Give Me Danger: Top 25 Albums of 2006

The time has come. After a lot of deliberation and tweaking I have compiled what I feel to be the best 25 albums released in 2006. I can definitely say that I purchased more music in 2006 than any year previous, and have listened to many, many albums that came out this year. Some of these albums have been playing over and over in my iPod since the beginning of the year, and some are relatively new purchases that I am still absorbing. Either way, each album on this list is completely enjoyable and reminds me with each listen why I love music so much.

The albums on this list represent the complete spectrum of genres that I enjoy - indie rock, alternative rock, electronica, folk, dance, and alt-country. The top spot this year, in my opinion, clearly goes to Band of Horses with their stunning debut Everything All the Time. The only thing I can say about this album is that it achieves exactly what indie rock should sound like. At the 2nd and 3rd spots are The Hourly Radio and Dangerous Muse, both of which are new bands that have an incredibly promising future. Nothing made me want to dance more than Dangerous Muse's small repertoire. At number 11 sits Placebo, a band that has been around since the mid-90's, but one that I did not listen to until this year. Meds definitely made me an instant fan. At number 12 is The Presets, who, with Girl and the Sea, created what I consider to be the best song of the year (and possibly of the decade, even) amidst a great collection of funky, dark, and dancy songs. The most unique sound of the year belongs to Beirut at number 5 - the sounds of gypsies filtered through the indie rock genius of a kid from Albuquerque. Thom Yorke and Roddy Woomble, each the frontman for a band that I consider to be one of my all-time favorites, released solo albums this year, both of which made my top 25. Each record on this list is unique and beautiful in its own way and I encourage everyone to give them each a listen. 2007 is coming fast and I have a feeling it is going to be another great year in music, just like this one has been.

Without further ado, here is the list:

1. Band of Horses: Everything All the Time - Highlights: Wicked Gil, The Funeral, The Great Salt Lake
2. The Hourly Radio: History Will Never Hold Me - Highlights: Deaf Ears, Stealing Off, Fear of Standing Upright
3. Dangerous Muse: Give Me Danger EP - Highlights: Give Me Danger, The Rejection, Break Up
4. Two Gallants: What the Toll Tells - Highlights: Las Cruces Jail, Steady Rollin', Long Summer Day
5. Beirut: Gulag Orkestar - Highlights: The Gulag Orkestar, Bandenburg, Postcards from Italy
6. Tapes 'n Tapes: The Loon - Highlights: Just Drums, Insistor, Omaha
7. The Decemberists: The Crane Wife - Highlights: The Crane Wife 3, O Valencia, When the War Came
8. Mogwai: Mr. Beast - Highlights: Auto Rock, Glasgow Mega-Snake, Friend of the Night
9. Junior Boys: So This Is Goodbye - Highlights: Double Shadow, First Time, In the Morning
10. Home Video: No Certain Night or Morning - Highlights: Sleep Sweet, Gas Tank, Confession (Of a Time Traveler)
11. Placebo: Meds - Highlights: Infra-Red, Space Monkey, Song to Say Goodbye
12. The Presets: Beams - Highlights: Are You the One?, Down Down Down, Girl and the Sea
13. Mew: And the Glass Handed Kites - Highlights: Apocalypso, Special, The Zookeeper's Boy
14. Now It's Overhead: Dark Light Daybreak - Highlights: Let the Sirens Rest, Dark Light Daybreak, Let Up
15. Goldfrapp: Supernature - Highlights: Ride a White Horse, Fly Me Away, Number 1
16. TV on the Radio: Return to Cookie Mountain - Highlights: I Was a Lover, Playhouses, Wolf Like Me
17. Scissor Sisters: Ta-Dah - Highlights: I Don't Feel Like Dancin', Lights, Everybody Wants the Same Thing
18. The Dears: Gang of Losers - Highlights: Hate Then Love, Bandwagoneers, Ballad of Humankindness
19. Thom Yorke: The Eraser - Highlights: Analyse, Black Swan, Harrowdown Hill
20. M. Ward: Post-War - Highlights: To Go Home, Post-War, Chinese Translation
21. Roddy Woomble: My Secret Is My Silence - Highlights: As Still As I Watch Your Grave, My Secret Is My Silence, Under My Breath
22. Silversun Pickups: Carnavas - Highlights: Well Thought Out Twinkles, Future Foe Scenarios, Lazy Eye
23. ...And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead: So Divided - Highlights: Wasted State of Mind, So Divided, Life
24. Sunset Rubdown: Shut Up I Am Dreaming - Highlights: They Took a Vote and Said No, Snakes Got a Leg III, The Empty Threats of a Little Lord
25. Midlake: The Trials of Van Occupanther - Highlights: Roscoe, Van Occupanther, Young Bride

Comments are encouraged.

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And the Glass Handed Kites by Mew