Top 10

Someone on the Noise board asked what people's top 10 alblums of 2006 were. Figured I'd repost my answer here:

In no particular order...

Silversun Pickups - Caravanas. This is my hip pick. Look at me, I'm hip. Took me a while to see the Smashing Pumpkins relationship that everyone seemed to mention, but now that I've reacquainted myself with Gish by the SP, I hear it. Either way the Silversun Pickups album is just pretty damn great start to finish.

The Black Crowes - Band. This was the album they were supposed to release after Amorica. But it was shelved (by the record company, I think) in favor of By Your Side. Well, that was a misatke, because Band is fricking awesome album. A logical follow-up to Amorica and yet plenty of damn accesible tunes on there.

Ty Tabor - Rock Garden. Yep, he's the guitar player for King's X. And while I like King's X, I'll admit that their albums over the past few years have started to decline in quality somewhat. However, conversely, Tabor's solo albums have been getting better. This is his third, not nearly depressing as it's "go kill yourself now because life sucks" predecessor, Safety. Just some, (for the most part), happier, upbeat pop rock.

Wolfmother - Wolfmother. Another hip pick. Where are my cool glasses. I probably don't have to describe this one to anybody. One note, however, I don't get the Led Zeppelin comparisons. I just don't hear it, not even in the vocals. If anything, based upon my rediscovery of Machine Head recently, I'd say they sound a hell of a lot more like Deep Purple.

Muse - Black Holes and Revelations. It's Muse. Being Muse. Sounds different than Absolution. But still, in a way, the same. Because it sounds like Muse.

Mastodon - Blood Mountain. Mastodon is really the only "new" metal band that I like. Beacuse they remind me more of the metal bands I used to like when I was more into metal. They don't have the ridiculously low, growly vocals. They're somewhat technical. But still interesting and catchy to my ear. Blood Mountain seems to ratchet up the technical a bit from Leviathan, but wasn't quite as catchy in the tunes department. Still a good disc though.

Drive By Truckers - A Blessing and A Curse. When I first listened to it, this album sounded more like Tom Petty to me than it did the DBT. Which is definitely not a bad thing, as Petty kicks ass. It just seemed that they were shooting for a little more accessability on this one. This one had to grow on me a bit, but there's some pretty sweet tunes on there, a la Feb. 14, Space City, Gravity's Gone, and World of Hurt

Damone - Out Here All Night. Kind of hard rock, kind of metal, topped off with a cutesy girl voice. Pretty nice. Extra points for the solo of Out of My Way being a thematic homage to C.C. Deville's solo in Poison's "Nothing But A Good Time"

Butch Walker - The Rise and Fall of Butch Walker and the Let's Go Out Tonites. Always catchy, always well written tunes, sounds like stuff that could be popular, but probably never will he break through to that real big mass appeal...that's our Butch Walker. That said, not his best effort in my mind. About half the album is killer, and the other half, not as much.

Pink - I'm Not Dead. Running about neck and neck with Try This as far as Pink awesomeness. The songs might be better on I'm Not Dead, but I think I like the production on Try This better. It's a tiny bit less slick, and oddly enough (in this case) that matters to me.

Honorable Mention:

Neko Case - Fox Confessor Brings the Flood. I'm pretty sure I really like this album, but I couldn't tell you much about it. Like any of the song titles. Or what I can compare it to. Because I'm always listening to it at work, which means I've yet to really give it my full attention. But I do keep listening to it, so I obviously like it.