Bob's Best of 2006

[JVH (f/k/a Bob Dubilina)]

Bob Dubilina's Top Twenty Albums of 2006

2006 was the Year of the Single. There was a plethora of wonderful tunes to be found everywhere from commercial radio to the no man's land of independent web sites, blogs and – surprisingly enough – even YouTube. Alas, what also hurt most artists this year was the drive to make every song on their entire album sound like it belonged on the Top 40. It's a novel idea, but it's near impossible to pull off. Also, when a song has a strong chorus adrift in a sea of dreadful lyrics and/or dull arrangements, the band comes across as lazy and inept. Seriously, what's the point of releasing an entire record of good choruses if the verses kill the mood every time?

Thankfully, there were still plenty of impressive releases this year. While a few artists did succeed in loading their record with what easily could be hit single after hit single, a select handful found it best to simply share their voice and let the chips fall where they may. Below are my picks of what you should have been listening to last year. If you missed out, make it a priority to listen to these albums right away. You can always tell people you were there from the beginning. Go ahead! Fib it up! As long as you're enjoying music by these artists who truly deserve to be heard, your dirty little secret is completely safe with me.

Happy (Belated) 2007!
BobbyDobbyD
[e-mail]

[JVH (f/k/a Bob Dubilina)]

1. Josh Ritter / The Animal Years
Five Tracks You Need to Hear: Girl In The War; Best Is For The Best; Thin Blue Flame; Monster Ballads; Wolves
Sorry, Coheed & Cambria, I spoke too soon regarding the Best Album of the Decade. However, if you are going to come in second place, there's no shame in following in the wake of Idaho singer-songwriter Josh Ritter's elegant masterpiece The Animal Years. Armed with an earnest voice and an amazing knack of making dense, multifaceted verses come across as spare, down-to-earth folk songs, Ritter assuredly weaves an exquisite lyrical tapestry with this stellar album. (Sound pretentious? Well, just remember those are my words and not his.) There are many layers and double meanings that will continue to catch you by surprise even after repeated listenings, and the track arrangement alone is worthy of praise. For the best comparison I'd tell you to mix equal parts Tom Waits and Leonard Cohen, add a liberal dose of Paul Simon and set it in a Mark Twain novel. Simply put, The Animal Years is a timeless, unassuming tour de force that deserves every bit of your attention. Trust me, you won't be disappointed.
www.joshritter.com

2. Blue October / Foiled
Three Tracks You Need to Hear: Overweight; Hate Me; Sound Of Pulling Heaven Down
Justin Furstenfeld, lead singer of Houston-based quintet Blue October, is quite skilled at transforming his pain into compelling art. Foiled is an excellent recording that is undeniably rife with hatred, fear, regret, (self-)loathing and other equally terrible demons that seem to haunt this poor man every waking hour of his life. More surprisingly, though, is the fact that it's also an album brimming with hope. Through all the twisted emotions and dark thoughts, there's the unwavering perception to do better each day, to find peace somewhere within, to forgive yourself and once again find happiness. As if there's a second chance to get it right. As if things are bound to look up any minute now.

You know what? I'd like to believe there is. I'd like to believe they will.
www.blueoctober.com

3. Brindley Brothers / Filled With Fire
Three Tracks You Need to Hear: Death In The City; Angel; Grace
Wow, talk about blowing the sophomore curse out of the water! A la Pete Yorn's first-rate Day I Forgot in 2004, the Brindley Brothers not only delivered a superior follow-up to their debut release, they also perfected a sound that's the next best thing to – and arguably even better than – classic Springsteen. (Is it coincidence that both Yorn and the Brindley Bros. hail from New Jersey? I think not!) Simply put, Filled With Fire is an impressive release that skillfully captures rich snapshots of late summer in the big city and life on any side of town where everyone is overworked and underpaid. The Brindley Brothers should be applauded for their excellent craftsmanship and everyman appeal.
www.brindleybrothers.com

4. People In Planes / As Far As The Eye Can See . . .
Three Tracks You Need to Hear: Token Trapped Woman; Penny; Falling By The Wayside
People In Planes . . . goddamn, what can I say? In my opinion, Welsh rockers PIP's As Far As The Eye Can See . . . was hands down the weirdest, darkest and most pervasive album of 2006. These guys come across as Pink Floyd with teeth. I spent a long time with this record trying to break it down, analyze every lyric, every ambient sound buried in the layers of music. Bursting with originality and atmosphere, As Far As The Eye Can See . . . would be perfect as an alternative soundtrack to some graphic sci-fi film noir. Think Blade Runner. Or Dark City. That's where this album belongs.
www.peopleinplanes.com

5. Gnarls Barkley / St. Elsewhere
Three Tracks You Need to Hear: Just A Thought; Who Cares?; Storm Coming
I've been absolutely shocked by the fact that so many people have yet to hear Gnarls Barkley's remarkable debut in its entirety. Without a doubt, St. Elsewhere is the most inventive, quirky and refreshingly original recording of 2006, and it's a goddamn crime that more people haven't appreciated it as a whole. Comprised of DJ and producer Danger Mouse and rapper Cee-Lo Green, Gnarls Barkley comes across as a mischievous Marvin Gaye for the digital age. These boys are clever in both their arrangements and tongue-in-cheek lyrics, and they had the good fortune this year to achieve the proper amount of acclaim and airplay for their hard-earned efforts. If you've yet to pick up your own copy of St. Elsewhere, I encourage you to correct that as soon as possible. It's not often that Top 40 radio and the Grammys get it right.
www.gnarlsbarkley.com

6. Danko Jones / Sleep Is The Enemy
Three Tracks You Need to Hear: Baby Hates Me; Time Heals Nothing; Invisible
Leave it to the commanding Danko Jones to deliver the Break-Up Album of the Year with Sleep Is The Enemy. Addressing everything from cruel indifference, intense frustration, brash desire, paralyzing heartache and good ol'-fashioned revenge, this power rock trio brings you a batch of tunes that make you want to sweat out all those hurt and bitter feelings you might feel about love and get you ready to get back on the horse and try again.
www.dankojones.com

7. Tom Petty / Highway Companion
Three Tracks You Need to Hear: Saving Grace; Turn This Car Around; This Old Town
Reuniting with long-time friend, producer and fellow Traveling Wilbury Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty delivered his finest piece of work in over a decade with Highway Companion. Essentially chronicling life – or perhaps a lifetime – on the road, Petty invites the listener to hop in the backseat for a ride on lonely desert highways littered with memories both bitter and sweet. Without a doubt the most literal title of any album this year, Highway Companion is a reminder that the journey will always be more important than the destination. Just remember to roll the windows down and enjoy the breeze every once and while.
www.tompetty.com

8. Red Hot Chili Peppers / Stadium Arcadium
Five Tracks You Need to Hear: Wet Sand; Dani California; Especially In Michigan; Strip My Mind; Charlie
I must be one of the few people out there who believe that the Red Hot Chili Peppers only get better with age. In fact, I've only really started liking the band in the past five or six years, and with the release of their double-disc Stadium Arcadium, I have to say that RHCP has completely won me over. An ever-impressive powerhouse album chock full of catchy hooks, rousing choruses and brilliant breakdowns, Stadium Arcadium is nothing to scoff at, let alone write off. The level of energy these guys sustain throughout both of these discs is proof enough that RHCP is without a doubt at the top of their game. Bravo!
www.redhotchilipeppers.com

9. The Great Crusades / Four Thirty
Three Tracks You Need to Hear: Billy Smashes It Up; Heathers Will Haunt You; Are We Having Fun Anymore?
It's a thrilling experience to watch a band put aside their usual formula, try something completely different and stumble upon pure gold in the process. Better yet, it only cost me three cases of beer and a really bad bottle of whisky to witness it! The Great Crusades took a new approach to crafting Four Thirty – their fifth release – in 2006 by making it a completely collaborative effort. Instead of writing the lyrics ahead of time, frontman Brian Krumm decided to take a more relaxed approach to songwriting by going straight into the studio and making the bulk of it on the spot. The result is the rawest, most energetic GC release to date, a wild rollercoaster ride of a record that sounds like a sinister love letter to classic rock. Not their most introspective record by any means, but these boys sound (and definitely looked) like they had the time of their lives putting it together.
www.thegreatcrusades.com

10. Elton John / The Captain & The Kid
Three Tracks You Need to Hear: Tinderbox; Wouldn't Have It Any Other Way (NYC); Just Like Noah's Ark
I consider Elton John's Captain Fantastic & The Brown Dirt Cowboy to be one of the finest albums ever made. Not only is it one of my favorite records of all time, it's also a staple on any road trip. An autobiographical rock opera about his creative partnership with lyricist Bernie Taupin and their hard-earned rise to fame, it's arguably his finest work to date both musically and lyrically.

Well, thirty years after Captain Fantastic's release, John and Taupin decided to tackle the long-awaited sequel, addressing everything that's come and gone since the wild heydays of their dizzying success, with The Captain & The Kid. Of course, this dynamic duo has had no difficulty prolonging their celebrity, but it hasn't exactly been smooth sailing either. When you listen to this album, you find that there's plenty of sour to go with the sweet. Although not as commanding as its predecessor – cramming thirty years of personal history into one album leaves Sir Elton to focus more on the broader issues – The Captain & The Kid is a fine testament to friendship and learning how to age with grace (superstardom optional).
www.eltonjohn.com

[JVH (f/k/a Bob Dubilina)]

11. Big City Rock / Big City Rock
Three Tracks You Need to Hear: Sink; Human; They Won't Mind
Finally, retro-80's rock done right. Fuckin' A++!
www.bigcityrock.net

12. TOOL / 10,000 Days
Three Tracks You Need to Hear: The Pot; Vicarious; Lost Keys (Blame Hofmann)/Rosetta Stoned
TOOL returns after a five-year spell with another solid release. Nothing too ground-breaking here, but does a hurricane need to come in with new gimmicks every time in order to leave an impressive trail of destruction in its path? No, it doesn't. Neither does Maynard James Keenan. Pay your respects!
www.toolband.com

13. Bruce Springsteen / We Shall Overcome – The Seeger Sessions
Three Tracks You Need to Hear: O Mary Don't You Weep; My Oklahoma Home; Froggie Went A Courtin'
Bruce Springsteen invited any number of talented musicians to his New Jersey farmhouse for a long weekend for the sole purpose of dusting off and brushing up a collection of traditional folk songs. Recorded live in one take with excellent results. Also makes for a nice companion piece to John Mellencamp's superb 2004 folk/blues tribute Trouble No More.
www.brucespringsteen.net

14. Barenaked Ladies / Barenaked Ladies Are Me
Three Tracks You Need to Hear: Take It Back; Maybe You're Right; Adrift
The Barenaked Ladies' strength more often than not relies on their ability to craft catchy pop songs around dark-humored, tongue-in-cheek lyrics about any range of disturbing subjects. If you're not familiar with the band – or if you've yet to take notice of the lyrics on some of their popular singles – you'd be surprised by how frequently BNL addresses suicide, depression, heartbreak, revenge and existentialism. However, what happens when you take away the pop element? Answer: Barenaked Ladies Are Me. The most organic Barenaked Ladies record to date, BNL Are Me unfortunately lacks the punch and even some of the sharp wit that makes this band so worthy of adoration. Not a bad album by any means – in fact, a handful of songs on this record hit me harder than most this year – but I still wouldn't recommend it to someone who's not already a fan.
www.bnlmusic.com

15. Joseph Arthur / Nuclear Daydream
Three Tracks You Need to Hear: Black Lexus; Nuclear Daydream; Don't Tell Your Eyes
Joseph Arthur decided to go the minimalist route this time around with his self-released Nuclear Daydream. Light on production and the purging of inner demons, this turns out to be his most vibrant record yet.
www.josepharthur.com

16. Bobby Bare Jr.'s Young Criminals' Starvation League / The Longest Meow
Three Tracks You Need to Hear: Stop Crying; Sticky Chemical; The Heart Bionic
Due to Bobby Bare Jr.'s uncanny ability to see the world with a childlike perspective, he reveals a playfulness that has never been seen before in rock 'n' roll. That said, The Longest Meow is basically a children's storybook with adult themes set to music. Rich with peculiar references to love and how it affects humans, robots and tormented souls alike, BBJ & Co. muse over the silliness and sadness of life on this boisterous and amusing record.
www.bobbybarejr.com

17. Scissor Sisters / Ta-Dah
Three Tracks You Need to Hear: Might Tell You Tonight; I Can't Decide; Kiss You Off
Although nowhere near as captivating as their 2004 debut – my favorite album of that year, by the way – the Scissor Sisters' sophomore release Ta-Dah is impressive in the fact that the band obviously made a real effort to further find their voice and hone their craft. Yes, you will bellyache at some point about how it's not as good as their first release, but try not to overlook the fact that this album has more than enough character to stand on its own. Still as eclectic as its predecessor – touching on everything from vaudeville to 70's glam pop to gay disco – Tah-Dah turns out to be a solid continuation of a sound and style that makes the Scissor Sisters totally unique and worth every bit of your attention.
www.scissorsisters.com

18. The Coup / Pick A Bigger Weapon
Three Tracks You Need to Hear: My Favorite Mutiny; Sho Yo Ass; Laugh/Love/Fuck
I've been asking everyone lately, "Have you heard of The Coup?" I read about them in Rolling Stone's Best of 2006 where they raved about the sweet and silly R&B ballad BabyLet'sHaveABabyBeforeBushDoSomethin'Crazy. That song led me to the rest of the critically-lauded Pick A Bigger Weapon, and I am so glad that I stumbled upon this gem of a record. Insightful yet hysterical rhymes from a hip-hop act not afraid throw down the gauntlet when it comes to fighting The Man. Quite fiery, quite enjoyable. I'm not the biggest fan of hip-hop, but I could easily get behind this funk-rap with a strong message and a wicked sense of humor.
www.thecoupmusic.net

19. Ben Harper / Both Sides of the Gun
Five Tracks You Need to Hear: Better Way; Black Rain; Gather 'Round The Stone; Crying Won't Help You Now; Picture In A Frame
Much like the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Ben Harper experienced a burst of creativity in 2006, resulting in the excellent two-disc Both Sides of the Gun. With one disc focused on the essential singer-songwriter themes of love and loss and the other a politically-charged rock album, Harper has more than enough rich material here to draw any listener in. Whether at a free love gathering, at home on a rainy day or the start of the revolution, Both Sides of the Gun makes for an excellent soundtrack.
www.benharper.com

20. Joe Bonamassa / You & Me
Three Tracks You Need to Hear: Bridge To Better Days; Torn Down; Tea For One
Nobody does power blues better than good ol' Joey B., and what a blessing it is to hear him pull out all stops on the stellar You & Me. Not since his 2002 release So, It's Like That has our favorite bluesman shown such piss and vinegar. From his compelling originals to the mind-blowin' Zeppelin cover (feat. Healing Sixes' Doug Henthorn on vocals), Bonamassa uses his nimble fingers and raw vocals to show everyone that he has a sound and a fury all his own. When it comes to blues guitar virtuosos, accept no substitutes.
www.jbonamassa.com

The Hot'n'Nasty Three-Way for #21

The Fags / Light 'Em Up
Three Tracks You Need to Hear: Here's Looking At You; Siren Song; Mistake
Great power pop, worst band name ever. Nothing too deep from this Detroit-based trio here but the simple message to get up, get dressed, go out and win the girl (back). That, or drink until you forget about her.
[Editor's Note: Shit, The Fags have broken up! Read this to learn more about how signing with a big label lead to the band's early demise.]
www.myspace.com/thefagsmusic

Jurassic 5 / Feedback
Three Tracks You Need to Hear: Gotta Understand; Future Sound; Brown Girl
Although quick to promote themselves ad nauseum as the next best thing since sliced bread and masturbation combined(!), Jurassic 5 pulled something off this year that I rarely hear in hip-hop – a positive message.
www.jurassic5.com

John Mayer / Continuum
Three Tracks You Need to Hear: Slow Dancing In A Burning Room; Vultures; I Don’t Trust Myself (With Loving You)
Deftly mixing the pop feel of his debut Room For Squares and the R&B format that he tinkered with to mixed results in his follow-up Heavier Things, John Mayer hits a bullseye with Continuum. (For the record, though, the big hit single Waiting On The World To Change is just plain absurd. Make sure to skip that track.)
www.johnmayer.com

[JVH (f/k/a Bob Dubilina)]

Top EP of 2006

Lucky Boys Confusion / How To Get Out Alive EP
I cannot give enough praise to this EP. It's magnificent. It's a slap in the face, a loaded gun, a line in the sand, a rallying cry to the masses to get up and fight for the integrity and respect they deserve. And it's only 5 songs – one at that a cover. With obvious references to their rough-and-tumble experience of dealing with a big label, LBC decided to make their first completely independent release a testament to surviving the game and coming out both tougher and wiser.
www.luckyboys.com

Best Reissue of 2006

Def Leppard / Hysteria [Deluxe Edition]
You know you can't stop it
So don't rock it
You know you got it
Hey, but are you gettin' it?
Ooh, really gettin' it?
Oh, come get it from me!
<Give me all of your lovin'>
Every little bit
<Give me all that you got>
Every bit of it
<Every bit of of your lovin'>
Oh, c'mon, and live a bit
<Never want it to stop>
Hey, but are you gettin' it?
<I’m a-getting' it!>
Really gettin' it?
<YES, I'M ARMAGEDDON IT!>

Fuck. Yeah.

Best Overlooked Album of 2005

Panic! At The Disco / A Fever You Can't Sweat Out
Three Tracks You Need To Hear: I Write Sins, Not Tragedies; Build God, Then We'll Talk; Camisado
Goddamn, how I wish that I found out about this record in 2005! It would have easily have earned a spot in my Top 5. Alas, I missed that chance, but because I spent so much of this year absorbing every bit of it, I decided to mention it here:

Hailing from Las Vegas – ground zero for sin and vice – Panic! At The Disco crafted a magnificent and unbelievably captivating dance/emo-pop/rock record centered on fashion, fame, sex, pills, scandal, hedonism, prostitution (both sexual and artistic), paranoia, divas, cross-dressers and drama queens galore. Transcending their emo roots with their razor-sharp – and I mean sharp!– lyrics, infectious choruses and frenetic pacing, P!ATD have unleashed an entirely new music style all their own. This is possibly the first good sign that the next up-and-coming contenders for Top 40 commercial radio aren't totally void of wit. Let's hope it's a promise of things to come and not just a happy accident.

Honorable Mentions of 2006

+44 / When Your Heart Stops Beating
Afterhours / Ballads For Little Hyenas
Audioslave / Revelations
Now this is the promise of what great musicians can do. Cornell & Co. more than make up for their middling sophomore release Out Of Exile with this badass record.
Scott H. Biram / Graveyard Shift
The Black Angels / Passover
The Black Keys / Chulahoma EP
The Black Keys / Magic Potion
Blind Guardian / Twist In The Myth
Buckcherry / 15
Bullets and Octane / In The Mouth Of The Young
Johnny Cash / American V: A Hundred Highways
Catfish Haven / Please Come Back EP
Think of a garage rock version of Joe Cocker and you're all set. Oddly enough, I thought this EP was even stronger than the Tell Me LP that they released later in the year.
Catfish Haven / Tell Me
Catsplash / Four Happiness EP
Collective Soul / Home
Cordero / En Este Momento
Damone / Out Here All Night EP
Dredg / Live At The Fillmore
Dixie Chicks / Taking The Long Way
Eagles of Death Metal / Death By Sexy
EELS / Live At Town Hall
Best live album I've heard in a long, long time.
Jeremy Enigk / World Waits
Adam Fallon / Slightly Used EP
The Flaming Lips / At War With The Mystics
Fluid Minds / Love In Analog EP
Peter Frampton / Fingerprints
Michael Franti & Spearhead / Yell Fire!
Nelly Furtado / Loose
Gin Blossoms / Major Lodge Victory
Goo Goo Dolls / Let Love In
Guster / Ganging Up On The Sun
Ice Cube / Laugh Now, Cry Later
Jesus H. Christ and the Four Hornsmen of the Apocalypse / Jesus H. Christ And The Four Hornsmen Of The Apocalypse
Mat Kearney / Nothing Left To Lose
The Killers / Sam's Town
I hate to admit it, but props to The Killers for doing something much different than everyone expected them to do with this sophomore release. Alas, after a promising start, Sam's Town runs out of steam somewhere around the halfway mark, but it was better to listen to them take a risk rather than stick with the same ol' formula that made them so popular – and made me so bored – in the first place.
Dewey Kincaide & The Navigators / Love & War Preview
The Kooks / Inside In/Inside Out
Jerry Lee Lewis / Last Man Standing
Lube / Lube EP
Lucero / Rebels, Rogues & Sworn Brothers
Aimee Mann / One More Drifter In The Snow
Willie Mason / Where The Humans Eat
Meat Loaf / Bat Out Of Hell III: The Monster Is Loose
In an attempt to make up for the lack of Jim Steinman -- the lyricist and backbone of the first two Bat Out Of Hell records -- on this third installment, Meat Loaf threw quite a number of unexpected curveballs here to keep the listeners on their toes. While a few tunes will leave one baffled and thinking, "This is Meat Loaf?", there are times when he hits it on the head and you smile and whoop, "Yeah! Now THIS is Meat Loaf!"
My Chemical Romance / The Black Parade
A surprisingly good emo-puck rock opera about death, dying and various other morbid subjects. Instead of crying their way to pre-teen emo oblivion, My Chemical Romance made the smart choice to inject a little maturity into their music and lyrics, even if they did decide to borrow heavily from the likes of Queen, KISS and – oddly enough – Motley Crue. Great. Now I need to call my little sister and tell her that not all of her music sucks.
Willie Nile / Streets Of New York
Oh yes, Willie Nile, a disciple of Bob Dylan who made an album so good that it kicked Dylan's own 2006 release Modern Times to the curb and then stole all its lunch money.
People In Planes / The Acoustic EP
The Raconteurs / Broken Boy Soldiers
Ratatat / Classics
Damien Rice / 9
Paul Simon / Surprise
Smoosh / Free To Stay
This sister duo just entering their teens prove that they're more than a novelty act with a surprisingly good follow-up to their debut She Like Electric. If these girls keep it up, I'm guessing they'll be climbing the charts long before they're able to legally drive a car.
Garrison Starr / The Sound Of You And Me
One of the most impressive female singer-songwriters to appear on the radar in a long time. Her voice alone is reason enough to buy this record.
The Streets / The Hardest Way To Make An Easy Living
Tom Waits / Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers & Bastards
We Are Scientists / With Love And Squalor
What Four / What Four EP
White Light Riot / The Dark Is Light Enough EP
The Who / Endless Wire
The Wreckers / Stand Still, Look Pretty
Thom Yorke / Eraser
Yeah, yeah, I know . . . I generally hate Thom Yorke and his precious Radiohead. However, this solo effort was worthy of a listen, so check it out and come to your own conclusions.
Neil Young / Living With War

Most Disappointing Albums of 2006

Army of Anyone / Army Of Anyone
The music of Stone Temple Pilots + the voice of Filter = Stone Temple Pilots cover band desperate to prove that they have originals of their own. While I'm certain lead singer Richard Patrick had the best of intentions of breaking away from his usual industrial-rock formula, the DeLeo brothers obviously had little interest in trying something new. It's a fucking crime that so much talent could make such a forgettable record. Not bad, mind you, but boring. Even worse, it's already been done. Fuel played with and mastered this formula ten years ago and did it a hundred times better!

Def Leppard / Yeah!
Def Leppard, you are not a goddamn cover band, so if you are going to make an album of covers, make 'em your own! Def Leppardize accordingly! Why didn't you Def Leppardize accordingly?

Evanescence / The Open Door
Close it. And don't come a-knockin' round these parts until you learn how to write an entire song, not just the chorus.

Jeff Martin / Exile & The Kingdom
Let me get this straight, Mr. Martin: You decide to break up one of the most consistently interesting modern rock acts today – that's The Tea Party for all of you not in the know – in order to pursue your dream of being what, a wimpy fuckin' solo coffee house artist? Where's the intensity, where's the passion, where's the ANGER! Hands down, no argument, THE MOST disappointing album of 2006. What a fuckin' waste of his talent and our time . . .

The Mountain Goats / Get Lonely
Wow. I know you can't expect an artist to hit it out of the ballpark every time, but following on the heels of The Sunset Tree, this one's a clunker.

Tenacious D / The Pick Of Destiny
For the record, this is The Pick Of Destiny not Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny: The Soundtrack. You'd figure that with five years to write a follow-up to their outstanding 2001 debut, the boys of Tenacious D could make a record that would be funny and could stand apart from their movie by the same name. Guess not.

Pete Yorn / Nightcrawler
This one's a headscratcher. I didn't hate it, but it failed to keep my attention. Not the worst album by any means, but it's a sign that something's wrong when the best song on the record is a cover of Warren Zevon's Splendid Isolation that was previously featured on the 2005 Zevon tribute album Enjoy Every Sandwich.

Top 5 Concerts of 2006

1. Mike Doughty, Old Town School of Folk Music, 03/18/06
An intimate solo concert that had been completely sold out as far back as November 2005, and we got our seats in the final hour. After securing a second Q&A session with the man, his management was gracious enough to literally add two more chairs on the balcony so we could stay for the show. The minute he started playing, I was hooked. When he premiered the stellar as-yet-to-be-released How To Fuck A Republican, I was in love. Better yet, it was my first concert with Maeve during an already unforgettable St. Paddy's Day weekend.
www.mikedoughty.com

2. Lennon, Wise Fools Pub, 02/24/06
It's not every day that one gets to kidnap a rockstar, take her out to dinner, bond over your mutual love of Harry Chapin and Ziggy Stardust and then attend her concert. It was made even more special when she shared the events of that night with her audience: "So I go back to his place for this 'interview', and I suddenly realize that I have no idea who this guy is or where I am in the city. And he has all these horror stories about his apartment, like maggots falling out of holes in the ceiling and open sewer lines – not to mention that there's this huge roll of duct tape lying out on the kitchen table. . . . However, he turned out to be really funny and cool, and he was nice enough to take me out to dinner to this great burger joint afterwards."

Someone yelled from the audience, "Now you have to put out!"

She didn't. Oh, but if only . . .
www.lennononline.com

3. The Great Crusades, Shanahan's, 01/28/06
What a wonderful night out with some of the best company I can imagine. I don't know how I did it, but I was able to convince at least three good friends and seven of their acquaintances to carpool to the suburbs to rock out with The Great Crusades in this cramped little bar in Forest Park. The mood was festive, the tunes were rockin' and the band was on fire after practicing so much for their upcoming February tour in Germany. I nearly cried when guitarist Brian Leach volunteered to contribute $100 right then and there to my travel costs if I would "just buy a damn plane ticket already and go with them on tour again." It was a wonderful "Welcome Back!" after a particularly brutal New Year's.
www.thegreatcrusades.com

4. Cordero, Schubas, 03/11/06
The concert that saved a relationship! True story: A few months into their relationship, BFN buddies and ever-so-sickeningly cute couple Tim and Vicki had come to the conclusion that things weren't working out. In fact, after much discussion, they had decided to essentially break things off that very day . . . that is, until I – completely unaware of the situation – called and hounded Tim to bring his lovely lady to this particular concert. "Cordero rocks! I first saw them when they opened for Josh Joplin last year, and everybody went nuts!" Well, Tim and Vicki figured it couldn't hurt to go out for one last hurrah – anything to lighten the mood – and the rest is history. As of this date, Tim and Vicki are still together, and it's partly thanks to the band that inspired everyone to dance that night.

In addition, Garrison Starr was the opening act, and I was instantly won over by this down-to-earth, out-and-proud singer-songwriter.
www.corderomusic.com

5. Todd Martin, Uncommon Ground, 03/21/06
I didn't know what to expect when I headed over to Todd Martin's acoustic show at Uncommon Ground on a freezing night in March, but I'm glad I braved the cold weather to see this man play. A warm coffee shop, a close proximity to a funny and talented artist and an all-around great performance – I was especially delighted when he delivered a magnificent cover of The Postal Service's The District Sleeps Alone Tonight. Better yet, he and his entourage followed me to the radio studio for a late night, hour-long interview where he played a handful of tunes and I got to sing back-up.
www.toddmartinmusic.com

Top 5 Car Albums of 2006

1. Panic! At The Disco / A Fever You Can't Sweat Out
2. Brindley Brothers / Filled With Fire
3. Blue October / Foiled
4. Gnarls Barkley / St. Elsewhere
5. Big City Rock / Big City Rock

That's it! So, what do you think? Any suggestions? Is there a record I might have overlooked? If so, feel free to post a reply!

Bob Dubilina, Ringmaster
BFN Networks
[e-mail]

[Cosmic J]

;D
Hey Dubalina!

Thanx for putting Fluid Minds in your honorable mentions! woohoo and

Great list overall. good stuff!!!

[JVH (f/k/a Bob Dubilina)]

Hey Cosmic J,

Of course Love In Analog was on my list! Just 'cause I didn't do a write-up on it doesn't mean I didn't love it. When I was out in DC, I had everybody movin' and shakin' to those tunes. Better yet, there's a guesthouse in Cambodia that has your record spinning non-stop over the speakers in the bar. You hear that? You're huge in CAMBODIA, dude!

BobbyDobbyD