Tom Good

[Tom Good]

Hello. Welcome.
If you are here then you must have stumbled upon my year end "Best Of" list. I am completely honored to have the opportunity to post it. This is my first year on the absolutepunk staff and am more than pleased with the experience of working with such a great staff and one of the best group of faithful readers ever to check out the web.

These choices are only my opinion so feel free to disagree. It took a lot of time and effort to compile and have to honestly rank the albums (and other things) that stuck out in my mind as being the most enjoyable. I hope that you are happy with the read. 2006 was a great year, so this was a really tough list to make. Let's start this. Enjoy!



Top Albums of 2006

30. An Albatross- Blessphemy (Of The Peace Beast Festgiver And the Bear Warp Kumite)
29. Muse- Black Holes And Revelations (Review) (http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=154690)
28. TV On The Radio- Return To Cookie Mountain
27. Man Man- Six Demon Bag
26. Taking Back Sunday- Louder Now (Review 1) (http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=123285) (Review 2) (http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=123268)
25. Portugal. The Man- Waiter! You Vultures (Review) (http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=113407)
24. Sparta- Threes
23. Genghis Tron- Dead Mountain Mouth
22. Rocky Votolato- Makers (Review) (http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=112455)
21. Some Girls- Heaven's Pregnant Teens
20. Moneen- The Red Tree (Review) (http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=128504) (Review #2) (http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=120555)
19. The Decemberists- The Crane Wife
18. Cursive- Happy Hollow (Review) (http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=165477)
17. My Chemical Romance- Welcome To The Black Parade (Review) (http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=181715)
16. Isis- In The Absence Of Truth (Review) (http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=184248)
15. Saves The Day- Sound The Alarm (Review) (http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=120549)
14. Brand New- The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me
13. Gatsby's American Dream- Gatsby's American Dream (Review) (http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=159655)
12. Thursday- A City By The Light Divided (Review) (http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=131096&highlight=thursday)
11. +44- When Your Heart Stops Beating (Review) (http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=187755)
10. The Lawrence Arms- Oh! Calcutta! (Review) (http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=119618&highlight=the+lawrence+arms)
09. These Arms Are Snakes- Easter (Review) (http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=177241)
08. The Blood Brothers- Young Machetes
07. Tool- 10,000 Days
06. Converge- No Heroes (Review) (http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=182209)
05. Damien Rice- 9
04. Mastodon- Blood Mountain (Review) (http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=175405&highlight=mastodon)
03. Murder By Death- In Bocca Al Lupo (Review) (http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=138389&highlight=murder+by+death)
02. Damiera- M(us)ic (Review) (http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=126612)
01. mewithoutYou- Brother, Sister (Review) (http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=174312)

Honorable Mention:
Rodrigo y Gabriela- Rodrigo y Gabriela
The Advantage- Elf-Titled
Regina Spektor- Begin To Hope
Red Sparowes- Every Red Heart Shines Toward The Red Sun
Mogwai and Kronos Quartet- The Fountain (Soundtrack)
Ratatat-Classics
Protest The Hero- Kezia
The Sound Of Animals Fighting- Lover, The Lord Has Left Us...
Sufjan Stevens- The Avalanche
Dragonforce- Inhuman Rampage
Umbrellas- Illuminare

Top EPs of 2006

04. Saves The Day- The Bug Sessions Vol. 1 EP
03. Aereogramme- Seclusion
02. Horse The Band- The Pizza EP
01. Colour Revolt- Colour Revolt

Most Disappointing Albums of 2006

05. Matchbook Romace- Voices
04. Saosin- Saosin
03. Cobra Starship- While The City Sleeps, We Rule The Streets
02. Head Automatica- Popaganda
01. Hellogoodbye- Zombies! Aliens! Vampires! Dinosaurs!

Worst Albums Of 2006

04. Yellowcard- Lights And Sound
03. Head Automatica- Popaganda
02. Cute Is What We Aim For- The Same Old Blood Rush With A New Touch
01. Kevin Federline- Playing With Fire

Producer of the Year
Winner: Matt Bayles

Runner Up: Mark Hoppus

Best "New" Band
Winner: Damiera

Runner Up: +44

Best Music Videos of 2006
Winner: Sigur Ros- "Glosoli"

Runners Up: The Blood Brothers-"Set Fire To The Face On Fire", Weird Al- "White And Nerdy

Best Lyrics of 2006
Winner: Aaron Weiss-mewithoutYou

Runner Up: Jesse Lacey-Brand New

Best Vocals Of 2006
Winner: Johnny Whitney and Jordan Blilie- The Blood Brothers

Runner Up: Adam Turla- Murder By Death

Best Record Label
Winner: Equal Vision

Runner Up: Hydra Head

Biggest Sellouts
Winner: Panic! At The Disco

Runner Up: Cute Is What We Aim For

Best Live Show
05. Isis
04. The Blood Brothers
03. Thursday
02. The Fall Of Troy
01. mewithoutYou

Most Overrated Band
Winner: Saosin

Runner Up: Underoath

Most Underrated Bands
Winner: The Fall Of Troy

Runner Up: These Arms Are Snakes

Best Single
Winner: Cartel- "Honestly"

Runner Up: +44- "When Your Heart Stops Beating"

Best B-Side
Winner: Brand New- "Coca-Cola"

Runner Up: The Decemberists- "Culling Of The Fold"

Worst Single
Winner: Cute Is What We Aim For- "Curse Of Curves"

Runner Up: Head Automatica- "Graduation Day"

Best "Other" Webzine
Winner: Decoy Music

Runner Up: Pastepunk

Best Movies of 2006

10. Superman Returns
09. The Prestige
08. Casino Royale
07. The Fountain
06. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
05. The Departed
04. Jackass Number Two
03. Borat:Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan
02. Little Miss Sunshine
01. The Proposition

Best TV Shows of 2006

10. Dexter
09. Deadwood
08. The Office
07. Scrubs
06. The Colbert Report
05. Heroes
04. The Daily Show
03. House
02. Lost
01. South Park

Best Games of 2006

05. Call Of Duty 3 (X360)
04. Guitar Hero II (PS2)
03. Okami (PS2)
02. Gears Of War (X360)
01. The Legend Of Zelda: The Twilight Princess (Wii)

Most Anticipated CDs of 2007

10. Every Time I Die- TBD (But it'll probably have that Keith Sass)
09. Dillinger Escape Plan-TBD08. Dustin Kensrue- Please Come Home
07. Aereogramme- My Heart Has A Wish That You Would Not Go
06. Autonym- Shall We Skip To Excessive Celebration?
05. Thrice-TBD
04. Cassino- Sounds Of Salvation
03. Coheed And Cambria-TBD
02. Circle Takes The Square-TBD
01. The Fall Of Troy- Manipulator

Best Songs Of 2006

10. "The Heretic"- The Sound Of Animals Fighting
09 "Subtle Body"- These Arms Are Snakes
08. "The Pot"- Tool
07. "Through The Fire And Flames"- Dragonforce
06. "Grey Room"- Damien Rice
05. "The Devil's Takin Names"- The Lawrence Arms
04. "The Otherside of the Crash/ Over and Out (Of Control)"- Thursday
03. "A Glass Can Only Spill What It Contains"- mewithoutYou
02. "Brother"- Murder By Death
01. "Immure"- Damiera


Final Results

Winner: mewithoutYou

Runner Up: Damiera

Winner: mewithoutYou - Brother, Sister

Runner Up: Damiera - M(us)ic

mewithoutYou had a great year. Releasing my favorite album coupled with one of the most unique live shows I have ever seen, the band deserves this honor. Damiera came out of nowhere to win me over, making them my surprise of the year. M(us)ic is one of the best debut albums I have heard from a band with little name recognition. The production on the record is flawless and I'm always excited to hear bands utilize the guitar in ways that aren't just power chords.

2006 has been one of the strongest years in recent memory for music, especially music which resides out of the mainstream audience's attention. These albums may not affect you in the same way that they struck me; this is only my opinion and far from a definitive list. Anyone that thinks that rock is dead, or that every style of music has already been done, needs to reflect on some of the releases of this past year and rethink that claim. They will have a lot less ground to stand on as 2007 is going to kick off strong and continue with a steady string of solid releases sure to rival those of this past year. I, for one, am wholly excited and can't wait to see how the coming year stacks up.

[sasalukac]

oh dear... hating on saosin? i think i've got something in my eye :'(

[dillonzach86]

Yes! Some more love for The Proposition.

[Tom Good]

oh dear... hating on saosin? i think i've got something in my eye :'(Yeah, I figure I should probably address that now. I was a big fan of their EP with Anthony Green and had very high hopes after hearing the early version on "Bury Your Head". Maybe all the time made my expectations really high, but I was just a little disappointed by this album. I can see the merits of the band, I guess I just didn't feel the self titled as much as many people.

[Özgür Kurtoglu]

Totally agree with the post above. I recieved a copy of the EP about a year or so ago, and did actually enjoy it. The album is, in my opinion, just a giant piece of shit posing as an album.

[mdarket]

I like K-Fed on your worst list, I never listened to it but I'm sure if I did I would put it on mine

[CountMeOut923]

thank you for posting saosin as the most overrated band. i dont understand the hype and i think the singer's voice is horrible live

[mycuban]

Its about time someone put thursday on their list ACBTLD is easily one of the best albums of the year in my opinion, im happy Cursive is getting some attention too

[Tom Good]

Its about time someone put thursday on their list ACBTLD is easily one of the best albums of the year in my opinion, im happy Cursive is getting some attention tooAgreed. I loved both of these albums even though they were a little overlooked by the general public. It's great to hear Tim Kasher back with new Cursive material.

[pacemaker]

Tom's list rules.

I haven't read anyone else's, nor do I need to. This list speaks the truth.

Although Tom! Did you not see The Illusionist? Just as good - if not better in a different way - as the Prestige. I think you should at least have them as a tie.

And props to the Autonym shout out in most anticipated. Shit is gonna rock.

[InaGreendase]

Probably the best/most sensible list so far. At least the dude's taste is nodding to a lot of different styles.

[James Johnson]

Nice list, three cheers for the blood brothers love! hip hip hooray!

[TBS70x7]

This list is the best because it's the only one to truly appreciate the wonderfulness of the Blood Brothers.

[Özgür Kurtoglu]

Anyone who appreciates the Blood Brothers and shows it deserves some credit.

[Tom Good]

Thanks everyone! All the positive feedback is much appreciated, and yes the blood brothers are highly underrated sometimes. I remember seeing them a few years ago (right before BPIB) in a really small venue for the first time and just being amazed. If you haven't seen them live, find a way to. They deserve credit for having some of the most unique vocals around.

[Özgür Kurtoglu]

I'm seeing them here in Stockholm in February at the venue where I've seen Thrice, JR Ewing, Coheed&Cambria, The Valley Arena and Hundred Reasons. Hm..we don't really have that many venues here..

[HiddenInNJ]

i agree with everything except no love for saosin (i saw the explanation) and underoath... glad to see circle takes the square is making another cd because i had no idea and as the roots undo blew me away

[Tom Good]

i agree with everything except no love for saosin (i saw the explanation) and underoath... glad to see circle takes the square is making another cd because i had no idea and as the roots undo blew me awayYeah, I'm sorry. I knew I'd get crap for Underoath and Saosin. Just not my taste. But that's awesome that you are pumped about CTTS. As The Roots undo still has some of the best lyrics I have heard in any genre. If anyone hasn't heard of them, just read the lyrics on line and you will be convinced.

[Özgür Kurtoglu]

Yeah, I'm sorry. I knew I'd get crap for Underoath and Saosin. Just not my taste. But that's awesome that you are pumped about CTTS. As The Roots undo still has some of the best lyrics I have heard in any genre. If anyone hasn't heard of them, just read the lyrics on line and you will be convinced.



I will have to second that. Haven't listened to anything by them though, can't find the record up here.

[zizou1790]

nice "best of" list

[Özgür Kurtoglu]

Sadly, I heard the Circle Takes The Square-record and it just freaked out in all the wrong ways..

[Tom Good]

Sadly, I heard the Circle Takes The Square-record and it just freaked out in all the wrong ways..It definitely takes some time to get into. I didn't like it at first, but now I love it