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December 29, 2006
MS.com Presents: BEST ALBUMS OF 2006
Working on a year end list is an exhausting undertaking. Creating a public snapshot of the year involves dancing delicately between critical analysis and personal preference. The love had for songs from eleven months ago versus current crushes is not easily reconciled. Nor is it immediately rewarding to create lists that feels like trying to rank favorite siblings. Filtering whatever metrics of good, better, and best from the memory reservoir is hard shit man.
For the relatively short time period of one year, the process is never going to be - and does not have to be - perfect. Factor in lifelong problems with chronic procrastination and I'll show you a recipe for an anxiety cupcake frosted with neurosis and attention-deficit disorder sprinkles. Computer-chair psychoanalysts will diagnose these issues with finality as commitment phobia. I prefer paraphrasing the immortal words of the late, respect-starved comedian, "So what? So lets dance!"
2006 is days away from being a Reynolds wrap of generalizations. Every blogger worth his salt has posted varying lists for a footnote in the zeitgeist. Every aspect of Culture and culture is deemed rank-able. "Hottie," "worst album," "most overexposed (ed note - Brit's vage - (little "c"))," and so on. For the extended list turn on VH1 at ANY TIME during the day so a D-List comedian, quasi-celebrity can digest (re: puke) it all for you using pop culture nuggets that haven't been given the proper 15 minutes to set. But enough about that.
I am pleased to present the Top 10 albums of 2006 according to MerrySwankster.com:
TOP 10 of 2006
1. The Long Blondes - Someone to Drive You Home
//The Long Blondes - Someone to Drive You Home - buy
2. TV on the Radio - Return to Cookie Mountain
//TV on the Radio - Return to Cookie Mountain - buy
3. Sunset Rubdown - Shut Up, I am Dreaming
//Sunset Rubdown - Shut Up, I am Dreaming - buy
4. The Blow - Paper Television
//The Blow - Paper Television - buy
5. Asobi Seksu - Citrus
//Asobi Seksu - Citrus - buy
6. Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins - Rabbit Fur Coat
//Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twisn - Rabbit Fur Coat - buy
7. Danielson - Ships
//Danielson - Ships - buy
8. Liars - Drum's Not Dead
//Liars - Drum's Not Dead - buy
9. Belle & Sebastian - the Life Pursuit
//Belle & Sebastian - the Life Pursuit - buy
10. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Show Your Bones
//Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Show Your Bones - buy
Looking Forward
For better or for worse, we live in the age of leaked albums. How will this phenomenon effect the lists of '07? Have our finicky tastes already tired of the new (officially forthcoming) Shins, LCD Soundsystem, Deerhoof, Of Montreal, and the rest? When 2007 is barely able to breathe and baby '08 is scratching the uterus of Mother Time where will the list makers rank those albums? Is the wisdom of our time found on the light FM dial predicting the inevitable: "Time keeps on slipping slipping into the future". Is the rapid consumption of culture accelerating to the point that the anticipation -> joy -> tiredness -> backlash cycle begins to cannibalize and fold onto itself? How many of you have I already lost?
** ** **
The year end list always provides an opportunity and excuse for reflection. Revisiting the opinions and observations that MS staff have made this year allowed me to rediscovered songs that I embraced post-blog entries (yes, even I miss some posts). Reading entries and their related comments I smiled and felt like a proud papa must feel like when the realization comes that his children may be smarter than he is. Its mutual respect and admiration for the opinions and thoughts expressed here. We love the labor because the labor is out of love (except Keith - he just loves robotic stand ins for furry companionship.
To everyone who has written, read, commented or listened to this site I want to thank you. I will be out of commission for the next few weeks while on much needed R&R, but the site will march on. The year 2007 will be one of big improvements to the site and hopefully very little waxing nostalgia like the nonsense you just read.
Happy New Year
XOXO
-Merry Swankster
Posted by Merry Swankster at December 29, 2006 10:00 AM
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