mardi 28 Jan 2014, 15h40m
So it’s that time again. Another head first dive into the years best albums courtesy of Classic Rock’s Top 50 albums list. Just like last year this is more about me discovering new music and bands instead of giving in-depth reviews of each album. I’ll try to give a brief over view of what the albums are like so that you can check them out if you wish.
1.Black Sabbath – 13
Apart from Iron Man and Faith No More’s version of War Pigs I’ve never got into the Black Sabbath sound. Ironic as they hail from my home city. I really didn’t think that the new album would change my mind and it hasn’t. I know there are a lot of fans out there so I won’t be too harsh but I found this album dull and monotonous. Iommi’s guitar sound is instantly recognisable but, to me at least, it sounds the same as it did 30 years ago. Maybe that’s the point, I don’t know. I’ll probably get slated for this as well, but, I really don’t like Ozzy’s vocals either.
2.Clutch – Earth Rocker
This is the first album by Clutch that I’ve listened to and I was pleasantly surprised by the subtlety carefully interwoven through many of the 11 slow tempo tracks, no… hold on, this is Clutch… right? Sorry, wrong review… there is NO subtlety here. The term “in your face” was invented for this band. With lyrics like “shit to hit the fan”, “I'm a war monger, baby”, “D.C. Sound Attack! Drop the bomb! Look out!” and “Once more unto the breach!” it clear this band mean business. With the exception of sombre ballad “Gone Cold” this album just keeps delivering the power from the opening track to the end. With some musical similarities to American 80’s anti-establishment rockers Warrior Soul this is not for the faint hearted and, if you play it loud, don’t except to stay friends with your neighbours for long. This may come over as a bit negative, but on the contrary, once you get used to the power and anger it a real good listen.
3.David Bowie – The Next Day
If remember correctly this album got a lot of press when it was released because no one knew anything about it. Apart from the “hits” I’m a not big fan of Bowie. I can never make up my mind if he’s a musical genius or whether he manipulates people into thinking everything he’s done is great. Anyway I gave the album a couple of listens and quickly realised that there was nothing on here of any interest to me. That was about March and I’ve had no reason to go back to it.
4.The Temperance Movement – The Temperance Movement
Have you ever had one of those “…hold on” moments when your ears suddenly tune in to something and you just have to stop doing whatever it is you’re doing to listen? Well, I had one of those moments doing 70 along the M40 when Planet Rock played “Only Friend”. Thankfully the moment passed without further incident but I made sure I found out the name of the band and looked up the album on Spotify at the first opportunity. There rest, as they say is history, as The Temperance Movement quickly became my “find” of the year much like Rival Sons were in 2012. The album kicks off with 2 great rockers “Only Friend” and “Ain’t No Telling” before stepping a back a notch with the bluesy ballad “Pride”. “Chinese Lanterns” is an absolute gem. In fact I would say that there isn’t a bad track on the album. It might not be “new” but it’s good.
5.Steven Wilson – The Raven That Refused To Sing (and other stories)
Another one of my favourite albums of the year but I admit it’s not to everyone’s taste. Is this the face of modern progressive music? I hope so as the thing that really stands out is the musicianship which is no surprise really when you consider the players Steven Wilson has assembled. With Bass player Nick Beggs, from early 80’s British new wave band Kajagoogoo, Lead guitarist Gurthie Govan and Percussionist Marco Minnemann from genre spanning trio The Aristocrats, the 6 tracks on the album are supposedly based on ghost stories and are all very atmospheric. “Luminol” is built around a solid, high tempo Nick Beggs baseline with a jazz-rock feel to the whole thing. “Drive Home” is a slow burner but gradually increases in tempo and ends with a stunning Govan guitar solo, “The Holy Drinker” is powerful while “The Watchmaker” has a more subtle tone. The final and title track is a haunting and beautiful song about loss. I think the whole album just about perfect and the best of the 3 Steven Wilson solo albums, although, the other 2 aren’t bad either.
6.Pearl Jam – Lightning Bolt
This was another album I was looking forward to last year. The single “Mind Your Manners” was interesting as it had a “punk” feel to it and I thought the first 3 tracks kicked off the album really well. “Sirens” is a great slightly slower track and then the albums picks up again with the typical PJ rocker of “Lightning Bolt”. The rest of the album, by PJ standards is OK. “Let The Records Play” actually sounds like the band are enjoying them selves and “Sleeping By Myself” is taken from Eddie Vedder’s 2011 Ukulele Songs album. The highlight of the album for me is the penultimate track “Yellow Moon” a ballad that grows in tempo and really shows Vedder’s vocal range. Overall it’s not a bad album but I was hoping for more.
7.Motorhead – Aftershock
Just like Black Sabbath I’ve never got into Motorhead so I wasn’t expecting much from this album. To me it sounds like everything else I’ve heard from them which is, admittedly, not much. It’s full of bass heavy bomb blast with screaming guitars and pounding percussion. “Dust and Glass” was the only track that stood out because, in Motorhead terms at least, it’s a ballad. If you like them you’ll like this but to dull and repetitive for me.
8.Alter Bridge – Fortress
Alter Bridge seem to have hit on the tried and tested formula of heavy verse followed by anthemic chorus or quiet/loud/quiet/loud. To be fair they are very good at both as this album shows. It’s full of stadium sized riffs and Miles Kennedy has the vocal power never to be overshadowed. This is modern classic rock for a new generation of rock fans.
9.Gary Clarke Jr. – Blak And Blu
This is an interesting album mainly because there are so many different styles on here. The albums ranges from heavy fuzz guitar blues similar to The Black Keys then to Lenny Kravitz style rock, to John Legend soul and then hip-hop. Some of the heavier blues stuff is really good as are the soul tracks but the hip-hop stuff I could leave. It would be good to hear a solid Blues album as those are the standout tracks for me.
10.Queens Of The Stone Age – …Like Clockwork
I am a huge fan of “Songs For The Deaf” but for some reason I’ve always struggled with the other QOTSA albums. Like Clockwork is no different. For me this is almost a 50-50 album. I like about half of it. “I Sat by the Ocean”, “If I Had A Tail” & “I Appear Missing” are all good tracks and the final, title track is excellent but unfortunately the rest of the album has little or no effect on me at all. Some of the tracks sound like they could have appeared on Josh Homme’s side project Them Crocked Vultures but, to be honest, there just isn’t enough of any interest to have me returning again and again.
11.Black Star Riders – All Hell Breaks Loose
When I was growing up Thin Lizzy were never far from the turn table. Jailbreak, Johnny the Fox and Black Rose were in almost constant rotation. Lonelyfurrow Snr carried on going to see the various incarnations of the band but I drifted away, until… BSR came along. As soon as the opening chords of “Bound for Glory” came out of the speakers I was hooked. Transported straight back to those long summer days when I’d blast out those old Lizzy albums while my Dad was at work and to annoy the neighbours. But there is more to BSR than some nostalgia trip. Ricky Warwick (The Almighty) and Damon Johnson (Brother Cane) have written some really good, no nonsense rock songs and, although the ties to the past haven’t been broken (why should they?) this is a really good album full of solid rock tracks. Getting to see them live with Lonelyfurrow Snr was a night I’ll never forget either.
12.The Virginmarys – King Of Conflict
It’s a solid debut album of garage punk rock songs full of guitar riffery and throaty vocals. Not really to my taste but I bet they’re great live.
13.Deep Purple – Now What?!
Everyone knows “Smoke on the Water” right? So when it comes to a band with so much history it must be difficult to produce new music that keeps the older fans happy, stays within the style of the band and attracts new fans. I think Rush pulled off this tricky task with last years “Clockwork Angels” but have Deep Purple achieved it with Now What?!. For the most part I would say yes as this album has all the guitar riffs and organ solos you’d expect and it also sounds fresh and dynamic. There are some slower tracks that never seem to take off but overall it’s not a bad album.
14.The Strypes – Snapshot
This is an album of old school Rhythm & Blues by a bunch of teenagers probably heavily influenced by their parent’s record collections. The album rips along nicely, probably because most tracks are under 3 minutes, but it does become a repetitive towards the end. Full marks for effort though.
15.Scorpion Child – Scorpion Child
It’s hard to believe that nearly 40 years after their (arguably) last great album Led Zeppelin still have so much influence over rock music. Scorpion Child sound so much like Led Zeppelin they could be a tribute band with the only difference being that there are 5 of them. Not much point carrying on with this review because you already know what they sound like, and if you like Led Zeppelin, you’ll like this.
16.Von Hertzen Brothers – Nine Lives
When I heard that VHB were releasing a new album I was really looking forward to it having found some of their earlier material really interesting. Unfortunately Nine Lives doesn’t quiet live up to it for me. The opening track “Insomniac” is great with a pounding central riff, melodic chorus and cow bell. “Flowers and Rust” is another great anthem but after the opening 2 tracks the album falls into a bit of a lull. For me nothing really stands out until “Black Heart’s Cry” which has a sort of rock folk feel to it. The 7 minute long Floyd-esque “Prospect for Escape” is also really good and “Time & Summer” closes out the album in upbeat psychedelic fashion but overall I was expecting more.
17.Roy Harper – Man and Myth
Not available on Spotify so unable to review.
18.Alice In Chains – The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here
One of the interesting things about doing a list like this is sometimes I hear bands for the first time that have been around for ages. Alice in Chains is one of those. I never listened to any of the previous material with Lane Stanley so it’s all new to me. To be honest this album isn’t bad it’s just a bit long with most tracks lasting over the 5 minute mark and feeling longer. Maybe the whole album would have had a bit more impact if the track lengths were a bit shorter.
19.Monster Truck – Furiosity
Monster riffs, Monster chorus, Monster Truck. If you’ve listened to Clutch and found them a little to angry then try Monster Truck’s brand of authentic guitar driven hard rock. There’s nothing on here that you wouldn’t expect to hear from a band who deliver solid classic rock except of the 7 minute long blues drenched ballad “For The Sun” which, considering most of the other tracks come in under 4 minutes, does come as a bit of a surprise.
20.Dream Theater – Dream Theater
Every time I listen to Dream Theater I have one thought…style over substance. I can’t deny that they are great players but it’s just too much. Everyone seems to be saying “Listen to me, I can do this”. Every guitar solo is full of notes, the drummer seems to want to hit everything in his kit at the same time and even the piano/keyboard parts are over blown. Listen to the first 2 minute of “Enigma Machine” and you’ll understand. There are so many time changes I find it difficult to know if we’re in the same song. But the really annoying thing is that I’d probably like it if they just reign themselves in a bit.
21.Shooter Jennings – The Other Life
Shooter Jennings’ 2012 album Family Man made the top 50 list last year and here he is again with another album in to top 50. This is old school country with a modern twist. The opening track is an odd keyboard Pink Floyd thing that doesn’t seem to fit with the rest of the album, there are elements of The Steve Miller Band on a track, and “Outlaw You” is a great rant against all music pretenders.
22.Deaf Havana – Old Souls
Complete inoffensive pop rock in the style of The Gaslight Anthem. It’s got some good tunes on it and would sound good on the radio but I need something with a bit more edge.
23.Saxon – Sacrifice
Sorry, but I was bored with this after 4 tracks. It starts of with some tribal percussion thing but then went into familiar heavy rock territory. Pounding drums, squealing guitars and screaming vocals. Without ever listening to Saxon I sort of knew the style of music they made and I wasn’t wrong.
24. Hey! Hello! – Hey! Hello!
Does anyone remember one hit pop wonder The Ting Tings…no? Well if you do think of them but with far more of a punk-pop-rock sound. Hey! Hello! are a duo of Ginger Wildheart and Victoria Liedtke and they make feel good, up tempo party pop rock but be aware as some of the lyrical content is definitely not for the faint hearted. “How I Survived the Punk Wars” makes my point. It’s an enjoyable album.
25.Monster Magnet – Last Patrol
I’ve never took any notice of Monster Magnet until now. “I Live Behind the Clouds” opens the album of a fairly low key note but this is melodic introduction is soon blown away by the 9 minute long stoner epic of “Last Patrol”. A cover of Donovan’s “Three Kingfishers” is typically “doom” laden and then its mixture of slow tempo and full-on rockers. Really good “stoner” rock, Josh Homme should take note.
26.The Graveltones – Don’t Wait Down
I saw this band supporting Rival Sons and, man, they are loud considering there’s just the 2 of them. If you want glossy production and perfect sounding guitars then forget it. This is stripped down, dirty power blues made to be played live in dingy clubs. They put on a good show live and they’ve made a great attempt to put that live spirit over on the album but it’s not to my taste.
27Fish – A Feast of Consequences
Not available on Spotify so unable to review.
28.Black Spiders – This Savage Land
At least it’s short…
29.White Denim – Corsicana Lemonade
Not sure why this is on a “Best of…” rock list. The term “Indie Rock” has now become the way to describe any rock music that doesn’t fit in anywhere else and White Denim definitely fit that bill. This album is full of styles and influences, a bit of jazz here, a bit of The Beatles there. Most of it sounds like stuff you’ve heard before but, just because it has a guitar on it, doesn’t mean it is rock.
30.Beware of Darkness – Orthodox
Orthodox starts out with 2 cracking tracks that have a slight Arctic Monkeys feel to them but heavier and angrier. I’ve listen to a lot of albums where, after a couple of tracks, you think “this could be great” only then to be let down. But I’m glad to say Orthodox just gets better. The raw power of the openers gives way to a couple of slower, introspective tracks, but then it’s back into full blown 70’s inspired rock. There’s some experimentation and psychedelia towards the end but on the whole it’s a good debut album.
31.Free Fall – Power & Volume
Track 1 – Led Zeppelin, Track 2 – The Who, Track 3 – The Who again, Track 4 – AC/DC… you get the picture. The only fun I had listening to this album was figuring out who they were ripping off.
32.Hidden Masters – Of This And Other Worlds
Not available on Spotify so unable to review.
33.Volbeat – Outlaw Gentlemen & Shady Ladies
Removing the 4 bonus tracks this is a 15 track album of solid rock metal from a Danish band who listen to far to much Metallica. On the whole it’s not bad but it’s a bit one dimensional for me.
34.Sammy Hagar – Sammy Hagar & Friends
This might be a Sammy Hagar solo album but he has assembled a good group of friends to spend the time with including Taj Mahal, Joe Satriani and Nancy Wilson, and produced a really enjoyable album. It’s good collection of blues based rock songs, with a couple of other styles thrown in, and an interesting rock cover of Depeche Mode’s Personal Jesus. Well worth a listen.
35.Airbourne – Black Dog Barking
Absolutely nothing to say about this other than… AC/DC.
36.Shovels & Ropes - O’ Be Joyful
This album could be described as many things, country, folk, acoustic, but how it’s described doesn’t matter. The main thing that sticks out on this album is the vocals harmonies. They’re sometimes upbeat and joyful, sometimes sombre and melancholic, but always really listenable. Good album.
37.The Winery Dogs – The Winery Dogs
I was pleasantly surprised by this album. If you don’t know The Winery Dogs are Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater), Billy Sheehan and Richie Kotzen (Mr Big). I’m not a fan of those bands (although I am aware of their music) and, in a way, I think that helped as I didn’t have any pre-conceived ideas of how they were going to sound. It is very similar to W.E.T. but with more of an edge to it. There are some really tight grooves on here and is well worth checking out.
38.W.E.T. – Rise Up
This is completely inoffensive melodic rock. It’s so “middle-of-the-road” you’ll get paint on your boots. I really thought that rock had moved away from this style of music but, No, here it is still being nice.
39.Avenged Sevenfold – Hail To The King
The only positive I’ve got for this album is that I didn’t hate it as much as I thought I would. Fans of the band and people who like the heavier end of the rock spectrum will probably like it and I thought it is OK.
40.Tedeschi Trucks Band – Made Up Mind
You (the reader) may have realised by now that I write a lot of these mini reviews while listening to the album in question. With that in mind I can honestly say that “Made Up Mind” has blown me away. It’s an album full of beautiful soul and powerful blues tracks. Susan Tedeschi soulful vocals and Derek Trucks’ great, if sometimes understated guitar solos, are a perfect match. I can see me returning to this again and again.
41.Houndmouth – From the Hills Below the City
This is another enjoyable album of Americana with vocal harmonies and music The Band would be proud of with a twist of Drive-By Truckers’ style southern rock. “Penitentiary” is a great track that would not be out of place on The Last Waltz and I can’t give it any higher praise than that.
42.Purson - The Circle And The Blue Door
I gave this album a couple of listens when it was first released and to be honest I wasn’t that impressed. I have revisited it for the purpose of this list and I think I might have been a bit dismissive. I wouldn’t go as far to say it favourite album of the year but it’s better than I seem to remember it. Retro psych rock is in full effect here with 70’s style guitar riffs, Hammond organ and the haunting vocals of Rosie Cunningham who sounds somewhere between Siouxsie Sioux and “All About Eve” singer Julianne Regan. I think this one needs a bit time.
43.Wolf People – Fain
Listening to Fain it’s hard to believe it was released in 2013. It sounds like someone found this while digging through Jethro Tull’s psych-folk rock cast off’s of the 70’s. Full of solid bass lines and jangly guitars this definitely has one foot in the past which is no bad thing. I will be listening to this again.
44.The Answer – New Horizon
This is the first album from The Answer I’ve listened to and, to be fair, it’s not bad. It’s full of hard-driving classic rock tracks with heavy guitar work and soaring vocals. It may be a bit predictable but it’s done well and is well worth a listen if you’re in the mood for some old-school rock.
45.FM – Rockville
I can’t really say much about this. It’s British AOR and I’ve never been a fan of that style of rock either British or American. It’s well done and they’re clearly talented musicians but it’s not progressive or heavy enough for me.
46.The Civil Wars – The Civil Wars
This is the second album from the Americana/Folk duo and, like some other albums on this list, my not sure why it’s here. There’s no doubt its beautiful music with really nice vocal harmonies on gentle ballads but, except for the slightly more up tempo “Eavesdrop”, I can’t find the rock element anywhere. It’s a really nice album and Joy Williams has a lovely voice but, to me at least, it’s not rock.
47.Amplifier – Echo Street
The only surprise here is that this is only at 47. This has been one of my favourite albums of the year and I take every chance to tell everyone that fact. In 2004 Amplifier’s debut album was ranked 46 in Classic Rocks’ Top 50 but since then the Amplifier sound has radically changed. The distorted bass and punishing guitar riffs of “Panzer” & “Airborne” have gone and been replaced with acoustic guitars and vocal harmonies. That doesn’t mean that this album isn’t heavy. It’s just that the aggression of earlier albums has been replaced with a more measured approached. The musical power is now “delivered” as apposed to being “thrown” at you. This is a sprawling 8 track post prog masterpiece.
48.Avantasia – The Mystery of Time
If you like70 minute long symphonic power metal concept albums then this is for you. I never been a fan of this genre of rock, although I do think a string section can add something to rock music, but adding a whole orchestra that’s a whole different thing. It’s big, it’s lavish but I don’t understand it.
49.Coney Hatch – Four
I seem to recall something about Coney Hatch supporting Rush on one their tours but I’ve never heard any of the Toronto based bands music before, which is no surprise, as this is only their 4th studio album in 30 years. The album is a throwback to the 80’s classic rock sound. It sounds like Aerosmith meets AC/DC to me, and although it’s a solid album, there’s little on here that would drag me back. Basically if you like that 80’s style rock metal you’ll probably like this.
50.Nato Coles & The Blue Diamond Band – Promises to Deliver
If you like Springsteen inspired American rock with a touch of REM thrown in for good measure then this album is definitely worth checking out. There is nothing on here you haven’t heard before but it’s a solid record and a good way to pass 45 minutes.