Ü2K6: Threepeat

Okay, I guess I might as well join all the cool kids and start writing about my albums of 2006. For many of the same reasons that Frank of Chromewaves stated, it's pretty impossible for me to put out a conventional list. This was really the first full year that I've really been into music, and the bulk of my listening was catching up on previous years. There's also a bit of a conundrum; how does one consider albums that were released in our locale in 2006, but came out earlier in different regions? As a compromise, I'm going to start off with some "reissues," as I think it's generally silly to put an expiration date on music.



Massive Attack's Collected was a revelation. It begins, fittingly enough, with "Safe From Harm," the first track on the first album, Blue Lines. I'm ashamed to say that my previous experiences were limited to a few distracted listens to Mezzanine, so hearing this track was truly an enlightening experience. The rest of the disc is incredibly diverse, from the sinister raps to the soaring female vocals, yet it retains their trademark production excellence, and remains an intensely moody listen throughout.

This is really the definitive Massive Attack album, as all of their "hits" are present, as well as the highlights from their weaker albums. Collected has remained on my album quilt from just about this blog's inception, and it isn't coming down in the foreseeable future. The fact that the double-disc deluxe version contains all of their videos, as well as a bonus disc of rarities, really pushes it over the top.

The definitive concert highlight of the year was seeing the group at Roseland; it was an amazing experience. If you aren't familiar with this band, I can't recommend given them a listen highly enough. If you're fortunate enough to reside in the path of a tour, definitely go.

Buy: Here
Official Site: Here
Previous Posts: Here, Here and Here
YouTube: Here



Mylo's Destroy Rock & Roll was released in the UK a couple years ago. Unfortunately, it didn't make its way here until the beginning of the year, thanks to copyright issues concerning the various samples utilized. This album is really the epitome of cheerful, fun electronica. Imagination and pop sensibility are abundant here, and it's definitely one of the most accessible works of its type. Highly recommended, even if the only samples you're familiar with occur in the grocery store.

Of course, one of the greatest parts of electronica (and music in generally, really) is the number of collaborations, remixes, and the sampling that are all so inherent. Mylo has an obscene number of these, whether through remixing Sia, being featured on salad dressing commercials, or getting mashed up by Party Ben. Here are the latter tracks:

Mylo vs. Miami Sound Machine - Conga Pressure
Tegan and Sara vs. Mylo - Walking With A Ghost In Paris

Buy: Here
Official Site: Here
Previous Post: Here
YouTube: Here



Editors are often seen as an Interpol knock-off, and while there are similarities, that oversimplification doesn't really do it justice to them. The Back Room is a great album, blending a nervy post-punk sound with melancholic, yet strangely soothing delivery. I wasn't particularly impressed when I first heard the band via "Bullets" (over a year ago on K-Rock 2), but when the great single "Munich" was feature on iTunes' single of the week, I really got into them. In addition to the album, there are many, many remixes, singles and rarities to be had.

Buy: Here
Official Site: Here
Previous Post: Here
YouTube: Here

So, there are just three of the albums I've really enjoyed this year. Many more to come this month!

In other news...

The Sound of Musique has a list with many videos. The Emilie Simon one is particularly awesome.

rbally has live Ted Leo.