It’s never too late for top ten lists, and KEXP’s volunteers and interns have their fingers directly on the pulse of what’s going on. Here’s a few of their top tens from 2006 and a look ahead to 2007.

Richard Laing - Production:
Camera Obscura - Let’s Get Out Of This Country
Clipse - Hell Hath No Fury
Comets On Fire - Avatar (Dogwood Rust - MP3)
Mogwai - Mr Beast
Midlake - The Trials of Van Occupanther
Band of Horses - Everything All the Time (The Great Salt Lake - MP3)
Trentemoller - The Last Resort
Vetiver - To Find Me Gone
The Beatles - Love
Thom Yorke - The Eraser

Shani Jayant - DJ Assistant:
1. The White Birch - Come Up For Air
2. Beach House - Beach House
3. Grizzly Bear - Yellow House (On a Neck On a Spit - MP3)
4. El Perro Del Mar - El Perro Del Mar (God Knows - MP3)
5. Juana Molina - Son
6. The Knife - Silent Shout
7. Land of Talk - Applause Cheer Boo Hiss
8. Liars - Drum’s Not Dead
9. Benoit Pioulard - Precis
10. Cortney Tidwell - Don’t Let Stars Keep Us Tangled Up

Levi Fuller - DJ Assistant (in no particular order):
Califone - Roots & Crowns
Neko Case - Fox Confessor Brings the Flood
De Kift - s/t
The Melvins - A Senile Animal
Laura Gibson - If You Come To Greet Me
Johanna Kunin - Clouds Electric (Mobius Waves - MP3)
Mogwai - Mr. Beast
Holy Sons - Decline of the West
Pure Horsehair - Aubade
Chad Vangaalen - Skelliconnection

Albums that should be on there, but that I still haven’t heard for some reason:
Tom Waits – Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers & Bastards
Richard Buckner - Meadow

Annika Hoogestraat - Administrative Volunteer:
10. Thee Emergency - Can you Dig It? (Girl You Should’ve Known - MP3)
9. The Little Ones - Sing Song EP (Oh, MJ! - MP3)
8. Cat Power - The Greatest (Could We - MP3)
7. Tapes ‘n Tapes - The Loon
6. The Black Angels - Passover
5. Band of Horses - Everything all the Time
4. Neko Case - Fox Confessor Brings the Flood
3. The Long Winters - Putting the Days to Bed (Pushover - MP3)
2. Regina Spektor - Begin to Hope
1. The Decemberists - Crane Wife

Jim Beckmann - Front Desk Volunteer & DJ Assistant (a speculative Best of 2007):
The Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
The Shins - Wincing The Night Away
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Some Loud Thunder
Radiohead - TBD
Interpol - TBD
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - TBD
The Postal Service - TBD
Bloc Party - A Weekend In The City
Grinderman - Grinderman
Menomena - Friend And Foe

Not Sure About:
Modest Mouse - We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank (who’s that old dude playing with them?)

I’m Lisa, programming assistant and author of Life With Kevin (currently on hiatus while I wait for Kevin to do something interesting). Here’s a few things that I really dug this year:

Neko Case – Fox Confessor Brings the Flood
Neko Case could sing the phone book and I’d be spellbound. This album grew on me more with each listen, and has moved into place right next to ‘Blacklisted’ on my Sacred Albums list. When she played her phenomenal show at the Moore earlier this year I took my dad, and he really dug it. My dad’s an old school country guy, who never quite understood me and my punkish ways. Through KEXP we’ve finally found musical common ground. Another reason to love KEXP.

Skullbot - Skullbot
I love the ‘bot. They rock and they rock loud. They don’t hesitate to skip school for a gig, and their parents seem really cool. John played ‘Agent’ one the morning right when I walked in and made me truly grateful to work here. Having them on Live at KEXP Volume 2 alongside Death Cab For Cutie, Gang of Four, Lyrics Born and the like was one of the better decisions KEXP made this year.

Michael Franti and Spearhead – Yell Fire
Besides being an incredible human being, Michael Franti in Ballard was one of the greatest events of the year. Hello, Bonjour gets my eight-year old daughter’s vote for Song of the Year.

Transmissionary Six – Radar
Transmissionary Six is the band belonging to my friend Terri Moeller and her husband Paul Austin. Terri and I went to the same lame south Seattle high school and I always thought she was one of the coolest people ever. She still is, and the music that she’s making amazing. I’m proud to know her.(Pod Bay Doors - MP3)

Fujiya and Miyagi – Transparent Things
One of the nice things about sharing an office with Kevin Cole, is that you get to preview new music pretty much every day. (Yesterday’s’s tune was a weird Devo-like song about vibrating vegetables. Not sure that one made it on-air.) Kevin brought Fujiya and Miyagi back with him from New York in October, and my ears perked up the minute he turned it on. Initially I thought it was a couple of Japanese musicians, but it’s actually three British guys. It’s super catchy, beefy electronica that makes me groove.

Another great Kevin find: ESG – Keep on Moving. He and I went to the big Tower blowout sale last Saturday and I was psyched to find it in the import section for $8.50.

PJ Harvey – The Peel Sessions 1991 – 2004
PJ Harvey is a musical genius and her live show remains one of the best shows I’ve ever seen. This collection of recordings during John Peel’s BBC show are rough, raw, and brilliant. I’ve been wearing my Bobbi Brown lipstick in ‘Ruby’ in tribute to Sheela-Na-Gig ever since I got the CD. It’s a fine tribute to both PJ’s music and to John Peel.

Johnny Cash - American V: A Hundred Highways
The first time I heard this I was in my car driving across I-90. John played ‘Help Me’ and it made me cry. Maybe it was the crappy traffic. Most likely it was Johnny Cash lifting my spirit through his powerful, posthumous voice and heartfelt lyrics. It was recorded a few months before he died and is a powerful testament that never fails to move me.

Hidden Cameras – AWOO
No one at KEXP loves the Hidden Cameras as much as I do. Their music makes me happy. Joel Gibb’s voice is strong and beautiful, and the music stunning. Tracks like Death of a Tune and Lollipop are upbeat and fun; tracks like She’s Gone and Fee Fie are melancholy and touching. But they’re all joyous. I don’t know how they do it.

Live at KEXP Volume 2
How can I leave this CD off my list? ‘Parade’ by Gang of Four will rock my world forever. The whole thing is incredible from beginning to end and I’m proud to have been part of it.

Ghostland Observatory – Paparazzi Lightning
Everyone wondered what all the fuss was about when John and Cheryl came back from New York all apeshit for Ghostland Observatory. This summer we saw what they were talking about. One of the best bands ever to see live. Plus they’re really nice! Aaron chatted it up with my daughter after the show which always scores mega mom points. What a band; what a show; what an album. Their in-studio the day after the BBQ was my favorite in-studio all year.

My favorite non-Ghostland Observatory show:
Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings at Bumbershoot were AMAZING. Lord that woman can sing. She sounds like someone who’s been performing forever, but actually didn’t record an album until 2002. She tried to have a career as a singer in the 80s but it didn’t pan out and she wound up working as a corrections officer at Rikers Island of all places. At 50 she’s one of the most electric live performers around and it was awesome to see her. I talked to her backstage and she said she has more music in the works for next year, and more shows.

It goes to Eleven – Other Things I Loved in ‘06: Sparklehorse – Dreamt for Lightyears on the Belly of a Mountain, Asobi Seksu – Citrus, Joseph Arthur – Nuclear Daydream, The Decemberists – The Crane Wife, Junior Boys – So This Is Goodbye, Jim Noir – Tower of Love, Cut Chemist – The Audience is Listening, Tom Waits – Orphans, My Morning Jacket – Okonokos, Thom Yorke – The Eraser.

For me, the best part of the holiday season is sitting at home on the last Friday of the year and listen to the KEXP 90.3 Countdown. It was awesome.

Lisa Shimizu

My Best Ambiance program on Monday night, December 25th, was a special show that focused on my top recordings of 2006, and the final hour featured favorite songs from live in-studios over the past year. Here’s a few comments about the selections.

1) AFEL BOCOUM / Niger / (Contre Jour)
From Mali, Afel is from the same area as Ali Farka Toure, and his musical style is very similar- which is not surprising, considering he played guitar and sang with Ali for many years. In 2000, he came with Ali to WOMAD-USA, and he played his own show that I produced at EMP, and when Ali made is very last performance in the USA at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in July, 2003, Afel was with him as well. This album is not yet released in the USA, but has been well received in Europe, and Bocoum played a great show with his group in Seville, Spain, this past October at WOMEX. This recording shows him to be a seasoned performer and songwriter, and showcases a traditionally oriented acoustic group with n’goni, calabash, and fiddle.

2) ALI FARKA TOURE / Savane/(World Circuit-Nonesuch)
Toure tragically died in March, 2006, and this is sadly his final recording. Nick Gold, who runs World Circuit Records, and produced this CD, talked about the making of the record on a Best Ambiance interview earlier this year. Toure had a definite vision for this recording, to feature three n’gonis (a small Malian lute), and modernize the traditional sound of the north of Mali; they added other instruments as well, including the harmonica of British bluesman Little Georgie, and the results are a powerful Malian blues sound, that truly sounds like the roots of the American blues. This CD is nominated for the Grammy this year in the contemporary world category, and for good reason.

3) BA CISSOKO / Electric Griot Land / (Totolo)
This quartet from Guinea is a personal favorite of mine, since I saw them perform in European festivals several years ago, and was a big fan of their previous CD, Sabolan, which really revolutionized the sound of the 21 strong harp, the kora, with highly electrified and distorted sounds. Cissoko is both the name of the leader of the group, and the group itself, that features two kora virtuosos in the lead of the group, with bass and percussion. On this new CD, the group moves back into a more acoustic sound, but still expands upon the traditional kora sound, with guest singers, and new sounds. A particular favorite track is “Silani” that features the Somali rapper K/Naan, (see below).

4) IKHWANI SAFAA MUSICAL CLUB / Zanzabari 1 / (Buda)
This is the first release in a new series of recordings from Buda, similar to their amazing Ethiopiques series by Frances Falceto (now over 20 volumes). This series focuses on the music of East Africa, especially the taraab music of Zanzibar, Mombassa, and nearby coastal regions. The producer of this series is Werner Graebner, who was interviewed on the show when Culture Musical Club stopped by in September. This musical club also comes from Zanzibar, and has rich history of taraab music. The second volume (which I actually played on the show) focuses on the variety of taraab on nearby Mombasa, Kenya, including the beautiful voice of singer Zahura Zwaleh, that I played on the program.

5) K’NAAN / The Dusty Foot Philosopher / (Sony-BMG-Canada)
He is my biggest new discovery of 2006 (and this CD is also on Darek’s top 10 for Wo-Pop. I heard him at WOMAD-UK, and interviewed him – is an incredibly self-assured and gifted performer from Somalia, who managed to escape and make his way to Toronto, and has deservedly become a star in the Somali community. He draws upon his life experiences in his songs and raps, and creates a unique sound, part hip-hop, part African, and mostly K’Naan. He will be coming to Seattle in May, 2007 for the Seattle International Children’s Festival- don’t miss him! And I hope this recording gets a US release in 2007.

6) RACHID TAHA / Diwan 2 / (Barclay-Universal-France)
Just released at the end of 2006, this made it onto my top 10 list , but for good reason; Taha goes back to the earlier acoustic sound of his 1996 Diwan recording, to cover some classic North African songs, with beautiful strings, oud, and percussion; and even throws in some kora on a recording of “Agatha” by the great Cameroonian composer Francis Bebey. Not the electric sounds of recent Rachid Taha, but a really strong look back to earlier times.

7) SALIF KEITA / M’Bemba / (Decca)
What can you say about one of the world’s best voices? Keita became a star in the Afro=pop music world with his late 80’s fusion of Soro, but with Mouffou in 2003, and this new recording, he returns to Mali (literally recording this album there), and the rich Mande sounds and melodies- including kora by Toumani Diabate on the title track. Although released in late 2005 in France, this did not come out here until mid-2006,and also got a world music Grammy nomination for this year, so it makes my list.

8) SALLY NYOLO AND THE ORIGINAL BANDS OF YAOUNDE / Studio Cameroon / (Riverboat)
A collection of groups from Yaounde in Cameroon, recorded by singer Sally Nyolo, the Cameroonian singer based in Paris, originally known for her work with Zap Mama, and later her own solo recordings. A really refreshing mix of music from an area not hear much in the West – I especially like the song by Orchestre ED’Essono that I played on the show, that shows a nice mix of Congolese guitar and makossa influences.

9) TOUMANI DIABATE’S SYMMETRIC ORCHESTRA / Boulevard de L’Independence / (World Circuit-Nonesuch)
If I had to pick one favorite for 2006, this is the one. Of course I knew that Toumani is an amazing kora player, that has well documented since in 1988 debut with Kaira, but this is his large band from Bamako- that for the past 10 years has been performing weekly in a club every weekend, but never heard much outside of Mali. When Nick Gold went down there in 2004 to record the final Ali Farke Toure recording Savane, and the “In The Heard of the Moon” duo of Toure and Daiabate, he also was able to capture this incredible band in the studio. This past July, I had the chance to hear them in Reading at WOMAD-UKm where they were undoubtedly the highlight of a very strong line-up this year. When I talked to Toumani, he described how has has assembled this group with a vision for a pan West African sound, with musicians from Senegal to Cote d’Ivoire in the group, but led by a quartet of incredible singers, including the great Kasse Mady. They draws from a wide range of African and Latin styles, but at the center is the virtuoso kora of Toumani- which is a joy to behold.

10) VARIOUS ARTISTS / Golden Afrique 3 / (Network Medien)
There were a tremendous amount of excellent historical re-issues of African music in 2006, and I had to put one on this list. This is a double CD, assembled by this German based label by veteran producer Gunter Gretz, with a well selected array of music from South Africa, Zimbabwe and Zambia. While many of the songs on volume 1 have been available throught he re-issues by Gallo and Earthworks, it is the volume 2 songs from Zimababwe and Zambia that are the real find here, including a song by Thomas Mapfumo’s Hallelujah Chicken Run band, that shows off the roots of his new chimurenga sound. All three of these double CD historical re-issues from Network are worth tracking down- earlier volumes featured the music of West Africa and the Congo.

Additional top recordings of 2006 featured on the Dec. 25 program:
11) RICHARD BONA / Tiki / (Decca)
Some beautiful music from this talented bassist, singer and writer from Cameroon- who can play bass like Jaco, but sings like an angel; see live session tracks below…

12) VARIOUS ARTISTS /African Guitar Summit II / (CBC Radio-Canada)
Second volume of excellent collection of songs by African guitarists living in Canada, including Vancouver’s Alpha Yaya Diallo, also Pa Joe, Mighty Pupo, Donne Roberts, Adam Solomon, and Madagascar Slim. Good songs, and great guitar work; wish you could find this CD in the US!

13)TONY ALLEN / Lagos No Shaking / (Honest Jon’s-Astrelworks)
Legendary afro-beat drummer continues to make good music, and this is his latest effort. Best known for his work with Fela as the linchpin of the Afrika 70 band, Allen has been on his own for many years now, and is in good form here; he will get even more attention in 2007 as drummer with rock-star Damon Albarn’s new group.

14) GIGI / Gold & Wax / (Palm Pictures)
She has a beautiful voice, and again is backed by strong group of musicians put together by her producer husband, Bill Laswell. This included keyboardist Bernie Worrell and guitarist Buckethead. For some musical purists, perhaps too much in the fusion direction, but sounds good to me.

15) KEKELE / Kinavana / (Stern’s Africa)
Another excellent recording by this all-star Congolese band, assembled by veteran African producer Ibrahima Sylla, and including singers Nyboma and Wuta-Mayi, and ace guitarist Syran M’Benza. They also feature guest vocalists M’Bilia Bel and Isabel Martinez, and the results are a beautiful mix of Congolese and Cuban rumba.

16) MAURICE EL MEDIONI AND ROBERTA RODRIGUEZ / Descarga Oriental-The New York Session / (Piranha-Germany)
Another African and Latin collaboration, but this one with North African twist: Medioni is a very fine piano player originally from Oran, Algeria, based in France for many years. His own sound is a mélange of influences from rai to blues to jazz, and here is teamed up with a ace group of Latin musicians.

17)VARIOUS ARTISTS / Africa Calling-Live 8 at Eden / (Real World)
When Bob Geldof put together his large Live 8 concerts around the world in the summer of 2005, there was a criticism that almost no African artists were featured in these shows- so at the last minute Peter Gabriel and WOMAD assembled an all-star show in Cornwall at the Eden project, that included an incredible line-up, including Youssou N’Dour, Thomas Mapfumo, Tinariwen, Mariza, Ayub Ogada, Angelique Kidjo and much more- this excellent CD captures musical highlights of that historical concert.

18) AFRICANDO / Ketukuba / (Stern’s Africa)
This group of singers from Senegal and other areas of West Africa, have now been around for 15 years, putting together their love of latin and salsa music, with Latin musicians from NYC and the Caribbean. Another strong release from them, including vocalist Sekouba Bambino from Guinea, that was featured on Best Ambiance.

19) CESARIA EVORA / rogomar / (CA-Lusafrica)
The “barefoot diva” of Cape Verde continues to make beautiful music, drawing upon the mornas and other musical genres of those islands. She is also opening the doors for other singers from Cape Verde, such as Lura and Maria de Barros, who both performed live on Best Ambiance in 2006 (see below).

20) THINK OF ONE / Trafico / (Crammed discs-Belgium)
This is not an African band, but a great world music band from Belgium, and one of the best groups I heard at WOMAD-UK in 2006; and were touring and recording with several Brazilian musicians, including singer Dona Cila. A very popular band in Europe right now, and you can hear why when you listen to this CD.

And a couple bands from South America:
21) ATERCIOPELADOS / Oye / (Nacional)
A very creative rock band from Bogota, Columbia, led by charismatic singer Andrea Echeverri; they bring in an interesting mix of latin and rock influences to their sound.

22) LOS AMIGOS INVISIBLES / SuperPop Venezuela / (Gozadera)
A favorite of mine since the performed live on the show in September, 2005- they are come from Caracas, but now live in New York City. This new CD draws upon old favorites of theirs from Venezuela, but gives that special Amigos take on the songs, Worth tracking this one down!

Some notes on the best KEXP live sessions of 2006, in the final hour of the show:
1. Culture Musical Club “Njoo” - recorded on September 25, 2006 (WMA, Real, MP3)
Thirteen member group of musicians and singers from Zanzibar, Tanzania, they play taraab music which combines the sounds of Egyptian popular orchestras with Swahili lyrics and culture’ the group’s concert at Town Hall the night before this in-studio was on of the year’s concert highlights- and so was this session for the Best Ambiance?

2. Gangbe Brass Band “Remember Fela” – May 14, 2006
Ten musicans from Benin, playing a powerful mix of jazz horns and West African percussion and vocals; they had just come from their very first performance in New Orleans, and were still riding high; this is their tribute to Fela Kuti, one of their main musical influences. They were in Seattle performing at the Children’s Festival.

3. Sierra Leone’s Refugee All-Stars “Livin’ Like A Refugee” – November 12, 2006 (WMA, Real)
This group was the big African music story of 2006. The film documentary telling their incredible story emerging out of the tragic civil war on Sierra Leone, in the refugge camps of Guinea, won them recognition at film festival including the one here in Seattle, and in March at the SXSW Film Festival in Austin. I met them and interviewed their leader Ruben Camara, and later the film’s director in June during SIFF, the group came through Seattle in the summer and again in the fall for two very successful performances, and directly following this live session for Stevie Zoom, they went to Chicago to play on the Oprah show- one of the very first African groups on her show. This is a live acoustic version of the title song to their CD, now released by Anti Records.

4. Dobet Gnahore “Dulu” - October 14, 2006 (WMA, Real)
In Seattle for the first time with the Acoustic Africa tour (which was led by Habib Koite), Gnahore is one of the discoveries of the year; in her early 20’s, she has a beautiful voice, and shows great potential here in the studio, just performing with an acoustic guitarist. Expect more for Dobet in 2007, including a debut US recording.

5. Lura “Batuku” - January 30, 2006 (WMA, Real)
Voted one of the most promising upcoming African performers last year by BBC Radio Three poll, Lura is based in Lisbon, but her parents come from Cape Verde, and she draws upon its musical traditions in her music. She brings three performers from her band to KEXP early in 2006,along with her engaging performance style.

6. Maria de Barros “Rosinha” – June 5, 2006
Also from Cape Verde, but now living in LA, de Barros came to Seattle for shows at the Jazz Alley, and plays a song from her most recent recording, with her band- that includes musicians from cape Verde and the US.

7. Vusi Mahlasela “Ubuhle” – February 13, 2006 (WMA, Real)
Known as “The Voice” of South Africa, Vusi shows why in this in-studio session, with just his voice and guitar. He has been a popular performer in his native South Arican for will over a decade, but in 2006 has become known to American audiences, with several tours and high-profile performances- he also played at WOMAD-UK this year, and currently working on a follow-up CD to this ATO US debut.

8. Richard Bona “Dina Lam” – December 13, 2006
My most recent in-studio, Bona is extraordinary performer- and his interests cover and career extend across a wide range, from the jazz world touring with Pat Metheny, Herbie Hancock, Mike Stern, and Joe Zawinul, to leading Harry Belafante’s band when he first arrived in the United States from Cameroon by way of Paris; and his four solo recordings, including the recent Grammy nominated Tiki CD. He plays in the studio with just his 5 string bass, and his incredible vocals.

9. Susanna Baca “La Guillermina” – May 20, 2006 (WMA, Real, MP3)
This session was recorded on Quilty3000’s Saturday show, but I borrowed it for a final Latin American set of live sessions from 2006 on KEXP. Baca brought in her band from Lima, Peru, and performs a song from her latest CD, Travesias, which had just been released earlier that month. She draws upon the traditions and sounds of Peruvian music, but adds her own take on the music.

10. Rodrigo y Gabriela “Roja Diablo” – August 14, 2006 (WMA, Real)
One of the special and unique sessions of the year. This young couple play acoustic guitars, but started in heavy metal bands in Mexico City, and developed their guitar sound in the streets of Dublin; now have become stars there with their special mix of rock, jazz, and latin guitar. This was recorded on their first Seattle visit last summer, but they have since returned to Seattle, and their following is growing rapidly for good reason!

11. Grupo Fantasma “Mentiros” - July 17, 2006
The top world music band in Austin Texas that I discovered there in 2005, and they stopped by KEXP when they player in Seattle of the first time this past summer. Led by a singer and timbales player from Nicaragua, and strong horn section- this band in definitely one to catch in concert next time they make it to Seattle. This original song is a intriguing mix of cumbia and salsa- with a potent result.

I didn’t get to play them on this best of show, but I also had three memorable interviews this past year as well, with South African trumpeter Hugh Masekela, Amadou and Miriam from Mali; and producer Nick Gold from World Circuit. Thanks to them, and all of the performers who played on KEXP this past year, and made for a really memorable year. And thanks to the many venues that brought these musicians to Seattle, to make it possible for them to play on KEXP; The Triple Door, Jazz Alley, Town Hall, Seattle International Children’s Festival, Bumbershoot, The Crocodile, The Showbox, and Chop Suey- keep bringing in these great artists, and we are happy to bring them to the KEXP audience with the special live sessions.

-Jon Kertzer

1. The Black Angels - Passover (Light in the Attic)
This year’s most powerful album of the year comes from this Austin band. Protest music for the Iraq generation. This set of dark, droning psychedelic rock is a time warp to the underground anti-establishment songs of the late 60’s. It’s not only a modern take on that era’s sound but also a bridge between the two decades comparing the struggles of the country then to the similar problems now. (The First Vietnamese War - MP3)

2. Band of Horses - Everything All the Time (Sub Pop)
Debut released from this Seattle band founded by former Carissa’s Wierd members Ben Bridwell and Mat Brooke. An excellent album of psych-pop dipped in emotional roots rock. (The Great Salt Lake - MP3)

3. The Decemberists - The Crane Wife (Capitol)
This Portland band led by Colin Meloy is returns (for the first time on a major label) with another ambitious concept album, this one inspired by an ancient Japanese folk tale. This release finds Meloy and company at their best. Epic tracks that story tell mixed with short punch rock songs make for a full, rich listening experience.

4. TV on the Radio - Return to Cookie Mountain (Interscope)
This is one of the most original and inventive albums of 2006. The Brooklyn band’s 2nd full-length is a set of psychedelic prog-rock, doo wop and soul with thick production and crazy arrangements. TV on the Radio is the most unique band of 2006.

5. The Long Winters - Putting the Days to Bed (Barsuk)
The 3rd album from John Roderick proves again that he is one of the smartest and creative song writers making music today. This is yet another excellent set of indie pop-rock. (Pushover - MP3)

6. The Roots - Game Theory (Def Jam)
Game Theory is the best hip hop album of the year and the first in years to bring the intensity, creativity and social consciousness of their predecessors Public Enemy. Everything from the war in Iraq to the social and political disarray at home, this Philadelphia hip hop group tackles with a skillful set of beats and stellar guest MC’ing that nears perfection.

7. Beirut - Gulag Orkestar (Ba Da Bing!)
Zach Condon is the man behind Beirut and at 20 defines “prodigy” After dropping out of countless schools in New Mexico, Zach traveled abroad and soaked up exotic music throughout Europe and came home and put that experience down on “Gulag Orkestar”. Based heavily in Balkan music but totally his original take on the sound, Zach doesn’t even finish many of his lyrics or even try to make sense on his songs. He lets the melody do the talking.

8. Silversun Pickups - Carnavas (Dangerbird)
The best record the Smashing Pumpkins never made, this Southern California band follows up last year’s breathtaking Pikul EP with an even better effort of brooding indie rock that could have been the follow up to Gish but instead marks the start of what could be a very successful career ahead of them. (Well Thought Out Twinkles - MP3)

9. Beck - The Information (Interscope)
Beck continues to sound fresh, relevant and extremely eclectic after all these years. His 2006 effort is a bit of a darker lyrical look at the world and reflects the state of the union but done in a mix of hip hop, folk and electronica that is both playful and inventive. Beck has never sounded better.

10. Pablo - Half the Time (230)
New York band Pablo’s release is one of the most honest and personal albums of 2006. Led by Paul Schalda this album is an auto-biographical view of the world that could be just about anyone’s experience dealing with every day worries and routines. Schalda’s distinct and heart aching voice bring out the kind of emotion you can’t ignore and immediately identify with.

Another year has passed, another cycle of seasons, another spin on the turntable of life. It’s with mixed feelings that I present to you my Best of 2006. Mixed feelings, because creating a best of list implies an arrogance of knowing what’s best, a proclamation of what is worthy is the realm of the personal and subjective. But I’m more fun than getting bogged down in that rhetoric and I love reading other’s best of lists, especially my trusted sources—in search of insight and/or something I might have missed (check out Riz or Masa’s blog posts for a good read). Plus, I’m the shit—I’m not afraid of you and I will beat your ass so I’m gonna make a list.

Full Disclosure: Like most music lovers (I presume), my favorite records change continually (thank Saraswati!) depending on so many significant (major events: love/life/death) and insignificant (what I just ate/current distraction) factors. I’ve dedicated my life to music. I’m probably in the upper one percentile of the “amount of time spent listening to new music” category of people, yet there’s just not enough time to listen to everything… even CDs I’m pretty darn sure I’ll love… it drives me crazy. For example, I haven’t listened to the Joanna Newsom CD yet. One, I don’t have it, and two, if I did, I’d be waiting for a “special” moment to really sit, listen, and savor it (funny, Riz said pretty much the same thing).

More Disclosure: As each year passes, seems I enjoy reflecting back on the year more and more, and as music is the most meaningful creative expressive form that connects me emotionally with the Divine and the vulgar, it’s satisfying and occasionally enlightening to sit back and think about what I enjoyed and why. It’s an interesting (futile) exercise in trying to define the abstract.

Intent: As a fellow music lover, I hope you find these lists useful, and that you might discover something you may have missed this past year, something that you’ll end up loving as much as I do. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to share it. And, thanks to all the staff at KEXP, all the talented DJs I get to work with day in and day out, and to all of you for your support of KEXP. Your support inspires us all.

Favorite Albums of 2006:
Band of Horses - Everything All the Time (The Great Salt Lake - MP3)
the Decemberists - The Crane Wife
the Hold Steady - Boys and Girls in America (Hot Soft Light - MP3)
Michael Franti & Spearhead - Yell Fire!
the Knife - Silent Shout
Art Brut - Bang Bang Rock & Roll
Wax Tailor - Tales of the Forgotten Melodies (Que Sera - MP3)
Built to Spill – You In Reverse
the Little Ones - Sing Song EP
Under Byen - Samme Stof Som Stof (Af Samme Stof Som Stof - MP3)
Bob Dylan - Modern Times
Gnarls Barkley - St. Elsewhere
the Roots - Game Theory
Lily Allen - Alright, Still
Fujiya & Miyagi – Transparent Things
Nomo - New Tones
Hot Chip - The Warning
Trentemoller – The Last Resort
Thom Yorke - The Eraser
Halou - Wholeness and Separation
Asobi Seksu - Citrus
Ghostland Observatory - Paparazzi Lightning
Alexi Murdoch - Time Without Consequence
Archie Bronson Outfit - Derdang Derdang
the Blakes – The Blakes

Top Debut Albums of 2006:
Band of Horses - Everything All the Time
Sera Cahoone - Sera Cahoone
the Black Angels - Passover (The First Vietnamese War - MP3)
the Little Ones - Sing Song EP (Oh, MJ! - MP3)
Silversun Pickups - Carnavas (Well Thought Out Twinkles - MP3)
Common Market - Common Market
Lily Allen - Alright, Still
Art Brut - Bang Bang Rock and Roll
Wax Tailor - Tales of the Forgotten Melodies
Trentemoeller - The Last Resort
Tapes ‘n Tapes - The Loon
Wolfmother - Wolfmother
SpankRock - YoYoYoYoYo
Beirut - The Gulag Orkestar

Best Live Performances of 2006:
Frank Black – 11/13/2006 (WMA, Real)
Michael Franti - Live from Sonic Boom in Ballard 10/13/2006 (WMA, Real, MP3 - subscribe now)
Billy Bragg - Live from the Triple Door 10/2/06 (WMA, Real, Video); and from SXSW 3/16/06 (WMA, Real)
Hot Chip - Live from CMJ 11/2/06
Anathallo – 8/25/06 (WMA, Real)
Grizzly Bear – 10/4/06
the Shackeletons - Live from CMJ 11/3/06
Darc Mind - Live from CMJ (available as a podcast) 10/30/06 (MP3 - subscribe now)
Shins - Live from CMJ 11/3/06
Low Frequency in Stereo - Live from CMJ 11/2/06
the Black Angels – 6/19/06 (WMA, Real, MP3 - subscribe now, Video)
Citizen Cope - 10/21/06 (WMA, Real)
Silversun Pickups – 10/27/06 (WMA, Real)
Asobi Seksu – 9/29/06 (WMA, Real)
Hopewell - Live from NYC – 9/12/06 (WMA, Real)
Head Like A Kite - 5/10/06 (WMA, Real)
Mason Jennings - 7/11/06 (WMA, Real)
Lady Sovereign – 6/7/06 (WMA, Real)
Jason Lytle – 5/19/06 (WMA, Real, MP3 - subscribe now)
Ghostland Observatory – 8/15/06 (WMA, Real, MP3 - subscribe now)
Polysics – 3/1/06
Yo La Tengo – 10/24/06

Best Local Releases of 2006:
the Blakes – The Blakes
Transmissionary Six - Radar
Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
Rocky Votalato - Makers
the Long Winters – Putting the Days to Bed (Pushover - MP3)
the Thermals – The Body, The Blood, The Machine (A Pillar of Salt - MP3)
the Quiet Ones – Nite You Surprised Me
Thee Emergency – Can You Dig It (Girl You Should’ve Known - MP3)
Skullbot - Skullbot
the Mellors – Jesus Christ Made Seattle Under Protest (MP3)
Math & Physics Club – Math & Physics Club
Racetrack - Racetrack (The War at Home - MP3)
Levi Fuller – This Murder Is A Peaceful Gathering
Pufferfish – Hello Zero
the Minus Five – The Minus Five
the Hands – So Sweet
Jon Auer – Songs From the Year of Our Demise
Talkdemonic – Beat Romantic
Panda & Angel – Panda and Angel
Shorthand for Epic – Shorthand for Epic
Central Services – Central Services
Iceage Cobra – Brilliant Ideas From Amazing People
Downpilot – Like You Believe It
the Trucks – The Trucks (3am - MP3)
Jeremy Enigk – World Waits
Village Green – Feeling the Fall (When the Creepers Creep In - MP3)
Antlerand - Branches
the Heavy Hearts – The Heavy Hearts
Doll Test – Gasoline and Banks

Songs That Make Me Smile:
the Little Ones, “Lovers Who Uncover” (Stream)
Art Brut - Pretty much every track on Bang Bang Rock and Roll will make you smile.
Lily Allen , “A One-woman Madness” - tons of fun
Born Ruffians, “This Sentence Will Ruin/Save Your Life”
I’m From Barcelona
Beastie Boys/CCR, “Bad Body Movin’” mashup
Nina Simone,
the Hold Steady, “Massive Nights”
Mustafa Ozkent, “Dolana”
Michael Franti & Spearhead, “Hello Bonjour”
Bob Dylan
Lady Sovereign - Size Don’t Matter!
Bruce Springsteen, “Pay Me My Money Down”
Spank Rock - Think first Beastie Boys album humor.
Wolfmother
Girl Talk
Ratatat, “Wildcat” (MP3)
the Gourds, Hooky Junk
Persephone’s Bees,
CSS
Yo La Tengo, “Mr. Tough”
Rinôçérôse
Common Market, “Connect For”

Great Songs That Didn’t Make Me Smile:
AmmonContact, “A Zillion Tamborines”
Gnarns Barkley
Dr. Octagon, “Trees”
Thom Yorke, “Atoms for Peace”
Regina Spector, “Fidelity”
Cat Power, “Could We” (MP3)
Bonnie Prince Billy
the Roots, “False Media”
Halou - Wholeness and Separation (Vertebrae)
Voxtrot

This was a very big year for me. My daughter was born on December 7, 2005 so I spent the year watching her grow, and actually saw myself grow in the process. I didn’t know I had so much love for one creature in my heart, but bam!

It feels endless. It also makes me feel a bit like a heel for all the BS I put my parents through. Oh well, you never know until you go through it. It seems most of the adults in my life we’re right when they told me I’d understand when I get older, but I was way too much of a cocky punk to listen. The year has taught me patience and given me profound insight into relationships and what really matters.

I’m hopeful and I’m distraught at the amount of Xenophobia, Islamaphobia, and Immigrantphopba that seems to be weaving through our society like an artery through a body. Man, how can be the press spew such bile and simplistic perspective on a whole people and culture, and how on earth can people buy it? What makes me crazy is that these baiting techniques are used again and again, and they always work. Instill fear of the other, the new person, the new threat, to avoid looking at the problems at home. It’s sad. I hope my daughter grows up in a world where this is no longer the MO, but I will be teaching her to be wary.

On a brighter note, it seems that the new homeland security measures are forcing more and more Americans to get passports. That’s awesome! A passport is an amazing thing, it actually leads to more travel. When people actually spend time in other countries, their perspective changes, they become so much more open.

In 2007 the cities I’m recommending for visit are: Cape Town, Istanbul, Berlin, Reciefe, Osaka, Bamako, Krakow, and Barcelona

Mind you I had to learn this myself. I’m a first generation immigrant. I was born in Poland. During my youth Poland was a communist country and we were getting propaganda about the USA. I was terrified of the North West because this is the part of America that was portrayed to be overrun by Neo-Nazis. We saw images of rallies, salutes, burning crosses, etc. The reality of this area is very different then the one portrayed, so is the case in other countries. You got to take it all with a giant grain of salt.

On to music:

2006 felt like something that was forming in Global Music finally gelled into a cohesive movement. In street culture with Baile Funky out of Brazil, Reggaeton out of bloody everywhere, (the Turkish audience screaming for Tego Calderon during my DJ gig in Amsterdam was very memorable), Kwaito out of South Africa, Grime out of the UK, Bhangra, Cumbia, Malabax, and many other genres coming out of the planets youth culture started to feel like a scene. These are the children of Hip Hop which plays well with everyone. In 2006 I started doing a column on Global Music for Seattle Sound Magazine, I’ve been focusing on these trends in my writing. Going through that process has been so good for the way I program my shows.

During my “day job” I focus on how technology influences the artistic process. In music I’ve noticed a bit of lazyness in the lounge and chill genres. The producers are basically using the same Digital Audio Work Stations (Acid, Logic, Reason, etc) these come with certain presets that allow anyone to create a basic beat or synth wash. If you bought anything with the word, Buddha, Paris, Ibiza, Global Chill, etc. you will those presets used again and again with a sample of a tabla or a voice from an old recording. It’s just a lack of imagination, the software and hardware offer limitless possibilities of tweaking. What is lacking is imagination and a work ethic.

So now I look deeper for the gems and dig further into the organic.

Wo-Pop is such a pleasure to do. I miss doing my show whenever I have to travel or there is a major time conflict. In 13 years of doing it, I’m proud to say that this happens rarely. In 2006 I started to work with 2 killer volunteers; Rebecca Campeau and Catherine Roth. They’ve been helping on the playlist and general support for the show. They help make the show better.

KEXP has been kicking planetary butt! I run into people all over the world that know it and listen. It’s humbling and very inspiring.

I started a monthly night in Seattle called JUICE. It’s at the Baltic Room on the first Saturday of each month. I wanted to bring this music to Seattle, and have some fun on the dancefloor. Seattle is a rock town, so getting people out to check out a global vibe can be tricky. It’s also a night where if you’re over 30 you don’t go out dancing. That is weird actually. In countries like the UK, Brazil, France, etc. people way in their 50’s are grooving on the dancefloor. I wanted to get this going here.

With my 2 partners on the night Eric Schmidt and Rebecca Campeau we decided to turn each month into a charity event. Since I do a global show, I wanted to make sure that the charity did it’s work in the global arena. We’ve had great success. Raised almost $1000 for the North West Immigration Rights Project, and over $1200 for Bahia Street. The next JUICE will raise funds for the educational organization One World Now!

Some phenomenal virtuosos released records that felt like they were tapping into the voice of the world. Be they South Asian, South American, North African, or Northern European. So many records came out that really felt like they we’re a portal to the heart of the world.

Here are 150 of them…

1 Ali Farka Toure - SAVANE (World Circuit), Mali
2 Mercan Dede - BREATH (Doublemoon), Turkey/Canada
3 Kal - KAL (Asphalt Tango), Serbia
4 Lila Downs - LA CANTINA (Peregrina/Narada), USA
5 Gigi - GOLD & WAX (Palm Pictures), Ethiopia/USA
6 Cheikh Lo - LAMP FALL (World Circuit), Senegal
7 Kekele - KINAVANA (Stern’s), D.R. Congo
8 Souad Massi - HONEYSUCKLE/MESK ELIL (Wrasse), Algeria
9 Toumani Diabate & Symmetric Orchestra - BOULEVARD DE L’INDEPENDANCE (World Circuit), Mali
10 Gotan Project - LUNATICO (Ya Basta), France/Argentina
11 Maria Kalaniemi - BELLOW POETRY (Aito), Finland
12 Ojos de Brujo - TECHARI (Diquela Records), Spain 13 Salif Keita - M’BEMBA (Universal), Mali
14 V.A. - AFRICAN REBEL MUSIC (Out Here), various
15 Natacha Atlas - MISH MAOUL (Mantra), UK
16 Afel Bocoum & Alkibar Mali - NIGER (Contre-Jour)
17 Mari Boine - IDJAGEIDAS (Lean), Norway
18 Ilgi - NE UZ VIENU DIENU (UPE), Latvia
19 Simphiwe Dana - ZANDISILE (Skip), South Africa
20 Vaerttinae - MIERO (Realworld), Finland
21 Maurice El Medioni meets Roberto Rodriguez - DESCARGA ORIENTAL/NEW YORK SESSIONS (Piranha), Algeria/Cuba
22 No Blues - FAREWELL SHALABIYE (Rounder Europe), Netherlands/Israel
23 Titi Robin - CES VAGUES QUE L’AMOUR SOULEVE (Naive), France
24 Kora Jazz Trio - PART TWO (Ruestendhal), Senegal
25 Brina - PASJA LEGENDA (DruGod), Slovenia
26 Accordion Tribe - LUNGHORN TWIST (Intuition), various
27 V.A. - MUSIQUES METISSES (Marabi), various
28 Kepa Junkera - HIRI (Elkar), Spain
29 Bruce Springsteen - THE SEEGER SESSIONS (Sony), USA
30 V.A. - GOLDEN AFRIQUE VOL. 3 (Network Medien), various
31 Senor Coconut - YELLOW FEVER (Essay Recordings), Germany/Chile
32 V.A. - ELECTRIC GYPSYLAND 2 (Crammed), Romania/various
33 Susana Baca - TRAVESIAS (Luaka Bop/Virgin), Peru
34 Amsterdam Klezmer Band - REMIXED (Essay), NL/Russia/Germany
35 Haydamaky - UKRAINE CALLING (EastBlok), Ukraine
36 Sara Tavares - BALANCE (World Connection), Cape Verde/Portugal
37 Susheela Raman - MUSIC FOR CROCODILES (EMI), India/UK
38 Mad Manoush - GADJO (Lawine), Austria
39 Amparanoia - LA VIDA TE DA (Wrasse), Spain
40 Sergio Mendes - TIMELESS (Concord/Universal), Brazil/USA
41 Cesaria Evora - ROGAMAR (BMG), Cape Verde
42 Gong Linna - WALKING THE PATH OF LIFE (Kuku Music), China
43 Boom Pam - BOOM PAM (Essay Recordings), Israel
44 Istanbul Oriental Ensemble - GRAND BAZAAR (Network Medien), Turkey
45 V.A. - REPUBLICAFROBEAT 2 (Lovemonk), various
46 Darko Rundek & Cargo Orkestar - MHM A-HA OH YEAH DA-DA (Piranha), Croatia
47 V.A. - BARCELONA RAVAL SESSIONS 2 (Satelite K), Spain
48 Gjallahorn - RIMFAXE (Vindauga), Finland/Sweden
49 Marta Gomez - ENTRE CADA PALABRA (Chesky), Colombia
50 David Walters - AWA (Ya Basta/EMI), France
51 Sergent Garcia - MASCARAS (EMI), Spain
52 K’Naan - THE DUSTY FOOT PHILOSOPHER (Track & Field), Canada/Somalia
53 Aida Nadeem - OUT OF BAGHDAD (Uruk Records), Irak/Denmark
54 Gabriela - EL VIAJE (Intuition), Argentina
55 Anouar Brahem - LE VOYAGE DE SAHARA (ECM), Tunesia
56 Eneida Marta - LOPE KAI (Iris Musique), Guinea-Bissau
57 Csokolom - DOG DAZE (Arhoolie), Netherlands
58 Ska Cubano - ! AY CARAMBA ! (Casino), UK/JAMAICA/CUBA
59 Romica Puceanu & The Gore Brothers - SONGS FROM A BYGONE AGE VOL. 2 (Asphalt Tango), Romania
60 V.A. - PLAY UP (Kontextrecords), various
61 Schael Sick Brass Band - PRASTI MUSIC (Westpark Music), Germany
62 Rabih Abou-Khalil - JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF AN EGG (Enja), Lebanon/Germany/USA
63 Bellowhead - BURLESQUE (Westpark), UK
64 Ba Cissoko - ELECTRIC GRIOT LAND (Totolo), Guinea
65 DuOud & Abdulatif Yagoub - SAKAT (Label Bleu), Tunisia/Algeria/Yemen
66 KTU - 8 ARMED MONKEYS (Rockadillo), Finland
67 Tomas San Miguel - DAN TXA (Musimagic), Spain
68 Pierre Akendengue - GOREE (Lusafrica), Gabun
69 Oliver Tuku Mtukudzi - WONAI (Sheer Sound), Zimbabwe
70 Druzina - TRAGARE (Indies), Slovakia
71 Boban Markovic Orkestar - THE PROMISE (Piranha), Serbia
72 Dela Dap - DELA PAJI (Chat Chapeau), Austria
73 Berger Knutsson Spering with Friends - SEE YOU IN A MINUTE (Country & Eastern), Sweden
74 Menwar - AY AY LOLO (Marabi), Mauritius
75 Tartit - ABACABOK (Crammed), Mali
76 V.A. - LAGOS STORI PLENTI (Out Here), Nigeria
77 Richard Bona - TIKI (Universal), Cameroun/USA
78 Cheb i Sabbah - LA GHRIBA LA KAHENA REMIXED (Six Degrees), USA/Algeria
79 Fundamental - ALL IS WAR (UNRELEASED), UK
80 Africando - KETUKUBA (Stern’s), Senegal/various
81 Think of One - TRAFICO (Crammed), Belgium
82 Calle Real - CON FUERZA (Redline Records), Sweden
83 Almasala - EOLH (Ventilador), Spain
84 Fatima Spar und die Freedom Fries - ZIRZOP (Geco Tonwaren), Austria
85 V.A. - SHTETL SUPERSTARS (Trikont), various
86 Caravasar - ALMINARES MEDITERRANEOS (Resistencia), Spain
87 Mamani Keita - YELEMA (No Format), Mali
88 Cheikha Rimitti - N’TA GOUDAMI (Because), Algeria
89 V.A. - ROLAS DE AZTLAN/SONGS OF THE CHICANO MOVEMENT (Smithsonian Folkways), Mexico/USA
90 Etran Finatawa - INTRODUCING ETRAN FINATAWA (World Music Network), Niger
91 Lu - RUMI (Forrest Hill), Italy
92 Azam Ali - ELYSIUM FOR THE BRAVE (Six Degrees), USA/Iran
93 Sufjan Stevens - ILLINOIS (Asthmatic Kitty Records), USA
94 Kronos Quartet & Asha Bosle - YOU’VE STOLEN MY HEART (Nonesuch), USA/India
95 The Mighty Sparrow - FIRST FLIGHT (Smithsonian Folkways), Trinidad/Tobago
96 V.A. - WORLD CIRCUIT PRESENTS (World Circuit), various
97 Konono No. 1 - CONGOTRONICS 2 (Crammed Discs), D.R. Congo
98 Efkar - BACK TO ANATOLIA (Caprice), Turkey
99 V.A. - OUR NEW ORLEANS (Nonesuch), USA
100 Sondre Bratland/Javed Bashir - DIALOGUE (Kirkelig Kultur Verksted), Norway
101 Samite - EMBALASSA (Rykodisc), Uganda/USA
102 Leningrad - HLEB (Eastblok), Russia
103 Thomas Kocko & Orchestr - POPLOR (Indies), Czech Republic
104 Ananda Shankar - A LIFE IN MUSIC (Saregama), India
105 V.A. - ROOTS TONIC A’ LEAD (Hu-Score Music), various
106 A.R. Rahman - INTRODUCING A.R.RAHMAN (Saregama), India/UK
107 Markku Peltola - BUSTER KEATONIN RATSUTILALLA (Klangbad), Finland
108 Corou de Berra - MASCHI, FEMMINE & CANTANTI (Forrest Hill), Italy
109 Balkan Beat Box - BALKAN BEAT BOX (Essay Recordings), USA
110 The Ipanemas - SAMBA IS OUR GIFT (Far Out), Brazil
111 Nuru Kane - SIGIL (Riverboat), Senegal
112 Rachid Taha - DIWAN 2 (Barclay), France/Algeria
113 Orient Expressions - AFTER THE FACT (Doublemoon), Turkey
114 Natasa Mirkovic de Ro & Matthias Loibner - AJVAR & STERZ (Galileo), Austria
115 Kevin Johansen - CITY ZEN (Los Anos Luz), Argentina/USA
116 Lura - M’BEM DI FORA (Lusafrica), Cape Verde
117 V.A. - THE ROUGHGUIDE TO WEST AFRICAN GOLD (World Music Network), various
118 Akli D - KABYLE MENTAL (Because), Algeria
119 Stella Chiweshe - DOUBLE-CHECK (Piranha), Zimbabwe
120 Badi - WONDERLAND (Universal), Assad Brazil
121 Rimitti - N’LA GOUDAMI (Because), Algeria
122 Dobranotch - GAGARIN CHOCHEK (Orange World), Russia
123 Los de Abajo - LDA V THE LUNATICS (Realworld/Virgin), Mexico
124 Schola Cantorum Riga - ILLUMINA (UPE), latvia
125 Regis Gizavo, Louis Mhlanga, David Miradon - STORIES (Marabi), France/Madagascar
126 Sally Nyolo and the Original Bands of Yaombe - STUDIO CAMEROON (Riverboat), Cameroon
127 Seeed - NEXT! (Warner), Germany
128 Ellika & Solo - ABARAKA TACK! (Xource), Sweden
129 Free Hole Negro - SUPERFINOS NEGRO (Rhino), Cuba
130 Blue Asia - HOTEL BANGKOK (King Records), Thailand/Malays./Japan
131 V.A. - MIDNIGHT IN MALI (Stern’s), Mali
132 Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars - LIVING LIKE A REFUGEE (Anti), Sierra leone/Guinea
133 Harry Manx - MANTRAS FOR MADMEN (Dogmycat Records), Canada
134 Bird & The Primitive Music Society - VILLU VESKI WORLD MUSIC PROJECT Vol.1 (Juu Jaab Records), Estonia
135 Nino Josele - PAZ (Casa Limon), Spain
136 Bob Dylan - MODERN TIMES (Sony BMG), USA
137 Marisa Monte - INFINITO PARTICULAR (EMI), Brazil
138 Lekan Babalola - SONGS OF ICON (Mr Bongo), Nigeria/UK
139 V.A. - BALKANBEATS 2 (Eastblok), various
140 CAMILLE - LE FIL (EMI), France
141 S.O.S. Project, Smadj - S.O.S. (Doublemoon), Tunisia/Algeria/Turkey
142 Cibelle - THE SHINE OF DRIED ELECTRIC LEAVES (Ziriguiboom), Brazil
143 Chico Cesar - DE UNS TEMPOS PRA CA (Biscoito Fino), Brazil
144 Les Boukakes - BLEDI (Mosaic), France
145 Yusa - BREATHE (Tumi), Cuba
146 Izaline Calister - KANTA HELELE (Network), Curacao
147 Nouvelle Vague - BANDE A PART (The Perfect Kiss), France
148 Louis Mhlanga - WORLD TRAVELER (Sheer Sound), Zimbabwe
149 Faltriqueira - EFFECTO (Resistencia), Spain
150 Dhafer Youssef - DIVINE SHADOWS (Universal), Tunesia

Darek!

I hope you enjoyed the music of 2006 as much as I did, here are some of my random thoughts on the year that was.

Live at the High Dive: KEXP’s Audioasis started broadcasting live from the High Dive in Fremont the first Saturday of each month, all proceeds benefiting a specific Northwest charity. Debuting on March 4th, we got to know the staff at the High Dive – geez, what a sweet bunch of rock-lovin’ folks! – and my first chance to see Terrene (Fifty One - MP3) and The Invisible Eyes. Both bands were superfun, but I’ll never forget the Peter Sellers-look-alike playing tambourine with The Invisible Eyes – glorious! Friends, there’s a career for YOU in tambourine!

Local Hip Hop: Not new to ’06, but continuing an exciting trend, our area’s hip hop artists continue to produce some of the most intelligent and funky grooves in the genre today. Blue Scholars and Common Market are still at the top of most people’s lists, but were joined in ’06 by fine outings from Macklemore, Abyssinian Creole, Neazie Pleaze, Lightheaded (Blink of an Eye - MP3), Cancer Rising, The Saturday Nights, Smoke of Old Dominion, Brooklyn transplant Anthony Shears and more. I was honored to emcee the Northwest Hip Hop Showcase at the Sky Church at Bumbershoot this year, where the crowds went crazy for our hometown talent. There’s plenty for NW hip hop fans to be excited about in 2007!

Local Artist Round-up: My favorite albums from Northwest groups this year is slightly off the beaten path, but I guess my preference is to find great music that flies under the radar. My top 10 list would have to include Mudhoney, Band of Horses, Rocky Votolato, Crystal Skulls, Mark Pickerel, Jon Auer, Fleet Foxes, Viva Voce (We Do Not Fuck Around - MP3), The Lights and The Decemberists. Those bands you should already know. It’s the Honorable Mentions that really got me excited this year.

The debut CD from Black Bear (Grizzly Bear/Golden Bear… it’s the year of the bears!), The Cinnamon Phase was a pleasant surprise with one of my favorite songs of the year, also called “Black Bear”. It’s a crazy-cool lo-fi electro pop song honoring the king of the forest and comparing the life of a bear most favorably to the rat race of we poor humans.

Dirty Martini out of Portland released their second album Tea and Revenge and fulfilled the promise of their uneven live debut with a sparkling collection of 3-woman-fronted harmonies and Americana-style songs that get better with repeated listening. I can’t wait to finally see these ladies live, gotta get myself down to Portland more often.

Tallest Building in the World is an ambitious pair of pop rockers who put together a cool concept album about working in a (very) tall office building and slogging away for the man while inciting revolution from within. Some of the songs work best as transitional pieces between other tunes that show great pop songwriting skills, but that’s how a concept record is supposed to work.

Another band from Portland, The Sort Ofs put out a great album of political rock during a time when we should be getting a lot more political music. The music is as tight as the message (decidedly anti-war) and reminiscent of an old favorite, The Cavedogs.

Heavy metal made a return to my CD player thanks to Vancouver, B.C.’s Three Inches of Blood. Their last CD, Advance and Vanquish, came out in 2004 but I just got on the bandwagon this year. It’s a brilliant blend of classic Judas Priest-era metal with a healthy dose of modern thrash, the two lead singers split screaming and Halford-esque singing with dual guitar leads and titles like “Deadly Sinners” and “Destroy the Orcs” (MP3). Feels a bit tongue-in-cheek, but as a dedicated fan of Spinal Tap, I think a little humor goes a long way in metal. Take my favorite line, “Enemies of Metal, Your death is our reward”… pure genius. I hope the band will stop touring for long enough to release more!

Jazz & Blues: My “day” job at another public radio station in town exposes me to a lot of jazz & blues, notable albums this year included British R&B singer James Hunter’s dynamite album People Gonna Talk. It’s as if he jumped in a time machine and went back to the mid-60’s and came back with this album of vintage soul blues that’ll make you wanna do the Mash Potato or the Jerk. I keep telling my girlfriend about this CD as if she hasn’t heard it yet, but she told me about it first. I’m getting older… Other great jazz CDs this year included Seattle’s own Skerik and his Syncopainted Taint Septet, the new CD Husky is a funky blend of jazz, soul & avant guard, like mixing Mingus with George Clinton in a blender full of prescription drugs. I’m also loving the new CD from Skerik’s partner in Garage A Trois, drummer Stanton Moore’s third album as a leader, III. The fatback New Orleans beat gets groovealicious support from keyboard whiz Robert Walter and guitarist Will Bernard. Pick up this one and the new Medeski, Scofield, Martin & Wood CD and groove the night away.

Gone but Not Forgotten: If you don’t have records by these folks, you should: Ruth Brown, Freddy Fender, Syd Barrett, Don Walser, Billy Preston, Wilson Pickett, Tom Dundee, Rufus Harley, Gene Pitney, Jackie McLean, Anita O’Day & Ali Farka Toure.

There’s more great music out there, not nearly enough time for me to listen to it all, but just one great album can make a whole year so much better. Go get some. Here’s to pushing the limits of our ears in 2007!

in no particular order… ten of 2006

Various : Interstellar Fugitives 2. Destruction Of Order : Underground Resistance
Absolute must! Detroit’s finest and no BS here, 2 discs set of straight sounds with a story from near future or is it from the past? “But in the 20th Century, Order took hold in numerous areas of life in numerous locations across the planet. Agents of Order had been behind numerous plots, many times using negative chaos to further its own selfish goals.” I have downloaded logic chips or moral application from UR and it has become a part of my core consciousness. It is part of who I am.

Lindstrøm : It’s A Feedelity Affair : Smalltown Supersound
If Pink Floyd played disco… Lindstrøm is Hans-Peter Lindstrøm. I read somewhere, at start no label will release his music so started his own label to put out his music. He is a multi-instrumentalist, playing drums, guitar, bass, keyboards and banjo even. This is comp of Feedelity releases from 2003 – 2006, and booklet includes story “Soundtrack On An Imaginary Boombox”, an imaginary meeting of Lindstrøm and Wong Kar-Wai. In the story, this CD is a sound track for future Wong Kar-Wai film… does it sounds really like Pink Floyd? Not really, I just put that to get some cyber hippies attention. Um it’s often called likes of space disco or something like cosmic even italo progressive. My favorite producer of the year.

Various : Girlmoster : Chicks On Speed Records
60 tracks, 3 1/2 hours of girl rock over 3xCD, DIY history lesson 101. You get The Slits to Björk, Cosey Fanni Tutti to Michaela Melián, Malaria! to Chicks On Speed. Says “GIRL MONSTER tells a rich historical story, from the original girl monsters of punk and post punk to contemporary tricksters and electro-rock pranksters…” Recommended for freshman who is in study of girl DIY. Shit load of unreleased from a WUNFM. Joy!

London Sinfonietta : Warp Works & 20th Century : Warp
Classic music I can enjoy. The strange thing about this CD is, it sounds strange but sounds is not that strange. Rather it sounds much like what it should sounds like. I’ don’t even know what f#$% I’m saying here. Orchestral interpretations of Aphex Twins and Squarepusher are gorgeous and works from John Cage, Stockhausen and other avant-garde composers, all fits nicely here.

Ricardo Villalobos : Achso : Cadenza
Significant release by Villalobos. I must say this was the one of the weirdest dance records of 2007 and still is out there. Psychedelic ebow minimal funkatech, submasskick will punch your head, so soft precisely just when you thought it was safe, endless hallucinogenic minimal beats will loose you before you realize your brain has been hacked by Villalobos virus.

Jeff Mills : Blue Potential : UWe
The man with TR909 vs. 80 peaces symphony orchestra. It’s breath taking (maybe hard to see this if you don’t play a drum machine) to see the man playing TR909 drum machine as his instruments with 80 orchestra musicians. This is a live recording symphony interpretations of Jeff Mills compositions. Now how can I get my hands of ArAange tape 2005?

Supersilent : 7 : Rune Grammofon
Inspiring, intense, improvisation, whatever, they rock! Another concert film and it looks and sounds fantastic. True improvisation that kept me well entertained. Post Modern Jazz Electronic Impro!

Fovea Hex : Huge/Bloom : Die Stadt
Gothic vocal ambient. Hard to describe what this one sounds like but I could bring out This Mortal Coil for example, especially more on hunted dark female vocal pieces. Work as a sedative for me…

Various : Archives GRM : INA-GRM
Contemporary electronic music study, if you like. Contemporary electronic music often comes with huge amount of reading material and history. Which is very informative and interesting but it is also annoyingly pretentious sometime. I often get too lazy to read academic side of this, but I love wild and crazy sounds designed from early composers.

Jean-Jacques Perrey & Dana Countryman : The Happy Electropop Music Machine! : Oglio Records
Jean-Jacques Perrey’s mission is to make people happy and smiling with his music and he is the best on this planet! If you still have not listen to JJP’s music yet I strongly suggest you do that once. I promise all your problem will go away in that instance. Or maybe not, anyway if you know how to use music to condition yourself instead of let music manipulate you, this just maybe the one you have been looking for. Recommended for any kids 2+ as well.

in no particular order… influential
(last 5 years, or so)
Jeff Mills
Sakamoto Ryuichi
Ricardo Villalobos
Merzbow
Autechre
Thomas Brinkmann
DFA
Ryoji Ikeda
The Orb
Basic Channel

(historically)
Kraftwerk
Brian Eno
Yellow Magic Orchestra
Underground Resistance
Conny Plank
Larry Heard
Deutsch Amerikanische Freundschaft (aka DAF)
Einsturzende Neubauten
Adrian Sherwood
Juan Atkins

(pre-historically)
Musique Concrete (Pierre Schaeffer/Pierre Henry)
Can
Miles Davis (Electric Miles 1968 - 1975)
Lee “Scratch” Perry
Fela Anikulapo Kuti
Parliament/Funkadelic
Jean-Jacques Perrey
Bruce Haack
Wire
The Last Poets

in no particular order… random thought
she took my picture, long boarding, more re-mastered re-issue pack, are you going to heaven? em records is fantastic, fatso, welcome to consumer digital age, stinky tofu, more tape music please, ru~by ruby tuesday, i have been saying this for awhile but now printed, where is new roxy music album? le panier, konbanwa, d~e~v~o~, hard-boiled wonderland and the end of the world, i will believe you only if see new power book in my studio, SIFF, buddha machine, hanafuda anybody? ask the angels, askyourslefwhyyoulikepenguins, esp fujimaru, hot chilly, solid state society, hey sandra, tarako, brain malfunction brain marufunction brain molfunktion, have you seen, revolution in mind, you ain’t punk you punk, ciao marco, i felt like kid again, dada dada dada, it’s sad and beautiful world, riegon, katsuobushi-kezuri where are you! team spacecraft, simplified minimal ambient rock, nigel, save the planet, cyberbrain hub, mars volta, i could be happy, wa ha ha, we live in the state of confusion, 0021, bit generations, revenge of avant cheese cake, darth vandy, cybernetic brain, dubstep, i never hate condo before but now i do, yea’s wok, kitsune, rustillreadingthis? how dose it feel when you mind meld, katsukarei hitotsu kudasai, acidhouse, saigon deli, portable cube storage, wish ur here, kaeru piyoko piyoko, digital interface modification, do you have a dream? mushroom, let’s get started, RBMA, three legs cat, where we going? maneki, quit it sam! spontaneous hotpot, engawa, jack bow wow, return of the planet revenge, space invaders, biofournil, noise revival, uncertainty, pink flag, siso, friction, nu wave, overheated summer, water music, tokyo rockers, stealth suit, j&j, you tube, snocon, DS, don’t you ever stop, mango, led zeppelin, milk song, you tube, hosoonyi tofu soup, for those who know, phnom penh noodle house, okasan, metroid, snakman show, neko, gelatiamo, hardware = software, records, hate hole on right shoe! tachigui udon, got ta go now!

I spent the year as usual immersed in music, and loving it. While I host KEXP’s twang show Swingin’ Doors, I also enjoy listening to a ton of other music so my best-of list includes whatever music I liked the most this year, from country and rock to hip hop and R&B.

Beginning at the top, my album of the year was Neko Case’s Fox Confessor Brings the Flood. Neko has been one of my favorite singers and songwriters for quite some time now, and she just keeps getting better, with her music becoming increasingly more personal and distinctive. Fox Confessor takes in elements of rock, folk, pop, country and more while not being easily pinned down. She’s created her own dark and mysterious world influenced by growing up in the often overcast Northwest, and nearly every song here strikes deep.

Tony Starks (aka Ghostface Killah) is another great storyteller, and Ghostface Killah’s Fishscale is my runner-up album of the year. Fishscale has a cinematic flavor to it, with Ghostface’s gritty street tales and high-anxiety delivery keeping you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. It takes a few spins to absorb the dense, soul-flavored production, but eventually Fishscale reveals itself as a classic soundtrack to a yet-to-be-made Scorsese mob film. Hell, it has enough richness and detail to be a film in its own right.

A lot of great rock records came out this year, but the one I loved most of all was made by a bunch of young Nashville punks. Be Your Own Pet’s self-titled debut album crackled with an energy and vitality that nobody else matched, with Jemina Pearl spitting out provocative lyrics over an impressive, at times even arty, racket that didn’t neglect the tunes.

Up next is a grand statement about growing up in a land of sex, drugs and rock & roll that manages to sound not the least bit trite or overblown. The Hold Steady’s Boys and Girls in America successfully steered their timeworn subject matter away from cliché thanks to Craig Finn’s strong songwriting and big, empathetic heart. It didn’t hurt that the music sounded as big as the band’s vision, with the record’s muscular production powered by killer guitar riffs and piano melodies.

Seattle also put out more than its share of great rock records this year, with the Blakes’ self-titled album at the top of the heap. This local trio is more versatile than most, and their album ranges from raw, garage-rock stomps to a drop-dead gorgeous ballad. Most impressive, the song quality remained strong from start to finish.

Heading back into the world of hip hop, Virginia duo Clipse didn’t disappoint with their long-delayed second album Hell Hath No Fury. Produced by the Neptunes, the album features some of this year’s most wicked hip hop production, with edgy, minimalist soundscapes combining head-turning creative ideas with ruthlessly hard, cold beats.

Pop music is often the music of youth, but senior citizen Bob Dylan continues his latter-day creative renaissance with Modern Times. Like 2001’s Love & Theft, Modern Times traffics in traditional blues, vintage Tin Pan Alley, cowboy ballads and other antique sources. Lyrically, he’s as enigmatic as always, but also poignant, funny and even a bit lewd.

Rock ruled in the Northwest this year, but our neck of the woods also produced some mighty fine country albums, headed by West Valley Highway’s debut album Marysville. Combining lean Yoakam/Owens Bakersfield honky tonk with some Everlys/Holly roots-pop and a bit of bluegrass, West Valley Highway made creating great, timeless songs sound easy.

From Be Your Own Pet to Arctic Monkeys, it was good to see so many young bands this year releasing exciting rock albums. Up here in the Northwest, Stanwood, Washington’s Skullbot rose to prominence as this area’s most promising teenage band. Their self-titled debut album featured a bad-ass hard-rock sound in the tradition of Sabbath, Nebula and Mudhoney. Even better, the band brings plenty of fine songs and stellar musicianship to their riff-heavy stoner rock.

Rounding out my top 10 for the year is another local rock band, The Hands. Their debut release So Sweet contained just seven songs, but every one of them is memorable. Musically, they carry on the long, proud tradition of Northwest garage-rock, and So Sweet rocks hard enough to make the legendary Sonics proud.

I’d like to bring up a few other things I enjoyed this year, beginning with the resurgence of Seattle rock (I’ll get to some more country later, I promise). While 2005 was the year Seattle hip hop made itself known as a creative force, rock came back big time in Seattle in 2006. Along with the Blakes, Skullbot and the Hands, there were plenty others who made fine albums and put on great shows this year, including the Earaches (whose album Time on Fire rivaled the Hands for best local garage-rock release), Thee Emergency (who combined garage-rock with soul on their promising debut album Can You Dig It? while also putting on some of the most exciting rock shows this city has seen in ages) and New Fangs (whose Bayonets album was more Drive Like Jehu/Fugazi punk than garage-rock, though their live shows were equally as scintillating as those from Seattle’s new breed of garage rockers).

Other favorite local releases include Band of Horses’ great country-fried pop-rock debut album Everything All the Time, the Trucks’ delightfully sassy, self-titled electro-pop debut and Four Easy Pieces’ raw slab of garage-rock Birth of the Uncool. I haven’t even begun to list all the Seattle bands whose music I enjoyed this year, but I can’t forget to mention Iceage Cobra, who are true monsters of rock whenever they hit the stage – they embody the resurgence of Seattle rock as well as anyone.

Taking a look at rock albums from elsewhere, I also loved the razor-sharp post-punk of Arctic Monkeys’ Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not, the irreverent arty punk of Art Brut’s Bang Bang Rock & Roll, the blistering psychedelic-rock jams of Comets on Fire’s Avatar, the retro hard rock riffs on Wolfmother’s self-titled debut, the potent blend of hard rock and glam-pop on Earl Greyhound’s Soft Targets, the dark, droning psych-rock of the Black Angels’ Passover, and the high-energy garage-punk of the Heartaches’ Too Cool for School.

I should also give props to Dirtnap Records for putting out Shattered, a compilation of rare and unissued recordings from Portland’s late, great pop-punkers the Exploding Hearts. These kinds of odds ‘n’ ends collections are usually mediocre mish-mashes, but damned if Shattered isn’t nearly as strong as the Hearts’ one and only official album, the instant-classic Guitar Romantic.

In addition to Ghostface Killah and Clipse, other rap records I enjoyed this year include Lupe Fiasco’s Food & Liquor (a socially conscious album brimming over with humanity from one of the most talented new rappers around), The Game’s Doctor’s Advocate (a shameless – and dead-on – evocation of classic Dre/Snoop g-funk gangsta rap), The Coup’s Pick a Bigger Weapon (no one combines militant politics and having a good time better than Boots Riley), The Roots’ dark and brooding Game Theory, Lady Sovereign’s spunky US debut Public Warning and Spank Rock’s playful and ultra-raunchy YoYoYoYoYo.

While not really hip hop, Gnarls Barkley’s genre-blending St. Elsewhere turned lots of heads including mine, and Justin Timberlake’s FutureSex/LoveSounds was as adventurous as mainstream pop/R&B got: Timbaland & co’s production was often mind-blowing and “Sexy Back” rivaled Gnarls Barkley’s “Crazy” as the coolest pop single of the year.

OK, time to head back to the country, beginning with the more hard-core traditional stuff. Apparently Texas ruled the roost for traditional country albums this year – all of the following five are from the Lone Star state. Austin singer Sunny Sweeney’s debut album Heartbreaker’s Hall of Fame showcased a fine voice reminiscent of Kasey Chambers and a multi-faceted country sound that ranged from rockabilly rave-ups to honky tonk shuffles and hard-country ballads.

While Willie Nelson’s recent collaboration with Ryan Adams was mostly a dud, Willie’s tribute to the great country songwriter Cindy Walker (You Don’t Know Me: The Songs of Cindy Walker) was honky tonk and western swing heaven. Dale Watson put out another fine honky tonkin’ record with Whiskey or God, James Hand released his third album of unvarnished honky tonk with The Truth Will Set You Free, and Wayne Hancock sounded as good as ever on Tulsa, his latest album of old-school western swing and honky tonk.

I also should mention the Northwest’s own Knut Bell. While he didn’t release an album this year, I’ve played his upcoming CD of proudly blue collar honky tonk Wicked, Ornry, Mean and Nasty a ton of times on Swingin’ Doors, and no doubt it will end up high on my list next year. When it comes to barroom hard country music, Knut rules the roost in the Northwest.

I didn’t hear a lot of great bluegrass releases this year, but fiddler Michael Cleveland’s Let ‘er Go, Boys was something special, combining a hardcore traditional bluegrass sound and first-rate song selection with white-hot musicianship and some ace guest vocals. And while more acoustic country than bluegrass, Bradley Walker’s debut album Highway of Dreams was an excellent showcase for one of the most promising country singers around, with a resonant, note-bending hard-country style reminiscent of Keith Whitley.

Other excellent country albums included Johnny Cash staring death in the face and refusing to blink on American V: A Hundred Highways, Chris Knight’s latest album of gritty roots-rock Enough Rope, Paul Burch demonstrating mastery of many country and roots styles on East to West, Rosanne Cash ruminating on the recent deaths of her mom, dad and stepmom on Black Cadillac, Slaid Cleaves paying tribute to a bunch of underacknowledged singer-songwriters on Unsung, and soul singer Solomon Burke’s wonderful, Buddy Miller-produced country album Nashville.

The country mainstream had seemed revitalized the past few years, but this year brought just a handful of quality releases. Rock-sturdy traditionalist Alan Jackson took a surprising left turn with help from Alison Krauss, who produced Jackson’s Like Red On A Rose. The album combined the folksy warmth and intimacy of Don Williams and the elegance of Ray Price with the weary road warrior of Merle Haggard’s “Footlights” to stunning effect.

Fellow country veteran Vince Gill was the king of musical ambition this year, releasing a 4-CD set of all-new songs titled These Days. The set included a CD of barroom honky tonk, a bluegrass/acoustic country record, a soulful rock record in the mold of prime Delbert McClinton and a varied album of ballads. Amazingly, nearly all of it was wonderful. The ever-dependable George Strait put out yet another rock-solid album of traditional country with It Just Comes Natural, newcomer Eric Church came off a bit blustery on his debut album Sinners Like Me, but not enough to hide some strong story-based songwriting in the vein of Steve Earle, and bluesy singer Julie Roberts updated Tammy Wynette heartache balladry on Men & Mascara.

On the more rockin’ side of alt-country, Drive-By Truckers broadened their Southern rock sound with some strong echoes of the Replacements, Stones, the Faces and even some southern soul on A Blessing And A Curse. Bobby Bare Jr. whipped out another batch of brilliantly quirky songs on The Longest Meow, and speaking of quirky, the Gourds returned with one of their finest albums yet, the freewheeling Heavy Ornamentals. Rising from the ashes of Slobberbone, the Drams brought a little more pop to Slobberbone’s aggressive roots-rock sound on Jubilee Dive.

Some promising roots-rockers also emerged from Seattle this year, including the high-energy rockabilly-soul band the Harborrats and North Twin, who admirably upheld the Radio Nationals tradition of raw and rowdy alt-country rock.

Last but far from least, Tom Waits offered up a 3-CD set of rarities titled Orphans that rivaled his best work. The man’s one of this country’s greatest musical treasures, and an inspiration to all of those seeking to create music that truly matters. I could mention plenty more, from the dark electro-pop of Various to the cool, noirish roots-rock of Seattle’s Mark Pickerel & his Praying Hands, and I’m sure I’ve forgotten plenty others, but that will have to do it for me ‘cuz it’s time for a beer!

Don Slack’s favorite albums of 2006:

1. Neko Case – Fox Confessor Brings the Flood (Anti-)
2. Ghostface Killah – Fishscale (Def Jam)
3. Be Your Own Pet – Be Your Own Pet (Ecstatic Peace!)
4. The Hold Steady – Boys and Girls in America (Vagrant) (Hot Soft Light - MP3)
5. The Blakes – The Blakes (self-released)
6. Clipse – Hell Hath No Fury (Re-Up Gang)
7. Bob Dylan – Modern Times (Columbia)
8. West Valley Highway – Marysville (self-released)
9. Skullbot – Skullbot (self-released)
10. The Hands – So Sweet (self-released)

Favorite Swingin’ Doors albums:

1. Neko Case – Fox Confessor Brings the Flood (Anti-)
2. West Valley Highway – Marysville (self-released)
3. Johnny Cash – American Recordings V: A Hundred Highways (American)
4. Michael Cleveland – Let ‘er Go, Boys! (Rounder)
5. Sunny Sweeney – Heartbreaker’s Hall of Fame (self-released)
6. Chris Knight – Enough Rope (Drifter’s Church)
7. Bradley Walker – Highway of Dreams (Rounder)
8. Drive-By Truckers – A Blessing And A Curse (New West)
9. Bobby Bare Jr. – The Longest Meow (Bloodshot)
10. Paul Burch – East to West (Bloodshot)

I did my Best Of 2006 broadcast in The Roadhouse back on December 13th, but you can listen to it now, streaming ‘till Dec 26th from the audio archive.

I’ve been crazy hectic with all the Roadhouse specials in the past few months, not to mention some upcoming shows in production for the last few weeks of 2006. Like tonight’s Christmas Time In The Roadhouse, featuring songs of the season in blues, jazz, cool novelties, and the hipster classic from Lord Buckley “The Nazz.” Then on December 27th, I will air a special show called The Roots Of Hendrix featuring early and rare recordings from Jimi and special guest and Hendrix biographer, Charles Cross.

OK, as far as the matter at hand, I’m not a big fan of these kind of lists, as I always forget something. And who really cares anyway, right? It’s all so subjective. Also, the list below is not too reflective of The Roadhouse show as I play a lot of older music. My show is about a century of music – not just one year. So let’s think of this list as more of a Buyer’s Guide for the Holidays. That’ll ease my burden a bit. Thanks for understanding.

First off, if I was to buy something right now, I’d get the new Byrds box, which features more Gene Clark songs than the previous box set. Or I’d get the reissue of Nina Simone’s 1967 album Nina Simone Sings The Blues. This is the one with “I Want A Little Sugar In My Bowl.” It’s a great record. Prime Nina!

As far as new music goes (there’s one re-issue listed below) here’s my favorites from the year – topped by the record which seems custom-made for a roots show like The Roadhouse, The Seeger Sessions by Bruce Springsteen. This is an album of traditional American songs with a live 18 piece band. It includes a DVD too. The live tour, which I saw at JazzFest in April, made people cry as The Boss related the old songs to the current, shameful situation in New Orleans. It was easily the best show I saw in 2006.

TOP 10 Albums of 2006

1 Bruce Springsteen – We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions (Columbia)
2 Tom Waits – Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers & Bastards (Anti)
3 Johnny Cash – American V: One Hundred Highways (Lost Highway)
4 William Elliott Whitmore – Song Of The Blackbird (Southern)
5 Scott Biram – Graveyard Shift (Bloodshot)
6 Old Crow Medicine Show – Big Iron World (Nettwerk)
7 Crooked Jades – World’s On Fire (Jade Note)
8 Cat Power – The Greatest (Matador)
9 Karen Dalton – In My Own Time (Light In The Attic) - 1971 re-issue
10 Mark Pickerel – Snake In The Radio (Bloodshot)

I play from a lot of compilations on the show too, and this year had some good ones. I list 7 below - the Best Collections of the Year. Most prominent was the Harry Smith Project: The Anthology Of American Folk Music Revisited. It’s a tribute to the man responsible for the most influential release of all-time (The Anthology Of American Folk Music) and features a box set of live performances over a three-year period (1999-2001) from people like Nick Cave and Beth Orton. There’s also a DVD of the live performances, a documentary about Harry Smith, and some of his film works too. It’s a nice package.

The other impressive comp is from the good folks at Smithsonian Folkways, who continue to release excellent packages of carefully selected material and great notes. They now have released music from a NYC concert series from the early 1960s (the beginning of the Folk & Blues revival). It’s a 3-disc box (named after the concert series/ organization) called Friends Of Old Time Music and it records the rediscovery of older/original artists who earlier performed the same traditional songs that were being revived by the 60’s generation of folk singers. These recordings are some of the first performed by such artists who no one knew were even still alive at the time, since many hadn’t played professionally since the Depression. The Friends of Old Time Music found these guys and presented them to a new generation, live in New York from 1961-1965. A real time piece.

Best Collections of 2006

1 The Harry Smith Project: The Anthology Of American Folk Music Revisted (Shout Factory)
2 Friends Of Old Time Music: The Folk Arrival 1961-65 (Smithsonian Folkways)
3 How Low Can You Go: Anthology Of The String Bass (Dust To Digital)
4 Heatworn Highways (Hacktone)
5 I Am The Resurrection: A Tribute To John Fahey (Vanguard)
6 Desperate Man Blues (Dust To Digital)
7 Classic Labor Songs (Smithsonian Folkways)

There were other notable releases in 2006 too. Stuff played in The Roadhouse, like these…

Vetiver,The Gourds, Burt Jansch, Brightblack Morning Light, The Wood Brothers, Drive By Truckers, Deadstring Brothers, The Sadies, Cephas & Wiggins, Charlie Musselwhite, Bob Dylan, The Be Good Tanyas, Barton Carroll, Michael Vermillion, Pufferfish, Beth Orton, and Jerry Lee Lewis – The Killer!

Time to move forward with the many songs and shows of 2007. Don’t miss upcoming Roadhouse specials, like MLK and the Songs of Freedom in January, the Mardi Gras Show in February, and coming soon, my first Podcast featuring a playlist of young Indie Folkers – a working title were throwin’ around is Don’t Call Me Freak Folk. Stay tuned, and please keep up with show by signing up for my weekly playlist. You can receive the list AND listen to the audio of the weekly show anytime for up to two weeks Streaming Archive. It’s awesome! Check ya in the New Year!