(t5!) My Year In Lists 2006: Albums! 20 to 16

If skills sold, The Roots would be as huge as ?uestlove’s afro. If the Okayplayer community had its way, Black Thought would be regarded as one of the all-time bests. However, because of their band image, they're more attractive to the rock crowd than to the conventional hip-hop fans. Their coalition with Jay-Z might’ve been triggered by this desperation for radio. But, rather than surrendering, rather than filling the album with club bangers, The Roots went back to their roots. The unyielding grit of the production hasn’t been this apparent since the turn of the millennium. Black Thought sounds hungry once again, like he’s revitalized by the label change. If skills sold, The Roots would be the barometer of success in the game of hip-hop.

[In The Music | Long Time | Clock With No Hands]

By now, the blogs and message boards have probably moved on to someone else. There’s always a new opening act performance or a new leaked track to get the inter-web rumbling again, someone new to revel as “the next big thing”. However, even if the buzz has subsided for Annuals’ debut album, its quality hasn’t diminished since its release (or pre-release hype). Be He Me is still effective at conceiving a dreamscape with their kaleidoscope of acoustic guitars, piano chords, strings, and other embellishments. Their transitions lead you to a familiar path now, but the adventure is still prismatic. And Adam Baker, the architect of it all, still has uncanny potential. At 20, I can assure that this isn’t the last time he’ll be talked about.

[Brother | Dry Clothes | Ida, My]

Lost underneath an industry shuffle for three long years, it almost never existed. So for their return, Clipse are vindictive, taking shots at the men in suits as well as crafting verses about drug-dealing for survival and renewal of fame and wealth. Like the first LP, The Neptunes are responsible for the spacious black-and-white loops and percussions. They’re filled in with Pusha T and Malice’s shades of grey, fierce ones that are flooded with clever similes and wordplay. Both array of sounds interplay well each other; the rhymes vivify the beats’ iciness, the beats frame the rawness of the rhymes. Whichever labelhead is responsible for the delay is kicking himself after hearing this.

[Mr. Me Too | Ride Around Shining | Trill]

Everything about Beirut screams “Balkan”, from the exotic song titles to the diverse instrumentation (marching horns, accordions, and ukeleles to name a few). And, in reality, the current music scene isn’t really flooded with Balkan music, which is why this gem was endorsed by the blogosphere for its rarity. However, Zach Condon, by way of Albuquerque, is a lot closer to pop aces such as Stephin Merritt and Jens Lekman than the pioneers of Eastern European music—though I can’t think of anyone in particular off the top of my head. Gulag Orkestar is far more than an indie rendering of Eastern European music. It’s inspired by that little corner of the world, but its appeal is more global than you should assume.

[Postcards From Italy | Mount Wroclai (Idle Days) | Scenic World]

The popularization of indie music seemed inevitable after the splatter of its tidbits in today’s pop culture. Record label executives are bottling the indieness of already established bands to sell in cases. And so, when there was news that The Decemberists has left the label Kill Rock Stars for Capitol, many are curious to what extent are they going to alter their mariner folk for radio. The Crane Wife has been noticeably doctored but for the better; thankfully, none of their existing quality has been jeopardized. Colin Meloy’s captivating tales, the true highlight of the band, are now told with a more polished accompaniment. If this is the result of an increased influx in cash, every indie band should line up for an opportunity to soundtrack The OC.

[The Crane Wife, Pt. 3 | Yankee Bayonet (I Will Be Home Then) | Shankhill Butchers]