The following is list of some of my favorite albums, songs, concerts, etc of 2006. I know, lists are arbitrary, musical taste should not be quantifiable, todo es taan subjetivo, and this is an exercise of unabashed self-indulgence. But my favorites are not an official NYRemezcla list; nor do they represent an absolute best of—nada de eso—this list simply represents certain affinities and personal inclinations. In fact, this whole idea was just a pretext to invite the rest of the staff, and some friends, to share what music they most enjoyed during the year. Así que, los invitamos a echarle un ojo a las listas para así enterarnos de lo que este grupo de gente recomienda y ha tenido brotando de sus bocinas y audífonos durante este año que se va, se va…
Oscar León Bernal – NYRemezcla.com, Music Editor (NYC)
1. Zoé "Memo Rex Commander y el Corazón Atómico de la Vía Láctea" (Noiselab/EMI) Songs like No Me destruyas remind me of compulsively listening to El Diablito and El Silencio from Caifanes back in the early ‘90s—yes, way before their slow and painful decline into rockenespañol-territory. Yet songs like “Paula” “Vynil” and “Miss Nitro” remind me that we’re in a whole different decade and rock from Mexico does not need to include mariachi riffs to develop its identity. Beyond any possible comparisons, the band’s songwriting is outstanding, and the quality of their music has improved with every album. It took some time but Zoé is now the most important rock band in Mexico and any English speaking fans of Interpol, Editors or The Delays should know them by now, damn it!.
2. Junior Boys “So This is Goodbye” (Domino) El Segundo disco de este duo de Ontario, Canada es uno mas de esos discos economicos que con tan solo 10 rolas me dejaron asombrado. El sonido electronico general del disco, y la letra de canciones como “In the Morning” y “This is Goodbye” se alejan del concepto de-electronica-prendida-para-pista-de-baile y se vuelven intropsectivos, emocionales y con una cierta transparencia invernal.
3. TV On The Radio “Return to Cookie Mountain” (4AD) Rockero y espeso pero también soulful sin si quiera acercarse a todo ese rollo over-cachondo. Hasta el Bowie quiso entrarle. Sin duda alguna una de las mejores bandas en surgir de Nueva York en mucho tiempo. La Montaña de Galleta contiene una serie de canciones para corazones atribulados y roqueros. ¡Que disco!
4. Sweet Electra “Cama” (Self-released) Just about every track on in this album stays in my head and makes me smile as I walk out of the subway station and step over dry leafs. I listen to Nardiz Cook’s voice—it’s striking, powerful on “Ser”, and honey coated como una alegría when she sings “Creias”/..que el amor es triste/ y es verdad. Diego Alcazar’s percussions on “Danzonera” remind me of the DF—Vercacruz—La Habana connection. I can imagine Giovanni Escalera as he pays close attention to the smallest of details even as he plays keyboards, guitar, and programming. Guest vocals by Ceci Bastida (Ex-Tijuana NO!), and Japanese singer Sakiko Yocko round up the album nicely and I think—this is a stylish electro-rock album for exuberant souls!
5. Isaac Junkie “Talking About Love” (Isaac Junkie Records) Released through the artist’s own label—Isaac Junkie Records—Talking About Love is an album with beautiful synth-pop melodies that sound closer to Ultravox, or New Order than to most electronic music being put out in Mexico these days. With this album you get 10 strong tracks, 6 remixes, guest appearances by La Prohibida, Parabólica, Spunky and others, and even a little drum and bass.
6. Peter, Bjorn & John “Writer’s Block” (Wichita) !Este es el tercer álbum del grupo sueco y yo no los conocía! Sin embargo, desde que escuche Young Folks con la colaboración de la ex-vocalista de The Concretes, Victoria Bergsman me volví fan. No se, de repente me hace pensar en sunshine-pop de los 60s y también en lindos edificios de departamentos con exteriores coloridos y nieve en las banquetas…y no me importan los jóvenes que hablan de sus rollos jóvenes y no me importa los ruquitos que hablan de sus rolas antigüitas…
7. Asobi Seksu “Citrus” (Friendly Fire) Mi valedor Giovanni Escalera es el culpable de que no pueda dejar de escuchar ni el self titled debut, ni este, el segundo álbum de Asobi Seksu. Las canciones son pegajosas pero eso no impide que los enérgicos guitarrazos de James Hanna y la dulzura pop melódica entren en balance. Su vocalista—Yuki Chikudate—canta con elegancia y lo hace tanto en japonés como en ingles. Su voz le da sofisticacion a este disco mientras que Mitch Spivak en la bateria y Haji en bajo le proveen la base ritmica. ¡Desde que vi portada supe que seria uno de mis favortos!
8. Dixybait “Los Dias Geometricos” (Molecula) I don’t think “tonti-pop” is a fair term to describe a project like Dixybait—this Mexican duo, composed of Alejandro Mancilla on keyboards, laptop, samplers and loops, and Argelia R
ivas on vocals created an album full of electronic-space-age pop with lyrical references to pop-art icons, failed love projects, obsessive television watching, and bedroom airplanes. Plus, their myspace list of favorite bands rocks! Niza, Stereolab, Daniel Melero, La Monja Enana, no wonder I like their music so much!
9. Camera Obscura “Let’s Get Out of This Country” (Elefant) Un lindo disco de indie-pop con elementos de soul y colaboración de gente como Victoria Bergsman (ex The Concretes), que este año anduvo por todas partes. La banda de Glasgow nos entrego este trabajo con diez temas y energía otoñal.
10. Da Punto Beat "Velodrom" (Sonido Chivaltraco) Da Punto Beat is an electronic Project that began to take shape in 1998 in a middle class neighborhood of Mexico City called Jardín Balbuena. Their sound is based on tightly executed and layered funk with hard hitting big-beats that make you dance. They have played with Orbital, LTJ Bukem and The Delays, and just about everyone in Mexico City seems to be, or want to be their friend. With the release of "Velodrom", on the band’s own label—Sonido Chivaltraco—dpb consolidates a style that isn’t overly committed to any one specific electronic genre. There is a reason why “Konnichiwa” is the first single—it rocks!
My 5 favorite songs of 2006:
1. “Young Folks” Peter Bjorn and John’ 4. “Dance With Me” Nouvelle Vague
2. “Mentirosos” Pistolera 5. “Smile” Lilly Allen
3. “Amor Electrico” La Prohibida
My 5 favorite concerts 2006:
1. Celso Piña (Zócalo—México, DF) 4. Pistolera (Joe’s Pub—New York City)
2. Nortec Collective (Prospect Park—Brooklyn, NY) 5. La Prohibida/Zemoa (The Delancey, NY)
3. CSS/Ladytron (Webster Hall—New York City)
My 5 favorite labels 2006:
1. Darla (USA) 4. Molecula (Mexico)
2. Static (Mexico) 5. Elefant (Espana)
3. Indice Virgen (Argentina)
The 5 bands I missed most in 2006 and hope to hear from in 2007:
1. Entre Rios 4. Interpol
2. The Postal Service 5. Carrie
3. Nosotrash
Others who should be on my list….somewhere: La Prohibida “Flash”, Pistolera “Siempre Hay Salida” Cat Power “The Greatest”, Folerncia Ruiz “Cuerpo”, Nouvelle Vague “A Bande Apart”, Yo La Tengo “I Am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass”, The Presets “Beams”, Javiera Mena “Esquemas Juveniles” Belle and Sebastian “A Life Pursuit” Mouse on Mars “Varcharz”, Childs “Yui”, Cansei de Ser Sexy “CSS” Susi Yantra “Bienvenido al sueño”, The Flaming Lips “At War With the Mystics”….
*****
Claire Frisbie – NYRemezcla.com, Editor-in-Chief/DJ claruxxx, at times (NYC)
1. Zoé Memo Rex Commander y el Corazón Atómico de la Vía Láctea (Noiselab/EMI) All my other selections are in no particular order, but this one ranks waaaay above the rest. MRCYECADLVL blew me away from the moment I heard a pirated demo version of "Via Lactea" a couple months before it was released (oops!) …y luego el productor me regañó cuando me la escuchó poner en mi set en Baraza (double oops!). This is just a damn good straight-up rock ’n’ roll album that doesn’t get old; the lyrics are excellent (English, Spanish, guatever), the musicianship even more so. I could listen to this album on repeat for days. And I do.
2. Lila Downs “La Cantina: Entre Copa y Copa” (Narada) Lila Downs has always been good. But until now, it was more the kind of good your parents (well, at least my parents) like. With La Cantina, though, she breaks out of her "world music" folky mold with a collection of songs that combine ranchera, cumbia, corrido, rap, and even a bit of reggaeton. This is true world fusion, but the good kind, don’t worry. It’s traditional and modern a la vez and it makes me just want to dance and drink tequila (and get back to those accordion lessons!), which is always a good sign.
3 .Instituto Mexicano del Sonido “Méjico Máxico” (Nacional Records) So IMS en vivo wasn’t quite the mind-blowing experience we’d hoped it would be, but México Mágico certainly is. Melding retro with electronica, the samples are obscure and refreshing, not to mention excellently put together, so who cares if Camilo Lara (el Insituto himself) used his pull as VP of A&R at EMI Mexico to get ahold of them? More power to him! Dude managed to bring together some of our favorite musical sonidos into something entirely brand new. A bit Nortec Collective, a bit Sonora Matancera, muuuy México. Mágico.
4. Pistolera “Siempre Hay Salida” (self-released) This album is not on my list ’cause I get thanked in the liner notes (though I still think that’s way cool—what did I do, anyway?). It’s on here ’cause it’s awesome. Brooklyn band Pistolera has evolved so much over the last year and change and Siempre Hay Salida is proof of this evolution. Read the review on the música page for the details, but let’s just say this album makes me so, so very proud of our growing local music escena—
and the hot women at its helm (and Inca B, too!).
5. Chetes ”Blanco Facil” (EMI Mexico) I saw Chetes at the LAMC in August. My first impression was that he
was in desperate need of a hair makeover, but nonetheless dug his set at the Bowery Ballroom. For whatever reason, though, I didn’t hear his album Blanco Facil until recently, and frankly, he can do whatever he wants with his hair! The guy makes damn good music! Very acoustic, at times mellow, at times upbeat and poppy–this is a solid, solid album. Recorded in Nashville with Wilco (and others)’s producer Ken Coomer, Blanco Facil is in many ways the Spanish-language equivalent to Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. And this is a great thing; I love Wilco. And I now love Chetes.
Runners up: Kinky “Reina” & Gustavo Cerati “Ahi Vamos”
*****
Marcelo Cunning – Nacotheque, Producer/DJ/Promoter (NYC)
1. Javiera Mena “Esquemas Juveniles” (Indice Virgen) Wow. Javiera Mena is sooo good I can hardly stand it. With songs like "Sol De Invierno" and "Camara Lenta" she definitely won my respect. Not to mention she’s hot… he, he, he [insert image of me touching myself to her music]. Javiera is like some sort of South American Cat Power. This girl can craft melodies like it’s nobody’s business. The Cure would say: Por que no puedo ser tu?
2. La Prohibida “Flash” (Isaac Junkie Records) La Prohibida aka Amapola (La Prohibida’s real name for those of you who aren’t in the know) is one of the most charismatic performers I have ever seen. A single person on stage hardly ever holds my attention but not only did she hold my attention, she made me move in ways the human body isn’t supposed to move. And I dance weird enough as it is. Dj Papichulo and I sang "Flash" like our life depended on it. But this isn’t about her performance; it’s about her album. "Flash" is a very, very fun record. Some online critic wrote this about it: "Melodías para el eterno adolescente que no puede ni por un instante dejar de ser moderno". I couldn’t agree anymore. That just about seals the deal.
3. Zoé “Memo Rex Comander y el Corazon Atomico de la Via Lactea” (Noiselab/EMI) Zoe, the new Caifanes? Is this blasphemous? Or true? Let’s see: Both struggled to be accepted. Both write/wrote guitar/synth pop songs with dark undertones. Both have/had poetic lyrics that are accessible and digestible. Like it or not, Zoé is very much up to par with the former rock gods. MRCYECADLVL pretty much proves it. Via Lactea, Vinyl, No Me Destruyas are perfect examples. Their musicianship, songwriting and lyrical content are not only superb, they are amazing.
4. Senor Coconut Presents: “Coconut FM” (Essay Recordings) Senor Coconut is a very smart man. His selections for Coconut FM make me jealous. I wish I would of came up with them. I think he’s so ahead of the curve and (sadly) gets very little recognition, if any, for it. I feel like Electro Cumbias and Baile Funk (No, not you reggaeton. You are officially a has been) are like our secret genres of music that haven’t quite yet crossed over. They are still ours! It’s like that really good band you don’t want anybody else to find out about. You know, they might believe the hype and all of a sudden start sucking. Man would I be pissed if I ever heard anything off this record at say, BED, Marquee or god forbid, that "trendy" party at Don Hills.
5. Various “Electro Spain“ (Subterfuge) This one is self-explanatory. A shit load of new bands out of Spain’s new electronic scene. La Movida part 2? I think so.
*****
Amyluyita – Nacotheque, DJ/Promoter (NYC)
1. Maria Daniela y su Sonido Lasser “Self Titled” (Nuevos Ricos) Maria Daniela y su Sonido Lasser has been the most prominent group on my playlists this year. I was lucky enough to see them live in Mexico City this past summer and again in NYC back in October. The song "Fiesta de Cumpleaños" is my favorite and it won over many of my friends in Madrid. Info: www.myspace.com/mariadanielaysusonidolasser
Nuevos Ricos: www.nuevosricos.com .
2. Ruidos en el Techo “Galacción EP” (Nene Records) Nene Records from Monterrey, Mexico did the right thing by signing Ruidos en el Techo, an indie-rock band that sounds like a mix between Sonic Youth and Blonde Redhead. Their influences come from the best of the best in English-sung music: From My Bloody Valentine, Velvet Underground, to Dinosaur Jr, Bowie, and Radiohead. My two favorites are: "Tapia" and "Canción Puberta". They will be heading to SXSW this year and I can’t wait to hear them live!
3. L-Kan “Aburrido” (Molecula Records) L-Kan is one of my favorite Spanish electro/bubble gum pop groups formed by Bethlehem, Olav, Maru and Luis in 1999. My favorite song is "Todo por Placer" and the video is just as fun. They are on Subterfuge Records in Spain and published in Mexico through Molecula Records. Download mp3’s here.
Subterfuge Records: www.subterfuge.com
4. Dixybait “Los Dias Geometricas” (Molecula Records) Dixybait is another electropop group from Mexico that I went nutz over this year, they are on the cute Mexican label, Molecula Records. You can preview three of their songs on myspace that are equally entertaining; my favorite song is "Dias Tontos y Grises".
5. Sidonie “Fascinado” (Bip Bip Records/Sony BMG) The Psychedelic rock group from Barcelona Spain, Sidonie, is influenced by The Rolling Stones, Beck, Kula Shaker, The Doors, and Stone Roses. Created in 1997 by Marc Ros, Axel Pi, and Jesus Senra, the group began playing versions of their favorite American and English groups before they began to make their own music. In 2000, they recorded two records on Bip Bip Records and then signed to Sony BMG in 2003; where they went on to record two more albums. Music videos: here and here
*****
Ejival – Static Discos,Verdigris—Founder—Static Radio- DJ, critic (Tijuana)
1. Lansing-Dreiden “The Dividing Island” (Kemado)
2. Booka Shade “Movements” (Get Physical)
3. The Radio Dept “Pet Grief” (Labrador)
4. Nathan Fake “Drowning in a Sea of Love” (Border Community)
5. Love is All “Nine Times That Same Song” (What’s Your Rupture)
*****
Giovanni Escalera – Sweet Electra, Guitar and Programming (Mexico City)
1. Asobi seksu ”Citrus” (Friendly Fire Recording) Este disco reforzó el sonido de Asobi Seksu con sus guitarras y baterías estridentes y la mezcla de su voz tan delgada que pareciera que se va a romper, que al final crea una mezcla perfectamente equilibrada que provoca una hermosa nostalgia al escucharlo.
2. The Dears “Gang of Losers” (Bella Union) El Lost in the plot me recordó la primera vez que lo oí a The Smiths y eso fue lo que me atrapo, pero con este disco agarraron su estilo propio y en vivo WOUW!!! Es como oír a una orquesta de 6 muy Buenos músicos.
3. TV on the radio Return of The Cookie Mountain (4AD) Que puedo decir de TV on The Radio, entre gospel mezclado con new wave ochentero, definitivamente un sonido único para esta época llena de bandas que salen como pizzas, (cada 30 minutos)… o es gratis!
4. The Magic Numbers “Those the Brokes" (EMI, UK) A mi siempre me hace falta un poco de relax, pensar que estoy en el campo sin preocupaciones y pensar en lo maravilloso que es el mundo!!! Después despierto…
5. Flamming Lips “At War With the Mystics” (WEA) Mi banda contemporánea favorita sin duda es esta, nunca sabes que puedes oir en cada album que sale de ellos, aunque no es el Yoshimi blattles… este album tiene ese sello muy FL, y podría ser como la continuación del Yoshimi y eso merece que este en mi lista y Mr. ambulante driver que buena rola para cantarle a una enfermera el día que estés en una ambulancia medio muerto.
*****
Josh Norek – Nacional Records, VP/Hip Hop Hoodios, Rapero (LA)
1. Neil Young “Live at the Fillmore” (Reprise) From the Neil Young archives finally comes the first CD in the long-awaited re-issue series. The guitar interplay on “Down by the River” is worth the price of admission. Viva heartland rock!
2. Los Bunkers “Vida de Perros” (Nacional) Yeah, they’re on our label – but that’s because Los Bunkers deserve to be! Killer power-pop from Chile with infectious hooks and catchy melodies. Check out the singles “Ven Aqui” and “Lllueve Sobre La Ciudad” and see for yourself.
3. Black Sheep “B-Boy’s Theme” (?) This single from Black Sheep’s sort-of-comeback album restored my faith in hip-hop this year. The track is a block-rockin’ sizzler featuring such “seeming to be AWOL from today’s rap music” elements as bumpin’ bassline, great beats, and turntable scratching. Further proof that Timbaland, Paul Wall, Lil Jon, Yung Joc, and Young Jheezy should all be summarily executed.
4. Sloan “Never Hear the End” (Universal, Canada )Why these guys aren’t megastars in the U.S. is beyond me, but I’ll take these north-of-the-border rockers any day over the woos-rock and emo dreck coming from the States. If a GOP president takes office in 2008, I’ll be filing for a Canadian visa and rocking out to Sloan until it’s safe to return to the motherland.
5. iTunes & eMusic. I bought maybe 3 new CD’s in 2006. Let’s face it, the CD is nearly dead. Tower Records is gone, Virgin Megastore has half the stores they had a year ago. I’ve discovered so much great new (and old) music online. I’ll miss the artwork, but time marches on and so does my preferred music format.
*****
Renzo Ortega – Squad Lokal de R-Tronika/Local Project, Musician/Artist (NYC)
1. Lili Brigadera (Demo Boston) I meet Lili in ABC No Rio…before the Resistance Festival of 2006. Unlike the local NYC bands with Rock Star pretensions, DIY ethic bands are the real resistance bands.
She plays some of the best anarco-post punk feminist rock in the area and she’s a member of the famous Boston based anarko-feminist collective LA RIVOLTA—(No para niñas hipster-fresas que quieren salir en las fotos de la fiesta).
2. En La Olla (Demo, NY) Bilingual doesn’t just mean Spanish English!! This is old school PUNK Polish-Mexican, great for collectors and Romantics from the "guerra fria", who like to go to Green Point, and have a taco made by a polish guy in Manhattan Avenue. If you can, go see them in concert (AND YOU SHOOULD,DO IT YOURSELF!!)
3. Rabia (Demo Tape) So far Rabia is the best real Punk band from NY! A lot of kids from NY, LI, and NJ follow them, and their sound is really, really great. Surprise: Their front-man is a Peruano VEGAN and their lyrics are in Spanish and English. Favorite track: Fuck Bush.
4. Green Supreme EP (Self released) I don’t know whether they want to be a mainstream rock band or an underground DIY band. Sometimes they really confuse me, but their music is so cool, and easy to get into and, of course, girls love it!
I don’t care much for their political lyrics porque son "obvias", the typical "Latino in the States" type of stuff and I don’t think they really believe in them, yet their music is still good. Who knows, they could be the next commercial hit. I like: “I’m an Alien Without a Visa".
