“The Mixes” Series: Tyger and Lamb, 2006

Originally published July 28, 2009 on 710 ESPN.

With this being the third week of my Mr. Hipster Blog, it’s time once again for my third installment in “The Mixes” Series. This week I’m tackling/recounting Tyger and Lamb, my Best of… CDs from 2006. It’s a weird thing, really, attempting to encapsulate the year’s best anything. Not at the time, mind you, but in retrospect. What I mean is that it’s hard for lists like these not to seem dated. The point, then, is to find music that’s not only of the moment, but holds up after an extended period of time. (And by the way, am I the only one who thinks that Seinfeld does not hold up? Feel free to argue that point, but I just can’t bring myself to watch it in syndication any longer.)

It was an off year overall in terms of great albums as a whole, but if you recall from my previous post in this series, I mentioned there being one record in 2006 that outshined all comers. Ladies I gentlemen, I give you The Body, The Blood, The Machine by The Thermals. Hard to imagine that this Portland trio could pen a record equal parts catchy, intelligent, and political. TB,TB,TM is essentially a commentary on the intermingling of politics and religion in this country, in that these two institutions are the “body” and “blood” fueling the “machine” that is these United States. Okay, perhaps I’m getting a bit too clinical and artsy-fartsy for you people, but there’s no denying the brilliance of The Thermals. And like those fans of Lost who don’t care about the allusion and mythology and instead just want to watch the show at the surface level, the same can be said of The Thermals: just shut up and listen.

Incidentally, I’m pretty certain I turned Cousin Dave on to The Thermals, so it receives the official Dave D. Stamp of Approval, well, it’s a go. And speaking of Dave, another one of his favorite tracks is on Tyger, a little number by Starlight Mints entitled “Inside of Me.” I saw Starlight Mints a few years back at a little joint in downtown Lancaster called The Chameleon. Fun show, really, highlighted by Mates of State, who you’ll also find on my 2006 mixes.

So with that mini-diatribe and additional bit of mindless fodder, I now give you 2006 at its finest.

Tyger (The Best “Fast” Tracks of 2006):

1. Girl Talk – “Hold Up”
2. The Thermals – “An Ear for Baby”
3. Figurines – “All Night”
4. The Capes – “Super Girls”
5. Starlight Mints – “Inside of Me”
6. Tapes ‘N Tapes – “Insistor”
7. Sparklehorse – “It’s Not So Hard”
8. Dirty Pretty Things – “Bang Bang You’re Dead”
9. The Futureheads – “Cope”
10. The Hold Steady – “Hot Soft Light”
11. Danielson – “Did I Step On Your Trumpet?”
12. Band of Horses – “Wicked Gil”
13. The Mountain Goats – “If You See Light”
14. Sunset Rubdown – “Stadiums and Shrines II”
15. Silversun Pickups – “Lazy Eye”
16. Heartless Bastards – “Brazen”
17. Cursive – “Dorothy Dreams of Tornadoes”
18. Robert Pollard – “Kick Me and Cancel”
19. The Long Winters – “Pushover”
20. Augie March – “Just Passing Through”
21. Mates of State – “Think Long”
22. Mogwai – “Glasgow Mega-Snake”

Lamb (The Best “Slow” Tracks of 2006):

1. Mogwai – “Friend of the Night”
2. Band of Horses – “The Funeral”
3. Magnolia Electric Co. – “Memphis Moon”
4. Richard Buckner – “Town”
5. The Mountain Goats – “Woke Up New”
6. Neko Case – “Margaret Vs. Pauline”
7. Built to Spill – “Liar”
8. Tapes ‘N Tapes – “10 Gallon Ascot”
9. The M’s – “My Gun”
10. Snowglobe – “At Times a Nightmare”
11. Yo La Tengo – “Black Flowers”
12. Figurines – “Silver Ponds”
13. The Pipettes – “Sex”
14. Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins – “Rabbit Fur Coat”
15. Islands – “Swans (Life After Death)”
16. Cat Power – “Love & Communication”
17. Augie March – “Clockwork”

Well, there you have it. Thirty-nine of the best songs of 2006. Sure, these lists are subjective, but I’ll put mine up against those of Bill Simmons anytime. Disagree with any of my picks? Are there any horrible oversights? Can’t live without your own copy of my mix? Whatever the case, feel free to send me your comments, questions, quips and complaints.

Until next time, have at it, you vultures!

BD