10 Great Albums of 2006

Sure, The Information is not that far removed from last year's equally eclectic Guero, but with Nigel Godrich's sterling production and a more focused sense of songcraft, The Information is easily one of Beck Hansen's finest albums.

Belle & Sebastian - The Life Pursuit

While Dear Catastrophe Waitress reinvigorated Belle & Sebastian, this follow-up finds the mild-mannered Scottish indie-pop band at its most energetic with songs that aren't afraid to rock out.

Johnny Cash - American V: A Hundred Highways

Although posthumous albums are almost always lackluster, Johnny Cash's A Hundred Highways reveals that the Man in Black was recording remarkably heartfelt and moving songs until the very end of his legendary life.

Cat Power - The Greatest

While this album's "Chan in Memphis" premise had the potential to misfire, The Greatest showcases the willfully quirky indie-rock diva at her warmest and most affecting.

Bob Dylan - Modern Times

Though all three of Bob Dylan's post-millennial albums are undeniably outstanding, this record features the renegade folk spirit of mid-1960s Robert Zimmerman more than those other esteemed outings. Unless you're a big fan of Slow Train Coming, that, of course, is a good thing.

Mew - And the Glass Handed Kites

On its second album (which, yes, has a pretty awful cover), the Danish alternative-rock ensemble Mew goes for full-blown guitar-fueled grandeur. While the band's dreamy shoegazer approach is muted here, soaring choruses, pummeling rhythms, and upfront production more than compensate, with Kites providing one bold, expansive song after another.

Morrissey - Ringleader of the Tormentors

Though not quite as consistent as its predecessor, You Are the Quarry, this album features tracks that are just as energetic and witty, proving that Mozz's 2004 comeback was no fluke. Renowned for his work with David Bowie, producer Tony Visconti makes a fitting collaborator for Morrissey, resulting in one of the former Smiths singer's most dynamic solo efforts.

Phoenix - It's Never Been Like That

Don't let the Strokes comparisons throw you...this album still sounds like the Phoenix that fans know and love. With the keyboards toned down and the guitars amped up, the French band has honed its approach into a streamlined pop/rock sound that perfectly suits the ever-amiable group.

M. Ward - Post-War

Not a drastic departure from Transistor Radio, M. Ward's fifth album finds the raspy-voiced indie-folk troubadour crafting a fitting companion piece to that nostalgia-tinged breakthrough record.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Show Your Bones

Although New York City's Yeah Yeah Yeahs got pinned with the "garage rock" tag for their first album, this vibrant follow-up shows off the band's undeniable post-punk and New Wave tendencies. The fierce, shimmering "Cheated Hearts" alone is worth the price of admission.