My recommendations 2006:Cannibal Sea by The Essex Green

The Essex Green: Cannibal Sea
Merge 3/21/2006

Available on Emusic

I was surprised to learn that The Essex Green were part of The Elephant Six Collective, which included bands such as Neutral Milk Hotel and The Olivia Tremor Control. You wouldn't know it from Cannibal Sea, which lacks that schizophrenic quality that pervaded NMH's In the Aeroplane Over the Sea or OTC's Dusk at Cubist Castle. Instead, The Essex Green craft short and sweet power-pop tunes with catchy melodies and great hooks. Despite its lack of experimentalism, Cannibal Sea has plenty to offer and is never boring.