With such an immense amount of great music surfacing in 2006, it seemed only right that Sonic Frontiers should kick off 2007 by recognizing all those albums that made an impact over the past year. Initially proposed as a staff-picked list, it was eventually decided that the choice should be turned over to the public opinion, and a poll was established. To our surprise, the contest became quite a hit, especially on MySpace, where many of the contestants promoted it and urged their fans to vote. In the end, we found that our public poll gave us a very diverse list of winning albums, consisting of the typical scene-founding monster groups as well as some relatively obscure yet talented bands that pulled through with dedicated fan-bases. Below you will find our list of the top ten albums of 2006, based solely upon public vote.
THE TOP 10 ALBUMS OF 2006
1) ISIS - In The Absence of Truth
After almost two years since their last album, ISIS came back with a vengeance this year, delivering a brand new set of material that proved to be even more sophisticated than any of their previous efforts. Their fourth full-length release, In the Absence of Truth, is another step in the band's stylistic evolution. The band masterfully builds upon their more typical elements—massive, crushing guitars; intricate, tribal-like drumming; and captivating ambience—but also adds some impressive new features such as clean vocals and softer melodies. In the Absence of Truth is full of contrasting elements, continuously pitting the hard against the soft and the beautiful against the ugly. The magnitude of musical diversity found on this album, in addition to the graceful way in which it is carried out, makes this album one of the most interesting and well-composed experimental albums in years.
Official Website
MySpace
SF Review
2) Dog Fashion Disco - Adultery
On the sixth and final studio album from Baltimore’s Dog Fashion Disco, the band finds itself running the gamut of musical genres, from tongue-in-cheek metal, to jazz, to somber country that could have comefrom Cash himself. In fact, it is nearly impossible to categorize the band into any one single genre as the group constantly switches sounds, styles, genres and instrumentation across Adultery’s 13 tracks. What is evident is the overall heaviness and incredible musical prowess apparent throughout the album. As Adultery closes around the 51-minute mark, the bizarre but wide range of musical dexterity experienced will surely make any Patton fan stand up and cheer. Adultery is a fine swan song for a band whose career spanned a decade and combined virtually every style of music known to man.
Official Website
MySpace
3) Fear Before the March of Flames - The Always Open Mouth
With their third studio album, Fear Before the March of Flames once again switch-up the formula with The Always Open Mouth. As drastically different from their second studio album Art Damage was from Odd How People Shake, The Always Open Mouth sees the band delve into the experimental side of things with brooding and dreary vocals, quirky guitars, and touches of electronic and melodic interplay. The band does not entirely deviate from their roots, as spastic riffs, breakdowns and screamed vocals can still be found across the board (the latter to a greater degree). What is apparent is that this band is not content to be pigeonholed into the standard screamo/post-hardcore crowd, but instead strives for the road less traveled.
Official Website
MySpace
4) Portugal. The Man - Waiter: You Vultures
Alaska isn't exactly known for its musical scene, but Portugal. The Man, which includes members of The Anatomy of a Ghost, is seeking to amend that. With Waiter:You Vultures, Portugal. The Man has composed one of the most dynamic and diverse debuts in recent memory. The album combines intelligent songwriting and experimentation with pop-rock hooks and catchiness creating the most instantly enjoyable, dare I say danceable, slabs of creativity this year. Portugal. The Man proves that they are more than comfortable, and competent, in whatever musical backdrop they decide to conjure up for their uses. The future is certainly bright for this young band.
Official Website
MySpace
5) Red Sparowes - Every Red Heart Shines Toward the Red Sun
The L.A.-based post-rock supergroup known as Red Sparowes came back with a vengeance this year, delivering another breathtakinginstrumental journey packed into eight solid tracks. The band uses many of their classic techniques, driving steady rhythms and packing layerupon layer of sound--not to mention their trademark pedal steel--whilebringing a newly found sense of sophistication and diversity to theirmusic. This year's release of Every Red Heart has proven that when it comes to instrumental rock music, Red Sparowes are clearly a cut above the rest.
Official Website
MySpace
SF Review
6) Cult of Luna - Somewhere Along the Highway
Post-metal, as many critics are dubbing it, has been a (sub)genre primarily led by two bands: ISIS and Neurosis. Every other remotely similar band has resided somewhere in the shadows of these two giants. With Somewhere Along the Highway, Cult of Luna proves that they are much more than just a “me too” effectively establishing their own identity and showing that they are more than capable of keeping pace with the heavyweights. It would do the album a disservice to resort to cliches such as “the seamless melding of crushing riffs and haunting melodies.” Somewhere Along the Highway is just something that needs to be experienced, preferably alone in a dark room.
Official Website
MySpace
7) Genghis Tron - Dead Mountain Mouth
Genghis Tron is certainly not the type of band you hear everyday. Dead Mountain Mouth is the result of the unlikely union between metal, electronic music, and noise--and frankly, it works. While it is tempting to assume after hearing the first blistering track of the album that Genghis Tron is just a grind band with drum machine and a keyboardist, any such hypothesis will quickly be proven wrong as the album progresses. Through it's brief-yet-impacting 31-minute length, Genghis Tron manages to traverse nearly every sub-genre of metal with their own electronic twist. Albums this eclectic often fall into the trap of becoming so disjointed that the music becomes unlistenable, but that is not thecase here. At times it may seem that the music is barely holding together under the centrifugal force of the sonic whirlwind that is Dead Mountain Mouth, but the fact is that it does. Tempering chaos is no easy task, but Genghis Tron pull it off admirably and with style.
Official Website
MySpace
8) Converge - No Heroes
Converge has nothing more to prove to the world—their reputation as innovators and pioneers of metal and hardcore scene is more than secure.. Rather than rest on their laurels and play it safe, the band continues their remarkably long streak of excellent releases with No Heroes. The album showcases a veteran band which has not lost one ounce of vitriolic nature in its long existence and is still willing to push forward. Sure, the music is definitely Converge, but its consistency and willingness to take risks propels it to the top of their incredibly impressive catalog. Just as they should be, Converge is yet again pushing the limits of extreme music.
Official Website
MySpace
SF Review
9) Eleventh He Reaches London - The Good Fight for Harmony
This year's #9 album came as quite a surprise to many, being claimed by a young band from Perth, Western Australia. Once described by messandnoise.com's Matt Giles as "too soft for the hardcore crowd, too hard for the indie kids," Eleventh He Reaches London are a band that truly dwell in the gray areas and yet seem to create a sound all their own. The strength of this band lies in two qualities: the complex layering of their music, and their intensity. Employing three guitarists is often seen more as a novelty (remember The Acacia Strain?), but EHRL makes it work by using them to create dense soundscapes that take multiple listens to peel back. What really propels the record from"good" to "great" is the intensity at which the music is played, sounding passionate and emotional while still completely genuine--a rare quality in today's music scene. Keep an eye on this band; they will be making waves soon.
Official Website
MySpace
10) Zombi - Surface to Air
The experimental duo known as Zombi served up their third studio album this year, delivering another spectacular set of trance-inducing sonic landscapes. Equipped with only drums, a bass guitar and vintage synthesizers, the pair are able to construct out-of-this-world atmospheres filled with groovy, bass-heavy rhythms and eerie electricmelodies. While their music may seem strange or even a bit plain to some, there is no doubt that Surface to Air is one of the most creative and intriguing albums to appear in 2006.
Official Website
MySpace
SF Review
Runners-Up for the Best Albums of 2006
Although we only selected the top 10 candidates to represent thebest albums of 2006, there were a great deal of other release that also recieved a considerable amount of votes during the competition. Listed below, in descending order of votes, are the 24 runners-up for the Sonic Frontiers Best Albums of 2006:
11) Jesu - Silver EP
12) Callisto - Noir
13) Mogwai - Mr Beast
14) Mono - You Are There
15) Russian Circles - Enter
16) Agalloch - Ashes Against the Grain
17) Sunn O))) & Boris - Altar
18) Envy - Insomniac Doze
19) Intronaut - Void
20) Gregor Samsa - 55:12
21) Kayo Dot - Dowsing Anemone in Copper Tongues
22) Daughters - Hell Songs
23) Mew - And the Glass Handed Kites
24) These Arms Are Snakes - Easter
25) The Appleseed Cast - Peregrine
26) Beirut - Gulag Orkestar
27) Joanna Newsom - Ys
28) Battle of Mice - A Day of Nights
29) Grails - Black Tar Prophecies Vols. 1,2, & 3
30) Laura - Radio Swan Is Down
31) Magyar Posse - Random Avenger
32) Dysrythmia - Barriers and Passages
33) Yakuza - Samsara
34) The Coma Recovery - Drown That Holy End in Wine
2006 Staff Picks
Here's the top 10 albums the Sonic Frontiers staff members were bumpin` in their stereos this past year:
1) Jesu - Silver EP
2) Converge - No Heroes
3) Red Sparowes - Every Red Heart Shines Toward the Red Sun
4) Kayo Dot - Dowsing Anemone in Copper Tongues
5) Gregor Samsa - 55:12
6) Cult of Luna - Somewhere Along the Highway
7) ISIS - In the Absence of Truth
8) Mastodon - Blood Mountain
9) Grails - Black Tar Prophecies Vols. 1,2, & 3
10) Mogwai - Mr Beast
We hope you enjoyed reading our top albums lists for 2006, and we strongly encourage you to look into any of the mentioned albums if you haven't all ready. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled at the end of this year for the Best Albums of 2007.
