So the first half of '06 is in the books. Looking back at my favorites from this point in '05 and '04, the biggest contrast is the lack of any true standout - no Blueberry Boat or The Woods or Bang Bang Rock N' Roll setting the bar almost impossibly high for the rest of the year. But at the same time, this seems an especially deep and exciting year to me - lots of really good releases instead of a few great ones (as Jason pointed out), and from a new crop of bands as well. And as some of my favorite bands from the past few years say goodbye (Sleater-Kinney, sniff) or enter a new phase (Deerhoof), that seems just as worthy of celebration.

No huge surprises here, but let's get to it - from A-to-Z:

Belle and Sebastian - The Life Pursuit. You don't expect the summer album of the year to come out in February, but B+S were up to the task. Not just a far better realized take on the upbeat pop of Dear Catastrophe Waitress, The Life Pursuit is also the band's best album since If You're Feeling Sinister in my book. Though their earliest work (still stellar) has never felt more distant, the band has also never seemed more comfortable as a band. Try "We Are The Sleepyheads" (MP3).

Brightblack Morning Light - Brightblack Morning Light. I've already said lots about the exquisitely chilled out "whiskey gospel" (their term) on this one. All I can add is that I've yet to play it for someone that's disliked it. Try "Friend of Mine" (MP3).

The Fiery Furnaces - Bitter Tea. The early press suggested this might be the Furnaces LP to pick up on EP's easy accessibility. Well, sort of. Songs like "I'm Waiting To Know You" and "Police Sweater Blood Vow" are certainly among the band's catchiest, but the backwards vocals elsewhere and cavalcade of sounds in every corner make it clear that the Furnaces are most comfortable throwing curveballs. And that's why I love 'em. The 62-second mark on "Bitter Tea" (MP3) starts my favorite musical moment of the year.

Lavender Diamond - The Cavalry of Light EP. The numbers don't lie - I've listened to "You Broke My Heart" (MP3) and the three other songs on this self-released EP more than anything else this year. Becky Stark's vocals are nothing short of spectacular, but the strong songwriting and sharp instrumentation are what give the EP such replayability. Their full-length cannot come soon enough for me.

Sonic Youth - Rather Ripped. As much as I miss the stretched-out jams and wish they brought the noise a little more, Sonic Youth have kept me engaged all these years by always staying a moving target. I never expected something so crisp and poppy from them, but I'm not at all surprised that SY completely nailed it on Rather Ripped. It's a wonderful distillation of everything that made me first love them. And "Rats" reminds us that, as always, Lee Ranaldo is the man. Try "Reena" (MP3).

Best Reissue:

The Delta 5 - Singles and Sessions 1979-1981. The two basses and vocal harmonies of the Delta 5's precisely funky post-punk are pretty thrilling 25+ years after the fact, so I can't even imagine what it would've been like to hear these songs when they were first released! Try "Mind Your Own Business" (MP3).

Also of note:

The Archie Bronson Outfit - Derdang Derdang
Asobi Seksu - Citrus
Au Revoir Simone - Verses of Comfort, Assurance, and Salvation
Band of Horses - Everything All the Time
Hot Chip - The Warning
Matmos - The Rose Has Teeth in the Mouth of a Beast
Parts and Labor - Stay Afraid
The Psychic Ills - Dins
Senor Coconut and His Orchestra - Yellow Fever
Ricardo Villalobos - Salvador