Hey guys, with 2006 growing to a close, I'm curious to know what everyone considered the best releases of 2006?

I'm still working out my list (waiting for Nellie Mckay's release next week before I make any final decisions). But so far I will definitely be including Sarah's live album (of course!), Thom Yorke's "The Eraser", Hawksley Workman "A Treeful of Starling", Regina Spektor "Begin to Hope" (double disc release), The Tragically Hip "World Container", Destroyer "Destroyer's Rubies". I'm hoping to solidify the list sometime next week. (I've got at least 36 albums in the running...)

So what are your picks? What were you really excited about and then super disappointed with? Worst of the year?

Regina Spektor definitely should be on there. Also, Neko Case - "Fox Confessor Brings The Flood", Matt Mays - "When The Angels Make Contact", Jenny Lewis w/ The Watson Twins - "Rabbit Fur Coat".

I don't know if Emm Gryner - "The Summer of High Hopes" is top 10 material, but it's one of this year's releases that I've listened to a fair bit.

I usually make this list every year. 'Day One' was #2 on my 2004 list, just behind Tegan and Sara and continued over into 2005 by being at #7.

I have a good idea what #1 will be but the rest of the Top 10 is up for grabs. I'll say for now it will consist of Chantal Kreviazuk, Melissa McClelland, Blue October, Dixie Chicks. Not too sure what else just yet.

BTW, my 2005 list is here:
http://www.geocities.com/themaxonline/2005albums.html

I'll get around to uploading the others from years past eventually to this site:
www.chart.themaxonline.net

Did anyone else not pick up 10 albums that were released this year?

I did not. This year seemed to go by quickly with more time spent going to shows then purchasing albums.

I have not been downloading music either, just enjoying my current collection.


My short and enjoyed list
Dayna Manning - Folkyo
Sarah Slean - Orphan Music
K-os - Atlantis
and I look forward to having Aluminum by the White Stripes soon.

Around Christmas I normally pick up an album or 2. I look forward to checking out your lists.

Cameron

This obviously isn't a comprehensive list yet (nor is it limited to 10), but these are my favourite of the year so far:

1. Joshua Radin - We Were Here
2. Sarah Slean - Orphan Music
3. Iron Maiden - A Matter of Life and Death
4. Damien Rice - 9
5. Regina Spektor - Begin to Hope
6. The Devin Townsend Band - Synchestra
7. The Last Kiss Soundtrack
8. Hawksley Workman - My Little Toothless Beauties
9. Snow Patrol - Eyes Open
10. Corinne Bailey Rae - Corinne Bailey Rae
11. neken - On Holding Hands, Watching Television
12. Hawksley Workman - Treeful of Starling
13. k-os - Atlantis

Oookay, I have now solidified my top 10 albums released in '06.

1. Sarah Slean "Orphan Music"
2. Thom Yorke "The Eraser"
3. Destroyer "Destroyer's Rubies"
4. Regina Spektor "Begin to Hope" (double disc version)
5. Beirut "Gulag Orkestar"
6. Hawksley Workman "Treeful of Starling"
7. The Tragically Hip "World Container"
8. The Decemberists "The Crane Wife"
9. Emily Haines & the Soft Skeleton "Knives Don't Have Your Back"
10. Yeah Yeah Yeahs "Show Your Bones"

I really had been looking forward to both Damien Rice and Nellie Mckay's new releases... I expected them to be on my list, but both fell short of my expectations. Nellie's just wasn't good enough (she gets an honorable mention though), and Damien's just felt like rehash of the same-old.

I like many of the albums mentioned thus far. Jenny Lewis solo album was really good, as was Neko Case's. Amy Millan too. It was SO hard to narrow down my top 10!

My friend & I are going to record our 3 week end of year podcast extravaganza starting on Sunday, so I needed to make sure I had my list solidified. We're going to play our favourite tracks from the albums on our lists. It'll be fun.

I just put my list online at my website @ http://chart.themaxonline.net

I'll post the Top 10 CDs here (it's not limited to 2006 releases only...!). The site contains my Top 30 albums and Top 50 songs of the year.

#10 Imogen Heap - Speak For Yourself
#9 Zero 7 - The Garden
#8 KT Tunstall - Eye To The Telescope
#7 Blue October - Foiled
#6 Katie Melua - Piece By Piece
#5 Frou Frou - Details
#4 Melissa McClelland - Thumbelina's One Night Stand
#3 Dixie Chicks - Taking The Long Way
#2 Sarah Harmer - I'm A Mountain
#1 Chantal Kreviazuk - Ghost Stories

'Orphan Music' made it to #11 and 'Day One' was #23 (it was #7 for 2005 and #3 for 2004)

Here is my top 25. Normally Sarah would rank higher, but it is hard for me to place a live album ahead of the top albums of new music. Still, Orphan Music was a fabulous release in 2006.

1. Charlotte Martin – Stromata
2. Neko Case - Fox Confessor Brings The Flood
3. Joanna Newsom – Ys
4. Destroyer – Destroyer's Rubies
5. Nellie McKay – Pretty Little Head
6. Roisin Murphy – Ruby Blue
7. The Decemberists – The Crane Wife
8. Bat For Lashes – Fur and Gold
9. TV On The Radio – Return To Cookie Mountain
10. Regina Spektor – Begin To Hope
11. Yo La Tengo - I Am Not Afraid Of You And I Will Beat Your Ass
12. Guillemots – Through The Window Pane
13. The Hold Steady – Boys and Girls In America
14. Toby Lightman – Bird On A Wire
15. Herbert – Scale
16. Robyn Hitchcock and The Venus 3 - Ole! Tarantula
17. Bonnie Prince Billy – The Letting Go
18. Serena Maneesh - Serena Maneesh
19. Sarah Slean – Orphan Music
20. Scott Walker – The Drift
21. My Brightest Diamond - Bring Me The Workhorse
22. Sonic Youth – Rather Ripped
23. The Knife – Silent Shout
24. Beirut – Gulag Orkestar
25. Sufjan Stevens – The Avalanche