I used to give a damn but I never gave a fuck

The Year In Music

By any reasonable standard, 2006 was a great year for music. There are people who may say otherwise but they are dead wrong. If I can draw some larger narrative out of music this year, it seems as if we're moving towards a breakdown of clearly defined aesthetics towards something else. I want to say "unified style" or "bricolage music" but that may be putting it either too strongly or way too PoMo. In any case, what I'm thinking about here can be traced in (a) the blurring between so called "serious music" (using Adorno's term, also known as classical music) and pop in examples such as Joanna Newsom or Final Fantasy or even perhaps Bob Dylan, (b) the almost paradoxical loss of distinct "sounds" in hip-hop with everyone sounding like they are from somewhere else and producers working with people from all over the map, and (c) the boundaries between rock and hip-hop (always more than somewhat artificial) losing their coherence and not just in the rap-metal way of the late 90s, as well as dedicated fans of each genre moving towards each other (even if this is more an indie thing e.g. how everyone's into the Clipse and Jeezy now). I don't mean to sound all utopian or anything but it's all very encouraging. We should be looking forward to the day when Joanna Newsom drops harp backing tracks for Just Blaze and vice versa, to pull a possible (and possibly terrible) example off the dome. The other major story through the year, of course, was J Dilla, his life, death and legacy. RIP.

Also, previously: My Best of 2005 and Best of 2004.

Top 25 Albums of the Year

1. J Dilla aka Jay Dee - Donuts (Stones Throw)



I've written heaps of material on this LP during the past year, from personal reflections to pseudo-academic pieces, so I'm unsure of what new insight I can come up with now. In short, though, this rekkid has been the soundtrack to 2006 for me. I picked it up a week before its actual release at the HMV on Yonge (they accidentally put it on the shelves early) and I remember listening to it for the first time on the subway, heading back to the University of Toronto for class. I was amazed and I could barely contain my absolute joy. I listened to it constantly for a week and then Dilla died abruptly. And it was then that, like the shirt says, I realized that J Dilla had changed my life. Donuts never left my headphones for the next half year and still, 10 months later, it holds a strange and incredible power due to its intricacy, virtuosity and heart.

Download J Dilla's "Two Can Win" here.

2. Joanna Newsom - Ys (Drag City)



I tried explaining the poetic conceit of "Monkey & Bear," while on a recent road trip, to my friends who were not down with Newsom and it didn't go well. They laughed and it all sounded so very ridiculous and lame. But the thing is this album is such a beguiling and strange and touching experience that the poetics or stylistics of the album seem deeply embarassing at times and seriously engaging at other moments. Ys' tendancy to toe this line (between lame and moving) is its greatest feature and, ultimately, the source of its triumph.

Download Joanna Newsom's "Sawdust & Diamonds" here.

3. The Clipse - Hell Hath No Fury (Re-Up/Jive)



I didn't believe in the Clipse for a long time. Lord Willin' had "Grindin'," one of the top singles of its era, but little else and then they were caught in serious label-hell for so long that I wrote Pusha and Malice off as "washed up." Oh, how I was wrong. Hell Hath No Fury is the very definition of an instant classic and it's one of the best street hip-hop LPs of all time, at a level probably just below Illmatic. The rhymes are the essence of dope with every syllable deployed for impact and Pusha dropping quotables in every verse and Malice doing his best to keep up. And the beats are the best work the Neptunes have pumped out in seemingly forever - so harsh, claustraphobic and stylish enough to nearly reinvent the genre.

Download the Clipse's "Ride Around Shining" here.

4. Ghostface Killah - Fishscale (Def Jam)



Scroll down an entry to read my thoughts on Ghostface's year but, as for Fishscale, it's probably his best album top to bottom he's put out (so far). The scariest (and best) thing about the Wally Champ is that he's getting better as he gets older. If he continues like this, he'll be the best 75 year old rapper ever.

Download Ghostface Killah's "Shakey Dog" here.

5. Liars - Drum's Not Dead (Mute)



Opinions are pretty divided on this rekkid and I tend to fluctuate between complete obsession and absolute disgust at it. But I'm back on the side of the former and I'm pretty sure that my positive gut reaction was probably more than true. Liars may be wankers or assholes or pretentious twats in real life and on stage but they sure do put out interesting albums. Drum's Not Dead is one of the best albums of the year on the strength of its drums and overall soundscape and not the concept or lyrics.

Download Liars' "Let's Not Wrestle Mt. Heart Attack" here.

6. Destroyer - Destroyer's Rubies (Merge)



Quite simply, the best Destroyer album of all time (lyrically and musically). Basically, on Rubies, Dan Bejar (aka Destroyer) finally got around to hiring a band to match his poetry.

Download Destoyer's "Painter In Your Pocket" here.

7. The Game - Doctor's Advocate (Geffen)



The most surprising rekkid of the year from the most compulsively interesting rapper in the, er, game today. Who knew that the Game could come up with a better LP than the Documentary without Dr. Dre?

Download the Game's "Remedy (Produced by Just Blaze).

8. Bob Dylan - Modern Times (Columbia)



This album is perhaps Dylan's strongest material since Blood on the Tracks. Saint Bob lives up to his legacy.

Download Bob Dylan's "Thunder on the Mountain" here.

9. Nas - Hip-Hop Is Dead (Def Jam)



We need to accept that Nas will never make Illmatic again. Hip-Hop is Dead though is an impossibly ambitious album which attempts to recaptulate the entire history of the culture while simultaneously attempting to move rap further into the future. Lots of rappers talk about changing the game but only Nas would go out and singlehandedly correct the entire course of hip-hop history.

Download Nas' "Where Are They Now" here.

10. Lupe Fiasco - Food & Liquor (Atlantic)



Lupe is the dream of (a) any hip-hop head, (b) many lapsed hip-hop fans from the so called Golden Era, (c) any A&R man worth his or her salt, (d) skateboard kids who think Pharrell is a phony, (e) indie kids, (f) rap lyric nerds, (g) nerds, (h) the MySpace generation, (i) you, and (j) me.

Download Lupe Fiasco's "Kick, Push" here.

11. J Dilla - The Shining (BBE)



Even though it's really great, you wonder how J Dilla would've finished The Shining himself if he got the chance. Karriem Riggins (the producer who completed the project) and all the guests do Dilla proud.

Download J Dilla's "Won't Do" here.

12. TV on the Radio - Return to Cookie Mountain (4AD/Interscope)



Personal reasons kept me from probably engaging in this album as much as I should have but, even so, it's pretty clear that TVOTR is one of (if not) the best bands working today and that this album is even more proof of that assertion. A great LP from a great group.

Download TVOTR's "Province" here.

13. Final Fantasy - He Poos Clouds (Blocks Recording Club/Tomlab)



Despite its title, He Poos Clouds is so much better than the debut album.

Download Final Fantasy's "This Lamb Sells Condos" here.

14. T.I. - King (Atlantic)



Tip Harris finally makes the rekkid that lives up to his talent.

Download T.I.'s "I'm Talkin' To You (Produced by Just Blaze)" here.

15. Ghostface Killah - More Fish (Def Jam)



For a day or so, I thought that More Fish was actually better than Fishscale. I soon realized that I was wrong but More Fish is still pretty great. Producers are top notch and the rest of Theodore Unit are at least somewhat decent. GFK kills it as per usual.

Download Ghostface Killah's "Guns N Razors (Produced by MF DOOM).

16. Boot Camp Clik - The Last Stand (Duck Down Music)



Dope beats and lyrical darts from some of the best.

Download BCC's "Here We Come (Produced by 9th Wonder)

17. Soul Position - Things Go Better With RJ and Al (Rhymesayers)



Since RJD2 has apparently said "fuck you" to hip-hop, this album will probably be the last rap related thing he'll do until he realizes that his new material kinda sucks. Blueprint continues his development as an emcee, mixing the conscious shit with the funny material in a way that most rappers who do either cannot.

Download Soul Position's "Hand Me Downs" here.

18. Be Your Own Pet - s/t (Umvd)



The best album the Yeah Yeah Yeahs never made.

Download Be Your Own Pet's "Bunk Trunk Skunk" here.

19. Spank Rock - YoYoYoYoYoYoYo (Big Dada)



A fun if ultimately disposable synthesis of Baltimore bass, porno rap and electro.

Download Spank Rock's "Back Yard Betty" here.

20. Ladyhawk - s/t (Jagjagjuwar)



The return of the honest, hard working Canadian band.

Download Ladyhawk's "The Dugout".

21. Oh No - Exodus Into Unheard Rhythms (Stones Throw)



Oh No (Madlib's little brother) digs through Galt McDermot's extensive back catalogue to craft one of the most unnervingly inventive hip-hop albums of the year.

Download Oh No's "Keep Tryin' (featuring Roc C and Aloe Blacc)" here.

22. Sunset Rubdown - Shut Up I Am Dreaming (Absolutely Kosher)



Spencer Krug's a weird dude but, as Minister Faust once taught me, it's better to be weird than boring.

Download Sunset Rubdown's "Us Ones In Between" here.

23. Young Jeezy - The Inspiration (Def Jam)



Jeezy's not a rapper, as he tells us repeatedly, he's a motivational speaker. He can barely ride (or be dragged along by) a beat, his words aren't really all that new but he does everything with such conviction and spirit that he makes us believe in himself and ourselves. Young Jeezy has a 50/50 shot at either being the future or death of hip-hop as an artform.

Download Young Jeezy's "Still On It" here.

24. Peter Bjorn & John - Writer's Block (Wichita)



In the battle between Swedish pop bands, I'm From Barcelona might have the better song but punctuation-challenged Peter Bjorn & John definitely put out the better album. Plus, "Young Folks" is a pretty great pop number.

Download Peter Bjorn & John's "Young Folks (feat. Victoria Bergsman)" here.

25. Madlib - The Beat Konducta Vol. 1-2: Movie Scenes (Stones Throw)



Bound to be overshadowed by Dilla's Donuts, the Beat Konducta LPs (eventually collected and released as one CD) were pretty weird and great in their own right. The concept here is that each instrumental is supposed to be the score to a imaginary film.

Download Madlib's "Snake Charmer (Heads Up)" here

Worth At Least A Mention

Mastadon - Blood Mountain
Roc C - All Questions Answered
E-40 - My Ghetto Report Card
Styles P - Time Is Money
Psalm One - The Death of the Frequent Flyer
Thom Yorke - The Eraser
The Black Keys - Magic Potion
Cansei De Ser Sexy - CSS
Xiu Xiu - The Air Force
Swan Lake - Beast Moans
I'm From Barcelona - Let Me Introduce My Friends
Beirut - Gulag Orkestar
Islands - Return to the Sea
Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins - Rabbit Furcoat
Hot Chip - The Warning
Jolie Holland - Springtime Can Kill You
Mr. Lif - Mo' Mega
Masta Killa - Made In Brooklyn
P.O.S. - Audition
Prince - 3121
Georgia Anne Muldrow - Olesi: Fragments of the Earth
AZ - The Format

Biggest Disappointments, or, How to Underperform (Artistically)

Jay-Z - Kingdom Come
OutKast - Idlewild
Pimp C - Pimpalation
Pretty Girls Make Graves - Elan Vital
The Rapture - Pieces of the People We Love

Notable Omissions

These are the albums that got massive love from various people but did nothing (positive or negative) for me:

Beach House - s/t
Sonic Youth - Rather Ripped
Grizzly Bear - Yellow House
The Roots - Game Theory
The Knife - Silent Shout

I Hate This Shit

Girl Talk - Night Ripper

Best EPs

Frog Eyes - The Future Is Inter-Disciplinary Or Not At All
Georgia Anne Muldrow - Worthnothings
Black Dice - Manoman/Gore/Toka Toka
J Dilla - Jay Love Japan (released in Japan in 2006, rest of the world in 2007)
Laura Barrett - Earth Sciences (if it counts for 2006)

Best Mixtape



Little Brother & DJ Drama - Separate But Equal

Best Reissue



Various Artists - Big Apple Rappin' (MU'FUCKING SOUL JAZZ RECORDS!)

Best Songs (Singles and Otherwise)

T.I. - What You Know
I'm From Barcelona - We're From Barcelona
Nas - Where Are They Now?
Rick Ross - Hustlin'
Clipse - Ride Around Shining
J Dilla - Two Can Win
J Dilla feat. Common - E=MC2
J Dilla - Nothing Like This (not new but rereleased on the Chrome Children comp)
J Dilla - U-Love
J Dilla - The Twister (Huh, What) (also, the version of this featuring Roc C & Oh No on the fan-club only 45)
Xiu Xiu - Hello From Eau Claire
Georgia Anne Muldrow - New Orleans
Mr. Lif feat. Murs - Murs Iz My Manager (produced by Edan)
Murs - Dark Skinned White Girls
Sunset Rubdown - Us Ones In Between
Swan Lake - The Freedom
Lupe Fiasco - Kick, Push
OutKast - Morris Brown
Saigon - Do Your Thang
OutKast - Life is like a Musical
Nas feat. Jay-Z - Black Republican
Jay-Z - Minority Report (Produced by Dr. Dre)
The Game - Remedy (Produced by Just Blaze)

Best or Most Memorable Shows

Jay-Z / Rihanna / Ne-Yo @ Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne



Jolie Holland @ Spanish Club, Melbourne



DJ Shadow / Mos Def / Lateef the Truthspeaker @ the Palace, Melbourne



Final Fantasy / Akron/Family / Great Lake Swimmers @ Great Hall, Toronto



Hot Chip / Cadence Weapon / Born Ruffians @ Lee's, Toronto

"Hot Chip were, by any standard, pretty fucking dope. As I said to former Hot Chipper and good dude Chris the next night, HC seem to be attempting to cross Kraftwerk and Prince. On record, for the most part, they lean towards the Kraftwerk but live they definitely emphasized the Prince. This approach is a great decision (I wish their records were like this too) and it made for such an energetic live show (or as energetic as a bunch of dudes behind a row of keys could be (see above)). With charm and earnest joy, supernerd Alexis and crew quickly got the dancefloor heaving. The show, halfway through, just turned from a headnodding, smile inducing good time into a giant dance party."

Jamie Liddell @ Lee's, Toronto



Spank Rock / Cadence Weapon @ Horseshoe, Toronto'

"this was a fucking Spank Rock show and when Naeem (aka Spank, pictured above rocking the 40) jumped up on stage when the BBC dropped "Backyard Betty" the crowd exploded. They ran through most of their best shit (although "What It Look Like" was strangely absent) and, instead of just a show, this night was more like a giant ass shaking dance party. Everyone, including myself, just danced our asses off and shouted/sang along to all of the songs which just absolutely kill live."

Def Jux All Stars @ Opera House, Toronto



Sloan Tribute Show @ the Boat, Toronto

"Unfortunately, the tribute night was the wankish equivalent of a Leah MacLaren book reading without the fawning 50 year old virgin high school English teachers to ask questions that would never end. Never had I seen such an ugly side of "Torontopia" which, for the most part, has acquitted itself well since I moved out here (emo complaining from late 2005 notwithstanding). This night though was like a circle jerk where after getting tugged and fucked by the stillepost hipstas [sic] before they would even play, the bands would then proceed to pat each other on their backs while making mockery of the corpus of Sloan and then turn around and proclaim how much fun we were all having because they were the best wankers of all fucking time."

Matthew Shipp @ Arraymusicspace, Toronto

"Shipp played one continuous hour long set without breaks which, I think, roughly divided into two sections with a slight transition between the two. The first was much more in the "serious"/"classical" vein and the final part was more jazz-ish. I should pause here to say that the division wasn't so black-and-white: Shipp would often throw in jazz phrases into his modernist improvisatory passages and vice versa. His performance was virtuosic, so technically demanding and intense. The music definitely did not fit with a sunny Sunday afternoon and most of the people there had, I think, their moment where they just about nodded off. In a sense, it was too much to handle. Shipp might have been better off taking slight breaks to warm up the crowd, give them chance to clap and get into his show. One of the most striking elements of Shipp's playing was his sheer ferocity, the cacophonous nature in which he would strike the piano as if he was doing punk-rock jazz with serious musical knowledge and expertise behind the agression."

Common / Shad K @ Kool Haus, Toronto



Animal Collective / First Nation / BARR @ Opera House, Toronto





RIP J Dilla aka Jay Dee aka James D. Yancey (1974-2006)

Listening to: T.I. - What You Know