TOP 10 OF 2006: #1. Gnarls Barkley – St. Elsewhere

#1
Gnarls Barkley
St. Elsewhere

Depression. Schizophrenia. Suicide. Not the first topics most think of when it comes to booty-shaking hip-hop-influenced neo-soul. But then again, Gnarls Barkley has seemingly defied all conventional wisdom with 2006’s finest release, St. Elsewhere. This unlikely duo, a casual collaboration between former Goodie Mob member Cee-Lo Green and cutting-edge mixmaster DJ Danger Mouse, broke big-time with the most memorable (and most overplayed) track of the year, “Crazy.” This song about says it all, an undeniably funky blend of vintage drum loops, murky choir and taut bass lines, paired with a remarkably soulful vocal from Green that recalls Marvin Gaye at his finest. In fact, St. Elsewhere shares more than a few similarities with Gaye’s masterpiece What’s Going On, from the sense of flow to the serious soul-searching lyrics to the dramatic orchestration (here, meticulously assembled from bits and pieces of old Italian prog albums by Danger Mouse). But lest you think Gnarls Barkley is just one big downer, there’s plenty of playfulness as well, with hints of George Clinton silliness sneaking in to tracks like “The Boogie Monster” and “Who Cares?” Still, it’s the deeper stuff that sticks with you, from the menacing title track to the steadily growing chaos of “Just a Thought.” Even a seemingly minor chunk of funk like “Online” invites deeper, darker thoughts with the line “I’m with everybody, but I’m still alone.” Quite an achievement in itself, and just one tiny example amid an album so packed with unique riches that’s it’s destined to go down as one of the all-time classics.

TOP 10 OF 2006: #2. The Flaming Lips – At War with the Mystics

#2
The Flaming Lips
At War with the Mystics

The Soft Bulletin and Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots established The Flaming Lips as the most innovative, bizarre and truly transcendent act in modern psychedelic rock. Unbelievable as it seems, with At War with the Mystics, the Lips have created what may be their finest—and most diverse—release to date. It’s all here, from the ethereal, Beach Boys-like grandeur of “My Cosmic Autumn Rebellion” to the bouncy, almost cartoonish “Haven’t Got a Clue” and the astounding, Pink Floyd-esque “Pompeii AM Gotterdammerung.” But the undisputed centerpiece is “The W.A.N.D.,” a righteous slab of 70s-style socially conscious acid rock with a snarling fuzz-guitar riff guaranteed to bring a big grin to your face even as it shakes loose all the fillings in your mouth. Throughout the album runs a sense of outrage and disillusionment with the state of the world, uncharacteristic of a band that often seems blissfully optimistic and escapist. The result is an album that’s tightly focused, yet delightfully varied in style, and above all a pure delight.

TOP 10 OF 2006: #3. Joanna Newsom – Ys

 

#3
Joanna Newsom
Ys

Joanna Newsom is made of wood. Throughout the course of Ys, her voice squeaks, creaks, wobbles, moans, whistles and warbles like a knotty old oak, creating a sound that’s every bit as lilting and beautiful as it is splintered and rough-hewn—equal parts Tori Amos, Björk and Captain Beefheart, if you can imagine it. Meanwhile, she accompanies herself adeptly on that most ethereal of instruments, the harp, augmented by the expert orchestration of legendary Brian Wilson collaborator (and musical force in his own right) Van Dyke Parks. From its faux-Renaissance cover art to its long, meandering tracks and highly poetic and imagistic lyrics, Ys is clearly not an album to be taken lightly. In fact, some might accuse Newsom of self-indulgence. But it’s this very uncompromising quality that makes the album so incredibly compelling. Give it time, and Newsom’s deeply felt, carefully constructed and brilliantly performed music will intoxicate you and leave you feeling dazed and disoriented afterward. Either that or you’ll absolutely hate it.

TOP 10 OF 2006: #4. Sufjan Stevens – The Avalanche

#4
Sufjan Stevens
The Avalanche

(Read full review from 11/28/06)

TOP 10 OF 2006: #5. The Fiery Furnaces – Bitter Tea

#5
The Fiery Furnaces
Bitter Tea

This year’s proper Fiery Furnaces release features what might be the most consistent stretch of music the duo has ever put together, starting with the first track, “In My Little Thatched Hut,” moving into the superb “I’m in No Mood” and finishing up a few songs later with “Teach Me Sweetheart.” All the things that make the Furnaces so great, so original (and so despised by many listeners) are fully realized here—from Eleanor Friedberger’s jumbled, yet insistent vocal delivery to the jarring tempo and sonic changes to the bordering-on-fetishistic use of bleating analog synths, backwards vocals and tack piano and, above all, an unquenchable sense of adventure. In places, Bitter Tea comes close to equalling the band’s 2004 masterpiece, Blueberry Boat, but unfortunately, the latter half of the album loses focus. Nevertheless, it’s an impressive achievement by one of indie rock’s most truly progressive acts.

TOP 10 OF 2006: #6. Matthew Friedberger – Winter Women/Holy Ghost Language School

#6
Matthew Friedberger
Winter Women/Holy Ghost Language School

Say what you will about Friedberger, the male half of The Fiery Furnaces, but you certainly can’t call him a slacker. This, his first solo outing (following his band’s 2006 release Bitter Tea by only a few months) comprises two albums in one package, each with its own distinct personality. Winter Women is packed with hazy, summery tracks (ah, the irony) chock full of pop hooks. But in typical fashion, Friedberger has chopped them up, filling them with abrupt mood changes and obtuse, often barely audible lyrics, not to mention heaps of vintage Mellotrons, beat boxes and squelching synthesizers. Meanwhile, Holy Ghost Language School poses an even bigger challenge, with jagged heaps of repetition buoyed by clattering pianos, an old-school drum machine and a near-impenetrable concept involving shady business deals and speaking in tongues. On paper, it sounds like a mess, but somehow Friedberger’s boundless ingenuity and playfulness make it all work, with clever turns of phrase and breathtaking musical details emerging with each successive listen.

TOP 10 OF 2006: #7. The Decemberists – The Crane Wife

#7
The Decemberists
The Crane Wife

Folk purists may bemoan this celebrated Portland, Oregon group’s move to a non-indie label and toward a more diverse, rock-influenced sound, but The Crane Wife proves that Colin Meloy and company’s evolution was justified. The album is littered with superb, highly literate folk-rock, including the chilling “Shankhill Butchers” and “The Crane Wife 1 & 2,” a Japanese fable, retold with exquisite and emotional aplomb. But most impressive is “The Island,” a multipart epic that, like The Tain (the band’s 2004 EP) recalls Jethro Tull’s 1970s folk-prog masterpiece Thick as a Brick, both in its clever lyrical turns and in its musical complexity.

TOP 10 OF 2006: #8. Mew – And the Glass Handed Kites

#8
Mew
And the Glass Handed Kites

This curiously titled album with a curiously Queen-like album cover comes from Danish band Mew, and establishes a whole new sub-genre: 80s-throwback-Euro-neo-prog-arena-indie rock. Got all that? Fortunately, their sound is more easily heard than described, and for the most part works brilliantly. While tracks like “The Zookeeper’s Boy” and “Apocalypso” stand out as the most memorable, complete with soaring vocal hooks, brooding atmospherics and heavy guitar riffing, the album has a nice continuous flow, making it much more than the sum of its parts.

TOP 10 OF 2006: #9. Beck – The Information

#9
Beck
The Information

Though not as consistently excellent as last year’s Guero, The Information is a deep, heavy delight from this postmodern master of cut-and-paste pop, boasting some marvelous tracks, like the quirky piano-driven “Think I’m in Love” and the Rolling Stones-esque raunch of “Strange Apparition.” And then there’s the simply breathtaking “Cellphone’s Dead,” joining together Frankenstein-like a vintage 70s funk lick (nicked from Herbie Hancock and the Headhunters) with Latin-by-way-of-Bollywood house beats and a sublime multi-tracked vocal choir ending, reminiscent of The Beatles’ “A Day in the Life.” If only all the songs lived up to these high water marks—but alas, the album suffers from a bit of sameness.

TOP 10 OF 2006: #10. Mike Keneally Band – Guitar Therapy Live

#10
Mike Keneally Band
Guitar Therapy Live

(Read full review from 8/16/06)

Coming Soon to the Curiouser

In honor of the holiday season (and the end of the year), The Curiouser Music Review will be featuring a special series of "mini-reviews," counting down the top 10 albums of 2006 (why 10? Take the 12 days of Christmas, add the 8 nights of Chanukah, and divide by 2).

Make sure to visit the site over the next few days and discover all the music you should have been listening to this year.