Best Albums of 2006: 30 - 21

30. Matisyahu
Youth

I never really bought into the whole religious rapper bullshit. I don’t like it when bands try to sell an image rather than their music. As a result, I didn’t get a chance to fully expose myself to Matisyahu until this year. I wish I would have given him a listen sooner, because this album is wonderful. The rap/reggae cliché has been killed by Sean Paul, but Matisyahu reinvents the genre. You’ll find yourself enjoying the music and the deeply philosophical lyrics. It’s a very easy album to get into, and an easy one for your friend’s to enjoy.

29. Thom Yorke
The Eraser

I always like testing out albums on different mediums of sound. Some albums just sound better in the car, others sound best through headphones. Yorke’s album sounds remarkable on headphones because you get a better appreciation for the stereophonically engineered computer music. So if you’re going to try this album out, make sure you do it the right way. Although it’s not up to par with Radiohead’s powerhouse albums, it does bear stardom like 2003’s hit, Hail to the Thief. Thom Yorke sounds much more innocent and innocuous than any of his Radiohead efforts, but his stunning lap-top beats allow him to maintain homeostasis. As much as I want to compare it to a Radiohead album, I can’t: It is a completely different beast. The best song here is the “Might Be Wrong” –esque “Black Swan.”

28. M. Ward
Post-War

The M. Ward experience involves soothing acoustic rock weaved with raspy emotion and political concinnity. Post-War is a southern blues masterpiece that is both jazzy and strangely beautiful in a Devendra Banhart way. Although the freakish mysticism provokes deep reflection, it also entices rhythmic hand claps and bouncy foot stomps. This is the best folk-rock album you’ll hear all year.

27. T.I.
King

In the world of gangster rap, T.I. is King. His new album has confident and smooth driving songs, sexy party beats, and powerful slow jams. There’s also a full line up of hip-hop stars like Common, Young Jeezy, Jamie Foxx, and Pharrell. The solid formula to create a catchy rap song has been perfected by Tip Harris.

26. Sway
This Is My Demo

Straight out of the UK comes the lyrical mastermind, Sway. This is My Demo is filled with global charisma and catchy R&B hooks; this is the vanguard sound of UK rap. The album delves into serious musical issues, comic relief, and racial statements. The sound maintains poppy, speed infused rap beats and sampled sessions of success. His prevailing history of being a Ghana citizen establishes edgy issues that are both smashed and praised, ultimately creating a turbulent and stylish album. Sway wants his listeners to know about how far he has come since his early days, and he proves it with a grandiose rap album.

25. Tapes n’ Tapes
The Loon

Have you ever noticed how The Decemberists music makes you feel like you are aboard a 16^th century sailing vessel? Maybe it’s just me, but that’s the vibe I get. So when I started listening to Tapes ‘n Tapes, I feel like I am in a country western musical. It has that same rich indie sound, but its coming form a different part of the county. The meandering guitars and pounding drums set me off every time: I just want to hop on a horse and get in a gun fight. While there are a few downers on the disc, songs like Insistor and Omaha remind you of what its like to be in The Loon.

24. I’m From Barcelona
Let Me Introduce My Friends

You know those mornings when you wake up and everything feels like hell. Life is asking you to find answers and search for a new approach to something that is all too familiar. Let Me Introduce My Friends is an album that draws influence from that theme, but it also expands the livelihood of that dream to include optimism and hope. It’s simply never too late to restart and reinvent a paradise lost. Although thematically this album is a power horse, its presentation style isn’t anything new. There are indie rock anthems, happy-go-lucky pop gems, and jolly choruses. From start to finish, every song will grab your attention and force you to tap your feet. Anyone can have fun with this disc, and everyone should check it out.

23. Built To Spill
You in Reverse

The new album from Built to Spill reminds me of early My Morning Jacket: they combine elements of indie rock with lofty jam sessions. They use basic instruments to create a great rock album filled with love and angst.

22. Rhymefest
Blue Collar

Much like Jay-Z’s The Blueprint, this disc is a cocky and self-proclaiming hip-hop album. It’s a party package fused with plenty of raunchy dance floor hits (“Stick”) and bling-bling (“Fever”) money making rhymes. Much like the rapping, the production is smoothed to perfection. My favorite track, “Bullet”, features Citizen Cope and discusses how underprivileged citizens are forced into service academies to gain an education. There’s even a cover of the classic “Build Me Up, Buttercup” tune. Ladies and gentlemen, prepare yourself for the next Kanye West.

21. Zero 7
The Garden

Zero 7 are bringing sexy back. Although Zero 7 have always been famous for their solid down-tempo lounge sound, The Garden is faster paced than any of their previous work. Their music transcends relaxation moods, provokes massage therapy, and initiates romantic evenings. It’s a playful album with mild choruses and lo-fi pop beats. Comparing the overall ranking of this album to their last two discs is a difficult feat simply because they all merit the same level of success.