Domenica 28 Gen 2007, 19:50
2006 was an absolutely amazing year for rock music, one such as hasn't be seen in quite a long time. There was just such a flood of amazing music that came out that its really hard to make just a top 10 list as it just leaves out so many. So here they all are, in their glory, the top 20 albums of 2006.
20. Atreyu - A Death-grip On Yesterday
Atreyu came out this year with a solid effort in the form of Deathgrip, though a short one. A good screamo record, its really "The Theft" that got it onto the list. As an album its more Atreyu, and while that isn't bad, its certainly not differentiating. But, it was still one of the better screamo efforts of the year, so here it is.
If you've ever played Guitar Hero, you've heard of Shaimus. Their track "All of This" graced the first GH, and became my instant favorite on the game. The record itself doesn't let anything down either, as they provide a solid rock listening. For a bunch of game programmers, they did a damn good job.
18. Red Hot Chili Peppers - Stadium Arcadium
This is another record that I just simply didn't expect to be this good, let alone two discs full of good stuff. After By The Way, they've fully redeemed themselves. No more of the drug addled yammerings here, instead its a full setting of rock songs that are, for the most part, all trimmed up and ready to go. Out of the 28 tracks presented here, only a small handful are somewhat disappointing ("Hump de Bump", "Readymade", a couple others) the ones that are amazing ("Dani California", "Snow ((Hey Oh))", "Slow Cheetah", "Strip My Mind", etc.) more than make up for it. If you've yet to hear any Peppers, this is a good place to start, as it combines their modern and their classic sounds together.
17. Blue October - Foiled
Whenever most people hear the song "Hate Me" they just think its another emo-kid song. In truth though, its an apology to his mother for what all he put her through. Blue October put together a record of moving and striking songs that most people can relate, on some level, to. From the crushing anxiety of doing something wrong and wanting to fade away ("Into the Ocean") to the euphoric feelings of falling in love ("Congratulations"), its a great set of songs. Entirely one to listen to on darker days and happier ones alike.
16. Three Days Grace - One-X
This record is truly too much rock for one hand. From the driving beats of "Animal I Have Become" to the rabble-rousing choruses of "Riot" its hard to not have a great time with this record. An album to rock out with and break things alike, its entirely one that'll get your heart pumping. They did a great job on this one, and it should entirely be picked up if you're looking for a good solid rock record.
15. Taking Back Sunday - Louder Now
This record just makes me feel guilty. I feel like I should listen to it more than I do, but that aside, its a sonic piece of cake. Adam Lazarra does a great job pouring all his angst out into it, and its definitely a record to play on high. Just go get addicted to "Makedamnsure" and you'll see what I mean.
14. +44 - When Your Heart Stops Beating
The debut effort from Mark Hoppus, Travis Barker (both from Blink-182 fame) and two other dudes, it achieved a decent rock sound, but they attempted a softer side like their former bandmate Tom DeLonge without the same level of success. That being said, its an interesting record, and definitely worth a listen. There are definitely a few songs that'll get stuck in your heard, and totally some lines you'll keep around, like "the past is just the future with the lights on." A solid choice.
13. The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus - Don't You Fake It
RJA's debut album is full of awesome songs, "Face Down", "Cat and Mouse", "Damn Regret", and "Guardian Angel" some of the more notable. I heard "Face Down" on the radio and early the next day bought this record. Its an impressive collection from a group of new guys, and they've definitely got a long future ahead of them.
12. 30 Seconds To Mars - A Beautiful Lie
An epic sweeping journey through the soundscapes of an actor turned musician. Jared Leto (and his brother and a couple other guys) pulled out all the stops here and sound magnificent in doing so. With "Attack", "The Kill", and "From Yesterday", they totally rock the house apart. It continues to do so until it hits the third hidden track, "Hunter", which I feel was just a really flat way to end it. A good record none-the-less.
11. She Wants Revenge - She Wants Revenge
Trippy dance-rock reminiscent of the Faint on sythned out acid? Hells yes! SWR is a fantastic act that pulls out all the stops and provides an addictive listening experience. Their cover of "Kidnap The Sandy Claws" from Nightmare got me into them and the wait for the record to show up from BestBuy.com was a very long one. It was entirely worth it though, as when you listen to it, you just can't stop. And like some other on the list, they went out and did something different. Their lyrics espeically detail some really interesting and less commonly touched upon topics. Sighting a girl from across the dance club, to taking her home and stopping there from fear of the angels seeing, its incredible.
10. Rise Against - The Sufferer and the Witness
I've heard Rise Against described as a watered down Rage Against the Machine before, but this time they've fully proved they're as full of piss and fight as Rage was. They discourse their discontent on all variety of topics and do themselves well with it. I was looking forward to this record all year and it didn't let me down in the least. If nothing else, go download "The Approaching Curve" and "Behind Closed Doors". The former is a story that he spoke/sang through the latter is a tale of those who have nothing to lose and are willing to prove it. A record to have a riot to.
09. Kill Hannah - Until There's Nothing Left Of Us
Most people probably can't believe Kill Hannah is on this list, let alone so far up, and thats understandable. KH is definitely an acquired taste, but Nothing Left is a great record out of them. Some songs are just catchy as hell, "Crazy Angel", "The Collapse", "Believer"; some of them are also fully relatable to: "Lips Like Morphine", and "The Songs That Saved My Life" as a couple. Mat Devine put alot of himself into it and it showed.
08. Everclear - Welcome To The Drama Club
Art Alexakis's first attempt since the longtime lineup of Everclear broke up and his bankruptcy was an awesome effort. I've been listening to Everclear ever since So Much For The Afterglow, and over the years I've heard his life progress in alot of directions. On Drama Club, with songs like "Now", where he details hes finally at a place in hisl ife he wants to be, to "Clean" where he sings for his daughter to stay free of drugs and alcohol, to "Your Arizona Room", in which he wants nothing more than to spend the day with the one he loves. Its an emotional record, even though its draped in a solid rock atmosphere. While not Everclear's best, its a record to pick up.
07. AFI - Decemberunderground
AFI have continually redefined themselves with each record and they absolutely destroyed their past records with this one. From the insanely catchy "Miss Murder" and other amazing tracks like "Love Like Winter" its just blitzingly awesome. Its really hard to put it into other terms than that. Just be careful with it though, because if you listen to it too much like I did, you can easily burn yourself out on it. Take it in doses, and keep the rock alive.
06. Sugarcult - Lights Out
I'll admit I wasn't expecting it to be this good, but Lights Out was a great experience. Reflecting the ideas and consistant themes of failed romances and lost loves, its a great album. Its not an emo collection of tracks at all, instead they take it from the sex-addled and unsure of what to do. Its like walking through the seedy parts of a big city and seeing all the burn outs. But don't let that last line stop you, its all entwined into a steady rock beat and rarely lets down. Sugarcult always has this sound that is uniquely them, and while they still have it here, its warped into a new sound thats an incredible experience.
05. The Dresden Dolls - Yes, Virginia...
The Dresden Dolls sideswiped me and smashed me in the head with an amazing record that I was entirely not expecting. I'd never heard their previous efforts, but Davey Havok of AFI had said this was one of the records he was most looking forward to this year, so I tried it out. Vocalist/Pianist/Organist Amanda Palmer and partner on Drums/Guitar/Bass Brian Viglione put together a provocative and technially advanced album. From interesting chord/note changes to insanely provocative lyrics, it grabs your attention, shakes you like a british nanny, and leaves you wanting more. And all of these are very offbeat topics. Stretching from calling an ex-friend a backstabber, talking of her reliance on her alcoholic friends, all the way to the first masturbation of the day. Its definitely not a record to leave around for an eight year old to hear, but the piano melodies and her entrapping voice will leave you breathless and wanting more when its over. Entirely one to try if in the mood for some new music, just go into it with an open mind.
04. Murder By Death - In Bocca Al Lupo
Murder By Death is one of my favorite bands ever and In Bocca did little to change that opinion. Adam Turla has this amazing ability to craft amazing stories and paint pictures with his lyrics and from the cello to the drum parts, its a fully fleshed out symphony. Its hard to say more about this record than the fact that its an amazing journey and I can definitely relate to some of the songs ("Boy Decide" being the biggest one). Go. Buy this. Now.
03. Angels And Airwaves - We Don't Need To Whisper
Tom DeLonge may not be God, and AvA might not be the greatest band of all time, but they certainly come close. The reason for all my namesakes as of late, this band and album is incredible. A supergroup with Tom of Blink, David Kennedy of Boxcar Racer, Ryan Sinn of the Distillers, and Atom Willard from Rocket From The Crypt and the Offspring. These four men have crafted an aural journey reserved solely for the works of literary giants. The music is striking and the lyrics stirring. From everything to figuring yourself out, to shifting focus onto something that doesn't hurt, to waking up from a depression, its incredible. Truly an amazing album.
02. My Chemical Romance - The Black Parade
We all knew it was going to be amazing, but DAMN. If it would make every record sound this good, I'd recommend every band to record in a haunted house. The title track and every other track (with the maybe sole exception of "Disenchanted") are songs that'll get stuck in your head for hours on end. From the rousing choruses of "Welcome to the Black Parade" to the almost damage-causing lines of "Teenagers", and the despair of "Cancer" and "I Don't Love You", its hard to discount this record. And that they told the story (it is a concept album) of "the Patient" backwards (starting with his funeral on "The End" and ending on his testings for cancer on "Blood"), its super intuitive and a slick story. However, what keeps it from being number one, and the problem that plagues all My Chem, is that its easy to burn yourself out on. I did it with Three Cheers and I'm almost there with this one. Despite that though, they put out and amazing album that everybody should hear.
01. Lostprophets - Liberation Transmission
Most people didn't see this one coming either. The prophets far outdid themselves this time, and reinvented themselves in the process. The first two tracks sound like a pumped out pair off of Start Something, but starting with "A New Transmission" they show they're about to change and with "Rooftops (A Liberation Broadcast)" and all the rest, they entirely surpass where they've ever been before. They left behind the weird track endings they had on Start Something, and crafted a pure rock opus. Its going to be very hard for the prophets themselves, let alone anyone else, to surpass this record.