Rough Edge: R. Scott Bolton's "Best of 2006"

THE BEST OF 2006
Editor-In-Chief R. Scott Bolton lists his favorites of the year
by R. Scott Bolton

2006 was a shitty year for a number of reasons, but one of those reasons wasn't music. 2006 was a great year for music. It was tough, but I managed to narrow them down to my favorite Top Ten, plus a batch of "Honorable Mentions" that would make a Top 100 list.

Here's to hoping 2007 is just as good!

Honorable Mention (in no particular order)
Warner Drive "Fully Loaded"
Rammstein "Rosenrot"
Iron Maiden "A Matter of Life and Death"
Hammerfall "
Mastodon "Blood Mountain"
Godsmack "IV"
The Haunted "The Dead Eye"
Dream Theater "Score"
Jed "Synesthesia"
Bob Seger "Face The Promise"
In Flames "Come Clarity"
One Dead Three Wounded "Paint The Town"
George Thorogood "The Hard Stuff"
Cheap Trick "Rockford"
Audioslave "Revelations"
Queensryche "Operation: Mindcrime II"
Wolfmother "Wolfmother"
Dream Theater "Score"

And, my Top Ten for 2006 (in no particular order)

TENACIOUS D "The Pick of Destiny"
Yeah, I know. It's just for fun. But the songwriting and musicianship here are truly amazing.

BLACK LABEL SOCIETY "Shot to Hell"
A lot of people didn't like this more introspective side of Zakk Wylde. I found it touching and explosive.

KROKUS "Hellraiser"
So pure 80s I couldn't stop listening to it. I don't think another band has captured this sound so purely in years and years.

SEPULTURA "Dante XXI"
Another great and ambitious album by a band we don't hear enough from.

SILENT CIVILIAN "Rebirth of the Temple"
Jonny Santos revitalizes thrash in this impressive debut from his new band.

HATEBREED "Supremacy"
I didn't like this band after seeing them live for the first time, but they've grown into one of metal's greatest.

IN FLAMES "Come Clarity"
A band that welcomes change and keeps the listener guessing. Great stuff.

ROB ZOMBIE "Educated Horses"
I couldn't decide between the new Iron Maiden and this one. I realized that I'll listen to Zombie's latest release more often than Maiden's and so Rob gets the nod.

PSYCHOSTICK "We Couldn't Think of a Title"
Any band that has this much fun is all right with me. We don't have enough fun in hard rock and heavy metal.

MOTORHEAD "Kiss of Death"
The greatest band on the planet release an album that's even better than the the hype. It can only be Motorhead. Far and away my favorite CD of the year.

Remember, "Music is the Most Individual Art."

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