There was some great new music in 2006. Here are some of my favorites:

• Pure Reason Revolution – “The Dark Third”Pure Reason Revolution, an English art rock group, had a strong debut with “The Dark Third”. The album is about the eight hours a day (or so) we spend asleep, hence the title. There’s incredible variety on this album which makes it a very satisfying listen, although a few more musical themes would be welcome.“The Dark Third” is highlighted by the introductory instrumental, “Aeropause”. My favorite tracks also include “Apprentice of the Universe”, “Nimos and Tambos”, and “Bullitts Dominae”. Pure Reason Revolution has a heavy sound but uses both male and female lead vocals to good effect. There’s a bit too much reliance on keyboards for my taste, but only in a few parts. The symphonic production gives the music an epic sense.Pure Reason Revolution will be opening for Blackfield during their 2007 European tour.
• Frost – “Milliontown”“Milliontown” is another fantastic debut album. Unfortunately, it may also be the only album Frost produces. Still, like Pure Reason Revolution, Frost maintains a varied, mostly upbeat sound. One of my favorite aspects of this album is its heavy reliance on piano and keyboards. Lyrically, I like the simplicity and muted vocals of “No Me No You”. Musically, the climax of “Black Light Machine” and the 26+ minute epic, “Milliontown” are as good as it gets. “Black Light Machine” does a good job of bringing the live feeling to a polished studio release with its variety of solos. “Milliontown” keeps you interested for nearly half an hour, which is a feat in itself. The title track has many movements but the transition is always natural. “Milliontown” is an album full of energy that will surprise many listeners.
• Aviv Geffen – “With the Time”Aviv Geffen is a superstar in Israel but not well known abroad. His side project with Steven Wilson (Porcupine Tree), Blackfield, is gaining popularity. “With the Time” is an excellent album. Geffen’s music is lead by the (Hebrew) vocals and very melodic. Piano and strings are utilized throughout. Two tracks, “A Thousand People” and “Epidemic” will be on the second Blackfield album in English, while another, “Glow”, was on the first Blackfield album. Generally, the music is down-tempo (one exception is “Tomorrow”) and somber, in line with the lyrical themes. While I prefer his previous release, “Memento Mori”, “With the Time” is a very enjoyable album.
• OSI – “Free”OSI’s first release, the self-titled “Office of Strategic Influence” was one of the best releases of 2003. “Free”, while in a more traditional format, is another good album. The sound is full of electronic effects. The title track fairly straight-up metal. Some of the highlights include “All Gone Now”, “Bigger Wave”, and “Once”.
• Spock’s Beard – “Spock’s Beard”Spock’s Beard ninth album is eponymous. The band’s sound has certainly changed since Neal Morse left. My favorite track is “All That’s Left”. The chorus is well-executed and the overall vibe of the song is really nice. “As Far as the Mind Can See” is a good epic, but not the band’s best. The deliberate pacing of “They Know We Know” is my favorite part of the epic. The best track of the album is the last, “Rearranged”. It relies on keyboard motifs for the lead but has a great, high-energy sound. The Beard makes a few appearances in North America and tours Europe in early 2007.
• Dream Theater – “Score”Dream Theater is one of the most famous progressive rock bands. Their latest live CD/DVD release, “Score” provides a good variety of their work from the past two decades. The sold out crowd at Radio City Music Hall adds another dimension to the music. This is first live release of the music from “Octavarium”. The highlight is the over 40-minute performance of “Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence” complete with a full orchestra! The performance of “Octavarium” (over 26 minutes) is also great. Finally, the band closes with one of their best performances of Metropolis (as they usually do).
• Liam Mayron – “Shift”
  
  No, it’s not one of the best releases of 2006 and it certainly doesn’t belong in the company of the aforementioned albums, but I released my first album in three years a few months ago. It’s available on iTunes and most online music stores as well as in your local music store (but you’ll probably have to request it).

My most anticipated album of 2007 is, by far, “Blackfield II”. Additionally, there are new releases from Dream Theater, Porcupine Tree, Glass Hammer, and Symphony X to look forward to.