Top 50 of 2010!

1. Dum Dum Girls - I Will Be
2. Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti - Before Today
3. Robyn - Body Talk
4. Marina & the Diamonds - The Family Jewels
5.Frankie Rose & The Outs - s/t
6. Zola Jesus - Stridulum II
7.Super Wild Horses - Fifteen
8. Woods - At Echo Lake
9. Night Gallery - Constant Struggle
10. Grass Widow - Past Time
11. Tamaryn - The Waves
12. Beach Fossils -s/t
13. Nobunny - First Blood
14. Reading Rainbow - Prism Eyes
15. Ty Segall - Melted
16. Superchunk - Majesty Shredding
17.Effi Breist - Rhisomes
18. Blank Dogs - Land & Fixed
19. Women - Public Strain
20. Wavves- King of the Beach
21. Janelle Monae - The Archandroid
22. Sufjan Stevens - Age of Adz
23. Magic Kids - Memphis
24. The New Pornographers - Together
25. LCD Soundsystem - This is Happening
26. The Sadies - Darker Circles
27. She & Him - Volume 2
28. Drake - Thank Me Later
29. of Montreal - False Priest
30. Liars - Sisterworld
31. Ted Leo & Pharmacists - Brutalist Bricks
32. Kings Go Forth - The Outsiders Are Back
33. Glasser - Ring
34. Jamie Lidell - Compass
35. The Girls at Dawn - Call the Doctor
36. The Vaselines - Sex with an X
37. Goldfrapp - Head First
38. Belle & Sebastian - Write About Love
39. Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings - I Learned the Hard Way
40. Algebro - the Algebro Album
41. Scissor Sisters - Night Work
42. MGMT - Congratulations
43. The Limiñanas - s/t
44. Disappears - Lux
45. Crowded House - Intriguer
46. Best Coast - Crazy for You
47. The Autumn Defense - Once Around
48. Antony & the Johnsons - Swanlights
49. Stereolab - Not Music
50. My Chemical Romance - Danger Days

Top 50 of 2009!

1. Califone - All My Friends Are Funeral Singers
2. Woods - Songs of Shame
3. Ganglians - Monster Head Room
4. VEEDEE - Public Mental Health System
5. Wizzard Sleeve - s/t
6. Magnolia Electric Co. - Josephine
7. Smith Westerns - s/t
8. Fresh and Onlys - s/t
9. Cheveu - Cheveau
10. So Cow - s/t
11. Static Static - Psychic Eyes
12. Cold Cave - Love Comes Close
13. White Wires - s/t
14. Molina and Johnson - s/t
15. CoCoComa - Things Are Not All Right
16. Almighty Defenders - s/t
17. Zola Jesus - The Spoils
18. Kurt Vile - Childish Prodigy
19.The Flaming Lips - Embryonic
20. King Khan and BBQ Show - Invisible Girl
21. Real Estate - s/t
22. Thee Oh Sees - Help
23. Baroness - Blue Record
24. Nothing People - Late Night
25. Meth Teeth - Everything Went Wrong
26. Jacuzzi Boys - No Seasons
27. Coathangers - Scramble
28. Bonnie "Prince" Billy - Beware
29. The Yolks - s/t
30. Baby Teeth - Hustle Beach
31. Jay Reatard - Watch Me Fall
32. The Dutchess & the Duke - Sunset/Sunrise
33. Vivian Girls - Everything Goes Wrong
34. Blank Dogs - Under and Under
35. Former Ghosts - Fleurs
36. On Fillmore - Extended Vacation
37. John Doe & The Sadies - Country Club
38. Lady GaGa - The Fame Monster
39. The Intelligence - Fake Surfers
40. Bat For Lashes - Two Suns
41. Sir Lord Von Raven - Please Throw Me Back in the Water
42. Box Elders - Alice and Friends
43. Dent May - The Good Feeling Music of Dent May & His Magnificent Ukulele
44. Young Fresh Fellows - I Think This Is
45. Monsters of Folk - s/t
46. Shrinebuilder - s/t
47. Neko Case - Middle Cyclone
48. Ty Segal - Lemons
49. Andrew Bird - Noble Beast
50. Flight of the Conchords - I Told You I Was Freaky

Just Because...

Songs From My Digital Music Library That Contain the Word Because:

1. Because - The Beatles
2. Because - Alice Cooper with the Bee Gees
3. Because I Do - X
4. Because Of You - Gene Clark
5. Because Of You - Glaxo Babies
6. Because The Night - Patti Smith Group
7. Because The Night - Bruce Springsteen
8. Because You're Young - David Bowie
9. I'm Leaving You Because I Don't Love You - Jens Lekman
10. Just Because - Lloyd Price
11. Just Because I Do - My Morning Jacket
12. Let's Hear That String Part Again, Because I Don't Think They Heard It All The Way In Bushnell - Sufjan Stevens

(Idea from another blog)

Top 10 of 2008 and more!

1. Blank Dogs On Two Sides
2. Eddy Current Suppression Ring - Primary Colours
3. Cut/Copy In Ghost Colours
4. Gentleman Jesse and His Men - s/t
5. Liam Finn - I'll Be Lightning
6. Portishead - Third
7. Nobunny - Love Visions
8. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds Dig Lazarus Dig!
9. Cheap Time - s/t
10. Vivian Girls - s/t


...AND MORE (unranked):
Deerhunter - Microcastle
Crystal Stilts - Alight of Night
Thee Oh Sees - The Master's Bedroom is
Worth Spending a Night In
The Goodnight Loving - s/t
Two Cow Garage - Speaking in Cursive
Tilly & The Wall - o
The Wax Museums - s/t
Bonnie "Prince" Billy - Lie Down In the Light
Sloan - Parallel Play
No Age - Nouns
Mudcrutch - s/t
Matthew Sweet - Sunshine Lies
Old 97s - Blame It On Gravity
R.E.M. - Accelerate
TV on the Radio Dear Science
She & Him Volume 1
Alejandro Escovedo - Real Animal
MGMT - Oracular Spectacular


Still to come: 7"s...

Lego Album Covers

A little heavy on the Beatles, but adorable nonetheless. I have a lot of Legos around but not much ambition.

Going on Vacation (In Chicago)

I am taking a week of vacation starting Saturday to stay in Chicago and go to shows. Yes, there is actually a show I am going to every night (and some days) for one whole week. I get to go to almost all my favorite Chicago venues, and some that I really hate (i'm not naming names). However, there is some sort of fun tax being imposed upon me by the city of Chicago; I have to report for jury duty in Rolling Meadows at 9:00 am Friday, and work afterwards. As you can see, I am still awake per my normal sleep cycle at 3:33 am. I have to "wake up" in 3 hours.

I'm going to do my best to post about every show, the schedule looks something like this:

Saturday May 31: Do Division with Mucca Pazza, Breeders @ Metro
Sunday June 1: Do Division with Tully Monster, Ted Leo & More!, Johnny & the Limelites, the Spits @ Beat Kitchen
Monday June 2: Islands @ Logan Square, Baby Alright @ Sonotheque (looking for someone to come with me this evening!)
Tuesday June 3: Nels Cline Singers @ Martyrs
Wednesday June 4: Jamie Lidell @ Abbey Pub
Thursday June 5: Old 97s at Metro
Friday June 6: MAYBE R.E.M., Modest Mouse, the National @ United Center
Saturday June 7: Detholz!, Baby Teeth, Danny Black @ Hideout, with DJ Bobby Conn dance party to follow!
Sunday June 8: the M's, Centro-matic @ Schubas

BubeTube #3 - Salute to the Golden Age of Silver Screen Music Videos of Platinum Caliber!

1. El Debarge - "Who's Johnny?" - Short Circuit
I'm starting out strong with this one. Amazing interaction between the stars of the film and El Debarge. Even the robot Johnny 5 makes an appearance, as does a cardboard Steve Guttenberg. THUMBS UP!

2. Peter Cetera - "The Glory Of Love" - The Karate Kid Part 2
Does anyone remember the song from the first Karate Kid? I doubt it. Peter Cetera really gives his all in this slow dance favorite of the mid 80s. Nearly all of his solo hits after this sounded EXACTLY THE SAME but they don't remind of us cute lil' Ralph Macchio and a sexy tea ceremony. 4 and a half stars!!

3. Phil Collins - "Against All Odds" - Against All Odds
This one hits the ground running by morphing Phil's mouth with a movie prop. He had a whole lot of "great" movie hits but this one just has legs of its own. A++!! (bonus for weird neon set pieces)

4. Kenny Loggins - "Footloose" - Footloose
This was a tough choice, as most of Kenny's great hits are from movies: Top Gun, Caddyshack, Over The Top, uh, Caddyshack 2... none of those have Kevin Bacon cuttin' a rug though! 5 Degrees of Kevin Bacon!!! Kenny Loggins gets a lifetime achievement award!!

5. Ray Parker, Jr - "Ghostbusters" - Ghostbusters
Aw hell yeah! This one is classic for so many reasons: Neon set pieces, acting of the lyrics, movie scenes popping up in weird shapes and (drum roll please) random celebrity lip synching of the word "Ghostbusters!" John Candy! George Wendt! Al Franken! Then the finale... Ray and the Ghostbusters dancing through Times Square! Green Slime Covered Two Thumbs Up!!

6. Billy Ocean - "When the Going Gets Tough the Tough Get Going" - Jewel of the Nile
Okay, this one is not that great until they work the stars of the film into Billy's already large band (THREE SAX PLAYERS?!). Who would have thunk Michael Douglas, Danny Devito and Kathleen Turner could learn such complex choreography?! B-.

7. Soul Asylum - "Can't Even Tell" - Clerks
This is probably the last of the golden era of movie music videos. Nice job getting it in under the wire Kevin Smith. Certainly the only one with a 90s alt-rock star huffing Easy Cheez. This should have been a hit! 37 STARS!!!! In a row?!

8. Cyndi Lauper - "Goonies 'R' Good Enough" - Goonies
Oh WTF. Somehow Cyndi brings the WWF and the Goonies together for a long form music video. Too bad the song is lackluster and forgettable. Thumbs DOWN. Please don't try and watch the whole thing. I mean it.

9. Philip Oakley and Giorgio Moroder - "Together in Electric Dreams" - Electric Dreams
I'll admit I have never seen this movie, but you can pretty much pick up on the plot from the video. I love the song though, because how can you lose with the dude from Human League and electrowhiz Moroder (who is apparently the boss of the radio station in the video). 4 Bytes!!

10. Limahl - "The NeverEnding Story" - The NeverEnding Story
Wow, Limah's vocals are pretty terrible. Who's the chick singing with him? Is he completely stoned? Is this movie as terrible looking as this low rez you tube video has me believe it is? I saw it on cable once as a kid. I think I hated it. F--.

11. Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark - "If You Leave" - Pretty In Pink
The quintessential 80s movie song? You do know original ending has her getting together with Duckie and dancing to David Bowie's Heroes, right? Oh well, this is a winner despite. 5 Popcorn Boxes!!

12. Simple Minds - "Don't You Forget About Me" - The Breakfast Club
Okay, the second of a one-two punch from John Hughes, not quite as great as the OMD though. 2 Popcorn Boxes.

13. Paul Westerberg - "Dyslexic Heart" - Singles
This is a great song, and the tying in of the movie bits to the song is handled in an inimitable 90s manner. Everything about the 90s looked like this video. B-.

14. David Bowie - "Underground" - Labyrinth
I don't know why, but I place this song in the upper echelon of Bowie songs. The video is very well made. GOLDEN GLOBE WINNER!!!!

15. Starship - "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" - Mannequin
Weird Neon Set Pieces? Check. Band performance incorporates movie theme? Check. All the best scenes from a terrible film? You got it!! Song you can't help but sing along to? Hell Yeah!! KEYTAR!?!? How did this song NOT get an Oscar!? It was nominated!! Oh. That Dirty Dancing Song won instead. BOOOOOOOOOO! Techincal Achievement Award.

16. Bryan Adams - "Everything I Do" - Robin Hood Prince of Thieves
A rare 90's entry to my chart. Not so hot, I mean, how did they get power out in the forest for all those electrical instruments? Also, showing scenes of people conversing does NOT a good montage make. If Robin Hood stole this from the rich he should give it back. IT STINKS!

17. Madonna - "Get Into The Groove" - Desperately Seeking Susan
Yeah!! Madonna at her cutest, playing pretty much herself in a really dumb movie involving amnesia and mistaken identity. Points for inspiring so many custom video makers on YouTube by trying to get as much lyric narration from actual movie scenes. C+ though for completely lacking original footage.

18. Irene Cara - "What A Feeling" - Flashdance
MORE-oder here. Yuk yuk. This pretty much mirrors the last entry with no use of original footage, but this is such an undeniable song that I couldn't deny it. Plus once in high school I got really wasted and put this song on repeat and sang and danced in the yard of someone's house one nite. 2 and a half cut off sweatshirts!

19. Bangles - "Hazy Shade Of Winter" - Less Than Zero
Surprisingly competent cover performed on a stage full of monitors showing footage. The late 80s were lazy. I give it a thumbs sideways.

AND THE OSCAR GOES TO:

20. Huey Lewis and the News - "The Power of Love" - Back to the Future
This is without a doubt the finest example of the Golden Age of Movie Music Videos. There's no actual movie footage, but they didn't need it. What living person didn't see that movie the week it came out? You do get a weird crossing of the forth wall and appearance by two of the films stars which is way cooler.

Happy Record Store Day!

This whole Record Store Day thing kinda came out of nowhere, but if you want to give us snacks and drinks then by all means go for it! I will now remember some of my favorite record stores for you:

1.Yesterday and Today, Jacksonville, FL

This guy was strictly used, but I went through all my phases with him, LPs, cassettes, CDs. He'd also just get in super cool random posters, magazines, etc. He was conveniently located next to a grocery store so I could get there with my mom pretty easily. I was very sad the day he closed.

That One Place I Can't Remember the Name Of, that was once in 5 Points and then moved to near UNF, Jacksonville, FL

I loved it so much I cannot remember the name of it. I saw a Reel Big Fish instore there that I remember being super awesome (this was like 11 years ago, come on now!) and I bought that April March sings Serge Gainsborg upon hearing it played in the store. Got my first Stereolab there.

Theory Shop, Five Points and Jacksonville Beach

It was totally the best when you could go dancing at Einstein-A-Go-Go and buy 7"s! The 5 Points location was cool too, I bought Sloan Between the Bridges there.

Manifest, Columbia, SC

Another sad sad RIP. It was big and beautiful.

Radio KAOS, Stevens Point, WI
The $1 vinyl at the sidewalk sale was the place to be! Morrissey! Wilco! Other things nowhere near as cool but it was only $1!

Mad City Music Exchange, Madison, WI
The one off the beaten path and near an Indonesian restaurant was my fave in a city of pretty good record stores.

Laurie's Planet of Sound, Chicago, IL
Hey! That's where I work! Back in the day I was a customer too! If I didn't work there I would surely be in there way too much and drive the super great people who work there crazy. Happy Record Store day, everyone! Thanks for coming to see me at POS and being cool enough to buy records, etc.

Top 25 of 2007

Reviews, maybe later.

1 Of Montreal - Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?
2 New Pornographers - Challengers
3 LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver
4 Sloan - Never Hear the End of It
5 Iron and Wine - The Shepherd's Dog
6 Okkervil River - The Stage Names
7 Baby Teeth - The Simp
8 Bobby Conn - King for a Day
9 Dinosaur Jr - Beyond
10 Crowded House - Time On Earth
11 Scout Niblet - This Fool Can Die Now
12 Panda Bear - Person Pitch
13 Grinderman - Grinderman
14 Shellac - Excellent Italian Greyhound
15 Josh Ritter - Historical Conquests of
16 Bat for Lashes - Fur and Gold
17 Bill Callahan - Woke on a Whaleheart
18 Jens Lekman - Night Falls on Kortedala
19 Jarvis Cocker - Jarvis
20 Lavender Diamond - Imagine Our Love
21 They Might Be Giants - The Else
22 Busy Signals - Busy Signals
23 Black Lips - Good Bad Not Evil
24 Miss Alex White and the Red Orchestra - Time and Space
25 White Stripes - Icky Thump

Top Ten of the Last Ten Years Part One!

1997


I was not working at Laurie's Planet of Sound in 1997. I had just turned 21 and was still stuck in Jacksonville, FL. With the gift of hindsight, I present to you:

Sam O'Rama's Top Ten Albums of 1997!


10. Flaming Lips - Zaireeka

In an awesome exhibition of the excesses of the uber-crummy mid 90's I give you an album you have to listen to 4 cds at once to experience it correctly, and whilst I own it, I have never listened to it in its intended form. Hooray, 1997!! Good start!

9. Smoking Popes - Destination Failure

I would be fired for not including this one. Last studio album, yet 10 years later we are hoping for a new one! Come on Caterers!!

8. Matthew Sweet - Blue Sky On Mars

Probably his worst, which gracefully exhibits what a crummy year this was. Aw, hell, still better than a lot of crap happening then. Matthew makes an amazing pop song under TWO MINUTES!

7. Jayhawks - Sound of Lies

First post Olson offering, hell yeah! One of the best albums you can sometimes pick up for like $2.99 in a cutout bin. We know better, if we have it used it's a mere $6.99, and a damn steal!

6. Ween - The Mollusk

Spend some time with this one, I once poo-pooed these fuckers, but now I'm in awe.

5. Stereolab - Dots and Loops

I cannot recommend this enough, especially in the Drag City-made vinyl version. The music is incredible enough on its own, but once you pull out the white and aqua vinyl from the lime and aqua sleeves you are just consumed by this entire entity. Beautiful all around.

4. Will Oldham - Joya

His first non-Palace album, and a really incredible entity. Nothing by this guy sucks. I was put off for so many years because of his reluctance to pick a moniker, now I could care less what he calls himself, so long as he keeps doing what he has to do.

3. Pavement - Brighten the Corners

Not the most popular from the beloved Alt-rock posterboys of the days of Alternative Nation, but the most rewarding if you give it a 16th chance. So very rewarding. Everybody wants one, everybody needs one, oh my god. oh your god....

2. Sloan - One Chord To Another

Wake Up America! Go out and buy every single Sloan record!! This one holds a special place in my heart as the first one I ever purchased (not until 1999, mind you) and dang, no, it's just that good, please buy it!!!

1. Radiohead - OK Computer

Well duh. Also purchased 2 years after release. What was I doing in 1997? Oh yeah, listening to crummy "ska" music. Seriously, this will be the one you play for your rugrats 10 years from now. They will HATE it, but maybe when they turn like 17, they will embrace it in a fit of rebellion.

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!

I'm Gonna Keep Going!

10. Magnolia Electric Company - Fading Trails AND Jason Molina - Let Me Go Let Me Go Let Me Go
Gods, I almost don't want to talk about this. It is hard to love a man like Jason Molina. He's one of those bands that's a dude, a dude that's a band, and it just never makes sense. He has made many great albums, one perfect album, and then in one year give us 2 pretty good albums that you know are just covering up one really fucking awesome album and they are theoretically from 2 different entities. I think he's afraid to give us the best possible album he can, which he has probably already made, because it would wipe out humanity.








9. Detholz! - Cast Out Devils
This album would have made the top 10 even if they hadn't played in the Hotel SnS basement this year. HOLY FUCKING SHIT IT IS REALLY AWESOME!!! I wish these guys were playing at Allstate Arena with Weezer and some pyrotechnic bullshit. For Reals... FREAK OUT! FREAK OUT! FREAK OUT! I think they are the earliest rock band I saw this year too, at 9am ish. Which makes #9 even more appropriate.






8. Belle & Sebastian - The Life Pursuit
If You're Feeling Sinister is one of the most perfect albums that ever happened, so it's pretty hard to live up to that. After a lot of Eh albums and Way fucking great singles they finally put it all together to deliver this one, a perfect balance of hit singles, deep album cuts, and a gatefold for the stems and seeds.








7. Bonnie "Prince" Billy - The Letting Go
I used to hate this motherfucker on principle. Something happened recentlyish though and now I swoon when I see his hairyness and or hear the voice. It gets mucho bonus points for being DC 420 when the Drag City matrix is actually in the 300s.








6. Howe Gelb - 'Sno Angel Like You
Here's a dude who has made a lot of records under a good handful of names and will sometimes do the same song a bunch of times but he always manages to make it worthwhile. (OMG, one time I saw Howe Gelb and Jason Molina on the same stage!) So yeah, Canada, choir, old songs, new songs.

Intoxicated Next 5!

15. Joanna Newsom - Ys
This could have been #1. I never got my hands on a physical copy of the vinyl though, so I didn't spend as much time as I would have liked with it. It is a really beautiful amazing singular record, but it really requires a commitment, and I never got to give it what it deserves.








14. Centro-matic - Fort Recovery
I love Centro-matic. Another band that can phone in a record and still score pretty high in my book. I'm not saying this one is phoned in though. There are some bands you want to keep doing the same thing though, and they are one.









13. M. Ward - Post War
Another case of good, but just not as good as the last one in my book. He's got one magic trick, and that's it?










12. Loose Fur - Born Again in the USA
A completely underrated album. I listen to this thing way more than the last actual Wilco album. I stand by the statement I made when I heard it the first time: awesome like (EARLY) Steve Miller. There is nothing wrong with being awesome like Steve Miller.








11. Beirut - Gulag Orkestar
This is the type of hypey thing I usually avoid, but it's difficult to avoid really well done beautiful music. Let the "Hype" debate begin!

Top 20 Territory!

20. Sparks - Hello Young Lovers
I was in the back eating and I didn't really understand what I was hearing. It sat getting dusty in the racks since the release date, but it was quickly snatched off Gabe's shelf that day. It's like Danger Mouse meets Queen or something, pretty damn mindblowing.









19. Midlake - Trials of Van Occupanther
This is a late addition, which I just had to knock out Flaming Lips for. In fact, if I had more time with it than just a couple days, it would probably be really high up there. It's like someone took all those albums from the 70s that were all over the radio (I swear, I was waiting for Stevie Nicks on the opening track) and made them way fucking cooler.








18. Destroyer - Destroyer's Rubies
I finally "got" Dan Bejar this year, after seeing him live w/ New Pornographers at Metro late last year, and opening for Magnolia Electric Co. at the Abbey this year. Indie rock needs some pretension, and Destroyer delivers in spades.










17. Islands - Return to the Sea
The Unicorns who? I don't understand what a big fuss was made over that band when they hit, and it seems all the talent survived to carry on in Islands. Quirky without being too whimsical, noise in the right places, cutsey fun when necessary. Great job!








16. Catfish Haven - Please Come Back EP/ Tell Me LP
I had to lump both of these together as on entity. I kinda wish they had made one kick ass album and gotten rid of the "slow jams" on Tell Me but really overally I love it all. Rockin' accoustic lead geetar, dancey grooveyness...dang!

Halfway there!

25. Danielson - Ships
This album might be painful for people who are not happy people to listen to.











24. Regina Spektor - Begin to Hope
Hi Regina, Bjork and Tori Amos called, they want their quirk back. Oh shit, don't get the KGB involved, no, it's cool. We'll put the video in heavy ro after Degrassi and everything will be fine.










23. The Elected - Sun, Sun, Sun
I don't know why more people aren't digging this band. It's a similar vibe to Midlake, like that 70s sunny thing. Oh well.










22. Vetiver - To Find Me Gone
Prettyfolkydreamypsycheyzzzzzzz
zzzzzzzzz
zzzzzzzzzzzz
zzzzzzzzzz
zzzzzzz








21. Pernice Brothers - Live a Little
As a long time Pernice lover, I really really fucking hated the last record. Peee-yew, ugh ick. This album gives me hope that a band can come back from the brink when I have lost all hope. Maybe R.E.M. has another good one in 'em? And while it might seem cheezy to remake your own song from another band, it is totally done justice.

OMG here comes 5 more!

30. Tilly and the Wall - Bottoms of Barrels
You wouldn't think tap dancing percussion would translate well to album but it sounds just as adorable. More fuzzy feelgoodness that doesn't stop.










29. Willie Nelson - Songbird
There is nothing better than stoner country, and who better to make an album of said music than Willie and Ryan Adams? Oh man, Will Oldham should have been involved in this, but he might have killed 'ol Ryry.









28. Tim O'Reagan - s/t
Exactly what you would want and expect a Jayhawk's solo album to sound like, and there's nothing wrong with that. Poppy, countryish, some of the best of everything.









27. My Brightest Diamond - Bring Me The Workhorse
Sufjan's head cheerleader makes her own album that never sounds like an album from Sufjan's head cheerleader. She's got one of them opera voices.








26. Alejandro Escovedo - The Boxing Mirror
Being super sick can bring out the best in creative types, and Alejandro is no exception. Thankfully he is now well, and has more drama to portray in that dramatic Velvet Undergroundy (hello John Cale) Country way he does best.

Even more...

35. Damien Jurado - And Now That I'm In Your Shadow
Dang, I think I own all 7 albums by this guy. I like them all, this is another one.










34. Six Organs of Admittance - The Sun Awakens
Ben Chasney gets his drone on. This cat plays some motherfucking GUITAR.










33. Brightblack Morning Light - s/t
A lazy southern swampy psychedelic fun trip that comes with lazer glasses. Very non-cerebral.










32. Supersystem - A Million Microphones
Weird synthy funky dancy punk rock WTF. I like 'em








31. The Hold Steady - Boys and Girls in America
Man, I really hated their first two records, but I like the Springsteeny vibe and the subject matter here. Woot lets get drunk!

Five More...

40. White Magic - Dat Rosa...
Piano weirdness that sounds like it's from a cave inhabited by lunatic gnomes. There's not a lot of that out there.











39. Jason Collett - Idols of Exile
There is nothing really different happening on this album, but he certainly does that in a likeable fashion.









38.Scissor Sisters - Ta-Dah!
I wish there were more disco-y bands around right now. It is difficult to listen to this without wishing you were wearing sequins and feathers and a tiny spoon on a chain and dancing at Studio 54. Two words: eltonjohn beegees.










47.Josh Ritter - The Animal Years
Pretty, folky, songs about war and being in love with girls.









36. Richard Buckner -Meadow
Richard Buckner makes Richard Buckner records. He sounds like Richard Buckner, and nobody else. He will occasionally change up the instrumentation. you are either a Richard Buckner fan or you are not, and you're never going to hate anything he does.

Next 5

45. Bobby Bare Jr's Young Criminal's Starvation League The Longest Meow
Not many out there are still country rockin'. BBJ gets a pretty good gang together and rocks the fuck out. Perhaps not as nuanced as his last few, but what are you gonna do.












44. Gnarls Barkley St. Elsewhere
It would be CRAZY not to have this one on here, right? Bwahahaha. It's a good album, but that may well be song of the DECADE! MILLENIUM! Who do you who do you who do you think you are?!








43.Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin - Broom
These dudes opened for Catfish Haven, and they reminded me of Sloan in a good way, so I checked out the album. There are some Sloan-ey elements like lovely harmonies, but there's something else going on too. Check 'em out!








42. Johnny Cash - American V: A Hundred Highways
It should not come as a shock that Johnny is putting out records from the grave. I mean if 2 Pac can do it, so should this OG. I was pleasantly surprised by this one, I was expecting a real bummerfest, but it's a lovely tribute to him. (Note: I refrained from calling him "The Man in Black".)








41. Pink Mountaintops -Axis of Evol
This band (guy?) could be called "Someone Still Loves You Velvet Underground, but I guess that's an obvious statement, and they don't really need the affirmation Mr. Yeltsin does. The last Pink Mountaintops was all the "yay! rock n roll party excess!" album and this one is the aftermath. You may indeed hate yourself in the morning and your stomach will cruddy, but you won't regret it.

Bottom 5 of 50 for 2006!

50. Gossip Standing in the Way of Control
A pretty good album from the souly southern punkers, but the title track itself is easily one of the years best songs.









49. Matthew Sweet/Susanna Hoffs Under the Covers Vol. 1
Yes, it's an album of 2 artists not held in very high regard doing mostly 60s covers from the usual suspects, ala Dylan, Beatles, Bee Gees, Love. The harmonies are other worldly though, and it's a lot of fun to sing along with. Tacking on the "Vol. 1" is going to make them look pretty stupid of "Vol. 2" never happens though.








48.Arctic Monkeys - Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
I'll pretty much always check out what the Brits have their knickers in a knot over, and this is a good solid rock album from some young dudes. Will I buy their next one? Probably not.








47.Beck - The Information
Whoa. Another damn Beck album, another alleged return to form. At least the stickers distracted me from the fact that it's really NOT that different from Guero, which was a pretty okay album. I haven't even watched the DVD yet, which might have propelled this one a little higher. Hmm.








46. TV On The Radio -Return To Cookie Mountain
I feel like TVOTR didn't deliver on the statement made with the title of this album here. Where are the cookies? I don't find myself singing along like I did with the first full length. Oh well, it's still good.