2006 top 10 albums

1. Neko Case - Fox Confessor Brings the Flood
2. Mogwai - Mr. Beast
3. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Show Your Bones
4. Cat Power - The Greatest
5. Pinetop Seven - Beneath the Confederate Lake
6. Various Artists (Soul Jazz) - Tropicalia: A Brazilian Revolution in Sound
7. Beth Orton - Comfort of Strangers
8. Haley Bonar - Lure the Fox
9. Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins - Rabbit Fur Coat
10. Jon-Rae & The River - Knows What You Need

biggest disappointments:
M. Ward - Post-War
Beck - The Information
Calexico - Garden Ruin
The Flaming Lips - At War with the Mystics
Paul Simon - Surprise
Prefuse 73 - Security Screenings

this year's pre-2006 discoveries:
Tish Hinojosa - Culture Swing
Bruce Springsteen - Nebraska
Tanya Donelly - Beautysleep
Marah - Kids in Philly
Veruca Salt - Eight Arms to Hold You
Parton/Ronstadt/Harris - Trio II
Rhythm & Sound - See Mi Yah
Edith Piaf - Very Best Of
Whiskeytown - Pneumonia
Edan - Beauty and the Beat
Dr. John - Dr. John's Gumbo
The Mighty Sparrow - Explodes into Calypso
Sufjan Stevens - Michigan
Blonde Redhead - Misery Is a Butterfly
Rilo Kiley - More Adventurous
Jamie Lidell - Multiply
Swervedriver - Raise
Alpha & Omega - Show Me a Purpose Versions
Jackie Mittoo - The Keyboard King at Studio 1
Out Hud - Let Us Never Speak of It Again