Half the Way through 2006 Music - The Singles

It is now the midway point of 2006, and a good year for music it has been. So I put together a little iTunes smart playlist of songs I added since dec 05, and ordered them by most plays. I then went through and picked out my ten favorites, without picking a song from the same artist twice (made narrowing things down MUCH easier.)

Of course, all these songs are new to me for that time period. If the CD came out in 1974, and I never heard the song before... but added it to my music during this time period, its eligible.

So, here we go... the top ten singles of the first half of 2006.
(song clips removed)
10. Love the One You're With by the Isley Brothers

Powered by Castpost
This one came out in the seventies, but I had never heard it. Then, someone recommended the 1970s era Isley Brother's to me, so I picked up a cd and gave it a listen... I was quite impressed. A lot of their songs from that era are just incredible.

9. To the Edge by Lacuna Coil

Powered by Castpost
For some odd reason, I rated this song low when I first heard it. Now its my favorite off the album. (i have a feeling my iTunes playlist was out of order or something when I had my first listen). Italian Goth/Metal at its finest. Besides, Cristina Scabbia has the best female vocals in metal. Just amazing.

8. Better Way by Ben Harper

Powered by Castpost
Ben Harper managed to put out another great album this year. Its his usual blend of folk, rock, marvin gaye/stevie wonder inspired 1970's funk, reggae... It was a difficult decision, since I had several songs within a play of each other (all near 30 plays this year). Decided to go with this one.

7. A Song For You (live) by Leon Russell, Willie Nelson, and Ray Charles

Powered by Castpost
This song came off of a live recording of Willie Nelson's 70th birthday party. The song was written in the seventies by Leon Russell, and Ray Charles had recorded it in the late eighties. Ray of course steals the show (Leon's vocals are Dylanesque, and Willie's voice is a love it or hate it thing). Willie tears up during Ray's session on vocals. Just an amazing live performance with a group of Legends on stage.

6. One Better by Les Claypool

Powered by Castpost
Les brings out his own eclectic version of funk on this one. A great addition to his sound, Skerik on Saxaphone (he was in his Flying Frog Brigade project). One of Les's better songs lyrically, as he ties in the story of "Silk Johnson" and "Conrad Smith's Cadilacs with Kruschev and Eisenhower with Sputnik. Plus, how many songs have funky bass leads, sax and marimba solo's?

5. Twisted Transistor by Korn

Powered by Castpost
They do it yet again. Manage to combine metal with something almost... dance like. All in an album with two ok remixes of this track. (of course the album is ok overall, with one standout track. How the mighty have fallen.) This song is some damn fine catchy pop/metal.

4. Vicarious by Tool

Powered by Castpost
Ahhh... the mighty Tool. Another band whose song to pick was a difficult one, so I went with a more mainstream oriented song... this one is only 7 minutes long (two on the disc that are also excellent are 11 minutes.) They've really developed into an amazing band. Amazing vocals out of Maynard, and the band gets tighter and better every disc. They compose these long, elaborate, morphing songs that are just spectacular.

3. The Undertaker (Renholder Mix) by Puscifer

Powered by Castpost
Maynard is a god. When he isn't doing vocals for Tool, he's doing them for A Perfect Circle. When he's not doing that, he's running his own Winery. When he has time from that... He did a few songs for soundtracks with a band they called Puscifer. It features Danny Lohner (who was once a driving force behind the early Nine Inch Nails CD's). Just yet another amazing song.

2. Crazy Bitch by Buckcherry

Powered by Castpost
Dirty. Fun. Vulgar. Catchy... and it rocks. I got addicted to this one about a month ago, and its now second all time on my iTunes number of plays at 35. This song is just a great party song.

1. Time of Your Song by Matisyahu

Powered by Castpost
Which brings us to #1 on my all time plays (48). Amazing blend of Reggae, hip hop, religion, rock... At first you'd think the guy was a gimmick, but the music goes so far beyond that. He's broken down styles and barriers. Just an amazing sound. Uplifting.