Best Album of 2006 Poll

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Alright guys, we’ve made it to 2006. You know the drill by now. Because we’re approaching the not too distant past, it’s becoming harder and harder to make these top 10 lists. I feel like most of these albums are fresh in my mind (in fact, I still listen to most of them today). As always, there will be some omissions you will probably not like at all, like Bloc Party’s absence in 2005 — pretty good album, but hardly came close to Top 10-dom. This year’s omissions feel extra painful because I love the albums left out almost as much as I love the Top 10 itself. Albums left out include works by Sunset Rubdown, Band of Horses, Neko Case, Liars, Beirut, Bob Dylan, The Thermals, among others. But let’s focus on the albums that “made the cut”.

A. The Knife – Silent Shout
B. TV on the Radio – Return To Cookie Mountain
C. The Hold Steady – Boys and Girls in America
D. Clipse – Hell Hath No Fury
E. Ghostface Killah – Fishscale
F. Gnarls Barkley – St. Elsewhere
G. Joanna Newsom – Ys
H. Arctic Monkeys – Whatever People Say I Am That’s What I’m Not
I. The Decemberists – The Crane Wife
J. Grizzly Bear – Yellow House

[polldaddy poll="2187852"]

Good luck finding your favorite, because we’re having the toughest time.

Ed. Note: Are you interested in writing about music? We'd love to hear from you! Email us with samples and a short bio.

{ 19 comments… read them below or add one }

Chapperdeemus October 30, 2009 at 6:11 am

Good year, tough choice between silent shout, cookie mountain and Whatever people say. But Arctic Monkeys just edges it I reckon.

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Teacup October 30, 2009 at 6:21 am

In my mind, it's only among these three: Joanna Newsom's “Ys”, Clipse's “Hell Hath No Fury”, and Lupe Fiasco's “Food & Liquor”.

But after much thinking (and feeling), I am going with Joanna Newsom for her sheer imagination and ambitiousness. It is one of those albums where you can really say that it is demanding as it is rewarding, and probably even more. My fourth favorite album of the decade.

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anne October 30, 2009 at 12:36 pm

i coudn't have said it better myself.

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chase October 31, 2009 at 11:53 am

It's my third favorite!! What's your first three??

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Teacup November 1, 2009 at 11:28 pm

My first three are:

1. The Mars Volta – De-Loused in the Comatorium
2. Bon Iver – For Emma, Forever Ago (Highly polarized top 2, huh?)
3. Bloc Party – Silent Alarm (Given a more critical approach, Ys would have taken this spot. But as I've said in the Best of 2005 poll, this soundtracked my 2005 and even beyond. A personal favorite of mine.)

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JRyan154 October 30, 2009 at 11:51 am

The Hold Steady.
Case closed.

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stupeters October 30, 2009 at 4:44 pm

Boys and Girls for the win. I'll forgive the exclusion of Beirut this year but if The Flying Club Cup doesn't feature in 07 there'll be trouble!

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lundy October 30, 2009 at 12:07 pm

I would have voted for Lupe. But I'm not familiar enough with any of these other albums to cast a meaningful vote.

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Scott Curtis October 30, 2009 at 12:08 pm

Fuck that. Silent Shout or I blow the place up.

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anne October 30, 2009 at 12:37 pm

i voted for Silent Shout, not because I don't want anyone to blow up the place, but because it's so unique and MIND MELTING AWESOME. The end. :)

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izkid October 30, 2009 at 5:19 pm

St. Elsewhere for me. Was it the “Best” album of 2006? Probably not, but it sure as hell was one of my favorites. Cookie Mountain is definitely up there, but I think Arctic Monkeys will end up winning. People LOVED WPSIATWIN

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aly October 30, 2009 at 5:42 pm

The Knife should win, but it won't… I'm guessing the “popular vote” will go to the Arctic Monkeys. With some justice, maybe TVotR or Gnarls Barkley.

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Cole October 30, 2009 at 6:09 pm

Arctic Monkeys FTW!

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Lvp October 30, 2009 at 9:17 pm

I had to pick the Arctic Monkey's WPSIATWIN. Such a fantastic album in so many ways. It managed to be humble yet smart, big yet not too big, “from the streets” yet not too raw, and managed to make them my favorite current band for a little while.

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chase October 31, 2009 at 11:37 am

Ys. Without a doubt.

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lance October 31, 2009 at 11:49 am

joanna!!! ys is the best album of the decade!!!

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adamo November 1, 2009 at 8:58 am

I say Hold Steady, with Arctic Monkeys a close second.

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sdoom89 November 1, 2009 at 8:27 pm

A lot of the comments urging for a Hold Steady win.. yet they aren't even in the Top 3 most voted. That's funny.

Arctic Monkeys or TV on the Radio for the win.

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JayeL November 7, 2009 at 6:11 pm

I somehow missed this post, so I guess the poll is closed. I’d say Arctic Monkeys won 2006. You can’t ask for a much better debut that than.

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