Top 2006 - And The Winner Is The Greatest

Late December, it’s time to look in the rear view mirror. Like it or not, everybody plays the game of which are the 10 best records of 2006, best singles of the year, best video etc… and Leaky Sparrow likes to play also.
Today I will start with CDs if you agree. I must say that it was for me a much more difficult time to find 10 very good records than to find 10 very good songs. Only a few of the CDs that I had the chance to discover in 2006 are excellent from the first minute of the first song to the last second of the last track and strong enough to pass the test of time.
So, let me apologize here, when you see the list below you will think that I didn’t take many risks. I am very sorry you’ll only find people who are - if I can say for most of them - already well established. No new band, no new singer-songwriter, no first record. Why? Nothing new in 2006? I remember that since Leaky Sparrow started to fly away (beginning of April), I had posted many reviews about young artists or groups, for example: Psychic Ills, Halou, Barzin, Major Deluxe, etc… or being filled with enthusiasm about Caroline, Cibelle, Tunng, Carrie Biell, Gregor Samsa, Red Sparowes… Where are they? Maybe I am too conservative.
Anyway, I hope you did have the chance to hear the records that I choose because they are good and because I still enjoy every listening even months after their release dates (i.e. Cat Power - The Greatest - January 2006). And don’t forget, buy records!

1 - Cat Power – The Greatest
Web: catpowerthegreatest.com
Song: Cat Power - The Greatest .mp3

2 – CirKus – Laylow
Web: cirkustent.com
Song: CirKus - Sunny Tuesday .mp3

3 – Thom Yorke – The Eraser
Web: xlrecordings.com
Song: Thom Yorke - Analyse .mp3

4 – Neil Young – Living With War
Web: neilyoung.com/lwwtoday
Song: Neil Young - Let's Impeach The President .mp3

5 – Mogwai – Mr. Beast
Web: mogwai.co.uk
Song: Mogwai - Folk Death 95 .mp3

6 – Vetiver – To Find Me Gone
Web: vetiverse.com
Song: Vetiver - Been So Long .mp3

7 – Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy – The Letting Go
Web: bonnieprincebilly.com or oldham
Song: Bonnie 'Prince' Billy - Big Friday .mp3

8 – Bob Dylan – Modern Times
Web: bobdylan.com/moderntimes
Song: Bob Dylan - Ain't Talkin' .mp3 via The Late Greats

9 – Yo La Tengo - I Am Not Afraid Of You And I Will Beat Your Ass
Web: yolatengo.com
Song: Yo La Tengo - Pass The Hatchet, I Think I'm Goodkind .mp3

10 – Sonic Youth – Rather Ripped
Web: sonicyouth.com
Song: Sonic Youth - Turquoise Boy .mp3