Top of my pops, 2006

At first I wasn't going to do a year-end list. I figured there were already too many floating around out there, so why bother. Well, the other night I was totally enjoying my one zillionth viewing of High Fidelity and after listening to list after list and top 5 after top 5 I realized that not only do I share far too many traits with Rob Gordon but that I also wouldn't be shit without lists. I'm constantly making and rearranging iTunes playlists, can't go to the grocery store without a proper list and have kept a running list of every show I've ever played, ever. These are only a few examples. I could make a list of more things I use lists for but...

This was a really inspiring year in music for me. In a time when people are supposed to not be buying as many records as they had in the past and when record labels are ducking out of the game every day, people who write songs battled through it and did what they do best. Here's to hoping (I'm pretty positive it will) that this continues into 2007.

10. Grizzly Bear - Yellow House
This album is beautiful. I'm amazed at how much Grizzly Bear grew from their first album. No sophomore slump here, not even close. Adding second singer/writer Daniel Rossen completely worked and helped bring them up to where they currently are. Wonder what'll happen if they let their friends remix this album like they did their first? This one exists perfectly on its own. Grizzly Bear on Myspace



9. Milosh - Meme
Michael Milosh has one of the sweetest voices ever. It ebbs and flows over and around electronic backdrops like no other. This album stays pretty much at the same tempo the whole way through. However, I don't feel that faster songs would serve any purpose at all. There is a definite and stable groove to this album that works incredibly well. He's mastered whatever sampler he's using for those clipped 8-bit-sounding beats he's so good at making. Milosh on Myspace


8. The Like Young - Last Secrets
Do you like personal lyrics that can probably teach you a thing or ten? Do you like crunchy guitars and boomy drums that just don't stop? Yeah? Then go buy this thing. My good friends and old band mates Joe and Amanda Ziemba hit the proverbial nail on the head with this record. On this, their third and final full length, everything meshed and in my opinion they went out on a high. The Like Young on Myspace



7. Four Tet - DJ Kicks
I'm a big fan of the idea behind the DJ Kicks series, which is letting interesting musicians mix together their favorite songs to work as a companion to their usual output. The Four Tet DJ Kicks isn't really dance floor friendly, but more of hanging around the house getting stuff done friendly. Based on Four Tet's proper albums I wouldn't expect anything sub par in the form of a DJ mix. This collection of songs covers a whole lot of ground. Four Tet on Myspace


6. James Figurine - Mistake, Mistake, Mistake, Mistake
Postal service, Figurine, Dntel: pretty good track record huh? Jimmy Tamborello is a genius in my book. Everything he touches is gold. Reading some reviews of this album, not all were thinking the same way as I was. But I really dug this release. I think he works best as a collaborator in letting others sing over his music, but his voice and lyrics are geeky enough to fall right into place with his glitchy soundtracks. James Figurine on Myspace

5. The Whitest Boy Alive - Dreams
I missed the boat on Erlend Øye's Kings of Convenience stuff. I caught up with him on his first solo album Unrest in 2003, which I really enjoyed. Besides that he put out a DJ Kicks compilation that opened me up to all sorts of cool stuff, styles and scenes that I was unaware of. When word broke that he had started up a new band sans electronic elements I was sort of disappointed. But that didn't last long. When I heard his voice flow over those simple guitar lines backed by a ridiculously tight rhythm section I was hooked. Erlend may be the only person who could lip sync while dancing around and then stage dive to one of his own songs (The Whitest Boy Alive's "Burning") and pull it off without looking stupid. I saw him do this during a solo set at this year's Pop Dakar festival! The Whitest Boy Alive on Myspace

4. Schneider TM - Skoda Mluvit
Schneider TM's song "Reality Check" off of his 2002 Zoomer album is one of the coolest songs I've ever heard. Based on that I'll keep up with everything he releases. I seemed to be one of the only people that got excited about this release however. It probably just flew a bit too far under the radar for many to notice. Anywho, rumor has it that he became extremely reclusive during the months he spent recording this. And it shows. He's obviously put a ton of effort into the placement of each sound on this album. This is a weird collection of songs, and I like it. Schneider TM on Myspace

3. The Blow - Paper Television
Being someone who's interested in following along with Jona Bechtolt's web presence (and musical projects), I was excited for the release of this album. His involvement in The Blow led me to The Blow who had a number of releases out before his coming in as a collaborator. This is really well crafted, at times dancey, electronic-pop music with smart lyrics. "Parentheses" is one of my favorite songs of this year and this album as a whole is way good kids. The Blow on Myspace

2. Various Artists - Kompakt Total 7
Admittedly I am new, as of this year, to the Kompakt label. I jumped aboard here with their 7th-annual compilation. The Total series showcases their roster's best tunes. This compilation opened me up to "minimal house" or whatever people are calling it. Thanks to Bobby from Irene (of all people!) for turning me on to this. Kompakt on Myspace





1. The Radio Dept. - Pet Grief
Soft vocal stylings layered on top of reverby guitars, synths and drum machines is something that I've heard plenty try to do, but not many do well. When it's done wrong it's embarrassing or just boring. The Radio Dept. does it exactly right and has made it their calling card. Whether they're following a formula in which they've perfected or only know how to make this specific sort of music isn't anything I'm concerned about. This album gives me chills every time I spin it, and that's what matters. The Radio Dept. on Myspace