Archive for the ‘2006 Top Albums’ Category
Jan
01
Posted by jill on
January 1, 2007
1. Final Fantasy – He Poos Clouds
Although it was tough choosing my favourite ten albums of the year, there was always just one album that could be my favourite. In Final Fantasy, Owen Pallet has combined almost everything I love about music. He has produced gorgeous, warm string arrangements for his songs, but at the same time he doesn’t take his music too seriously (well, look at the title for one example). The album has ten great songs, of consistent quality (how few albums have that?), and as soon as I reach the end of the album I can only go back to listen to the start once again.
Dec
31
Posted by jill on
December 31, 2006
2.        Jonquil – Sunny Casinos
In early autumn, this was the album I listened to as I fell asleep. It is perfect as a lullaby album, with the gentle guitars and quiet voices that rise and fall slowly. At times, everything is so gentle that even the vocals fade into the background accompaniment. But what makes this album so special is the way that it sounds so fully formed and timeless, and especially since it was produced as a bedroom project in Oxford.
Dec
30
Posted by jill on
December 30, 2006
No doubt you can’t wait till I announce my favourite two albums of the year, but first I’d like to mention the ones that could have made it onto the top ten round ups, if only I remembered them as releases from this year. First, Breaking Up by The Research. Some quick googling has revealed that the album was released in February (I didn’t have the internet when I was compiling the list) and it really should have made it into the top ten. After their wonderful set at Truck in July, hardly a week has gone by without at least one listen to the album. Honourable mentions to The Life Pursuit by Belle and Sebastian and Amber by Clearlake. Both of them suffered from the same problem being released in the first two months of the year.
On the other hand, the top songs list was slightly skewed, with my self imposed rule that I would only write about music I heard for the first time this year. Mainly, this meant that We are your friends by Justice vs. Simian wasn’t allowed in, since I first became aware of it last summer.
Dec
30
Posted by jill on
December 30, 2006
3.        ¡Forward, Russia! – Give Me A Wall
This is a rare example of an amazing live band being able to capture at least some of that energy onto record. While many energetic bands seem to lack something on record, as they quietly play though their songs, the urgency that spreads throughout a ¡Forward, Russia! show can be felt on this record. It’s easy to forget that, behind all the onstage antics and never-ending tours, the band’s work is based on a fantastic library of songs, and a chance to sit down to listen to this makes me want to see the band live again even more.
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