At 20yo, which of these iconic 2006 pop albums is your favourite?

20 years on, I like...

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Loufoque

Loufoque

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This felt like its own mini-era in 2000s pop, and was a definitive turning point in the decade after 2-3 years of hip-hop dominance

Q3-Q4 2006 was dominated by the decade's new superstars returning - Christina, Justin and Beyoncé on the back of their hugely successful previous albums; Nelly finally tapping into her BPG energy; and Fergie breaking free from the Black Eyed Peas.

I'm excluding Back to Black, because - let's face it - that was operating on entirely another level
 
Without relistening, FutureSex/LoveSounds was probably objectively the best musically, but Loose was definitely my favourite of the bunch. So much affection for the big hits, the era, and the first big pop girl stannage time of my life. And sure, it had its shonky bits, but still - what an LP! Made all the sweeter, I think, by it being her one focused moment where it all came together for her in her career, and her basically disappearing off the scene after that (bar the sumptuous Big Hoops). I don't think I'd care to ever hear from Justin Timberlake again, frankly.
 
'Loose', although I have a lot of nostalgia for 'The Dutchess' and 'Back to Basics' has some great songs (but isn't a great album).
 
None of the albums is front-to-back incredible - they each have a clunker or two.

FutureSex/LoveSounds was the most exciting sounding at the time. Loose had the best singles run, with back-to-back classics that only seemed to get better with each release.

However, I think I probably like B'Day (original version) the most in 2026.

Back to Basics is a bloated mess, despite the odd high point. And The Dutchess is cute for a throwback, but is operating on a lower frequency than the Big Three.
 
Loose is not my favourite Nelly album, but it's still one I come back to after all these years. I never understood the appeal of Promiscuous though.
 
I need this in multiple choice, please. But I'll go with LOOSE for now.
Followed by Back to Basics, I know Aguilera is dreaded nowadays but at least CD1 was chockful of bangers but unfortuntaley, lacked big singles to sell it.
 
I also spent a lot of time listening to Pink's 'I'm Not Dead' as I fed and watered my Neopets.
 
I think I'm Not Dead technically belongs in 2005, but I don't think it can compete with Confessions on a Dancefloor or The Emancipation of Mimi.
 
I am perhaps overly attached to the music of this particular era because I had just moved to do my year abroad, starting in the depths of provincial Russia, and clinging to the new pop releases was some way to moor myself in a completely unfamiliar environment

I think it's for this reason that Get It Out Me remains a Top 10 Janet moment for me :disco: #justicefor20yo
 
A stacked year, but sound much more dated than the big albums of 2005.
 
I'm Not Dead was released in 2006 and would surely beat everything else on this list. but probably I would vote for The Sweet Escape... had it made the poll :eyes:

as it is, The Dutchess.
 
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Jark said:
I'm Not Dead was released in 2006 and would surely beat everything else on this list. but probably I would vote for The Sweet Escape... had it made the poll :eyes:

as it is, The Dutchess.
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You're right - its slow burn / initial floppage had me confused about the dates.

I'd take the best of B'Day, Loose or FutureSex/LoveSounds over I'm Not Dead though. Other than Who Knew, is it really so great? U + Ur Hand has awful lyrics and if I recall there's quite a few dirgy tracks cluttering the tracklist

Meanwhile Say It Right is still... *chef's kiss*. It sounds like how our desperate technological future
 
Loufoque said:
I think I'm Not Dead technically belongs in 2005
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It was literally released in 2006, but I feel you, L.A.M.B. also feels from 2006 because they released around 8 singles.
Oral Fixation Vol. 2 is also from 2005 but, it wasn't until 2006 when it became succesful thanks to Hips Don't Lie.

K.T. Tunstall, Gnarls Barkley and Lilly Allen also come to mind.
 
Combined best songs from these albums:

1 Say It Right
2 SexyBack
3 Irreplaceable
4 All Good Things Come To An End
5 Déjà Vu
6 Suga Mama
7 FutureSex/LoveSound
8 Without You
9 Freakum Dress
10 Hurt
 
looking back I think 2003-07 is probably one of my least favourite eras of pop. it was that relatively dry period between the more organic and/or experimental turn-of-the-century sound I loved (Music, Xenomania, All Saints' work with Orbit, Celine's A New Day...) and the late 2000s blockbuster pop era (the breakouts of Katy and Gaga in '08, Rated R in '09).

there was some good stuff coming from the UK and Australia in that time, and you had Robyn doing her quirky cunty shtick, but a lot of the American stuff just didn't age very well. or felt dated even on arrival. the beats were CHEAP. the dominance of Timbaland and JT makes me feel ill.
 
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just realised Ciara's The Evolution dropped in 06. now that was a (half) great album. it was an iconic period in time for R&B. The Breakthrough! The Emancipation of Mimi! even Alicia Keys!!
 
Penelope said:
Without relistening, FutureSex/LoveSounds was probably objectively the best musically, but Loose was definitely my favourite of the bunch. So much affection for the big hits, the era, and the first big pop girl stannage time of my life. And sure, it had its shonky bits, but still - what an LP! Made all the sweeter, I think, by it being her one focused moment where it all came together for her in her career, and her basically disappearing off the scene after that (bar the sumptuous Big Hoops). I don't think I'd care to ever hear from Justin Timberlake again, frankly.
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Between these two for me as well. I probably should change my vote to Loose, though, because let’s face it Say It Right towers over everything else on FSLS although My Love isn’t that far behind. All Good Things and Maneater too. But I rarely go back to the album tracks to be honest
 
What about A Public Affair :eyes:

“BOY” and “If You Were Me” were actually great though. And the title track was fun for about five minutes.
 
Oh and “Walkin Round in Circles” is arguably her best track.
 
I'd have gone for I'm Not Dead had it been on the list. So I went for Loose. Most of the above albums had 5/6 great songs on them. Even Loose could be included in that.
 
Loose is one of the few albums from this period that had the fewest clunkers. I said what I said. GLOW, Afraid and Showtime are certified bangers :disco:, even the bonus tracks like Let My Hair Downa and Runaway slap. I mean it had like 8 singles overall for a reason.
 
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