Year End Extravaganza!

Since the end of 2006 is nearly upon us, I thought I’d pontificate on the best and worst musical happenings of the year.

My Top 10 Albums of the Year

1. Mastodon- Blood Mountain
2. Converge- No Heroes
3. Iron Maiden- A Matter of Life and Death
4. None More Black- This Is Satire
5. The Lawrence Arms- Oh! Calcutta!
6. AFI- Decemberunderground
7. Thursday- A City By the Light Divided
8. Quasi- When the Going Gets Dark
9. Tool- 10,000 Days
10. Brand New- The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me

Song of the Year
Three way tie: Mastodon- "Colony of Birchmen," Converge- "No Heroes," The Lawrence Arms, "The Devil's Takin' Names"

Best Moments of '06:
1. Mastodon continues their rise to the top of the metal world
2. Dio's cameo in Tenacious D's "The Pick of Destiny"
3. Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden takes a fan's banner reading "Play the old songs," tears it up in front of him, and goes into the next song from their new album.

Worst Moments of '06:
1. Sleater-Kinney calls it quits
After releasing what could be considered their crowning achievement last year with The Woods, the Portland trio suddenly decided to pack it in for an "indefinite hiatus." Who knows how long that will last. In the meantime, I mourn the loss of one of the most exciting, amazing rock bands of the last 20 years.

2. Hot Water Music breaks up
Not totally unexpected, but heartbreaking nonetheless. 2004's The New What Next showed that the band was going in new, interesting directions, and were continuing to pave the way for post-hardcore bands everywhere. Luckily, they were re-incarnated (sans Chuck Regan) as The Draft, who pick up where HWM left off.

3. Panic! At the Disco continues to exist
Why, God, why??

4. CBGB's Closes Down
A punk institution is forced to close its doors, and a little (but significant) part of music history dies.

The "No Shit, Sherlock" Award:
Guns 'n Roses says "Chinese Democracy" is coming out. It doesn't. No one is shocked.

Most Bizarre Collaboration:
Mike Watt records bass for Kelly Clarkson's next album. Oooookaaaayy...

Best Queen Impression:
1. My Chemical Romance- "Welcome to the Black Parade"
2. Queen with Paul Rodgers

Best Bruce Springsteen Impression:
The Killers- "When You Were Young"

Best Thing From England Since Tea and Crumpets:
Lady Sovereign
A 5 foot, 20-year-old, white British girl who just happens to rap better than most other people. At last, a female rapper who doesn't spend entire songs describing unspeakable sex acts.

Asshole Lead Singer Lifetime Achievement Award: Bono
Buying iPods and Nikes will save Africa, huh? Whatever you say, fuckbag, but I think the 8-year-olds in the Nike sweatshops would have something to say about that.

Song Title of the Year:
"You Suck! But Your Peanut Butter Is Okay" by None More Black

Best Cover:
"Like I Love You," by Dillinger Escape Plan (originally by Justin Timberlake)

Best Music/Concert DVD:
Mastodon- The Workhorse Chronicles
Live footage of almost every single song the band had released to that point, plus great and hilarious interviews and behind-the-scenes footage.

Worst Music/Concert DVD:
Dillinger Escape Plan- Miss Machine: The DVD
I paid 8 bucks for 3 videos and a handful of shitty quality live footage?

Album Title With Most Exclamation Points:
Against Me!- "Americans Abroad!!! Against Me!!! Live In London!!!"

Best Song About Snakes on a Plane:
Cobra Starship- "Snakes on a Plane (Bring It)"