<p><strong>If you just came here to see outdated podcasts, welcome.</strong> It's been a while since I've done interviews and even longer since I've done any audio editing for IndieInterviews.</p>
<p>I have been busy with my full-time work. (You didn't think this was a job did you?) In addition, I've been contributing both in writing, topic selection and design for my friend Chris Cantalini's oh-so-popular blog <a href="http://gorillavsbear.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><strong>GorillaVsBear.net</strong></a>. In addition to the blog, I've been recording and producing his weekly radio program for <a href="http://www.sirius.com/" target="_blank"><strong>Sirius</strong></a> satellite radio -- cleverly titled "GorillaVs Bear Blog Radio." We've had a handful of great guests (<strong>Tapes 'n Tapes</strong>,<strong> St. Vincent</strong>, <strong>Tim DeLaughter</strong> and <strong>Voxtrot</strong>) as well as some truly incredible live "studio" recordings often done in vechicles. <strong>Dana Falconberry</strong>, <strong>Peter and the Wolf's Red Hunter </strong>and<strong> Sparrow House's Jared VanFleet</strong> have <em>overwhelmingly</em> wowed Chris and myself.</p>
<p>That being said, <strong>IndieInterviews isn't dead.</strong> It's just paused. I don't know exactly if it'll take the same form when we start it back up. I've been wanting to do a lot of text interviews. The text form allows me to design .pdfs which I really enjoy and is an overall simpler method than recording and editing audio. I've turned into that which I started the site to avoid. I've also considered doing more video. But video is more time consuming than audio, and it's time -- not passion -- that I'm lacking.</p>
<p>Will it start with 2007? I don't know the answer to that. But I, with the help of other bright minds, will return and make use of this exciting site and cleverly-titled domain. <strong>Thanks for visiting.</strong></p>
<p>While you patiently wait, here's my <strong>Top 30 tracks of 2006</strong>. You probably saw this <a href="http://gorillavsbear.blogspot.com/2006/12/songs-of-2006.html" target="_blank"><strong>list and commentary</strong></a> at GvsB but if not, here it is again.</p>
<p>- <strong>The Album Leaf</strong> Wishful Thinking<br />- <strong>Band of Horses</strong> The First Song<br />- <strong>Birdmonster</strong> The Bar in the Back of the Basement<br />- <strong>Cat Power</strong> Living Proof<br />- <strong>Alela Diane</strong> Pieces of String<br />- <strong>Ghostface Killah</strong> Be Easy<br />- <strong>Emily Haines</strong> A Maid Needs A Maid<br />- <strong>Oh No! Oh My!</strong> I Love You All The Time<br />- <strong>Spank Rock</strong> Coke & Wet<br />- <strong>Sunset Rubdown</strong> They Took A Vote And Said No<br />------------------------------------<br />20. <strong>Thom Yorke</strong> The Clock<br />19. <strong>Joanna Newsom</strong> Sawdust & Diamonds<br />18. <strong>Midlake</strong> Young Bride<br />17. <strong>Camera Obscura</strong> If Looks Could Kill<br />16. <strong>Peter and the Wolf</strong> The Bonsai Tree<br />15. <strong>J. Tillman</strong> My Waking Days<br />14. <strong>Catfish Haven</strong> Crazy For Leaving<br />13. <strong>TV on The Radio</strong> I Was a Lover<br />12. <strong>Sound Team</strong> Back In Town<br />11. <strong>The Futureheads</strong> Back To The Sea<br />------------------------------------<br />10. <strong>Man Man</strong> Ice Dogs<br />I've been meaning to write iTunes to reclassify Man Man as soul. Peeling back the chaotic yet truly innovative outer skins of Man Man, the listener will find they've exposed some of the strongest melodies and hooks currently being written. If they were given the chance to play this song on national television, they would be the biggest band in America. <br /><br />9. <strong>Sparrow House</strong> When I Am Gone<br />This song (and the entire <em>Falls</em> EP) turned out being exactly what I had hoped the Midlake record would be. What <em>Trials of Van Occupanther</em> was for the distant spring season, Sparrow House's <em>Falls</em> is for the corresponding season. Just like Chris, this song has one of the top iTunes play counts -- try putting it on and listening once. It's harder than you'd think. <br /><br />8. <strong>The Raconteurs</strong> Blue Veins<br />Somehow in 2006, Jack White and team made a song containing every element I love about classic rock. Initially this song was a skip track. I didn't appreciate how easily one could pinpoint the song's obvious influences (most noticeable is Led Zeppelin). But after a few listens, you realize that it isn't wrong of them to borrow from the best. It's simply reproducing that which we (20 somethings) wish we could experience. <br /><br />7. <strong>Ratatat</strong> Wildcat<br />It seems simple and nearly calculated but it's so fresh and clever. Maybe it's the calculated simplicity that is what makes it seem also fresh and clever. AND this would for sure be the theme song for my embarrassingly weak, more adorable/geeky than threatening, white-boy gang. <br /><br />6. <strong>Grizzly Bear</strong> Plans<br />The production of this record should become legendary -- equally gigantic and confounding as Stonehenge or the Pyramids. What I love about this record, as well as the John Vanderslice 2-track record (#8 of 2006), is the active element of the room/studio/space. The space is as present as vocals. After <em>many</em> listens, I think it's their most engaging instrument. If Chris hadn't outlawed it, I probably would have put another Grizzly Bear track on this list. <br /><br />5. <strong>Peter Bjorn and John</strong> Young Folks<br />The second I heard the maracas, I knew it would be a top track of the year. Then there was the bassline and then the whistling and then the male vocal/female vocal relationship dialog. It's nearly scientific. <br /><br />4. <strong>Yeah Yeah Yeahs</strong> Turn Into<br />This record is so lopsided or it would have easily been my top record of the year. Honestly, the last 3 tracks of this record are better than 50% of 2006's complete records. This song ends in a glorious campfire manner. YYYs use of the acoustic guitar on the record's last tracks gave me a renewed faith in the overly theatrical band. <br /><br />3. <strong>The Knife</strong> Marble House<br />In April <em>Silent Shout</em> was the only album in my car for about 2 months and somehow I never bored of it. The synthscape of "Marble House" develops into a cocoon for one of the record's more emotional tracks. It's has the drive present on most of <em>Silent Shout</em>'s tracks without being dancy or abrasive. <br /><br />2. <strong>The Long Winters</strong> Hindsight<br />Lyrically, this song is the song I've wanted to write. In just over four minutes, Roderick <a href="http://indieinterviews.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=108971">explains</a> the universal passion for the hard way, long roads and hopeless underdogs. <br /><br />1. <strong>Voxtrot</strong> Soft & Warm<br />If I had to have an Artist of the Year, it would be Voxtrot. My late introduction to <em>Raised by Wolves</em> combined with the addictive <em>Mothers, Sisters, Daughters & Wives</em> and adding to that, seeing a half dozen of their live performances has equalled something close to a musical obsession. This song holds lyrical gems ("I'd leave you for the person you used to be") that carry amazingly accurate sentiment. This song is often the first that I share with people wanting to know what I listen to.</p>
<p>- Garrison Reid</p>
