2009 Top 10 Albums

As I do every year, it's time to give you my Top 10 albums. I have to say, this year again it was hard for me to find 10 stand out albums. As it is, I short listed 15, and the remaining five will be in the honourable mentions.

Also keep in mind this s MY favourite ALBUMS, not my Top 10 GUITAR albums of the year. I listen to music, not guitars so this list may have some not so guitar biased music in there.

So here we go. Starting from 10

10.Full Circle - CREED

Yep, that one is out of left field to start with. The Tremonti love on this site is no secret, and this is by far the best Creed album. It sounds more like Alter Bridge musically, but there is something about Stapps voice that sits much better. The lyrics are still crap (seriously, "Bread of Shame". WTF?!?!?!) but the album does indeed rock.
Highlights : On My Sleeve, Overcome

9. Black Clouds & Silver Linings - DREAM THEATER

The kings of modern progressive metal hit a home run with this one. A massive concept once again executed to perfection. Petrucci and Co. still set the standard when it comes to this style of music. Brutal in parts, melodic in others, and even some pure singalongs in there as well. Petrucci is one of the rare who know when and when NOT to play, and Dream Theater stand out because of it.
Highlights : A Rite Of Passage, The Count of Tuscany

8. Inshalla - Eskimo Joe

Unfortunately the only Australian album to make my list this year. "Black Fingernails Red Wine" was always going to be a hard album to follow, and Eskimo Joe were up to the task. Kicking off with Foreign Land (inspired by the death of friend Heath Ledger) and ending with the powerful Morning Light, "Inshalla" is one of those "once in a career" albums. But then again, we said that about "Black Fingernails" as well. How these guys have not broken internationally yet is beyond me.
Highlights: Foreign Land, Inshalla, The Sound Of Your Heart, Please Elise

7. Horehound - THE DEAD WEATHER

Jack White is one of these guys who just has to keep pumping stuff out or his head will explode. This album is a dark, twisted, screaming, blues explosion of pure aggression. From fuzz bass tones, to screaming vocals, screeching organs, this album has it all. More proof that like Family Guy, Jack is better off without Meg.
Highlights: I Cut Like A Buffalo, Hang You From The Heavans, Treat Me Like Your Mother, Will There Be Enough Water?

6. Glitter and Doom Live - TOM WAITS

You either love Tom Waits or you hate him. I definitely fall into the former. This live album, culled from his many performances from his latest tour, breathes new life into these songs, letting each song's personality cut through like never before. These aren't just live performances of studio creations, they are brand new interpretations of these twisted little stories from the mind of Waits.
Highlights: Lucinda / Ain't Going Down, Goin' Out West, Dirt in the Ground

5. The Ballad of John Henry - Joe Bonamassa

Bonamassa is like fine wine. He is just getting better with age. He's slowed down the blistering runs, and has really developed as a dynamic blues performer, rather than just a guitarist. These are the best vocals I have heard from him on any release. A couple of great covers, some rocking originals, and this blues rock album is bound for greatness.
Highlights: Stop, The Ballad Of John Henry, Feelin Good

4. Them Crooked Vultures - Them Crooked Vultures

The supergroup of Homme, Grohl and Jones really stumbled across something special. I was not expecting this album to be so good, but you can tell there is a genuine chemistry between each member. A rollicking good rocking time is found in this album. QOTSA riffing with Foo Fighter style arrangements, mixed with the other-worldly sounds of Led Zepplin. A killer record.
Highlights: Mind Eraser No Chaser, Scumbag Blues, Warsaw or the First Breath You Take When You Wake Up, Elephants, New Fang

3. Only Revolutions - Biffy Clyro

The best band you never heard of (unless you from the UK). If this album doesn't break them nothing will. Puzzles was great and they have topped it with this. Think of it as progressive alt emo rock. Bizarre lyrics, odd time signatures (4/4 is a rare thing for these guys), and a sea shanty to open the album! This was my most anticipated album of the year and it was worth waiting for.
Highlights: Captain, That Golden Rule, God & Satan, Mountains, Many of Horror, Know Your Quarry

2. Black Gives Way To Blue - Alice In Chains

I initially wrote this album off, but I forgot that AIC's music tends to grow on you like a cancer. It starts slow but then works it's way through, eating your flesh until you and it become one. Those trademark harmonies are there, the dirge like drones hypnotise you and before you know it the album is finished. This album is nearly as good as Dirt.
Highlights: All Secrets Known, Check My Brain, Lesson Learned, Take Her Out

1. The Resistance - Muse

It's scary when you think an album this good, the best album of the year, could have been better. So far every radio edit I have heard has made the songs more concise and focused. That said, there are no weak tracks on this album, a broad sweeping concept album full of synth rock and crushing riffs.
Highlights: The entire album

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

Chickenfoot - Chickenfoot
Backspacer - Pearl Jam
By A Thread - Gov't Mule
Sick - Duff McKagan's Loaded
Already Free - The Derek Trucks Band

Show us your Muff! (or my muff is better than your muff)

I've been going back lately and listening to a lot of the music I grew up on. We're talking early to mid 90's alt rock grunge type stuff. I always hated the term gruunge. Nirvana were grunge. Apprently so were Pearl Jam, SoundGarden, Alice In Chains, Screaming Trees.... None of those bands sounded anything like the other. But I digress. What has started to appeal to me again is the old muff tones of the day. It's good to see people still getting into the tones, as these two pedals show. I know the EH pedal is the classic muff/fuzz tone, but I really enjoy the Earthquaker Devices Hoof Fuzz. I think the notes cut through just that bit clearer.

I always wanted a Bixsonic Fuzz (I think that was what it was called - the guys from Bush used them). I think they just got re-release. I'm sure I talked about the re-release on here but I can't find it. Guess I'll just pull out my old Tech-21 XXL for a bash.
Read more