The Two Zeros: The Best Album of 2006 - Veneer

"Who remains after everything has been washed away?" - José González, Remains

 

 At the end of 2006, I didn't decide. I made two lists and went with it. MwM suggested I do the same today. I even asked the question on Tumblr. No one suggested José González's Veneer as the appropriate selection but that's my answer and I'm sticking to it.

Here's why: At some point in 2006, probably late July or Early August, there was a road trip. About 20 or so hours in total. The Martini and I had planned it -- a whirlwind trip to Santa Cruz for some Pink Godzilla Sushi and back. In a last minute decision to make it extra awesome and to get her out of her doldrums, we kidnapped Red. The contents of the trip don't matter as much as what I remember about our drive home.

We were sort of lost in the middle of our state in the dark on roads that felt familiar but weren't exactly and Mr. González's guitar and warbly voice played as our soundtrack. The mood was spooky and unsettled but comfortable. After a year of a lot of change—there was death, the end of some friendships, the end of a job, the quitting of another, a temporary move, a time back home with the folks, a new place (my current place), a new job (when I joined the Mouse), an impending trip around the world for one of us and the spectre of another school year teaching for another of us—yeah, after a whole lot of flux, here was what I was sure of: the two people in the car with me.

So, as we drove through that darkness searching for our way home and José González sang out "catch sun light and you'll be alright," I knew it was true.

I had my chosen sisters with me.

We arrived back in Los Angeles just a few minutes before the sun would rise. Crosses a little less heavy on our shoulders. We'd made it through some things together.

Three years later, I think we still do.

And that's why Veneer is the best Album of 2006.