Top 25 Songs Released In 2007

25. Maritime - Guns Of Navarone
24. Jackie Carol - Hospital
23. Illinois - Alone Again
22. Of Montreal - She's A Rejector
21. Spoon - Finer Feelings
20. The Shins - Girl Sailor
19. The New Pornographers - My Rights Versus Yours
18. Rilo Kiley - Under The Blacklight
17. Radiohead - All I Need
16. Modest Mouse - March Into The Sea
15. Radiohead - Weird Fishes/Arpeggi
14. Jimmy Eat World - Let It Happen
13. Spoon - You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb
12. Of Montreal - We Were Born The Mutants Again With Leafling
11. The Good Life - So Let Go
10. The Arcade Fire - Black Wave / Bad Vibrations
9. The Good Life - Rest Your Head
8. Deerhunter - Spring Hall Convert
7. Spoon - Black Like Me
6. Of Montreal - The Past Is A Grotesque Animal
5. Okkvervil River - Our Life Is Not A Movie Or Maybe
4. LCD Soundsystem - Someone Great
3. LCD Soundsystem - All Of My Friends
2. Lifetime - Just A Quiet Evening
1. Modest Mouse - Spitting Venom

Top Five Concert Experiences Of 2007

The only ground rule was that only proper shows, as opposed to festival performances, were eligible. I would be remiss if I failed to mention two bands who failed to make the list: live performances by the Wrens (ineligible because I saw them at the BAM festival in Roscoe Village) and Okkervil River (who suffered from an atypically large venue and somewhat predictable set list) continue to be among the most thrilling experiences of my life.

5. The Long Winters & The Bound Stems @ The Double Door - 3/24/07
4. Superdrag @ The Metro 10/13/07
3. Kevin Devine & The Goddamn Band @ The Beat Kitchen - 2/2/07
2. The New Pornographers @ The Metro - 10/19/07
1. Lifetime @ Subterranean - 4/22/07

Honorable Mention: Okkervil River @ Logan Square Auditorium - 9/18/07, Modest Mouse @ The Orpheum Theater (Madison) - 11/10/07, Kevin Drew @ The Metro - 11/3/07, The Hold Steady & Art Brut @ The Metro - 10/29/07.

Top 25 Songs for November

25. Maritime - With Holes For Thumbsized Birds
24. Stars - Take Me To The Riot
23. Common - Driving Me Wild
22. Maritime - Love Has Given Up
21. Common - Start The Show
20. The Replacements - Androgynous
19. Stars - Window Bird
18. Maritime - Hours That You Keep
17. Matt Pond PA - Basement Parties
16. Stars - The Night Starts Here
15. Stars - Midnight Coward
14. Stars - Life 2: Unhappy Ending
13. Maritime - Pearl
12. Stars - Personal
11. The Weakerthans - Virtue The Cat Explains Her Departure
10. Common - Forever Begins
9. The Replacements - We're Coming Out
8. Sunset Rubdown - The Mending Of The Gown
7. Matt Pond PA - Giving It All Away
6. The Replacements - I Will Dare
5. The Weakerthans - Sun In An Empty Room
4. Maritime - Guns Of Navarone
3. The Replacements - Seen Your Video
2. The Replacements - Unsatisfied
1. The Replacements - Answering Machine

Top 25 Songs For October

25. Rogue Wave - Lake Michigan
24. Band Of Horses - Ode To LRC
23. Kevin Drew - Backed Out On The...
22. Band Of Horses - Detlef Shrempf
21. Band Of Horses - Cigarettes, Wedding Bands
20. Jens Lekman - I'm Leaving You Because I Don't Love You
19. Rogue Wave - Chicago X 12
18. Bob Dylan - Nettie Moore
17. Kevin Drew - Safety Bricks
16. Superdrag - Six-Eight
15. Radiohead - Reckoner
14. Superdrag - Liquor
13. Kevin Drew - TBTF
12. Superdrag - Really Thru
11. Jimmy Eat World - Firefight
10. Rogue Wave - Cheaper Than Therapy
9. Radiohead - Nude
8. Kevin Drew - Lucky Ones
7. Band Of Horses - Is There A Ghost
6. Radiohead - 15 Steps
5. Radiohead - Videotape
4. Band Of Horses - No One's Gonna Love You
3. Radiohead - All I Need
2. Radiohead - Weird Fishes/Arpeggi
1. Jimmy Eat World - Let It Happen

Top 25 Songs For September

25. Kanye West - Drunk And Hot Girls
24. Kanye West - Homecoming
23. The Good Life - A Little Bit More
22. Kanye West - Everything I Am
21. Superdrag - Senorita
20. The Cure - The Perfect Girl
19. Of Montreal - Requiem For O.M.M.2
18. Rilo Kiley - Close Call
17. Rilo Kiley - Does He Love You
16. The New Pornographers - Go Places
15. The New Pornographers - Challengers
14. Kanye West - Stronger
13. Superdrag - Sleeping Beauty
12. The Good Life - Playing Dumb
11. The New Pornographers - Unguided
10. The New Pornographers - Adventures In Solitude
9. Rilo Kiley - Love And War (11/11/46)
8. Kanye West - Big Brother
7. Kanye West - Flashing Lights
6. The Good Life - Keely Aimee
5. The New Pornographers - My Rights Versus Yours
4. Rilo Kiley - Under The Blacklight
3. The Good Life - So Let Go
2. Kanye West - Good Morning
1. The Good Life - Rest Your Head

Survivor Running Diary: Season 15, Episode 2

7:11 – Poker pro Jean-Robert furrows brows across America as he explains his curious plan to avoid chipping in at camp in the early going and infuriate his tribe mates in the process, so that they will be that much more impressed later on, when he actually puts forth a legitimate effort (assuming he hasn’t been voted off yet). Words can’t explain how ashamed I am that my good friend Tom Fuller neglected his dream to be the first professional poker player to appear on Survivor.

7:19 – Throughout the muddy, physical reward challenge, a delighted Jeff does play by play which mostly centers around his descriptions of the women’s tops being torn off. He concludes the challenge by triumphantly shouting “And Amanda scores even though she is not wearing her top!”

7:22 – Immediately after winning the challenge, the Fei Long tribe earns the right to “kidnap” a member of the Zhan Hu. In a shocking development, their deliberations result in the selection of Jamie, the most spry and attractive Zhan Hu member to romp around topless in the mud within the last hour.

7:32 – Leslie’s teary confession about how lost she is without the strength she derives from her bible and my subsequent giggling has me wondering why it took the Survivor producers this long to put a religious fanatic on the show.

7:34 – Jamie decides to give Leslie the clue to the hidden immunity idol that she must give a member of Fei Long because she considers Leslie the tribe’s weakest member. Without a trace of irony, Leslie deems the clue “a gift from God.”

7:37 – Leslie concludes she’s too unintelligent to decipher the clue by herself so she must enlist someone to assist her, in return for a share the immunity idol. Her assessment of her intelligence proves accurate when she chooses to join forces with Todd, the most conniving member of the Fei Long tribe.

7:40 – My fears that I’m a racist are confirmed as, for the fifth or sixth time, it takes me a couple seconds to realize that Zhan Ho is the name of one of the tribes and not its Asian American member who was born in Michigan and happens to be named Michael.

7:48 – It must be far easier to be forward looking when you’re watching the show on television than when you’re actually playing the game. Erik is laidback, attractive, likable, reasonably athletic, and seems to get along well with everyone, yet he somehow seems destined to make it through about nine more episodes before being pegged as a threat.

7:54 – The Zhan Ho tribe cements its status as a complete train wreck when - in just the second episode - it finds itself forced to vote off one of two relatively useful tribe members in order to alleviate some of the dysfunction that is consuming their tribe.

Top 25 Songs For August

25. Art Brut - Pump Up The Volume
24. Earlimart - Fakey Fake
23. Okkervil River - John Allyn Smith Sails
22. Wilco - Walken
21. Art Brut - People In Love
20. Brother Ali - Ear To Ear
19. Superdrag - She Says
18. Earlimart - Happy Alone
17. Earlimart - Gonna Break Into Your Heart
16. Okkervil River - Plus Ones
15. Superdrag - The Rest Of The World
14. Brother Ali - Faheem
13. Art Brut - Post Soothing Out
12. Wilco - Impossible Germany
11. Okkervil River - Savannah Smiles
10. Art Brut - Late Sunday Evening
9. Earlimart - Someday You're Gonna Love Me
8. Earlimart - Don't (You) Think About Me
7. Okkervil River - Unless It Kicks
6. Neil Young - Like A Hurricane
5. Art Brut - Direct Hit
4. Wilco - On And On And On
3. Okkervil River - (Shannon Wilsey On The) Starry Stairs
2. Okkervil River - A Girl In Port
1. Okkervil River - Our Life Is Not A Movie Or Maybe

Top 25 Songs For July

25. The Postmarks - You Drift Away*
24. Time Spent Driving - Throwing Stones
23. Oxford Collapse - Keep 'Em In A Canyon
22. Rhymefest [featuring Kanye West] - More*
21. Spoon - Don't Make Me A Target*
20. Pearl Jam - Rearviewmirror*
19. Time Spent Driving - Except The Grey
18. Spoon - The Underdog*
17. Time Spent Driving - Brown/Blue
16. Spoon - The Ghost Of You Lingers*
15. The Polyphonic Spree - Section 26 (We Crawl)*
14. Deerhunter - Fluorescent Grey
13. Illinois - Oh Asia*
12. Sage Francis - Water Line
11. Sage Francis - Black Out On White Night
10. Time Spent Driving - Special Thanks
9. Spoon - Black Like Me*
8. I'm From Barcelona - Oversleeping*
7. Jackie Carol - Hi, My Name Is Jackie...
6. Spoon - Finer Feelings*
5. I'm From Barcelona - Ola Kala*
4. Jackie Carol - Hospital
3. LCD Soundsystem - All Of My Friends*
2. Spoon - You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb*
1. LCD Soundsystem - Someone Great*

*Appearing at Lollapalooza 2007.

Top 25 Songs For June

25. Cat Power – Taking People*
24. Illinois – One On One#
23. TV On The Radio – Wear You Out#
22. Illinois – Headphones#
21. Elliott Smith – Angel In The Snow
20. Minus Story – In Line
19. Pearl Jam – Inside Job#
18. Minus Story – Parachute
17. Elliott Smith – New Disaster
16. Pearl Jam – Wasted Reprise#
15. Colour Revolt – Our Homes Are Graves#
14. TV On The Radio – Staring At The Sun#
13. Elliott Smith – See You Later
12. Pearl Jam – Life Wasted#
11. Minus Story – Miles And Miles
10. The Clientele – Bookshop Casanova
9. The Clientele – Winter On Victoria Street
8. Colour Revolt – Mattresses Under Water#
7. Cat Power – Nude As The News*
6. Colour Revolt – Blood In Your Mouth#
5. Elliott Smith – High Times
4. Elliott Smith – All Cleaned Out
3. Illinois – Alone Again#
2. Pearl Jam – Unemployable#
1. Elliott Smith – Going Nowhere

* Performing at the 2007 Pitchfork Music Festival
# Performing at Lollapalooza 2007

Running Diary of The O.C. Season Four

Now that summer has arrived, I will have the chance to start authoring new, legit blog entries. First though, I have some house cleaning to do. What follows is a running diary of the fourth and final season of The OC. I never posted the diary because I planned to write about more than just five episodes. However, at this point it’s clear that won’t happen and the entry is rapidly becoming outdated. Enjoy.

I recently remarked that The OC is in some ways, the most exhilarating show on television. Fans who appreciate the remarkable first season realize that the show has the ability to rival any other program in the history of television. The fact that the second two seasons were frequently frustrating and at times laughably awful have meant that on a given Thursday, fans of the show might glimpse the show’s previous glory, a plotline/theme which has already appeared in multiple episodes, or perhaps one of the most horrific moments in the history of television. Since the Season Three finale was sufficiently atrocious to inspire the first entry in this blog, I felt obligated to keep a running journal of the fourth and sadly final season.

Episode One - F

- Probably the worst episode of a television show I have ever seen. Virtually all the characters have turned into caricatures of their former selves. Shockingly, Ryan is angry, moody, and best of all, cage fighting dudes three times his size. Che, a Brown student who may or may not be Summer’s new boyfriend/fling, is a stereotype of a stereotype of a tree hugging ivy league student. I can say with relative certainty that no person remotely like him exists on this planet. The episode features some decent comedy and a couple of poignant moments that are rendered worthless by the insane plot. I contemplated quitting the show once and for all after this episode but met the girlfriend of one of my classmates for the first time the night the episode aired, and she remarked that it seemed like a waste to watch the show for three full seasons and then quit only a handful of episodes before it will likely be cancelled.

Episode Two – B+

- I can’t remember the last episode of The OC that was this good. There were probably one or two last season and a few more in season two but I can’t recall which exact episodes those would be. Caitlin is really starting to come into her own. Willa Holland’s acting has improved tenfold since last season and for the first time in the show’s history, the writers seem to have discovered the nuance required for a character to consistently behave badly yet remain likable and not necessarily immoral. A killer cover by Band of Horses, a touching conversation between Ryan and Kirsten, and a riveting Sandy-Julie showdown cap off the stunning return to form.

Episode Three – B

- This episode brings back the sort of ridiculous, random plot points (e.g. random homeless people coming to the Cohen’s for Thanksgiving Dinner) that are extremely jarring to the viewer. The episode is otherwise a success with a few moving moments, comedy, and the continued emergence of Caitlin as a surprisingly sympathetic, nuanced character. Half way through the episode I became quite frustrated by the fact that Ryan is an out of control dumbass who would land himself in jail every single week if fate or one of the Cohens didn’t intervene. Thankfully, the writers seemingly took a step back and recognized this pitfall. I kept thinking to myself “I can’t watch this plotline another time, if only they’d let Ryan kill Volcheck and go to prison for eight years...” Instead, the writers did the next best thing by forcing Ryan to determine his own fate.

Episode Five – B+

- Holy shit the OC is fun again! It’s amazing what an incredible difference credibility makes for a television show. During the past couple seasons, over the top characters such as the Dean of Discipline and depressingly melodramatic plot lines shattered my suspension of disbelief while watching the show. Now that the plot lines have been reigned back in to the sort of day to day issues that ordinary people can relate to, not only is the show able to add the nuance necessary to make the interactions between characters more believable, my newfound trust in the show leaves me less likely to second guess something like a Ryan-Taylor relationship, which seemed ridiculous as recently as two episodes ago.

The Christmakkuh Episode – C-

- One of the most intriguing parts of the episode was guessing which character would be Summer’s tool fiancé in the bizarro alternate universe. Let’s just say that I was thoroughly nauseated by the decision to place Che/Chester’s in the role and the contrived explanation (“Well…huh…what if…Ryan took the last spot at Harbor…and Che’s family was going to move from Conneticut but couldn’t…and this would’ve maid him a huge tool…yeah!). Sometimes, writers seem to have a little bit too much fun and this appears to be one of those times. “Hey, what’s the wackiest, zaniest shit we can come up with? Sandy married to Julie? Hah! That’s classic!! Julie having an affair with a rich douche version of Che?! Genius!!” An always welcome reappearance from one of the show’s best characters (at this point Tate can blow everyone but Gallagher and Brody off the screen without even trying) and a good angle (“What if Marrisa is still alive?”) were completely wasted. Overall, this is the first big misstep since the horrific season debut. Nevertheless, the Kaitlin character gets better and better and feels more and more like an old friend with every episode. In some ways she’s almost modeled after Seth with her quick wit and snarky comments. Any time a character is playing the role of a viewer sitting on their couch and making smart alecky comments, the show avoids becoming overly serious.

Top 25 Songs For May

25. Of Montreal - Labyrinthian Pomp
24. Neil Young - Don't Cry No Tears
23. Deerhunter - Heatherwood
22. Pearl Jam - All Or None
21. Cat Power - I Don't Blame You
20. Feist - My Moon My Man
19. Cat Power - Free
18. The Wrens - They'll Need A Crane [They Might Be Giants Cover]
17. Deerhunter - Strange Lights
16. Slint - Washer
15. Of Montreal - Suffer For Fashion
14. Feist - I Feel It All
13. Neil Young - Pardon My Heart
12. Cat Power - He War
11. Of Montreal - Bunny Ain't No Kind Of Rider
10. Slint - Good Morning, Captain
9. Feist - Past In Present
8. Deerhunter - Spring Hall Convert
7. Of Montreal - Cato As Pun
6. Genius/GZA - B.I.B.L.E. (Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth)
5. Cat Power - Speak For Me
4. The Wrens - Our Brightest New Year
3. Of Montreal - She's A Rejector
2. Of Montreal - The Past Is A Grotesque Animal
1. Of Montreal - We Were Born The Mutants Again With Leafling

Top 25 Songs For April

25. Girl Talk - Hold Up
24. Andrew Bird - Fiery Crash
23. The Rosebuds - My Punishment For Fighting
22. The Veronicas - 4Ever
21. Andrew Bird - Plasticities
20. The Rosebuds - Silja Line
19. Lifetime - Somewhere In The Swamps Of New Jersey
18. Oxford Collapse - For The Khakis And The Sweatshirts
17. The Ponys - Turn The Lights Out
16. The Arcade Fire - Keep The Car Running
15. The Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
14. Modest Mouse - We've Got Everything
13. The Arcade Fire - Windowsill
12. Andrew Bird - Yawny At The Apocalypse
11. The Arcade Fire - No Cars Go
10. Modest Mouse - Florida
9. Modest Mouse - Parting Of The Sensory
8. The Arcade Fire - Ocean Of Noise
7. Oxford Collapse - Lady Lawyers
6. The Ponys - Small Talk
5. Sonic Youth - Cross The Breeze
4. Modest Mouse - Little Motel
3. The Arcade Fire - Black Wave / Bad Vibrations
2. Modest Mouse - March Into The Sea
1. Modest Mouse - Spitting Venom

The Lineup!

Today is a big day. At long last, the lineup for Lollapalooza 2007 has been announced. As expected, it’s a doozy. While my inclination is to dive headfirst into the catalogues of some of the more hyped acts I’ve never listened to, the best course of action is to hold off until the schedule is announced; becoming obsessed with a band only to discover they’re playing opposite one of your favorites can be highly traumatic.

I cannot urge people to come to Lollapalooza enough. Tickets will set you back considerably but three long days of ecstasy is worth plenty of money in my opinion. My studio apartment is starting to look a bit crowded but I vow to take whatever means necessary to find room for any out-of-towners interested in attending. If I somehow can’t house you, I’ll find someone who can.

Without further ado, here’s my take on the lineup:

Acts I’ve Previously Seen Live (with the number of times I’ve seen them and the grade I’m assigning to their live set in parentheses):

My Morning Jacket (Once, Incomplete)
- Really, I just grew frustrated waiting for their set to end from half a mile away while waiting for Sleater-Kinney to come on at Lolla last year. Supposedly they’re a great live band.

Pete Yorn (Once, Incomplete)
- I somewhat distractedly listened to Pete Yorn from three quarters of a mile away at a free concert in Grant Park a few years back.

The Hold Steady (Four times, A)
- If you’ve never seen the Craig Finn and company live, it truly is something to behold.

Elvis Perkins in Dearland (Twice, C+)
- Kevin and I saw Elvis and his band open for Okkervil River at Schubas on consecutive nights in October. Kevin came away somewhat impressed; I didn’t.

Bound Stems (Three times, A)
- Chitown's own Bound Stems play a tight set and more importantly, with the possible exception of the aforementioned Hold Steady, they seem to have more fun on stage than any other act I’ve ever seen.

Ten Most Anticipated Acts (In order):

10. Peter Bjorn & John and Yo La Tengo (tie)
9. Bound Stems
8. The Hold Steady
7. Tapes ‘N Tapes
- Twin Cities represent!
6. TV On The Radio
5. Annuals
4. Lupe Fiasco
3. Pearl Jam
- The most prolific band of my generation?
2. Silversun Pickups
1. Modest Mouse
- I’m extremely grateful to have a reprieve after passing up the opportunity to finally see them later this month.

Five Most Underwhelming Acts (In order):

5. Elvis Perkins in Dearland
4. The Rapture
3. Julliette & The Licks
2. Satellite Party
1. Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals

Ten Bands I’ve Been Looking For An Excuse To Start Listening To (In no particular order):

Regina Spektor, LCD Soundsystem, Sean Lennon, Rhymefest, Spoon, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Polyphonic Spree, Heartless Bastards, Sparklehorse, !!!

Mixology: Part Three

So a while back, my friend Long told me that mix CDs are only for teenagers with a crush. In an effort to refute this bullshit claim, I’ve spend the last few months fine tuning the third “official Jeremy Barr mix.” Somebody Better Put Me Back Down is now available in IPod (acc/mp4) quality, CD (wav) quality, and on an actual CD-R if I’ll be seeing you in person. Let me know if you’d like a copy and I’ll hook you up.

Top 25 Songs For March

This month's Top 25 would be the 2007 NBA draft with plenty of depth and two superstars (Greg Oden and Kevin Durant), either of which you'd be afraid to pass on in the number one spot.

25. Pearl Jam - In Hiding
24. Neil Young - Ambulance Blues
23. Pearl Jam - No Way
22. Pop Unknown - As God And Everest
21. Say Hi To Your Mom - They Write Books About This Sort Of Thing
20. Pop Unknown - The Next Big Thing
19. Youth Group - Lilian Lies
18. Pop Unknown - Contact
17. Aimee Mann - Nothing Is Good Enough
16. Aimee Mann - It Takes All Kinds
15. Wilco - Hotel Arizona
14. Youth Group - Someone Else's Dream
13. Pearl Jam - Smile
12. Pop Unknown - The Invisible Complex
11. Youth Group - See-Saw
10. Aimee Mann - Calling It Quits
9. Lifetime - Northbound Breakdown
8. Pearl Jam - Low Light
7. Wilco - Outta Sight (Outta Mind)
6. Pop Unknown - Another Holliday
5. Lifetime - Records At Night
4. Aimee Mann - How Am I Different?
3. Youth Group - Skeleton Jar
2. The Long Winters - The Commander Thinks Aloud
1. Lifetime - Just A Quiet Evening

A New Creative Endeavor

Kevin and I have started a video/music project. For the full scoop and our first piece of work, check out Kevin’s latest blog entry.

Top 25 Songs For February

If this month's Top 25 were an NBA draft it would be one of the deepest in history but without any true superstars.

25. Youth Group - Sorry
24. Youth Group - On A String
23. Lifter Puller - Nice, Nice
22. Sleater-Kinney - Call The Doctor
21. The Long Winters - Unsalted Butter
20. Silversun Pickups - Common Reactor
19. The Rolling Stones - Sway
18. Rogue Wave - Eyes
17. Sleater-Kinney - Heart Attack
16. Sleater-Kinney - Good Things
15. Air - Highschool Lover
14. Pop Unknown - Your Own Personal Wedding
13. Menomena - The Pelican
12. Youth Group - Dead Zoo
11. Youth Group - Start Today Tomorrow
10. Lifter Puller - Space Humping $19.99
9. Youth Group - Catching & Killing
8. The Long Winters - Carparts
7. Cat Power - Metal Heart
6. Say Hi To Your Mom - The Twenty-Second Century
5. Silversun Pickups - Future Foe Scenarios
4. Neil Young - Tonight's The Night - Part II
3. Pop Unknown - Tipping The Scale
2. Silversun Pickups - Well Thought Out Twinkles
1. Say Hi To Your Mom - The Death Of Girl Number Two

Top 25 Songs For January

Song comments will return someday, I'm just not sure when.

25. The Shins - Australia
24. Samiam - The Bridge
23. Annuals - Fair
22. Joanna Newsom - Bridges And Balloons
21. The Shins - Sleeping Lessons
20. The Good, The Bad, And The Queen - Herculean
19. The Good, The Bad, And The Queen - The Good, The Bad, And The Queen
18. Joanna Newsom - Sadie
17. Pop Unknown - Half Of Ninety
16. The Shins - Phantom Limb
15. Pop Unknown - Tattoo Your Image (On The World)
14. Jebediah - La Di Da Da
13. Say Hi To Your Mom - Let's Talk About Spaceships
12. The Shins - Split Needles
11. Say Hi To Your Mom - Pop Music Of The Future
10. Neutral Milk Hotel - Holland, 1945
9. Sally Shapiro - I'll Be By Your Side
8. Joe Cocker - With A Little Help From My Friends [Beatles Cover]
7. Neutral Milk Hotel - King Of Carrot Flowers Part 1
6. Neutral Milk Hotel - Two-Headed Boy Part 2
5. Pop Unknown - Oh Kay
4. Joanna Newsom - Peach, Plumb, Pair
3. The Shins - Girl Sailor
2. T.I. - What You Know?
1. Pop Unknown - Perfect In Venice

Top 10 Albums of 2006

10. Bound Stems - Appreciation Night
9. Say Hi To Your Mom - Impeccable Blahs
8. The Long Winters - Putting The Days To Bed
7. Mates Of State - Bring It Back
6. Blackpool Lights - This Town's Disaster
5. We Are Scientists - With Love And Squalor
4. The Hold Steady - Boys And Girls In America
3. Joanna Newsome - Ys
2. Maritime - We, The Vehicles
1. Forget Cassettes - Salt

Honorable Mention: The Killers - Sam's Town, Adem - Love & Other Planets, Band Of Horses - Everything All The Time, Asobi Seksu - Citrus, Cursive - Happy Hollow, Danielson - Ships, Sonic Youth - Rather Ripped, Amusement Parks On Fire - Out Of The Angeles, Moneen - The Red Tree, Saves The Day - Sound The Alarm, I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness - Fear Is On Our Side

Top 25 Songs For December

25. Hot Chip - Look After Me
24. Swan Lake - All Fires
23. Neil Young - The Restless Consumer
22. Lupe Fiasco - Kick, Push
21. Peter Bjorn & John - Paris 2004
20. Neko Case - Star Witness
19. Yo La Tengo - Black Flowers
18. Peter Bjorn & John - Up Against The Wall
17. Neko Case - Maybe Sparrow
16. TV On The Radio - I Was A Lover
15. Annuals - Dry Clothes
14. Belle & Sebastian - To Be Myself Completely
13. TV On The Radio - Wolf Like Me
12. Neko Case - The Needle Has Landed
11. Hot Chip - The Warning
10. Annuals - Complete Or Completing
9. Rock Plaza Central - When We Go, How We Go (Part II)
8. Rock Plaza Central - We've Got A Lot To Be Glad For
7. Lupe Fiasco featuring Gemini & Sarah Green - He Say She Say
6. Yo La Tengo - The Race Is On Again
5. Rock Plaza Central - When We Go, How We Go (Part I)
4. Peter Bjorn & John - Young Folks
3. Jurassic 5 featuring Nelly Furtado - Thin Line
2. Yo La Tengo - Beanbag Chair
1. Neko Case - Hold On, Hold On