More Cowbell has a list of anticipated releases for 2007. It’s a long, long list but some of the names I’m most excited about include: Arcade Fire, Bloc Party, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Doves, Ted Leo, New Pornographers, and Spiritualized.

And I left out a bunch that I will definitely get.

Anything there tickle your fancy?

I say this every year but it’s always true. What a great year for music.

Whether you were into classic soul, dirty hippies, Bal’more (by way of Mars) club music, massive riffs, cheeky pop starlets, or Delta blues from Akron, 2006 was a good year.

Here’s my list:

1) Pernice Brothers- Live A Little – This is probably my favorite album in the Pernice catalog.

2) Spank Rock – Yoyoyoyoyo – This will sound dated in 2 years but it sounds so right now that there was no way I could place it lower on the list.

3) Arctic Monkeys – Whatever People Say I Am That’s What I Am Not – I ate this up all year long. I listened to this again this weekend and its a strong as it was back in Spring. Goodnes!

4) Beck – The Information – This is turning into my favorite Beck album.

5) DJ Shadow – The Outsider – This album got kicked around plenty in the hipster press but I am here to tell you that it definitely rewards repeated listens. Yes, there are mis-steps (David Banner anyone?) but most of the rap songs are dope and as a whole this is a kick ass record that is going to finally be appreciated when the instrumental version is released. Shadow still has it. Trust me on that one.

6) Cut Chemist – The Audience’s Listening – I was the only kid on my block waiting on this one and CC came through.

7) Gnarls Barkley – St. Elsewhere – Overplayed but so damn good.

8) The Raconteurs – Broken Boy Soldiers – It didn’t live up to my wildest dreams but the album has been impossible to put away for good.

9) Wolfmother – s/t – Like I have any indie cred left to kill. This is a fun record. Haters be damned.

10) Prince – 3121 – The uptrend in quality continues. I hope he gives us more in ‘07.

Yes, that says “Support Pimpin”.

I have a new favorite band: Voxtrot.

I know that it’s risky to make that call after only hearing three songs by the band but the music is so damn good that I feel confident in my statement.

I only have the “Your Biggest Fan” single but I have been listening to in non-stop for 2 weeks. It definitely sounds like British indie rock but they’re from Austin TX and it is my life’s mission to get the 2 other eps that are out (but, sadly, not available at Plan 9). Jack Rabid was touting them in the most recent issue of The Big Takeover and he’s usually very correct. In this case he’s 10,000x correct.

I keep hearing people comparing them to Belle and Sebastian but I don’t see it. Maybe the conection is that the songs are confidently built and everyone can play their instruments? I don’t think they sound like B&S, for what that’s worth.

This music just feels good. They have a full-fledged album due in January. Look for me to be all about it in a couple of weeks.

Lucky for you, the good people in Voxtrot have seen fit to offer three songs for you to listen to at their site. “Trouble“ is the first b-side from the “Your Biggest Fan” single and it’s as strong as the a-side. “Mothers, Sisters, Daughters & Wives“ is the title track off of their second ep (that I don’t have but will get posthaste) and finally “The Start of Something“ from their debut ep, “Raised By Wolves“. All good tunes. Enjoy.

Snowden’s debut album Anti-Anti is a good-enough indie rock record but it didn’t move me like I was hoping. I first heard them on Janet’s Las Paletas Mix over the summer. I had to do some digging at my local record shoppe to find this one which is why the diappointment is so…disappointing. It’s not that the songs are bad, I just didn’t find the spark I was looking for.

Oh, well. They can’t all be classics, you know?

Anti-Anti is the title track and the hook that got me searching for this band. It’s a good song. Enjoy.

I’m a big fan of Frank Black’s solo work but his latest album, Fast man Raider Man hasn’t really hit home with me yet. First, it’s long. I don’t have time for double-albums. Second, Frank Black albums sometimes take me a while to get into. It’s been that way ever since he started his Memphis by-way-of Arizona period of the last 5-6 years. My persistence and patience have been rewarded every time so far, and I don’t expect less here, I’m just not there yet.

And since I haven’t gotten into the album enough to recommend it to you (or not) I didn’t upload a song to share. Sorry.

I got a special treat in the mail today. The fine folks at Tom Bihn sent along this small organizer pouch with a Holiday card. Cool dudes (and gals).

This was the Digital Short from this weekend’s SNL. Justin Timberlake is funny. Fact.

From left to right: Mint, Truffle, Orange, Candy Cane, Dark, Macadamia Nut, Almond, Coffee, and Cherry Cordial.

We have some friends that go to Hershey Park every winter and they are kind enough to hook us up with chocolate straight from the factory. There are usually a couple of unique-to-the-park candies that come to us but this year the Kiss assortment was impressive, most impressive. Michelle and I have tasted them all and the favorite so far has been the cherry cordial. It’s not a traditional cherry-and-goo cordial like you get in your Christmas stocking but it’s a nice blend of cherry and Hershey’s milk chocolate. Tasty.