What follows are the songs that have lit up mp3hugger’s year. It was a good one for individual songs but despite a late surge there was a marked decline in quality albums after the highs of last year (here are the best).
The only guideline for compiling this list was that artists could only appear once. This meant that even though, say, Peter Bjorn & John’s ‘Young Folks’ and ‘Up Against The Wall’ both deserved to be listed only one was chosen. Thanks to all those who submitted their favourites; your choices have been integrated into the final listing.
42) Fields – Charming The Flames
Did about enough to keep us entertained until the new Arcade Fire album drops.
More Info: Fields
41) Devics – Song For A Sleeping Girl
It’ll push your heart to breaking point.
More Info: Devics
40) Plan B – Sick 2 Def
Eye opening sentiments from the black sheep in the Streets household.
More Info: Plan B
39) The Egg – Walking Away
One listen and you’ll believe cars can speed skate.
More Info: The Egg
38) Ampop ““ Distance
Icelandic collective reach for a chorus and take home the laurels.
More Info: Ampop
37) Sa Sevol – The Little Ones
Mysterious Michigan band who’ll keep us guessing until January 2007.
More Info: Sa Sevol
36) Bobby Baby – Lucky Moments
Swedish acoustic wonderfulness.
More Info: Bobby Baby
35) Annuals – Brother
Whipper snaps his finger and out comes a twisted classic.
More Info: Annuals
34) Good Shoes ““ Small Town Girl
David Gedge is reborn and he comes from Morden.
More Info: Good Shoes
33) Shiny Toy Guns – Don’t Cry Out
Ibiza tailored piece of ecstasy.
More Info: Shiny Toy Guns
32) The Klaxons – The Bouncer
Kicks like a mule.
More Info: The Klaxons
31) Schroedersound ““ Brailowsky
Electronic textures from deepest Dublin 8.
More Info: Schroedersound
30) Ral Partha Vogelbacher – Birthday In Beijing
Incomprehensible name produces fluid rush of ear candy.
More Info: Ral Partha Vogelbacher
29) Mojave 3 – Breaking The Ice
High five from ex-Slowdive members.
More Info: Mojave 3
28) Islands – Tsuxiit
Soundings from the big forest in second life.
More Info: Islands
27) The Immediate – A Ghost In The House
Nifty manoeuvres from instrument swapping Irish quartet.
More Info: The Immediate
26) Band of Horses – The Great Salt Lake
Lively outing from My Morning Jacket doppelgangers.
More Info: Band of Horses
25) Oxford Collapse – He’ll Paint While We Play
Tender instrumentation has rarely sounded this good.
More Info: Oxford Collapse
24) Dirty On Purpose – Your Summer Dress
Leading lights from the burgeoning Brooklyn scene.
More Info: Dirty On Purpose
23) 8 Ball – The Big Blue
Showing Sound Team how to keep the pitchforks at bay.
More Info: 8 Ball
22) The Little Ones – Lovers Who Uncover
Glorious songs spewed from this band in 2006 and this was the highlight.
More Info: The Little Ones
21) Ian Love – The Only Night
Rival schools, rehab and now redemption.
More Info: Ian Love
20) Film School ““ Harmed
From an album stuffed with gems this has clocked up the most plays.
More Info: Film School
19) Liars – The Other Side Of Mt. Heart Attack
Near impenetrable album creates confusion by turning sweetly melodic at the death.
More Info: Liars
18) Director ““ Reconnect
As clinical as a team full of Kevin Doyle’s.
More Info: Director
17) The Field – Over The Ice
Swedish movers who prove that the Knife are facing some stiff competition.
More Info: The Field
16) The Late Cord – Lila Blue
Texas basement produces one of the darker delights of the year.
More Info: The Late Cord
15) Charlemagne – Your Scars
Unashamed sing-along that should be played from the crèche to the old folks home.
More Info: Charlemagne
14) The Stone Roses V Lily Allen – Water Lilly (Sam Flanagan M
ix)
In the year of Lily Allen it took John Squire to uncover her inner majesty.
More Info: Sam Flanagan
13) Los Campesinos! – You! Me! Dancing!
Welsh students run riot with a garage full of jangling instruments.
More Info: Los Campesinos!
12) Tapes ‘n Tapes ““ Manitoba
Buzz band of the year tickle the fancy of all the right tastemakers.
More Info: Tapes ‘n Tapes
11) Venice Is Sinking – Pulaski Heights
Dramatic use of strings is only one of Pulaski Heights many attractions.
More Info: Venice Is Sinking
10) Juana Molina – Hay Que Ver Si Voy
So what if Argentina threw away the world cup, their daughter won all our hearts with her epic ‘Son’.
More Info: Juana Molina
9) Au4 – Everything Always Moving
The Shoegaze revival starts to pick up pace with this heartbreaker.
More Info: Au4
8) Grizzly Bear ““ Easier
Rolling melodies from an album full of surprises.
More Info: Grizzly Bear
7) Midlake ““ Branches
Melancholia has rarely sounded this affecting.
More Info: Midlake
6) Camera Obscura – Lloyd, I’m Ready To Be Heartbroken
Wherein the Glaswegians finally wrestle the initiative from their countrymen Belle & Sebastian.
More Info: Camera Obscura
5) Moonbabies – War On Sound
A chorus to die for from the Malmo duo.
More Info: Moonbabies
4) Peter John & Bjorn – Up Against The Wall
7 minutes of bouncy thrills and that unforgettable chord sequence.
More Info: Peter John & Bjorn
3) My Latest Novel – Sister Sneaker Sister Soul
The album of the year arrived early in 2006 and remains undimmed many moons later.
My Latest Novel – Sister Sneaker Sister Soul
More Info: My Latest Novel
2) I’m From Barcelona – We’re From Barcelona
Happy core wonder from the band with the population of a small village.
I’m From Barcelona
1) Sunny Day Sets Fire – Wilderness
Nothing could touch this remarkable record from the multinational pop monster that is Sunny Day Sets Fire. Unforgettable dynamics, parallel melodies competing for your attention and the sense that it could at anytime head off to search for an undiscovered planet of sound.
Sunny Day Sets Fire – Wilderness
More Info: Sunny Day Sets Fire
KD
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As clinical as a team full of Kevin Doyle’s.
LO -Fucking- OL!
Ha ha…..number 14!
Cheers.
Sam