Our Top 20 (21, to be exact) albums of 2006 (or really late 2005) from GLBT artists, or bands with GLBT members:

1 Phideaux - The Great Leap & 313 & Chupacabras
www.bloodfish.net
Fantastically progressive rock that will lift you up - or make you think - with its clear vocals, melodic melodies and fantastic production. Three albums, because two came out last year, and "Chupacabras"' release was postponed and I didn't get it till this year also.

2 The Ark - We Are The Ark
www.thearkworld.com
Discoglamrock is back and it's never looked better! It came out in 2004 but in Sweden, and this year in the US.

3 Phono - The Changeover
www.phonoonline.com
Dark brooding electropop with a kick.

4 Ember Swift - Dirty Pulse
www.emberswift.com
An array of musical styles with an attitude.

5 Flipping The Pig - Pout
www.flippingthepig.com
Out-there, alternatively independent folkpoprock. Can't label easily.

6 Lipstick Conspiracy - Don't Tell A Soul
www.lipstickconspiracy.com
Solid guitar driven rock, honest lyrics.

7 John Ashfield - Back Pocket
www.johnashfieldmusic.com
It's *ONLY* #7 because it's John's old material, some previously unreleased. If it were brand new, it would be higher on the list. Melodic pop with a nod to the 50s but not tame by any means.

8 Placebo - Meds
www.placeboworld.co.uk
Placebo. That's all you need to know.

9 The Gothic Archies - The Tragic Treasury: Music for "A Series of Unfortunate Events"
www.houseoftomorrow.com/gothicarchies.php
One of Stephin Merritt's (Magnetic Fields) one-person bands. Beautifully and desperately hopeless album.

10 Eric Himan - Everywhere All At Once
www.erichiman.com
Another good bluesy (in a Blues Traveler kinda way) rock effort.

11 Final Fantasy - He Poos Clouds
www.finalfantasyeternal.com
Violin and looping pedal. Definitely alternative, but sometimes quite radio friendly.

12 Shimmerplanet - For The One Who Kills Tomorrow
www.shimmerplanet.com
A spectrum of musical styles, beautiful sound from both the leader and the guest vocalists.

13 Rachael Sage - The Blistering Sun
www.rachaelsage.com
Piano-based folkish ballads, a warm album.

14 The Hidden Cameras - Awoo
www.hiddencameras.com
Pop. Rock. Folk. Is that accordion I hear?

15 Dirty Sanchez - Dirty Sanchez
www.wearedirtysanchez.com
Dirty, indeed, electropop.

16 Scissor Sisters - TaDah!
www.scissorsisters.com
They're back! But I still like The Ark better.

17 Pet Shop Boys - Fundamental
www.petshopboys.co.uk
They're back! But I still like Fischerspooner better.

18 Erasure - Union Street
www.erasureinfo.com
They went acoustic this time.

19 Betty - Snowbiz
www.hellobetty.com
A "Christmas" album on the list? Why not?

Best EPs of the year

1 Semi-Precious Weapons - Magnetic EP
www.semipreciousweapons.com
Their full album is due out next year, can't wait - alternative rock with lots of piano and punky guitars - you just have to hear it! Hint: it's Justin Tranter's band!

2 Rubberlegs - The Timinator vol 1
www.rubberlegs.com
Electronica, sometimes more pop, sometimes less.