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Catching up with 2006by j. brotherlove
It may be a bit premature, but Jason asks “What’s your favorite album released in 2006”? Theoretically, I should be able to look at my last.fm stats to get a good idea. However, audioscrobbler and last.fm have been experiencing quite a bit of hiccups, lately. My music stats have not updated consistently for the past week or longer. To be fair, even looking through my local music database, I can’t say that I have a frontrunner CD of 2006.
So far, my favorite music this year has been Jamie Lidell, Róisín Murphy and Feist (all, coincidentally, introduced to me by George). However, none of those were released in 2006.
I have been playing the latest by Joi, Van Hunt and Cassandra Wilson a lot. All three are at the top of their game but I’m not sure where they will shake out in the end. Other than that, I’m still living very much in 2005 and prior. I’ve been listening to a lot of classic, deep house (Mr. Fingers, Dajae), acid jazz (Outside, Brand New Heavies) and funk.
I hear the buzz over Gnarls Barkley but, I’m not sold yet. I’m auditioning it, along with Amel Larrieux’s Morning and Corrine Baily Rae.
You know I’m right there with you on Cassandra Wilson. I think hers is the only full album that I’ve bought in 2006 so far. I’m not sold yet on Gnarls Barkley, but I’m also listening to some Feist and Amel Larrieux, but the jury is still out whether I’m gonna love/buy their whole albums. I’ve been buying old Eurythmics tracks on iTunes. LOL
I’ve been spinning two classic albums by Eurythmics, Savage and 1984. I highly recommend both.
I hate when last.fm gets wonky. It seems to be revving up again this weekend though as the last.fm folks have moved into their new offices and gotten back from vacation.
I know I’m early on trying to figure out what’s popping in 2006 but I’ve been thinking about it a lot lately as usually I’m playing the hell out of a few albums of new music each year around this time and this year, not so much so far. I’ve got a decent number of new albums but nothing truly popping off outside of J Dilla and Madlib and those are mostly samples and break beats.
That Feist album is crazy, though, right? I’d suggest Imogen Heap’s album as well and maybe Belle & Sebastians The Life Pursuit.
When oh when is my new Zero 7 album going to drop in the states? That’s what I really want to know.
As I told Jason…
My albums of the year so far:
St. Elsewhere by Gnarls Barkley. I’m just loving this like crazy at the moment. Track 1 and Track 4 make me dance. I don’t (and shouldn’t) dance people. Those tracks are just that hot.
Subtitulo by Josh Rouse. Really great mellow, well crafted folk-ish pop music.
Close runners up
- Rabbit Fur Coat by Jenny Lewis
- The Little Willies by The Little Willies. Texas swing by a Willie Nelson cover band fronted by Norah Jones
Wait! I forgot Neko Case’s Fox Confessor Brings the Flood. That’s on this year’s greatest so far list as well.
Gnarls and Amel are kinda hitting me this year. Van Hunt? Not so much. I’m still stuck on mellow house (Stephanie Cooke, Blaze, Masters At Work) right about now. As for Cassandra Wilson….well, I’ll need to hear that. ‘Nitra’s been hyping it too.