More than anything else, 2006 was the year Indie rock (somewhat) broke into the mainstream, with the critic's darlings finally getting their dues payed back--literally and figuratively. Groups like The Decemberists and Mastodon not only signed to majors, but also released uncompromising works that not only rival their best work, but in most cases trump it tenfold.
On the Pop side of the spectrum, heavyweight stars like Justin Timberlake and Christina Aguilera flexed their power via daring, forward-looking albums that prove that "Pop" doesn't have to be dumbed-down to sell. Even Pop/R&B songbirds like Nelly Furtado and Akon found time to eschew their traditional trappings and go all electro on us, providing listeners with kid-tested, clubber-approved singles.
Rounding things off are Hip-Hop and Country, which both shared the same fate in 2006: Outside of a paltry few worthwhile releases--most of which came from well-established veterans and not the young blood--they both disappointed in artistic merit overall. T.I.'s King and Carrie Underwood's Some Hearts both made a major dent in their respective genres but Ghostface Killah and Hank Williams III failed to catch fire on Billboard with far more ambitious-yet-accessible albums.
dance to it! its pretty sweet
<3