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This year was a tremendous year in local shows, so I chose two of the more entertaining local acts for my final foray on the tiles for 2006. We Landed on the Moon! kicked off my Saturday night at the Spanish Moon with the same energetic indie-pop confection that I witnessed a couple months ago. They had just come off a tour and showed the fruits of a couple solid days playing their material out. Melissa Eccles exhibits full rock diva potential over the band’s brand of ‘80s influenced rock. It also bears mentioning that guitarist/keyboardist John Lambremont exhibits the best “guitar face” in town, that uncontrollable contortion guitarists of all stripe do to their face. By face alone, he looks like he’s cranking out Journey songs at the high school talent show. Arguably, Melissa takes up most of the visual aspect of the band, but we rock critics look for details like the quality of “guitar face.”

Shark Attack! provided the second set of exclamation points on the bill, serving up their usual bloodthirsty buffet of surf anthems mixed with just a twinge of thrash, throwing in some modified holiday numbers like “Shark! The Herald Angels Scream!” into the mix. I imagine some serious guitar face goes on with this band as well, but it’s hidden behind the beards. Shark Attack! never disappoints. This time Santa hats and band members flew around the stage as if they were on the bridge of the Enterprise during an attack. Good stuff, both bands.

And since it’s the giving season, I bequeath to you my top 10 albums of the year

10. Dixie Chicks – Taking the Long Way

As close to Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours as anyone in their stage of the game has come. And kudos to standing up to jingoistic truck salesmen parading as country singers who failed in their attempt to bury them for their rather mild remarks about the war.

9. Gnarls Barkley – St. Elsewhere

Man, I wanted to snob my way out of this record, but it was inescapable.

8. The Drones – Gala Mill

This Aussie quartet dredged up some devastating rock out of their country’s dodgy history. Best record you never heard all year.

7. Agalloch – Ashes Against the Grain

I’ve discovered in my old age that a little metal is a necessary vitamin in my diet and while there were many notable metal releases this year (Isis, Mastodon, Killswitch Engage) this was the clear winner.

6. …And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead – So Divided

I may be the only person I know who loves this record, but I’m okay with that. My love is true and does not require validation. The once ferocious Austin band has taken a step back in velocity and added a remarkable layer of depth.

5. The Court and Spark – Hearts

If you want to like Gram Parsons but find the arrangements too dated and saccharine, this San Francisco band brings a timeless yet extremely hip version of slow-burn country mood music.

4. The Roots – Game Theory

Not the strongest year for hip-hop in my opinion, but the Roots brought one of the best hip-hop records since Common’s Be album of 2005.

3. Film School – Film School

There were a number of great bands mining the gold out of the shoegazer rock of the alternative era, but Film School was the one disc I kept coming back too.

2. Boris – Pink

Another that’s under the radar, but this Japanese power trio might be the greatest rock band on Earth now.

1. The Hold Steady – Boys and Girls in America

This literate, emotional, devastating record shows that more pathos and danger can be exhibited through expert musicianship and razor sharp lyrics than any amount of eyeliner and marketing millions. It is fair to call it a modern Born to Run.

Be sure to check out the January issue of 225 for our top five local albums of 2006.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Wednesday, December 27: justinbailey is at Spanish Moon.

Thursday, December 28: Kristin Diable will be at Chelsea’s Café. Elsah is at The Caterie.

Friday, December 29: Tabu reunion show is at Spanish Moon with John Young. Andy Pizzo Project is at Chelsea’s Café. The Anteeks are at The Caterie. Meriwether is at the Varsity. Larry Graner is at Phil Brady’s

Saturday, December 30: Jack Fate is at Spanish Moon. Big Sam’s Funky Nation is at Chelsea’s Café. Break or Burn, Common Curtis and Waiting for Bradley do two shows at the Caterie, 5 p.m. all ages, 10 p.m. 18+ The Chris Leblanc Band is at Phil Brady’s

Sunday, December 31: Chelsea’s Café is featuring Righteous Buddha and the Black Sound Parade. Deadboy and The Elephantmen with Bones and Cars and Girls is at Spanish Moon. The Long Neck Society is at Phil Brady’s