The 20 Best Albums of 2006: 20-11

20. Regina Spektor - Begin to Hope

An album full of surprises that still gets better with every play. I wrote about her here.
[video: On The Radio]

19. Oxford Collapse - Remember The Night Parties

Solid indierock album. Reminds me of the Promise Ring at times.

[video: Please Visit Your National Parks]

18. The Pipettes - We Are The Pipettes

I admit: at first I thought this album was fun and definitely nothing more. After seeing them live, I started appreciating it more. Well written pop tunes!

[video: We Are The Pipettes (live and acoustic)]

17. Rocky Votolato - Makers

Though I liked his previous album (Suicide Medicine) more, Rocky Votolato is still one of my favorite singer songwriters. What a voice!!!

[video: White Daisy Passing]

16. Bruce Springsteen - We shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions

This tribute to traditional American folk -that can be interpreted as a protest against the current (political) state of the USA- will have you singing along in no time. I love how this album manages to sound honest, energetic and joyful at the same time. [video: Pay Me My Money Down]

15. The Cardinal Sin - hurry up and wait

This album has everything I look for in punkrock. Rawness, energy, melody and passion. Often compared to the Alkaline Trio, I like this more than the last Alkaline Trio album.
[video: Eye opener]

14. Camera Obscura - Let's Get Out of This Country

Responsible for two of the finest indiepop songs of the year ('Loyd, I'm ready to be Heartbroken' and 'Let's get out of this Country') and those are not the only good songs on this album.


13. Neko Case - Fox Confessor Brings The Blood

I discovered this woman through her work in the New Pornographers. Beautiful voice, stellar lyrics...a great alt country album!

[video - Hold On, Hold On (live)]

12. Johnny Cash - America V: A Hundred Highways

Cash never sounded this vulnerable, which makes this album very special. 'Like the 309' still puts a lump in my throat every listen, leaving countless goosebumps on my skin.
[video: God's gonna cut you down]

11. The Hold Steady - Boys and Girls in America

Rock and Roll!!! ...or Wak and Wol as my 2 year old nephew would say. Play this loud mutha!

[video: Chips Ahoy!]
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The ten best albums of 2006 (according to...me!) will follow soon!

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O and whether you're into it or not...have a nice Christmas this year! My treat to you: I-pod X-mas by Hello Saferide (who would have been on this list if her album wasn't released in 2005). It's a typical Hello Saferide song, about breaking up in the Holiday season.

Some lyrical highlights:

"They say there’s supposed to be three wise men. Well, I’ve been searching, and I haven’t found a single one."

"As for presents, you fuck, I had an iPod Nano with your name written on it. It's going to fit well into my new life listening to Gloria Ganor singing I Will Survive." Ouch!