In case you haven’t already noticed, Invisible Limb is run a little different than most other music blogs. We are, uh…a little off. For example, instead of assembling an elite writing staff of hip club DJs and blog veterans (like all indie blogs are supposed to), we are made up of normal people who like music and want to share our opinions on it. Instead of publishing breaking news stories fleshed out into full length articles, we post reviews for small independent artists and links to cool mp3s.  However the third and most important example of what sets us apart from other blogs, is that we always post our Best of the Year lists a month after everyone else has posted theirs. It probably isn’t the coolest thing to do, but that is just our Invisible-ness style. You can’t put your finger on it. You just accept it and love it.

So seeing as we already more than six full months into the year, we figured it was time we get our act together and compile our choices for First Half Album Picks of 2006. The premise is simple: these are the albums that have had the biggest impact on us; the cds and records that have found consistent homes in our stereos and iPods. These are our picks. You might own all these albums, have read about them on other blogs, or you might have no idea who these bands are- that isn’t the point. The point is that we chose these records and that automatically makes them cool and worthy.  Understood?

For part 1 of this feature, here are writers Aaron Quillen and Andrew Allingham’s choices for favorite albums of 2006 (so far).

Aaron Quillen
Staff Reviewer

Anathallo
Floating World
Self-released

Only an album as special as Anathallo’s Floating World could be my personal favorite of the year up to this point, and most likely through the end.I had been waiting for this record to come out for two-and-a-half years, and when I finally got my hands, heart, and ears wrapped around it, it did not dissapoint. Any one who’s heard it knows that it is quite ambitious, but unlike some reviewers (AHEM Marc Hogan), it’s sincerity and overwhelming passion is what gets me. And the vast instrumentation. And the complexity of the songs and their lyrics. And absolutely everything about it. And it definitely helps that they are good buds of mine. Good buds of mine who may have created the greatest collection of tunes since OK Computer.

Artist Website: http://www.anathallo.com
Invisible Limb Review:  Floating World

Andrew Allingham
Staff Reviewer

Islands
Return to the Sea
Equator Records

Once upon a time there were Unicorns. They played music and it made people smile at ghosts and dance. These mythical creatures prematurely died and it made everyone very, very sad. Now you don’t have to be so glum anymore, they have been reincarnated as Islands. The band still has Nicholas Thorburn (Nick “Niel” Diamonds) on vocals, but now he is joined with a force of other instrumentalists. Before listening for the first time, you need to forget that Islands were ever called The Unicorns. They are a completely different band, and their sound shows this, so they deserve an open-mind.

The first release from Islands, Return to the Sea, is a collection of wonderful pop tunes that draw from many styles of music, including, but not limited to, rock, hip-hop and country. The songs are much more structured and feature many bells and buzzes, with Nick Diamonds’ quivering, oddball lyrics throughout. Listen to “Rough Gem” and “Don’t Call Me Whitney, Bobby” and try not to be infected with the overall cheer of the songs. I chose this record because I want all of you to be able to drop your serious side every now and then. You are allowed to smile and bob your head to the music. It’s supposed to be fun. While this may not be the absolute “best” album of 2006, halfway through the year, it is the one I keep going back to.

http://www.myspace.com/islandsareforever