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Friday, 05 January 2007 09:07

Abby White, music editor for Performing Songwriter magazine makes her picks for her favorite albums of 2006. 

 

 

 

Ryan Adams - 29: I love love love this album. I think that "Nightbirds" is one of the most startlingly beautiful songs ever. Anyway, I will listen to anything Ryan creates. Have you been to his website lately?

Midlake - The Trials of Van Occupanther: What a sweet, sad album...I nominate "Young Bride" as one of the best songs of the year, if anyone is writing this down.

Jars of Clay - Good Monsters: This one snuck up on me. Sure, I'd always liked the songs I'd heard on the radio, but I had never REALLY dug deep into a Jars of Clay album. Boy was I stupid. Not only did this make me revisit their entire catalog, but Good Monsters is simply amazing--I'm shocked that more people didn't pick up on this.

The Raconteurs - Broken Boy Soldiers: This album was the one that I was holding my breath for in anticipation for months...I was soooo looking forward to it because I love Jack White and Brendan Benson so much, but I was soooo scared that it might suck. Boys, you and your companions from the Greenhornes did the exact opposite--you f'n rock. In other exciting Raconteurs news, my friend Benji has seen Jack White AND Brendan Benson at a certain Starbucks recently. Shucks. I guess I might have to start tolerating Starbucks coffee...really, I am not a stalker, people...

Margot & the Nuclear So and So's - The Dust of Retreat: I spent all year talking about this band to everyone I know. Clearly, I'm not finished doing that. Why? They're just that good. Richard Edwards is a brilliant young songwriter, and this small army of a band just WORKS. If you haven't listened to their album yet, I'm not sure we can be friends.

Joseph Arthur - Nuclear Daydream: Joseph is one of those artists who you know is always going to challenge you, but he's never going to disappoint you. Nuclear Daydream has  wistful ballads, all-out rockers, and everything in between. He's putting out another album this year, so you'd better catch up now!

Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins - Rabbit Fur Coat: I had idolized Jenny in "Troop Beverly Hills" (remember that one?), Rilo Kiley, and now as a solo act. Seriously, I want to be just like her when I grow up.

Carbon Leaf - Love, Loss, Hope Repeat: My friends and I listened to this all the way home from MMS this year, and even though we were totally digging it, it apparently tortured a male passenger who shall remain nameless. I think it was only because he was hungover, so maybe this album should come with a disclaimer: Anyone under the age of 40 who is NOT hungover will love this. Right?

The Beatles - Love: I was suspicious of this at first, but George and Giles Martin did an amazing job. While anyone with two functioning ears would love this album, it's especially thrilling for the true Beatles geeks who will have a ball picking out the bits and pieces of various Beatles tunes in each track. Even better with headphones.

Josh Ritter - The Animal Years: Mr. Ritter just gets better and better. He is one of the most important voices of this generation--his songwriting continues to impress and I can't wait to see what he does next. That, and he is the nicest guy in the music business, hands down. We love Josh.