Diverse offerings, consistent quality. Let's just skip the buildup – here are my 10 favorite local albums of 2006.
Hunter Hauk
1: Midlake, 'The Trials of Van Occupanther'
World's Fair Label Group
Eric Nichelson, Eric Pulido, Tim Smith, Paul Alexander and McKenzie Smith of Midlake
Saying anything more about this album seems redundant. I (along with everyone else) have gushed about it endlessly, but for good reason. This Denton band fashioned a strangely relevant masterpiece out of '70s folk-rock styles and pastoral themes. I'd pit The Trials against any album released anywhere this year. It's that good.
Key tracks: "Roscoe," "Bandits," "Young Bride"
2: Sorta, 'Strange and Sad But True'
You can call Sorta a lot of things – countrified rock, pedal-steel-pop or even Wilco-lite. But I've never sung along to another album as much as I have to Strange and Sad, and to me that's the measure of sonic success. Call 'em what you want, but I call 'em Dallas' dearest.
Key tracks: "Tell Me a Story," "85 Feet," "Lazybones"
3: The Theater Fire, 'Everybody Has a Dark Side'
Somebody should tell T Bone Burnett about this Fort Worth group. If he heard their CD – which blends jazz, blues, bluegrass, mariachi and swamp stomp into a Southern gothic smoothie – he might give these guys a Coen Brothers soundtrack to produce. Everybody should have Dark Side.
Key tracks: "These Tears Could Rust a Train," "I Heard About You"
4: PPT, 'Tres Monos in Love'
The three members of PPT have elevated themselves to star status in Dallas. The Mavericks playoff song hinted at their creative potential. Then came Tres Monos, which combines Picnic's production prowess, Tahiti's lyrical wit and Pikahsso's all-around fearlessness to create an old-school-yet-futuristic hip-hop style.
Key tracks: "Frustrated," "Down South Girl," "Work It Out"
5: Kristy Krüger, 'Songs From a Dead Man's Couch'
A staple of the Dallas acoustic scene, Krüger took her poetic Americana to the next level with this CD. Its twangy tunes of livin', lovin' and losin' benefit from electronic flourishes, but the most valuable sounds on Songs come from the singer's mouth. I hope she never shuts up.
Erich Dohrer
Dallas singer Kristy Krüger
Key tracks: "Dark Stranger," "Gold Rush," "Blackhole"
6: Centro-Matic, 'Fort Recovery'
Yes, I still refuse to consider Will Johnson and company anything but a Denton band, even though they've moved to Austin. Fort Recovery's country-tinged rock is dense and chaotic, with sounds and ideas often competing. Getting to the heart of these tunes takes time. Sweet, sweet time.
Key tracks: "Calling Thermatico," "Patience for the Ride"
7: Money Waters, 'Swalhaggin'
Swalhaggin's lyrics touch on topics associated with many other rap records – sex, drugs, and politics both national and street. But the total package is what's notable. Money Waters put everything into this album, and as a result the beats are diverse, the hooks infectious and there isn't a throwaway track in the mix.
Key tracks: "Brand New," "Be Careful"
8: Smile Smile, 'Blue Roses'
This boy-girl duo's transcendent single "Sad Song" gives me goosebumps, and several more songs on Blue Roses pack that same lovesick punch. Two voices, drum machines, a guitar and a keyboard equal undeniable chemistry.
Key tracks: "Anymore," "Sad Song," "Taking Its Toll"
A veteran local band let out a breath of fresh air with this self-titled collection. The melodic Baboon signals a new start for a group of guys who've been playing on and off since the early '90s. Nothing too groundbreaking here, but the songs are rock solid, or rather, solid rock.
Key tracks: "Airplane," "Surround"
10: Red Monroe, 'Red Monroe'
This band gets the "most improved" award, having moved on from Radiohead rehash to a compelling mix of Arcade Fire bombast and Stones swagger. When listening to Red Monroe for the first time, you have no idea what's coming next, and that's a good thing.
Key tracks: "A Return to the Old Way of Thinking," "Carolina Cigarette"
E-mail hhauk@quickdfw.com
Read Liner Notes next Thursday for more highlights and honorable mentions from the year in local music.
Local musicians who made the top five in 2005 weigh in with their 2006 picks:
His Little D album was No. 1 on the 2005 list.
Live act: Lazer. These Rhineland transplants are probably the best band to ever travel to Texas on the back of a whale.
Local album: Tough call on this one, but I'm going to have to say Elephant Gun by Hardin Sweaty and the Ready to Go.
Local song: Voot Cha Index, "Japan." I wish I'd written the haiku line.
New band: A tie between Teenage Symphony and Tha Bracelets.
No. 2 on the 2005 list with Beautiful Noise.
Live act: Shibboleth. What they did for the Sorta CD release at the Granada and the Dallas Music Revue at Sons of Hermann puts them in this category with no rivals.
Local album: Midlake, The Trials of Van Occupanther. They're from Denton and I still like them – they must be that good.
Local song: "Blackhole" by Kristy Krüger. This song was stuck in my head for at least two weeks; a superb melody with really dark lyrics – right up my alley. I've thought of covering this one someday ...
New band: Blackheart Society. Dallas' version of the Libertines – the '60s meets punk. Watch out for this band in '07!
Lead singer of South San Gabriel, which was No. 3 last year with The Carlton Chronicles: Not Until the Operation's Through
Live act: Baboon
Local album: Tie between Midlake's The Trials of Van Occupanther and the Theater Fire's Everybody Has a Dark Side
Local song: PPT, "When We Was Kool"
New band: The Drams
Lead singer of the Happy Bullets, which was No. 4 last year with The Vice and Virtue Ministry
Live act: Faux Fox. Very synth-heavy act, with a lot of Bowie-esque stage antics. They put on a great show.
Local album: The Theater Fire, Everybody Has a Dark Side. These guys have come a long way since I first saw them take the stage. The additions they've made to their lineup with horns, banjo, accordion and more have really helped flesh out the songs. They're my hands-down favorite right now.
Local song: Tie between "Accordion Song" by Voot Cha Index and "These Tears Could Rust a Train" by the Theater Fire
New band: I'm a pop fan, so I'm really loving the bands Washing Machine, Teenage Symphony, Handclaps and Harmonies and Voot Cha Index right now.
Lead singer of Deathray Davies, which was No. 5 last year with The Kick and the Snare
Live act: Handclaps and Harmonies – had never heard of them and stumbled into a show of theirs at Dada. Amazing harmonies, handclaps not bad either.
Local album: Centro-Matic, Fort Recovery. Their best recording since Redo ...
Local song: Midlake, "Roscoe"
New band: Is Current Leaves new? If yes, then them. If no, then them anyway.
