Sea of Tranquility - The Web Destination for Progressive Music!

Main Menu

The Staff's Top Picks of 2006

(6266 total words in this text)
(8470 reads)

(Compiled by Duncan Glenday)

The Staff of Sea of Tranquility-Top Picks of 2006

Butch Jones
Top 10 CDï¿½s of 2006- In NO Particular Order !!!

1. Meshuggah-ï¿½Nothingï¿½ (Reissue)- Itï¿½s Meshuggah, what else do you need to know!!!
2. Bolt-ï¿½Movement And Detailï¿½- A wacky and eccentric band. All Instrumental, and a flat out fun CD to listen to. Once you start, you canï¿½t stop!
3. Firewind-ï¿½Allegianceï¿½-Guitarist Gus G does it again. One of the best new guitar players around.
4. Zero Hour-ï¿½Specs of a Pictures Burnt Beyondï¿½-An UNREAL band from the San Francisco area. Beyond top notch musicianship. A shock the first time I listened to it.
5. Scott Reeder-ï¿½Tunnelvision Brillianceï¿½- A trippy, spacey record that I didnï¿½t expect to like at all, but did! Great songwriting & a very pleasant surprise.
6. Soil-ï¿½True Selfï¿½- Soil doesnï¿½t seem to get much respect from the masses, but I love this band! A new singer, but they still remain the Soil that I loved from a few years ago. Even heavier these days.
7. Raunchy-ï¿½Death Pop Romanceï¿½-Heavy and fierce! Bad name, but they smoke.
8. Rebel Meets Rebel-ï¿½Rebel Meets Rebelï¿½-Dimebag meets David Allen Coe & Country music.This is a really cool idea that worked. Just wish that Dime was here when it was finally released.
9. Mercenary-ï¿½The Hours That Remainï¿½- Real metal with actual vocals! A band that I canï¿½t wait to hear what they will come up with next. Buy this CD!
10. Black Stone Cherry-ï¿½Black Stone Cherryï¿½- A straight ahead Hard Rock record. Music needs more bands like this. Dirty & rockinï¿½. Have a beer in hand while listening.

Michael Popke
Best CDs of 2006:

Rocket Scientists: Revolution Road ï¿½ Rocket Scientists, one of Americaï¿½s most overlooked bands, disappears for seven years and then emerges in late 2006 with two CDs worth of music that would each make a great album on their own. Some listeners have asked: Are they prog? I ask: Who cares?!

Slamer: Nowhere Land ï¿½ Once upon a time, in a hard-rock universe ruled by big vocals and even bigger choruses, there temporarily resided bands that sound like Slamer ï¿½ led by Mike Slamer, one of the most brilliant melodic hard rock guitarists and songwriters of the past 30 years.

Zero Hour: Specs of Pictures Burnt Beyond ï¿½ The bandï¿½s technical brand of American progressive metal reaches its zenith on a stunning record of brutal beauty and sheer power, with lyrics that reveal a human element all too often lost in this type of music.

Axel Rudi Pell: Mystica ï¿½ Any Pell release since Oceans of Time is worth celebrating, and this one rivals The Masquerade Ball in terms of overall quality. Dark and mysterious metal at its finest.

Kopecky: Blood ï¿½ While not sounding as cold, calculated or claustrophobic as its sinister predecessors, this album continues the instrumental prog-metal trio's ambitious pursuit of creating original and affecting music that challenges (and occasionally redefines) the listenerï¿½s psyche.

Spockï¿½s Beard: Spockï¿½s Beard ï¿½ The third timeï¿½s a charm with album number three in the post-Neal Morse era. This is how I imagined Spockï¿½s Beard would eventually sound: a savvy mix of classic and modern prog rock.

Tempest: The Double-Cross ï¿½ During a year in which I rediscovered roots rock, the latest album from this veteran Celtic-rock band seduced me with its potent and organic world music, blurring folk, rock and traditional music into a heady blend that echoes classic Tull while continuing to cut its own broad swath.

Angra: Aurora Consurgens ï¿½ Maybe it was just me, but I didnï¿½t really hear the bandï¿½s native Brazilian influences in recent Angra albums. Thatï¿½s not a problem with this memorable record, one of the bandï¿½s heaviest yet most melodic.

GPS: Window to the Soul ï¿½ A near-perfect mix of progressive rock and AOR from former Asia members that should have left Geoff Downes wondering if he screwed up by letting these guys go.

Cheap Trick: Rockford ï¿½ The year's most welcome surprise, with the refreshingly retro If It Takes A Lifetime ï¿½ arguably the strongest song these guys have recorded this millennium, and probably among the top 40 tunes in the bandï¿½s entire catalog.

Amorphis: Eclipse ï¿½ After 14 years, Amorphis have yet to make two albums that sound the same. Eclipse seeks to unite fans old and new with a stunning collection of songs that became the first great metal record of 2006.

Pure Reason Revolution: The Dark Third ï¿½ This Pink Floyd-inspired prog record, released in the United States by a division of Sony-BMG Music, proves that major labels still have a little bit of taste left.

Prymary: The Tragedy of Innocence ï¿½ Supreme progressive metal that, thanks to its subject matter about sexual abuse of a child, is anything but an easy listen. Yet itï¿½s one of the boldest records I heard this year.

Neil Zaza: When Gravity Fails ï¿½ A total of 13 melodic hard-rock gems, jaw-dropping solos and an even more impressive guest list that would (and should) make better-known players squeal.

Manning: Anserï¿½s Tree ï¿½ This clever and thought-provoking symphonic-rock concept album spans more than 500 years and traces one manï¿½s family tree by addressing everything from witch hunts to global warming.

Proto-Kaw: The Wait of Glory ï¿½The band that eventually morphed into Kansas returns and continues to bridge the gap between progressive and jam-band earthiness.

The Flyinï¿½ Ryan Brothers: Blue Marble ï¿½ The brothers let loose with a barrage of soaring harmony leads and six-string interplay, relying on exotic ethnic sounds to give the (almost) all-instrumental Blue Marble unexpected stylistic diversity and ensuring that no two tracks sound the same.

Shooting Star: Circles ï¿½ The perfect project for journeyman vocalist Kevin Chalfant, and a melodic hard rock album that stayed active on my iPod all summer long.

The Gufs: A Different Sea ï¿½ Long-awaited set of classy power-pop gems from one-third of Milwaukee's musical triumvirate (the other two being the Violent Femmes and the BoDeans).

Winger: IV ï¿½ It ainï¿½t Pull, Wingerï¿½s cult-classic third album, but itï¿½s lean and mean and dark and edgy and way better than most people probably expected. Respect.

Top 5 DVDs

Kiss: Kissology ï¿½ A worthy addition to any musical video library simply for its historical value.

Kamelot: A Cold Winter's Night ï¿½ I've been tough on Kamelot vocalist Khan for years. Heï¿½s either too pompous or can't hold his microphone close enough to his mouth. But on this astonishing DVD, he made me realize just how superior this band's songs are to most of Kamelotï¿½s competition.

Metallica: The Videos 1989-2004. ï¿½ Yeah, some people stopped following the band after ï¿½Enter Sandman,ï¿½ but this collection of often-dark and creepy videos makes for compelling viewing while chronicling Metallicaï¿½s dramatic evolution from its thrash-metal roots.

Whitesnake: Live-In the Still of the Night ï¿½ My buddies saw Whitesnake in Chicago a few years ago while I was stuck on a business trip. They said it was one of the best shows theyï¿½d ever seen ï¿½ and weï¿½ve seen a lot together. I didnï¿½t believe them until I sat through this thing.

Styx and the Contemporary Youth Orchestra of Cleveland: One With Everything ï¿½ I added this one simply because itï¿½s refreshing to see kids who werenï¿½t even born when Styx ruled the airwaves rocking out to songs with their violins and tubas, huge smiles on their faces. The medley of deep cuts is pure genius, and my 9-year-old daughter loves this thing.

Top 5 Reissues/Live Recordings

Bruce Hornsby: Intersections ï¿½ Full of new arrangements of old songs, as well as plenty of unreleased material, collaborations with artists ranging from The Grateful Dead to Roger Waters, and humble Hornsby-penned liner notes, this is everything a box set should be (and even a little more).

Dream Theater: Score ï¿½ I was expecting another mind-numbing marathon, a la Live At Budokan. Instead, I heard a convincing argument for why the members of Dream Theater remain the godfathers of American progressive metal.

Fish: Return to Childhood ï¿½ Nothing will ever top the original, simply because itï¿½s the original. But given the date and all the baggage Fish has carried over the years, Misplaced Childhood (as well as all of the Fish material aired here) holds up remarkably well.

Robert Plant: Nine Lives ï¿½ Exquisitely but impractically packaged, this beautiful collection includes all of Plantï¿½s solo albums (with bonus tracks) and a hefty DVD that chronicles the musical chameleonï¿½s transformation from lead singer for the biggest band in the world to true solo artist.

Great Big Sea: Courage & Patience & Grit ï¿½ You want truly progressive music? Check out these Canadian dudes who blend sea chanty and rock music into an intoxicating aural elixir. This live album will make you want to dig into the bandï¿½s rousing back-catalog, while the accompanying DVD will just make you happy to be alive. I kid you not.

ALBUM MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO IN 2007: Symphony X: "Paradise Lost"

Steve Pettengill
Top 10 CDs
1. Muse-Black Holes and Revelations
2. La Maschera Di Cera-Lux Ade
3. Deep Purple-1993 (box set)
4. Djambra-Kamihitoe
5. Iron Maiden-A Matter of Life and Death
6. PFM-Stati di Immaginazione
7. White Willow-Signal to Noise
8. Steve Hackett-Wild Orchids
9. Tool-10,000 Days
10. Naikaku-Shell

Top 5 DVDs
1. Rainbow-Live in Munich
2. Kiss-Kissology
3. Best of Krautrock Vol. 1
4. Mike Oldfield-Live in Montreux
5. IQ-Stage

Top 5 Concerts
1. Queen w/ Paul Rodgers
2. Nearfest 2006
3. Roger Waters
4. Richard Thompson
5. Blue Oyster Cult/Foghat

Mike Blackburn
Top Ten 2006

Vanden Plas : Christ O

Joe Bonamassa : You and Me

Andy Timmons : Resolution

Electric Outlet : On!

Joe Satriani : Super Colossal

The Flyinï¿½ Ryan Brothers: Blue Marble

Dragonforce : Inhuman Rampage

Tommy Bolin : Whips and Roses Vol 1

Alex Masi : Late Night at desert Rimrock

Baltimoore : X

Elias Granillo Best Of 2006 (in some kind of order):

ï¿½ Kenso ï¿½ Utsuroi Yuku Mono ...another mindblowing album from the kings of Japanese fusion. Everybody should know 'em by now.

ï¿½ Sur Oculto ï¿½ Estados ï¿½along with DPI, the left-fielder of the year! This keyboard trio from Argentina hadn't released a CD since their debut five years ago. This is no ELP knock-off; Sur Oculto gets down 'n' dirty and takes their cues from symph, avant-prog & fusion (Magma/Corea), and the drummer's a nut. Due to arriving so late in the northern hemisphere, this album may take a while to catch on, but rest assured dis is da bomb.

ï¿½ Zombi ï¿½ Surface To Air ...Steve Moore & A.E. Paterra are the coolest American duo operating today. Grandiose synthesizer sounds meld with power drumming and funky bassing and the Goblin boys better be proud.

ï¿½ DPI ï¿½ Found Objects ...D stands for [keyboardist Vince] Dicola, P stands for [(Jethro Tull) drummer Doane] Perry, and I stands for [bassist Paul]Ill (as in "you be illin'). Three stellar long-form, kaleidoscopic prog rockin' excursions recorded & produced at Travis Dickerson's studio (where Buckethead records most of his solo stuff). These guys have recorded hours of music ï¿½ when's the next one?!

ï¿½ Rick Wakeman ï¿½ Retro ï¿½this man is ageless, timeless. He takes a lickin' and...you get it. With Retro he finally revisited his long-stored analog gear and (gasp!) made MUSIC with it! This is a fantastic CD, one of the highlights of the year for me.

ï¿½ Bootcut ï¿½ De Fluff ï¿½I think Bootcut's now my favorite band out of Sweden. The duo's sophomore release adds some guests to their B3 organ & tubs broth and comes out swingin' with something more than prog, like "cinematic fusion" or something to that effect. Rikard Sjoblom is at least as competent a B3 organist as John Novello, even if Bootcut prioritizes ingenuity over chops 'n' wailing.

ï¿½ Naikaku ï¿½ Shell ï¿½#2 by this insane Japanese heavy-fusion band blew up mice in a lab test! (Okay, that wasn't funny.) The coolest output from Japan of this sort (very different from Kenso) since Pochakaite Malko's debut.

ï¿½ La Maschera di Cera ï¿½ LuxAde ï¿½looks like this is the best "modern retro" symph-prog release of '06! Superb.

ï¿½ Rikard Sjoblom ï¿½ Cyklonmannen ï¿½Sjoblom's soundtrack to the novel is sweet stuff and not exactly Bootcut Part Deux, either.

ï¿½ Saga ï¿½ Trust ï¿½open mouth, insert foot. I can't believe it, but these guys are actually on the upswing, and this ï¿½ hard to believe, but true! ï¿½ is their single best release overall since 1983's Heads Or Tales! What a great leadoff track.

ï¿½ Rocket Scientists ï¿½ Revolution Road ï¿½they're baaaaack! Wow, the last RS album was in 1998. Erik Norlander & his Wall Of Doom, Don Schiff and his off-the-hook NS/Stick skillz, and Mark McCrite's ace songwriting return, with some great guest vocal/instrumental power. As much as I love vintage keys and Norlander's keyboard prowess, I think it's safe to say that the Rocket Scientists would not be the same band without Schiff. That guy is something else.

ï¿½ East Wind Pot ï¿½ East Wind Pot ï¿½super new Japanese fusion group with ex-Theta personnel that would've had this year's title (next to Hiromiï¿½see below) but, well, Kenso put one out! (Hahaha!) EWP definitely has the edge over Side Steps and some of the other Japanese "cookie cutter" fusion outfits.

ï¿½ Hiromi ï¿½ Spiral ï¿½3rd and possibly best CD by the amazing jazz-fusion pianist!

ï¿½ David Kikoski ï¿½ Lighter Way ...here's a long-running jazz pianist cooking his wares in more fusiony kiln. Giving Hiromi a run for her money, he composes one fabulous solo instrumental, struts his stuff with his bassist & drummer, and then for six sizzling minutes, turns the heat up with a spitfire monophonic right-hand [analog] lead that takes things into Niacin territory. A "chance purchase," too!

ï¿½ Audioslave ï¿½ Revelations ï¿½they're never going to match their amazing debut (rock perfection) but this set still cranks with songs like "Sound Of A Gun" and "Moth."

ï¿½ Cheap Trick ï¿½ Rockford ...tasty new rock from the Trick! Don't call them a nostalgia act.

ï¿½ The Mars Volta ï¿½ Amputechture ...more goodness from the Volta. (I still like De-loused the best. Sue me.)

ï¿½ Fall Of Echoesï¿½ The Red Tree ...swell debut from the Orphan Project/Visual Cliff guys. The follow-up with the expanded line-up will roll over this one.

Honorable Mention:

ï¿½ TOOL ï¿½ 10,000 Days ...Wot?! you say? Well, TOOL have recorded some amazing sh*t but for all the hype this album has received, it's a rather uneven platter that doesn't quite stack up against Lateralus ("The Pot" is truly a killer song, though). I think it's time for the Toolheads to mix it up a bit. They've grown too comfortable within their niche.

Top Remasters/Reissues Of 2006 (in alphabetical order):

ï¿½ Jerry Goodman & Jan Hammer ï¿½ Like Children ï¿½the landmark fusion album, finally on CD. Jan is definitely a contender for the Best Keyboardist of the '70s title. This is so essential it t'ain't funny!

ï¿½ Jan Hammer Group ï¿½ Oh Yeah? ï¿½we waited forever for a new reissue of this. Killer funkified fusion (two tracks with vocals, even...and they're good!).

ï¿½ Rick Wakeman ï¿½ 1984 ï¿½hot-sounding remaster of Rick's best '80s album!

ï¿½ Santana ï¿½ Santana III {Legacy Edition} ï¿½the best studio album from pre-Caravanserai Santana in a new 2CD remaster with superior packaging and a 2nd bonus live disc! Need I say more?

ï¿½ Rick Wakeman ï¿½ Out There ï¿½okay, this did come out in '03, but the new issue with the blue cover is cooler. (-;

Top DVDs of 2006 (quality vs. quantity!):

ï¿½ Rainbow ï¿½ Live In Munich '77 ï¿½like Jacoby & Meyers ï¿½ it's about time!

ï¿½ Erik Norlander & Friends ï¿½ Live In St. Petersburg ï¿½slick DVD/CD set with Erik in "power keyboard trio" mode on several tracks! And loads of other neato stuff.

ï¿½ Thin Lizzy ï¿½ Greatest Hits ï¿½finally, a semi-comprehensive collection of Lizzy's promos. Bitchin'!

ï¿½ Rush ï¿½ Replay x3 ï¿½all three of Rush's 1980s concert videos on DVD in a box at a very fan-friendly price, PLUS a bonus audio CD of Grace Under Pressure Tour! To deem this essential is to overstate the obvious.

ï¿½ Bruford ï¿½ Rock Goes To College ...savor the flavor! Probably the only official video doc we'll ever get of Bill's legendary fusion group. Cha cha!

ï¿½ Stream Of Passion ï¿½ Live In The Real World ï¿½great power metal with hot babes! Seriously, it's good music. Seriously, there are some babes in this band!!

Scott Borre
1) Hammers of Misfortune - The Locust Years : Cobbett is one of the best song writers in music today. This album is a can't miss.
2) Firewind - Allegiance : The songs are all distinct, well written, and well played. What more can you ask for?
3) Elvenking - Winters Wake : Power folk that is energetic and catchy. I can't get enough.
4) Dark Empire - Distant Tides : Power, prog, and thrash were meant to be together. Excellent album, can't wait for the next.
5) Korpiklaani - Take Along This Road : It kicked my ass.
6) Blind Guardian - Twist in the Myth : I think that this album was highly underrated by the metal community. It is as strong as Somewhere Far Beyond.
7) Mercenary - Hours that Remain : Melodic power-death at its best.
8) Iron Maiden - A Matter of Life and Death : Its good. As long as you know that they recorded this album while playing live, thus you won't have it sound like a ProTools masterpiece (which seemingly peoples ears rather prefer).
9) Circle II Circle - The Burden of Truth : Zak at his best. Great singing, great songs to listen to.
10) Falconer - Northwind : I love them. Pure escpaism metal where I am flown above battlefield and seas by the voice of Mattias.
11) Virgin Steele - Visions of Eden : Great concept, great song writing. Despite some comments by others, I was never bored. Liked every song.
12) Rhapsody of Fire - Triumph or Agony : Their best effort lately
13) Iron Fire - Revenge : There is something about this band that makes me love them.
14) Dissection - Reinkaos : Amazing album. Just don't expect it to sound like the others. Sadly, there will be no more.
15) Die Apokalyptischen Reiter - Riders On The Storm : I just enjoyed it.

Kerry Leimer CDs (Alphabetical Order)

Leo Abrahams: Scene Memory ï¿½ A much more musical sort of experiment

Gavin Bryars: On Photography ï¿½ A modern master

Clogs: Lantern ï¿½ Melodic and beautiful without ever being pretty

Robert Henke: Layering Buddha ï¿½ One of the few who is originating music in wholly new ways

Henry Cow: Box ï¿½ BIttern storm over remixes

Joseph Holbrooke Trio: The Moat Recordings ï¿½ A definitive tutorial on improvisation

The Necks: Chemist ï¿½ Transplendent!

Sparks: Hello Young Lovers ï¿½ Theme on theme on theme and variable and varied variation

John Tavener: The Veil of the Temple ï¿½ Chant of the long now

Chris Whitley: Reiter In ï¿½ A disarmingly diverse farewell

Univers Zero: Live ï¿½ A long time coming

Zaar: Zaar ï¿½ RIO lives, sadly the guitarist no longer does...

FILMS / TELEVISION

Cachï¿½ ï¿½ Most sane look yet at the notion of terror

Children of Men ï¿½ Perhaps it's the culture of fear that's sterile

Deadwood ï¿½ Remarkable language, acting and ideas about corruption

The King ï¿½ Flawed but earnest deconstruction of the "family"

Little Children ï¿½ Owes much to Todd Solondz' Happiness

The Piano Teacher ï¿½ I know it's from '02, but finally saw it in '06

Reds ï¿½ Finally available on DVD

BOOKS: FICTION

Martin Amis: House of Meetings ï¿½ Inner and outer gulags

John Banville: The Sea ï¿½ Dislocation from the self

J. M. Coetzee: Slow Man ï¿½ Yet another sort of dislocation from the self

BOOKS: NONFICTION

Richard Dawkins: The God Delusion ï¿½ No kidding?

Sam Harris: Letter to a Christian Nation ï¿½ A handbook for the reality-based community

Bob Woodward: State of Denial ï¿½ No kidding!

Pete Pardo
Pete Pardoï¿½s Best of 2006

The Top 50 CDï¿½s of 2006
1) Mercenary-the Hours that Remainï¿½the years most powerful release, a melodic mix of power, progressive, & death metal, and contains one of the best songs of 2006, ï¿½Lost Realityï¿½
2) Zero Hour-Specs of Pictures Burnt Beyondï¿½a VERY close second. The most complex album Iï¿½ve heard in years.
3) Mastodon-Blood Mountainï¿½ As good, if not better, than Leviathan.
4) Amorphis-Eclipseï¿½The lads from Finland pull another classic from their sleeves.
5) Scar Symmetry-Pitch Black Effectsï¿½Raging guitar solos, soaring clean vocals, brutal death metal growls-brilliant!
6) Lamb of God-Sacramentï¿½Their best yet. Future legends. The first four songs are instant classics!
7) Communic-Waves of Visual Decayï¿½Melodic, crushing mix of power & progressive metal. Future stars.
8) Iron Maiden-A Matter of Life and Deathï¿½Forget the negative press, Maiden are back with their most epic album yet.
9) I ï¿½Between two Worldsï¿½Great project from members of Immortal, Enslaved, and Gorgoroth.
10) Enslaved-RUUNï¿½The black metal titans get even more progressive!
11) Satyricon-Now, Diabolicalï¿½Grooviest black metal anthems around.
12) Celtic Frost-Monotheistï¿½Legends of avant-garde metal return!
13) Vanden Plas-Christ O ï¿½Stunning operatic progressive metal. Their best yet!
14) Saga ï¿½Trust ï¿½Return to classic early 80ï¿½s sounds from Canadian prog/pop legends.
15) Into Eternity-The Scattering of Ashes...Super complex prog-metal.
16) Spockï¿½s Beard-Spockï¿½s Beardï¿½Their best release from the post-Morse era.
17) Cradle of Filth-Thornographyï¿½The always controversial UK demons release their most traditional metal & gothic album yet.
18) Dragonforce-Inhuman Rampageï¿½Insanely wicked UK power metal with the sickest guitar & keyboard shredding around!
19) unexpecT- In a Flesh Acquariumï¿½Call it what you will, this is wild, complex avant-garde progressive metal.
20) In Flames-Come Clarityï¿½Legends of Gothenbergï¿½s melodic death metal scene return to form!
21) Ihsahn-The Adversaryï¿½Emperor front manï¿½s first solo album is a winner of progressive & black metal styles.
22) Cryptic Vision-In a Worldï¿½Very solid US progressive metal. These guys keep getting better.
23) Vader-Impressions in Bloodï¿½Polish death metal doesnï¿½t get much better than this.
24) Deicide-Stench of Redemptionï¿½Florida death metal legends best album ever!
25) Devin Townsend Band-Synchestraï¿½More wild progressive rock from Townsendï¿½s solo band.
26) Blind Guardian-A Twist in the Mythï¿½The most accessible album yet from these power metal leaders.
27) Voivod-Katorzï¿½We miss ya Piggy!
28) Seventh Wonder-Waiting in the Wingsï¿½Brilliant European progressive metal.
29) Nebelnest-Zeptoï¿½The kings of modern, dark prog rock are back!
30) My Dying Bride-A Line of Deathless Kingsï¿½One of the classic doom/goth bands around.
31) Twisted Into Form-There Comes Affliction to Awaken the Dreamerï¿½Great new technical metal from this supergroup.
32) The Tangent-A Place In the Queueï¿½Great Canterbury styled prog rock!
33) Katatonia-The Great Cold Distanceï¿½Atmospheric gothic doom from Swedish veterans.
34) Advent-Cantus Firmusï¿½Brilliant Gentle Giant influenced 70ï¿½s style prog rock.
35) Andromeda-Chimeraï¿½One of the best progressive metal bands around.
36) Decapitated-Organic Hallucinosisï¿½Polandï¿½s mighty technical death metal lads return with their best yet.
37) Bal-Sagoth: The Chthonic Chroniclesï¿½More Sci-Fi drenched symphonic black metal from these British upstarts
38) Spaced Out-Unstable Matterï¿½Killer instrumental fusion from Canada!
39) Karcius-Kaliedoscopeï¿½More killer instrumental fusion from Canada!
40) Agalloch-Ashes Against the Grainï¿½Avant-garde black metal with plenty of prog & ambient elements.
41) Rocket Scientists-Revolution Roadï¿½Symphonic prog & hard rock-great songs!
42) Borknagar-Originï¿½Black Metal veterans go acoustic!
43) Wyatt-Whitaker-Pedal Giant Animalsï¿½Happy the Man founders excellent side project!
44) Akercocke-Words That Go Unspoken, Deeds That Go Undoneï¿½Satanic death/black metal band goes progressive!
45) Rick Wakeman-Retroï¿½The keyboard legend returns with an analog feast!
46) Manning-Anserï¿½s Treeï¿½The prolific Guy Manning churns out another symphonic, folky, proggy gem!
47) Proto-Kaw-The Wait of Gloryï¿½Kerry Livgren & Co. unleash another great mix of prog & catchy hard rock.
48) Insomnium-Above the Weeping Worldï¿½Wonderful melodic death metal. Future stars?
49) Jon Olivaï¿½s Pain-Maniacal Renderingsï¿½Fans of 80ï¿½s Savatage should love this!
50) Unearth-III: In the Eyes of Fire ï¿½Third times a charm-great thrash guitars!

Best Live Albums of 2006
1) Univers Zero-Live
2) Jam Camp-Live
3) Mike Keneally-Guitar Therapy Live
4) Soft Machine-Floating World Live
5) Bill Bruford-Earthworks Underground Orchestra
6) Dream Theater-Score
7) Fish-Return to Childhood
8) Mangrove-Coming Back to Live
9) Children of Bodom-Chaos Ridden Years
10) Michael Landau Group-Live
11) High Wheel-Live Before the Storm
12) Kamelot-One Cold Winter's Night

Best DVDï¿½s of 2006
1) Arch Enemy-Live Apocalypse
2) KISS-KISSology
3) Rush-Replay X3
4) Rainbow-Live in Munich 1977
5) Deep Purple-Live in California 74
6) Gentle Giant-GG at the GG
7) Nektar-Live in Germany 2005
8) Glass Hammer-Live at Belmont
9) Mike Stern-New Morning: The Paris Concert
10) Erik Norlander & Friends-Live in St. Petersburg
11) Whitesnake-Live in the Still of the Night
12) Deep Purple-Live at Montreux 1996
13) Black Label Society-The European Invasion: Doom Troopinï¿½ Live
14) The Who-Live at the Isle of Wight Festival Special Edition
15) Uli John Roth-Historic Performances Vol. 1 & 2
16) Kamelot-One Cold Winters Night
17) Iced Earth-Alive in Athens
18) Soft Machine Legacy-New Morning: The Paris Concert
19) The Who-The Vegas Job
20) Pat Travers Band-Live: Hooked on Music
21) Children of Bodom-Chaos Ridden Years
22) Amon Amarth-Wrath of the Norsemen

Best Concerts of 2006
1) Gigantour-PNC Bank Arts Center, Holmdel, NJ
2) NEARfest-Zolner Arts Center, Bethlehem, PA
3) SAGA-BB King Blues Club, New York, NY
4) Dream Theater-Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY
5) Uli John Roth, BB King Blues Club, New York, NY
6) The Who-TD Waterhouse Center, Boston, MA
7) Celtic Frost-BB King Blues Club, New York, NY
8) In Flames-Webster Hall, New York, NY
9) Nile/Hypocrisy-BB King Blues Club, New York, NY
10) Fear Factory/Suffocation/Hypocrisy/Decapitated-The Chance, Poughkeepsie, NY
11) Asia-The Nokia Theatre, New York, NY
12) Carl Palmer Band-BB King Blues Club, New York, NY
13) Morbid Angel/Behemoth-BB King Blues Club, New York, NY
14) Children of Bodom/Amon Amarth/Gojira-Nokia Theatre, New York, NY
15) The Gathering/unexpecT/Giant Squid-The Knitting Factory, New York, NY

Greg Cummins
My Top 10 CD's of 2006

1. Sylvan ï¿½ Posthumous Silence
2. Paatos ï¿½ Silence Of Another Kind
3. Sonic Music ï¿½ The Prisoner
4. Difficul Equilibro ï¿½ Kazmor el Prisonero
5. East Wind Pot ï¿½ East Wind Pot
6. OSI ï¿½ Free
7. Saga ï¿½ Trust
8. Scott Mosher ï¿½ Deep Horizon
9. The Ring - The Empire Of Necromancers
10. Zaar ï¿½ Zaar

Ryan Sparks
My Top 15 CD's of 2006

1) Celtic Frost: Monotheist
2) Ruins of Beverast: Unlock The Shrine
3) Wolves in The Throne Room: Diadem of 12 Stars
4) Hubi Meisel: Kailash
5) Agaloch: Ashes Against The Grain
6) Nactmystium: Instinct: Decay
7) Zero Hour: Specs of Pictures Burnt Beyond
8) Satyricon: Now Diabolical
9) Hank Williams III : Straight to Hell
10) Dennis Dunaway Project: Bones From The Yard
11) Motorhead: Kiss of Death
12) Anthropia: The Ereyn Chronicles - Part 1
13) Section A: Parallel Lives
14) Lacrimas Profundere: Filthy Notes For Frozen Hearts
15) Kataklysm: In The Arms of Devastation

Duncan Glenday
My top batch for 2006. My problem is that there are many (apparently) excellent releases that I havenï¿½t heard yet ï¿½ so this list is far from absolute.

These are listed in rough priority. But if I should be asked to rank them next week, Iï¿½ï¿½d probably list them in a very different sequence ï¿½ although itï¿½s a pretty safe bet that the top few would keep their positions.

Best Of 2006

UnexpecT -- In A Flesh Aquarium

Deluge Grander -- August in the Urals

Sylvan -- Posthumous Silence

La Maschera di Cera -- LuXade

Iona - The Circling Hour

Borknagar ï¿½ Origin, AND Green Carnation -- The Acoustic Verses (a tie)

Phideaux -- The Great Leap

Viima -- Ajatuksia Maailman Laidalta

Pure Reason Revolution -- The Dark Third

Townsend, Devin -- Synchestra

Mars Volta, The -- Amputechture

Electric Outlet -- On!

Estradasphere -- Palace Of Mirrors

Frost* -- Milliontown

Zero Hour -- Specs of Pictures Burnt Beyond

Rocket Scientists -- Revolution Road

Fluttr Effect -- Marking Time

Tool -- 10,000 Days

Guy Manning -- Anser's Tree

White Willow -- Signal To Noise

Vanden Plas -- Christ.0

Celtic Frost -- Monotheist

Proto-Kaw -- The Wait of Glory

Paatos -- Silence of Another Kind

Saturnus -- Veronika Decides To Die

And special mentions go to:

Imagin' Aria -- Progetto T.I.'A (Because itï¿½s helping revive classic Italian prog, in a modern idiom)

Queensryche -- Operation Mindcrime II (Because itï¿½s such a brave, ambitious return ï¿½ albeit with mixed results)

Project Creation -- The Floating World (Because itï¿½s a very promising debut,)

Dream Theater -- Score - 20th Anniversary World Tour (Because of the wonderful inclusion of the orchestra, in a live environment)

Ken Pierce
The Top 50 CDï¿½s of 2006

Mercenary - The Hours That Remain. A great followup to 11 dreams. This is a band that is taking chances in Metal.
Mastodon - Blood Mountain: Jazz Fusion Metal? I dunno, but the new Mastodon sure kicks your ass around the block.
Amorphis - Eclipseï¿½Finland boys return and do more good. Lots of feels on this one.
Scar Symmetry - Pitch Black Effectsï¿½Raging guitar solos, soaring clean vocals, brutal death metal growls-brilliant!
Lamb of God - Sacramentï¿½Their best yet. Future legends. The first four songs are instant classics and if you donï¿½t find your fist in the air for this release you donï¿½t have one. Go watch American Idol
Iron Maiden - A Matter of Life and Death: Up the Irons, pure and simple. Some bad press from some people who donï¿½t see the return to form. They are idiots.
I ï¿½ Between Two Worlds: Great project from members of Immortal, Enslaved, and Gorgoroth.
Enslaved ï¿½ RUUN: The black metal titans get even more progressive and this is an incredible listen from start to finish
Satyricon - Now, Diabolical: More Metal needs to be like this.
Vanden Plas - Christ O ï¿½Stunning operatic progressive metal. Their best yet! Especially the bonus track
Into Eternity - The Scattering of Ashes...Super complex prog-metal.
Cradle of Filth-Thornographyï¿½The always controversial UK demons release their most traditional metal & gothic album yet.
Dragonforce-Inhuman Rampageï¿½Insanely wicked UK power metal with the sickest guitar & keyboard shredding around!
unexpecT- In a Flesh Acquarium: You will listen to this three times and still be lost. It is that good and that diverse. Siriak for Prime Minister of Montreal
In Flames-Come Clarityï¿½Legends of Gothenbergï¿½s melodic death metal scene return to form!
Ihsahn-The Adversaryï¿½Emperor front manï¿½s first solo album is a winner of progressive & black metal styles.
Deicide - Stench of Redemptionï¿½Florida death metal legends best album ever! I can say this proudly as someone who only casually followed them
Blind Guardian-A Twist in the Mythï¿½The most accessible album yet from these power metal leaders.
Decapitated-Organic Hallucinosisï¿½Polandï¿½s mighty technical death metal lads return with their best yet.
Agalloch-Ashes Against the Grainï¿½Avant-garde black metal with plenty of prog & ambient elements.
Trivium - The Crusadeï¿½Their homage to 80ï¿½s Metallica. Killer riffs!
Jon Olivaï¿½s Pain-Maniacal Renderingsï¿½Fans of 80ï¿½s Savatage should love this!
Amon Amarth - With Odin By our Side: Ever felt like a Viking warrior on a quest, this is your soundtrack.
Callenish Circle - Pitch Black Effects: Soilwork meets Mercenary meets Scar Symmetry, excellent stuff
Green Carnation - The Acoustic Verses: A band that never disappoints and yet still needs a larger US audience, hey peoples ARE YOU LISTENING.
Korpiklaani - Tales Along This Road: Folk Metalï¿½s finest purveyor.
Queensryche - Operation Mindcrime II: No MC1, but it should not have been. This takes a couple of listens and is a powerful revisit when you finally get it.
Dissection ï¿½ Reinkaos: The last recording. Nodveidt RIP.
Evergrey - Monday Morning Apocalypse: This grew on me.
Rebel Meets Rebel - Rebel Meets Rebel: Southern Fried Metal featuring Dimebag and Company. A sad reminder of why we miss him so much.
Cheap Trick ï¿½ Rockford: Cheap Trick return to a style they excelled at and this is good and tasty Rock & Roll.
Motorhead - Kiss of Death: Who does what Motorhead does like Motorhead? No one.
Eidolon-The Parallel Otherworld: The Drover Brothers show what else they are capable of.
All that Remains - The Fall of Ideals: An intense effort, bridging the gap of Metalcore with strong Melody. A welcome change.
Gojira - From Mars to Sirius: Good stuff, ala Mastodon only from France
To-Mera ï¿½ Transcendental: Progressive Melodic Experimental Metal. Julie Kiss rules
Angra - Aurora Consurgens: Angra is a band that never seems to disappoint.
Fairyland - The Fall of an Empire: All hail the heir to the throne of Rhapsody.
Wednesday 13 ï¿½ Fang Bang ï¿½ Ever wanted to dance with a dead body in a graveyard with a serial killer? Wow, me too and this is the music to do it by (only kidding, so please any serial killers do not contact me)

Best Live Albums of 2006

Dream Theater ï¿½ Score: The 20th Anniversary show, wow, has it been that long.

Fish - Return to Childhood: Fish brings to life once again, the Marillion that more people miss than do not.

Children of Bodom - Chaos Ridden Years

Kamelot - One Cold Winters Night

Best DVDï¿½s of 2006

Arch Enemy - Live Apocalypse: Do you love Angela Gossow? If not, I donï¿½t want to be the one to tell one of the most imposing of female singers today. This is a band that has done serious damage since her arrival and shows no signs of stopping.

KISS - KISSology : You wanted the best and you got the best the hottest band in the world KISS!!!!! Disagree with me? Shut up and get out of my way or wise up and enjoy this incredible archive of video footage from a band that started more trends than you can count..

Rush - Replay X3: 3 classic Rush out of print VHS films in a neato little package with mini-tourbooks, oh snap this was wonderful to see released.

Children Of Bodom ï¿½ Stockholm Knockout Live: Are you doubtful that COB is one of the more exciting bands of today, then buy this DVD and come talk to me again.

Therion ï¿½ Celebrators Of Becoming: Behind on your Therion, well this comprehensive and extensive boxed set will surely win you over and get you up to speed.

Stream Of Passion ï¿½ Live In The Real World: Arjen Lucassens project with the beautiful Marcela Bovio will take you to new musical realms.

Whitesnake - Live in the Still of the Night: Here they go again on their own, and guess what it all still kicks some serious bootie.

Sonata Arctica ï¿½ For The Sake Of Revenge: One of the best live bands for Metal today. They hold the banner high for the genre.

Black Label Society - The European Invasion: Doom Troopinï¿½ Live: so much better on this DVD than the last one. A tight set of crunching Hard Rock and Metal.

Kamelot - One Cold Winters Night: This is a concert film that will make you a fan for life. Dramatic, energetic, and passionate. Melodic Power Metal at its best.

Iced Earth - Alive in Athens: Jon Schaffer may not have wanted you to buy this, but this is a spot on concert film with the classic lineup of the group and the only way to enjoy a set featuring Barlow. Need I say more.

Best Concerts of 2006

Gigantour @ PNC Bank Arts Center, Holmdel, NJ: A concert with Megadeth, Opeth, Overkill, Into Eternity, Arch Enemy, and Lamb Of God? Of course this was a blast of a time. How could it not be.

Kamelot/Epica ï¿½ B.B. King Blues Club, NY: Two of my new favorites on one tour package, yes indeed the Power Melodic was in force here.

Emperor @ B.B. King Blues Club, NY: The return of Isahn and company and while down an original member who could not gain US access, this was an incredible show. Never saw the venue more crowded before.

Dream Theater @ Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY: 20 years of Dream Theater ï¿½ Whoï¿½s coming along for the next 20?

Uli John Roth @ B.B. King Blues Club, New York, NY: This is a man who inspired many and is still considered a mystery to many. Thank God he performed in NYC and for a packed house. He deserved it, and we hope for his return.

Celtic Frost @ B.B. King Blues Club, New York, NY: Influential Metallists and while I was not an original fan back when, I could not miss their NYC appearance.

In Flames @ Webster Hall, New York, NY: This was a great time, and Trivium made it all the more enjoyable as well.

The Amazing Journey @ B.B. King Blues Club, NY: Wow, the music of the Who performed by Mike Portnoy, Billy Sheehan, Paul Gilbert and Gary Cherone. Need I say more? I didnï¿½t think so.

Carl Palmer Band @ B.B. King Blues Club, New York, NY : One of the greatest drummers alive in a comfortable club playing renditions of music he created with a 16 year old version of Alan Holdsworth, oh yeah buddy.

Morbid Angel/Behemoth @ B.B. King Blues Club, New York, NY: This was a show that was so heavy your fillings would rumble and that was if you survived the giant most pit the floor became. This was Metal all the way. Intense, brutal and uncompromising.

Poison with Cinderella @ PNC Bank Arts Center: I was looking for Nothing But A Good Time and boy did I have it in spades.

Murat Batmaz
Top 10 CD's of 2006

1 - Zero Hour - Specs of Pictures Burnt Beyond
2 - Vanden Plas - Christ 0
3 - Katatonia - The Great Cold Distance
4 - OSI - Free
5 - Devin Townsend Band - Synchestra
6 - Cult of Luna - Somewhere Along the Highway
7 - Wolverine - Still
8 - Spaced Out - Unstable Matter
9 - Canvas Solaris - Penumbra Diffuse
10 - Novembre - Materia

Best debuts:

1 - Degree Absolute - Degree Absolute
2 - Red Circuit - Trance State
3 - To-Mera - Transcendental
4 - Darwin's Radio - Eyes of the World
5 - Thom Yorke - The Eraser
6 - Bloodbound - Nosferatu
7- Ihsahn - The Adversary
8- Intronaut - Void

[ Back to Year's Best | Sections Index ]

For information regarding where to send CD promos and advertising, please see our FAQ page.
If you have questions or comments, please Contact Us.
Please see our Policies Page for Site Usage, Privacy, and Copyright Policies.

All logos and trademarks in this site are property of their respective owner. The comments are property of their posters, all other content © Sea of Tranquility

SoT is Hosted by SpeedSoft.com