The music world in 2006 had its usual fair share of disappointments, with some so-called “big names” falling flat while some really good talents made a decent impact. There were also some releases that should, for all accounts and purposes, never have seen the light of day (K-Fed, we’re looking at you…!). So here’s my 2 cents on my Top 10 for ’06:
10. Between The Buried & Me – The Anatomy Of…
Flat out, these five North Carolina natives possess a musical proficiency unrivaled by just about any band out there today. Although not as brutally good as their two original releases, Anatomy… showcases such an eclectic choice in covers, and the ability to nail those covers, that to dismiss it as “just a covers album” would be an injustice. From the note for note attack of Metallica’s “Blackened” and Pantera’s “Cemetery Gates” to the spot on vocal harmonies of Queen’s “Bicycle Race”, BTBAM transcends its hardcore label (prog-core?) by effortlessly shifting musical gears quicker than a metrosexual matches socks.
Standout Tracks: “Us and Them” (Pink Floyd); “Three of a Perfect Pair” (King Crimson);
“Colorblind” (Counting Crows)
9. Los Lonely Boys – Sacred
Heavy on the Texas brand of blues boogie, LLB shows a level of maturation in both songwriting and musicianship on its sophomore release by marrying its signature sound with pop sensibilities. Although it takes a ding for its occasional 6th grade-level lyrics (but blues usually does have rudimentary lyrics), the Stevie Ray Vaughan-worthy hooks and flawless three-part vocal harmonies of Sacred more than prove these brothers are a force to be reckoned with. As long as they stick with the formula, which is what you’re supposed to do with blues, the Boys will be putting out quality albums for a long time to come.
Standout Tracks: “Oye Mamacita”; “Iselia”; “My Way”
8. Prince – 3121
So funky you gotta respell it F-O-N-K-E-Y. After a string of lackluster albums/hits, it seemed The Purple One had just given up on making any decent music until the previous Musicology. Now with 3121, he’s back on the right track with his signature style that sees an artist still in his creative prime. He uses the usual falsetto vocals, danceable beats, and searing guitar licks you’ve always heard, only now Prince sounds inspired and still, well, hungry. I dug him during the “Little Red Corvette” days as well as the NPG era, but ever since he reverted back to his name and not The Artist or the androgynous Symbol Man or whatever, I lost interest.
Seeing the man back in the driver’s seat of his career and still making great music is a testament
to his abilities. This album gives bits of his old self, and if he ever decided to hang up the ass-less
sequin tights and retire tomorrow, 3121 would be the perfect way to go out on top.
Standout Tracks: “Get On the Boat”; “3121”; “Incense and Candles”
7. The Sword – Age of Winters
Retro-rock has been getting its fair slice of the pie in recent years, with the likes of Jet, Wolfmother, Clutch, etc., selling albums, tickets, jeans, cars, etc.; The Sword’s Age of Winters takes a somewhat different path than other old-school inspired brethren. By taking bits and pieces from classic metal bands like Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden, The Sword forms a sound that’s not new, but new to a lot of folks, and its growing fan base agrees: these cats are the real deal. It’s the kind of riff-heavy rock from yesteryear that makes you wanna strap on the ol’ studded leather wrist band and pump your goat-giving, biker glove-wearing fist in the air, ‘cause one thing’s for sure-The Sword is so metal it hurts.
Standout Tracks: “Freya”; “March of the Lor”; “Barael’s Blade”
6. The Roots – Game Theory
This is the first album by The Roots I ever picked up, mainly because I never heard of the band ‘til its former guitarist Ben Kenney jumped ship to play bass with Incubus. To my delight, these guys are a true hip-hop band, and one with a socially conscious message, which is the way I like my hip-hop (seriously, how many more songs about pimps and rims do we need…?). The Roots’ music is pure urban music played with a punk rock ethic, and deserves more recognition than most, because it is important. If some suburban kid wants to play music ‘cause he/she sees some band play, that’s cool…happens all the time.
But if some inner city kid gets inspired by Game Theory (or any previous release) and decides to stop
selling weed and wants to pick up a guitar or sit behind a drum kit, then that’s the true power of music in
motion. And why The Roots are more valid than just about anything Nick Cannon will ever put out.
Standout Tracks: “False Media”; “Baby”; “Atonement”
5. The Mars Volta – Amputechture
The heir apparent kings of art-rock came through once again with another batch of head-scratching yet mind-blowing songs in the form of Amputechture. Complex rhythms, ambient noise… like any other release from this band, you either love it or leave it; the smart money is one loving it, unless you like your bubblegum rock spoonfed to you, ‘cause this band puts your brain to work. While some songs borrow heavily from Francis The Mute, Amputechture stands in its own right. With plenty of how’d-they-write-that moments, this album becomes yet another textbook example of progressive rock at its finest. Whether or not the firing of drummer John Theodore will have a huge impact on future albums is unknown, but rest assured, The Mars Volta has cemented its place in music history.
Standout Tracks: “Day of the Baphomets”; “Vicarious Antonement”; “Vermicide”
4. Tool – 10,000 Days
Emotionally angry, thought-provoking…Tool’s 10,000 Days, with its usual dark imagery and intense energy, could very well be the soundtrack to a viewing of a Dali collection. One of Tool’s primary strengths, and there are many, is the raw honesty of the lyrics. Case in point: the poignancy of “Wings for Marie” and “10,000 Days”, Maynard’s account of his deceased mother shaking her fist at God and demanding she be made an angel after living most of her life confined to a wheelchair, is chill bringing. Tool continues to prove it’s a hard-rock powerhouse that shows no signs of ever letting up or letting success get into their heads. Undeniably, this band could very well go down in history as one of the best metal bands ever, and 10,000 Days is musical proof.
Standout Tracks: “The Pot”; “10,000 Days”; “Vicarious”
3. Sting – Songs From The Labyrinth
To call it brilliant is an understatement; Sting, responsible for so many hits with The Police and during his solo career, jamming on a lute to songs written over 400 years ago? Yep, and no one else could not only pull it off but pull it off so effortlessly. You don’t take on a project like this for singles, for airplay, for royalties—you do it for a passionate love of music, regardless of genre. Strikingly beautiful, Songs… effectively becomes a time machine, as Sting recounts the life of history’s first rock star, English lutenist John Dowland. Just as always, Sting pushes the envelope with great results. At one time, nobody thought reggae rhythms could work in a New Wave context, but Sting thought so and gave the world The Police. Nobody thought an English rocker could play flawless jazz,
but he’s mastered that, too. The only problem is wondering how he could top himself next time.
Standout Tracks: The whole damn thing.
2. Les Claypool – Of Whales and Woe
Whatever the incarnation, whether it’s Sausage, Frog Brigade, The Holy Mackerel, or Primus, the constant has been Les. Like death and taxes, you could always count on his creativity and signature bass style to come up with something new, yet still remain undeniably him, and to blow nearly everyone else out of the water (fishing reference intended). With Whales, it’s Les baring his soul, or rather thinking out loud, that makes for some interesting listening. The nasally story of “Iowan Gal” or “Vernon the Company Man” take listeners for a ride with the characters in Les’ head, and the end result you get when you come back to reality is that Whales gleefully defies categorization and convention.
Standout Tracks: “Rumble of the Diesel”; “Robot Chicken”; “Vernon the Company Man”
1. The Red Hot Chili Peppers – Stadium Arcadium
I know I’m playing favorites here, but this is one of my favorite bands of all time, and even though this album doesn’t have the life-altering groove of Blood Sugar Sex Magic, it’s easily a close second to the best the Peppers ever produced. With the best lineup ever (with all respects to Hillel, Dave, Jack, Arik, Blackbird, etc.) firing on all creative cylinders, the double disc Stadium sounds like a band reborn. It seemed that a career of ingenuity was breeding some staleness with recent releases, as the band pretty much abandoned its trademark style to sound like any of the legion of college radio wannabes, but now that the funk’s back, the band hearkens back to the tube sock days of yesteryear.
The perfect bridge between Freaky Styley and Californication-era Peppers, Stadium suffers from
surprisingly little filler and offers some instant classics. By going full circle, the Red Hots reestablish
itself as truly one of the most original rock bands in decades.
Standout Tracks: “Desecration Smile”; “Warlocks”; “Tell Me Baby”
Honorable Mentions: (tie)
Gnarls Barkley – St. Elsewhere
Incubus – Light Grenades
Dishonorable Mentions (tie):
Everything by Paris Hilton
Anyone directly or indirectly related to Disney that consider themselves an “artist”
Most Overrated:
Breaking Benjamin – Phobia
Most Underrated:
Iron Maiden – A Matter of Life & Death
Best Album Title, Period:
I Am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass – Yo La Tengo
Worst Album Title, Period:
FutureSex/LoveSounds – Justin Timberlake
