Listening • Our Favorite Tracks of 2006

Rosecrans Baldwin’s Favorite Mp3s of 2006

“Ain’t No Other Man” by Christina Aguilera
I think I’ve several times performed dance routines to this song.
» Listen to “Ain’t No Other Man”


“Smile” by Lily Allen
Why don’t other seasons get songs? The summer afternoon party anthem.
» Listen to “Smile” at Pound for Pound


“Fidelity” by Regina Spektor
Still irresistible, a hundred listens later.
» Listen to “Fidelity” at The World Forgot


“Your Eyes Are Liars” by Sound Team
Hard to pick one song from my favorite album of the year.
» Listen to “Your Eyes Are Liars” at Rock Insider


“I Bet You Look Good on the Dance Floor” by the Arctic Monkeys
Also—hard to pick one song from my favorite album of the year.
» Listen to “I Bet You Look Good on the Dance Floor” at Kwaya Na Kisser


“Born Under a Bad Sign” by Richard Hawley
And yet again—hard to pick one song from my favorite album of the year.
» Listen to “Born Under a Bad Sign”


“Pick Me Up on Your Way Down” by Jimmie Dale Gilmore
See above—favorite album number four.
» Listen to “Pick Me Up on Your Way Down” (opens player)


“Roscoe” by Midlake
The lead single from Thom Yorke’s solo album in my fantasy world.
» Listen to “Roscoe” at Both Sides of the Mouth


“Boy From School” by Hot Chip
I miss clubbing.
» Listen to “Boy From School” at I Guess I’m Floating


“Block Rock” by Ghostface Killah
Makes me wish I had a car and some children to scare.
» Listen to “Block Rock” at Gorilla vs. Bear


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Llewellyn Hinkes’s Favorite Mp3s of 2006

“The Orchids” by Califone
Bright, acoustical joy.
» Listen to “The Orchids” at Aquarium Drunk


“Wildcat” by Ratatat
A live-action video game soundtrack.
» Listen to “Wildcat” at Gorilla vs. Bear


“LDN” by Lily Allen
No reason why I shouldn’t be sick of this song by how much I can listen to it on repeat, yet it just hasn’t happened.
» Listen to “LDN” at Both Sides of the Mouth


“Cut From the Cloth” by the Evens
Was there another album with actual lyrics this year?
» Listen to “Cut From the Cloth” at Wolf Notes


“Shake” by Ying Yang Twins ft. Pitbull
Original, catchy Miami bass beats (ignore the lyrics) made by mental patients.
» Listen to “Shake”


“Please Visit Your National Parks” by Oxford Collapse
Is it possible to go back and do the whole Braid influence thing again but without venturing into pop and screamo?
» Listen to “Please Visit Your National Parks” at The Underrated Blog


“Buchstabe” by Knorkator
I like my industrial music like I like my women—gutteral, German, and absurdist.
» Watch the video for “Buchstabe”


“Children’s Christmas With Steak Knives” by Diamanda Galas vs. the Jingle Cats
Nothing says Christmas like “Meow meow meow meow STEAKNIVES meow meow meow meow.”
» Listen to “Children’s Christmas With Steak Knives”


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Andrew Womack’s Favorite Mp3s of 2006

“Soft & Warm” by Voxtrot
This year Voxtrot won the hearts of everyone who likes to cry while blogging. Sorry—whilst blogging.
» Listen to “Soft & Warm” at Under the Rotunda


“Phantom Limb” by the Shins
I will admit to having lost all faith in the Shins. I will admit to saying this because I want you to believe I hate Garden State. But only if you admit how perfect this song is.
» Listen to “Phantom Limb” at Who Killed the Mixtape?


“Wasted State of Mind” by …And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead
Pianos and tribal drums are probably too expensive to hurl off the stage at the end of the show. Bravo to a new sound and more cost-effective tours.
» Listen to “Wasted State of Mind” at The Underrated Blog


Viva Voce, “We Do Not Fuck Around”
Profanity never solves anything. Except maybe songwriting dilemmas.
» Listen to “We Do Not Fuck Around” at Chromewaves


Certified Bananas, “Call Around You”
What happens when your Tortoise records turn up in your Montel Jordan sleeves.
» Listen to “Call Around You”


“The Fall” by Peter & the Wolf
A stripped-down acoustic track that’s all drone-y vocals. My kind of song.
» Listen to “The Fall” at Whiskey & Apples


“I Never Cared for You” by Willie Nelson
A few months ago I bought a copy of Willie Live off eBay for $156K. On the back a previous owner had written: “Hot Smokes.” Hot damn.
» Listen to “I Never Cared for You”


“Through the Wire” by Belaire
A re-interpretation of a Kanye West song off The College Dropout, as performed by English majors.
» Listen to “Through the Wire” at Gorilla vs. Bear


“Angus” by Aux
You only have one chance to hear this song for the first time. And when you do, I’d like to see your eyes at the 1:30 mark.
» Listen to “Angus” at Instrumental Analysis


Loudon Wainwright III, “The Swimming Song”
Whether it’s a metaphor or really about swimming, this was my favorite song this summer. And thank you, petroleum producers of the world, for now making it summer all year round.
» Listen to “The Swimming Song”


 —The Writers, Dec. 20, 2006

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