Monday, December 25, 2006

Top 15 (Non-Hip-Hop) Albums of 2006

These were my favorite (not necessarily best) non-hip-hop albums of 2006. Let me know how you feel about my choices. Top 15 Hip-Hop albums of 2006 will come later this week.


15. My Chemical Romance - The Black Parade
The New Jersey emocore outfit goes Queen, complete with haunting pianos and epic arena-rock vocals. I like!
My Review
Best Songs: “Teenagers” and “Cancer”

14. Mana - Amar Es Combatir
The definitive Latin rock group continues to influence a generation of younger Latin acts, but none compare.
My Review
Best Songs: “Somos Mar y Arena” and “Labios Compartidos”

13. Christina Aguilera - Back To Basics
Christina’s modern ode to vintage jazz and soul, with the help of Linda Perry and DJ Premier of Gang Starr.
My Review
Best Songs: “Still Dirrty” and “Save Me From Myself”

12. Sergio Mendes - Timeless
The Brazillian samba legend teams with will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas to bring new life to old classics, with help from John Legend, Black Thought, Justin Timberlake and Erykah Badu.
Best Songs: “Yes, Yes Y’all” and “Please Baby Don’t”

11. TV On The Radio - Return To Cookie Mountain
Crazy-ass avant-garde indie-rockers continue to innovate and pioneer the new sound of rock music.
Best Songs: “Province” and “Wolf Like Me”

10. Matisyahu - Youth
The best Hasidic reggae artist in the universe lives up to expectations with his full-length studio debut.
My Review
Best Songs: “Time of Your Song” and “Jerusalem”

9. Gnarls Barkley - St. Elsewhere
The equally ubiquitous and mysterious duo of Cee-Lo and Danger Mouse make it big for the first time, despite both having decade-plus-long careers.
My Review
Best Songs: “Gone Daddy Gone” and “Crazy”

8. Justin Timberlake - FutureSex/LoveSounds
The current king of pop shines in a big way, mostly due to producer Timbaland’s gorgeous and epic dance grooves.
My Review
Best Songs: “LoveStoned” and “What Goes Around”

7. The Beatles - LOVE
Sir George Martin (aka The Fifth Beatle) revists and reinterprets the classics for the new Cirque du Soleil show of the same title. The new versions may be shocking at first, but they add new life to decades-old classics.
Best Songs: “Strawberry Fields Forever” and “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”

6. The Hush Sound - Like Vines
Piano-powered-pop-punk. Guilty pleasure? Sure. But it’s catchy and original.
Best Songs: “We Intertwined” and “Don’t Wake Me Up”


5. John Legend - Once Again
Less Kanye and more soul equals a more mature, serious album from John Stephens. Not quite as hip-hop, but the older folks should enjoy it more.
My Review
Best Songs: “Show Me” and “Where Did My Baby Go”

4. Incubus - Light Grenades
Incubus slows it down a bit with one of its more mellow albums, with a heavy emphasis on love and relationships.
My Review
Best Songs: “Dig” and “Oil and Water”

3. Nelly Furtado - Loose
People heard “Promiscuous” and freaked out, thinking Nelly went Stefani on us. Not to fear, Timbaland helps balance dance pop and slow ballads to help make Furtado’s best album yet.
My Review
Best Songs: “All Good Things” and “Te Busque”

2. John Mayer - Continuum
John Mayer is the best blues artist at the moment, and Continuum is all the proof needed.
My Review
Best Songs: “Slow Dancing In A Burning Room” and “Waiting On The World To Change”

1. Red Hot Chili Peppers - Stadium Arcadium
Stadium Arcadium is a career-capping album, even though we all know RHCP still have a lot of steam left in the them. Equal parts BloodSugar funk and By The Way soul, this double LP has no filler.
My Review
Best Songs: “Snow (Hey Oh),” “Hump De Bump,” “Tell Me Baby” and “Hard To Concentrate”