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5 classic

Converge Jane Doe

Guided By Voices Bee Thousand

Joy Division Substance

maudlin of the Well Bath

Pixies Surfer Rosa

Stars Of The Lid And Their Refinement Of The Decline

Sun Kil Moon Ghosts of the Great Highway

4.5 superb

blink-182 blink-182

Botch We Are The Romans

Bruce Springsteen Nebraska

City Of Caterpillar City Of Caterpillar

Converge You Fail Me

Daitro Laisser Vivre Les Squelettes

David Bazan Curse Your Branches

Dirty Three Cinder

Do Make Say Think You, You're a History in Rust

Fugazi In on the Kill Taker

Infidel?/Castro! Bioentropic Damage Fractal

Joanna Newsom Ys

Joanna Newsom is truly an artist like no other. Existing in the realm of "freak folk" alongside artists like Devendra Banhart, Newsom's choice to use the harp as her main instrument (not to mention her unique vocal style) sets her apart completely. Ys is the follow-up to 2004's The Milk Eyed Mender and shows an enormous leap in terms of songwriting and arrangement. While her first record consisted of short folk songs, Ys' songs all approach (and sometimes exceed) the 10 minute mark. Featuring orchestration by Van Dyke Parks on 4 of its 5 songs, Ys shows enormous progression that even Newsom's most loyal fans could never have anticipated.

Johnny Cash American V: A Hundred Highways

Kayo Dot Choirs of the Eye

Kayo Dot Dowsing Anemone With Copper Tongue

Low Long Division

Luxury Health and Sport

New Order Substance

Ohana Dead Beat

Pg. 99 Document # 8

Refused The Shape Of Punk To Come

Saetia A Retrospective

Since their implosion in 1999, Saetia have become somewhat of a legend for many hardcore and emo fans worldwide. Their members have gone on to participate in such projects as Off Minor, Hot Cross and even Interpol. A Retrospective documents all of the material Saetia recorded in their time together as a band. The songs are short and fast and generally trade between heavy, aggressive parts and soft, clean passages. Vocalist Billy Werner screams, howls, sings and speaks over the top of this and ultimately delivers some incredibly powerful music. At 74 minutes, A Retrospective is raw emo at its most pure. A great starting point for those new to the genre and an essential release for fans.

Sarah Blasko What the Sea Wants, the Sea Will Have

Sed Non Satiata Le Ciel De Notre Enfance

Stars Of The Lid Avec Laudenum

Stevie Wonder Songs in the Key of Life

Sun Kil Moon April

The National Alligator

Like all of the greatest albums, Alligator is one of those records that works beautifully as a unit, yet still has 4 or 5 near-perfect standout tracks. The third full-length from New York band The National, Alligator is 13 tracks of varied, clever and emotional indie-rock. Highlights include the melodic opener "Secret Meeting", the anthemic "Lit Up", the soft and subtle "Daughters of the Soho Riots", the furious uptempo track "Abel" and the gorgeous "The Geese of Beverly Road", which features orchestral arrangements. Quite possibly the best album of 2005, Alligator comes painfully close to perfection.

The National Boxer

Tom Waits Orphans

Split into three discs; Brawlers (gritty blues), Bawlers (ballads) and Bastards (experimental tracks), Orphans represents some of the very best work of Tom Waits' career. Orphans combines Waits' cigarette-stained voice, his brilliant and astoundingly delightful songwriting and the diversity that has defined his career over the years. Somehow managing to be an entirely consistent release over the course of 56 tracks, Orphans cements Tom Waits' status as one of the greatest songwriters and creative artists of all time.

Weezer Pinkerton

William Shatner Has Been

4 excellent

Agalloch Ashes Against the Grain

Arcade Fire Neon Bible

Architecture In Helsinki In Case We Die

Boris Pink

Perhaps Boris' most accessible album to date, Pink takes the band in a much more melodic direction than their previous records. Despite opening with a dense but beautiful track ("Farewell") akin to Mogwai or Jesu, the majority of the songs on offer are fast, fuzzed out stoner rock tracks. Featuring bluesy solos, intense vocals and ridiculously heavy production, fans of Queens of the Stone Age, The Bronx or the Melvins would do well to give Pink a try. Fans of the post-metal sound would also find a number of songs to enjoy with the aforementioned "Farewell", as well as "Blackout", the gorgeous ambient track "My Machine" and the album's enormously epic closer "Just Abandoned Myself". Whatever your preference, Pink's crushing heaviness will make a worthwhile addition to your collection.

Bruce Springsteen Born To Run

Cat Power Moon Pix

Converge No Heroes

Deerhoof The Runners Four

Deftones White Pony

Envy Insomniac Doze

Where the majority of post-rock bands can make dramatic dynamic changes and standard major keys sound old and stale, post-hardcore band Envy fuse post-rock with hardcore/screamo to create a sound that lies somewhere in between Mogwai and Saetia. While the result isn't anything wildly original, it's fresh and the listener can't help but feel that no one has ever implemented the cliches of the genre quite as well as Envy manage to on Insomniac Doze.

Extra Life Secular Works

Fantomas Suspended Animation

Fuck Buttons Street Horrrsing

Grey Daturas Return to Disruption

I Heart Hiroshima Cut in Colour

Interpol Turn on the Bright Lights

Iron And Wine The Shepherd's Dog

Isis Wavering Radiant

Jaga Jazzist What We Must

Jesu Conqueror

Joan of Arc How Memory Works

Kayo Dot Blue Lambency Downward

Laura Radio Swan is Down

Liars Drum's Not Dead

Liars Liars

Low Drums and Guns

M. Ward Post-War

mewithoutYou Brother, Sister

Stripped down acoustic passages, poetic lyrics, atmospherics and intense post-hardcore all play a part in mewithoutYou's third full-length, Brother, Sister. Though the band manage to play some very interesting music with this release, it is all for the purpose of backing Aaron Weiss' passionate half-sung, half-spoken vocal attack. Titled in reference to the work of St. Francis of Assisi, Brother, Sister is a religious album, but if that isn't a turn-off for you, you owe it to yourself to check out one of the best and more original post-hardcore albums of 2006.

Mogwai Young Team

Mogwai Happy Songs For Happy people

Mogwai Mr. Beast

My Disco Cancer

My Disco Paradise

Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds Murder Ballads

Okkervil River The Stage Names

Parts & Labor Mapmaker

Pelican The Fire in Our Throats Will Beckon...

People For Audio The New Ancients

Pink and Brown Shame Fantasy II

Ryan Adams Easy Tiger

Shellac 1000 Hurts

Shellac At Action Park

Shotmaker The Complete Discography 1993-1996

Smashing Pumpkins Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness

Smashing Pumpkins Rotten Apples

Smashing Pumpkins Siamese Dream

Sonic Youth Rather Ripped

Stars Of The Lid The Tired Sounds of Stars of the Lid

Stars Of The Lid Per Aspera Ad Astra

Sun Kil Moon Tiny Cities

Sunny Day Real Estate Diary

Supersilent 6

The Blood Brothers Burn Piano Island, Burn

The Jolly Rogers The Jolly Rogers

The Magic Numbers The Magic Numbers

The Streets Original Pirate Material

Tim Hecker An Imaginary Country

Tomahawk Anonymous

Underoath Define the Great Line

Wolves in the Throne Room Two Hunters

What is there to say about Wolves in the Throne Room's second album, except that it's the most elegant black metal release since Emperor's In the Nightside Eclipse? Each song achieves an atmosphere that is nothing short of perfect and an improvement in almost every way on the band's debut. Furious black metal sections give way to calmly dense post-metal sections with gorgeous female vocals, never once sacrificing beauty or emotion. With fantastic production, Two Hunters represents a very natural step forward for the best American band currently making black metal.

3.5 great

Anaal Nathrakh When Fire Rains Down From the Sky...

Arcturus La Masquerade Infernale

Aspects of Physics Marginalized Information Forms One: Ping

Battles Mirrored

Heavily processed vocals, super-tight drumming, crazy outbursts of technicality and furturistic effects all play a role in this highly unique New York supergroup. Featuring ex-members of Don Caballero, Helmet and Lynx, Mirrored takes the math rock template of Battles' EPs and fuses them with intensely catchy pop hooks and influence from countless other genres. If you're reading this, you've probably already heard it, but if not, do yourself a favour and check out what is surely one of the decade's most original releases.

Beastie Boys Hello Nasty

Beck Sea Change

Belle and Sebastian The Life Pursuit

Bloc Party Silent Alarm

Blonde Redhead 23

Cloud Cult Advice from the Happy Hippopotamus

While some of its instrumentals and interludes between the 'actual songs' can prove to be difficult (in the same way as Sufjan Stevens' Illinois), Advice From the Happy Hippopotamus contains some of the most catchy, upbeat, thoughtful and downright happy indie-pop tunes released this decade. Case in point, the album's ninth track "Transistor Radio", which is centred around a simple but gorgeous acoustic guitar melody and vocal line and is augmented by some of the most lush string arrangements this side of the Flaming Lips. The song often sounds like it is going to explode into an epic climax, but (to its eternal credit) has enough restraint to stay subtile. While the album may too twee or sugary for some and too overwhelming for others, those who are willing to sift through the album's 25 tracks will be seriously rewarded.

Damien Jurado And Now That I'm In Your Shadow

Death Cab For Cutie Plans

Devendra Banhart Cripple Crow

Having released six albums in the space of four years, Devendra Banhart has established himself as one of the most prolific songwriters in the indie folk genre in a very short amount of time. Cripple Crow is his most recent full-length LP and it comes after 2004's release of companion albums Rejoicing in the Hands and Ni?ojo. Though not an overwhelmingly consistant record, Cripple Crow's 22 tracks are an eclectic, warm and soothing listen.

Fire in the Attic Crush/Rebuild

Gang Of Four Entertainment!

Joy Division Closer

Joy Electric The White Songbook - Legacy, Vol. 1

Lightning Bolt Wonderful Rainbow

Low The Great Destroyer

Muse Black Holes and Revelations

Black Holes and Revelations is the fourth and latest offering from U.K. trio Muse. Following the success of 2004’s Absolution, Black Holes… sees Muse incorporating a wider range of influences to create a more accessible and eclectic record. Most of the record retains the epic feel and heavy sound that made previous efforts successful but includes elements of dance/electronica and straight-up pop. Opener “Take A Bow” uses the classical infused rock template of previous releases and adds electronic textures and falsetto harmonies to create an upbeat feel. Album highlight “Starlight” takes a piano riff that could come from a Coldplay or Keane song and adds heavily distorted bass riffs and dramatic vocals to become an intense, epic rock song. Other highlights include the super-heavy “Assassin”, the brilliant guitar solo of “Invincible” and epic closer “Knights of Cydonia”. Though not Muse’s strongest effort, Black Holes… is a solid and logical step forward.

Nine Inch Nails The Downward Spiral

Norma Jean Redeemer

Quiet Steps Quiet Steps [EP]

Sage Francis Human The Death Dance

Sandro Perri Tiny Mirrors

Silver Apples Silver Apples

Sufjan Stevens Illinois

The Appleseed Cast Low Level Owl, Volume I

The Grates Gravity Won't Get You High

The Kills Midnight Boom

The Mint Chicks Crazy? Yes! Dumb? No!

While they probably haven't made the album of their career just yet, there's very little complain about with The Mint Chicks' performance on Crazy? Yes! Dumb? No!. Unlike the Minties' previous full-length, CYDN is a much more well-rounded effort that harnesses their punk attitude into tastefully aggressive tunes like "Ockham's Razor" rather than outright spasms like "Nothing is a Switch". There are plenty of lighter moments also to be had, such as the relentlessly catchy "Sleeping During the Day" and the love song title track. In short, Crazy? Yes! Dumb? No! is a pop album with plenty of great songs, fantastic hooks and badass attitude.

The Postal Service Give Up

The Unicorns Who Will Cut Our Hair When We're Gone?

These Arms Are Snakes Easter

On their second full-length, These Arms Are Snakes combine the abrasive post-hardcore of bands such as Drive Like Jehu with stop/start post-punk grooves and cold, moody synth sounds. Featuring ex-members of Botch and Kill Sadie, These Arms Are Snakes are a talented bunch, capable of more than your average post-hardcore group. Vicious, noisy and occasionally epic, Easter is full of angry shouting, complex riffing, electronic textures and varied dynamics. Highly recommended for fans of Fugazi, Scratch Acid and The Blood Brothers.

United Nations United Nations

Valet Naked Acid

Vic Chesnutt North Star Deserter

Wembly Shadwell Shapeshifter EP

X Japan Art Of Life

3 good

Alice in Chains Alice in Chains

Brand New The Devil And God Are Raging Inside Me

Carpathian Isolation

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah Clap Your Hands Say Yeah

Coldplay X&Y

Darkthrone A Blaze In the Northern Sky

Dresden Dolls The Dresden Dolls

Evangelista Hello, Voyager

Every Time I Die The Big Dirty

Fatboy Slim You\'ve Come A Long Way, Baby

Hrsta Ghosts Will Come and Kiss Our Eyes

Ghosts Will Come and Kiss Our Eyes is the second full-length from Godspeed You! Black Emperor side project Hrsta. Combining some of GY!BE's depressing tones and dirge-like tempos with a more subtle, almost ambient approach to songwriting. Not unlike fellow GY!BE sideproject Set Fire to Flames, Hrsta employ a very organic approach to the creation of their music and the result is a very subtle, eerie journey through soundscapes generally featuring guitar, vocals and organs as the main instruments. The album's closer, a cover of the Bee Gees' "Holiday" is an uplifting conclusion, in the creepiest possible way.

Interpol Antics

Justice Cross

Limp Bizkit Significant Other

Maroon 5 Songs About Jane

Mastodon Leviathan

Mayhem De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas

Napalm Death Scum

Pantera Cowboys From Hell

Rosie Thomas These Friends of Mine

Switchfoot The Beautiful Letdown

The Music The Music

The Strokes Room On Fire

This Will Destroy You Young Mountain

Ulver Blood Inside

World's End Girlfriend Hurtbreak Wonderland

Youth Group Casino Twilight Dogs

2.5 average

Black Dice Repo

Kings of Leon Aha Shake Heartbreak

Razorlight Up All Night

Relient K Two Lefts Don't Make a Right

Relient K The Anatomy of Tongue In Cheek

Steve Vai Passion and Warfare

Tilly and the Wall Bottoms of Barrels

Tool Lateralus

Unearth The Oncoming Storm

2 poor

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah Some Loud Thunder

Jane's Addiction Strays

Korn Untitled

Oasis Be Here Now

Son Lux At War With Walls And Mazes

1.5 very poor

Bright Eyes Digital Ash in a Digital Urn

1 awful

A Perfect Circle eMOTIVe