The Top 60 Bands (Ryan Saw) At CMJ 2006

[part 6 of 6]

Here it is - the final installment of my CMJ adventures. They just announced that my favorite week of the year will be October 16th - 20th this fall. Register now!

I’ve compiled all of the audio clips from the previous posts on one page that will remain accessible at the top of the site. Enjoy, because I doubt I’ll ever have enough time or energy to do this again. I know the “rankings” are highly debatable, but some bands ended up near the bottom because I didn’t see much of their set. I enjoyed every act I saw on these lists, even if I did bust on them a bit. Though, I really did hate The Knife. Man, was that show overrated.

#1 ¡Forward, Russia! - My favorite live act of 2006. I sense that they are fading fast into obscurity, but I’ll still be rocking out with ‘em the next time they come through New York. Whether you love them, hate them or just don’t give a sh*t, ¡Forward, Russia! give a fantastic performance. In addition to these two shows, we also saw them at the KEXP in-studio performance. Though there are pictures here it would appear they never actually released the audio to that show.

¡Forward, Russia!
Live at Mercury Lounge
01 Nine
02 Fifteen Part II
03 Eighteen
04 Seventeen
05 Sixteen
06 Thirteen
07 Fifteen Part I
08 Twelve
09 Eleven

¡Forward, Russia!
Live at Fontana’s - Brooklyn Vegan day party
01 Twelve
02 Seventeen
03 Eighteen
[intro]
04 Fifteen Part II

#2 Oppenheimer - This marked the first time in a long while that I walked into a venue and immediately fell in love with the band on stage. I heard that these guys were great when they opened for Hot Chip at South Street Seaport, but I never expected to connect with them the way I did. I’m sure plenty of you are saying, “yeah, they’re ok, but the second best band at CMJ?” As far as I’m concerned, hell yes.

Oppenheimer - M.O. (live at Tonic)

Oppenheimer - Time Loss/Gain (live at Tonic)

Oppenheimer - Nine Words (live at Tonic)

Oppenheimer - Saturday Looks Bad To Me (live at Tonic)

#3 The Hold Steady - Since they didn’t actually play a showcase, I feel a little bit funny placing The Hold Steady towards the top of this list, but regardless, this was one of the craziest sets I saw all week. I’ll be surprised if I ever see them in a place as tiny as The Annex ever again.

The Hold Steady - Party Pit (live at The Annex)

The Hold Steady - Stevie Nix (live at The Annex)

#4 Land Of Talk - My love for three-piece bands notwithstanding, Land of Talk was one of my top five discoveries in 2006. They sounded better and better each of the five times I saw them this year, with this midday Pianos set topping off the list. I can’t wait to see what they do with a full length album.

Land of Talk - Summer Special (live at Pianos)

Land of Talk - Sea Foam (live at Pianos)

Land of Talk - Speak To Me Bones (live at Pianos)

Land of Talk - [new song] (live at Pianos)

Land of Talk - All My Friends (live at Pianos)

#5 Colin Meloy - The Decemberists frontman played a short acoustic set upstairs at Pianos as part of a Zune promotion. Then he was carted a few blocks west to the Apple Store where the whole band helped to promote Microsoft’s largest competitor. Is it fair to even suggest the word “sell out” if the two causes cancel each other out? I could care less who’s paying him to play where. Hearing Colin play “California One/Youth and Beauty Brigade” solo on acoustic guitar was simply magical.

Colin Meloy - O Valencia (live at Pianos)

Colin Meloy - California One/Youth and Beauty Brigade (live at Pianos)

#6 Pela - Though I prefer to hear Pela plugged in on a stage that can actually fit the whole band, this acoustic set was only my second experience hearing Pela live and I was quite impressed. You could tell that the band was figuring out how to transfer their material into the acoustic domain as they went, but the constant force behind all their songs was still Billy’s powerful voice. You can check out a full Pela-plugged-in show here.

Pela - Waiting on the Stairs [acoustic] (live at White Rabbit)

Pela - No Doves Just Pigeons [acoustic] (live at White Rabbit)

Pela - Desert’s Not A Desert At All [acoustic] (live at White Rabbit)

Pela - The Trouble With River Cities [acoustic] (live at White Rabbit)

Pela - Philadelphia [acoustic] (live at White Rabbit)

#7 Birdmonster - For the most part, I’m not a huge Birdmonster fan, but their performance of “Balcony” was one of my single favorite songs of the entire festival. Go ahead, listen and just try to resist the urge to shout along with the chorus.

Birdmonster - Ice Age (live at Cake Shop)

Birdmonster - Cause You Can (live at Cake Shop)

Birdmonster - Skeleton Suit (live at Cake Shop)

Birdmonster - Balcony (live at Cake Shop)

#8 Annuals - From a musical composition standpoint, Annuals were the most impressive band I heard in 2006. Their songs defy convention, yet somehow they’re still accessible and able to keep your attention in a live setting. Intriguing as it is, “Dry Clothes” still seems just plain weird to me, but “Brother”… damn that’s a good song.

Annuals - Dry Clothes (live at Fader Lounge)

Annuals - Complete Or Completing (live at Fader Lounge)

Annuals - Brother (live at Fader Lounge)

Annuals - Carry Around (live at Fader Lounge)

#9 Silversun Pickups - A lot has been said recently about Silversun Pickups lack of enthusiasm during their live show. I have to agree that they seem a little reserved when they’re playing a show, but I still love their sound. This is more or less the type of music that had me glued to the radio in my formative years and in my opinion, there aren’t enough bands maintaining and/or updating that sound these days.

Silversun Pickups - Little Lover’s So Polite (live at the Puma Store)

Silversun Pickups - Future Foe Scenarios (live at the Puma Store)

Silversun Pickups - Kissing Families (live at the Puma Store)

Silversun Pickups - Lazy Eye (live at the Puma Store)

Silversun Pickups - Rusted Wheel (live at The Annex)

Silversun Pickups - Kissing Familes (live at The Annex)

Silversun Pickups - Lazy Eye (live at The Annex)

Silversun Pickups - Common Reactor (live at The Annex)

#10 Tigercity - Another pleasant surprise, I had no idea what to expect of this band when I walked into Arlene’s Grocery for their late set. (In case you haven’t noticed, bands get extra points on this list for surprising me… I mean, everyone knew what to expect from friggin Girl Talk). Tigercity are part 80’s, part funk and flat out fun. I think they recently inked a record deal and I’ll be real curious to see what they sound like in a studio.

Tigercity - Solitary Man (live at Arlene’s Grocery)

Tigercity - Cloakrooms (live at Arlene’s Grocery)