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BEST OF 2006
- Warrant - Born Again (Frontiers)
- Leatherwolf - World Asylum (Leatherwolf)
- Bela Fleck & the Flecktones - The Hidden Land (Columbia)
- Red Hot Chili Peppers - Stadium Arcadium (Warner Bros.)
- Priestess - Hello Master (Red Ink/BMG)
- Tom Petty - Highway Companion (Highway)
- Skid Row - Revolutions Per Minute (SPV)
- Chick Corea - The Ultimate Adventure (Stretch/Concord)
- Sunstorm - Sunstorm (Frontiers)
- The Wonder Stuff - Suspended by Stars (Independent)
HONORABLE MENTIONS
- Iron Maiden - A Matter of Life and Death
- Glenn Hughes - Music for the Divine
- Queensryche - Operation Mindcrime II
- Angra - Aurora Consurgens
- Moonstone Project - Time to Take a Stand
- Steve Khan - Fields of Green
- Gnarls Barkley - St. Elsewhere
- Pearl Jam - Pearl Jam
Looking back on 2006, it is easy to suggest that this year saw the onset of
a terminal illness that will eventually kill albums as those of my generation and those before know it. It was
a slow year for studio albums in general, and many major artists that I follow did not release albums. There were a
few items of interest like live sets from Counting Crows and Saxon, as well as exclusive songs on retrospectives by Aerosmith
and R.E.M., but the really disappointing trend is the re-recording of old songs, one of the main offenders was GILLAN'S INN
from noted Deep Purple vocalist Ian Gillan, that not only covers the chestnuts from his solo career, but also some notable
Purple tunes. Also of disappointment was the loss of several area cd retailers, including Tower records. In
addition, the music sections in Barnes & Noble could soon become history, as people are spending more on greeting
cards and blank journal sets then cd's and box sets these days. While most young people are accustomed to
music without packaging, I think a lot of older fans like to see and own albums in the manner in which the artist/label had
intended. Price is still a serious issue, as most albums can be downloaded for $9.99 via iTunes, where the packaged
edition of the same album can go for nearly twice as much once tax and time is figured into the equation.
The format isn't dead, but it seems like more shots are being taken at the cd than ever before.
That said, a list of roughly 40 albums were considered for this year's list, and
I tried to list them in the order of how many times I've listened to the disc. It led to a surprising upset
as I had to name Warrant's BORN AGAIN as the album of 2006. It has only been out of my travel cd case for a period
of 2 weeks since I've gotten the disc. The addition of Jaime St. James and the return to fun were key elements
in making this disc highly listenable. Leatherwolf's WORLD ASYLUM was a classy but aggressive metal effort,
featuring improved songwriting and energy. Perennial contenders Bela Fleck & the Flecktones, did not let down with
this year's entry, THE HIDDEN LAND. The usual amalgam of styles gets a little more consistent with the lack of guests
and focused composing. The Chili Peppers' double disc, STADIUM ARCADIUM is fairly consistent given its length,
but falls short of expectations for serving up too much of a good thing. Newer entry Priestess follows
Wolfmother and Jet into the area of injecting new life into an older sound. "Talk to Her" is worth the price of
admission alone, particularly if you like Blue Cheer or Soundgarden. Veteran Tom Petty's latest entry hints at
retirement, though it is as consistent an effort as he's issued since leaving MCA nearly 20 years ago. Skid Row's REVOLUTIONS
PER MINUTE walks that line between stupid and clever, and it is great to see the band back on its game.
Chick Corea's THE ULTIMATE ADVENTURE is a modern shortcut of his Spanish sound of the '70's. It is a little long,
and some of the material is more of a tribute to that sound than a continuation, but it is still an enjoyable
affair. Joe Lynn Turner stars in the '80's styled SUNSTORM record featuring collaborations with Dennis Ward and Jim
Peterik, though it might have lost out to Moonstone Project if not for its consistency. The list closes with a
last surprise, the most recent effort by long-time Grebo's The Wonder Stuff. Miles Hunt does a credible Robin Zander
impression, and the songs are as good here as they ever were on previous albums.
New records by a few of my favorite artists (Iron Maiden, Angra, Glenn Hughes,
Queensryche) ended up in the honorable mention category for a variety of reasons. For some reason, the mid-tempo bug
is loose and has infested most of this year's crop of records; as not only these, but efforts by Talisman, Winger, and
Riot that fell short (shouldn't have) due to a lack of energy. I know everybody and their brother has hyped Gnarls
Barkley, and I really wanted to hate it, but the record is an interesting listen that borrows from much of the music I've
grown up with (particularly R&B, jazz, and blues-based rock). 2007 is likely to be a make or break year for
the album and a lot of rock superstars are due to release new material this summer and fall. If 2007 is as
weak as the last two years in terms of choices and availability, we may need to find a new model/system to deliver and
purchase music...
BEST OF 2005
- Robert Plant - The Mighty Rearranger (Es Paranza/Sanctuary)
- Place Vendome - s/t (Scarecrow)
- Trey Anastasio - Shine (Epic)
- King's X - Ogre Tones (Inside Out/SPV)
- Oregon - Prime (CamJazz)
- Supergrass - Road to Rouen (Capitol)
- Masterplan - Aeronautics (AFM)
- Judas Priest - Angel of Retribution (Epic)
- Bill Connors - Return (Tone Center)
- TNT - All the Way to the Sun (MTM/Frontiers)
HONORABLE MENTIONS
- Glenn Hughes - Soul Mover (Frontiers/Edel)
- Pat Metheny Group - The Way Up (Nonesuch/Warner Bros.)
- The Mob - s/t (Frontiers)
- Nevermore - This Godless Endeavor (Century Media)
- Sufjan Stevens - Illinois (Asthmatic Kitty)
- Deep Purple - Rapture of the Deep (Eagle)
- Dream Theatre - Octavarium (Atlantic)
- Iommi - Fused (Sanctuary)
- Eric Clapton - Back Home (Warner Bros.)
- Ben Folds - Songs for Silverman (Epic)
2005 was not a particularly great year for music overall. In addition
to seeing the charts loaded with little but vapid and tired rap-influenced pop music, I find myself reverting back to
"middle school" tendencies, finding comfort in a steady supply of imported hard rock and independent jazz. As a whole,
Americans should be embarrassed for "wanksta" nation and for the further dumbing down of music. (To be more stupid than
"Louie Louie" proved to be less of a challenge than initially suggested.)
My vote for album of the year is Robert Plant's THE MIGHTY REARRANGER
(Es Paranza/Sanctuary). On the first few listens I didn't get it, but it does reward with multiple listens. It
is some of the most challenging music of his career (as it would be way too easy for him to put out a "Whitesnake" styled
album and rest on his laurels). The most encouraging thing about this record is that the band sounds fresh and limitless.
This setting could ultimately lead Plant through a Miles Davis comparison in that his primary instrument (and style) doesn't
really change, but remains fresh because of an ability to continually recast it in new settings. It is exceptional!
Place Vendome is a wealthy area in Paris and is also a project featuring Michael
Kiske (Helloween) and Dennis Ward (Pink Cream '69). The album is a classy hard rock album that came 15 years too late
for the general audience. However, whether it is the delicate "Heaven's Door" or the Queensryche-styled power of the
opening cut, this is well-done and made new again. Like Mr. Plant, Trey
Anastasio has a large shadow to get out from under, but if SHINE is any indication, I think he will
be alright. This is the most accessible album in his career, and despite some Phish-ian themes at the back of the record,
this may garner him new audience. King's X and Supergrass are long established groups who've hit creative lulls recently,
though both sound renewed on this year's entries. King's X returns to an older sound, but maintains modern production.
Supergrass takes the Fountains of Wayne model to cast their songs in different styles and lights; and this year even outshine
their "proteges" Turin Brakes. Oregon has a successful 35th year, as its anniversary recording PRIME
features solid writing from pianist/guitarist Ralph Towner, and more inspirational playing from wind-man Paul McCandless.
Masterplan and Judas Priest are definitely a student/teacher relationship; but supergroup Masterplan have a little more energy.
Though if Masterplan were able to come up with a few tracks like "Judas Rising"; Masterplan may be known to more
than a few U.S. metalheads/internet freaks. Judas Priest pulls an Iron Maiden (about 3 years late) releasing
an album of top one-third quality in regards to their extensive catalog. Though "Judas Rising" may be my favorite
Priest song since "Freewheel Burning". Bill Connors has not recorded or released an album in nearly 20 years. His STEP
IT recording from 1986 is one of my favorite fusion recordings of all time, and after the Evidence
reissues of his mid-80's output, and word of his retirement; I figured we'd never hear from him again. Fortunately,
RETURN marks one, unfortunately, he lets keyboardist Bill O'Connell have a little too much of his
spotlight. Closing up the top 10 is TNT's latest ALL THE WAY TO THE SUN. Aside from
a disastrous cover of Louis Armstrong's "What a Wonderful World"; the album is far more consistent than last year's
effort. TNT vocalist, Tony Harnell, has had a very successful year with great turns on recent released
by Starbreaker and Brazen Abbot.
There are more "Honorable Mentions" because these were a pretty consistent bunch
in terms of quality. Past years would feature only a few because the drop-off was more pronounced. For instance,
The Mob (which in actuality might as well be Winger fronted by King's X's Doug Pinnick) is an enjoyable record that might
tie the Glenn Hughes and TNT recordings. Critical favorites like Sufjan Stevens and Nevermore should've fared better,
but Stevens record could've used a tighter focus and Nevermore is to heavy metal music as Oliver Stone is to film...
It is hard to find their work "enjoyable" but you have to acknowledge its greatness. Even repeated listens
revealed brilliance in the recording, though it lacked a little in terms of accessibility. Iommi and Ben Folds
were disappointments given their expectations, though the records are very listenable. Deep Purple wins the "not dead
yet" award for its surprisingly progressive RAPTURE OF THE DEEP. The only greater disappointment
was not getting my claws into Dreamscape's REVOICED album which will have a 2005 release date but
will likely not make it to my collection until mid-January.
BEST OF 2004
- Dreamscape - The End of Silence (Massacre)
- Bela Fleck & Edgar Meyer - Music for Two (Sony Classical)
- Angra - Temple of Shadows (SPV)
- Jeff Scott Soto - Lost in Translation (MTM/Frontiers)
- Spymob - Sitting Around and Keeping Score (Ruthless)
- Voodoo Hill - Wild Seed of Mother Earth (MTM/Frontiers)
- Tears for Fears - Everybody Loves a Happy Ending (New Door/Universal)
- U2 - How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb (Interscope)
- Tesla - Into the Now (Sanctuary/BMG)
- The Contrast - Fade Back In (Silver Quartz)
HONORABLE MENTIONS
- R.E.M. - Around the Sun (Warner Bros.)
- Scorpions - Unbreakable (EMI Germany)
- Rush - Feedback (Atlantic)
- TNT - My Religion (MTM/Frontiers)
- Prince - Musicology (Red Ink/Epic)
- Fates Warning - FWX (Metal Blade)
- Iced Earth - The Glorious Burden (SPV)
- Megadeth - The System Has Failed (Sanctuary/BMG)
BEST OF 2003
- Hughes Turner Project - HTP II (MTM/Frontiers)
- Turin Brakes - Ether Song (Astralwerks/Virgin)
- Fountains of Wayne - Welcome Interstate Managers (S-Curve/Virgin)
- Pat Metheny - One Quiet Night (Warner Bros.)
- John Mayer - Heavier Things (Aware/Columbia)
- Bela Fleck & the Flecktones - Little Worlds (Columbia)
- Train - My Private Nation (Columbia)
- Anthrax - We've Come for You All (Sanctuary/BMG)
- A.F.I. - Sing the Sorrow (Dreamworks)
- Deep Purple - Bananas (Sanctuary/BMG)
HONORABLE MENTIONS
- Joe Jackson Band - Volume 4 (Rykodisc)
- Shinedown - Leave a Whisper (Atlantic)
- Jane's Addiction - Strays (Capitol)
- Helloween - Rabbit Don't Come Easy (Nuclear Blast)
MORE TO COME...
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