onsdag 27 Dec 2006, 9:28

A record collection reduced to a mix tape, headphones on, I made my escape

Well, I finally decided to make a list of the albums that provided my personal soundtrack for 2006. Not in any particular order (I'm too indecisive for that) though there is a number 1, obviously. I'm not sure what I'll think about this list 6 months from now, but I don't give a crap.

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Silent Shout
"One word: Brilliant. I simply can't describe it (but here I'm trying anyway). From the simple yet amazing bassline of Silent Shout to the brilliant beats of We Share Our Mothers Health, this album is pure genius. Dark and haunting songs with brilliant vocals. Did I say brilliant? Play it loud on your headphones! I passed this one on to a lot of people around me and they all loved it. "

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The Devil and God Are Raging Inside of Me
"Stakes were high but they managed to amaze us with this great album. Especially the brilliant Limousine. I think I even like it more than Deja Entendu - oooh shocker there."

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Brother, Sister
"Great followup album to Catch for us the Foxes. I love their sound, I love the vocals -great to sing/scream/talk along to-, amazing songs. Can't wait to see them live."

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A City By The Light Divided
"Thursday never lets me down. Intense album. Not much to say about it really."

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Into The Blue Again
"Beautiful album with beautiful songs like Always For You or the brilliant Red Eye. Sit back and relax."

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Define The Great Line
"One of the few screamo bands still standing who didn't deliver a crap album this year. Dark posthardcore with desperate screams, postrock influences and great melodies. "

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Be Your Own Pet
"Fresh honest songs full of energy. Made me wish I was a teenager again. 'I'm an independent motherfucker and I'm here to take your money'. This one should be played at loud volume"

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Happy Hollow
"This band keeps reinventing their sound. Dumped the cello, now they added horn sections, and it works out just fine."

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Give Me A Wall
"At first I really disliked the vocals, but this album won me over after a few spins. They combine certain elements that make this album sound quite unique. Something I'd like to achieve with my own band. Cool lyrics and a (lyrical) theme that is repeated throughout the entire album. The whole atmosphere is a bit disturbing and manic yet the dance-able drum beats make it feel like a party. Great guitar riffs and the added synths are subtle most of the time yet would be sorely missed if left out. There's only one song on this album I don't like and that is the slower paced "Nineteen", however I just bought a 7" of this song at Rough Trade so that says something right?"

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We Are The Pipettes
"Of course I had to mention this one. Great tongue-in-cheek pop tunes. One of the few albums that put a smile on my face whenever I hear it. And did I mention there are handclaps on almost every track, yeah? Lovely! Even more fun live."

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Popaganda
"Another great pop album, great tunes. Don't compare it to the previous album or glassJaw! Sing-a-long with in your car. Or at home. 'I got away with murder last night in the parking lot' "

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Live It Out
"Apparantly this one was released in the UK this year, so this gives me the opportunity to mention it. Clever lyrics, clever songs. End of story, just listen it."

Honorable mentions:
Standing In The Way Of Control
"I was singing for weeks in a row thanks to the Soulwax Nite remix, which also sort of became my "theme" in London. They were playing the album when I was shopping at Rough Trade and that night they played it at the Metro Club on Oxford Street. Some good songs on it, amazing vocals."

Our Darkest Days
"Up-tempo political sing-a-long poppy hardcore anthems. No more, no less."

Louder Now
"Played it non stop for like 2 weeks. Turns out this isn't a classic however, if you ask me to whistle any tune of that album right now, I'll have to think really really hard. Also has some songs I'll definitely skip like My Blue Heaven and Twenty-twenty Surgery, blah."

The Misery Index; Notes From The Plague Years
"Some decent songs. Requiem brings a smile to my face. Empire does the same trick. On another note; their show in August inspired me to start a new band again. And so we did."

Someone To Drive You Home
"An album full of songs to dance to, not much to explain, I like the (standard) drumming (the drummer of my band strongly disagrees hehe) . '19, you're only 19 for god's sake!"

Show Your Bones
"Didn't like it when it came out, but it grew on me. There are some songs I skip however."

Mirrors
"This is great emotional hardcore/metalcore blended in with postrock influences. Underrated."

Hello, Control
"So bad it's actually rather good. Reminds me of summer."

Live at Coachella 2006
"Okay so this isn't really an official album but man I played it a lot."

Automatic City
"They came out of nowhere with a great album called Automatic City. Great vocals and great songs. Surprisingly good."

Knives Don't Have Your Back
"I just love her voice. The album is very laidback with beautiful (but a bit depressing) piano driven songs."

The Avalanche: Outtakes & Extras from Illinois Album
"It's an album of outtakes, and still it's good. "

We, The Vehicles
"Some great songs."

Albums of 06 that I'll probably learn to appreciate / albums I will give a try in 2007
Return To Cookie Mountain (I have the feeling this one will grow on me, I love the track Playhouses)
Broken Social Scene (still haven't listened to it!)
Ys (because Japieee will probably kill me if I don't)
The Warning (giving it a try)
Gulang Orkestar (giving it a try)
World Waits
When Your Heart Stops Beating (because Jesper will probably kill me if I don't)
and probably a shitload more - i'm missing out on so much!

Tracks:
Nag Nag Nag Nag
"Brilliant, if only for the line 'A record collection reduced to a mix tape, headphones on, I made my escape' (sung -or spoken- with a lovely accent by Eddie Argos). Just bought(!) the b-side I Found This Song In the Road which is just as good. Cant wait for their new album"

Standing In The Way Of Control (Soulwax Nite version)
" 'Oooooooooooohwhoaaaaaahooaaahooooooo' - or something like it. (L)"

The Prayer
"Only put this one up here because I couldn't resist listening to the leaked version of A Weekend In The City. Was disappointed at first but the album's really a grower. Can't wait for the proper mastered version. I'm waiting for the 7.18."

Monster Hospital (Mstrkrft Remix)
"This one is probably from 2005, but fuck yeah Mstrkrft ruled the dance floors this year. Great remix of a track that was brilliant already!"

Gravity's Rainbow (Van She Remix)
"Great remix! Still not sure if I like the Klaxons.. but Van She did a great job"

Young Folks
"can't… get.. it.. out.. of .. my… head!"

Sweet Talk (Kalbata Remix)
"This is sweet (ha! lame!). Actually their album YoYoYoYoYo deserves a honorable mention, so consider it done."

Let's Make Love And Listen Death From Above
"And another one off an album Cansei De Ser Sexy which should actually be in my honorable mentions list."

A Trigger Full Of Promises
"Mosh!"

LDN
"I know, right, but I can't resist this song. And of course the videoclip features the lovely Rough Trade (or Tough Grade as it's renamed) at Talbot Road"