The best album of 2005-2006

GOLDFRAPP - SUPERNATURE
(a discotastic feast of left of center sensual electro-glam)

MARTHA WAINWRIGHT - MARTHA WAINWRIGHT
(finally, stepping out of the shadow of brother Rufus. Achingly lovely songs and such an expressive voice)

FIONA APPLE - EXTRAORDINARY MACHINE
(lookin' sharp, Ms. Apple! Stripped down, just Fiona & her songs)

THOM YORKE - THE ERASER
(I can't wait to hear this one. I've dled it, but I've decided to wait until it's released to hear it. I just put it here to look cool...which I do, by the way)


ANNIE - ANNIEMAL
(she has a tiny voice, but her bubblegum pop has a lovely, grounded warmth)

SUPERGRASS - ROAD TO ROUEN
(another great album from this underappreciated British band)

NIKKA COSTA - CAN'TNEVERDIDNOTHIN'
(her voice is other-worldly. A mix of Aretha and Janis Joplin. The modern queen of funk's second album is hot)

BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN - SOUNDTRACK
(gorgeous, spare score by Gustavo Santaolalla for the story of two ranch hands cruely robbed of their one chance at an Academy Award...SOB!)

SIAMESE DREAM: I, too, have downloaded the Jon Brion version of Extraordinary Machine, but I have to disagree with you. I was quite worried about this album after reading that hit-making hip hop producer Elizondo was taking over, but I have to say the fella did a commendable job.

Let me preface this by saying that I adore Jon Brion. I love the work he did on Fiona's first two albums, Rufus' debut and numerous other works, but after hearing the official release, I think it's safe to say that Fiona & Epic Records made the right decision in re-recording most of the album. While Brion's charming arrangements for 'Waltz' and the title song fit the songs perfectly, the rest of the leaked version was suffocating under the weight of his arrangements. They sounded like Jon Brion orchestral works that just happened to feature Fiona Apple. The songs sounded muddled, unfocused and confused.

Fiona's new producer stripped all of that away. In fact, at first, the arrangements were a little too spare for me, but after a few listens I came to appreciate what he had done. He'd allowed Fiona and the songs to take center stage. The arrangements served the songs instead of smothering them. Not only that, but Fiona's vocals are much more assured on the re-recorded tracks. I wouldn't want every album that Fiona records from now til Kingdom come to sound this spare, but I think it was the perfect way to record this particular album.