Shakenstir » Shakenstir Review of 2006

Shakenstir Review of 2006

As the news broke that James Blunt, Madonna and Katie Melua had the top three selling albums in Europe (according to Billboard) I was preparing our list of best albums of 2006 – a truly amazing release year. These top-selling albums didn’t register on our quality scale, in fact they didn’t come close, and I guess that means that substantial sales don’t mean great albums – not in our language anyway. What it does mean is that radio and TV covered these three artists and their music on a massive, unrelenting scale and in the process missed out on playing some truly magnificent music. But hey! I suppose and hope that our visitors arrive to find the best, regardless of airplay and hype. During 2006 we witnessed live shows from many of the artists featured in our best of 2006 album selection, and without exception we attended sold-out shows, played with skill and passion. In 2007 we hope to address the balance a fraction by playing our favourites on Liverpool’s Juice FM, Wrexham’s Colon FM, and online.

ACT OF 2006

Glen Hansard/Frames

Imogen Heap

This year not one but two names and for good reason… Glen Hansard is the effervescent lead man with Irish band the Frames, and in 2006 produced a solo album (with Marketa Irglova) which became our album of the year, in addition to the new Frames album (which also featured in our top ten albums of 2006). He then followed these two albums with one of our live shows of the year played at London University in November. As a song writer and performer he has few peers, and is unrivalled in his capacity to captivate and involve an audience. Catch the Frames and Hansard when they tour the new album in 2007 – you’ll be inspired!

Imogen Heap’s new album brought this adventurous singer/songwriter out of the shadows and into the spotlight. Heap also sold quality and quantity to the Yanks who bought her fabulous pop album in the tens of thousands. She played a magnificent solo set at the V Festival, and an astounding one at Manchester’s glorious Bridgewater Concert Hall (a sold-out show) supported by her band. Heap has toiled for a while to get to where she is now, but she’s now at the point where her popularity could explode. Catch her live to experience this quite unique UK artist.

Runners-Up

Rodrigo Y Gabriela (album and live performance)

Radiohead (V Festival performance)

Regina Spekta (album and live performance)

Howling Bells (album and live performance)

The Trews (album and live performance)

My Latest Novel (album and live performance)

Thrice (album and live performance)

Midlake (album and live performance)

Fionn Regan (album and live performance)

Alex Parks (2005 album and live performance)

Wolfmother (album and live performance)

Lupen Crook (album and live performance)

Calexico (album and live performance)

Taking Back Sunday (album and live performance)

I told you it was a great year!

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SPECIAL AWARDS 2006

Alex Parks

Alex Parks remains the most individual talent to come out of any of the TV talent shows. Back in 2003 I expressed my fears about this talented young lady being swallowed up by a large label and spat out as a humdrum pop star. Well the label certainly tried but this young lady was having none of it and ended her contract with Polydor with the finest live performance (in front of a capacity audience at the Shepherds Bush Empire) I have ever seen from a young performer. I hope she comes back soon, stronger, wiser and even better.

Rodrigo Y Gabriela

This young Mexican acoustic guitar duo’s second album flew to the top of the Irish album chart, and then triumphed in several other European countries. The album is superb but it’s in the live arena that the sparks really fly… We witnessed no less than three live shows in 2006 and were blown away each and every time. In addition to their own instrumental compositions, this heavy metal loving pair (they used to play in such a band in Mexico) have interpreted their favourite metal songs for acoustic guitar, and made them their own.

Howling Bells

With a great debut album under their belt, this young Australian band took to the road and floored audiences all over the country with fabulous tunes and some of the best live performances we have seen from a new band. The band also secured some pretty major support slots, and is without doubt the band to watch in 2007.

LABEL OF 2006

This is a new award and goes to UK independent label Bella Union. Never in our 6 year history has an independent label had as many as five albums/artists in the top echelons of our best of year album list. The label’s roster reads like a Who’s Who of the freshest, most adventurous acts in the UK right now, and includes Irish singer/songwriter Fionn Regan, Howling Bells, My Latest Novel, Midlake, The Dears, Devics, The Czars, The Dirty Three, Francoiz Breut, Mazarin and Astronautalis. It is vital for an online magazine like Shakenstir to secure access to artists, their albums and performances. Bella Union has provided the level of access we need to bring these wonderful artists to your attention - comprehensively and professionally.

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Calexico