Best of for 2006

Since it's the end of the year, it seems timely to devote this entry to discussing some of the best music I discovered this year (not necessarily music which was released this year). I always find it hard to produce numbered lists of any description, so I will not restrict myself in that way. Here is the list of music (songs and albums) that I have enjoyed most, in no particular order.

Little By Little, Harvey Danger
The best thing about this album (other than the fact that it's FREE on their website, www.harveydanger.com/downloads), is the song Little Round Mirrors which is totally addictive. It's now one of those songs I can't hear again in quite the same way due to obsessive overplay, but still well worth mentioning.

Split Needles, The Shins
This is not their new single, but rather the B-Side to 'Phantom Limbs' which is also a great song in its own right. This one, though, is far superior. The Shins are one of my favourite bands (as you can see this blog is named for the lyrics in one of their songs)- the lyrics of their songs in many ways make no sense at all, but combined with the cutesy instrumentals they become quite addictive. Their new album Wincing the Night Away is much anticipated... roll on January 23 2007!

Martha Wainwright, Martha Wainwright
I discovered 'Bloody Mother F***ing A**hole' (as it appears in my iTunes library) last year, but this year I downloaded the entire album track by track, a slightly less than logical idea but well worth the effort. The best songs are When the Day Is Long, GPT, Factory and the aforementioned track.

No Children, The Mountain Goats
Unlike Split Needles, the lyrics of this song make perfect sense, in their energetic and funny description of how much a former couple now hate each others' guts. For example: 'I hope you die, I hope we both die'. I am seeing the Mountain Goats play live in less than a week and am sincerely hoping this song appears on their set list. Then I can die happy.

When You Were Young, The Killers
Although I am quite fond of the entire album on which this song appears, there is something especially striking about this song. It struck a chord of familiar experience (as did Mr Brightside about two years ago). I know it's a tad overplayed but hey, it's still worth a listen.

Strange Apparition, Beck
The background rhythm, the piano melody, the way it slows down at the end... if only the entire album was this good.

Memories and Dust, Josh Pyke
Probably most of his entire EP should also appear here, but since I technically discovered it last year, well... The video clip for this song is also cute (all the baby birds!). This is one of those songs where you need to drown out all background noise to appreciate it properly, so you can hear the hand claps in the intro.

I Don't Feel Like Dancing, The Scissor Sisters
I know, I know. Predictable. Sorry. It's a good song though (actually a great song).

I have a feeling more additions to this list may occur in the future but for now, that's it.