Best Album of 2006!

Admittedly, it's the first new album I've heard this year. But I had no idea what kind of heavy duty production these gals had behind them. A portion of the credits:

1. Max Martin and Rami are both producing (this is their first major collaboration since 2002! Except for the 2003 Robyn album, which may or may not have been much of an equal joint effort).

2. Input from some of Avril's trusted producers (who aren't the Matrix). For the record, the Veronicas are so much better than Avril Lavigne that I can't even believe we still have to talk about this person anymore. Thanks for the angst, let's move on!

3. One song co-written by Kara DioGuardi. Which makes sense, because I finally got I Am Me in actual CD format, even though I ordered Autobiography!!!! WHAT THE HELL???

4. Some backing people from Kelly Clarkson's last album. I dunno, this is a quick run through Allmusic to see what the deal was. Downloading the rest of the album now, but "4Ever" and "Everything I'm Not" (I think US and UK single, respectively?) are pretty incredible.

5. Who wants to buy tickets to see the Veronicas play Buffalo tomorrow night? Anyone?

Stay tuned tomorrow for a nifty weekend feature...teen pop Myspace Mania! We'll see who's friended me by then...

EDIT: Um, just listened to "Secret," which contains the following lyrics (in the chorus! That's the last line of the song!)

You could write a million letters everyday confessing to me
That I am the girl of your dreams
But nobody ever asked me
I never looked at you that way
'Cause I always thought you were gay

Hm. Jury's out on that one. Overall the album's solid, but missing some element...maybe just lacking some charisma in the lead department, although I kind of like the identical twin gimmick -- not exactly "anonymous," but maybe...redundant? The album is varied enough not to get stale, but its also not scattered among totally random styles. Actually, some of this reminds me of a sharper studio version Noise from the Basement, which makes me both excited and nervous for Skye's new one.

ARCHIES vs. VERONICAS FITE FITE FITE!!!

The Archies - Kissin'

The Veronicas - Everything I'm Not