This is It! The Top 5!

5. Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins - Rabbit Fur Coat
This is the best album to come home really fucking drunk to and listen to and scream along with made by a child actress this year. No, I am certain of it. Dolly Parton for the 00's.










4. Decemberists - Crane Wife
Remember how disappointed I was with Picaresque? Rebound! They took everything I loved from the first two albums and EPs, added a little ELP and hooray! Prog rock with a lot of syllables. Done right.








3. Calexico - Garden Ruin
Calexico confused people with this album. There's something going on with it though that people just don't want to pay enough attention to, which is a shame, because it's really rewarding, or something.









2. Califone - Roots and Crowns
I never disliked anything they did, but the last two just never seemed as immediate and warm as Roomsound. They nailed it here though, with a respectful nod to what made them so amazing there and an astonishing display of Califoney of here and now.






1. Scott Walker - The Drift
Nothing could really touch this album this year, because they were all scared the fuck away. I do not recommend this album unless you have an overextended sense of well being. It's tough, bleak, frightening. It's 2006 and it's over!