Favorite albums of 2006

Johnny Cash – American V
There were some albums that popped up or came into my grasp after the end of the year last year. The one that grabbed me the most had to be Johnny Cash’s American V. This album was assembled posthumously of material that the country legend was working on as he neared the end. Unfortunately, his life journey came to close before the recording sessions did. Producer, Rick Rubin, and other people who were working on the record, pulled together the tracks that had been laid down and put together an album that captures the final breath of genius from the man in black. The lyrical themes deal with regret, loneliness, making peace with god, and ultimately death. They aren’t foreign topics for Cash, but there is a real gravity to them when they are delivered by a man who is very aware that he is standing on death’s doorstep. Cash even sounds like he is on the verge of death in his voice. Warbly and fragile, nearly gasping for the air to deliver the next line. Yet, rather than being sad or pathetic, it is a beautiful, somber, and even inspired requiem that brings closure to a long journey and weathered soul.


Drive By Truckers – Blessing and a Curse
The other late bloomer that comes to mind is the Drive By Truckers’ Blessing and a Curse. It’s a solid blend of Alt. Country and Southern Rock. “Easy on Yourself” is a send up to Blue Oyster Cult’s “Don’t Fear the Reaper” and “Aftermath USA” is a whole new breed of “caught you cheating” song. The lyrics catalog the evidence of a lover’s indiscretions in the laundry list of offenses that slowly moves from bad to atrocious. In the midst of the this list, much like real victims of abusive relationships and unlike any Carrie Underwood song, the best effort made to stand up for yourself is a hollow and off hand threat, “I’ll get around to getting even some day.”


Neko Case – The Fox Confessor
Neko is a Canadian musician who has dabbled with traditional county music and rock-a-billy song structures. She has a voice that would lead to believe that she might be the reincarnation of young Patsy Cline. Fox is her oldest effort and leaves behind many of her country roots, allowing her to transcend the simply being pegged as a niche act for Cline fans. The looser song structures and complex lyrical themes make this her strongest effort by far.



Beirut – Gulag Orkestar
Jehro – Jehro
These two albums pleasantly took me by surprise. Both are debut efforts and both incorporate world music influences. Beirut is an Arizona based band that draws influence from traditional Balkan type music set within indie pop songs. It just makes me smile. Jehro is a Cuban from Brooklyn who made an album with cover art that screamed, “check me out.” After sampling the album I brought it straight to the register. It’s laid-back reggae/Cuban influenced songs played as a soundtrack to most of our summer.




I Love You But I’ve Chosen Darkness – Fear Is On Our Sides
This is the year where it has become apparent to me that the well of good band names is running dry. Shakespeare has asked, “What’s in a name?” My response is, “apparently, not much.” Some of the best bands of the last five years have had the worst name: Death Cab For Cutie, I Love You But I’ve Chosen Darkness, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, …And You Will Know Us By The Trail of the Dead, Silver Jews, Clap Hands Say Yeah, and my favorite Say Hi To Your Mom. These are all real bands with terrible names and good or great music. I Love You But I’ve Chosen Darkness encompass aspects of many other acts that I love. Their debut album is plodding and at times shoegazer heavy. They fit quite well in the company of Interpol, Mogwai, and Faith era Cure. There is little to sing along with, but that’s not what they are about.



Voltaire – Voltaire Live
Apoptygma Berzerk – You and Me Against The World
Although I turned thirty this year, there is still a pre-pubescent boy deep down inside of me. Just to be clear, that statement is strictly meant metaphorically and not Mark Foley-ly. The Voltaire disc is a live show that works as kind of a best of. His songs are witty and crass and even insightful at times. Mostly, it is laden with potty humor and is just 55 minutes of laughs, especially if you are a Goth or a geek or both. Apop on the other hand made a record this year that is the epitome of what a real rock album should be in the 21 century. It is loud. It is angsty and dumb. It is packed with stadium anthem choruses that you can’t help but sing along to and over used clichés. There is absolutely nothing to read into below the surface of any lyric. Any of these things on their own would turn me off to an album, but when you put them all together with no pretense of being anything more than the superficial effort that it is, it works beautifully. It’s like somebody dipped their Bon Jovi-Slippery When Wet into my Nine Inch Nails-Pretty Hate Machine and came out with a tasty treat.