#06110 Spearmint

Spearmint – Paris In A Bottle

UK: 14th Aug – Hitback

 

Spearmint 的第五张专集, 仍旧在他们自己的厂牌推出, 结合了Northern Soul和传统的英式,

与早期的Pulp和Blue Aeroplanes非常相似, 特别是读白.

 

 

#06109 The Pipettes

The Pipettes – We Are The Pipettes

UK: 17th Jul – Memphis Industries

来自Brighton的三人女子Girl Power团体Pipettes, 有点类似于10年前的Shampoo, 他们的风格从60年代横跨至现在.

#06108 Guillemots

Guillemots – Through The Windowpane

UK: 10th Jul – Polydor

被誉为今年最令人激动的新乐队, 键盘的运用很多, 制造出弦乐非常的丰富. 此专集已为他们赢的了今年MERCURY MUSIC PRIZE的一个提名.

#06107 James Dean Bradfield

James Dean Bradfield – The Great Western

UK: 24th Jul – Columbia

Manic Street Preachers 主唱的首张个人专集, 完全没有MSP的风格, 歌词由他全部包办 (MSP中则由Nicky Wire负责).

如果撇开MSP来看待James 的这张专集无疑是成功的.

Outstanding tracks: That’s No Way To Tell A Lie & Still A Long Way To Go

#06106 The Rifles

The Rifles – No Love Lost

UK: 10th Jul – Red Ink

来自London的朋克乐队The Rifles再去年在3个Label相继推出了3张单曲签约于RCA的Red Ink旗下,
今年在另两支单曲的铺垫下, 首张专集终于面世. 专集一共11首歌, 也就是说将近一半的歌都作为过单曲发行.

Outstanding tracks: Peace And Quiet, When I’m Alone & Local Boy

#06105 Razorlight

Razorlight – Razorlight

UK: 17th Jul – Vertigo

 

一半英格兰人一半瑞典人的Razorlight的第二张专集, 如同大多数乐队一样, 不如第一张有新鲜感.

 

Outstanding tracks: In the morning, Who Needs Love & Kirby’s House

 

#06104 Luna

Luna – Best Of

US: 20th Jun – Rhino

UK: 9th Oct – Beggars Banquet

精选了Luna 92至04年的最佳作品, 也是乐队解散后推出的一张专集. 英国版将付送一张名为Lunafied的全翻唱的CD, 此前只在i-tunes作为下载.

#06102/03 Televise/The Young Knives

Televise – Songs To Sing In A & E

UK: 17th Apr – Club AC30

 

前Slowdive吉他手的乐队, 是近年来不可多的一张Shoegazing佳作.

 

Outstanding tracks: If I Told You & Radiation Sound

 

 

The Young Knives – Voices Of Animals And Men
UK: 14th Aug – Transgressive

Oxford Punk 乐队 Young Knives 继02年的Mini专集后终于推出首张专集, 诙谐且讽刺的歌词使他们不同于其他同类乐队.

Outstanding tracks: The Decision & Weekends And Bleak Days (Hot Summer)

#06101 The Sails

The Sails – The Sails

US: 27th Jun – Rainbow Quartz

 

在美国发展的英国乐队, 很美式的Power Pop风格, 虽然名字很英式.

 

 

30 Favourite Albums of The First Half of 2006

 

 

 

in alphabetical order

 

-line 1-

Agent Blue – A Stolen Honda Vision (Fierce Panda)
Archie Bronson Outfit – Derdang Derdang (Domino)
Richard Ashcroft – Keys To The World (Parlophone)
Belle & Sebastian – The Life Pursuit (Rough Trade)
Boy Kill Boy – Civilian (Vertigo)
The Charlatans – Simpatico. (Sanctuary)

 

-line 2-

The Concretes – In Colour (Licking Fingers)
Cosmic Rough Riders – The Stars Look Different From Down Here (Korova)
Graham Coxon – Love Travels At Illegal Speeds (Transcopic/Parlophone)
Delays – You See Colours (Rough Trade)
¡Forward, Russia! – Give Me A Wall (Dance To The Radio)
Gledhill – Constellations (MX3)

 

-line 3-

Hope Of The States – Left (Columbia)
iLiKETRAiNS – Progress Reform (Fierce Panda)
Islands – Return To The Sea (Rough Trade)
Johnny Boy – Johnny Boy (Wild Kingdom)
Keane – Under The Iron Sea (Island)
The Kooks – Inside In/Inside Out (Virgin)

 

-line 4-

Mogwai – Mr. Beast (PIAS)
Mojave 3 – Puzzles Like You (4AD)
Morning Runner – Wilderness Is Paradise Now (Parlophone)
My Architects – Grand Designs (Fierce Panda)
Mystery Jets – Making Dens (679)
Pure Reason Revolution – The Dark Third (Sony BMG)

 

-line 5-

Secret Machines – Ten Silver Drops (WEA)
The Strokes – First Impressions Of Earth (Rough Trade)
The Tyde – Three’s Co. (Rough Trade)
The Vines – Vision Valley (Heavenly)
White Rose Movement – Kick (Independiente)
The Zutons – Tired Of Hanging Around (Deltasonic)