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I can’t believe the year is over. Time is flying out of control for me.

For me, 2006 was a year of examining the past and beginning to understand how it has shaped my present. It was a year that saw me reconnecting with some of the best friends I have ever had in my life. Shane, Tracy, my cousin Marge, and of course Toby.

I’ve also committed myself to writing more on my site. I have been telling the story of the record contract and reliving that period which was simultaneously the best and worst time of my life. As a result of the writing and spending time reading other blogs I have once again found myself describing people I don’t even know as my friends. Dutchy, Bianca, Scott, Chad, Killer and Liz, Mist, Miss Britt all seem like old friends to me now. I met Kristy and Sue and love them. I’ve seen my friendships with Jerry and especially Dan grow stronger this year, and I’m very thankful for that.

All because of blogging.

My relationship with UMB remains close and I’ve even gotten him to blog on his own and he has started reading mine.

Total Eclipse has had its normal cycle of ups and downs, with the turnover of a few members, big successful gigs, stressful practices and auditions. The band remains my one reason for not screaming and running away from the area.

2006 has also seen my career blow up into a million broken pieces. I haven’t really written much about it yet because I’ve been trying to salvage my relationship with my business partner. It’s becoming crystal clear to me that it isn’t going to work out.

I’ve also had to cut several “friends” loose recently because they put me in the position of having to choose between my family and them. I’m sure I’ll have to write about that soon.

I do not know what 2007 has in store for me. I know that the first part of the year is going to be quite tumultuous. There are big changes coming, but I don’t know yet what they are. All I know is that I will just have to hang on and try to enjoy the ride.

In other words, business as usual.

I’d like to make a toast: To friends, old and new, you enrich my life and provide me with an almost unlimited amount of fodder for stories and laughs… To changes and growth and the wonderful excitement of the unknown… and to the bigots and idiots from around the world for making me examine my opinions and inflaming my passions.

It’s been a good year.

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Danielle Evin - Self Titled

Danielle Evin has put out probably the strongest debut record this year. She’s a fantastic songwriter with a subtle delivery that is at times goose-bump inducing. “You Don’t Live Here Anymore,” “Crush,” “What I’d Give,” and “Love is Criminal” are the standout tracks on this amazing disc. Fans of Sarah McLachlan, or Jewel can graduate to an even better performer, who displays an ability to dabble in multiple styles without sounding insincere.

Snow Patrol - Eyes Open

It has taken them a long time, but Snow Patrol has finally put out an album that connects with the American audience. There hasn’t been a Matchbox Twenty album in a long time, Switchfoot’s latest album was mostly a dud, so there’s been a void in what I call “melodic rock.” Snow Patrol has stepped in to fill that void and do a great job of it. Too many people talk bad about radio friendly bands as corporate sell outs. I don’t buy that. Songs like “Hands Open,” “Chasing Cars,” and “Set the Fire to the Third Bar” are prime examples of great modern rock songs that any record company would be foolish to not get behind and promote.

Great Singles of the Year

Songs that I think are great whose album doesn’t belong on this list…

Sexy Back - Justin Timberlake
Can’t Let Go - Landon Pigg
Crazy - Gnarls Barkley
Deja Vu - Beyonce
I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor - Arctic Monkeys
Hey Kwanongoma! - The Ark
Boston - Augustana
Before He Cheats - Carrie Underwood
Put Your Records On - Corrine Bailey Rae
Call Me When You’re Sober - Evanescence
Boondocks - Little Big Town
Mornings Eleven - The Magic Numbers
Home - Michael Buble’
Here It Goes Again - OK GO

There’s my list. What did I miss?

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Vince Gill - These Days

Most artists rely almost exclusively on their past catalog when putting together a box set compilation. Not Vince Gill, he recently released a four disc set of new material that pairs him with some of the other great voices in country, rock, gospel, and bluegrass. Each disc has a theme that highlights the styles that Vince has been running circles around and through for the past twenty five years. He’s got a beautiful tenor voice that is only just beginning to show signs of age. Additionally, I firmly believe that Vince is one of the best living guitar players. There is a short list of guitarists that are instantly recognizable by their style, Joe Walsh, Eric Clapton, Eddie Van Halen, and Vince. Even if you aren’t necessarily a country music fan, I’m sure that you will find something in this set that will prove to you why this set made my list.

Dixie Chicks - Taking the Long Way

Perhaps I spoke too soon when I said I couldn’t pick a favorite from this year. I think it may be this incredible album from the Dixie Chicks. It’s smart, sensitive, and blistering. Everyone knows the situation with the boycott, so I don’t want to dwell on that, but it is clear from the scathing “Not Ready to Make Nice” that the Chicks aren’t going to let us forget the shafting that they received. If you can listen to this song and not be emotionally engaged by the soaring bridge and climactic string crescendo, then you are a robotic sociopath. Yes, I said it. “Easy Silence,” “Baby Hold On,” and the super sweet “Lullaby” are my other favorite tracks on an album full of solid pop songs. Let country stations continue to boycott them, us pop lovers will welcome them with open arms.

Panic! At the Disco - A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out

Hot emo boys in eyeliner + long rambling song titles that have nothing to do with the lyrical content + soaring anthems of angst = a puddle of Jester. While Panic! At the Disco may not have invented the genre, they have certainly put a face and personality on emo rock. I’ve bought several albums this year that one could classify in the same general vein as this album, however when my iPod is shuffling, songs on this album stand out from the crowd and don’t require me to reach down and look to confirm the artist. I have my doubts that PATD will be able to follow up their success on their next album, but I have no doubts that they were among the best of this year.

Under the Influence of Giants - Self Titled

You’ll probably notice that my list does not include the Scissor Sisters’ newest album Tah Dah. That’s because UTIOG did a much better job of writing the follow up to the Sister’s amazing self titled album of 2004. Under the Influence of Giants took a hold of the 1977-meets-2010 sound and completely owned it this year. “Mama’s Room” is a brilliant Abba-esque song with dark Oedipal undertones that is entirely hum-able. “In the Clouds,” “Got Nothing,” and “I Love You” are equally well written, dance-able, and leave you with that happy feeling that only a coked up night at Studio 54 could provide in the past.

James Blunt - Back to Bedlam

With his crystal clear falsetto and his heart on his sleeve, James Blunt hit the US with a virtually unstoppable single, “You’re Beautiful.” While I enjoy the song, and have been known to sing along, it suffers from one of my personal pet peeves. He changes his lyrical voice several times in the song… one moment he’s singing to the listener, the next to the girl he’s so forlorn over. Just my personal issue with songs that do that… but I digress. There are some really solid tracks on this album. My favorite being “Wisemen” with it’s hooky chorus and tale of friendship. While there’s no Summer Anthem Rocker on here, if you are a fan of thought-provoking singer songwriters, you’ll want to spend some time with this album.

Stay tuned for part 3!

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So many magazines, television networks, and other bloggers have been busy touting their lists of the best music from this past year and I’ve been mostly disappointed by the choices. I buy somewhere around 15 albums a month and definitely form my own opinions.

Seems like all these reviewers want to show off their knowledge of some obscure group that no one has ever heard of, and they bestow high honors upon them. While I do listen to some music that most people don’t know anything about, I prefer to stick to popular artists, or at least, artists that you have at least a chance of hearing on the radio or catching on tour.

That being said, I’d like to offer up my opinions on some of the best work of the year. I’m offering these in no particular order, mostly because I have a hard time choosing between genres and styles. You can click on the following items to purchase them from Amazon.

Christina Aguilera - Back to Basics

I, Jester, am officially declaring here and now that any and all comparisons between Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera need to cease immediately. I can certainly understand why they started, with the similarity in ages, background, Disney start, and basically interchangeable first albums… however, where some people have gotten married and crowned queen of the trailer park, others have gotten married and put out an incredibly sexy mixture of modern pop and 1930’s extravagance. It’s smart, classy, and her voice has never been better.

The Fray - How to Save a Life

If you have been living in a cave without a television or radio, you’ve probably missed the title track on Grey’s Anatomy or commercials. Like most songs that get used in this way, you may be burned out by it. Do yourself a favor and listen to the rest of the album. “Over My Head (Cable Car),” “She Is,” and “All at Once” are three minute pop masterpieces. The Fray took a formula from Keane and added their own special ingredient to make something especially tasty.

Blue October - Foiled

Reminiscent of one of my personal favorites, Peter Gabriel, this sophomore major label release is at times dark, romantic, sweet, and acidic. “Hate Me” was the big hit over the summer. “X Amount of Words” and “Congratulations” are stand out tracks, and “Into the Ocean” is the current ring tone on my cell phone. This is one of the disks that got a lot of playtime on the iPod that is almost always attached to my hip.

KT Tunstall - Eye to the Telescope

Who’s cute, Scottish, a talented songwriter, and a tremendous live performer?* It’s this year’s best debut artist, KT Tunstall. You couldn’t escape “Black Horse and the Cherry Tree” this year, and frankly, why would you want to? It’s the perfect pop song, complete with borderline-nonsensical lyrics open to interpretation, a great dance beat, and a sing along chorus that will get caught in your head for days. The rest of the album is solid and shows a wide range of influences. My favorite track? Definitely “Suddenly I See.”

Red Hot Chili Peppers - Stadium Arcadium

What’s better than a new album by rock-funk veterans, Red Hot Chili Peppers? That’s right, a DOUBLE album. There’s nothing especially new on this 28-song opus, but why fix something that isn’t broken? “Dani California,” “Snow (Hey Oh),” “Readymade,” and “Animal Bar” are standout tracks.

Elton John - The Captain and the Kid

While I am of the firm opinion that just about anything that Sir Elton does is great, (even the admittedly schmaltzy FM-Lite music of the past several years) this album proves why he will go down in history as one of the most important artists of modern times. This album was billed as the follow up to 1975’s Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy, a concept album about the oft-tumultuous relationship between Elton and lyricist Bernie Taupin. This newest release definitely sounds like it could have been released in 1977, picking up where they left off 30 years ago. If you’ve abandoned EJ since the “Circle of Life,” maybe it’s time to give him another chance.

I’ve only just scratched this list, I have more coming in the next post or two. What are some of your favorites?

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What does whiskey, hair dye, and World of Warcraft bring to mind?

How we spent our Christmas.

Thank god that is over is all I’m saying.

I hope everyone had a great break. You may notice I was quick to ditch the holiday theme and clean up the decorations. I never really got into the mood, and was anxious to try out this Parisian poster-inspired design.

Did anyone do anything interesting? Get any cool gifts? Do share!

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I tried to call. I swear I did. His phone is doing some weird clicking thing and refuses to do anything resembling a connection.

So I’ll wish the happiest of birthdays to Toby here. I believe he is 27 28 today tomorrow.

As he doesn’t really have his own site for you to leave messages on, feel free to leave your wishes here!

Happy birthday, I’m sorry that I missed the last 10. I hope I don’t miss any more!

[Edited to reflect my brain failure: His birthday is Christmas Eve and he's 28. Sheesh. I'm a dork. And his phone worked just fine when I called him on the 24th.]