Since insomnia has won the battle once again, there's no time like the present to present (i did that on purpose) my Best of 2006 post. This seems to be the time of year to compile such lists (Stylus did their subpar 50 singles list this week) so this is my turn to be self-indulgent (like Ed with his football picks post).

First, let's revisit last year's lists:

2005 Albums
1 - Foo Fighters - In Your Honor
2 - Bloc Party - Silent Alarm
3 - Feist - Let It Die (yes, it's 2004 but who cares really?)
4 - Franz Ferdinand - You Could Have Had It So Much Better
5 - Kaiser Chiefs - Employment
6 - Neil Young - Prairie Wind
7 - Liz Phair - Somebody's Miracle
8 - Oasis - Don't Believe The Truth
9 - The White Stripes - Get Behind Me Satan
10 - Fiona Apple - Extraordinary Machine

Honourable Mention (OK Go - Oh No, Broken Social Scene - Broken Social Scene)

2005 Songs
1 - I Predict A Riot - Kaiser Chiefs (Employment)
2 - Helicoptor - Bloc Party (Silent Alarm)
3 - Mushaboom - Feist (Let It Die)
4 - Lyla - Oasis (Don't Believe The Truth)
5 - Do You Want To - Franz Ferdinand (You Could Have Had It So Much Better)
6 - Like Eating Glass - Bloc Party (Silent Alarm)
7 - DOA - Foo Fighters (In Your Honor)
8 - Gangsters and Thugs - The Transplants (Haunted Cities)
9 - The Painter - Neil Young (Prairie Wind)
10 - You Owe Me An IOU - Hot Hot Heat (Elevator)

Uh, great lists I guess. Obviously they would look nothing like this now but I'm sure I'll say that about the 2006 lists in one year. Based on my count in ITunes, I have 23 albums from 2006, which far surpasses how many I'd have if I still paid for music. I will rank them all here, along with my 10 favorite singles of 2006.

2006 Albums

1 - The Hold Steady - Boys and Girls In America
Great rock album about drinking and drugs by a band fronted by a big Twins fan (even name dropping the St. Paul Saints at one point). I read a concert review of the band when they played a show on the day the Twins clinched the Central division and he came out in a retro Killebrew jersey and told the New York crowd that this show was all about the Minnesota Twins. This story in no way affects why I love this album.

2 - Neil Young - Living With War
Neil's anti-Bush album that produced some songs that contend with his classics.

3 - The Thermals - The Body, The Blood, The Machine
Punkish album about hating organized religion.

4 - Lily Allen - Alright, Still
Delightful bubble gum pop from a sassy Brit. Nothing great, just really catchy and fun.

5 - Tapes 'n Tapes - The Loon
Another Minneapolis band with a solid album, the first I really liked this year.

6 - TV On The Radio - Return To Cookie Mountain
The songs are taxing to listen to but very appealing. Some really good singles too.

7 - Band Of Horses - Everything All The Time
Great quiet and mostly acoustic album with Neil-ish sounding songs.

8 - The Little Willies - The Little Willies
Norah Jones' side-project. A fun country outfit whose album includes a song about Lou Reed tipping cows.

9 - Babyshambles - Down In Albion
Pete Doherty's post-Libertines band. This album is sloppy yet appealing. The songs sound like they were produced by me but I like them all the same.

10 - Mission Of Burma - The Obliterati
Apparently this band has been around for over a decade but this is my first taste of their work. Loud and catchy.

The rest....
11 - Long Blondes - Someone To Drive You Home
12 - The Cardigans - Life
13 - Mountain Goats - Get Lonely
14 - The Oohlas - Best Stop Pop
15 - Cat Power - The Greatest
16 - Grizzly Bear - Yellow House
17 - The Strokes - First Impressions Of Earth
18 - The Raconteurs - Broken Boy Soldiers
19 - Arctic Monkeys - Whatever You Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
20 - Me First and The Gimme Gimmes - Love Their Country
21 - The Streets - The Hardest Way To Make An Easy Living
22 - Sloan - Never Hear The End Of It
23 - Everclear - Welcome To The Drama Club


Top 10 Singles Of 2006

1 - Neil Young - After The Garden
2 - TV On The Radio - Wolf Like Me
3 - Shakira - Hips Don't Lie
4 - Lily Allen - Smile
5 - Tapes 'N Tapes - Just Drums
6 - The Strokes - Juicebox
7 - The Hold Steady - Chips Ahoy!
8 - Nelly Furtado - Promiscuous
9 - Neil Young - Let's Impeach The President
10 - Arctic Monkeys - I Bet You Look Good On The Dance Floor

That was exhausting, see you in aught-7.