Hangin' Out In 100b

  15. They Shoot Horses Don’t They?, Boo Hoo Hoo Boo

Crazy, chaotic playful pandemonium with a horn section.

  14. Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Show Your Bones

The dreaded second album and they came out on top again! Still sleazy, sexy and moving, but just a little bit older.

  13. Beirut, Gulag Orkestar

Haunting vocals and lingering melodies will transport you to an older world shrouded with mystery and magic.

  12. The Fratellis, Costello Music

Unapologetically big, bawdy, loud and glam. Love it.

  11. The Bicycles, The Good, The Bad And The Cuddly

Cuter than Carebears, cooler than Fonzie. Fifties pop with a twist done to perfection.

  10. Man Man, Six Demon Bag

With their silly voices and indescribable instruments Man Man redefines what I find beautiful in music every time I listen to them.

  9. Hot Club De Paris, Drop It Till It Pops

They’re a bit kooky, but so good! Wonderful harmonies and surprising hooks.

  8. Brakes, Beatific Visions

They were number two on my list last year, but this doesn’t mean I love them less, on the contrary, they just have some really tough competition. Beatific Vision is political at times, but never preachy. They sound more grown up now, but still excellent.

  7. The Black Keys, Magic Potion

I had to move them up a couple of times, because of new bands that have surprised me this year, but damn Sam I love the bluesy garage sounds of The Black Keys. Those new bands put out some amazing albums last year, but The Black Keys will have a permanent spot on my all-time favorite bands list, the same goes for Two Gallants.

  6. Two Gallants, What The Toll Tells

See The Black Keys. Passionate and reminiscent of the wild wild West, they always manage to pull at my heart strings. It looks like I’m their crazy fangirl for life.

  5. Tapes n Tapes, The Loon

The Indie superstars of 2006 with good reason, The Loon is so beautiful. It sounds complicated, but accessible. I really hope the hype around them doesn’t hit that pivotal point where it’s way cooler to hate than to love them.

  4. Cold War Kids, Robbers And Cowards

To be honest there’s very little difference between my love for the last four albums, but I had to put them in order. The Bean has introduced me to many of the lovely bands in this list, but these guys blew me away! I wanted to shake the whole world and make them listen to Robbers And Cowards when I first heard it. I would be their roadie just to figure out how on earth they’re doing this. If you ask me, this was definitely the most soulful album of 2006.

  3. The Decemberists, The Crane Wife

I wrote about them before and it was pathetic, I just went on and on about how amazing and innovative and amazing they were, so I’m just not gonna do it. All I’m gonna say is that after four albums they still manage to give us unexpectedly glorious music and I hope it never ever stops.

  2. Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin, Broom

I’m not even kidding when I say that my heart skips a beat when I put on this CD. I can’t explain why, it’s just a feeling. It’s funny how easy it is to point out what you hate about a certain band or song, but when you find that special something there are no words. Well, they make me feel like talking about music is one of the most ridiculous things I’ve ever tried to do.

  1. The Raconteurs, Broken Boy Soldier

Yeah boiii, The Raconteurs! I love them for putting a healthy dose of pop into familiar genres. To me Broken Boy Soldier is the perfect package. Individually the songs make excellent singles, but as a whole they’re elevated to great heights. Every song sounds better because of the one that comes before and after it. This album will always remind me of 2006.