Best of 2006 (in no particular order)

Instead of sending Christmas cards this year, or a mix CD, I thought I would post a mix of my favorite songs of 2006 for you all. I figured that everyone I care about reads this blog, with the exception of my mom, and she doesn't really like Lily Allen all that much anyway. Let's get started, shall we? Oh, and if you would like to download all 21 songs with just one click, I learned how to use winRAR last night. If you just want to grab or song or two, that's allowed as well.

Joe's Top 21 Songs of 2006 rar file

1. The Pipettes - "Pull Shapes"

A pop girl group that you don't have to feel guilty about liking (like, say, the Pussycat Dolls). Blood Ray, if you only download one song, get this one. Or at least check out the Beyond the Valley of the Dolls-inspired video.



2. Smoosh - "Find A Way"

Even if you didn't know that the 2 members of this band are 12 and 14-year old sisters, it's still a pretty good song. I like to imagine that my two oldest nieces will start a band and tour with Rilo Kiley and get a record deal with Barsuk.



3. The Cardigans - "Good Morning Joan"

If I had one of those iPod alarm clocks, I'd wake up to this song every day and not get tired of it. And I think Lukas would enjoy it more than the "Fergalicious" ringtone that currently wakes us up. More on Fergie later, though.



4. Nelly Furtado - "Say It Right"

Best single she's put out all year, but definitely the lamest video. I swear the lip-synching doesn't quite match up through the whole thing, and not just when I watch it on YouTube. Reminds me of the time Lukas and I danced to this song at Novak's. How does one dance to this mid-tempo pop jam? Drunkenly, of course.


5. Be Your Own Pet - "Bicycle, Bicycle, You Are My Bicycle"

Had me yelling, "We're on 2 wheels, baby!" all summer long. It's a shame I couldn't get to the Creepy Crawl last month to see them, as I hear members keep leaving the band to go to college, or something. Good for them.


6. Pink - "U + Ur Hand"

Seems like Pink got a raw deal this year. By the time her record label decided to put out her best song, America stopped caring. I only saw this video on YouTube and in gay bars.



7. Bloc Party vs. Fergie - "Blocalicious"

Using the "lyrics" from "Fergalicious" over the beat from "Banquet," this was my favorite mash-up of the year. The vocals are slightly sped up on this one, making Fergie's rap near the end pretty damn hard to recite in the shower. But I try anyway.

Bonus link - "Kayalicious" (sorry, i'm trying to boost the view count).

8. Rihanna - "S.O.S."

The list isn't quite as poppy from here on out (though it is just as girly). This chick can't even really sing, but have you seen the video? She's sexy. I couldn't resist this song, and now I'll remember it forever as the "Dancing In Our Underwear in New Orleans" song.


9. Pretty Girls Make Graves - "Parade"

This is the only song on my list that comes from a band I've never even seen before. Like, I have no idea what these people look like. I've only heard a description from Miranda. Based on this song, though, I imagine they all look like Sally Field in Norma Rae.


10. The Thermals - "A Pillar of Salt"

I almost went with "Here's Your Future," a song that The Onion AV Club called the best first song on the first side of an album (I can't remember if they said of all time or just this year, but whatever). I guess the Arrested Development Chicken Dance shout out from the video nudged me in the direction of this (still awesome) track.


11. Regina Spektor - "Fidelity"

I knew Regina Spektor was quirky even before she revealed her choice for favorite candy at her live show last month. (Olives). This song was my first clue.



12. Dixie Chicks - "The Long Way Around"

Literally six different songs from Taking the Long Way were up for a spot on this list. I went with "The Long Way Around" for two reasons: 1) If you know nothing about the Dixie Chicks, you get a history lesson if you listen to the lyrics of this song. 2) It's used in the climax of Shut Up and Sing, the best concert film I saw all year.

13. Cat Power - "Living Proof"

She's done with booze and pills. So why is she dancing like this?





14. Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins - "Rabbit Fur Coat"

This came out in 2006?? It's hard to believe, I guess, since i've been listening to the live version of this song for about 2 or 3 years now. Here's hoping we get a new Rilo Kiley album in the first half of 2007.



15. Belle and Sebastian - "Dress Up In You"

I forgot about this song! I was thinking that The Thermals were the only male-fronted band on this list, and it's probably because this song is sung in the perspective of a young woman.



16. Imogen Heap - "Hide and Seek"

What the hell is going on, indeed.






17. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - "Cheated Hearts"

Lukas and I were cutting my hair this summer, and an accidental foray into bangs prompted me to shriek, "Oh no, I'm Karen O!" If only I'd known at the time about the fan-submission video treatment for this song.


18. Beyonce - "Get Me Bodied"

Can this please be the next single? I haven't been able to dance to any of the three other Beyonce cuts they play when I'm at the club. I've got the entire video dreamed up already. Someone in Beyonce's camp, please call me.


19. Lily Allen - "LDN"

I could've SWORN the opening horn intro was ripped off of "Jump In The Line," but a trip to the iTunes Music Store proved otherwise. I guess I hadn't seen Beetlejuice in a while.



20. Nellie McKay - "Black Sheep"

An online-only soundtrack to the Jennifer Aniston flop Rumor Has It? It's amazing this song was released at all.




21. Goldfrapp - "Ooh La La"

Technically, not the oddest choice to use in a national advertising campaign (Diet Coke). At least, not since Outback Steakhouse re-recorded an Of Montreal song.