2006: These Things I Believe

It's fast approaching the end of the year, and while for most this is a time to be joyful and merry, for those of us who believe our musical opinion is worthy of promotion, it is a time to make lists.
This year, I have to admit, was the year I fell out of touch. I can no longer claim to be hip to the beat. I am no longer the "go to guy" for cool and interesting music that I used to be (or used to think I was). And so I must admit that this year's list doesn't excite me that much. I feel it's a rather conservative selection of music, very pop-centric and indicative of my lack of effort this year to attempt to discover new and innovative sounds. I'm positive there are amazing albums out there that I've missed, and even albums you'd expect me to have listened to but I didn't (The Decemberists). This is far from a definitive list of albums of 2006, it's merely the best of what I purchased this year. That said, it still does include some great albums. Do yourself a favour.

20. Mogwai - Mr Beast
Mogwai's 6th album proper (not including EPs, remix albums and compilations) was, to me, their least interesting. Alan McGee (surprisingly their manager now) was proclaiming it was the greatest art rock album since My Bloody Valentine's "Loveless", but it wasn't. It's still Mogwai though, and their very existence deserves kudos.

19. Thom Yorke - The Eraser
2006 was not only the year I lost touch, but also the year I joined the chorus and decided that Thom Yorke whines too much. Previously I'd been aghast trying to explain to all and sundry that "No, you don't get it, he just has a really dark sense of humour, and the vocal delivery is part of the joke!". But with this, his first "solo" (apparently we're not allowed to call it that) album, I did start to think "Yeah, maybe he does whine a bit too much". Musically the album is quite excellent though, even if glitchy beats went out of style in 2003 (don't worry Thom, I still dig 'em as well).

18. I Am Robot And Proud - The Electricity In Your House Wants to Sing
Toronto native Shaw-Han Liem has one of the coolest/cutest monikers in I Am Robot And Proud and his (early) Múm-esque instrumental lush electronic pop suits it just fine. This is the perfect Springtime album, but as I didn't have a Spring this year (I had two Autumns instead) it didn't get nearly enough of a...umm... rotation on my laptop(?).

17. The Hidden Cameras - Awoo
This was the album where Joel Gibb decided that "less is more". He took away the orchestra, the choir and the overt homosexuality, yet unfortunately he was wrong. While the album does contain some great pop melodies, the album is just not that awesome slap in the face (or on the arse) that "The Smell Of Our Own" was.

16. TV On The Radio - Return To Cookie Mountain
Just because Kyp Malone has the best afro since OJ Simpson in "Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell Of Fear", it doesn't make TV On The Radio the coolest band in the world. The hype this year for this band was almost as omnipresent and suffocating as the current smoke haze that has enveloped Melbourne. That said, this still was a pretty good album. "A Method" has a whistling melody equal to that of Peter, Bjorn and John's "Young Folks". David Sitek may be a bit too self-satisfied with his (supposed) innovative abilities, but Tunde Adibempe is one smooth mutha on the microphone.

15. Stereolab - Fab Four Suture
I wish to go on record stating the "Cobra and Phases Groop Play Voltage In The Milky Night" is Stereolab's best album. How you like them apples? All you people who think that anything post "Emperor Tomato Ketchup" or "Mars Audiac Quartet" is rubbish are morons, that is when the band started to get interesting! I like albums like "Peng!" and "The Groop Played "Space-Age Bachelor Pad Music" just fine, but I love "Dots and Loops", the aforementioned "Cobra and Phases...." and "Sound Dust" and I also really dig "Fab Four Suture". Although lacking the consistency of some of their previous albums, tracks like "Interlock" and "Get A Shot Of The Refrigerator" are as good "Miss Modular" or "The Free Design" or even, dare I say, "Ping Pong". Ha!

14. Malajube - Trompe L'Oiel The population demographics of Montreal are thus: 54% Francophone, 28% Allophone (having neither French nor English as a mother tongue) and 18% Anglophone. 50% of that 18% of Anglophones are known as "hipsters" and are either in bands or think they are in bands. Actually, this isn't true. The majority of hipsters in Montreal are not permanent residents, they're imports from the rest of Canada and will be gone as soon as they get too fat for their skinny jeans. Malajube, however, are locals and while musically they sound like every other Canadian band du jour, the sing in French and so I don't have to be shy about liking them.

13. Final Fantasy - He Poos Clouds
The title track concerns Owen Pallett's sexual interest in Link from the Zelda game. You see, Owen is not just a computer game nerd, he is a classically trained, game-obsessed, completely awesome, gay, super-nerd! When he's not fighting robots in far off galaxies, or arranging strings for The Arcade Fire, he's making his own wonderful pop gems. The track "This Lamb Sells Condos" contains the best line of the year "...and his massive genitals refused to cooperate."

12. El Perro Del Mar - El Perro Del Mar
That Swedish education system must be something else. As well as making Swedes some of the most learned and worldly people, it also seems to be able to teach them how to write amazing pop songs. Sarah Assbring attaches her wrly miserable lyrics to gorgeous girl-group melodies and arrangements to make Nordic seasonal disorder seem like the coolest thing ever (no pun intended).

11. The Research - Breaking Up "Twee" is such a harsh word. So what if Russell Searle sits with his crappy casio on his lap and sings his self-deprecating songs of love lost while his female band-mates "la la la" in the background? It doesn't make it... ok, well it does make it twee, but it doesn't make it a crime.

10. Destroyer - Destroyer's Rubies
There's a drinking game that involves listening to a Destroyer album and taking a shot whenever Dan Bejar makes a reference to either another Destroyer song or album, or a New Pornographers song, or mentions a girl's name or a myriad of other reoccurring themes that he writes about. Dan is indie-rock's greatest wordsmith (sorry Colin Meloy), and his dramatic mock-Bowie delivery suits his verbose verses perfectly. Although, it seems strange that for such a gifted writer that almost every chorus on this album consists of nothing but him singing "la la la" or "ba-da-di-da". Although maybe that's the point?

9. The Fiery Furnaces - Bitter Tea
Oh, I momentarily forgot about the Friedberger siblings when declaring Dan Bejar indie-rock's greatest wordsmith. Whilst "Bitter Tea" lacks the glorious ridiculousness of "Blueberry Boat", it still has enough bat-shit crazy pop gems such as "Nevers!", "Benton Harbour Blues" and "Waiting To Know You" for me to bestow some other over-zealous and highly subjective title upon them. I think I'll just go with "Geniuses".

8. I'm From Barcelona - Let Me Introduce My Friends
"I'm going to sing a song with all of my friends and we're I'm From Barcelona". In fact they weren't from Barcelona at all, but Jönköping in Sweden. There was 28 of them and they made some of the most wonderfully upbeat naïve pop songs this side of The Wiggles. Oversleeping, building treehouses, collecting stamps, making mix-tapes, whatever your interest there was a song here for you. Pity they all look like a bunch of Vice Magazine rejects though.

7. The Blow - Paper Television
It would be too much effort for me to compile a list of my favourite tracks of the year, but if I was to do so both "Parentheses" and "Fists Up" would be in the top ten, possibly even top 5. And if "Pile Of Gold" didn't sound like it was some Berlin anthem that got lost in 2003 and ended up in Olympia in 2006 it would be up there as well. This album also contains the most fun line to sing along to of the year - "I guess I'm on the long list of girls who loves the shit out of you, whoa!"

6. The Pipettes - We Are The Pipettes
Even if their music sucked I would love this band. Shit, I had a picture of Rose on my desktop before I'd even heard a single note. Luckily for me they are completely awesome. Dare I say "Your Kisses Are Wasted On Me" and "Pull Shapes" were the two best singles of the year? Apart from the fact that the early demo version of "It Hurts To See You Dance So Well" is vastly superior to the version that appeared on the album, oh and the recording of the title track sucked as well, this was an almost flawless pop album. Be gone with you, naysayers! Sure they had a gimmick, but that just added to their complete awesomeness.

5. Love Is All - Nine Times That Same Song
Usually my rules would dictate that as this album was released in Sweden last year it can't be included in this year's list. However, just this once I plan on breaking the rules as I didn't purchase it until it was released in the UK in January. That, and the fact that it just too astonishingly good to leave out. I really liked this album, but after seeing them in Montreal I decided that I absolutely loved it. It's the dance-punk (with a Riot Grrl residue) party album of the century! Ever! They have a saxophonist who looks like a Swedish Stephen Merchant. Come on!

4. Belle & Sebastian - The Life Pursuit
This almost escaped the list due to me thinking that because I had an illegal download of it back last November, that it was actually released last year. The hardcore B&S fans didn't seem to rate "Dear Catastrophe Waitress" too highly, however I am unsure of how they view "The Life Pursuit". That said, I don't really care because A) I am the hardcore and my opinion supercedes anyone who claims to be more hardcore than me and B) It's a completely awesome album. The fact that the band's songs now funk and groove shouldn't dissuade anyone more accustomed to their earlier fey and restrained songs, they are still just as witty and charming. This album returned to being predominantly written by Stuart, which I think we can all agree on is a good thing.

3. Joanna Newsom - Ys
The way I've been ranting a raving previously on this blog you'd have thought this album would be my number 1 of the year for sure. Well, although it is fucking incredible and I maintain the urge to mow down anyone whose ignorance states otherwise, it just didn't receive enough listens compared to the following two albums. That said, holy shit, on ambition alone this album should be receiving Noble and Pulitzer prizes, Olympic gold medals and motherfucking sainthood. With "The Milk-Eyed Mender" the harp was the gimmick; "Oh isn't she quaint playing a harp", but it's her lyrics that are the draw with "Ys". I want to quote, but I shall restrain myself, and where would I start anyway? Where would I start!?

2.Danielson - Ships
From the Danielson Famile to Br. Danielson to now just Danielson, Daniel Smith and his merry band of brothers, sisters, in-laws and friends have made some of the most joyously skewed weirdo Christian pop songs of the last few years. That sentence seems a bit odd seeming I'd say that they are the only band making joyously skewed weirdo Christian pop. This is the album where Daniel got a little more mature and focused in his arrangements. The songs are still ramshackle by most people's standards, but don't feel like they're about to completely fall apart like on previous albums. The opening four tracks on this album are just so ridiculously good, in fact if anyone can think of a greater opening four songs to any album ever I will eat my hat. Remember everyone: "Be just who you're made to be Pappa is so mighty pleased with thee"

1. Camera Obscura - Let's Get Out Of This Country
It wasn't just Daniel Smith who was maturing this year, Camera Obscura went from being a pretty decent Belle & Sebastian tribute band to being a completely awesome, time to drop the comparisons, über-pop band with this their third album. "Lloyd, I'm Ready To Be Heartbroken" is one of the most charming pop songs I've ever heard. And the album danced as well! Where previously the band may have shuffled and tapped their feet a little, now they were writing dance-floor fillers, the aforementioned "Lloyd..." and "If Looks Could Kill" were bound to get any party started. "Come Back Margaret", "Let's Get Out Of This Country", "I Need All The Friends I Can Get" and the gorgeous "Razzle Dazzle Rose" were all killer pop songs. The album has no dud moments whatsoever and I would marry Traceyanne Campbell in two seconds flat.