I'm so used to using the royal "we" when I write for SFist that it feels really strange writing "I" - sort of like driving on the left side of the street. And my favorites of 2006 have left me feeling not quite myself either - I've never been a huge fan of electro-rock, but this year's list is drowning in it. In fact, each of these albums share one or more of the following attributes: English-as-a-second language lyrics, baroque instrumentation, dazzling fingerpicking, drug-free/music-induced highs, gentle goodness, unbridled electro-sensuality, so wrong it's right-ness. Regardless of the genre, each of these albums struck a chord in me by being provocative, emotional, ambitious or just fun. My top three local albums are at the very end, so don't stop reading! more ›

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