That super-crescendo People in Planes song is worth mentioning because I caught them at the 2006 South by Southwest festival, which was a definite music highlight of the year. The quip is that the festival is spring break for the music industry and I enjoyed many drinks with old pals and new. But the utter overdose of bands playing 24/7 (interspersed with films too) made it a culture lover's dream. I was so chagrined I've always passed it up previously but I'm pledging to be a fixture there now for many years to come.

Perhaps my biggest 2006 musical memory was all the band I never really got to sample: Bloc Party, Art Brut, The Hold Steady, Hot Chip, Sufjan Stevens, Spoon, The Ponys, Hot Hot Heat, Clipse etc. I have a lot to catch up on in 2007! As always, this mix is posted at Apple's iTunes music store. as well as Rhapsody.

	Idlewild Blue (Don'tchu Worry 'Bout Me)	Outkast	Idlewild
	At least the soundtrack was a case of Outkast being too good...they make virtuosity sound so effortless I think many people ignored this stellar disc.
	Fake Tales of San Francisco	Arctic Monkeys	Whatever They Say I Am, I'm Not
	Finally a British band that lived up to the billing. So many great songs on this album but this was my clear fave, with the incredible left turn toward the end of the song that could have been another single itself (post Franz Ferdinand, two songs in one are all the rage.)
	Better	Regina Specktor	Begin to Hope
	This was a song I coudln't stop humming and it made me relisten to all of her old messy albums, which are a lot of fun...at first, this new one was too polished for me...but by year's end, I had grown to love it too.
	For Reason's Unknown	The Killers	Sam's Town
	OK, I did buy into the press and I am alarmed that there is strong possibility that I might not ever listen to this album again after 2006...it just has that strange quality about it. But this was my favorite record of 2006 so try it and let me know if you agree.
	Wolf Like Me	TV on the Radio	Return to Cookie Mountain
	These Brooklyn guys made my list in 2004...some of the novelty wore off for me but they were much more popular now...as an album, it doesn't cohere for me like the debut but the noises are always worthy.
	Made Up Lovesong #43	Guillemots	From the Cliffs
	I had a brief London stop this year and I always check out the music papers there. This band's cool name (another word for seagulls) caught my eye. Singer a bit bombastic but I liked the record.
	Run	Ben Kweller	Ben Kweller
	Another exemplary effort; I'm a softie for melodies.
	Answers & Questions	Earlimart	Answers & Questions
	A bit of a cheat: these guys have been around for awhile, but I got turned on to them at South By Southwest; this was the only thing they released in 2006!
	Ain't No Other Man	Christina Aguilera	Back to Basics
	It's been said but what pipes! This was my pop fave this year.
	Scratch To Void	People in Planes	As Far As The Eye Can See
	Mentioned earlier.
	Quiet Life	The World Without Magic	The World Without Magic
	Even if I wasn't friends with Patrick Bower, I still think I would have loved this songcrafted record. Be there first - take a listen!
	Pass the Hatchet, I Think I'm Goodkind	Yo La Tengo	I Am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass
	I'm breaking my anti-pretentious rule and including a 10 minute song on this mix; sorry, the song is too much fun.
	Tip My Canoe	Dengue Fever	Escape From Dragon House
	Another 2005 release that snuck on my radar late but I can only associate with 2006 since that's when I met John Pirozzi and heard about his upcoming film about Cambodia's lost rock and roll history. Watch for it in 2007! So now I too am hooked on this Cambodian new wave stuff.
	Fistful of Love	Antony and the Johnsons	I Am A Bird Now
	OK, a final late arrival (another 2005 release) and I was really torn between this song and "Hope There's Someone" as the closer. Maybe try the other song out here if you're not a satisfied listener? But while the songcraft on his debut album was inconsistent, Antony's voice is undeniably powerful. Really hoping to see him live in 2007 when his next album is released.