Stellar sounds of 2006

Hawaii's concert scene has also been amazing this year, with the likes of U2 and Pearl Jam performing

It was a good year in music. Yeah, I say that every year but, no, really, 2006 was perhaps the strongest in some time, both on record and on stage. On the local concert stage, appearances by Tool and Elvis Costello, plus Jack Johnson's Kokua Festival at the Waikiki Shell, were all top-notch events. And, of course, the power of the Pearl Jam and U2 tour-ending gigs still resonates.

Besides Henry Kapono's unexpected debut of his "Wild Hawaiian" classic-rock sound at the Kokua Festival, two other concert moments took me by surprise. Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder twice did a heartfelt rendition of our unofficial state anthem, Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's "Hawai'i '78," once at PJ's Blaisdell Arena show and again while opening for U2 at Aloha Stadium. As someone who loves what the islands represent, Vedder sang with conviction, and both times the audiences roared their approval.

The second incident involved Bono and one Michael Mitchell of Arrington, Tenn., who was invited by the charismatic lead singer to join U2 on stage. I'll let Michael describe what transpired (via e-mail correspondence):

"I had a sign asking to play '(Who's Gonna Ride Your) Wild Horses.' Bono, however, saw it during 'Angel of Harlem' and pulled me up while they were still finishing it. Bono's first goal was that I just play along during THAT song ... but I frantically started telling him 'No no no, I DON'T know how to play that.

"He insisted that I could, but I kept telling him I seriously did not know how to play it ... that I'd only practiced 'Wild Horses.' That's when he said 'Edge ... I have a gentleman here who's being very specific.'"

What followed is something that can happen only at a U2 concert, given the bond between the band and their audiences. Mitchell confidently sat at The Edge's keyboard and started the song -- and the band picked up right behind him. Needless to say, Mitchell was jubilant afterward.

It was his -- and every fan's -- special moment of communal triumph. Still, Pearl Jam's concert the previous weekend topped it for me. It was one of those shows where the band left everything on stage by night's end, playing well past the city curfew. It was proof positive that they are still a band to be reckoned with after all these years.

WHICH LEADS me to my album picks of '06, filled with life's disillusion, hope and the sound of pure energy ...

» We knew PJ was a great band live, but their debut, simply called "Pearl Jam," on their new label, Clive Davis' J Records, was stronger than I had expected. It was fueled by anger over the Bush administration's foray into Iraq, and all of that emotion spilled over into some of the rawest and most pointed music from the Seattle band in years. In related news, Pearl Jam's three-hour Honolulu concert is available for download at https://bootlegs2.pearljam.com. It's a must-have souvenir of a great show.

» TV on the Radio's "Return to Cookie Mountain" is hands down my favorite album of 2006. The main lineup of David Sitek, Kyp Malone and Tunde Adebimpe (one of the most expressive and haunting vocalists around) leads the most original rock band of the day. I find their thickly sculpted and atmospheric noise rock entrancing.

» For music that's a helluva lot more visceral, you can't beat my left-field selection, "Pink" by the Japanese trio Boris. I sought out this band in Los Angeles earlier this year on one of their rare trips stateside, and I wasn't disappointed. Turn the volume knob up to 11 when you listen to this CD, and it will only approximate the brutal, beautiful wallop that Boris delivers in person. It's progrock, heavy and death metal rolled into one seamless package. Their attack is relentless and, at times, makes me hyperventilate. I like!!

» While most of the important major releases started coming out in September, the Flaming Lips' "At War with the Mystics" and Ghostface Killah's "Fishscale" came out earlier this year, and should not be forgotten. (The Lips' album has been re-released as a special-edition CD/DVD combo, and there was so much good stuff left over from Ghost's recording sessions that there's an additional "More Fish" CD.) Friendly oddball Wayne Coyne and his guys continue to perfect the celestial psychedelicized sound that gladdens the space cadet in me.

Ghost has been the one rapper from the '90s collective Wu-Tang Clan who has kept his focus and has only gotten better. His verbal skills are second-to-none, and the man brings tales of the street drug trade to vivid life.

» The Rapture successfully mines its New York City home tradition of '80s disco skronk on an infectious sophomore album, "Pieces of the People We Love." Check out the track "The Sound" for the band at its best. "Whoo! Alright Yeah ... Uh Huh." It's twitch 'n' boogie time!

» The best hip-hop band on the planet confronts its demons on a seventh effort, "Game Theory." Debuting on Jay-Z's label, the Roots ably tackle business and political woes and reflect introspectively on losses both personal and on a national level (e.g., Hurricane Katrina). The band's lead rapper, Black Thought, is back on his game on this joint, especially on the title track.

» Speaking of the Gulf Coast disaster, Elvis Costello did a solo acoustic version of "The River in Reverse" in concert here with the Honolulu Symphony Pops. You can hear the album's title song in full on an inspirational collaboration with legendary New Orleans songwriter-pianist Allen Toussaint. The two giants bring to the table the best of their large repertoires, and even wrote several together for this album. It's a successful and well-timed meeting of the minds.

» Bob Dylan's latest effort, "Modern Times," while a given for most rock critics' year-end lists, is strengthened with the added consideration of his popular "Theme Time Radio Hour" series on the XM satellite radio system. (Satellite radio is still unavailable in Hawaii, but I got a couple of friends on the mainland to burn me CDs of the shows.) Despite its title, the album is filled with old-time music (played with ease by Dylan's veteran touring band) and dressed up with the always entertaining and provocative ruminations of Zimmy. His lyrics are playful, profound, and the music fits like a glove. The album, overall, has an effortless beauty.

» At my father's funeral service at Punchbowl in early June, I played a CD selection from Johnny Cash. It was his simple but profound singing of the traditional hymn "Just as I Am." Since Cash's own passing, his music has resonated in me, and just gets stronger with each passing year. Producer Rick Rubin's latest collection of Cash's stripped-down recordings, "American V: A Hundred Highways," is a haunting one, with Cash at peace with his own mortality. The voice is weak, the spirit is strong, and his take on Gordon Lightfoot's "If You Could Read My Mind" hits me to the core.

Take care, everyone ...

The Music of the Year

Albums

» "Pearl Jam" (J Records)
» "Return to Cookie Mountain" TV on the Radio (Interscope)
» "Pink" Boris (Southern Lord)
» "At War with the Mystics" The Flaming Lips (Warner Bros.)
» "Fishscale" Ghostface Killah (Def Jam)
» "Pieces of the People We Love" The Rapture (Universal Motown)
» "Game Theory" The Roots (Def Jam)
» "The River in Reverse" Elvis Costello & Allen Toussaint (Verve Forecast)
» "Modern Times" Bob Dylan (Columbia)
» "American V: A Hundred Highways" Johnny Cash (American Recordings)

Singles

» "People Gonna Talk" James Hunter (GO Records/Rounder) -- One quick comment about this pick. While the other songs listed here were popular radio hits/downloads, I dare you to find a song that you'll find as ingratiating as this one. No one less than Van Morrison calls Hunter one of the best voices in British R&B and soul, and I heartily agree. This song is like hearing Sam Cooke doing ska. Local folk should absolutely love this tune.
» "Hips Don't Lie" Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean (Epic)
» "Promiscuous" Nelly Furtado featuring Timbaland (Geffen)
» "So What" Field Mob featuring Ciara (Disturbing Tha Peace/Geffen)
» "Ain't No Other Man" Christina Aguilera (RCA)
» "SOS" Rihanna (Interscope)
» "Crazy" Gnarls Barkley (Downtown)
» "Chasing Cars" Snow Patrol (A&M/Polydor/Kitchen)
» "What You Know" T.I. (Atlantic)
» "Kick, Push" Lupe Fiasco (Atlantic)

Reissues/Box Sets

» "In My Own Time" Karen Dalton (Light in the Attic Records)
"Johnny Cash at San Quentin: Legacy Edition" (Columbia/Legacy)
» "My Life in the Bush of Ghosts" Brian Eno + David Byrne (Nonesuch)
» "Wire: 1977-1979" (pinkflag America)
» "If You Got to Ask, You Ain't Got It!: Fats Waller & His Rhythm (Bluebird/Legacy)
» "Hooker" John Lee Hooker (Shout! Factory)
» "Can't Quit the Blues" Buddy Guy (Silvertone/Legacy)
» "What It Is!: Funky Soul and Rare Grooves 1967-1977" (Rhino)
» "Pirate Radio" Pretenders (Rhino)
» "The Harry Smith Project: Anthology of American Folk Music Revisited" (Shout! Factory)

Music DVDs

» "We Jam Econo: The Story of the Minutemen" (Plexifilm)
» "Awesome: I ... Shot That!" Beastie Boys (Lionsgate/ThinkFilm)
» "Demon Days Live" Gorillaz (Virgin)
» "Burn to Shine: Portland, OR" (Trixie DVD)
» "PJ Harvey on Tour: Please Leave Quietly" (Island)

Honorable mentions

» "I Am the Resurrection: A Tribute to John Fahey" (Vanguard)
» "Invisible Deck" The Rogers Sisters (Too Pure)
» "My Ghetto Report Card" E-40 (Reprise)
» "10,000 Days" Tool (Tool Dissectional)
» "Separate Ways" Teddy Thompson (Verve Forecast)
» "Stadium Arcadium" Red Hot Chili Peppers (Warner Bros.)
» "Gang of Losers" The Dears (Arts & Crafts)
» "Bring It Back" Mates of State (Barsuk)
» "Rather Ripped" Sonic Youth (Geffen)
» "The Shining" J Dilla (BBE Records)
» "Other People's Lives" Ray Davies (V2)
» "Hell Hath No Fury" Clipse (Re-Up Gang/Star Trak)
» "Élan Vital" Pretty Girls Make Graves (Matador)
» "You Don't Know Me: The Songs of Cindy Walker" Willie Nelson (Lost Highway)
» "The Crane Wife" The Decemberists (Capitol)
» "The Body The Blood The Machine" The Thermals (Sub Pop)
» "The Eraser" Thom Yorke (XL)
» "Both Sides of the Gun" Ben Harper (Virgin)
» "Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers and Bastards" Tom Waits (Anti-)
» "Once Again" John Legend (G.O.O.D. Music/Sony Urban)