Best albums of 2006

There's really not much to say about these albums that I haven't said already, and if you've been reading this site for any length of time this list probably won't be much of a surprise. In fact, because of that my description and reasoning for each album will be minimal at best, since I don't feel like going over stuff I've explained at length before. Nonetheless, it's a fun exercise, and it gives me a chance to talk about a few albums I really, really loved one last time before 2007. So without anything further...


20. Think About Life, Think About Life

Think About Life could've turned out to be one long Montreal hipster in-joke. Thankfully, as hip as their self-titled debut sounds, they were nice enough to let everyone else in on it, too.

Download "Paul Cries"


19. Ladyhawk, Ladyhawk

Solid hippie retro-rock from the West Coast.

Download "Teenage Love Song"


18. The Strokes, First Impressions of Earth

First Impressions of Earth may have been released nearly a year ago (a lifetime in internet time), which means that most people have mostly forgotten about it by now, but I listened to this for a few weeks following its release. It's not The Strokes' best moment ever, but it does suggest the band could be in it for the long haul.

Download "Vision of Division"


17. Islands, Return To The Sea

Return To The Sea didn't quite capture the heights attained by Islands' previous incarnation, but it was still a fun -- and far less self-referential -- listen.

Download "Humans"


16. Hylozoists, La Fin du Monde

I'm generally not a fan of instrumental rock, but La Fin du Monde was lovely enough for me to make an exception.

Download "Strait Is The Gate"


15. Fucked Up, Hidden World

Who'd have thought that one of the best albums of the year would be 66 minutes of hardcore, featuring anthemic guitars and violin parts by Owen Pallett? It sounds like it shouldn't work at all, but it does, exceedingly well.

Download "Crusades"


14. The Hidden Cameras, Awoo

Awoo was a lot less gay and kinky than The Hidden Cameras' previous outings -- not a single song devoted to golden showers this time around! How's that for shocking? -- but it was still a solid effort.

Download "Learning The Lie"


13. Jon-Rae and the River, Knows What You Need

A joyful affirmation of life -- particularly the sex, drinking and rock'n'roll part of it.

Download "Just One More"


12. The Creeping Nobodies, Sound of Joy

I can't think of many ways to describe The Creeping Nobodies, and for once that's not just because of my limitations as a writer. Sound of Joy was one of the most unique albums of the year, and it's hard to think of anything else that matched it for its sheer intensity.

Download "Pangrammatic Window"


11. Band of Horses, Everything All The Time

I'm probably the only person in the world who heard the Shins similarities (where everyone else was referencing My Morning Jacket), but apart from that, I'd have to agree with the critical consensus: Everything All The Time wasn't flashy, but it was quietly excellent.

Download "The Great Salt Lake"


10. Sufjan Stevens, The Avalanche

Being a B-sides compilation, The Avalanche didn't get anywhere near the attention of Illinoise (and rightfully so), but this relative lack of coverage probably helped it: without the endless amounts of hype, it was possible to listen to the album on your own terms. What it showed was that even Sufjan's cast-offs are gorgeously arranged and a pleasure to listen to.


9. Boo Hoo, Boo Hoo

An excellent blend of indie-pop sensibilities with early '90s ideas and sounds.

Download "Eff The Ineffable"


8. Final Fantasy, He Poos Clouds

The Polaris win says more than I ever could about the strength of He Poos Clouds, though the fact Final Fantasy seems to be getting so few mentions in end-of-year lists is somewhat surprising. Along with labelmates The Creeping Nobodies (and quasi-labelmates Fucked Up), Final Fantasy defies easy categorization or explanation, and he's absolutely someone that needs to be heard to be fully understood.

Download "This Lamb Sells Condos"


7. The Lovely Feathers, Hind Hind Legs

Hind Hind Legs came this close to matching The Lovely Feathers' live performances, but even in falling short the band still came up with one of the more manic (and fun) albums of the year.

Download "The Only Appalachian Cornfield"


6. Malajube, Trompe L'Oeil

Trompe L'Oeil is conclusive proof that Quebecois rock has arrived, and that it's on par with anything anyone can do in English.

Download "Montréal -40°C"


5. Swan Lake, Beast Moans

Swan Lake never fully manages to sound like more than Dan Bejar, Casey Mercer and Spencer Krug playing music together. Of course, given that we're talking about Bejar, Mercer and Krug, that's not a bad thing in any way.

Download "All Fires"


4. Destroyer, Destroyer's Rubies

I'm still not sure whether I like Destroyer's Rubies because of its music or just because of Dan Bejar's dazzling way with words, but the fact I'm still listening to it ten months after its release makes me think it's the former. This is the kind of album that takes a long time to fully understand, and it's well worth sticking with while you're in the process of absorbing it all.

Download "European Oils"


3. The Bicycles, The Good, The Bad and the Cuddly

At seventeen tracks, The Good, The Bad and The Cuddly is probably a bit long, but when The Bicycles are at their best -- as on "Paris Be Mine", or "Australia", or "B-B-Bicycles", or "Two Girls From Montreal" -- they leave you with songs that you'll find yourself humming for days, weeks and months afterwards.

Download "Paris Be Mine"


2. Henri Fabergé and the Adorables, Henri Fabergé and the Adorables

Undoubtedly, one of my favourite musical moments of 2006 was attending Henri Fabergé's CD release party in Toronto in September: fourteen bands outdoors over twelve hours, with beachballs and a barbeque, culminating in a fireworks display. Despite the presence on the bill of several excellent bands (including Born Ruffians, The Bicycles, Gentleman Reg, Laura Barrett and The Rural Alberta Advantage), The Adorables still managed to put on the best show of the day, with this picture capturing perfectly the mood of the day.

The band's self-titled debut may not be as great as their live show, but it's not far off, either. At times punkish, at times poppy, at times gospel, and at times absolutely obscene, it's impossible to listen to Henri Fabergé and the Adorables and not go away feeling in a good mood.

Download "The Goddamn Light"


1. Tokyo Police Club, A Lesson In Crime

Every song on A Lesson In Crime is a joyful burst of energy that explodes out of the speakers, gets you dancing and clapping along almost immediately, and then ends just as you're really getting into it. Even the album's slow-ish closer, "La Ferrasie", still has one of the most unforgettable keyboard parts of the year. There's not a weak moment on here, and the only criticisms I can come up with are that, at just seven songs and roughly seventeen minutes, A Lesson In Crime is way, way, waaaay too short, and now that Tokyo Police Club are on their way to conquering the U.S., it may be all we get for quite some time. For now, though, there's absolutely nothing more to ask for from them.

Download "Citizens of Tomorrow"