'd add little mini-reviews. AND I forgot the decemberists!

Thwick
12-20-06, 10:44 AM
Muse - Blacks Holes and Revelations
Matisyahu - Youth
The Strokes - First Impressions of Earth
The Raconteurs - Broken Boy Soldiers
Gnarls Barkley - St. Elsewhere
RHCP - Stadium Arcadium

Darkefang
12-20-06, 11:08 AM
I agree on Beck and most of Thwick's choices. I'd also add:

Eagles of Death Metal - Death By Sexy

Lady Sovereign - Public Warning

And yes, I'm sure I'll be sick of Lady Sovereign in a couple months, but for now, it is really entertaining to listen to a filthy-mouthed hip-hop Eliza Doolittle.

Jaesin
12-20-06, 11:13 AM
Thanks for reminding me, I really loved the collaboration between Lady Soverign and the Ordinary Boys, was my top played on my mp3 player for quite a few weeks,

Also, a favorite of mine this year was

The Ordinary Boys - How to get everything you ever wanted in 10 easy steps.
A lot less formulaic than their first few albums, but you can still see their influences, like, "Ballad of an unrequitted self love afair" is like someone gave morrissey an energy drink. Good stuff.

Thwick
12-20-06, 09:04 PM
Wasn't that much out this year that seemed groundbreaking to me, but those were the albums i purchased and enjoyed. I guess i'd put the new Jurassic 5 album there too.

Lots of my friends have raved about the Tom Waits cds out this year, but i haven't heard them.

Seanto
12-20-06, 09:25 PM
The Flower Kings - Paradox Hotel

A progressive rock masterpiece, 2 discs of new studio material. If there is anyone who thinks that current prog rock is just rehashed crap from the 70's, this should squelch that(like the rest of TFK's material). Tasteful writing and intense epics, check it out. The concept is pretty cool too, you can't be disappointed with this!

The Mars Volta - Amputecture

The band is back with full force, and horns/woodwinds! Less psychadelic noise from previous efforts and more latino/classical/jazzy/hard rock grooves. The band lineup is the best so far, so if your a fan, it's a must have. For those that have never heard the band, this can be a great introduction too alongside their first album, De-loused in the Comatorium.

Jaesin
12-20-06, 09:50 PM
!!! The Mars Volta has a new album? How'd that get by me...

De-Loused is one of my top albums ever.

Seanto
12-20-06, 10:17 PM
I hear rumor of yet another album coming next year.

Jaesin
12-20-06, 10:25 PM
And Chris Cornell from Audioslave is going to be coming out with a new solo album... after his work on the bond theme I'm really anxious to hear some of his solo works, which he described as "Totally different than anything I did with sound garden or audio slave."

Heard some of his live accoustic stuff on BBC Radio 1 tonight and I'm psyched.


In response to the mars volta album....


wow.

The intense use of surround really makes this album... it just plays with your ears, a nice surround system, or headphone is a must.

DarthEnderX
12-21-06, 12:50 PM
People, don't make me link the SA Mars Volta article again...

Darkefang
12-21-06, 05:18 PM
The Flower Kings - Paradox Hotel

A progressive rock masterpiece, 2 discs of new studio material. If there is anyone who thinks that current prog rock is just rehashed crap from the 70's, this should squelch that(like the rest of TFK's material). Tasteful writing and intense epics, check it out. The concept is pretty cool too, you can't be disappointed with this!

What's wrong with rehashed prog rock crap from the 70s? My iPod is full of old Yes, Rush and King Crimson.

Seanto
12-22-06, 08:56 PM
Absolutely nothing at all! Some people just use that as an excuse not to like the band. I love all 70's prog rock, so don't take my comment the wrong way.