Best albums of 2006

Accepting the challenge from this gentleman, I will now attempt to put together my best albums list. Should this list cease to make sense at any point, please understand the weather's miserable, my back's killing me and I can't go The Exies route since I left my Aleve in the office. Following similar guidelines as other such lists I'll also include lyrics samples just for completeness. So, without further whining here's the list.

15. My Chemical Romance -- The Black Parade
So how does an hour long concept album on death make this list? Pretty much on the strength of six songs. I admit I liked "Welcome to the Black Parade" because it initially sounded different, thought a present due to radio overplay it's starting to suffer the same fate for me as "Helena" did from their last album. I have to appreciate "Dead!" as an example of being both cutting and light-hearted simultaneously. ("Have you heard the news that you're dead? No one ever had much nice to say. I think they never liked you anyway." juxtaposed with a bridge of la-la's and repetition of "If life is not a joke then why are we laughing?"). "Famous Last Words" is a solid second single which I anticipate will get more radio airplay in 2007. The opening sequence to "Mama" is classic even if it's a bit dark. No truer lyrics have been written than the first line of the chorus of "Teenagers" though in an attempt to stay PG with this review I'll let you read it yourself here. The hidden track "Blood" provides some solid away message material so it warrants mention here as well.

"I'm the kind of human wreckage that you love"
My Chemical Romance -- "Blood"

14. Lostprophets -- Liberation Transmission
I was legitimately surprised by the depth of this album. "Rooftops" was a good radio single which I enjoyed; however, based on the results of their last effort Start Something, I was a little skeptical. This disc definitely wins the "Fall Out Boy Award" for 2006 for it's long-winded yet witty song titles. As for the actual tunes, "A Town Called Hypocrisy" is a very solid rock song with a good mix of lyrical content and energy which allows the listener to flow into the heart of the album which picks up with the second single "The New Transmission", an almost anthem to the attempt to be different than what is presently offered through typical radio these days. While the album itself has few gems, it's just a well-constructed solid album throughout. "Can't Catch Tomorrow" and "Broken Hearts, Torn Up Letters, and The Story of a Lonely Girl" and both worthy of several listens from the latter half of the album for completeness.

"Save your sympathy
Who'd you think you're fooling?
Everything is dead
Now you welcome me
To a town called Hypocrisy."
Lostprophets -- "A Town Called Hypocrisy"


13. The Hold Steady -- Boys and Girls in America
This album makes an appearance following the recommendation of a certain nameless friend who has much better taste in music than I normally do. Like most of the reviewers of this album, "Chips Ahoy!" was an immediate draw. With the exception of the track "Same Kooks", I found the entire album flowed well and was entertaining. Standout tracks for me included "First Night", "Party Pit", and my personal favorite (probably because I've visited a few and may have witnessed similar happenings) "Chillout Tent". The Hold Steady won't replace Bowling for Soup as my humor band of choice but this effort was quite amusing.

"His friend gave him 4 but he said 'only take 1'
But then he got bored and he ended up taking all 4"
The Hold Steady -- "Chillout Tent"

12.) Gin Blossoms -- Major Lodge Victory
Another surprise on the countdown which I owe entirely to websites like Pandora and Alternative Addiction. Yes, it's still the Gin Blossoms though the sound has mellowed a bit from New Miserable Experience or Congratulations, I'm Sorry , as one would expect with the passage of time. Major Lodge Victory has more of a classic rock feel to it with well-developed melodies and solid lyrics. The album opener "Learning the Hard Way" is a prime example. "Heart-shaped Locket" and "Some Day Soon" build well on the initial vibe with the latter being a slower ballad which is well-placed in the flow of the album. Other highlights include "Long Time Gone", "Super Girl" and the baseball-themed "Let's Play Two".

"Say you better pack
Better get your things together
Don't know where to go
Until you wind up there"
Gin Blossoms -- "Some Day Soon"

11.) Bowling For Soup -- The Great Burrito Extortion Case
The self-proclaimed "happiest band in America" strikes again. This is a fun album from the start as most BFS album tend to be. Some of the songs are fairly predictable. "High School Never Ends" is a humorous commentary on the present culture and a shot to mock the current celebrities as one would expect Jaret and company to do. "99 Biker Friends" is a typical BFS spin on the subject of getting revenge on a friend's abusive boyfriend. For each predictable one though there's one which goes in a completely different direction that one would expect. "Val Kilmer" mocks the movie industry's obsession with the "chick flick" as opposed to the simple comedy film using an unlikely reference to comedic performance ("He was funny in "Real Genius". "Top Secret" was funny too, but he sucked as Batman."). Then there's "I'm Gay." Those of you who know Bowling for Soup know that can go anywhere so I won't spoil the fun. "A Friendly Goodbye" and "Luckiest Loser" are also quality BFS rants. All in all another entertaining effort.

"She's got a glow from her spray on tan
Marilyn Manson is her favorite band
I really think she may worship Satan
Not a fan"
Bowling for Soup -- "Luckiest Loser"

10.) Army of Anyone -- Army of Anyone
This one may be bolstered a little by the live performance. The first five tracks of the album are pure joy for me with maybe the exception of the radio single "Goodbye". "It Doesn't Seem to Matter" and "Generation" bookend "Goodbye" and are both outstanding solid rock efforts. Like both their previous bands AoA shows the ability to seemlessly change between their harder edged efforts and a number of softer more melodic tracks. "A Better Place" and "Stop, Look, and Listen" exemplify the more melodic side. In all cases, the songs come across as well-crafted by the quality musicians responsible. This is an interesting project which I hope to hear more from in the future.

"Let's all fake happiness
We'll put on a good show"
Army of Anyone -- "It Doesn't Seem to Matter"


9) Hurt -- Volume 1
Pretty much covered this in the biggest surprises of 2006 post though after seeing them live tonight I must also add "House Carpenter " to the list of songs worth significant listening (yes I am aware it's over nine minutes in duration).

"I'll take one 'cause
I needed to feel it so much
I have an emotional crutch
But I'm feeling bored
So I'll take some more
'Cause nothing is happening"
Hurt -- "Overdose"


8) Three Days Grace -- One-X
Even though I reviewed this one completely when it came out in June, I figure I'll add a few things. The initial single "Animal I Have Become" has increasingly grown on me since the initial review. It's somewhat sing-song chorus has made it a radio staple here in Houston. The second single "Pain" is quite possibly my personal theme song of 2006 for the simple line "'cause I'd rather feel pain than nothing at all." Among the other tracks I have a tendency to replay "Never Too Late" if I start to get a little down and I try to turn things around musically. "Riot" is a good energy song. Then there's the caustic bitterness anthems "Let It Die" and "Gone Forever." Though I have very little reason to be bitter, or to relate to these songs in the slightest, I still find them highly entertaining. If you were a fan of the self-titled album you'll very likely enjoy One-X because though there are similarities there is clear artistic growth and development.

"You're sick of feeling numb
You're not the only one
I'll take you by the hand
And I'll show you a world that you can understand"
Three Days Grace -- "Pain"

7) Midlake -- The Trials of Van Occupanther
Like Hurt, this entry was pretty much covered with the surprises blog. So to keep this from being a full-scale novel, I refer you there.

"Let me not be too consumed by this world
Sometimes I want to go home
And stay out of sight for a long time"
Midlake -- "Van Occupanther"

6) Breaking Benjamin -- Phobia
As a fan of the first two efforts from Breaking Benjamin, I looked forward to August 8th when Phobia arrived. I was curious as to whether it would build on the success of their sophomore effort We Are Not Alone or whether radio success would corrupt their sound. "The Diary of Jane" calmed all those fears. It may be one of the top 5 radio tracks I've heard this year. Upon listening to the album, there are a number of special tracks. The second single "Breath" is a good radio follow up though the album has a number of stronger tracks. Among my favorites are "Evil Angel", "Until the End" and "Here We Are" and "Had Enough". "Until the End" and "Here We Are" are good changes of pace in that they are slower ballads in the midst of a generally aggresive rock album. "Had Enough" is a scathing song dealing with greed and its consequences which I find myself playing often when hearing news of corporate or government scandal. "Dance With the Devil" and the bonus acoustic version of "The Diary of Jane" feature keyboards from Sebastin Davin of Dropping Daylight. In that sense Phobia gets bonus points as a gateway to another good band. The only problems I had with the album were the intro/outro, both of which just serve as album extended and the song "Topless" which is just a misfire in disc form (live it's good).

"The lonely road
The one that I should try to walk alone
I'll be home tonight
Take a breath and softly say goodbye"
Breaking Benjamin -- "Here We Are"


5) Five Dollar Friend -- XOXORx (Kisses, Hugs and Prescription Drugs)
Once again I have to thank my friends at the Open Book for bringing this band to my attention. XOXORx is a solid debut album. It had three songs which originally drew my attention but in tribute to its depth, those three have been replaced on the order of enjoyment list. "Spilling the Blood of Hipsters", "Speeding (35 going 85)" , "Dancehall" were the first three I heard and they are still solid, but my favorite track as of this writing is the album closer "Bad Words and Warnings" which is a well crafted one last chance plea in which the band makes good use of the both Jacob Trevino and Michelle Hudson's (at the time of the CD recording) vocals to ... "Dancehall" is as Jacob once put it a song about a being awkward and it strikes a chord with me for a number of reasons. "Spilling the Blood of Hipsters has a sound a similar to Third Eye Blind and the away message special lyric "I'm psychotic from the caffeine and the cough syrup bubbling in my veins." The title track is a slow, somber piece which I play often when I need time to reflect. Despite being the official single "I'll Be Good I Promise" is a weaker point for me along with "Six Days in LA", but thankfully I can easily get to better material like "The Return" or "Firecracker". I hope this is the first of many efforts from this quintet.

"She needs the bright lights of the city
To make her pretty
Just for tonight
Take your pistols
Your loaded questions
Pull the trigger
Make a mess again tonight"
Five Dollar Friend -- "Spilling the Blood of Hipsters"


4) Evans Blue -- The Melody and Energetic Nature of Volume
Very rarely does music join the rotation in February and last through the end of the year with significant consistent play. This disc was an exception because it caught a second wind. Initially I was pulled in by the single "Cold (but I'm still here)" but radio play started to wear that one out before they moved along to "Over" and subsequently "Beg". Personally, the album lives up to its bizarre title drawing on volume from track one. The album's set in motion by "Cross and a Girl Named Blessed" an energetic blast of angst, love, and confusion. Tracks 3 through 7 form a solid block of music joy including all three singles, a strong track called "Eclipsed", and a well-done cover of Sarah Mclachlan's "Possession". My favorite song on the album will as usual never reach radio. "The Promise + the Threat" is an outstanding that shouldn't work but is still worth the attempt. The much slower "Quote" followed and offers a needed downshift prior to reenergizing for the finale "The Tease" which puts a nice cap on the entire album experience.

"Something tells me
That we were meant to be
But how could that be?
You run on evil
I run on fumes and stale air"
Evans Blue -- The Promise + the Threat

3) Blue October -- Foiled
All biases aside this album was another solid contributor to my musical year. Yes, while I'm glad to see these guys hit it big nationally, "Hate Me" was overplayed. Luckily the album has ridiculous and varied depth. Initially my favorite track on the album was "She's My Ride Home" but as I continued to listen regularly I started to favor the track "Overweight" particularly for the positive message at the end. The slower tracks "Let It Go" and "Congratulations" are notable moment where listening can lead to reflection. X Amount of Words is as a close to a techno song as I ever get; however. there are still enough points that typical Blue that the song works. Other tracks of note included "Drilled a Wire...", the tremendously reworked "Sound of Pulling Heaven Down" and the beautiful closer "18th Floor Balcony."

"I want to learn to walk with others as an equal
I want to treat the ones who love me with respect
I want to tell the world I'll give them all a piggyback
To try and take away my negative effect"
Blue October -- "Overweight"

2) People in Planes -- As Far qs the Eye Can See
This album certainly has an original sound that draws you in, and yes the lead single's title scores bonus points. This debut stands on its own musical merit. The ability to shift from uptempo, catchy rock like "Barracuda" , to the melodically melancholy "Falling by the Wayside" without either style sounding forced or losing its twist of originality takes a good deal of music talent. The lyrics at times are simplistic but sometimes simple is better as in the case of "...Wayside" where more complexity would have destroyed the vibe. I very much enjoy and recommend "Narcoleptic" and "Lights for the Deadvine." "Narcoleptic" is a nearly 7-minute tour through what seems like several styles in a single song; yet, it all flows spectacular and keeps the listener entertained and guessing as to where it will go next. "Lights..." for me is a solid rock song which make interesting use of distorted guitars and keyboards to drive the song along. Other highlights include "Token Trapped Woman", "Penny", If You Talk Too Much (My Head Will Explode) and "Rush".

"I'm a machine
I'm a machine
But I'm a funny color"
People in Planes -- "Penny"

1) Snow Patrol -- Eyes Open
I was a fan of Snow Patrol first US major effort Final Straw well enough that the second album was a definite on my radar. I had hope it would build on the first and in my oft-incorrect opinion it did so. Unlike some of the albums on this list Eyes Open has a solid opener in "You're All I Have" though it's quickly overshadowed. "Hands Open" and "Chasing Cars" back-to-back cover the entire range of Snow Patrol in about 7 minutes. From upbeat rock to the melodic peaceful drifting music, The vast differences give the listener a chance to flow through two of my favorite tracks of the year without getting comfortable in one style. "It's Beginning to Get to Me" is another quality track. Though largely lyrically driven, the musical arrangement blends well. Being a fan of slower melodic tracks I have to pay some respect to my favorite track on the album "Set Fire to the Third Bar" which features guest vocals by Martha Wainwright and provides both melodic serenity and haunting echoes that stick with me for a while. "Headlights on Dark Road" returns to more of a rock flavor similar to "Hands Open" but maybe with a clearer edge. "Open Your Eyes" is another solid mid-tempo track which along with "Make This Go On Forever" and "The Finish Line" provide solid support for this effort.

"After I have travelled so far
We'd set the fire to the third bar
We share each other like an island
Until exhausted close our eyelids"
Snow Patrol -- "Set Fire to the Third Bar"


So we now reached the end and I'm sure I've wasted more of your time than I should have. Honorable mentions and the EP list ranking will come next post.