Listmania!
Top 25 Albums of 2006
Someone to Drive You HomeSomeone to Drive You Home by Long Blondes
Buy new: £6.48 / Used from: £5.51
“Within two or three listens it feels like you're listening to a classic album that you've known for years"
Rabbit Fur CoatRabbit Fur Coat by Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins
Buy new: £6.48 / Used from: £5.65
“All in all this is a triumph."
Alright, StillAlright, Still by Lily Allen
Buy new: £1.53 / Used from: £1.54
Its one of those albums were almost every song could be a hit single.
We Are The PipettesWe Are The Pipettes by The Pipettes
Buy new: £4.98 / Used from: £2.40
Something that could well have slipped into ill-advised pastiche has actually turned out to be one of the finds of the year.
The GreatestThe Greatest by Cat Power
Buy new: £12.99 / Used from: £3.23
“This is still a fantastic collection of songs, which certainly does live up there with her greatest work… She's pulled it off again.”
FundamentalFundamental by Pet Shop Boys
Buy new: £10.97 / Used from: £0.20
“Overall this is a triumph… in fact it's up there with the best they've ever done.”
American V: A Hundred HighwaysAmerican V: A Hundred Highways by Johnny Cash
Buy new: £4.66 / Used from: £3.88
It’s proof positive that whilst John R. Cash may be gone, he will never be forgotten.
Cansei De Ser SexyCansei De Ser Sexy by CSS
Buy used from: £5.36
“Ramshackle....bonkers...uplifting...smutty...infectious... a joyous and riotous album; if it doesn't get your hips shaking,[it] will get your head banging.”
5:555:55 by Charlotte Gainsbourg
Buy used from: £5.60
It doesn’t always come together, but for the most part it does and it’s very difficult indeed not to fall under it’s spell.
Black CadillacBlack Cadillac by Rosanne Cash
Buy new: £10.98 / Used from: £4.59
This is an album which will touch anyone who listens to it
Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm NotWhatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not by Arctic Monkeys
Buy new: £4.98 / Used from: £3.15
It's an instant crowd-pleasing album
Voices of Animals and MenVoices of Animals and Men by Young Knives
Buy new: £4.63 / Used from: £3.75
"You could argue it's just XTC for the new generation, but then I would ask you...what would be wrong with that?”
Hearts And UnicornsHearts And Unicorns by Giant Drag
Buy new: £9.98 / Used from: £19.98
“They have the tunes, they have the lyrics and they have the front woman with oodles of star-quality to spare.”
Other People's LivesOther People's Lives by Ray Davies
Buy new: £7.97 / Used from: £3.00
“Davies is legitimately one of Britain's greatest songwriters… you can't help but feel glad that [he] is finally back amongst us.”
The Orange AlbumThe Orange Album by Stefy
Buy used from: £3.46
“The singer can sing, the band can play, and they have a knack for turning out catchy pop melodies that will stick in your brain for days.”
Live It OutLive It Out by Metric
Buy new: £7.22 / Used from: £4.99
“Whilst never quite as clever as it thinks it is, this is still a great album to, you know, dance to. A rock band not afraid to have fun...whatever next?”
Moon Over the Freeway [Us Import]Moon Over the Freeway [Us Import] by The Ditty Bops
Buy new: £16.49 / Used from: £3.78
“It’s perhaps a little too "off-the-wall" to gain any semblance of major success, but that shouldn't detract one iota from what is a really good record”
Black Holes and RevelationsBlack Holes and Revelations by Muse
Buy new: £4.98 / Used from: £3.49
"Whether more ardent fans will agree I don't know, but for me this is Muse's most thrilling and complete collection yet.”
Be Your Own PetBe Your Own Pet by Be Your Own Pet
Buy new: £4.13 / Used from: £2.98
"A dynamic and exciting record"
Begin To HopeBegin To Hope by Regina Spektor
Buy new: £8.98 / Used from: £4.89
“Newer fans may well have to take a few listens to really fall in love with her but no matter how long you have, or haven't, known of Regina, eventually this album will get you. It's that good.”
The WarningThe Warning by Hot Chip
Buy used from: £3.49
“If there is one thing to take away from this album it may well be just how, well, fresh and original everything sounds.”
Highway CompanionHighway Companion by Tom Petty
Buy new: £5.98 / Used from: £3.99
“There are highlights aplenty; if this really is the last album Petty gives us, he's left on a high note.”
B'dayB'day by Beyonce
Buy new: £3.15 / Used from: £0.86
“[an] album which has as many highlights as Dangerously In Love and, crucially, virtually none of the filler…against all the odds, I'm impressed with this.”
The Victorian English Gentlemen's ClubThe Victorian English Gentlemen's Club by Victorian English Gentlemen's Club
Buy new: £4.98 / Used from: £14.98
“This is quite probably the best album this year that no-one will ever hear.”
Hurricane GlassHurricane Glass by Catherine Feeny
Buy used from: £6.00
“Indeed anyone who thinks Sandi Thom is the second coming of Jesus might like to check out what a really good album actually sounds like…”