Under The Rotunda

So here we are. The end of 2006. *Ahem*. I think the year has been not quite as strong as past years, but there were some great albums released nevertheless. So take a gander -- see what you still remember from last year.

At first glance, this music can seem as if it's standard metal, but for some reason it slipped through the cracks for me. Normally, I'm not really into "heavier" music such as this, but there's something about Giddy Motors that makes me dig them. Perhaps it's the occasional break from the low riffs, perhaps it's the maniacal vocal energy, but they do have something going for them.

Giddy Motors - Sick (from Do Easy)
I had never heard Talkdemonic until they opened up for The National, but I'm damn glad I saw them at that show. This music is gorgeous -- ambient electronic music mixed with a vast array of instruments, all capped off by top-notch drumming. The drumming is really what keeps everything so compelling, but regardless, these are wonderful soundscapes.

Talkdemonic - Dusty Flourescent/Wooden Shelves (from Beat Romantic)
My first listen to this album, I went, "Yeah, it's cool for one listen, but whatever." Man, was I wrong. There are so many layers stuffed into this record, I will always continue hear new elements pop out. This is a masterpiece album as far as mash-ups go. I mean, I hate to call it a mash-up album, because I feel as if that demeans it in some way. In the manner that this album was produced, it no longer is a mash-up -- it becomes a new musical creation. And at that, it's a new musical creation that is a lot of fun to listen to, as you hear bits and pieces of songs you recognize. It's like "Where's Waldo?" for your ears.

Girl Talk - Smash Your Head (from Night Ripper)
Sondre Lerche has written some of my favorite folk rock tunes. I find his writing to be very cohesive and captivating. So when I found out his next record was a straight jazz album, I was a little bummed. But, funny story, the album turned out great. I mean, there are more plain and non-offensive moments on this record than on any other Sondre Lerche record, but these are some great interpretations of jazz standards nevertheless. And the original tunes ain't too shabby either, although you'd never catch them for the originals they are -- they blend right in with all the old standards.

Sondre Lerche - Everyone's Rooting For You (from Duper Sessions)
While it's no where near as invigorating as their debut record, Yes, Virginia... is still a fine effort. For me, the production sounds too slick. I miss the slightly dirty drum sound from the prior album, and the writing's not quite as good, but this should all be taken with a grain of salt. The record is still good work, and no comparison can change that.

The Dresden Dolls - Dirty Business (from Yes, Virginia...)
Once again comparing: this record is nowhere near as good as The Futureheads debut record. It's not as intricate and complex, but once you get over that you'll see it for the great batch of tunes it is. They've still got their energy and their flow, and this record exemplifies that.

The Futureheads - Face (from News And Tributes)
Nomo's sophomore record continues to fine-tune their brand of funky afrobeat. These tunes are even more sophisticated and focused than those on their debut, and that's saying something. The band is a fine collection of players and arrangers, and the melting pot of styles makes for an interesting sound.

Nomo - Nu Tones (from New Tones)
While the album could use a little more focus, the scatter-brained features are also what draw me to this album. We jump all over the place, from nine minute crescendos to straight-forward indie pop to rock melded with hip-hop. It certainly is a mix, but for the enthusiastic listener, you shall be rewarded.

Islands - Where There's A Will There's A Whalebone (from Return To The Sea)
Following 2003's stellar Center: Level: Roar, Youngblood Brass Band switch it up a little bit. These songs are more in their own voice, and less of a standard brass band. But this doesn't hurt them, it only helps. The songs become much more compelling as the band grows into their own voice, and this album is a fine collection of tunes from start to finish.

Youngblood Brass Band - Pala Minima (from Is That A Riot?)
Circus punk marching band Mucca Pazza have a lot going for them. The instrumentation, clearly, is vast and unique. That only makes this record interesting, but they also pile on fun and energy, and this adds up to a very grand sum.

Mucca Pazza - Surf (from A Little Marching Band)
Poppy! Energetic! Fun! Catchy! All of these words would describe the Grates' debut record, Gravity Won't Get You High, which is a great 40 minute blast of music. While the lead singer can be very reminiscent of Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, this band is definitely doing their own thing. We don't have any screaming or effect-heavy guitar. This is straight forward music -- melodic, catchy pop that will stick in your head all week after you listen to it.

The Grates - 19 20 20 (from Gravity Won't Get You High)
I wasn't sure if I should include this on my list, since it isn't an official release. But this tour-only disc is one of the best showings I've heard from Andrew Bird yet. I've always said that he's in his best element in a live setting, and this disc showcases that ability. Featuring live recordings of songs we've already heard and some new songs we've yet to hear, Fingerlings 3 is an outstanding collection of work.

While not his best work, Get Lonely is pretty much the best break-up album ever. The songs contained on this album capture the emotion in an honest, sincere way that isn't too easy to write in. And too that, I say good work.

The Mountain Goats - Wild Sage (from Get Lonely)
Yeah Yeah Yeahs stepped a little bit out of their comfort zone on Show Your Bones, it seems. The songs are less noise-rock and more standard rock. Less yelling and yelping, more singing. To me, this is an improvement. That being said, the album doesn't quite capture the raw creativity that Fever To Tell did. It does, however, show off a whole new side to the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. And this is certainly a good side, from which I'd love to hear more.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Way Out (from Show Your Bones)
The M's have been a favorite of mine since I heard their debut self-titled, and this album is essentially more of the same. Gritty, dirty rock, with layers of sound filling your ears. What they added, however, were new elements of texture and instrumentation, and that spices up the mix quite a bit.

The M's - Trucker Speed (from Future Women)
I can't understand what the lead singer of Malajube is saying, but that's okay. They sing in French, but the sheer energy and joy contained in the music on this album is enough to rope me in. Malajube improved enormously compared to their last record, and the songwriting jumps up to a whole new level throughout the record, which contains the best work they've released.

Malajube - Montréal -40°C (from Trompe-L'oeil)
Make Believe continue on the path they have already beaten very well on Of Course, continue in their same vein of jagged, math-influenced tunes. So what took this album up a notch? Who knows, but many of the songs on Of Course are among they best Make Believe have ever written.

Make Believe - Political Mysticism (from Of Course)
Dappled Cities' first record was released under the moniker Dappled Cities Fly, but they do a whole lot more than just lose one syllable on their latest effort. The songwriting and development took a giant leap, and the music went from being standard indie rock to really having a vibe of its own. I predict nothing but the best for these guys. They're on their way up, and this is the album that's bringing them there.

Dappled Cities - Fire Fire Fire (from Granddance)
You've probably never heard Arizona's music. And that's a damn shame. These guys are flying right under the radar, but they should be front and center. Their debut album is a stellar mix of beautiful songwriting, interesting instrumentation, colorful textures, and high energy. "Splintering" is one of the best songs released this year, and it's the song that got me hooked on the band. So it's only right that I share said song below, and I can only hope that some of y'alls get hooked on it like I did.

Arizona - Splintering (from Welcome Back Dear Children)
Well, I guess if you title your album Classics, you know it's good. A little bold of a move, perhaps, but Ratatat's album is indeed quite excellent. They took what was great about their debut, added a whole lot of new instrumentation to the mix, and kept the energy rocking. Opening up their sound was definitely a good move for Ratatat, and this is proven with each new listen.

Ratatat - Kennedy (from Classics)
At first glance, this may just sound like an ordinary pop/emo/rock band. I was dissuaded by the lyrics in the opening song at first -- "My body is your body/I won't tell anybody/If you wanna use my body/Go for it." -- but the hooks began to sink in. Lyrically, it's not breaking any barriers, but the music is just some of the most damn catchy music you'll ever hear. The band makes great use of being a simple trio, accentuating each member and instrument.

We Are Scientists - Inaction (from With Love And Squalor)
We Are Scientists - Worth The Wait (from With Love And Squalor)
Sure, there's not too much new happening here, not too much that hasn't been done in some manner before. Nevertheless, this is a well-constructed album. These simple tunes shine with the glowing enthusiasm that the band plays with, allowing their blues and rock influences to meld into something that is very compelling. Cold War Kids have managed to write a vast array of simple, yet powerful tunes, and Robbers And Cowards is a great collection of just such work. And I'll say it -- I disagree with Pitchfork, these guys are great.

Cold War Kids - We Used To Vacation (from Robbers And Cowards)
Cold War Kids - Hang Me Up To Dry (from Robbers And Cowards)
While I do not believe it to be there best work (as some have touted it to be), I do believe The Crane Wife to be a wonderful record. And, were it not for a few jeering gashes stuck in the middle of the album, this would be flawless. "The Perfect Crime 2" and "When The War Came" are both very out of style for The Decemberists, and I pray that they do not continue in that direction. Aside from these missteps, however, the album is glorious. Wonderful pop tunes? Check. Strange lyrical stories? Check. Ten-minute plus musical compositions? Check. Exquisite album? Check.

The Decemberists - The Crane Wife 1 & 2 (from The Crane Wife)
The Decemberists - Sons & Daughters (from The Crane Wife)
Joanna Newsom's previous record, The Milk-Eyed Mender, was excellent. So what changed to make this album even better? The songs became immensely more intricate and well-woven. On Ys, we get five songs, the shortest of which is seven minutes, the longest of which is almost seventeen. Now, I have to admit that I was slightly bored on my first few listens of the album. But after seeing her perform the album live and listening to it several more times, it really began to sink in. This is a masterpiece, full of wonderful instrumentation and vast story-telling. A record like this doesn't come around too often.

Joanna Newsom - Emily (from Ys)
Joanna Newsom - Cosmia (from Ys)
Punk band The Thermals decided to write about religion, and the resulting album turned out to be their best yet. I found all of their prior albums to be straightforward, not-too-interesting punk, but these songs are fiery and energetic, and the lyrics are fantastic: "God reached his hand down from the sky/God asked Noah if he wanted to die/He said "No, sir. Oh no, sir."/God said "Here's your future"/"It's gonna rain"." This album captures some of the best raw energy and emotion I've heard on an album in a long time, and every single track maintains the high standard which is set right from the first moments of the record.

The Thermals - Here's Your Future (from The Body, The Blood, The Machine)
The Thermals - St. Rosa And The Swallows (from The Body, The Blood, The Machine)