What albums did you pay attention to this year, and actually like? LIST TIME. Mine are in no paticular order, and from various genres
Flaming Lips - At War With the Mistics
This album really speaks to me. For some reason many of the songs fill me with this nostalgic bliss that I can't explain. I started listening to it again recently for the first time since I moved out the house, so maybe that's why: it reminds me of home, and summer.
Tool - 10,000 Days
I've had a love/hate relationship with this album since I first heard. When it's good, it's literally mind blowing. When it's bad, it's extremely boring; the filler "songs" (an entire track composed of wind blowing? wtf) and the extremely overrated Rosetta Stoned keep the album from being classic. Personally I feel this is the best hard rock album of the year, and Vicarius and The Pot are the best rock songs of the year.
Audioslave - Revelations
Revalations is a return to form for the band after it's mediocre sophmore album. The mix of hard rock and funk are really refreshing. Despite having a weak ballad, the album delivers.
OutKast - IdleWild
For some reason this album was not accepted by the public. Yeah it's a soundtrack album, but it deserved far more attention. Unlike most of the rap of 2006, this is 100% pure experimentation. PJ & Rooster should have been the song of 2006 instead of Crazy (Gnarles Barkley); it's much better and even more infectious than Hey Ya.
Lupe Fiasco - Food and Liquor
What's this: a rapper who gives shout outs to Lupin the Third, "likes Final Fantay, hates first person shootahs", AND wears glasses? BURN HIM. Sadly, that was the reaction many rap fans had to this album and it criminally went under the radar, despite the fact that it features two of the best rap singles of the year. But it looks like Lupe got the last laugh considering he's nominated for a grammy for best rap album of the year with this.
The Beatles - Love
This album is beautiful. Not only does it include many Beatles songs mash ups that mesh perfectly, everything is remastered. This gives the songs a very clean, new sound. Hearing Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds in all its brilliance or I Want You and Helter Skelter mixed together is just pure bliss.