Might as well morph this into the "Listening NOW!!" 2007 thread. With that, a look back at last year:
BEST OF 2006: My Chemical Romance - "The Black Parade" Came out around the same time as the Killers' second disc, "Sam's Town," which got way more press and way better advance reviews. Problem was, My Chemical Romance blew their fucking doors off. Produced by Rob Cavallo, who blew our minds with "American Idiot" last year, it's barely left my car's CD changer since October.
HONORABLE MENTION: Audioslave - "Revelations" Magic. There were rumors that this disc, their final under their current contract, might be their last, with Chris Cornell releasing a solo album this spring, but they apparently plan to tour this summer. I hope they keep it up.
RETURNS FROM OLD FRIENDS: Barenaked Ladies "Are Me/Are Men" Forget B-sides and bonus tracks. They recorded 29 songs and just released 'em: everything you ever wanted from these guys and more. Two big thumbs up.
Thunder "Robert Johnson's Tombstone" Another step forward. "The Devil Made Me Do It" actually received some chart action in England!
Dream Theater "Score" Three discs, recorded live with a full orchestra in NYC. Sure, it's been done before, but these guys just do it so well.
Pearl Jam "Pearl Jam" Finally redeeming themselves after years of drivel.
Foo Fighters "Skin and Bones" Live and acoustic. Great stuff.
NEW SOUNDS: The Answer "Rise" Black Stone Cherry "Black Stone Cherry" Wolfmother "Wolfmother" Three bands in vaguely the same vein; old style (think Sabbath, Zeppelin, etc.), but current all at the same time. Loud, chrunchy guitars (with solos!), wailing vocals, thumpy bass... turn it up and roll down the windows.
DISAPPOINTMENTS: Killers "Sam's Town" What an underwhelming achievement. Despite the singles, which are brilliant, this disc did nothing for me. I'll give it a chance to grow on me (I didn't like "Hot Fuss" at first either), but for all the hype... eh.
Cracker "Greenland" I love these guys, but again, this album just didn't do anything for me. A few cool songs ("Something You Ain't Got," "Maggie," "Everybody Gets One For Free"), but otherwise dry.
Everclear "Welcome To The Drama Club" Again, I really enjoy Art Alexakis, but reforming the band with an entirely different lineup just didn't work.
Tenacious D "Pick Of Destiny" Funny lead single, otherwise boring.
Def Leppard "Yeah!" Honestly, I really liked this album... When it was leaked in 2004. Too many bonus tracks on too many different formats. Bleh.
THIRTEEN SONGS THAT STUCK IN MY HEAD IN 2006 Cobra Starship "Snakes On A Plane" Blue October "Hate Me" Toby Rand "Throw It Away" Colplay "Fix You" The Fray "Over My Head" Barenaked Ladies "Peterborough and the Kawarthas" Gnarls Barkley "Crazy" Outkast "Idlewild Blue" Panic! At The Disco "I Write Sins Not Tragedies" Pink Spiders "Little Razorblade" Thunder "Dirty Dream" and "Andy Warhol Said" Under The Influence Of Giants "Mama's Room"
FOUR THINGS TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN 2007 Cover albums from Tesla and Shaw/Blades, Part V from Coheed & Cambria, and Thunder's annual live Christmas party disc. I'm sure there will be others, but that's all I can think of quickly.
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