Wednesday, December 27, 2006

2006 Album of the Year: Nos. 3-1

Well, after two weeks of being sure of my choice this year, I changed my mind today, moved that album to second place and went with the record that, despite its flaws, meant the most to me this year - the album that ushered me in to a new apartment, that makes me think of shower curtains and Halloween and laughing and, most of all, Jen.

Here are my top three albums of 2006:

3. Bonnie 'Prince' Billy - The Letting Go



2. Shearwater - Palo Santo



1. The Decemberists - The Crane Wife



That's it! Just a so-so year for music after the glory of 2005, but a lot of good stuff and the promise of much more to come in 2007.

Happy New Year everyone!

[Nos. 10-4].

6 comments:

Unknown said...

oooh lovely!
i should buy that flippin album already.

Anonymous said...

I'm excited for the Decemberists, it would have been my choice, but I can't help being a bit sad that you didn't go with something I've not listened to yet--then I would have felt compelled to go out and purchase the whole album and immerse myself in something new, like last year with the Sufjan Stevens.

What were you leaning toward before you changed your mind?

Emily

Matthew said...

Emily - As I said in the little intro, I knocked Shearwater to the two spot at the last minute. So there's a good place to start, especially if you like the video I posted (you should watch all ten videos and see what tickles you). Dark, brooding, icy warm - real good stuff.

And if you don't have any Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, I'd check him out too (start with 2003's album of the year, Master and Everyone or an earlier album called I See a Darkness, which you might prefer).

I would recommend Joanna Newsom but you'll either adore her or hate her with every fiber of your being.

Anonymous said...

Sorry for my careless reading--I'll check out the Shearwater.

Hope you have a Happy New Year!

Brianna said...

So I bought the crane wife (partially on your recommendation but I was already a Decemberists fan so...) and I'm not that into it yet. I suspect it will grow on me but for now I'm saying that Get Lonely beats it.

Matthew said...

The Crane Wife was definitely a grower for me, especially because I thought (and still do think) that it is inferior to Picaresque. However, like I said, it became a clear sentimental favorite whose meaning to me this year more than made up for its flaws.

Ultimately, Get Lonely was a bit too samey (and sometimes a bit too pathetic in its tone) for Album of the Year, although it is indeed a great album.

P.S. I'm nearly done with The Commitment. Great book - especially the "ending".