[by Monika Bullette]

In 2006 The Sky Drops recorded and released our debut EP Clouds of People, toured the Midwest and Eastern Seaboard, played several shows in London, and started preparing new songs for our next release for early 2007. I had less time than usual for seeking out new bands but I quite enjoyed the “don’t call it a come-backs” and new treasures I did find.

Caveat: I’ve read some year-end lists and up at the top are bands that I name-recognize but have only heard maybe 1/2 of a song. I can only pull from the smaller roster of albums that I have actually lived with this year – and go out to investigate this top feeders later. Discretionary funds are going towards funding The Sky Drops’ new EP, not album purchases!

I’m interested in lyrics. I give kudos to these writers for perfect use of words I doubt I’d ever place in one of my songs: The Black Angels “Iraq”; Beck “cellphone”; Morrissey “retroussé”; Beyonce “chinchilla”; Clipse “gobstoppers”; Arctic Monkeys “robot”; Amy Winehouse “rehab”; Justin Timberlake “shackles”; Regina Spektor “cleavage”; Lily Allen “al fresco”; The Flaming Lips “Donald Trump”; Nellie McKay “balderdash”, & Bob Dylan “Alicia Keyes”.

I played these albums most this year:

Wolfmother “Dimension”
Wolfmother – Official Site
Wolfmother – MySpace Site

Phoenix “Napoleon Says”
Phoenix – Official Site
Phoenix – MySpace Site

The Raconteurs “Level”
The Raconteurs – Official Site
The Raconteurs – MySpace Site

Neko Case “Hold On, Hold On”
Neko Case – Official Site
Neko Case – MySpace Site

Yeah Yeah Yeahs “Gold Lion”
Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Official Site
Yeah Yeah Yeahs – MySpace Site

Darkel “Be My Friend”
Darkel – Official Site
Darkel – MySpace Site

Sonic Youth “Incinerate”
Sonic Youth – Official Site
Sonic Youth – MySpace Site

Tom Waits “You Can Never Hold Back Spring”
Tom Waits – Official Site
Tom Waits – MySpace Site

Peter Bjorn & John “Young Folks (Feat. Victoria Bergsman)”
Peter Bjorn & John – Official Site
Peter Bjorn & John – MySpace Site

Licorice Roots “Mystifying You”
Licorice Roots – Official Site
Licorice Roots – MySpace Site

Best Soundtracks:

Marie Antoinette
The US vs. John Lennon
Stranger Than Fiction

Monika provides vocals, drums for the Delaware based band The Sky Drops and has a solo project called Bullette.

Bullette – Official Site
Bullette – MySpace Site
The Sky Drops – Official Site
The Sky Drops – MySpace Site

also: Bands to Watch: The Sky Drops