Putting out a "Best of the Year" list is never easy. I always wonder if there is an album I have omitted simply because it has slipped my memory (although I do my best to check for every release I listened to that year as far as it being considered for the list). I also fear that omission from the list will disappoint artists whom I gave favorable reviews to this past year. Sadly, not every album I wrote a positive review of can make it to a "creme de la creme" list. Despite all this, every year I decide again to attempt to give special recognition to a choice few albums (this time, twelve recordings in each of the two major categories with three honorable mentions as well) simply because I want those artists to know how much I enjoyed and appreciated their work this past year.

Note that some of these albums have yet to be formally reviewed by yours truly for New Age Reporter, but trust me, those reviews are coming in the near future.

So, without further ado, here is my evaluation of what I consider to be the best releases I heard in 2006. Note that I only included CDs with a liner-note printed release date of 2006 (with one exception, that being Michael Fitzsimmons' Water Flows Over Me, which I confirmed with his label was actually released in 2006 but the liner notes state 2007 because widespread distribution would not start until then).

Both lists are in alphabetical order by artist name:

- Bill Binkelman - 2006

 

 The Twelve Best Ambient/Spacemusic/Electronica Recordings of 2006

 The Twelve Best New Age/Adult Contemporary/World Fusion Recordings of 2006

  Water Flows Over Me  - Artist: Michael Fitzsimmons,  Label: Dancing Man Music

  It's About The Rose  - Artist: Karen Marie Garrett,  Label: Waterstreet Records

  Beyond Words  - Artist: Gentle Thunder w/ Will Clipman & AmoChip Dabney,  
                                      Label: Delvian Records
                                      Review

  Beautiful Day  - Artist: Peter Janson & Friends,  Label: Eastern Woods Music
                                    Review

  A Thin Silence  - Artist: Jeff Johnson,  Label: Ark Music 
                                     Review

  Santiago's Dream  - Artist: Kevin Keller,  Label: Self Released

  Winter  - Artist: Kevin Kendle,  Label: Eventide Music 
                     Review

  Yosemite: Valley of the Giants  - Artist: Mars Lasar,  Label: Gemini Sun Records
                                                                        Review

  I Am a River  - Artist: Bill Leslie,  Label: GreyCliff Music
                               Review

  Alluvia  - Artist: Evren Ozan,  Label: Ozan Music
                    Review

  A Moment's Peace  - Artist: Tingstad & Rumbel,  Label: Cheshire Records
                                                Review

  Dance With The Wind  - Artist: Mary Youngblood,  Label: Silver Wave Records
                                                     Review

Honorable Mention

  The Sound of Peace  - Artist: John Fluker,  Label: Retribution Records
                                                  Review

  Soul Journey  - Artist: Shoshannah,  Label: SMC Records

  American Spirit  - Artist: Colors of the Land,  Label: Native Language Music