Friday 18 December - as is our wont at this time of year, The Friday-Nighters met up for a pre-Xmas meal before trotting off to a gig. Sadly, due to a heavy snow fall, Chantel McGregor was unable to make it to The Roman Bath so we opted instead for Stealer at The Terrace. I've blogged them before, so I don't need to add further to my previous, favourable comments. Over the meal, the topic of 'album of the year' inevitably came up and I realised I would have to sift through my purchases for 2009 and try to put them is some kind of order.
2009 was significant for me because it was the year that my CD collection finally busted my shelf space and I've had to resort to CD storage cases instead. Looking back, I can see why. I acquired 7 CDs from alternate sources, bought 35 previously released albums (including 5 from 2008 that I needed to catch up with), and 12 brand spanking new ones. A total of 54 acquisitions. Good for music, bad for my bank account!
Whilst compiling my list I also took the opportunity to write down some 2009 releases that I still want (Santa take note), another 4 at least. The 2008 releases that I didn't acquire until this year included; Marillion, Judas Priest, Panic Room, Richard Barbieri, and Bryan Josh.
Of the pre-2008 purchases there was quite a few Thunder albums, who officially stopped touring this year, and almost the entire back catalogue of Dream Theater. I also replaced a number of CDs that I'd copied from vinyl to MP3 (I know, I should've kept the vinyl).
Obviously, all 12 of 2009 purchases are eligible for my top ten, but 2 aren't going to make it. Unfortunately, they are really good albums so their exclusion from my top ten does not imply that they were no good, only that I've got 10 others that are slightly better. So, the non-winners this year are Breathing Space with Below The Radar, and Nine Black Alps with Locked In From The Outside.
Okay pop-pickers, here's the final count down:
10 The Answer - Everyday Demons. Northern Irish hard rock noiseniks followed up their 2006 debut with more of the same. But in a good way.
9 Muse - The Resistance. Fifth studio album from these alt-rockers, this one turned all the knobs to 11. Completely out of control, massively over the top, this surely establishes Muse as the new Queen.
8 Joe Bonamassa - The Legend of John Henry. I thought Sloe Gin was a high point for this American blues-rock guitarist, but he's raised the game by an order of magnitude with his raw, trademark blues sound.
7 Steven Wilson - Insurgentes. Founder and front man of Porcupine Tree, Steven released this solo effort. Fantastic soundscapes that take you where Radiohead would have done if they hadn't gone off the rails. Genius.
6 The Decemberists - Hazards Of Love. Their fifth recent album inspired by an Anne Briggs EP of the same name. This is a rock opera, a love story of a woman who falls in love with a shape-shifting forest dweller. A jealous forest queen, a villainous rake and an ensemble of other characters add to the storyline. Can I use the word 'genius' again? Yes.
5 Lynyrd Skynyrd - God & Guns. Their first studio offering for six years, bit it's as if they've never been away. A bit redneck for some people's tastes but good for me. Superb.
4 Porcupine Tree - The Incident. It's a bit more stripped-down than Fear Of A Blank Planet, but even more unnerving for all that. Brilliant.
Into the top three...
3 Hope&Social - Architect Of This Church. You can buy this album for whatever you can afford. The minimum prices are £.01 for the download, £2.95 for a CD+postage. It's a unique selling point and basically you get one of the best albums of the year. You've got to be mad not to get it. Get over to www.alamomusic.co.uk.
2 Parade - The Fabric. You can't buy this one through normal retail outlets yet, try www.paradeband.com. It's kinda prog-indie... hell, I don't know. It's just a fantastic album and you REALLY need to listen to this.
1 Dream Theater - Black Clouds & Silver Linings. Frankly, the best thing I've heard for a very, very long time. On the basis of this album I've purchased a further seven CDs from their prodigious back catalogue, and turned into a Dream Theater fan. Incredible, this will blow your mind.
Happy New Year!
4 comments:
Some interesting choices, and several in common with my top 10, but where is Breathing Space's "Below the Radar"? :) (Which is my #1)
Tim,
Sorry. It was in my twelve 2009 purchases, but, whilst definately their best album to date, I felt the competition was just to good. Still these things are so subjective anyway. I enjoyed reading your choices, similar tastes in music I would say!
Don't remember seeing you at the Josh & Co gig - were you also at Breathing Space on the Sunday?
Three superb gigs that weekend.
I caught Josh & Co and the MAs at GOH but had to miss the BS as it was my daughters birthday party. Family always comes first!
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