Dead Flowers: The Best of 2006

Mix Tracklist:
1. Primal Scream-Country Girl
2. Belle and Sebastian-Another Sunny Day
3. Mojave 3-Breaking the Ice
4. Babyshambles-Beg, Steal or Borrow
5. Gruff Rhys ft. Lisa Jen-Candylion
6. Cat Power-Living Proof
7. Asobi Seksu-Thursday
8. Vietnam-Welcome to my Room
9. The Delta Spirit-Crippler King
10. Primal Scream-When the Bomb Drops
11. Serena Maneesh-Drain Cosmetics

[Download the Mix in .rar Format]
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Primal Scream: Riot City Blues (Album)
The Scream now know that it's not enough to emulate the sound of your heroes. You have to emulate their spirit as well. So while "Give out But Don't Give Up" failed as an ode to "Exile," "Riot City Blues" is an outright success. And the Maggie-May aping "Country Girl" was single of the year.

Listen to "Country Girl":

[Download the MP3 Here]

Belle and Sebastian: Another Sunny Day (Song)
When Stuart Murdoch and Co. traded in twee for camp, they pretty much lost this reviewer. But this is a bit of a return to form: pretty harmonies on top of some quality jingle-jangle. Throw in some Burrito-Brothers guitar work and a ridiculous middle-8, and it all adds up to one of the year's best songs.





Mojave 3: Puzzles Like You (Album)
There's not much not to like on this record, in which former Slowdivers make an album like Belle and Sebastian used to make. If straight up guitar pop is your thing, then you'll probably love this one.





Babyshambles: The Blinding (EP)
Definitely a step in the right direction from Pete and Co. Discovering the virtues of a little production and backing off the jarring desperation of "Down in Albion," this EP provides some memorable melodic moments.




Gruff Rhys: Candylion (Song)
Super Furry frontman wins big with this acoustic gem and accompanying hilarious video.




Cat Power: Living Proof (Song)
While the album was a bit of snooze-fest, this Dylan-esque single was one of the year's indisuptable highlights. Chan Marshall's voice has never sounded sexier, and Harmony Korine's absurd video spared us from her new-found dancing "talents."





Asobi Seksu: Thursday (Song)
While slumming it in Brooklyn, Julee Cruise writes the theme song to an anime movie. At least, that's what it sounds like to me.





Vietnam: Welcome to my Room (Song)
An old-fashioned barn burner from the up-and-coming retro rockers.




The Morning After Girls: Shadows Evolve (Album)
This is the album for those who:
Like the Brian Jonestown Massacre in theory, but find their albums boring.
Hate the Dandy Warhols, but like that "Brown Sugar" rip-off they sold to a cell-phone company.
Ok, I'm being hard on The Morning After Girls. Even if their album sounds like the best "Rock Hits of the '90s" compilation you've never heard, they've put together a fine collection of songs.





The Delta Spirit: I Think I've Found It (EP)
San Diego rockers take the Libertines/Strokes blueprint and make it their own.



Serena Maneesh: Drain Cosmetics (Song)
This is the song Andy Bell of Ride should've made when he became obsessed with The Rolling Stones.




Biggest Disappointment:

DJ Shadow: The Outsider
Most respected artists become more difficult as time goes by. Shadow goes in the opposite direction, making an album of trip-hop lite and pointless collaborations. Reinvention never sounded so bland.




Collective Shrug:

Thom Yorke: The Eraser
It seems that Thom needs Jonny more than he realizes. There was nothing wrong with this album, but there was nothing to recommend it either. The live performances are worth seeking out though.





Thanks for being around for the birth of Dead Flowers! You can expect much more in the months and years to come..

-Mick, December 2006