2009 has been a strange year for me musically.
I have bought a lot of CDs but not many new ones. I have spent most of the year getting my back catalogue in order.
Iron Maiden, Enuff Z Nuff, Poison & Terrorvision have all had their back catalogues completed.
2009 also saw me get rid of some bands from my collection. I think I must have sold around 30+ albums this year.
Artists that have gone include NIN, Pearl Jam (last 4 albums), Papa Roach, Daughtry and Theory Of A Deadman.
My music taste has changed.
So below is my top 6 albums of the year and my turkey of the year. Agree? Let me know.
Chutzpah! – The Wildhearts:
Without doubt my number one album of 2009. From the opening track The Jackson Whites to the self titled closer this album doesn’t let up. Chutzpah! was a different album than the bands previous efforts as other band members also had a go at lead vocals with stunning results. For an extra few pence the Japanese Import was well worth the purchase as it came with an extra 4 tracks including the frantic one minute pre-opener Chutzpah! Jnr. So if you want harmonies thunderous guitars and chorus’s that stick to you like spunk in the bath Chutzpah! is the one album of this top 6 you must own. Never being a band to do things the easy or normal way Newcastle’s finest then toured the album in September and played the album live from start to finish every night. After nearly 20 years this band still produce the goods.
The Circle – Bon Jovi
Bon Jovi now sound like the sons of New Jersey legend Bruce Springsteen and that’s not a bad thing is it?
They were always going to end up sounding like the Boss even if 2007s Lost Highway Nashville influenced album took them on a slight de-tour. The Circles theme is set in the current global recession but it’s not a doom and gloom album.
The album opens up with a traditional stadium anthem track in We Weren’t Born To Follow and then Springsteen’s influence kicks in during When We Were Beautiful and Work For The Working Man.
The Circle is triumphant return to form from Bon Jovi after a couple of average releases over the last few albums.
Babylon – W.A.S.P
Blackie Lawless and his band returned in late 2009 a new album. Babylon is an immense album that is surely WASPs best release since the epic Crimson Idol in the early 90s. Lawless and band members are on top of their game with the performances on Babylon. The song Get To The Fire for example is 6 minutes of quality WASP metal with 3 (yes 3) guitar solos. The only downside to this album is that there are only 9 songs and one is a cover of the Deep Purple classic Burn. I don’t understand why bands put cover songs on albums as they should be saved for B-Sides or a rarity album. Still, if you have never heard Burn it don’t matter so much. WASP will never match The Crimson Idol but Babylon comes pretty darn close.
21st Century Breakdown – Green Day
How would Green Day follow up the multi selling multi award winning and critically acclaimed American Idiot? By releasing 21st Century Breakdown that’s how. 21CB is in my opinion better than its predecessor. Yes its overblown, egotistical and way too long but we would expect nothing less from Green Day after the success of American Idiot.
21CB is another concept album and is broken down into 3 sections over 18 songs and clocks in at 70 minutes. The album tells the story of a couple of kids (Christian and Gloria) trying to make it in America after the reign of President Bush.
The pressure was really on Green Day with this release and it took them nearly 5 years to complete. A job well done.
Blue Gives Way To Gray – Alice In Chains
Of all the bands that came out of the early 90s “Grunge” scene in Seattle Alice In Chains were head and shoulders above the rest. Following a temporary split after the death of front man Layne Staley in 2003 from a drug overdose, AIC re-grouped and hired long time friend Robert Duvalle to take over vocal duties. The results on this album are outstanding. It’s always hard replacing front men and there are more bands that have failed than succeeded in a change of vocals. But what helps AIC is that DuValle sound just like the man he replaced. Throw into the mix Jerry Cantrell’s backing vocals and velvet guitar and you have the ingredients that make Blue Gives Way To Gray a masterpiece.
Sonic Boom – KISS
Ok here’s the deal. Never been a fan of KISS. Never got what the big hoo-hah was with them. Maybe I’m too young but most of the bands I like say they were influenced by them so they must have something about them. This album was a no go until I read a few reviews and they all said that Sonic Boom was the best KISS album in 30 years. This album has Big riffs, big chorus’s and big hair. What more do you want in an album? Chuck in some great guitar work and cheesy lyrics and you have a great Rock record. The new members of the band seem to have gelled with Gene and Paul and even have a go at taking over vocal duties on a few tracks. Sonic Boom is a pleasant surprise. Enjoy
GOBBLE GOBBLE – Turkey of the year:
Manic St Preachers – Journal for Plague Lovers
Loved the Manics first three albums of which all were mostly wrote by “missing” guitarist Richey James. The band lost their way when he disappeared in 1994 but released a corker of an album in 2007 titled Send Away The Tigers. I was looking forward to this album as the band used the lyrics that Ritchey never got round to using. The result? An album of dire songs. There must have been a reason why these lyrics were never used by Mr James and now we know why. The band just seem to be trying to re-create the Holy Bible era again and fail miserably. Back to the studio lads and leave Ritchie’s song book at home!
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