Soundcheck
Critics' Week 2006
A week of critical picks and pans from Soundcheck
From Monday, Dec. 18 through Thursday, Dec. 21, Soundcheck presents "Critics Week," a series highlighting the best and worst of music in 2006. Host John Schaefer is joined by eight leading critics and commentators, to recap the year's most notable recordings and trends in a variety of genres.
Critics' picks are available on Amazon.com
John Schaefer's Best of 2006 Albums
Joby Talbot: Path of Miracles
Yo La Tengo: I Am Not Afraid Of You And I Will Beat Your Ass
The Decemberists: The Crane Wife
Califone: Roots and Crowns
The Mountain Goats: Get Lonely
Vijay Iyer and Mike Ladd: Still Life With Commentator
Joanna Newsome: Ys
Rosanne Cash: Black Cadillac
Bernard Haitink/London Symphony Orchestra: The Beethoven Symphonies
The Worst of 2006
Soundcheck
December 21, 2006
Nathan Rabin of The Onion reviews the most overrated, overexposed and otherwise least essential albums of 2006.
Nathan Rabin's Least Essential Albums of 2006
1. John Corbett, John Corbett (Funbone)
2. Nuttin’ But Stringz, Struggle From The Subway To The Charts (Koch)
3. The New Cars, It’s Alive (Eleven Seven)
4. Various artists, Flying High Again: The World’s Greatest Tribute To Ozzy Osbourne
5. Various artists, The Biggest Loser: Music Featured In And Inspired By The NBC Series
6. Alanis Morrissette, Jagged Little Pill Acoustic (Maverick)
7. DMC, Checks Thugs & Rock N Roll (RomenMpire)
8. Bratz, Forever Diamondz (Sony)
9. Various artists, Rachael Ray: Too Cool For School Mixtape For Kids (Sony)
10. Raunchiest Jokes From The Golf Course (Uproar Entertainment)
11. Revolution On Canvas: Poetry From The Indie Music Scene, edited by Rich Balling
12. Body Count, Murder 4 Hire (Escapi)
13. Jim Jones, A Dipset Christmas (Koch)
14. Blind Melon, Live At The Palace (Capitol)
15. Teddy Geiger, Underage Thinking (Sony)
16. Various Artists, Butchering The Beatles: A Headbashing Tribute (Restless)
17. Unexpected Dreams: Songs From The Stars (Rhino)
18. Crazy Frog Presents More Crazy Hits (Universal)
19. 2Pac Pac’s Life (Interscope)
20. Tyrese/Black-Ty, Alter Ego (J)
21. 2Pac Pac’s Life (Interscope)
22. Aaron Carter, Come Get It: The Very Best Of Aaron Carter (Jive)
23. Kevin Federline, Playing With Fire (Federline/Reincarnate)
The Year 2006 in Classical Music
Soundcheck
December 21, 2006
Anne Midgette, a contributor to the New York Times, reviews the year in classical music and opera.
Anne Midgette's 2006 Picks:
Berio: Sequenzas, Solo Works -- Various artists (Mode; four CDs)
Shostakovich: Symphonies (15) -- Various orchestras and soloists, conducted by Mariss Jansons (EMI Classics; 10 CDs)
Wagner: Ring Cycle - Astrid Varnay, soprano; Wolfgang Windgassen, tenor; Hans Hotter, bass-baritone; Bayreuth Festival Orchestra, conducted by Joseph Keilberth (Testament; four CDs)
Adams: 'The Dharma at Big Sur,' 'My Father Knew Charles Ives'
Tracy Silverman, electric violinist; BBC Symphony, conducted by John Adams
Lieberson: 'Neruda Songs'
Lorraine Hunt Lieberson, mezzo-soprano; Boston Symphony, conducted by James Levine (Nonesuch)
Andriessen: 'Writing to Vermeer'
Netherlands Opera; Schoenberg Ensemble and Asko Ensemble, conducted by Reinbert de Leeuw (Nonesuch; two CDs)
Steve Reich: Phases (5-CD box)
Featuring Donald Palma, Maya Beiser, Sharon Prater, Evan Ziporyn, and Steve Reich (Nonesuch)
The Essential Martin Bresnick, Flux String Quartet, Jupiter Trio, Bang on a Can All-Stars, Lisa Moore, piano
Evelyn Lear and Thomas Stewart: A Musical Tribute
Evelyn Lear, soprano; Thomas Stewart, baritone; various artists (Deutsche Grammophon; five CDs).
The Year in Latin Music
Soundcheck
December 20, 2006
Carolina Gonzalez, a music writer and contributor to the New York Daily News' "Viva NY" section, looks back at the year's best in Latin music.
Carolina Gonzalez's 2006 Picks
1. Los Tres, "No Es Cierto," Hagalo Usted Mismo (Nacional)
2. Calle 13, "Atreve-te-te," Calle 13 (Sony International)
3. Lenine, "Tubi Tupy," Lenine (Six Degrees)
4. Ray Barreto, "Suddenly It's Spring," Standards Rican-ditioned (Zoho)
5. Joe Bataan, "Good, Good Feeling," Riot! (Fania/Emusica)
6. Kinky, Reina (Nettwerk Records)
7. Alejandro Sanz, El Tren de los Momentos (Warner Musica Latina)
8. Juan Carlos Formell, Son Radical (Narada)
9. Intocables, Crossroads (EMI Latin)
10. Fonseca, Corazon (EMI Latin)
Rock Music in 2006
Soundcheck
December 20, 2006
Ann Powers, pop music critic for the Los Angeles Times, reviews the year 2006 in rock music.
Ann Powers's 2006 Picks:
Albums:
Bob Dylan, Modern Times
Mastodon, Blood Mountain
Espers, II
Los Abandoned, Mix Tape
Singles:
The Decemberists, "The Crane Wife Parts 1, 2 and 3"
Pearl Jam, "World Wide Suicide"
Additional Favorites:
Joanna Newsom, Ys
Justin Timberlake, Futuresex/Lovesounds
Bob Dylan, Modern Times
Mastodon, Blood Mountain
Corinne Bailey Rae, Corinne Bailey Rae
Espers, II
The Coup, Pick A Better Weapon
Dixie Chicks, Taking the Long Way
Clipse, Hell Hath No Fury
Los Abandoned, Mix Tape
The Year in Hip Hop
Soundcheck
December 19, 2006
Jeff Chang, rap journalist and author of the book Can't Stop Won't Stop: A History of the Hip-Hop, discusses the best of the year in hip hop.
Jeff Chang's 2006 Picks
Aloe Blacc :: Shine Through
Burial :: Burial (dubstep)
*Cham :: Ghetto Story (dancehall reggae)
The Coup :: Pick A Bigger Weapon
*DJ Shadow :: The Outsider
E-40 :: My Ghetto Report Card
*Ghostface Killah :: Fishscale
Honeycut :: The Day I Turned To Glass
* Skream :: Skream! (dubstep/grime)
Youngsta & Hatcha :: Dubstep Allstars Volume 4 (dubstep)
The Best of World Music in 2006
Soundcheck
December 19, 2006
Siddhartha Mitter, WNYC's culture reporter and a contributor to the Boston Globe, reviews the year in World Music.
Siddhartha Mitter's 2006 Picks:
Ali Farka Toure, "Savane"
Kekele, "Kinavana"
Refugee All Stars, "Living like a Refugee"
Chicago Classical Oriental Ensemble, "The Songs of Sheikh Sayyed Darwish - Soul of a People"
V/A, "From Bakabush: The First 10 Years of Stonetree Records"
Toumani Diabate's Symmetric Orchestra, "Boulevard de l'Independance"
V/A, "Roots of Rumba Rock"
Nuru Kane, "Sigil"
V/A, "The Rough Guide to the Music of Malaysia"
Tartit, "Abacabok"
The Year in Jazz
Soundcheck
December 18, 2006
Doug Ramsey, author of several books on jazz including Take Five: The Public and Private Lives of Paul Desmond, and editor of the jazz blog, "Rifftides," at Artsjournal.com shares his favorites of 2006 in jazz.
Doug Ramsey's 2006 Picks:
Vanguard Jazz Orchestra: ”Up From the Skies” (Planet Arts)
Sonny Rollins: “Sonny, Please” (Doxy)
Various: “The Summary, Music of Thad Jones, Volume 2” (IPO)
Bob Brookmeyer: “Spirit Music” (ArtistShare)
Martial Solal, Dave Douglas: “Rue De Seine” (CamJazz)
Brian Lynch/Eddie Palmieri: “Simpatico” (ArtistShare)
John McNeil: “East Coast Cool” (OmniTone)
Harold Danko: “Hinesight” (Steeplechase)
Alan Broadbent: “Every Time I Think of You” (Artistry)
Houston Person with Bill Charlap: “You Taught My Heart to Sing” (High Note)
Reissues
Charles Mingus: “Music Written for Monterey, 1965, Not Heard, Played at UCLA” (Sunnyside)
Gerry Mulligan: “The Fabulous Gerry Mulligan Sextet” (Fresh Sound)
Shirley Horn, Marian McPartland: “Piano Jazz” (Jazz Alliance)
Benny Carter, Wilbert Baranco, Gerald Wilson: “Groovin’ High in L.A. 1946” (HEP)
Miles Davis: “The Legendary Quintet” (Prestige)
The Year in Pop Music
Soundcheck
December 18, 2006
Jody Rosen, music critic for Slate.com shares his highlights of the year in pop music.
Jody Rosen's 2006 Picks:
Timbaland as producer on Nelly Furtado's "Loose" and Justin Timberlake's "FutureSex / LoveSounds"
Beyoncé "B'Day"
Mary J. Blige "The Breakthrough"
Joanna Newsom "Ys"
Corinne Bailey Rae "Corinne Bailey Rae"
KT Kunstall "Eye To The Telescope"
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