2006 will be remembered for a lot of reasons: births, deaths, and a ton of celebrity upskirts. Also, on a personal level, I got my first pubic hair (yes, only one). As far as the independent music industry was concerned, 2006 can be summed up in one word: disrepair. The crack that has been quietly forming between mainstream and underground movements continues to widen daily. In my eyes, it is now a gaping chasm. Spend a few minutes clicking around on ‘zines and blogs and you may begin to see what I mean. The hegemony of “safe” artists who eschew originality in favor of quirkiness overpower those who are really making strides to alter the modern music landscape. Record labels are equally responsible for this paradigm shift. Five years ago, it seemed as if young labels were filled with exuberance and hope. Now, they act as micro-major labels with their ability to deploy full-on public relations blitzes whenever they want to generate (unwarranted) hype for their mostly mediocre rosters. What, I ask, is “indie” about bands with publicists? I hope that with all the access to information we have, 2007 brings recognition to musicians who strive to spur radical change, and the labels that take chances instead of playing it safe.
Here are my favorite 50 records of 2006. This isn’t a “best of the best of the best” or anything, and to be honest, it’s a constantly changing list. I’ve submitted maybe five or six different lists to various websites in the last two weeks, and they’re all different. It would take me hours–maybe even a few days–to explain why I enjoy these records so much and really do the creators justice. Instead, I decided to do two-word reviews (a la “Shit Sandwich,” from Spinal Tap), but I think I like the flexibility of working with 3 words more. Like the Butthole Surfers. So, here are 50 record reviews in 150 words total. 153 words total.
TOP 50 RECORDS OF 2006
50. L/R – When I Lift I Can Feel My Sunburn Singing (cd-r) – Shimmering Textural Glitches.
49. Harvey Milk – Special Wishes – Compilation, But Great!
48. Sweek – The Unbelievable Cinematic Crash – Epic Instrumental Rock. download “Iki”
47. Danielson – Ships – Uplifting Fuzzy Feelings.
46. Parts & Labor – Stay Afraid – Whip Cracking Frenzy.
45. Rocky Votolato – Makers – Alive Elliott Smith. download “The Night’s Disguise”
44. Rivulets – You Are My Home – Downcast Minimalist Exhibition.
43. Ignatz – Ignatz – BRRZZZ KCCCKKT TKTKTKTKT! download “The Radiant Sheen”
42. Xela – The Dead Sea – Childlike Mechanic Vignettes.
41. Bass Communion – Loss – Ghosts Play Piano.
40. Nina Nastasia – On Leaving – Mad Cherubic Songstress. download “Counting Up Your Bones”
39. Suishou No Fune – Where The Spirits Are – Blanketing Depthless Muck.
38. Jeffrey Luck Lucas – What We Whisper – This Guy’s Sad.
37. Tim Hecker – Harmony In Ultraviolet – Dappled Electronic Smear. download “Radio Spiricom”
36. Tiny Hawks – People Without End – Fun Providence Noise. download “Smaller Cemeteries”
35. Vetiver – To Find Me Gone – Hairy Genre Melding.
34. Sickoakes – Seawards – Suddenly I’m Woozy. download “Driftwood
33. LSD March – Empty Rubious Red – Gentle Spacey Trails. download “I Have Been Saving My Love For You
32. Magyar Posse – Random Avenger – Astral Projection Soundtrack.
31. Tall Firs – Tall Firs – Candlelit Acoustic Melancholia. download “Don’t Prey On Me”
30. Pinebender – Working Nine to Wolf – Hello, Guitar Solo!
29. This Is Your Captain Speaking – Storyboard – Autumnal Valley Fog.
28. Uzeda – Stella – De-constructive Rock Uppercut.
27. Cast King – Saw Mill Man – Incredible Old Dude. download “Wino”
26. The Angelic Process – Coma Waering – Static Skeletal Numbness. download “Rid The Past By Dying”
25. Cloudland Canyon – Requiems Der Natur 2002-2004 – Gorgeously Intense Guitar
24. Hwyl Nofio – Hounded By Fury – Funny Cover Art! (Fractal Noise Drones)
23. Uton – Highway Nation – Glacial Freezer Burn. download “Untitled” (track 4)
22. F/i – Paradise Out Here – Psychedelic Laser Show. download “Poppy”
21. Expo ’70 – Exquisite Lust – Decayed Guitar Grooves. download “Hitherto”
20. The Hylozoists – La Fin Du Monde – Transcendental. Instrumental. Sensual.
19. Titan – Pilzmarmelade (cd-r) – Sauerbraten Sauerkraut Krautrock.
18. M87 – Noctilucent Threnodies – Haunted House Music. download “NGC 7538”
17. Bob L. Sturm – Music From the Ocean – Microphone. Geological Events. download “Track 3”
16. James Blackshaw – O True Believers – O Crystalline Plucking.
15. Entrance – Prayer of Death – Melodic Gun Club. download “Pretty Baby”
14.
13. Pearls & Brass – The Indian Tower – Bluesy Stoner Rock. download “No Stone”
12. Flying Canyon – Flying Canyon – Horse Tranquilizer Folk. download “Relover”
11. A Taste of Ra – A Taste of Ra (II) – Sad Guy Singing.
10. Reigns – We Lowered A Microphone Into the Ground – Descriptive Album Title!
09. Larsen – SeieS – Palindromic Painkiller Tunes. download “Haula”
08. Brightblack Morning Light – Brightblack Morning Light – Harmonious Reverberated Orchestrations.
07. STNNNG – Fake Fake – Loud. Furious. Scattershot.
06. Zelienople – Stone Academy – Fantastic Experimental Peepshow. download “More Mess”
05. Jasper, TX – I’ll Be Long Gone Before My Light Reaches You – Evocative Ambient Dreamscapes. download “Rounds”
04. Sheriff – Sail, Sail Away – Slow. Slower. Repeat. download “I Say Hi”
03. Colour Haze – Tempel – Bong-Rattling Jams. download “Tempel”
02. Psychic Ills – Dins – Thank You, Spacemen! download “I Knew My Name”
01. Boris – Pink – Boris Heavy Rocks. download “Pseudo-Bread”
Don’t hesitate to comment if a link is broken. My eyes hurt from staring at the screen for an hour and a half.
