2006-12-29

The 60.02 Best Songs of 2006

Kevin's 60.02 Best Songs of 2006

(It's palindromic, damn it.)

Like last year, I ask that you humor me and pretend to care that I'm putting out a list of my favorite songs of the year. If I don't do it, I suffer from a major case of blogger envy.

Where possible, I've provided a link to where you can either download or hear the song. I do not have the bandwidth available to upload these songs myself, so please give credit to the individuals hosting them. (I can not link to the files themselves as that is considered "rude" in the music blogging community, so in some cases, you may have to scroll down the page to locate the file.) Though I can assert that all of these songs were available from their linked location and the moment I posted it, I cannot promise they will still exist even two seconds from now. If you want these songs, go get them now. And you should, I feel it is well worth you obtaining each of these songs. After all, if I'm not fond of my own taste in music, who will be?

I apologize in advance for the quality of the writing. I have no knack for reviewing music, and I put so much time into just locating and encoding the links that I don't have the energy to give it my all in describing the songs.

Anyhoo, here's the list:


60.02. Wind It Up - Gwen Stefani

Why would I choose two one-hundredths of a song? Because though sampling the "Goat Herd" song from The Sound of Music is inspired, the rest of the song grows tiresome quickly. Still, every time I hear the yodel at the beginning of this song, I smile.

60. Skeleton Key - Margot and the Nuclear So and So's

A moderately low key song that makes my head bounce and feet tap.

59. Mothers, Sisters, Daughters, & Wives - Voxtrot

I'm only starting to get into Voxtrot after an introduction from Lacey. This song makes me want to hear more, though.

58. Sexy Back - Justin Timberlake

Undeniably catchy, though I somewhat hate myself for falling into the trap. I still insist that "Cry Me a River" is one of the most overrated songs of recent times.

57. Lazy Eye - Silversun Pickups

Bitter vocals over a nuanced pop/rock track. If you like the fairly angry tone here, be sure to look for Silversun Pickups's 2005 song "Kissing Families."

56. New #4 - Pants Yell!

Peppy pop with droll lyrics. I frequently have the seemingly meaningless transition to no where at the end of the song stuck in my head.

55. PJ & Rooster - Outkast

A great dance beat featuring trademarked Outkast rapping. I'm surprised this one didn't blow up.

54. Treehouse - I'm from Barcelona

When I first got wind that I'm from Barcelona is a 29 person band, I knew it would be love. Admittedly, this song is fairly asinine, but it's just so damn fun.

53. Suddenly - Bishop Allen

Any number of Bishop Allen songs could go in this spot, but I'm pretty smitten with this one.

52. Lies Are Much More Fun - The Grates

From start to finish, this song has spunk.

51. Take a Chance - The Magic Numbers

I've been fans of the Magic Numbers since last year, but this year my opinion of them rose even more when I made an awesome discovery: The Magic Numbers are a FAMILY BAND! (Be still my heart.)

50. The History of Excuses - Bishop Allen

They manage some interesting things with vowels, here.

49. Granny Apple - Sono Oto

Reminiscent of the Beatles.

48. How to Save a Life - The Fray

When I say The Fray in concert, this song stood out as a winner. Unfortunately, Grey's Anatomy co-opted it and it's been overplayed in every venue possible.

47. Big Horse and the Cherry Tree - KT Tunstall

When I first started hearing this on the radio, I thought it was Melissa Ethridge and couldn't figure out why it was being played so much. Later, I realized it was because it's a good song.

46. Clap! Shake! Jump! - Behavior & Andrea Revel

A purely perky song that was revived in '06 for use in an Old Navy commercial.

45. Snakes on a Plane (Bring It) - Starship Cobra

A venomous tongue-in-cheek anthem for the movie of the same title. If you loved the kitsch of the film, you'll love this.

44. Sometime Somewhere Someone Should Say Something - The Poems

I swear it's not just the alliteration that gets me, the cleverness of the title really works. The song's depressing beauty and amusing ambiguity leaves me feeling all sorts of emotions at once.

43. Ain't No Other Man - Christina Aguilera

What a horn section! What a voice! She's come a long way since "Genie in a Bottle."

42. Here It Goes Again - OK Go

If you haven't already seen the best music video of the year, you haven't been on the internet. Then again, you might just be my Mom, so I will now offically become the last blog on the net to link to the video. The song reminds me of Billy Joel, which truthfully is neither good nor bad.

41. Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt - We Are Scientists

I've known this song way before 2006, but now that We Are Scientists have hit the big time, I get to enjoy this song all over again.

40. Fergalicious - Fergie

Apparently, I have no shame.

39. New Art for the People - The Indelicates

I'm a sucker for duets. If you can withstand the crudeness of the opening two lines, I think you'll find it worth your while.

38. Guitar Swing - The Winks

I almost dismissed this song because it sounds like many other songs I've heard before. The last thirty seconds, however, is sheer joy in my pants.

37. Your Kisses Are Wasted on Me - The Pipettes

I dare you not to swivel your hips. These ladies are all dance.

36. Set the Fire to the Third Bar - Snow Patrol

Another duet, this one is haunting and resonates with me long after I play it.

35. All Good Things - Nelly Furtado

She released the tolerable but absurd "Promiscuous" in order to obtain a #1 hit (and gee did it work!), but you'll have to turn to her album to find the tracks like this that make Nelly Furtado worth listening to.

34. Boston - Augustana

I find this song amusing because the protagonist wants to flee to Boston "where no one knows [his] name." If you'll recall, Boston is where Cheers originated and where, of course, "everybody knows your name."

33. When You Were Young - The Killers

It took me a while to "get" this song, but damn if it's not impressive for a band to take a hook as strange as "He doesn't look a thing like Jesus" and get it stuck in my head several times a day.

32. Take Control - Amerie

This track is hot. Last year, Amerie blew up with "One Thing." This year, Amerie proves it wasn't a fluke with any equally hip, danceable song.

31. Welcome to the Black Parade - My Chemical Romance

This song is like Franz Ferdinand's "Take Me Out" in that I'm far more into the unusual intro than the more typical rock portion of the song. When Shea first heard the song, he asked whether it was Christian rock. Indeed, it is rather melodramatic, but if you're going to be campy, you might as well go all the way.

30. Penny on the Train Track - Ben Kweller

What sets this song apart from the thousands of other solo male singers are its soulful and toe-tapping qualities.

29. Touch the Sky - Kanye West

Kanye West delightfully samples Curtis Mayfield in one of the greatest dance tracks of the year.

28. Take Flight - Ramona Cordova

This is the shortest song of the best 60.02; I like the muffled, unintelligible quality this song affords.

27. Hey Ya - Obadiah Parker

I have an unhealthy addiction to cover songs. It has taken a lot of restraint to limit the number of cover songs I've included on this list, but I can't help but mention this slowed down yet unique take on the Outkast classic.

26. Shout - De Novo Dahl

I'm not sure I can articulate what it is about this song. (I say that as though I've done even a decent job at doing that with the previous songs.) Well, it's fun! What more do you want?

25. Hips Don't Lie - Shakira & Wyclef Jean

Shakira's still got it. Plus, Wyclef Jean still comes off like a goofy idiot when he sings the line "third world country."

24. Dirty Harry - Gorillaz

Hip hop, danceable beat, children's voices - there's not much to hate in this song that certainly wins points for originality.

23. Me & U - Cassie

At first, I couldn't stand this song, but it sure grew on me. Plus, she's from Connecticut!

22. Hands Open - Snow Patrol

Though the band's big hit this year was "Chasing Cars," I found it to be positively predictable and boring. This tune, however, has some oomph; my favorite part is the Sufjan Stevens reference.

21. Headlock - Imogen Heap

Imogen Heap has a style all her own; I'm consistently impressed with what she offers.

20. Flight 180 - Bishop Allen

I referenced a fondness for melodrama for song #31; this song comes close to matching its intensity, though it's more subtle. Also, it takes place on a plane, so there's always the possibility of snakes randomly appearing.

19. We're from Barcelona - I'm from Barcelona

This is the song that introduced me to the band (you first met them at #54.) It's simplistic, dorky rock. Don't just download the song - you have to watch the video. Seriously, watch it for me. Watch it!

You did it watch, yes?



18. Don't Know Why You Stay - Essex Green

More upbeat, poppy fun. Unlike most songs, where the vocalists start to get whiny is where the song gets good.

17. Huddle Formation - The Go! Team

Though this song technically was released well before 2006, it's recent inclusion in a car commercial made me declare it eligible this year. Plus, if you're not onboard The Go! Team yet, it's my responsibility to convince you to join now.

16. Crazy - Gnarls Barkley

Perhaps it was overplayed, but it's one of those few songs ("Hey Ya") that gets put in that position by merit.

15. Stay With You - The Goo Goo Dolls

Undoubtedly, I'll lose some credibility here, but I'm an unapologetic fan of The Goo Goo Dolls. They write songs that are fun to sing along to. This could be a future karaoke winner for me.

14. Say It Right - Nelly Furtado

This is the song! It should have been released as her second single, but unfortunately we had to wait through the unsuccessful run of the horrendous "Maneater." Oh, Nelly.

13. On the Radio - Regina Spektor

I adore Regina Spektor. This song displays both her great voice as well as her thoughtful and catchy lyrics.

12. You! Me! Dancing! - Los Campesinos

Though the song contains the longest unnecessary introduction known to humankind, once it starts, I offer a money-back guarantee that both you and me will be dancing.

11. Fuck Was I - Jenny Owen Youngs

It's fairly simple, yet heartfelt. Don't be thrown by the crass title, I think you'll enjoy it.

10. Hotel Song - Regina Spektor

Another Regina Spektor song. I hadn't even heard this one until a couple weeks ago when Lucy played it for me. Ever since, I've been playing it on repeat.

9. I Write Sings Not Tragedies - Panic! at the Disco

Here's another song I didn't quite understand the appeal of immediately. Eventually, however, the sing-along potential was too unbearable, and it became a personal favorite. Unfortunately, I can never seem to sing the lyrics correctly, 90% of the time saying "broom's gride" instead of "groom's bride."

8. Put Your Records On - Corinne Bailey Rae

Corinne is pretty adorable; this song exudes warmness. She was a surprise nominee for Record of the Year at the Grammys for this song - I'll be pulling for her.

7. Let's Talk about Spaceships - Say Hi to Your Mom

There's something comforting about the simplicity of this ditty. Plus, I'm sure we've all been in the position of the protagonist.

6. Ladyflash - The Go! Team

A rerelease of this song in the UK led me to count this as a 2006 song. Sure, I'm stretching the rules, but you need to be all about this song or I fear everyone will make fun of you. Seriously.

5. Lithium - The Polyphonic Spree

Sure, it's another cover, but a damn good one. They take one of the most angry songs of the 90's and turn it into something vaguely inspirational. Swoon.

4. Suddenly I See - KT Tunstall

I can't help loving this song. It's constantly in my head.

3. Smiley Faces - Gnarls Barkley

Even better than "Crazy," "Smiley Faces" is the feel-good track that does just what its title suggests. I heard this song before I even knew who Gnarls Barkley was, and it was love at first sound.

2. Fidelity - Regina Spektor

The song that first brought Regina to my life. It's instantly amazing. Your music collection isn't complete without it.

1. Butterfly Nets - Bishop Allen

This is my favorite song of the year. I described it as "sexy and lullabyesque" to Stacy, and she described it as such on her radio show when I requested it. Don't be the only loser on your block not playing this on repeat and falling asleep to it.


Well, there it is. Let me know what you think or just let me know that I wasted the last six hours compiling this.

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