Top 25 Singles 2006
By: Music Staff |
Sunday January 28, 2007 |
| Top 25 music singles of 2006. |
#25. Midlake - "Roscoe"
Nearly every review of Midlake's second LP, The Trials of Van
Occupanther, has mentioned its similarities to Fleetwood Mac. And
"Roscoe," the opening track of the album, is responsible for those first
impressions. While it's a decidedly modern take on the sound, you still
get the golden harmonies, rolling drums, and relaxed delivery that helped
to define mid-70's era Fleetwood Mac. Still, the group manages to carve
out a sound of their own with scratchy guitar stabs and mysterious lyrics
about anal retentive mountaineers and chemical filled villages. The
quality of the songwriting and tense imagery ultimately overcome any
parallels and leave you with one of the more unexpectedly catchy songs of
2006.- Ryan Gallaher #24. Wolfmother - "Woman" 
Aussie garage trio Wolfmother took the states by storm in 2006 with a
wonderfully loud, old style psychedelic rock out of an album. Supported
with constant touring and tons of media exposure WM reminded American
music fans that rock could be heavy, fun and good all at the same time.
After "Woman" was heard on an iPod commercial and just about everywhere
else in TV land the song launched the boys into big time worldwide rock
stardom. With its fast power chords and lead singer Andrew Stockdale's
high, Robert Plant-esque voice, the song captures a lost era in rock 'n
roll with more sincerity than irony; and to top it all off, "Woman" has
won the guys a Grammy nomination for song of the year. - David Fox #23. Rihanna - "S.O.S." 
The first time I heard "S.O.S.", I hated it. Why had they taken my
favourite song from childhood, chopped it up, and recorded another song
over the top of it? The second time I heard it, I decided that my inner
three-year old was a complete rockist, for this is fantastic. The
"Tainted Love" sample works wonders, but I also love the allusions to
Elton John's "Tiny Dancer" and Michael Jackson's "The Way You Make Feel",
which are sprinkled throughout the song as well. My infant self may be
weeping, but I'm out on the dance floor enjoying myself.- Ian Pointer #22. Death Cab for Cutie - "I Will Follow You Into the Dark" 
The song should not work, it just shouldn't. The lyrics are too cheesy.
"If there's no one beside you/When your soul embarks/I will follow you into
the dark?" I mean, come on. You're kidding me, right? But all that aside,
somehow, in the hands of Ben Gibbard it does work, and it works
beautifully. I am not sure if it is a success due to his gentle vocal
delivery, the delicate melody, the dark subject matter lurking just below
the surface--but it is just a beautifully heartbreaking love song that ranks
among Death Cab For Cutie's best work to date. - Renee Stock
#21. Pearl Jam - "Life Wasted" 
"Life Wasted" proves what all die-hard Pearl Jam fans have been saying for
years - the band still makes great music. Sure, the song is not different
from anything the band has created in its career. However, Eddie Vedder's
passionate growl is the best he has sounded in a decade. Best of all
though is the fireworks created by the awesome guitar solos by Stone
Gossard and Mike McCready in the final minute of the song. - Todd Sikorski #20. Outkast - "Morris Brown" 
Equal parts marching band and the duo circa Stankonia, "Morris
Brown" may be Big Boi's swan song from Outkast. Featuring Sleepy Brown
(who appears quite tight with Big Boi) and Scar, the song is the most fun
on a pop hit the band has had, there just is not an ill word spoken in it.
Perhaps part "Two of Us" as well, since it's no secret that Outkast will
be ending soon. You can't help by smile, sing along, and enjoy the song
and all of the music the Atlanta boys have made for 10+ years.- Nate Roth #19. Arctic Monkeys - "Fake Tales of San Francisco" 
It doesn't matter whether you know where Hunter's Bar and Rotherham are in
relation to ‘Frisco. This song makes both of those not-hot spots (suburbs
of Sheffield, I'm assuming) states of mind, putting paid to weirdo hipster
provincialism (if you were such a big deal in San Francisco, what are you
doing back here?) in just under three minutes. The tag-team of choppy funk
guitar and Alex Turner's snotty vocal makes me feel perfectly at home both
in relating to this song and putting it on my Top Ten Debut Singles of All
Time list. My life has turned into outtakes from High Fidelity, and
I totally blame Arctic Monkeys for it. Not that there's anything wrong
with that.- Donna Brown #18. Nelly Furtado - "Maneater" 
It may have been because "Promiscuous" was one of the bigger WTF moments
of the year when Nelly flew back into the spotlight with a killer Timbo
collaboration in tow, but I think it's a crime that "Maneater" only topped
out at number six on the U.S. charts after the former held down the top
spot. This one trumps "Promiscuous" in almost every way imaginable, from
the martial drums and twinkling keyboards by Timbaland protégé Danja to
Furtado's confident strut over the top. The killer hook emerges from the
robotic, nearly industrial verses fully formed and immediately wedges
itself so deeply in your brain that you forget all about whatever Hall &
Oates might have had to say on the subject. If Timbo can pull this
off with Nelly Furtado, I can't wait to see what he does with Duran Duran
and The Hives in 2007.- Jonathan Lundeen #17. Red Hot Chili Peppers - "Dani California" 
Few bands can pull off the combination of psychedelic rock and funk, but
that is what makes the Red Hot Chili Peppers' "Dani California" so good.
Whether it is the infections bass line that pulsates its way through the
track that grabs you or Anthony Kiedis' slightly nasal vocals as he sings
of the trials and tribulations of Dani, there is just something about this
song that is infectious. Nonetheless, for as great as the other three
members of RHCP's are, it is John Frusciante's guitar shredding solo at
the end of the song that puts "Dani California" over the top.- Evelyn Miska #16. Evanescence - "Call Me When You're Sober" 
It is the ultimate calling out of an ex-lover and an intervention all
rolled into one track. The first single from Evanescence's sophomore
effort, The Open Door, is a swift kick in the pants and a rallying
cry for anyone who has been taken advantage of in a relationship. The song
begins demurely enough with Amy Lee's distinctive voice running over some
simple piano chords but quickly shifts into the hard, yet accessible,
sound Evanescence has become known for. Even if some lines make it sound
like Lee can't quite make up her own mind ("If you want me, come find me"
could be interpreted as Lee taking him back if he is the one doing the
pursuing), Lee's aggravated and anguished lyrics make this a song that
easily connects with your jaded side.- Evelyn Miska #15. The Fray - "How To Save a Life" 
The Fray's "How to Save a Life" was the song featured on the soundtrack
for the hit TV show Grey's Anatomy and the title track of the
Colorado-based band's newest album. The simple piano melody that forms
the base of the song is easily recognizable, and listeners will feel
themselves constantly singing along to the smooth vocals of lead singer
and pianist Isaac Slade. In the background, the pop-punk(ish) rhythms of
a real drum kit do their part to make the track upbeat and easy to groove
to. The words are heartfelt and genuine as Slade croons about a personal
experience that he had with a patient in a hospital. "How to Save a Life"
might not be as life-changing for you as it was for The Fray, but
regardless, it's a damn good song in a year that was starved for them. - Chris Tse #14. James Dean Bradfield - "That's No Way To Tell a Lie" 
The Manic Street Preachers' front man doesn't particularly care whether
you've heard of him or not. (You haven't). What he does care about is
resurrecting a certain glorious period in sixties British pop music,
outside of the Beatles and the Stones, when thoughtfully crafted singles
with well-written lyrics and stellar production values were the norm. Oh,
and handclaps. The first single from Bradfield's debut solo album showed
that behind his working-man image was songwriting talent that could-and
did-outclass that of his bandmate Nicky Wire on a regular basis. To hear
this song and then find that Bradfield considered side projects "cheating"
was kind of heartbreaking. - Donna Brown #13. John Legend - "Save Room" 
John Legend rocks out the R&B, leaving it velvety with no rough edges in
his first single, "Save Room". Along with his trademark piano, he throws
in a bass guitar and snare drum that could possibly make The Beatles
jealous. It's his secret ingredient for a sound that is infrequent in his
genre. Despite the newborn tune, Legends' voice still croons of
come-hither promises and his lyrics exude soulfulness through and through.
"Save Room" is the all purpose single; it can beg for forgiveness, invite
love in, and beseech sympathy. Cloud 9 is now achievable in 3 minutes and
43 seconds.- Hydah Walker #12. My Chemical Romance - "Welcome To the Black Parade" 
Pulling out the snare drums and band uniforms was a drastic step for My
Chemical Romance and, luckily, the gamble paid off. The sound and concept
might be slightly different from earlier hits "Helena" and "I'm Not Okay,"
but the same rebellious attitude runs throughout the song. Gerard Way
defiantly spits out lyrics like, "I'm just a man, I'm not a hero, I don't
care!" and one wonders if, based on the legions of adoring fans who have,
no doubt, complicated his life, this song is a little more personal than
Way has thus far admitted. Whether or not that is the case, their first
single from The Black Parade shows the band's maturing songwriting
abilities and their rock and roll tribute to death and defiance is so cool
it just about makes you want to run off and join a marching band.- Evelyn Miska #11. M. Ward - "Chinese Translation" 
After several years of being everyone's favorite underground secret, M.
Ward finally decided to beef up his band and go for the gold. The result
was his most mature album to date thanks in particular to "Chinese
Translation", which saw more mainstream publicity than any of Ward's
previous singles. Like many of Ward's best songs, "Chinese Translation"
displays his trademark raspy crooning to a simple folk ensemble. Plus the
chorus, "What would you do with the pieces of a broken heart" is the one
of the catchiest choruses of the year. The song is about a young man who
seeks out an old wise man to ask questions about life and in these
existential times, the lyrics of the second verse of "Chinese Translation"
(which is the old man's reply) provides the perfect thematic background
music.- David Fox #10. Arctic Monkeys - "I Bet That You Look Good On the Dance Floor" 
Drums that roll off like machine gun fire, charging guitars and vocals
that hit you dead center in the chest, the Arctic Monkeys defy
indie-rock's cold hearted mannerisms with a fervent determination to make
people shake it loose all the while not giving a good god damn if anyone
even gives a fuck. Simple, straight-forward, slammin' rock hasn't been
this good in a long while. We all look good on the dance floor when the
Arctic Monkeys are the ones playing over the speakers.- Brett Hickman #09. Justin Timberlake ft. Timbaland - "SexyBack" 
It was almost impossible to comprehend this as Justin Timberlake's
follow-up to Justified‘s smash success. But soon the groove got to
you and the smooth, (gulp) pure sexiness of the beat drove out the
negative thoughts and you were dancing, singing, swaying to the hypnotic
spell that Timberlake and Timbaland had you under. Modern pop music
simply does not get much better than this song.- Brett Hickman #08. The Raconteurs - "Steady As She Goes" 
Though the album holds little of the magic it does my fellow writers, this
song is one of the few gems to be found on The Raconteurs' Broken Boy
Soldiers. One key component that many seem to gloss over is the
chorus, which finds Jack White and cohort Brendan Benson shining together
in unison and almost makes one forget about White's other band.
But yeah, for rock in 2006, "Steady As She Goes" was one of the brighter
songs to get the respect it so deserved.- Brett Hickman #07. Lily Allen - "LDN" 
So cheerful, so summery, and so bright that we can even forgive Allen for
rhyming 'Tesco' with 'al fresco' (but don't let it happen again, young
missy!), "LDN" was a definite highlight of British Summer Time. Of
course, the gap between the surface sheen and the reality of London that
Lily explores in the lyric is quite sinister, but the sun is shining, the
horns are blasting, and there's an ice-cream van coming around the corner,
so don't let reality get in the way.- Ian Pointer #06. The Pipettes - "Pull Shapes" 
"Clap your hands if you want some more," The Pipettes exclaim, clearly
enjoying the terrific moment of Peter Pan-esque stagecraft. A song
guaranteed to smack you around the face until you have a grin and your
feet begin to move in time, "Pull Shapes" is so chirpy, the single comes
complete with its own dance moves. And yet, nothing about the polka-dot
dresses, the retro '60s girl-group sound, or even the giggly joy
encapsulated within the song comes across as secretly ironic (a popular
stick with which to beat the band with, it seems). And what do you do when
the music stops, hmm? Oh, I say!- Ian Pointer #05. TV On the Radio - "Wolf Like Me" 
Trust a bunch of Brooklyn art rock hipsters to come along and deliver the
most euphoric, balls-out, primal guitar rock tune of the year. And not
only do critical darlings TV On the Radio lay waste to the
Nickelback/Audioslave/Hinder-ridden landscape in four ferocious minutes,
but they inject modern rock with some welcome passion, blunt sexual
innuendo, and phallocentric fury. By singing about werewolves, I might
add. "Got a curse I cannot lift / Shines when the sunset shifts," sings
Tunde Adebimpe over the driving chords of Kyp Malone and Dave Sitek, which
in turn are underscored by a taut, unrelenting bass/drum groove, as
Adebimpe continues, "My mind has changed my bodies frame, but God I like
it." The protagonist stalks ("Gotta bust that box, gotta gut that fish"),
seduces ("When the moon is round and full / Gonna teach you tricks that'll
blow your mind"), and quickly devours its prey, blinded by animal lust,
but something in those howling vocals, those screaming guitars, that
relentless rhythm, tells us that the dude is far from finished. And
neither are we, as we reach for the repeat button.- Adrien Begrand #04. Nelly Furtado ft. Timbaland - "Promiscuous" 
The cosmic dance of trying to not make it a Blockbuster night plays itself
out every night in clubs, and this song exemplifies the struggle. Not
willing to give in to her hidden deep down emotions and upholding her
girl-next-door perception (for the moment), Nelly Furtado creates the
perfect song for that awkward, hinting moment when two might, just maybe,
make it out of the club together. Long in the producing background,
Timbaland lends an excellent underscored rap without upstaging Furtado
into a give and take that every amateur playa can relate to. The beat,
the real live instrumentation, and the sexual tension have made this song
a staple. Not even the mention of Steve Nash can dampen the spirit of
this "Promiscuous" girl.- Nate Roth #03. The Killers - "When You Were Young" 
For the lead single off their hugely anticipated sophomore album, The
Killers decided to shift their focus from the Vegas glitz and debauchery
of Hot Fuss and turn the lens on Americana through a circa-1987 U2
filter. It's a ballsy move for a band of their stature, which makes
watching them teeter precariously on the edge of complete failure that
much more enjoyable. A thousand other bands have tried for this kind of
overdriven pop epic, but they've always blown it by not being one hundred
percent sincere in their over-the-top melodrama. Not so much with Brandon
Flowers here, he truly believes that he's giving you one of the best rock
songs ever - and it shows with the heart that he throws into each and
every syllable. "He doesn't look a thing like Jesus," "we're burning down
the highway skyline on the back of a hurricane" - these lines seem
downright ridiculous when taken out of context, but that's just a greater
testament to Flowers' delivery in that he's able to make you completely
oblivious to these lyrics when you're shouting along at the top of your
lungs. Suddenly each and every word out of his mouth makes complete sense
and every single note sounds like it was carefully placed by the gods of
rock themselves. It's the kind of epic rock song that fills arenas and
inspires mass sing-alongs. It's the kind of epic rock song that not even
Bono himself has been able to pull off for the better part of a decade.
It's the kind of epic rock song that mixtapes and memories are built
around. It's the kind of epic rock song that you imagined when you were
young. - Jonathan Lundeen
#02. Justin Timberlake ft. T.I. - "My Love" 
Kudos to Justin Timberlake for making one of the year's most addictive
hip-hop soused love jams in "My Love". But producer Timbaland is the one
who truly stands out, working in the periphery, whether he is improving on
what was already there or experimenting with beats ahead of the times.
"My Love" falls under the latter with a slightly cold ultra-modern
undertone that is layered with violins and beat-boxing. Even T.I. is
believable as a Casanova who doesn't really want to be, and in turn
becomes even more winning. Lyrics positively drip with desire to complete
this perfect little package.- Hydah Walker #01. Gnarls Barkley - "Crazy" 
It does not happen often in popular music but every once in a while a song
comes along that blows you away the first time hearing it. "Crazy" is one
of those few songs. You can credit that to the simple, yet brilliant
production by Danger Mouse who created the song's infectious bass beat and
stylish strings or to the soulful, engaging lyrics sung beautifully by
Cee-Lo Green. Better yet, blame the combination of the two as it is
musical perfection and it is the reason the song still resonates after
being played on radio millions of times this year and being covered by
artists twenty times less talented than the duo better known as Gnarls
Barkley.- Todd Sikorski |
