"You don't understand, I coulda had class...I coulda been a contender!"

It's that time of year again and this year has been exceptional for me in that I had tons of recreational time during my retirement phase that enabled me to devote a LOT of said time to seeking out and reviewing new music. I've been narrowing down my list of favorite tunes of the year in order to finish up my "best of" list (I swear I'm almost done, Ashley) and realized that there were just so many songs and artists that I fell hard for in '06! I found it ridiculously difficult to come up with my list but I did it. However, given that any one of the following 50 were thisclose to making the cut...and I mean to the point that they've all been on the list and removed at some point and some added back again and taken away again...I decided that they deserved some recognition. And so, since I'm so nice and 'tis the sharing season, I decided to upload some of my favorite tracks from each of these albums to share with the rest of you.

In no particular order other than alphabetical and without any explanation as to why I feel they're fantastic and beautiful and grand works of musical art that the majority of you could probably give two shits about reading, they coulda been contenders...





Amos Lee-Supply & Demand

"Careless"
"Freedom"



Amy Millan-Honey From The Tombs

"Hardhearted (Ode To Thoreau)"
"Losin' You"




Ane Brun-A Temporary Dive

"Where Friend Rhymes With End"
"Song No. 6"




Ani DiFranco-Reprieve

"Hypnotized"
"Unrequited"




As Tall As Lions-As Tall As Lions

"Maybe I'm Just Tired"
"Kicking Myself"




Blue October-Foiled

"Congratulations" feat. Imogen Heap
"X-Amount Of Words"




Breaks Co-Op-The Sound Inside

"LMA"
"Otherside"




Brett Dennen-So Much More

"The One Who Loves You The Most"
"So Long Sweet Misery"




Camera Obscura-Let's Get Out Of This Country

"If Looks Could Kill"
"I Need All The Friends I Can Get"




Cameron McGill-Street Ballads & Muderesques

"It's Not Right"
"When It Could Hurry"




Casey Dienel-Wind-Up Canary

"The La La Song"
"Stationary"




Castiotone For The Painfully Alone-Etiquette

"Bobby Malone Moves Home"
"I Love Creedence"




Cerys Matthews-Never Said Goodbye

"Streets Of New York"
"A Bird In Hand"




Corinne Bailey Rae-Corinne Bailey Rae

"Like A Star"
"Put Your Records On"




Dave Simpson-So, Sober

"Embarrassed To Be"
"You Were Loved"




Dixie Chicks-Taking The Long Way

"Not Ready To Make Nice"
"I Hope"




Gossip-Standing In The Way Of Control

"Coal To Diamonds"
"Listen Up!"




I'm From Barcelona-Let Me Introduce You To My Friends

"Jenny"
"Collection Of Stamps"



India.Arie-Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship

"The Heart Of The Matter"
"These Eyes"




Jackie Greene-American Myth

"Love Song, 2:00 a.m."
"Cold Black Devil/14 Miles"




Jon Auer-Songs From The Year Of Our Demise

"Four Letter Word"
"Six Feet Under"




Josh Ritter-The Animal Years

"Best For The Best"
"One More Mouth"





Josh Rouse-Subtitulo

"It Looks Like Love"
"Wonderful"




Justin Timberlake-Future Sex/Love Sounds

"SexyBack"
"What Goes Around Comes Around"




Kate Havnevik-Melankton

"Unlike Me"
"Nowhere Warm"




Lady Sovereign-Public Warning

"Love Or Hate Me"
"Random"




Liam Frost & The Slowdown Family-Show Me How The Spectres Dance

"She Painted Pictures"
"Road Signs And Red Lights"




Lily Allen-Alright, Still

"Knock 'Em Out"
"Not Big"




Lucero-Rebels, Rogues & Sworn Brothers

"She Wakes When She Dreams"
"The Weight Of Guilt"




M. Ward-Post-War

"Requiem"
"Eyes On The Prize"




Matt Nathanson-At The Point (Live)

"Angel"
"I Saw"
"Lost Myself In Search Of You"




Nelly Furtado-Loose

"Maneater"
"All Good Things Come To An End"




Peter Bjorn And John-Writer's Block

"Young Folks"
"Let's Call It Off"




Psapp-The Only Thing I Ever Wanted

"Hi"
"Upstairs"




Someone Still Loves You, Boris Yeltsin-Broom

"House Fire"
"I Am Warm & Powerful"




Sonya Kitchell-Words Came Back To Me

"Jerry"
"Let Me Go"



Stabilo-Happiness & Disaster

"Don't Be So Cold"
"If It Was Up To Me"


The Ditty Bops-Moon Over The Freeway

"Fish To Fry"
"Your Head's Too Big"




The Format-Dog Problems

"Time Bomb"
"She Doesn't Get It"




The Kooks-Inside In, Inside Out

"She Moves In Her Own Way"
"Jackie Big Tits"




The Long Blondes-Someone To Drive You Home

"Heaven Help The New Girl"
"Weekend Without Makeup"




The Long Winters-Putting The Days To Bed

"Rich Wife"
"Pushover"




The Magic Numbers-Those The Brokes

"This Is A Love Song"
"Undecided"




The M's-Future Women

"Shawnee Dupree"
"Future Women"




The Pipettes-We Are The Pipettes

"Your Kisses Are Wasted On Me"
"Why Did You Stay?"




The Raconteurs-Broken Boy Soldiers

"Level"
"Together"




The Zutons-Tired Of Hanging Around

"Valerie"
"Tired Of Hanging Around"




Thom Yorke-The Eraser

"The Eraser"
"Black Swan"




Wolfmother-Wolfmother

"Woman"
"Love Train"




Yo La Tengo-I Am Not Afraid Of You & I Will Beat Your Ass

"Mr. Tough"
"Sometimes I Don't Get You"