various best of 2006

Here's our final year-end wrap up, made up of the various "Bests of" that we feel are worth mentioning. Not technically a list, but still fun to do. Thanks for reading our often misguided, ill-conceived, and ridiculous ramblings this year. We had fun writing them. Happy holidays. (oh and thanks to everyone who voted for us in Stereogum's Gummy Awards!)

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Favorite EP: Sparrow House Falls

Jared Van Fleet's aptly titled Falls EP is a deceptively complex collection of beautiful pop songs. The best compliment I can pay Falls is that everyone I played it for ended up falling in love with it. And I do mean everyone.

Runners up:

Tacks, The Boy Disaster Oh, Beatrice
Dirty Projectors New Attitude

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Favorite Remix: We Share Our Mothers Health (Ratatat Remix) mp3

Runners up:

Diplo Vans til Infinity mp3
Peter Bjorn & John Young Folks (Punks Jump Up Special Disco Mix)

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Favorite Music Festival: Pitchfork Music Festival

This festival had it all. The Biz-3 tent was like a non-stop house party (Diplo, CSS, Spank Rock, etc.), while the main stages featured incredible sets from Destroyer, Liars, Tapes 'n Tapes, Band of Horses, Man Man, and more. But it was Os Mutantes' festival-closing set that made this event unforgettable. We'll be back next year.

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Favorite New Artist: (tie) St. Vincent and White Denim

We've probably said enough about both of these artists this year, especially considering that neither has actually officially released anything yet. But with both artists' debut releases due next year, we're extremely excited to see what 2007 has in store for them.

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Favorite Music Video:



Runners Up:

TV on the Radio "Wolf Like Me" (youtube)
CSS "Alala" (youtube)
Peter and the Wolf "Lightness" (youtube)
Hot Chip "Over & Over" (youtube)


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Favorite TV Show: Wonder Showzen

Fuck, if you've seen the full "Horse Apples" episode, you know what I'm talking about. Cross, Oldham, Galifianakis, and crew created what is possibly unquestionably the most offensive half-hour of television in the history of basic cable. If you haven't seen it, buy the DVD today.



Runner up: The Wire


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Favorite Film: The Departed

In a relatively weak year in cinema, The Departed was the only film that really wowed me. The main criticism this movie received was focused mostly on the cartoonish "Nicholson-ness" of Nicholson's character, but that was part of the appeal to me. I'm not a a huge fan of DiCaprio or Damon, but both of their performances were genius. Scorsese should finally get his Oscar with this, his best work in I don't know how long.

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Favorite Viral Video: "Little Superstar"

So much great stuff on YouTube this year, including inexplicable slips of the tongue, adorably foul-mouthed kids, mythological midgets in the hood, and probably a bunch we didn't even see (enlighten us). But this is hands down the most intoxicating, bizarre, and let's face it, plain awesome YouTube video of the year. You've likely seen it by now, but if not, ladies and gentleman, meet Little Superstar: