CHRIS WALKER VS. MY TOP TEN ALBUMS OF 2006

Hate to say it but I haven’t seen a lot of great end-of-year lists this year – especially top ten album lists. There are top 25, top 15, top anything-but-ten-albums lists everywhere but no strict top-ten. Not that I blame anyone, so many great albums came out this year it’s hard to narrow it down. Regardless, I have risen to the challenge and present to you now: my top ten albums of 2006.

Notice: all MP3s are for sampling purposes and will be taken down if requested. These are songs from the best albums of the year though, so click the links and buy the albums – if you don’t already own them. They’re the best so, obviously worth it.

10. Talkdemonic: Beat Romantic
I think everyone had a big Talkdemonic jack-off party right before this album came out and then completely forgot about it once it did. Beat Romantic is great, when photographing half-naked women in black and white there is no better album to have on. Well, aside from old Prince, I guess.

[MP3] Talkdemonic: Cascade Locks

Purchase Beat Romantic.

09. Feist: Open Season
A lot of remix albums fall short, this one does not. From Apostle of Hustle’s gorgeously stripped un-mix of “Inside and Out” to Postal Service’s complete re-work of “Mushaboom” there was no denying Open Season’s greatness. The only thing missing was all of Feist’s French tracks, I enjoy those.

[MP3] Feist: Mushaboom (Postal Service Remix)

Purchase Open Season.

08. MSTRKRFT: The Looks
Dirtier than Ratatat and just as hard as The Knife, they could drink Hot Chip under the table and then beat Girl Talk in a street fight – they’re MSTRKRFT and they’re so hardcore they don’t even use vowels. Their debut album, The Looks, and original-crushing remixes dominated the indie/hardcore/house/what-the-fuck-ever/dance scene this year. I love them, so should you.

[MP3] MSTRKRFT: Paris

Purchase The Looks.

07. Sondre Lerche and the Faces Down Quartet: Duper Sessions
An overlooked classic the moment it was released, Duper Sessions is proof one of my favorite singer/songwriters (Two Way Monologue, anyone?) can do just about anything he wants and make it sound great.

[MP3] Sondre Lerche and the Faces Down Quartet: (I Wanna) Call It Love

Purchase Duper Sessions.

06. Lupe Fiasco: Food and Liquor
While everyone was pretending Ghostface Killah’s Fishscale was the most awesome thing they’d ever heard they missed out on Lupe’s Food and Liquor: the best rap album of the year (minus the twelve-minute-long “Outro” track). Kick, push, kick, push, coast…

[MP3] Lupe Fiasco: Real feat. Sarah Green

Purchase Food and Liquor.

05. Silversun Pickups: Carnavas
This album reminded me of the golden age of alternative rock and almost made me feel like a middle-schooler again. 01. Wow, I am getting old. 02. What a solid album.

[MP3] Silversun Pickups: Dream at Tempo

Purchase Carnavas.

04. Beirut: Gulag Orkestar
Gypsy music for indie kids? Genius.

[MP3] Beirut: Mount Wroclai (Idle Days)

Purchase Gulag Orkestar.

03.The Most Serene Republic: Phages
I play this EP on repeat, repeatedly. Easily the best thing to be (officially) released in the last quarter of 2006 and evidence of the great things to come from this band.

[MP3] The Most Serene Republic: Emergency Performance Art Piece

Purchase Phages.

02. My Brightest Diamond: Bring Me The Workhorse
Surprise, surprise. Was there any doubt I’d put this album on the list? If you’ve been reading the Versus you know it dominated me most of the year. Listen and learn why.

[MP3] My Brightest Diamond: Something of an End

Purchase Bring Me The Workhorse.

01. Margot & the Nuclear So and So’s: The Dust of Retreat
No album has spent more time playing in my truck, in my home, on my iPod, on my computer, and in the CD player of friend’s vehicles. The Dust of Retreat is a gasp of clarity, a beacon of brilliance. Best album of the year – hands down, no contest – and if you think otherwise you are wrong. Or you might just have shitty taste.

[MP3] Margot & the Nuclear So and So’s: Skeleton Key

Purchase The Dust of Retreat.

So, there’s the list. Isn’t it awesome? I know I left a lot of great artists (Hot Chip, Midlake, Grizzly Bear, The Knife, Birdmonster) off it but when you’re narrowing down to ten it’s a little difficult. What can I say? These are just the albums that affected my music players the most this year.

If you’ve got a different list you feel like sharing leave it in the comments section or just leave a link. I’ll check it out – promise. Or hey, even if you want to tell me how dumb my list is, feel free. Everyone’s entitled to their own opinion – even if it’s wrong.

In addition, get amped because later in the week we have Sean “Sapphire” a.k.a. Dong Wang a.k.a. Blazin’ Wang’s top six albums (since he couldn’t think of ten), Chuck's top ten and disappointments, and a special surprise guest laying down his top ten, as well. Hell. Yes.