Bushwick is Beautiful
Best of 2006
Top Singles
1. Grizzly Bear - "On a Neck, On a Spit
Brooklyn's fun sexy boys hit a home run with this single and their full LP Yellow Horse. The single reminds me of the good things I liked about Beta Band, and Zeppelin, yeah I said it. At the 2:04 mark the song takes the dramatic turn and leads into "each day I spend it with you". We haven't had a mid song tempo shift orgasm like that since "Stairway to Heaven". Chills.
Although, the band was recently robbed in Europe, this has to be one of the best years of their lives. Great job bears.
"On a Neck, On a Spit" MP3
2. Peter, Bjorn and John - "Young Folks"
When singer Victoria Bergsman snuck out of the Concretes after the horrid In Colour, things weren't looking so good. However, with this project it looks like she made all the right moves. "Young Folks" is a tad bit annoying with it's rough production, but it's still one catchiest songs we've heard in a while.
"Young Folks" MP3
3. Bonobo - "Nightlife"
This is one of many fantastic songs a Ninja Tune artist released this year. This could have been a hit radio single, if radio didn't suck. I find myself going back to this album more than any other on this list sans Grizzly Bear.
"Nightlife" MP3
4. Hot Chip - "Over and Over"
Blogged by millions,we all seriously saw some major overkill with this band. Although, we are all worn out on the Chips at this point, we cannot deny the impact the band had on the music world. This single is just now making it to deep south. Brace yourselves.
"Over and Over" MP3
5. Junior Boys - "In the Morning"
Suffers from the same overkill issue as the track above, but this maybe the catchiest single of the list. This song is poised for the OC or some similar bullshit, but I will not be giving up singing this song in the shower anytime soon. (Either will you!) Don't worry I won't tell.
"In the Morning" MP3
6. Tapes n' Tapes - Omaha
The band that was lifted up on the shoulders of bloggers early in the year, and still sounds good at the end of it. "Omaha" is carried by a wonderful drum line, call and response backing vocals, and a singer who seems to be be passionate about his sleep.
"Omaha" MP3
7. The Swimmers - "Heaven"
New Philly band that has all the making of a big break out in 2007. Some people may know singer Steve Yutzy-Burkey's first band One Star Hotel, but this band is relatively unknown outside it's hometown. By the end of next year when the rest of the blogging world catches on, remember who told you about them first.
"Heaven" MP3
8. Thom Yorke - "Cymbal Rush"
While parts of the Eraser seem like average Radiohead B-sides, this track brings some of the emotion that you crave fom Thom's main gig. Check out the video below.
"Cymbal Rush" MP3
9. Apparat & Ellen Allien "Way Out"
This Collaboration with Ellen Allien is the perfect mix in for the genre. This track highlights a fantastic record of electronic perfection.
"Way Out" MP3
10. Jel - "All Around"
Featuring stand out vocals from Couch's Stefanie Bohm, this song is a must for any fan of music like Portishead/Blonde Redhead.
"All Around" MP3
Runner Ups:
Albert Hammond Jr - In Transit
Everything we love about the Strokes that they no longer are. This album was one of the surprises of the year for us (we didn't expect much).
"In Transit" MP3
TV on the Radio - Wolf Like Me
I wanted to dislike this single coming from an album titled Return to Cookie Mountain, but this is way to good to dismiss. You'll see the album and single on many best of lists this year. This Brooklyn band deserves all the praise they get.
"Wolf Like Me" MP3
Best Local Single:
Mon.Key.Pod - Styli
They work at a local coffee shop and never return email, but they are still good people. I hope they realize how talented they are, and what their potential is.
"Styli" MP3
High Places - Cosmonaut
This boy girl team is going to be huge. Their live show is cool enough for the hipsters, and fun enough for everyone else. Labels take notice off these guys, they could give the Fiery Furnaces a run for their money.
"Cosmonaut" MP3
Best Video filmed in Bushwick:
Rapture - Whoo! Alright-Yeah... Uh Huh
