Well, there are some really great half year recaps already floating around the web. Thought Id give my take on the first half of 2006 myself. Here are the albums Ive been most impressed with so far this year
in no order.
Band of Horses – Everything All the Time
These guys deserve the hype, the Sub Pop deal and the live show praise they have been getting. Some former members of Carrisas Wierd caught my attention initially and the My Morning Jacket reverb made me feel right at home. But this freshman disc is full of great tunes, from “The Great Salt Lake” to “Monster” to everyones favorite, “The Funeral”. If I was forced to order these, this may be at the top currently.
Cold War Kids – Up In Rags EP
I know this is an EP and was released alongside another CWK EP on the same date, “With Our Wallets Full”. But this one shines brighter in my opinion. Although “Hospital Beds” has received the most attention from the Kids latest releases, and its a great song, I cant stop spinning “We Used to Vacation”. The tune is quite possibly the most emotional song Ive heard this year. The tale of a father figure caught in the trenches of alcholism and the inner struggles througout hit very hard. This is certainly not something I expected from the CWK at this point in their young history, its possible this track was written with some personal ties.
Final Fantasy – He Poos Clouds
Owen Pallett continues to overexceed the expectations of his fans on this, his second full length LP, “He Poos Clouds”. First he manages to make us forget about the horrid album title quickly with his complex arrangements and stellar violin mastery. Standout tracks for me are, “Song, song, song” and “Artic Circle”. But the whole album is really worth your time, check it out.
Devotchka – Curse your little heart
Devotchka is finally getting the attention they deserve, I first saw them opening for M Ward almost two years ago and had an initial attraction to the band the their sound. The new album seems to make them even more accessible but its not a dramatic change from previous efforts. “How it ends” and “We’re Leaving” are just below brilliant.
Grandaddy – Just Like the Fambly Cat
Yeah, im a big Grandaddy fan, I cant ignore the swan song, although its not their best album, I really like it. Jason and the boys hit hard on Jeez Louise and Elevate Myself. And say farewell with tunes like, Summer is gone and Where Im Anymore.
The Black Angels – Passover
Its been awhile since a rock band like The Black Angels caught my attention, and kept it. On Passover they manage to guide us through a dark alley following a sweet aroma of some sort. The album is harder when it needs to be and light and airy to balance things out at times.
Technorati Tags: Sub Pop, “The Funeral”, Owen Pallett, Devotchka, Grandaddy, The Black Angels
