Disappointing Albums of 2006
Sunday December 31st 2006
by Paul Armstrong
This was a superb year for music with many incredible albums released by the likes of Belle and Sebastian, Midlake, Shins, Snowden, Amusement Parks on Fire, Mute Math, Band of Horses, Beck, Nobody & Mystic Chords of Memory just to name a few; but I want to list some the albums that I looked forward to that left me uninspired and disappointed. So, here we go.
- 1. Flaming Lips -- At War With The Mystics After 2 incredible albums (Soft Bulletin and Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots) At War was lackluster, predictable and flat. Perhaps its a bit too much for me to expect The Lips to continue on their upward trajectory into musical dazzlement, but I at the least expected something unexpected; instead I got an album that sounded more like b-sides.
- 2. Grandaddy -- Just Like the Fambly Cat The final album from Grandaddy left me caring less about them as a significant band; after Software Slump I anticipated some wondeful things; then came Sumday; which was good, but not the follow-up I had hoped it might be. When I heard the band was breaking up, I hoped their farewell release would break new ground and entrench the band in the permanent musical landscape, instead I've barely listened to the album; often bored by the lumbering and fumbling music, which hardly finds its rhythm or any sense of purpose.
- 3. The Walkmen -- A Hundred Miles Off Bows + Arrows was a timeless classic, mixing rock and piano bar blues with a delicate and rough punch. Instead "A Hundred Miles Off" is just that ... a hundred miles off from where I expected the band to go. Perhaps it appeals to some people, but I can barely get through the album without feeling betrayed.
- 4. The Stills -- Without Feathers The Stills freshman release, "Logic Will Break Your Heart", is without a doubt one of the best albums of the decade.There was no where for them to go but up; instead they made an album with a few decent songs, but mostly short lived and tiresome melodies without substance. The album isn't horrid, but it's hardly what I expected.
- 5.Hem -- Funnel Cloud Hem follows in the footsteps of one of my most favorite (and long-standing) bands -- Over the Rhine. They possess a somewhat more country atmosphere, intertwined with melodic pop. Their first 2 full length albums are superb and I expected nothing less from their 3rd -- "Funnel Cloud". Obviously this is a disappointments list; so why is it so? The songs seem to lack that emotional dynamic and atmospheric fairy tale story that their previous songs had, and I've barely wanted to get to know the album.
- 6. The Black Keys -- Magic Potion Rubber Factory was a kick in the teeth, passionate, flaring blues rock tour de force (am I over selling it?). "Magic Potion" is more polished, which seems completely against the standards that The Keys have made for themselves. Hardly a horrible album, but certainly a disappointment.
- 7. The Raconteurs -- Broken Boy Soldiers The hybrid band fronted by Jack White the Raconteurs seemed nothing more than hype. Not one song is rememberable (to me). Whenever they pop up on my iTunes, I skip them -- to me that's a bad indication (I'll listen to Boston, Barry Manilow, even Air Supply). Dishonorable Mention (good, not horrible, but not great either) Sleeping At Last -- Keep No Score Copeland -- Eat, Sleep, Repeat
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