Best Albums of '06: The LONG List

I need to pare this sucker down to a tidy Top 10 by Thursday. ANY ADVICE?

Wolfmother -- Wolfmother
Morningwood -- Morningwood
Bob Dylan -- Modern Times
Lupe Fiasco -- Food & Liquor
Arctic Monkeys -- Whatever People Say I Am...


Prince -- 3121
Donald Fagen -- Morph the Cat
Fantasia -- Fantasia
Bruce Springsteen -- The Seeger Sessions
TV on the Radio -- Return to Cookie Mountain
Johnny Cash -- American V
Christina Aguilera -- Back to Basics
My Chemical Romance -- The Black Parade


Gwen Stefani -- Sweet Escape
Akon -- Konvicted
Ludacris -- Release Therapy
Tom Petty -- Highway Companion
Pharrell -- In My Mind
Gnarls Barkley -- St. Elsewhere
Elton John -- Captain & the Kid
Raul Malo -- You're Only Lonely
Jerry Lee Lewis -- Last Man Standing

Comments

[Joe E]

No Beck in your top 25? For shame.

[Sean Daly]

I gave the Beck album a pretty good review (a B, I think). But when it came down to iPod-ing that sucker, I only took three tracks: "Think I'm in Love," "Stange Apparition," and "Nausea." Killer stuff, but I just didn't return to the rest of the disc.

What else did you like, Joe E?

[Guy]

Chinese Democracy, Guns n'Roses. Or maybe that's the "Best of 2020" list I'm thinking of.

Where's Timberlake? Neko Case? Dixie Chicks? Jimmy Buffett?

Elton should definitely make the Top 10. A recipe for disaster (sequel to a Desert Island Disc, if there ever was one) turns out remarkedly well. Kinda of like Rocky VI.

[erin]

Definitely My Chem and The Arctic Monkeys (Mardybum is one of my favorite songs of the year) should be two of your choices. I like Wolfmother, but I don't understand how they get so much praise for their 70's rock sound. Don't bands usually get massacred for sounding just like another artist?
Thank God you left Hannah Montana, The Pussycat Dolls, and Fergie off this list. :)

[Joe E]

From your list, I have heard and like Artic Monkeys, Prince and Gwen Stefani.

I did not care much for Gnarls Barkley or Christine Aguilera.

I now live in Philly, but can't get into Springsteen, even though one of my neighbors sees every show he plays within 100 miles of Philly.

I usually like Cash (thanks Mom and Dad) and Fagan albums, but haven't heard enough of their new albums to say how good they are.

[GlennS.]

I believe the American version of Saint Etienne's Tales from Turnpike House came out in early 2006 (with a slightly different track listing and sequencing than the '05 UK release) so I would say that is a definite contender. This group is close to brilliant, mixing pop, dance and rock influences from various eras; adding lyrics that actually tell stories; all sung by one of the prettiest voices I've heard in my 40-something years of music listening. Too bad the press pretty much ignores them.

[Cathy]

I was intrigued by Akon after your review on Sunday, since you said he sounded like Terence Trent D'Arby. But now I see he makes your Top 25? Definitely need to listen now.

[Mike T]

I agree with the Wolfmother, Dylan, and Petty. But then again, those are the only three off of this list that I own.

[Carol]

Never heard of some of these musicians/performers/albums and will not buy them. What about Josh Groban? Ever heard of him?

[Carol]

Never heard of some of these musicians/performers/albums and will not buy them. What about Josh Groban? Ever heard of him?

[sparky]

I can't believe you left off Neil Diamonds 12 Songs. You must be slipping.

[Sean Daly]

The original release date for Neil Diamond was Nov. 8, 2005.

He made my '05 list, tho.

[tracy]

Keep the Arctic Monkeys! That is one heck of a great album -- one I listen to obsessively and have heard little press about.

[chilledbongo]

ask yourself how much of this crap youre gonna listen to in five years: maybe the dylan cd. thats it.

[Guy]

I'd submit Sam Moore's Overnight Sensational for your consideration. The man's vocal chops generally overshadow a host of well-known guest stars (including your gal Fantasia). If his version of "You Are So Beautiful" with Billy Preston (RIP) doesn't move you, I don't know what will.

The new Ray Lamontagne is pretty good as well.

[Sean Daly]

Dixie Chicks? Hell no.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENTS of 2006: Jay-Z, "Kingdom Come"; Dixie Chicks, "Taking the Long Way"; the Killers, "Sam’s Town"; Busta Rhymes, "The Big Bang"; Shooter Jennings, "Electric Rodeo"; Beyonce, "B’day."

[Sean Daly]

KASABIAN!!!

Jesus, how could I forget Kasabian? Brazilian Girls were darn good, too.

[chase]

I really liked that Morningwood album ...

but not shout out to the Barenaked Ladies new one? It's really a nice album,

And Bowling for Soup's new album, released in november, flat out rocks, not a bad song in the mix ...

[doug]

Keep the Prince album - great party disc. I also liked Wolfmother and Kasabian a lot.

[TMG]

You must really hate hard rock if you like Wolfmother.

[bert]

If you haven't heard it, do yourself a favor and listen to The Hold Steady "Boys And Girls In America". If you have heard it, how in the name of good taste could you have left it off your list?

[bert]

Oh yeah,
What about Sonic Youth "Rather Ripped" and Comets On Fire "Avatar"?

[Chris M.]

I already knew who you're picking for number 1. Mine will be Gnarls!
You should definetly do a top 10 disappointments too.

[Bob Croslin]

For F!#$!'s sake dude - I burn you the new CD, I drag you to the show and let you ply me with Bud's all night long and still NO LOVE for The Hold Steady?! You're going to make a grown man cry.

I hate to do this but I'm revoking your Filet O' Fish with extra sauce privileges until you scream from the hill tops (or the top of the Pier?) that The Hold Steady is the best rock band of '06.

[Bob Croslin]

oh, and btw, Wolfmother - pshaw!