Article #4 in the Best and Worst Music of 2006 series
Depending on your perspective, a great way to get anthology of music from an artist in one form, or to another, an overpriced box with two new tracks and a bunch of things you’ve already got.
These five are my favourites of 2006, with a bonus of the first being a free download.
5. Untitled EP (Deerhoof)
This freely downloadable EP was released on account of Chris Cohen’s departure from the band. It has a few covers, including a great version of The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill and live tracks all sandwiched up into a 22-minute track.
4. Dirty Diamonds Volume 3 (D*I*R*T*Y Sound System)
Those lovable French mixers’ latest (and final?) sprawling compilation in the Dirty Diamonds series. It covers a multitude of obscure and less-obscure artists over two discs and does so in a spectacular fashion.
3. Love (Beatles)
While tantamount to sacrilege for many Beatles fans, Love is a fun and creative reimagining of raw Beatles material. Taken from source recordings, the songs have been lovingly remixed by the Beatles’ original producer. Sure it’s different from how you expect the songs to sound, but it’s new and fresh and best of all, sounds great!
2. Stepping Stones (DJ Krush)
This two CD set, thoughtfully broken up into “Lyricism” and “Soundscapes”, is a compilation of self-remixes from the grandfather of Japanese hip-hop. Krush is particularly known for his organic instrumental hip-hop, and the Soundscapes CD does not let down, with a good selection and cohesive feel.
1. A Lazarus Taxon (Tortoise)
An amazing compilation of assorted b-sides, remixes and singles. It’s hard to pin a genre on Tortoise as they seem to span rock, hip-hop, jazz, electronica, country and folk – all as instrumentals.
Article #4 in the Best and Worst Music of 2006 series
