TOP OF THE YEAR: Harpswell Sound, Let's Go Anyway. |
Last year I hinted that I’d have to expand my rankings after two years of Top 20s. Well, here you go. The Top 30. Am I splitting hairs when I’m putting one record at 26 and another at 27? Hell, I might even be throwing darts. That doesn’t mean it isn’t an entertaining exercise.For the second year in a row, qualifying albums were down just a bit from 52 in 2004, to 48 in 2005, to 46 here in 2006. However, “qualifying” has changed just a tad. It still requires the record be a full-length studio effort, all by one artist or band. This year, however, I’m excluding Portsmouth releases. So all of these discs are from within the Maine borders, and mostly from Portland. I do still require proper packaging (no CDRs or online-only releases), and that these be available for purchase by the general public either through online distribution or a retail establishment. Maybe that requirement will be lifted next year. Remember, all live albums and EPs are disqualified from consideration, but the EP list is stellar this year, so pay close attention to the sidebar.
I understand that there may be some qualifying releases that I haven’t listened to. If so, it’s not for want of trying. If you think you’ve been ignored, send me an e-mail. I reply to everyone.
As has been the case for four years now, albums are ranked by originality, musicianship, how long something from the disc lasts in my head, the number of plays they got on the iPod, and whether or not they contain a truly outstanding song. Congratulations to Tree By Leaf, Loverless, Pete Kilpatrick, and Subject Bias for two straight years on the list. Extra special congratulations to Headstart! for an unprecedented three straight years on my end-of-year list.
Please note that international star Ray LaMontagne is on this list, but is not at the top, as he was in 2004. Also note that I’ve yet again included pithy comments. Didn’t want to disappoint.
1. HARPSWELL SOUND, Let’s Go Anyway — Built for teary-eyed singalongs by high-school sweethearts heading off to different colleges in the cars their daddies bought them.
2. RAY LAMONTAGNE, Till the Sun Turns Black — A haunting and desperate exploration of the depths of human emotion. With strings.
3. AS FAST AS, Open Letter to the Damned — Though some of this was a rehashing, “Special” and “Florida Sunshine” have been in my head for six months straight.
4. GRUPO ESPERANZA, Bread & Butter — It’s not hard to understand what’s made this band so popular after shaking your ass through this debut release.
5. MOSES ATWOOD,Moses Atwood — He’s not the only one channeling old-timey juju, but his ripples right through me.
6. DOMINIC AND THE LUCID, Waging the Wage — Channeling the energy of a live show and taking all the right chances.
7. WELLS, GABOURY, AND GROVER, The Garden Above — Okay, so they’re not playing new songs, but they’re playing them in new ways. Jazz lives.
8. VERTIGOD, Victory in Silence — Heavy, but not too heavy. Smart, but not too smart.
9. LAB SEVEN, North Winds — The party album of the year, with a few nice turns of phrase to boot.
10. LOVERLESS, Fighter — They’re not fighters, but they’ll fight for you. And for a spot in the top 10.
11. THE TOUGHCATS, Pinata — Making all of Maine pine for island life.
12. SEEKONK, Pinkwood — An uncompromising sound sculpture, lush and austere.
13. HEADSTART!, Our House — A major step forward for Portland’s premier pop punkers. And proof that the CD isn’t dead as an artform.
14. OGRE, Seven Hells — Big, big rock, and big, big in Japan.
15. CAMBIATA, Into the Night — Brilliant, and sort of annoying. Brilliantly annoying.
16. PETE KILPATRICK, Louder than the Storm — Maybe Portland’s only legitimate pop star.
17. EMILIA DAHLIN, God Machine — Charisma that sparkles, even in a jewel case. Good songwriting helps.
18. TREE BY LEAF, There is a Vine — Not quite the triumph of 2005, but an impressive follow-up, nonetheless.
19. KINGPIN WRECKING CREW, Abolition Strategy — Portland’s Elder statesmen. Hah! Only I get that pun.
20. RULER OF THE RAGING MAIN, Ruler of the Raging Main — Wonderfully grimy rock, as though imported from across the pond.
21. NIGEL HALL, The Face of Things to Come — Actually, this is the voice of things to come. Dude’s vocal chords are solid gold.
22. FENCE KITCHEN, Beading the Rook — Keeping our town’s art-rock (or whatever) tradition alive.
23. BOREAL TORDU, La Bonne Vie — If you can listen to this without a smile on your face, you’re a dick.
24. THE LEFTOVERS, Party Tonight — Fun punk just about anybody can love. With great hair.
25. CULT MAZE, Ice Arena — So close to fantastic. Up the production value and add some more confident vocals and this is top 10.
