Best Albums of 2006

In these last few days before the holidays really kick into gear, I thought I would use this post to list some of the best albums I heard this past year.

Sonic Youth - Rather Ripped
Bob Dylan - Modern Times
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Stadium Arcadium
The Raconteurs - Broken Boy Soldiers
TV on the Radio - Return to Cookie Mountain
Tom Waits - Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers and Bastards
Neko Case - Fox Confessor Brings the Flood
John Mayer - Continuum
Pearl Jam - Pearl Jam
Justin Timberlake - FutureSex/LoveSounds
The New York Dolls - One Day It Will Please Us to Remember Even This
Johnny Cash - American V: A Hundred Highways
Wolfmother - Wolfmother
Thom Yorke - The Eraser
Bruce Springsteen - We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions
James Morrison - Undiscovered
John Legend - Once Again
The Decemberists - The Crane Wife
My Chemical Romance - The Black Parade
Beck - The Information
Lupe Fiasco - Food and Liquor
The Roots - Game Theory
Arctic Monkeys - Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not

Some of these albums are debuts and some mark a return to glory. There are a few experimental albums and some interesting collaborations, as well. I think there is a little something for everyone.

A few days ago, I had a chat with a friend of mine about the state of the music industry. I was listening to a Neil Young live album and I was noting that on the particular evening the album was recorded at The Fillmore East, Young was part of a triple-bill that included Miles Davis and The Steve Miller Band. I am sure the tickets were probably about $10, too. He and I were wondering if we would ever see a music scene that supported such an interesting, diverse bill in 2006-2007. The answer, sadly, is probably not. With the passing of music industry legend Ahmet Ertegun (Atlantic Records), you dont see music executives that understand the value of nurturing talent that can last for decades in the public eye. These days, its all about the short money. This doesnt lead to many break-out success stories. You are either an underground favorite or an old-timer on the comeback trail. With so many of music's legends getting older and passing, what has the music industry done to assure it's own future? With so many phony artists (I am looking at you, Fall Out Boy/All American Rejects), what will we have to listen to? I only hope that the developing young talent survives the rat-race to last and continue to produce great records for years to come. Artists are going to have to make their own way. They are going to have to break-out on their own and survive on their own. Music industry executives cant spot talent if it bites them in the ass and they certainly arent thinking about the best interest of the artists by making long-term commitments to develop them.

At this point, the public has gone away. The music industry needs another explosion like we saw in the early to mid 90's.
Could one be coming? I have passed out from holding my breath. Let's cross our fingers for 2007.