Nick’s Pick: Best Albums of 2006

This post was contributed by Nick Berry.

I know lists are supposed to come in nice numbers like “The Top Ten”, but you’ll have to make due with eight. I’m not sure what it is, but something about the following albums stuck with me and pulled me through the year, making them my personal favorites for 2006. So here they are, what I feel to be the Best Country Albums of ‘06 in no particular order:

• Keith Urban - Love, Pain & the Whole Crazy Thing
  Keith Urban’s latest album is an overall success. His second single, “Stupid Boy,” is probably the best song I have heard all year. There is just something about this CD; I listened to it once and I was hooked. It’s a great CD to listen to no matter what mood you’re in and it’s one of those CD’s where there isn’t a song on the album you won’t be able relate to.

  Personal Favorites: “Stupid Boy”, “Shine”, “Once In A Lifetime”, “I Can’t Stop Loving You”

• Julie Roberts - Men & Mascara
  Julie Roberts is probably the most underrated country singer in Nashville today. Every song on this CD is great, making it an excellent album. Her vocals are amazing, like Faith Hill, Norah Jones, and Patsy Cline all combined in one beautiful package. I have met her numerous times and she is the nicest, most down-to-earth musician I have ever met. She’s easy on the eyes and she sings as good as she looks.

  Personal Favorites: “Too Damn Young”, “A Bridge That’s Burning”, “Chasin’ Whiskey”, “All I Want Is You”

• Sugarland - Enjoy The Ride
  I’m a huge fan of Sugarland. Their first album was excellent, and there is certainly no sophomore slump with the release of their second album. Jennifer Nettles’ vocals are amazing, definitely the best pipes to hit Nashville in the last year. They also had a hand in writing every single song on this CD.

  Personal Favorites: “Settlin’”, “Stay”, “Want To”, “One Blue Sky”

• Taylor Swift - Taylor Swift
  I really enjoy this album. Taylor actually wrote or co-wrote all 11 songs on the CD. By the way, she’s only 16 years old (editor’s note: she turned 17 the other day). I’m sure she will be around for a while and I look forward to her next album and growth in country music. She’s very mature yet at the same time the CD is youthful. I had the chance to meet Taylor in Nashville, she’s really nice and cool to talk to. It’s funny, right before I left she gave me a magnet with her picture and the name of her debut single “Tim McGraw” on it. She said if you get a chance, call your radio station to request it. Six months later, “Tim McGraw” is obviously getting requests and will no doubt become Taylor’s first #1.

  Personal Favorites: “Tim McGraw”, “Mary’s Song (Oh My My My)”, “Teardrops on my Guitar”, “The Outside”

• Eric Church - Sinners Like Me
  Eric Church wrote all twelve songs on his debut CD, and all of them are terrific. I believe “Two Pink Lines” is the best track on the album. He is an exceptionally talented singer/songwriter and I really like his edgy-honest lyrics.

  Personal Favorites: “Two Pink Lines”, “How ‘Bout You”

• Dixie Chicks - Taking The Long Way
  I know ‘The Chicks’ aren’t really everyone’s favorite, like they were in the 90’s, but if you have the chance, listen to the album. It’s a very strong CD worth listening to. Obviously, they have a lot to say which is easily heard in each song and the songs are all well-written and performed.

  Personal Favorites: “Not Ready To Make Nice”, “The Long Way Around”

• Rascal Flatts - Me and My Gang
  They always somehow find really good songs and always release a great album. This one is no exception. All the songs are fantastic, and could potentially each be released as a single and without doubt, be a top ten hit, if not another #1 added to their collection. This is probably one of their best albums yet, if not the best.

  Personal Favorites: “What Hurts The Most”, “Cool Thing”, “Ellsworth”, “Words I Couldn’t Say”, “Stand”

• Chris Young - Chris Young
  I attended the Nashville Star show where the contestants revealed their own personally written songs. Chris Young performed “Drinkin’ Me Lonely” for the first time, which is one of the best songs I have heard all year. There isn’t a bad song anywhere on this debut album.

  Personal Favorites: “Drinkin’ Me Lonely”