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Song of the Day #6,610: ‘I Got Trouble’ – Christina Aguilera

Continuing my look at the albums of 2006…

If I were making my list of favorite 2006 albums in 2006, I’m certain Christina Aguilera’s Back to Basics would have made the cut. I was very impressed by this album at the time, particularly because I had zero appreciation for Aguilera prior to its release.

I haven’t listened to it much in the last 20 years, not because it doesn’t hold up but because it fell off the way so many things do as new interests arise. Playing it this week, I was reminded how much I enjoy it.

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Song of the Day #6,609a: ‘The First Song’ – Band of Horses

Continuing my look at the albums of 2006…

Something was up with animal names in 2006, with this week featuring Arctic Monkeys, Cat Power, and now Band of Horses. Everything All the Time is the debut release of the Seattle-based indie rockers.

Fronted by Ben Bridwell, the band’s one consistent member over the past two decades, Band oF Horses has released a half dozen albums recorded by a shuffling lineup. This one is the best-known.

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Song of the Day #6,609: ‘Lived in Bars’ – Cat Power

Continuing my look at the albums of 2006…

The Greatest was Atlanta singer-songwriter Cat Power’s seventh studio album, and one that introduced her to a wider audience. It’s certainly the one that introduced her to me, although it took five years for me to pick up a used copy at a favorite record store.

This was my first and only exposure to Cat Power, stage name of Chan Marshall, so I can’t say if it’s par for the course or a departure. Based on the reviews I’ve read, it’s a bit of both, more expansive musically while maintaining her downbeat style.

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Song of the Day #6,608a: ‘The View from the Afternoon’ – Arctic Monkeys

Continuing my look at the albums of 2006…

The fastest-selling debut album in UK history, Arctic Monkeys’ Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not is a blast of pure post-punk adrenaline and a gripping introduction to one of Britain’s most successful and celebrated bands.

I thought this might be the first Arctic Monkeys song featured on the blog, but I was surprised to see they’ve shown up three times before. Most recently, guest blogger Daniel named the band’s 2022 album The Car as his favorite 2022 release.

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Song of the Day #6,608: ‘Everybody Knows’ – Dixie Chicks

Continuing my look at the albums of 2006…

I came very close to putting the Dixie Chicks album Taking the Long Way on my personal top ten of 2006, but listening to it again I realized I’m very enthused by about half of its tracks and could give or take the rest.

But I definitely wanted to feature it this week because it’s a milestone record with artistic, commercial, and political import — the rare album of true historic cultural significance.

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