Continuing on the series I started yesterday (2007) today’s feature is on my top three albums of 2006. Again, these albums are listed in alphabetical order by artist name.

Joanna Newsom – Ys

This is the kind of music you are either going to really find interesting or find quite annoying or dull. Obviously I find myself in the former category. Admittedly it’s not the type of album I find the desire to put on a whole lot but when I do listen to it I find myself quite enjoying it.

This is her second album (her first was 2004′s Milk-Eyed Mender.) She has yet to release a third album. It was recorded and mixed entirely on analog equipment. It features Newsom’s voice and harp playing along with a full orchestra (on 4 of the album’s 5 songs.) Bass guitar, electric guitar, mandolin, & banjo are also on the album (played by other musicians.)

M. Ward – Post-War

M. Ward has recently started getting more attention as the “Him” in She & Him. And while I quite enjoy the She & Him album, I still prefer his solo stuff like this great album. I think “Chinese Translation” is my favorite song on the album. You’ll should check out the live version included below.

Post-War is Ward’s 5th album. His 6th album, Hold Time, is set to be released on February 17th of this year (that’s 2009, by the way.)

Thom Yorke – The Eraser

This is the Radiohead singer/songwriter’s first solo album and for me it’s the album of the year for 2006. The album is brilliant and should be heard as a whole but the if I had to choose just one song off of it to play for someone I think it’d have to be “Atoms for Peace” which really kicks my face right in with due to it just being ridiculously beautiful. The vocals actually remind me of Joni Mitchell in places.