Peeping Tom: S/T
-or-
Ratatat: Classics

(liable to change at the drop of a hat)

oooh this is tough.. do you mean released in 2006? in that case it would have to be the black heart procession: the spell OR the album leaf - into the blue again (even though its not released yet)

Released in 2006: O.S.I. - Free

I cant really remember all of the stuff released this year, but I'm gonna say
TV on the Radio - Return to Cookie Mountain

or

The Upcoming Melvins - Senile Animal (Big Belvins)

or

anything Mike Patton touches.

Yeah O.S.I. is up there for me.

Ephel Duath - "Pain Necessary To Know" is pretty amazing too.

Although, I am 100% confident that the new Agalloch will blow me away (just came out today though so I don't have it yet)

I only have a few albums that were released in '06, but I'd say Stadium Arcadium.

I'd say it's a toss up between Tool - 10,000 Days and Rihanna - A Girl Like Me. Although Justin Timberlake has an album coming out in a month that could turn the tables...

The only cd store in my town shut down recently and I havn't bought any music in weeks ):

Here's how it's lookign so far, and this probably won't change.

1. I Would Set Myself on Fire for You - Believes in Patterns
2. Sonic Youth - Rather Ripped
3. Glifted - self-titled

Since the only album I bought this year that came out this year was Stadium Arcadium, I'm gonna have to say that.

probably Mr. Beast by Mogwai

as a side note, however, i think the new muse album is pretty coo

Mr. Beast is pretty good, I'll give you that

Quoting O_O:
1. I Would Set Myself on Fire for You - Believes in Patterns2.

Oh man is that album something. My other one is Anathallo - FLoating World. I can't really think of anything else that has or is probably going to blow me away, unless the Haram LP is really good or something. I'm not really one for albums of the year.

Have you heard my runners-up? Both are really good, Glifted is very innovative loop-based shoegazing-type-stuff...and the new SY is...welll, nothing short of great.

I've never got into SY much allthough I always felt like I should, and Glifted didn't do much for me. Its a shame, the idea of noise/shoegaze or whatever appeals to me, but never seems to get pulled off in a way that I enjoy.

That's weird that you've never been into SY...and i think you're one of the few people who can say that. But have you heard much of their early stuff? They started out firmly rooted in the No-Wave scene, so stuff like the s/t and Confusion is Sex/ Kill Yr. Idols is very much along hose lines. In fact, i'd say most of the material they released throughout the eighties is no-wave, although i'm not quite sure at exactly what point they progressed beyond that.

And as for the shoegazing thing, i guess it's not really that weird that you don't like it. If you're not into dreampop, you proably don't like shoegazing, because it's like dreampop + distortion pedal + distortion pedal + distortion pedal = shoegazing band. But never gets pulled off in a way you like? Not even like Loveless or Psychocandy (although i don't really like JMC that much, i can definitely see that album's appeal) ??

No, none of that does anything to me. I like some dreampop though, just not very much, and not enthusiastically like, more just "Yeah, that's allright". I think The Pine is the closest I got to shoegaze, that whole reverb heavy distortion sound. It's hardl shoegaze though

Quoting coreysprague:
... I am 100% confident that the new Agalloch will blow me away (just came out today though so I don't have it yet)

I was so right. Holy Crap.

Through the Eyes of Heathens - Dozer
News and Tributes - The Futureheads
Eccentric Soul: The Deep City Label - Various
Eccentric Soul: The Big Mack Label - Various

s'been a good year, so far

anathallo - floating world is pretty damn good

at war with the mystics

Quoting galenthon:
anathallo - floating world is pretty damn good

Amen

News and Tributes by the Futureheads
Hopes and Fears by Regina Spektor (I have been listening to this and only this for the past week)
Bang Bang Rock and Roll by Art Brut (I think it was released this year in the US?)

I don't have any other new albums...

Bob Dylan's "Modern Times" just came out and it is quite fantastic. Definitely one of his better releases.. still nothing like the good old stuff from the 60's, but excellent indeed.

Bronze Nazareth "The Great Migration"

Excellent work from a producer/mc affiliated with the wu-tang clan. He became a member of the wu-elements production team after playing a song for the rza. Many people say his stuff has that "old wu sound." I don't entirely agree, but it's in the same ballpark. Complex lyrics (in meaning) -- but not abstract -- and interesting soundscapes. One of his tracks is included on my 'Sick Heart' mix that I've uploaded to sendspace. Check it out. It's worth it.

Sufjan Stevens- the avalanche
This is Hell- This is Hell
Jose Gonzalez-Heartbeats
Dead Hearts- Dead Hearts

2 Surprise Albums
The Bronx
Preistess

Oh yeah and anathallo is on my surprise
as well as beirut

Agalloch - Ashes Against the Grain
Mastodon - Blood Mountain
Peeping Tom - Peeping Tom
Mountain Goats - Get Lonely
The Coup - Pick a Bigger Weapon
The Thermals - The Body, the Blood, the Machine

I wish I liked the new mastodon =(

Ashes Against the Grain takes the lead for this year by far.

Some albums that are good. I didn't really feel like narrowing it down.

I Would Set Myself on Fire for You - Believes in Patterns
Envy – Insomniac Doze
Latterman – We Are Still Alive
Set Your Goals - Mutiny!
Sparrows, Swarm and Sing! - O'Shenandoah, Mighty Death Will Find Me
Ampere/Sinaloa - Split
The Ascent of Everest - How Lonely Sits the City
Sonic Youth - Rather Ripped

Stadium Arcadium - Red Hot Chili Peppers
Living With War - Neil Young
Last Man Standing - Jerry Lee Lewis
(only "new" albums I have bought this year!)