ThisNext Blog

While so many music bloggers are currently applying a High Fidelity-esque precision to listing off their choices for the year’s top records, I prefer to stick to playing favorites. Since it often happens that what I adore most differs from what the majority of critics regard as “best,” I’d much rather give big love to the records that most stole my heart in 2006 - even if they’re not all perfect creations. So while I fully support fellow bloggers in their fawning over The Decemberists and other critic’s darlings, I’m going to name Stadium Arcadium by Red Hot Chili Peppers as my number-one musical treasure of the year. At least I’ve got ThisNexters like esh and Fred Wilson on my side: “The thing that makes this record really stand out is that everytime John Frusciante takes a solo, the songs explode,” says the latter. “He is an amazing guitar player and this is a guitar lover’s record.”

One of the few bands I’ve loved as long as RHCP, Danielle Maveal fave Sonic Youth tore up my speakers this year with Rather Ripped, their 21st record to date. Funtime OK hails the CD as SY’s “best since NYC Ghosts and Flowers,” noting that it makes for a “a perfect end to the band’s major label run.”

Another quintessentially New York outfit, The Strokes landed early in 2006 with First Impressions of Earth. Although it might be their weakest, the band’s third CD is filled with enough great songs (“You Only Live Once,” “On the Other Side,” “Fear of Sleep,” and so on) to stay in heavy rotation for both me and D-Notice. “Are they the forgotten men of New York?” asks the blogger. “Not when they make albums like this!”

Just as rock as The Strokes but without all the crazy hype, Juliana Hatfield’s Some Girls wowed me yet again with their sophomore effort, Crushing Love. Cahl’s Juke Joint puts the follow-up to 2003’s Feel It at number 18 of the year, while Keenly Observed praises Crushing Love as “a solid example of that arcane form of expression so basic as to feel novel - seasoned, old-fashioned American rock & roll.”

Unquestionably my favorite music discovery in recent memory, Rilo Kiley frontwoman Jenny Lewis fast became one of my most worshipped songwriters with the release of Rabbit Fur Coat. Ear Farm was quite taken with the CD as well, noting that “Rabbit Fur Coat is a triumphant solo debut for Jenny Lewis and easily one of the best country/folk records of the year.”

Of course, sometimes my tastes do line up with those of every other rock critic in the world, as in the case of Ys by Joanna Newsom. From Pitchfork to Pop Matters, it seems everyone’s got “the American Bjork” at the top of their “best of 2006” lists. And it’s also right up there for I Guess I’m Floating, who perfectly capturing what makes Ys so magical:

“With the help of Van Dyke Parks, Joanna has created an album of monumental beauty….Her words are so refined, her imagery so rich and stimulating, as if digging beneath each metaphor might open the gates to a heart-stoppingly beautiful world of endless meaning and attainment. Ys was no doubt one of the most fulfilling albums of 2006, not only smashing through almost all expectations we had but also showcasing the best of Joanna’s talents and potential.”

See more of my Favorite records of 2006 list at ThisNext.