5. Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recond Advanced Warfighter
4. Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Double Agent
3. Gears of War
2. Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Vegas
1. Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion

The following were my favorite records of 2006. No, I’m not quite as into music as I once was all those years ago when I coerced Tina into joining me on the quixotic quest that was Hub City Records. But I still love music quite a bit.

5. Yeah Yeah Yeah’s, Show Your Bones
Karen O. and company return with a record that leans more towards their Siouxsie Sioux/New Wave influences, then the rootsy punk songs of their first record. Now I can say that I love 99% of their songs as opposed to 45%.

4. Maritime, We The Vehicles
Davy (of Promise Ring fame) returns with his second post-Promise Ring record, and finally he has songs that rival and surpass his best Promise Ring efforts. “We are powerful despite our injuries,” indeed. This record saved my life in April.

3. The Evens, Get Evens
The first Evens record had some good songs, but their followup is composed of all good songs. The interplay between Ian and Amy is even better — they have so much musical chemistry, it’s hard to believe they don’t explode. Still sparer and poppier than Ian’s Fugazi work, but I like it better. It’s less bombastic than the first release (I’m thinking of “Mt. Pleasant Isn’t,”) and smarter and more satisfying.

2. Final Fantasy, He Poos Clouds
Owen Pallet returns with lush string arrangements and bigger scope than his first record, “Has a Good Home.” I still prefer it when it’s Owen, his violin and a sampler, but this is still excellent. The record takes the religious system of Dungeons and Dragons and pretends it’s a real modern day religion. One of his characters even has a “Drowish” mistress. Many of his fans don’t know what a “Drow” is, but I do, and I’m pleased to say that you’ll have to look it up on Wikipedia if you want the answer.

1. Joanna Newsom, Ys.
I guess I’m getting weird in my old age, because my favorite two records of the year are a bit … baroque. I read a lot about Joanna Newsom, but I had no idea how much of an emotional impact her music would have on me until I heard “Emily.” Epic lyrics, expansive, lush harp and strings mark the work of one of the few genuine artists working in indie rock today. If you can even call it that.

Salon has an interview up today with a former JAG who is trying to fight the growing dominance of the evangelical movement in the U.S. military. The issue is not whether or not evangelicals should be allowed to profess their faith, but whether or not faith should be used as a basis for promotion, or an excuse to harass people who don’t agree with the religious establishment that essentially runs the military leadership.

You can read the story by clicking here. (You may need to view a brief advertisement).

Callum Robbins, the son of J. Robbins (Jawbox, Burning Airlines, Channels) needs your help. He’s suffering from a rare disease that may kill him before his second birthday.

J., as many of you know, works as an indie recording engineer. Obviously, he doesn’t have the health insurance necessary to pay for his son’s expensive treatments. Tina and I have donated what we can, and we urge you to do the same.

Desoto Records has set up a page with more information on how you can help. You can click here to view it.

J. has given so much through his music and his support of young bands. Now is the time for his fans to give back to him and his family.