Assuming individual lists of prominent newspaper critics are eligible, the website for SOUND OPINIONS, the syndicated radio show hosted by Jim DeRogatis of the Chicago SUN-TIMES and Greg Kot of the Chicago TRIBUNE, has posted both critics' Best of 2006 lists. DeRogatis' list runs to 70 titles, while Kot restricts himself to 20:
Jim DeRogatis's Best of 2006
1. Art Brut, Bang Bang Rock & Roll
2. Lily Allen, Alright, Still
3. Gnarls Barkley, St. Elsewhere
4. The Decemberists, The Crane Wife
5. Lupe Fiasco, Lupe Fiasco’s Food & Liquor
6. Grandaddy, Just Like the Fambly Cat
7. Neil Young, Living with War
8. Peaches, Impeach My Bush
9. The Dresden Dolls, Yes, Virginia…
10. Rhymefest, Blue Collar
11. Cursive, Happy Hollow
12. Beck, The Information
13. Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins, Rabbit Fur Coat
14. Van Hunt, On the Jungle Floor
15. The Raconteurs, Broken Boy Soldiers
16. Mission of Burma, The Obliterati
17. Tom Petty, Highway Companion
18. Neko Case, Fox Confessor Brings the Flood
19. Secret Machines, Ten Silver Drops
20. Album Leaf, Into the Blue Again
21. The Clipse, Hell Hath No Fury
22. Mastodon, Blood Mountain
23. The BellRays, Have A Little Faith
24. My Chemical Romance, The Black Parade
25. Prince, 3121
26. Paul Simon, Surprise
27. Steve Wynn & the Miracle 3, …tick …tick …tick
28. Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Show Your Bones
29. Wolfmother, Wolfmother
30. Dilated Peoples, 20/20
31. Belle and Sebastian, The Life Pursuit
32. The Deftones, Saturday Night Wrist
33. The Black Angels, Passover
34. Alejandro Escovedo, The Boxing Mirror
35. The Flaming Lips, At War with the Mystics
36. The Subways, Young for Eternity
37. John Legend, Once Again
38. Lady Sovereign, Public Warning
39. The Strokes, First Impressions of Earth
40. Slayer, Christ Illusion
41. The Roots, Game Theory
42. Scissor Sisters, Ta-Dah
43. Arctic Monkeys, Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not
44. Mary J. Blige, The Breakthrough
45. Veruca Salt, Veruca Salt IV
46. Tapes ’n Tapes, The Loon
47. Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs, Under the Covers Vol. 1
48. Yo La Tengo, I Am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass
49. Thom Yorke, The Eraser
50. Justin Timberlake, Future Sex/Love Sounds
51. Califone, Roots & Crowns
52. Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan, Ballad of the Broken Seas
53. Elbow, Leaders of the Free World
54. Lindsey Buckingham, Under the Skin
55. The Dials, Flex Time
56. French Kicks, Two Thousand
57. Ray Davies, Other People’s Lives
58. Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Sinner
59. Stereolab, Fab Four Suture
60. Various artists, Monsieur Gainsbourg Revisited
61. Bob Dylan, Modern Times
62. The Goldstars, Purple Girlfriend
63. Kaki King, …Until We Felt Red
64. The Sword, Age of Winters
65. Pere Ubu, Why I Hate Woman
66. Ministry, Rio Grande Blood
67. Starlight Mints, Drowaton
68. Horrorpops, Bring It On!
69. White Whale, WWI
70. Midlake, The Trials of Van Occupanther
Greg Kot's Best of 2006
1. TV on the Radio, Return to Cookie Mountain
2. Clipse, Hell Hath No Fury
3. Mission of Burma, The Obliterati
4. Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins, Rabbit Fur Coat
5. Midlake, The Trials of Van Occupanther
6. Ghostface Killah, Fishscale
7. Art Brut, Bang Bang Rock & Roll
8. Girl Talk, Night Ripper
9. Parts and Labor, Stay Afraid
10. Lupe Fiasco, Lupe Fiasco’s Food and Liquor
11. M. Ward, Post-War
12. Neko Case, Fox Confessor Brings the Flood
13. Love is All, Nine Times that Same Song
14. Rhymefest, Blue Collar
15. The Decemberists, The Crane Wife
16. Mastodon, Blood Mountain
17. Gnarls Barkley, St. Elsewhere
18. Tom Waits, Orphans
19. Lily Allen, Alright, Still
20. Cursive, Happy Hollow