All I want for Christmas is for
all of you to go see Rocky Balboa. After watching the first
five movies in one sitting it was pretty obvious that the character never
really had a proper sendoff, so to see him actually get one was really nice.
Plus, it was a blast to cheer Rocky! Rocky! Rocky! in a theater.
Anyways, I have the first half of the Top 10 today and the best/worst shows
that I attended this year. Enjoy.
#10) Cat Power - The Greatest
This is a beautiful album and it is easily my favorite by Chan, I hope that
whatever she follows it up with is just as incredible. I should not
really have to do much to convince you as to why this album is great, it
just is. I have heard that her performances have become something to
see instead of something to avoid, can any of you confirm that?
:Cat Power - The Greatest:
#09) Secret Machines - Ten Silver Drops
It would pretty much be impossible to describe to all of you how incredibly
high my expectations for this album were. I have been a fan of the
band ever since I got my hands on Now Here Is Nowhere so I was incredibly
happy that the band was able to do something that matched the quality of
that album. Now if I could just manage to catch the band live.
:Secret Machines - Lightning Blue Eyes:
#08) Aloha - Some Echoes
This album was a total surprise for me this year. I didn't really know
much about the band but the promoters that would call me when I was the MD
at KSAU were more than excited about it. Well, after months of
completely fawning over it I can see why those people were excited. The only
thing about this album that bums me out is how often I have seen it absent
from other people's lists.
:Aloha - Your Eyes:
#07) The Elected - Sun, Sun, Sun
I never thought I would say this but "In your face Jenny Lewis." I
figured that this album would be solid and that Jenny's solo album would be
amazing, but it actually ended up being the other way around. I
probably should have known better than to think that way since Me First
was such a good album, at least I can say I won't ever underestimate Blake
again.
:The Elected - Sun, Sun, Sun:
#06) My Brightest Diamond - Bring Me The Workhorse
At SXSW I saw Shara perform a couple of times and when I got a chance to
speak with her the only question I asked her was "When does the full length
come out?" Obviously Shara took my passion to heart and used it to
make one of the best albums of the year. I didn't say too much as to
why Asthmatic Kitty was my favorite label of the year, Shara at #6 should
provide you a little reason.
:My Brightest Diamond - Something Of An End:
- Top 5 Shows I Attended In 2006
-
1. Joanna Newsom - Orange Show, Houston,
Tx
2. The Sounds, Morningwood, Action Action -
Warehouse Live, Houston, Tx
3. Wolfmother, Dead Meadow, Silversun Pickups -
Meridian, Houston, Tx
4. Minus The Bear, P.O.S., The Velvet Teen, Russian
Circles - Warehouse Live, Houston, Tx
5. Black Angels, Why?, Page France, My Brightest
Diamond, Castanets, Wooden Wand - SXSW, Austin,
Tx
- Top 3 Most Disappointing Shows I
Attended In 2006 -
1. Lady Sovereign, Young Love -
Meridian, Houston, Tx
2. TV On The Radio, Celebration -
Warehouse Live, Houston, Tx
3. Mono, Pelican, The Life And Times -
Walter's, Houston, Tx
The only things on both of these lists that most of you
might question is the presence of TV On The Radio and Mono
on the "Most Disappointing Shows" list. The TV On The
Radio show was a long time before they released their latest
full length but the entire show, which got started
incredibly late, was pretty much all of Return To Cookie
Mountain. I hate it when bands play songs that no
one knows, I think the crowd only got three old songs that
night. As for Mono, it was in May and I lost 29 pounds
through sweating alone. I think they are a band that
is incredible to watch and since I was distracted with
thoughts of melting, it definitely took some luster away
from their performance.
-
John Laird -
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