Best CDs of 2006 NPR's critics and stations present their choices for the best and most notable CDs of the year, complete with a song from each selection.

Special Series

Best CDs of 2006

NPR's critics and stations present their choices for the best and most notable CDs of the year.

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Best Classical CDs of 2006, from WGBH

December 29, 2006 • Brian McCreath is host of Classical Weekend on Boston-based NPR station WGBH. Here, he compiles a list of the five best classical CDs to emerge this year, ranging from the complete Mozart to the works of contemporary composer Paul Moravec (left).

Songs of the Year: Top 10 CDs of 2006

December 25, 2006 • Song of the Day editor Stephen Thompson listened to thousands of albums in 2006 before settling on these 10 frequently overlooked favorites.

The Best of the Year in Jazz, from WBGO

December 19, 2006 • WBGO hosts Gary Walker, Rhonda Hamilton and Michael Bourne pick their favorite jazz albums of 2006 in a lively roundtable discussion. The list they assembled was extensive: everything from industry stalwarts to younger musicians exploring new directions in jazz, as well as some blues for good measure.

The Best of the Year in Jazz, from WBGO

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Musicians Pick the Discoveries of 2006, from WFUV

December 19, 2006 • New York-based NPR station WFUV gathered year-in-review lists from an assortment of musicians (Josh Ritter, Erin McKeown, G. Love, Sondre Lerche and Pete Yorn) and veteran station host Vin Scelsa, with an emphasis on both new faces and rediscovered old ones.

Discoveries of 2006 from WFUV's 'City Folk Morning'

December 19, 2006 • Claudia Marshall, host of City Folk Morning on New York-based NPR station WFUV, compiled this list of the year's best discoveries: breakthrough artists likely to make a bigger mark in the months and years to come.

2006's Top 10 Classical-Music Discoveries, from WGUC

December 12, 2006 • Cincinnati-based WGUC plays classical music 24 hours a day, reaching out to the genre's newcomers and longtime aficionados alike. WGUC music director Kent Teeters compiled this list of the 10 best classical CD discoveries of 2006.

NPR Listeners Pick the Best CDs of 2006

December 7, 2006 • Find out the number one album of the year as selected by NPR listeners. Count down the top ten CDs with All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen as he chats with reviewers Robert Christgau, Will Hermes, Meredith Ochs and John Richards.

Listen to All Songs Considered count down listener picks for the year's best CDs (90 mins).

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KEXP's 10 (Well, 11) Best Debut CDs of 2006

December 6, 2006 • NPR station KEXP is an influential and innovative cultural force in Seattle and beyond. Kevin Cole — host of Afternoon Show, which highlights new releases, previews, vintage tracks, rarities, B-sides and in-studio performances — compiled this list of notable debuts.

Meredith Ochs: Top Ten CDs of 2006

December 5, 2006 • NPR music reviewer Meredith Ochs shares her picks for the year's best CDs. Ochs is host of Sirius Satellite Radio's "Outlaw Country" channel, a contributing editor for Guitar World magazine and a regular contributor to NPR's All Things Considered. She's also the vocalist and guitarist for the rock band The Damn Lovelys.

Will Hermes: Top Ten CDs of 2006

December 5, 2006 • Writer and reviewer Will Hermes shares his favorite albums of the past year. Hermes is a frequent contributor to NPR's All Things Considered and writes for Spin Magazine, The New York Times and Entertainment Weekly. He's also the co-editor of Spin: 20 Years of Alternative Music.

John Richards' Top 10 CDs of 2006

December 5, 2006 • John Richards, morning DJ for NPR station KEXP in Seattle, shares his picks for the year's best albums. Richards recently appeared as a guest on NPR's live online, call-in edition of All Songs Considered to help count down listener picks for the top ten CDs of 2006.

World Cafe's Top 10 CDs of 2006

December 4, 2006 • World Cafe features daily interviews and live in-studio performances from seasoned music veterans and new sensations, in genres ranging from rock to blues to folk to alternative country and beyond. From NPR station WXPN, host David Dye chooses his favorite albums of 2006.

Folk Alley's Top 10 CDs of 2006

WKSU

December 1, 2006 • FolkAlley.com, an Internet folk-music service produced by NPR station WKSU in Kent, Ohio, specializes in a blend of contemporary and traditional singer/songwriters, Americana, roots, Celtic, bluegrass, world music and more. Here's a look at Folk Alley's picks for the best albums of 2006.