2006 faves (the year of pastiche)

I didn't really listen to too many records from 2006 that I would qualify as being great, but in lieu of a better idea, I will do the lame boring end-of-year list that every blogger does (ew, I'm a blogger). I only really love the first four.

Records

1. Ys - Joanna Newsom
I think everyone knows that I am in love with this record. I can't get enough of the winding melodies, show-stopping lyricism, Van Dyke Parks' swirly orchestration, Bill Callahan's hilarious cameo, and Newsom's peculiar retarded squawking.
best song: "Only Skin"

2. Fox Confessor Brings The Flood - Neko Case
Up until Newsom upped the game, there was no other record I listened to more this year, no other narratives I wanted to unpack and unfold, no other voice that knocked me out--and Case has an actually Great voice. It's always been about that booming voice, which just blows out of her mouth and slaps you silly till you're on your knees in submission. It's only on this record, though, that her songwriting so consistently matched the greatness of her throat.
best song: "Star Witness"

3. The Life Pursuit - Belle and Sebastian
A surprising return to form for a band that's been spotty since the late 90s. Oddly, they completely reimagined whatever form they were supposed to be in, because B&S this decade has somehow graduated from crying alone in the bedroom to actually getting up to dance around in their jammies, possibly close to fucking someone too (or at least getting to second base). Muscletwee.
best song: "Sukie in the Graveyard"

4. Ballad of the Broken Seas - Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan
Late entry! This came out earlier this year and only recently have I warmed to it's charms. Hazelwood/N.Sinatra is an obvious touchstone, and how surprising that a grunge mainstay and the writer/singer of most of Belle and Sebastian's worst songs could create the year's best pastiche, all dusty country noir. Campbell doesn't sound as flighty and lame as she usually does, and Lanegan kind of has a moody, less haggard Tom Waits vibe going. Which basically means I want to fuck his throat.
best song: "The Circus Is Leaving Town"

5. Precis - Benoit Pioulard
It begins with some shoegazey guitar hero droning and then incorporates his hushed vocals around otherwise bouncy melodicism. Gorgeous, ethereal, and perfect for a comedown. Also, takes away Jens Lekman's indie white boy heartthrob weird name crown (sorry Sufjan). Even though it's just a stage name.
best song: "Triggering Back"

6. A Wolf In Sheep's Clothing - Josephine Foster
Foster sings classical German pieces with folk backing and a clear, pristine voice, and it seems all well and good for a coffeeshop until the dirges show up.
best song: "An die Musik"

7a. Rabbit Fur Coat - Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins

Country soul pastiche. Sounds great and warm, lovely voice, some of the worst lyrics of the year. Hey, bad lyrics didn't stop Interpol from getting a huge fanbase. Still doesn't beat Lewis' career peak in Troop Beverly Hills, though it's as good as any Rilo Kiley record. Bonus points for a new euphemism for cocaine. Bit of advice: stop trying to cram so many goddam syllables into a line when the melody doesn't allow for it, and stop fucking singing about goddam Omaha, you stupid LA poseur.
best song: "Rise Up With Fists"

7b. The Greatest - Cat Power
I only really started warming up to this one very recently. Before, it was boring and devoid of any of Chan Marshall's greatest strengths, an entirely disappointing Dusty in Memphis blue-eyed soul pastiche. Now it sounds weathered and rugged and oddly warm, the sound of someone struggling through their demons, and even if it's not as compelling as her earlier work, it still sounds wonderfully lived-in and alive.
best song: "Lived In Bars" by a great margin

others: I haven't listened to the Clipse record enough to rank it. The Frida Hyvonen record would be better if she learned more chords. The Scott Walker record sounds like recorded nightmares, or at least Antony fronting Xiu Xiu (which is a pretty nightmarish concept). I forget what happens on the Built To Spill record after the pretty kickass first song. The Walkmen need to learn how to edit (doesn't bode well for the novel!). This is what I thought of the Strokes. I remember liking the TV on the Radio for two listens, but I haven't tried since. The YYYs record was dull as anything I heard all year, though "Cheated Hearts" was basically "Y Control" mk 2, which is comforting. Destroyer is pretty hilarious. The Fiery Furnaces need to stop. And a perennial "fuck you, Sonic Youth."

Songs (in no order)

Irreplaceable - Beyonce (to the left, to the left = hook of the year)

Only Skin - Joanna Newsom (epic!)

What You Know - TI (this just kind of reminds me of DMX but nicer, which means it's fun)

Star Witness - Neko Case (epic! in 1/3rd the amount of time that "Only Skin" takes to be epic!)

Blow - Amerie (not as good as "1 Thing" but what is. Rocked harder than any of Beyonce's songs too)

Lived In Bars - Cat Power (the proud sound of lush, gauze-headed, melancholy alcoholism that then morphs into the greatest--har--ill-advised drunken Motowning that's so surprisingly charming that it doesn't matter)

Lloyd, I'm Ready To Be Heartbroken - Camera Obscura (excellent piss-taking rejoinder to Lloyd Cole and the Commotion's pedantic "Are You Ready To Be Heartbroken?" but even without the meta, a joyful, bouncy, swoony Spector pastiche)

Louisiana - The Walkmen (dreamy Hamilton Leithauser rips off Dylan's croak for a gently grooving shuffle that adds vaguely racist Mexicana horns for siesta after drinking too much. Racists)

Your Kisses Are Wasted On Me - The Pipettes (Shangri-Las pastiche is fine by me, especially when combining "Hey Mickey yr so fine" drumbeat/cheerleading chorus and snotty/girl power fuck you. Who cares if their polka dot dresses showcase their lack of depth)

Sukie in the Graveyard - Belle and Sebastian (you could easily put the Fresh Prince of Bel Air lyrics into the verses, which is as good a reason as any to like a song)

Saddest/Most Joyful Event: Sleater-Kinney's last NYC show. RIP to America's Greatest Rock Band

Best Thing Ever: The Wire. Watch it. Please.

Comments

[Michael W.]

Nice list, Will. Though I have to champion Hate on The Greatest. And I think Bonnie Prince Billy's The Letting Go was a pretty great album this year.

[will]

i didn't like "the greatest" at all until i tried to crawl out of my binge-drinking/doing drugs/being self-destructive hole. i recommend it as a soundtrack!

[will]

oh, you're talking about the song "hate." some kind of slip there, eh