Best Music of the Year Awards

It’s that time of year. Everybody’s making a list. No, not for Santa. And not for all the stores they have to go to to return the Christmas crap. It’s the yearend best of list. Today’s installment is my entry in some of the notable music of the year. I am in no way trying to say these are the only great recordings of the year. But if you missed them, you definitely need to make a trip with grandma’s gift card for Borders and try them out.








The “I can’t stop myself from dancing award goes to”
GoldFrapp-Supernature
Hey, your disco is in my glamrock! Hey, your glamrock is in my disco! Hmmm, sounds great!

Ear Candy of the Year award goes to:
Belle and Sebastien’s The Life Pursuit. I’m a sucker for a good melody and this album is overstuffed like a xmas stocking in one of those year’s past when I was very, very good.











The “I am a Golden God” (apologies to Almost Famous) award goes to”
Wolfmother
I walked into College Cyclery and the boys were playing this. I about crapped my pants. Conjuring the rock and roll gods Wolfmother will blow your mind.



















I’m glad she is still around award (even if the album wasn’t that great) award goes to”
Kate Bush – Aerial
Sigh, portions of this album rival her best but unfortunately it doesn’t match Hounds of Love. I’m still in love with her though.

The “Oh, this is why people like him” award goes to:
Bob Dylan:
Ok, yes, it’s a safe choice. But, I’m including this on my list because I am not a Bob Dylan fan (I’ve tried!) but this album just plain kicks ass.

The Pleasant Surprise Award goes to:
Thom Yorke – The Eraser
I’m a fan of Radiohead, in their “experimental” mode. But for some reason I didn’t expect much from this album. I’m a fool, because it is wonderfully haunting and catchy.



The “Rock the House” award goes to”
The Eels “No Strings Attached” tour.
A very LOUD, and I do mean LOUD, concert tour featuring 3.5 musicians, made the rounds in the US and Europe. Scour the web for some bootlegs. There are some great interpretations of Eels classics on this tour.

The, I gargle with glass award goes to:
Tom Waits – Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers, and Bastards
I don’t know what I did to deserve a three disc set from Mr. Waits. Any year Tom releases anything is a good year.



And, finally, the HAS THE FAT LADY SUNG? Award goes to:
XTC - Fuzzy Warbles Collector's Album
Ok, technically it’s been compiled by Andy Partridge, not the whole band (all two members). This could be the final recordings released from XTC, one of the finest British pop bands ever. Their body of work rivals the 4 lads from Liverpool and they are extremely influential in both songwriting, and in production circles. The array of herky jerky sounding bands who are trying channel the late 70s/early 80s right now owe an enormous debt to XTC, even if they won’t admit to it. Considering that the last two members and songwriters are not speaking to each other (apparently Andy Partridge isn’t even sure where Colin Moulding lives) you owe it to yourself to stock up on their back catalog. Why not start with this 9 disc set of rarities and demos.