Favs of 2006

i'm trying to keep this more of a video and show reviews only blog. but i couldn't resist making a list.

Albums
The Blood Brothers - Young Machetes
Regina Spektor - Begin To Hope
Murder By Death - In Bocca Al Lupo
Converge - No Heroes
Cursive - Happy Hollow
Malajube - Trompe T'oeil
Land of Talk - Boo Hiss Cheer Applause

Shows
Wintersleep/Contrived/Jill Barber 3/31
love most bands on dependent music. and here we have 3 of them. and comon wintersleep headlining! nice small intimate club setting helped.
Wintersleep/Malajube 12/2
solid lineup. new songs. awesome show. probably the most polished i've seen wintersleep yet.
Islands /Subtitle 11/4
first time headlining in vancouver. tight playing, new songs, covers and all the favorites. what more could you ask for?
Sufjan Stevens/My Brightest Diamond 10/14
soof-yon deserves every bit of hype he gets. amazing music in the perfect venue.
Capitol Hill Block Party
cheap ticket, lotsa bands, lotsa fun.
Deftones 4/3
around the fur, and then adrenaline, and the only time taping was allowed. what luck.
Final Fantasy/Bob Wiseman/Magali 9/15
innovative visuals, talented solo-ist, owen pallett makes the violin cool. he showed us why he's the reigning polaris prize winner.
Silver Mount Zion
the closest i'll come to seeing gybe! in the foreseeable future.

Honorable Mention
Transmission Festival Dec. 2
free industry only show. fav mostly for the atmosphere and situation. not quite as amazing as the foo fighters/radiohead capitol records gig that i heard about years ago, but definitely an different and interesting vibe.