Top 25 Albums of 2011: 10 - 1

Top 25 Albums of 2011
10 - 1

Well, 2011 is finally over and good riddance!  It was a crappy year.  Death took one of men I admire most in Christopher Hitchens, and things here in Puerto Rico couldn't be much worse.  Thankfully, these 25 albums have helped to soothe the fact that it was one lame year.  Hope you enjoy this list.  Even if only one of the albums of the list reach someone who had never heard it before then my job is done.  Remember, this is just my list.  I love music and there will be different kinds of genres represented here, leaning more towards rock than anything else.

10)

I'm With You

by Red Hot Chili Peppers

I have to admit.  It took me a while to get into this album.  The first time I heard it, I was incredibly unimpressed.  The Chili Peppers sounded tame.  I understand it now, they just sound like they have all matured.  With guitarist John Frusciante out of the picture once again, the Chili Peppers have made their most complete album yet.  Is it the best?  It's too early to tell, but you can tell from listening to these tracks that the guys seem to be in a different place in their lives than say a Californication or a Blood Sugar Sex Magik.  In a way, I'm glad.  I didn't want to listen to Stadium Arcadium (even though I like that album) part two.  Flea really shines here.  The bass lines are just a sweet reward for anyone that dares to go on this journey with the guys of the band.  Anthony Kiedis' vocals are never overpowering of the music itself and he really does sound wonderfully here.  I was worried about the guitarist they would pick to replace Frusciante.  Relative unknown (at least to me) Josh Klinghoffer does a pretty good job fitting in with the rest of the band.  As always with the Chili Peppers, the rhythm section is probably one of the best in rock.  Chad Smith and Flea have this chemistry about them that is hard to ignore.  Listen to this album.  Don't give up on the first listen.  You will be rewarded by a mature album that is smart and entertaining.

9)

Going Out In Style

by Dropkick Murphys

Fucking Massachusetts.  How I dislike thee!  I never thought a band that sings about Fenway Park would ever be in a list I made of anything (except maybe things that suck... all of Massachusetts would apply).  I remember that the first time I listened to them was when their song "Tessie" was used as the main theme of the baseball game MVP 05.  It was a fun song to get pumped up to, but it wasn't until I heard "I'm Shipping of to Boston" that I got really hooked with the Dropkick Murphys peculiar style.  The Murphy's mixture of punk rock and Celtic folk music really sets them apart from most of the bands out there.  This new album doesn't really change the style that has already made them big.  And why should they?  Their formula works.  The constant use of bagpipes, mandolin, accordion and other unusual instruments for their fast and intense style of punk, really give the music a dimension that you can't really get from any other band out there.  I'm hoping to see the band play live, because I'm sure they are amazing when they do their stuff live.  So, instead of changing their usual style, they decided to do something that is rarely seen in the punk world... they created a concept album.  This music makes me want to drink whiskey, pump my fist in the air and be a little bit more like Cornelius Larkin, the central character of the story.

   

8)

Pursuit of Radical Rhapsody

by Al Di Meola

Al Di Meola has been making music with his guitars for more than 30 years now.  He has mastered many styles throughout the years, from the blazing jazz fusion, to Latin jazz, to the sort of world music he is now making.  With this album, the guitar virtuoso ties some of his jazz fusion chops with the more mellow and sublime style of his later records.  It will not take anyone long to hear the influences of other cultures on this record.  The Latin influence abounds with bassist Charlie Haden and pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba giving this record a decidedly Afro-Caribbean centric feel.  This is definitely an album that should be listened to intently many times in order to catch all the intricacies to the instruments that are being played (almost caressed).  The whole album is a nice piece of not only virtuosic guitar, but of music in general.  Di Meola also plays covers of The Beatles' "Strawberry Fields Forever" and Harold Arlen's "Over The Rainbow".  Again, if you don't like instrumental stuff, then this is not for you.  Otherwise, you have to listen to this.

7)

Ghost

by The Devin Townsend Project

I have spoken about the genius of Devin Townsend before.  This album is the last in a tetralogy with The Devin Townsend Project.  I did a review for the blog a few months back of the first album (Ki) and wrote of how unusual it is compared to Townsend's past discography.  It was mellow and always seemed to move towards that wall of sound approach that Townsend has exemplified, but never got there.  This one is even mellower.  There are no harsh vocals at all.  This is Devin Townsend at his most prog/experimental stage.  The music in this album is ethereal and beautiful.  The words sung on the background seem like distant ghosts (if you will) calling for you to listen to this album and the vocals really complement the different instruments and the ambient music that is so beautifully displayed here.  It's so different from what Townsend usually does but at the same time it seems like the perfect step in his musical evolution.

6)

Worship Music

by Anthrax

It's been a while since Anthrax released their last album.  About 8 years since their last album with vocalist John Bush.  After recording the album with new vocalist Dan Nelson and their quick parting of ways, this album was in limbo.  Bush didn't want to re-record the vocals of the songs and so the band went back to Joey Belladonna.  The last studio album they released with Belladonna was back in 1990.  And while they have toured together, this is their first album together in 21 years.  This album is probably their best since that last one that Belladonna was in (Persistence of Time).  While Belladonna had nothing to do with the creative process, the songs seem to fit perfectly to his singing style.  He sounds really great in this album.  While the album sounds much better in terms of production and it does lose some of Anthrax's original grittiness, they sound like a much mature outfit.  The songs aren't as fast as the songs that made Anthrax famous back in the day, but they are basically well constructed and pretty catchy. The duo of Rob Caggiano and Scott Ian on the guitars has always worked for me.  So this is a really good album with really catchy songs.  Check it out.

5)

Let Them Talk

by Hugh Laurie

I know what you are going to say.  What is a comedian/actor doing in a top album list?  The answer is easy.  This is some amazing music.  Hugh Laurie, besides being TV's Dr. Gregory House, has always had a penchant from anything he could get his hands on in the entertainment business.  From playing piano and guitar to writing novels, he has done it all.  While it would probably be disingenuous of me to say that I would have heard this album if he had not been one of my favorite artists, I can really say that I would definitely have loved this if I didn't know who Laurie was.  During the show House M.D. he has shown his penchant for the blues of New Orleans.  These aren't his songs, but his interpretations on some well known blues classics.  What I really like about it is that Laurie has a unique voice and vocal style.  I really like it.  And unlike other actors (wannabe blues singers), Laurie sings the songs with passion and intensity.  Although it is pretty hilarious to hear him singing songs like "Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho".  In a couple of songs, some big names of the NOLA scene lend their support.  Irma Thomas and Dr. John give this album some NOLA cred.  Also, Tom Jones makes an appearance and the great Allen Toussaint helps with the horn arrangements.  I think the album's name is fitting.   

4)

Hisingen Blues

by Graveyard

I already wrote a pretty long review about this album for the blog, so I won't really bother with this too much.  Hisingen Blues Review.  All you need to know is that their style of blues rock influenced by bands like Led Zeppelin is pretty great.  Read the review!

3)

National Bohemian

by The Bridge

This album was probably the first I heard in 2011.  A friend told me about this "jam" band from the Baltimore area and I immediately YouTubed them and to my surprise, their music really impressed me.  They describe themselves as a mixture of blues, folk, funk and bluegrass which is a pretty eclectic mix.  This is a pretty eclectic band.  This album makes a great job of fixing the really funky and entertaining tracks with some of the more mellow material.  You can't help but enjoy the lyrics of songs like the fun loving Geraldine with Dave Markowitz's deep basslines perfectly complementing Patrick Rainey's sax.  Cris Jacobs does a fine job with the vocals in the album.  While the funky songs are the more entertaining songs, the more mellower ones like "Colorado Motel" really give Jacobs a chance to shine, while the bluesy "Stranger in my Own Home" gives the band another dimension.  You can really tell that they took influences from all over the music spectrum and implemented them on this National Bohemian (and their prior albums are pretty good as well) to make a complete and fulfilling album.  It was incredibly sad to learn that the band had called it quits the same year they released this gem of an album.  I will definitely miss wherever the band was heading to after the release of this album.

It was hard for me to pick between these next two albums.  They are both things of beauty that should be listened to for years to come.  So depending on the day, these two would probably interchange their places back and forth. 


2)

Heritage

by Opeth

Opeth is probably my favorite band right now.  From the first moment I heard their album Blackwater Park, I knew that I had found something special.  Even though they were still a band that had a strong death metal base, they never wanted to become stale and with each album, their more heavy influences gave way to the band's progressive tendencies.  While they have already released an album that was pretty much prog rock with a very dark feel to it, Damnation was too simple for them.  With their first foray out of the death metal scene, they knew they had a winning formula with musicians like Mikael Åkerfeldt, Per Wiberg, Martin Mendez and Martin Axenrot.  And with prog rock mastermind Steven Wilson behind the mixing table, this album could not have been less than a masterpiece of music in general.  I will tell you something, Mikael has some of the most awesome death metal growls in the scene.  I am glad he doesn't have to rely on them exclusively.  I don't understand those that have criticized this album only because it is not heavy enough or metal enough.  That is a pretty sad stance to take and they are missing one of the most interesting musical experiences you will hear this past year.  To anyone that had been listening to Opeth's previous albums, it should have been obvious that this was the direction they would head it.  Their obvious natural progression was this album.  This album is incredibly complex and it takes multiple listens in order to appreciate everything that it has to offer.  There is no radio friendly stuff here.  Just pure musical awesomeness.

1)

The Hunter

by Mastodon

The last album, but certainly not least is Mastodon's The Hunter.  I never in a million years would have thought that Mastodon would be able to create two of metal's most fantastic albums in the span of two years.  Crack the Skye is one impressive album, and while I think this one doesn't surpass its predecessor, it is still a fantastic album.  While the last one was more experimental, with this one, the band decided to go back to their more metal roots and forgo the longer and more complex tracks for a more straight forward approach.  That is not to say that the music here is simple.  One of the things I have always loved about this band is their versatility when it comes to the vocals.  Three of the four can sing lead and the other is pretty good at doing backup.  That is pretty impressive.  That makes each and every song a different experience that you can immerse yourself in.  It is only their second non concept album since their first album ever, Remission.  The album in its entirety is just impressively well done.  This is why this is my favorite album of the year.  Listen to it.  You won't be disappointed.

10) I'm With You by Red Hot Chili Peppers

9) Going Out in Style by Dropkick Murphys

8) Pursuit of Radical Rhapsody by Al Di Meola

7) Ghost by The Devin Townsend Project

6) Worship Music by Anthrax

5) Let Them Talk by Hugh Laurie

4) Hisingen Blues by Graveyard

3) National Bohemian by The Bridge

2) Heritage by Opeth

1) The Hunter by Mastodon

Well, that is it... my Top 25 albums of 2011.  It's probably the least metal list I have done in a long time.  We'll see what albums 2012 will bring.  Until then... enjoy.

Top Ten Albums That Changed My Life

Eddie Trunk has worked in the music business for a while now in different roles. He basically specializes on Hard Rock and Metal but mostly the former. Not too long ago, he released his list of Ten Albums That Changed His Life. While his list was a good one, there were not many surprises. While its definitely a very personal list, I decided to do my own. Let me make this clear, this is NOT my favorite albums list. This is just the albums I believe changed my life in some way. This was Alexis' and Yhann's idea and I thought it was cool and hope to see their lists very soon and maybe implement them here so you can all see them. So, without further ado, here's my list...

Honorable Mentions

Pantera had released a couple of sub par albums in the eighties that were okay but nothing extraordinary. In 1990, they changed the metal world by releasing this fantastic album, Cowboys From Hell. While they were not the thrash style that had been made mainstream by the Big 4, this was sort of post-thrash heavy metal. The energy of the band onstage (I was never able to see them live but through DVD's and such) was unrivaled by most of the metal world and the music was powerful. Sadly, 'Dimebag' Darrell is gone from this world, but this album will be remembered by me as an integral part of my metal growth.


I am not a huge fan of the extreme metal genres. Sure, there are a band here and a band there, but traditional Death Metal and Black Metal have never been my cup of tea. About 6 years ago, I stumbled upon this band completely by chance. Arcturus was a sort of supergroup in the Black Metal genre with guys like Garm, Samoth and Hellhammer coming together to form this interesting group. Their first album was the normal black metal fair, but with 1997's Le Masquerade Infernale thet became something else entirely. With 2002's The Sham Mirrors, they were able to come together and really become an interesting band that shunned traditional black elements and implemented an avant garde style that made the group stand out from most. This is a fantastic album to discover and it really made me dig deeper into the subgenres of black metal and discover other nice gems.

The List

I first heard vocalist Devon Graves (Buddy Lackey) when he created the band Deadsoul Tribe. While his voice was interesting and incredibly haunting, I would never know his real potential until I heard this album. In 1990 progressive metal was still in its infancy. Psychotic Waltz's first album A Social Grace is an underrated gem of an album that will blow fans of the genre away. Listen to the energy of this album and the weird time signatures and especially the unique vocals of Graves and you will see why this album is so great. This album showed me that you don't need to do things the same way as everyone else does them. You can make your stuff unique.


I don't think this is Pain of Salvation's best album, but it's certainly their most creative one. This prog metal band has definitely evolved with each new album, but it wasn't until their concept album BE that Daniel Gildenlow and his band truly showed how creative and innovative they could be. Sure, it may be flawed in its way as it probably tries to do too much, but that is not what attracted me to it in the first place. What some more arrogant reviewers might view as pretentiousness, I see as Gildenlow's way to show everyone his vision. The mixture of music, spoken word pieces, and such make this a listening experience that should never be taken out of its own context and even less, viewed individually as different "songs". This is much more than that, which is why I am a big fan of this album and will continue to be for a long time.


I have to give a lot of thanks to my father for showing me the classic rock legends way back when I was little. Without having listened to classic bands like the Stones, The Who, etc., I would have probably been listening to reggueton or some shit like that. What better album is there to discover when you are at a young age? Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker's landmark album, Disraeli Gears, is a gem of classic psychedelic blues rock. There is nothing better than to rediscover this album when you are a older *wink* *wink*. This album helped to turn me into a fan of the 60s which I am still one now. Slowhand is also one of my favorite guitarists.


I remember when I first got this album like a thousand years ago. I was interested by the album cover. I had heard a friend of mine talk about Joe Satriani before, but I really didn't know what to expect when I bought it. While most people consider Surfing With the Alien to be their favorite Satch album, The Extremist was my first album of instrumental guitar, and it still holds a place in my heart. Besides all that, this is just a fantastic album. Satch has always been one of my favorites because he is not just one of those really fast guitarists and nothing much more. He is a talented song writer and his music is full of soul (for lack of a better word).


I have always been one of those music fans that just likes to demand more from his music. I don't like to settle for just a collection of songs put together under the same name. When I heard that this album had one of the most talented vocalists out there, some kickass prog metal music, and an interesting story to boot, I was in from the get go. This album was the one that made me realize that there exists music that doesn't just want to be music alone but can also come together in an album (and through different albums) and tell a coherent story. Queensryche's Operation: Mindcrime is probably the best concept album in the metal genre (including all its subgenres). Geoff Tate's vocals are just amazing and I still like to listen to this album after about 13 years of discovering it.


Okay, okay... I admit it. I'm sort of cheating in a way. But not truly. The Essential Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble should be in anyone's blues rock collection... hell, in anyone's music collection period. When I got this album, I had never heard any of Stevie's songs. I was getting it purely on a friend's recommendation. I'm incredibly glad I did. This collection of Stevie songs is incredibly deep with some fantastic songs that really showcase Vaughan's guitar work and deep voice. This album and Stevie Ray Vaughan's guitar made the transition from blues rock to delta blues for me seem seamless. If you don't like this man, you don't have a soul.


If there is one album that I would love to take with me to a deserted island, it would probably be Pink Floyd's seminal work The Dark Side of the Moon. Pink Floyd always released incredible albums, but there is something about this album that just propels it over everything they ever wrote with Syd Barrett or after. I remember when I first heard this album it was like nothing I was used to hearing. I had heard the classic rock of the 60's but this was more than just that. It was my first foray into prog rock. From there, the other classics of the genre where obvious in my journey (gotta give props to King Crimson as well!). Listen to this masterpiece and be awed by it.


I never thought death metal could be beautiful. I never even knew it was possible. That is until I heard Mikael Akerfeldt's growls and then suddenly an acoustic interlude with incredible clean vocals coming from the same mouth. Not only are his growls amazing, but Akerfeldt's versatility quickly made him one of my favorites and Opeth one of my favorite bands. The music is complex and interesting, its ugly and beautiful, its raw and at the same time crisp. This band has everything I want in an band. Blackwater Park, for me, is the perfect album from a band like Opeth. This album made me believe that death metal could be beautiful and I also found one of my favorite bands in the process.


Can anyone go wrong with a Led Zeppelin album? I don't think so. I never got into Zep early in my life. My dad liked them but he was more into the Stones and The Beatles. When I first heard them in a movie's soundtrack, I knew I needed more. I went out and got Led Zeppelin IV or The Fourth Album or ZoSo... however you may want to call it since it has no name. When you look at the track list, its filled with unquestionably fantastic songs. This album really did open a lot of doors for me in the classic rock world and it was when I knew that this was the style that I liked the most. This was the genre that spoke to me the most. It was the day I knew that I loved this kind of music and there was nothing that could ever change it.


Now, I know what you are about to say. "You chose Fear Factory over Led Zeppelin!? Are you mad!?!?". It's a fair question. Yes, I did pick Fear Factory's Demanufacture over my favorite band ever. Why? When I started listening to Zep earnestly, I was already a heavy metal fan. One day, I had been paid by my mother for cleaning something I don't remember. I had 20 bucks in my hand and was in a music store. I saw the cover of this album and bought it because it looked incredibly cool (still does). I knew it was harder and harsher than anything I had heard before (it was on the metal section) but I never expected it to be what it is. It was a visceral experience. From the moment I put on the CD, I was blown away. This was some heavy shit, especially for someone not used to this kind of music. It took me a bit to really get into it, but when I did, I was hooked. The Slayers, Metallicas, Iron Maidens, Judas Priests of this world came after Fear Factory for me. In my musical life there are many different experiences, but I divide it simply as the Years of Silence (when music wasn't a big part of my life) and After Fear Factory.

Well, there is my list. I hope you enjoyed it and maybe discovered an album you hadn't given the time of day before. I am sure yours is also an interesting read. Comment below what you think and if you want, gimme your list as well.