Feature / Music
2006: A Year In Review

Posted pre-2010

Big Comebacks in 2006 Of Independent Music

Quick links: Top 5 DVDs | Most Anticipated Albums of 2007 | Reasons The Fresh Prince was awesome | Top 5 Singles | Big Comebacks of 2006 | Top 5 Shows | Top 5 Things That Sucked | Top 5 Things That Ruled | Noteworthy Songs | Top Reissues | Reasons the BBC Is Killing UK Music | Top 5 Vinyl-Only Releases | Worst Cover Art | Band Tour Stories

This year saw some incredible comebacks in the world of independent music. From bands, to whole record labels, there was some pretty impressive reversals going on this year.

  1. For many the latest offering from Planes Mistaken for Stars, Mercy, was an incredible record on its own. When you factor in the fact that their last album, Up in Them Guts, was a bit lackluster (possibly due to the recording quality), Planes plowed on and through to deliver a great slab of wax for our listening pleasure.

  2. The Hope Conspiracy also dropped an excellent album after a period of dormancy that could be considered some of their best material yet. Death Knows Your Name is a visceral tour de force that signals a new beginning for the much loved hardcore band.

  3. Lifetime has been making the rounds with tours for the first time in years as well as a late in the year seven inch teaser for their 2007 self-titled album. Could 2007 be the year of Lifetime?

  4. But perhaps one of the most interesting comeback stories belongs to Revelation Records. After 2005 saw the label releasing some discographies from its revered stable of straightedge bands like Judge and Bold, it looked as though Revelation were relying on their past glories to keep them going. In 2006, Revelation really stepped out and did what at one point they said they would not do and released a few new hardcore-punk records. They dropped Shook Ones' Slaughter of the Insole 7" and Facetious Folly Feat, Sinking Ships' Disconnecting, End of a Year's Sincerely, Down to Nothing's Higher Learning 7", Gracer's Voices Travel, and re-releases of the first Shai Hulud records. All in all it was an eventful year for the once lauded and degraded label. Let's see where 2007 takes them.

(Bob)

— words by the SPB team

Related features

Fest 24: Artist Interviews

Interviews / Fest 24 • October 16, 2026

It's almost FEST time, and you know what that means: SPB has dived in to speak to a bunch of bands and artists playing this year's event. Some are FEST veterans with tips and highlights for newcomers, and others are FEST newbies with their own plans for the week. Read … Read more

FEST LIBS 24 & Fest Survey Findings

Music / Fest 24 • October 16, 2026

Are you ready for The Fest!? While we’re pretty sure you’re already counting down days until your trek to Gainesville, FL, we’ve got some Fest games for you to play, including a few samples from this year’s performers. Click here to play FEST LIBS -- like a fill-in-the-blanks word game … Read more

Demos You Want To Check #5

Music / New Kids On The Block • October 13, 2026

The musical landscape is ever changing. New genres are popping up, new hypes burst out of nowhere and die out and new bands present themselves to the world. How on earth are you expected to keep up, right? Well, it never hurts to help! So here we are, your humble … Read more

Coral Springs

One Question Interviews • September 24, 2026

Siebe (Coral Springs) SPB: What is your favorite record store (this can be local or not)? Siebe: I want to preface this by mentioning that I rarely buy records at stores these days. Most of the local stores aren't big on pop-punk/skate punk/emo and it's rare that they carry records … Read more

Eddy Current Suppression Ring

One Question Interviews • September 23, 2026

Mikey (Eddy Current Suppression Ring) SPB: Australians seem to love Canada, when are ECSR coming to play here? Miked: as much as i'd dearly LOVE to go to Canada, it doesn't look super likely on my or the band's immediate radar. we only just played interstate down here for the … Read more

More from this section

FEST LIBS 24 & Fest Survey Findings

Music / Fest 24 • October 16, 2026

Are you ready for The Fest!? While we’re pretty sure you’re already counting down days until your trek to Gainesville, FL, we’ve got some Fest games for you to play, including a few samples from this year’s performers. Click here to play FEST LIBS -- like a fill-in-the-blanks word game … Read more

Demos You Want To Check #5

Music / New Kids On The Block • October 13, 2026

The musical landscape is ever changing. New genres are popping up, new hypes burst out of nowhere and die out and new bands present themselves to the world. How on earth are you expected to keep up, right? Well, it never hurts to help! So here we are, your humble … Read more

Anathema Editions

Music / History 101 • August 11, 2026

Did you know it’s been 10 years since Anathema Editions put out its first release? To make the moment, we reached out to founder Terence Hannum to share some label history. In keeping with our “History 101” concept, SPB asked for anecdotes about 4 of the label’s releases and then … Read more