Always a Bridesmaid... More of the Second Best Songs of 2006 - Volume 6
It (Almost) Slipped through the Cracks 2006 #6
A mp3 music series to be published over the month of January!
A mp3 music series to be published over the month of January!
WHAT TO EXPECT
* Lesser known or under-appreciated songs from favorite artists
* Releases that most people missed because they were listening to top forty radio.
* Alternate, remix & live sets from '06 artists that cast the material in a new light.
* Lesser known or under-appreciated songs from favorite artists
* Releases that most people missed because they were listening to top forty radio.
* Alternate, remix & live sets from '06 artists that cast the material in a new light.
(Hey, if I play something from 2005 that overlapped into 2006.... Give me a break please?)
Second Chance by Brut Pop
Previous Posts in this Series:
Philadelphia's Man Man released their Six Demon Bag album in 2006 to rave reviews from music bloggers and are only starting, now - to reaching the masses. This attention has been further augmented by the group's strange on-stage antics (often wearing war paint and matching tennis outfits) and bizarre videos (go to YouTube). I am giving you the track Engrish Bwudd...
Seattle has given us the indie rock song of the year. Band of Horses released Everything All the Time in March and won over indie-rock and alternative fans with their amazing song, The Funeral. It's my pick for song of the year. The band started out in 2004 with the break-up of the band Carissa's Weird. Ben Bridwell (guitar, vocals) and Mat Brooke (guitar) became the nucleus of Horses, the band which would see a few line-up changes prior to this latest incarnation - Band of Horses. Go out and buy their album. Here is a live version of The Funeral - which you won't find on the Sub-Pop release...
From Indie-Rock Single of the Year to Album of the Year.... We are traveling west to Portland, Oregon. The Decemberists released an OUTSTANDING album in 2006 with The Crane Wife. There really isn't much I can say to you to other than that if you buy one album this week - make it this one. The album caught me off guard and in the best of ways! The Decemberists are led by Colin Meloy, a talented singer-songwriter who exhibits his best work to date here. The singer has been center stage through the band's prior albums, but takes a small step back on this release. The results are magical. The rest of the band (amazing musicians in their own right) shine. I have selected a live version of the song, O Valencia! to share with you today. Do the right thing, pick up the album. Thank me later.
Heading across the Atlantic we arrive in Denmark; Copenhagen to be precise. Time to meet the extremely new group that made one hell of a catchy song in 2006: The Floor is Made of Lava. The band is named after a childhood game (Walking atop furniture - "Don't touch the floor!") and the energy of this track backs up the name. To be honest, I really don't know much about these guys, but one listen to the fast song, Told Her I'm From Compton and they won me over. A great track and here it is:
Los Angeles' Eskimohunter is a cool five-piece band who mix indie-pop with alternative mashes of unusual lyrics and electronica. The Musical Snowglobe Machine EP was released way back in 2005, but the band didn't truly catch on outside of the Valley until this year - making this a cheater in it's 2006 spot. Regardless, 2006 was when I heard this song and it still made me list (sue me.) - Here is Surfing at 32 degrees F.
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