Wednesday, December 27, 2006

New concert opportunities

Okay so there are a few new concert opportunities I just became aware of--four represent artists on my best of 2006 list.

1) JT with Pink in the Cities January 27th
2)The Rapture at the Rave Monday, February 5--bummer it's a Monday, but it could totally be worth it.
3)
SNOW PATROL, OK GO, SILVERSUN PICKUPS Thursday, April 5 again at the Rave. Now believe it or not, Snow Patrol has other songs than Chasing Cars--many of which are very good--but OK GO rocks and just this week on Letterman, Matt and I saw Silversun Pickups and they might be the best band on this three card line-up. I just listened to their CD today on Rhapsoday and noticed in my Rave email that came today announcing The Rapture show that they were on the bill. This one is a must!

Let me know who wants to go to what as I'd like to order tickets pronto--especially for JT and Snow Patrol.

Tuesday, December 26, 2006

Best Songs of 2006

Lyn’s Best of 2006 This year was a great year for music—but you had to do some digging. Several themes run through this year’s mix. The first is actually an extension from last year’s best-of compilation. I got some great feedback from Scott asking about other Brit bands based on our mutual admiration for Kaiser Chiefs. This lead to a six CD set that was created throughout 2006—most of which has Brit-pop flavor. In finding these tunes, I discovered that the Brits still love straight up pop music, which I love too. BBC One has a great streaming audio and is now on Sirius. I’d recommend that for anyone who digs the Brit tunes.

Another influence this year was emusic.com. This site is a pay-for-tune site, but much cheaper than Itunes. It gives great recommendations based on previous spins. A lot of stuff on the best-of comes from here.

Finally, I noticed upon multiple listens, that many of these tunes, especially on Vol. Two, have train reference. I totally dig a train in the distance (and Paul’s tune’s not bad either). That vibe helps give the collection a nice feeling of motion making for excellent driving music.

Volume One (All songs on the mix came out as singles after November 2005 or were on albums that came out in 2006.)

  1. Crazy, Gnarls Barkley—everyone’s favorite song of the year—and for good reason. Thanks to Ryan for giving it to us just a little bit sooner and for the UK for making it an international hit.
  2. Faster Kill Pussycat, Paul Oakenfold with Britney Murphy—that’s right, that Britney Murphy. Her voice sounds tough and sexy and it’s a great tune to turn up loud. I don’t care if Oakenfold die-hards hate it—I think it’s the bomb!
  3. Mama’s Room—Under the Influence of Giants—how is this song not a massive hit? Believe it or not—could only find the album in one place—Target. Whole things is great.
  4. I Don’t Feel Like Dancing, Scissor Sisters—with a little help from Elton, this tune knocked SexyBack off the #1 spot in the UK. Again, should have been huge here and got nothing.
  5. Smile, Lily Allen—big myspace.com discovery and again big in the UK. Got this tune on Itunes as the free single of the week. Very cheeky.
  6. U + UR Hand, Pink—I totally dug this album and her concert was great—I love the rockin’ vibe and humor on this one best though
  7. Promiscuous, Nelly Furtado with Timbaland—Matt hates it, but he’s anti-fun.
  8. My Love, Justin Timberlake with TI—again some of the dopey lyrics ever, but still so great. The video kills too.
  9. Ring the Alarm, Beyonce—she kinda scares me with this one, but it’s hot.
  10. Black Sweat, Prince—seriously. Check out the video to this one and tell me he’s not the original SexyBack.
  11. Ain’t No Other Man, Christina Aguilera—whole album is cool, but this one tops.
  12. Morris Brow, Outkast—tough choice between this one and Idlewild Blues, but you just can’t beat a marching band. It brings me back to my days in the pep band, hoping to make it to the parade.
  13. Van, The Pack—I first heard this on BBC One and loved it immediately. I have a special place in my heart for all songs about shoes.
  14. Here You Go Again, OK Go—album came out in 2005, but the song definitely had its coming out in 2006. Thanks to Breeze for the YouTube link—it’s great when the song is just as good as the video.
  15. Steady As She Goes, The Racounteurs—Jack White knows how to put a song together—but he still gives me the willies.
  16. Dani California, Red Hot Chili Peppers—am I the only one that likes them so much better since they dropped the whole rap/rock shtick?
  17. So Sick, Ne-Yo—wow, probably one of the toughest choices for me on the mix, between this one and Sexy Love. I could listen to this kinda stuff all day. Kind of a funny looking guy, though.
  18. Be Without You, Mary J. Blige—huge year for Mary and well deserved. Still one of the powerhouses to see live.
  19. Not Ready to Make Nice, Dixie Chicks—one of my favorite albums of the year and I generally detest country. I’m a gamer for strong women tunes though…and holding grudges.
  20. Never Went to Church, The Streets—he is one of my all-time favorites and his new album this year didn’t disappoint. Skip the books on tape and pick up his three CDs for a cinematic listening experience.

Volume Two

  1. I Bet That You Look Good on the Dancefloor, Arctic Monkeys—I’m a believer and totally thought this CD was one of the tops of the year. Their late year EP was solid too. Excellent take on “Baby I’m Yours”. Deserved Mercury Prize winner for 06.
  2. Hard to Beat, Hard Fi—one of the Mercury Prize nominee in 2005 but the song made a go of it as a single in the US this year. Whole album is “hard to beat”.
  3. Throw It All Away, Zero 7—stumbled upon this song listing to Rhapsody, which recommend I might like Zero 7. This song just jumped out at me and I have now decided Sia is my new favorite while Tracy Thorn figures out when she might sing again. Only voice to make it on twice.
  4. In the Morning, Junior Boys—another Itunes singe of the week. Makes me want to roller skate.
  5. Get Myself Into This, The Rapture—found this through Junior Boys and loved it. From US believe it or not and produced by Danger Mouse. Tough call between this one and Hot Chip’s “Over and Over”—but that one is just a little too long for me.
  6. Fidelity, Regina Spektor—took a few listens and then was hooked.
  7. Skip to the End, The Futureheads—perfect pop song with a super hook.
  8. Trains to Brazil, Guillemots—found them from the Mercury Prize list for 2006 and became obsessed with this song. I think this one, number 11 and number 14 are something of a trilogy.
  9. When You Were Young, The Killers—typo on the liner—I totally dig their reinvention as The Boss. I think all girls can relate to the theme of this tune and how Brandon Flowers figured this out, I don’t know. Video blows though.
  10. Is It Any Wonder, Keane—perfect singing in the car tune. Holly—I got this one!
  11. Insistor, Tapes ‘N Tapes—boys out of the Twin Cities. Unfortunately, I found out about this one after they made a stop in Madison.
  12. Goodnight and Go, Imogen Heap—best song describing the throws of a wicked crush where the other party likes you…but not that way. Excellent live show!
  13. Automaton, The Pernice Brothers—one of my favorite finds of the year through emusic.com. It’s like the Beatles and Beach Boys had a kid—with a rather sad look at life. Very down-to-earth kind of outfit.
  14. O Valencia, The Decemberists—everything about this song I should hate, but I love it!
  15. Mushaboom, Feist—thanks to Matt for not letting me turn the channel.
  16. Eyes, Rogue Wave—I really liked their last album too and if you like this very chill vibe, check out Brookville—two US bands holding it down.
  17. Just Like the Rain, Richard Hawley—found him through his Mercury Prize nomination, which was for his full length CD. This comes off an EP and is one of my favorites of the year. Something about it makes me crazy sad and happy at the same time.
  18. God’s Gonna Cut You Down, Johnny Cash—not usually a huge Cash fan, but I heard this one on Sirius and was haunted by it. Sounds like a man on his deathbed—and he was.
  19. Analyse, Thom Yorke—Black Swan was great too—well, the whole album is special, but this one was on the closing credits of The Prestige, which I loved, so it gets the edge
  20. Breathe Me, Sia--Sia's Colour The Small One album was finally given an American release in early 2006 after being out for over a year. This song was on the finale of Six Feet Under, but I found it after finding the Zero 7 song. Too good to leave off the mix.