Best of 2006

Meg's picks (2006)

Adam White

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Meg Reinecker is a news editor and reviewer here at Punknews.org -ed

Introduction

2006 brings me my first year-end list as a news editor here at the Org. I've gone from being Sally_Field: semi-hated staff reviewer to just plain 'ole Meg: maybe still-semi hated and the only editorial source of estrogen on Punknews. Despite any flack
I've received, these past six months as an editor have been a great
experience for me and it's still a privilege to work with such
awesome dudes and bring you all the news you need and don't need to
know. Thanks for making it memorable, Punknews.

Okay, back on track. While I don't completely disagree with my list
from last year, if I had the opportunity I would definitely re-do
it. I made my list carefully this year in hopes I won't regret my
choices a year from now.

Top 10 Albums

10. Crime in Stereo - The Troubled Stateside
Nitro
With lyrical content describing the
struggles of humanity, it would have been easy for The Troubled
Stateside to be a depressing album. However, with the even more
melodic than before sound, Crime in Stereo manage to avoid the
morose feel and create an uplifting album.

9. Owen -
At Home with Owen
Polyvinyl
At Home With doesn't seem as
consistent as I Do Percieve, yet Mike Kinsella's charming
voice and thoughtful lyrics continue to make his releases
listenable and loveable.

8. Outbreak - Failure
Bridge Nine
Although the music isn't as
blatantly hate-fueled and vulgar as in my favorite Outbreak release
(You Make Us Sick), the band's still making fast, solid
hardcore.

7. Sinking Ships - Disconnecting
Revelation
Highlights here include the catchiness of "Auburn,"
the unexpected guest vocals from Scott from Shook Ones in "The Next
Time I Go," and the Modern Life Is War - "By The Sea" of "Wait," but together, Disconnecting is an exceptionally well put-together, cohesive unit of heavy,
yet still melodic hardcore.

6. Ceremony - Violence, Violence
Malfunction
I don't care what mood I come into
listening to this album with, it leaves me feeling furious…in a
good way. This album offers a little over 20 minutes of pure,
blistering rage and despite it not being an album of completely new
material, the new tracks could stand alone in making Violence,
Violence intense.

5. Brand
New - The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me
Interscope
I didn't have huge expectations for
Brand New, because while I've enjoyed both of their previous albums
at their respective times of release, they never really made a huge
mark with me. This album changed that.

4. This
Is Hell - Sundowning
Trustkill
In 2006, This is Hell easily became
one of my favourite hardcore acts, both live and recorded and
Sundowning is a major part of why.

3. Set Your Goals - Mutiny!
Eulogy
I'm not sure there's anything to be
said about Set Your Goals that I haven't already, but this album
manages to be insanely fun and passionate, while remaining
relatively serious at the same time.

2. Saves the Day - Sound the Alarm
Vagrant
This album reminded me of why I
love Saves the Day, especially with the melodic and aggressive "The
End."

1. Have
Heart - The Things We Carry
Bridge Nine
Despite not immediately clicking
with me, The Things We Carry ended up being my favorite and
most listened to album of 2006. Through every listen I've learned
to appreciate every aspect of this album on a different level.

Honourable Mentions

Rocky Votolato - Makers, the Hope Conspiracy - Death
Knows Your Name, Verse - From Anger and Rage, Cursive -
Happy Hollow, Good Clean Fun - From Christian Rock to a Hard Place, Folly - Resist Convenience, Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins - Rabbit Fur Coat, and Dead Hearts - Bitter Verses

Top 4 EPs

4. Death Is not Glamorous - Undercurrents
Dead and Gone

3. Shook
Ones - Slaughter of the Insole
Revelation

2. Champion / Betrayed - Split
Rivalry

1. Saves the Day - Bug Sessions Volume One
self-released

Mixtape

For 2007, I'm curious to see how new material from Comeback Kid and
Shai Hulud will sound with the change in vocalists (though Shai
Hulud certainly has adapted well previously). I'm also hoping the
Postal Service really did begin writing new material this past June and will
finally put out another full-length. Aside from those, hopefully
the artists in my top 10 will release more outstanding material.