Ok, so the year is almost over and here are some of my favorite albums from the year. It’s in no order what so ever so here ya go:
Fu Manchu – We Must Obey
From the get go this album kicks ass. The sound that we have all come to love from Fu Manchu is still there as i’m sure it always will be. Some may say it’s more of the same, but there is something about the album that keeps it from being that. Hard hitting from start to finish. Their cover of the Cars track “Moving In Stereo” is great. They always pick the best songs to do covers of and with that fuzz sound they bring the songs right up to the current. So damn good.
The Horrors – Strange House
I picked up a promo of the 4 song EP they had released last year. I didn’t really listen to it much cause by looking at em they just seem like they wouldn’t rock. Boy was i wrong!! Their cover of “Jack The Ripper” is so brutal. Again, from start to finish it’s great fuzz “garage punk”. The organ work on the album makes it a bit spooky in the kind of same way as a surf garage band like the Mummies or Creepy Creeps would do, but without the surf guitar. I remember Sergio and Rex telling me how much their 15 minute set in LA was but at the time i still couldn’t get past their “look”. They just seemed too artsy is you will. I can’t wait till they come back to the states so i can see em. And did you hear about the show they did in some girls house in NYC? They played one song and the cops came and broke the party up. That’s how much they rock.
Neil Young – Live At Massey Hall
Never was a HUGE Neil Young fan but did own some of his stuff. The performance of “Needle and The Damage Done” that he did on one of the MTV awards show blew me away. It was Neil in the Rock N Roll Hall Of Fame all by himself playing the song on guitar. That’s basically what this album is, but it’s in a nice theater. The entire performance is amazing cause it’s just him and his guitar and piano. Wish more bands/performers would do stuff like this. Pearl Jam’s “Live At Benaroyal Hall” comes to mind since the sounds of it is so warm.
Nekromantix – Life’s A Grave And I Dig It
Had never really gotten into the Nekromantix cause they were a psychobilly band and in my youth never really strayed from what i was used to. Went and saw them with friends at HOB and i think it was the song “Who Killed The Cheerleader” that caught my attention. This album is a bit more twangy and more rockabilly than psychobilly which is a nice change. I picked up their older albums before i did this one so I was surprised by the slight change. I got to meet Nekroman when we played with the Reverend Horton Heat and the Horrorpops played the middle spot. Super cool guy and got to talk about guitars and what not the whole time. Love the album.
Queens Of The Stone Age – Era Vulgaris
In my own opinion QOTSA can do no wrong. This album goes to prove my point. At first the albums sound was a bit weird to me. Very metallic sounding and not so full as say “Songs For The Def” is. The songs are pretty amazing though. Simple songs with catchy hooks and such but in the weird way that Josh and QOTSA normally do. The opening track “Turning The Screw” always gets me bobbing my head to the rhythm. “Into The Hollow” does the same thing. The one track i could of gone without at first was the Desert Sessions song “Make It Wit Chu” but now that too has grown on me. “Suture Your Future” reminds me of a huge giant walking along with his head down and depressed while people poke and prod his ankles and try and take em down when all he wants is to have some friends. THAT is why i love QOTSA. Each song puts visions in my head and i can see the song being a soundtrack for a short film. My favorite track didn’t come on the domestic CD but is on the vinyl version. It’s called “Running Joke” which uses the same chord progression as the Disneyland Main Street band used on the last QOTSA album. I think the last 3 albums have all been tied together some how.
Tomahawk – Anonymous
Another Mike Patton creation to add to the collection. This album is a “tribute” to all the Native American music that was and is still apart of their culture. They are a bit twisted versions of the songs but still stay true to the originals. It all came together when Duane Denison was on tour with Hank III and spent time in central United States. He and drummer John Stanier tracked all the music together and then sent the album to Mike Patton who then added all the vocals and samples and such. So it’s not like the first two Tomahawk albums where they are rock songs with Patton singing lyrics and such but him singing chants. Nice twist from the norm, but not something you wouldn’t expect from a Patton project.
Th’ Legendary Shack Shakers – Swampblood
Part 3 of a 3 part souther revival carnival show. So to Speak. This album is not as strong all the way through as “Believe” or “Pandelirium” but a great album none the least. Starts out a weird feedback then a banjo plucking. It makes you feel as though you’re going through the swamps of the south then strait into “Old Spur Line” which is a familiar riff as it’s also used in one of the songs from their album “Cockadoodledon’t”. Col. Joshua “J.D.” Wilkes always has the most oddball lyrics like “she crosses her eyes, and she dots her t’s” and that is part of the charm of the Shack Shakers. I think the thing about this album that i was disappointed with was there were less of the crazy out of control songs like there were on “Pandelirium” and the songs also seem to be a bit shorter. I think the album needs to be played really loud cause it just sounds that much better.
Dethklok – The Dethalbum
Like i said in a previous post, the best metal album of the year and it’s by a “fake” band. The lyrics are crazy and you just have to laugh at them. The guitar work is pretty amazing and the drums, the drums are insane. It’s hard to believe that the dude that created the show can shred like he does. I suggest you pick up the 2 disc deluxe edition so you get the 5 bonus tracks. “Murdertrain A Comin’” is rad cause it’s the most metal blues song i’ve ever hear and Mashed Potatoes Johnson has a little cameo.
Down – III: Over The Under
I had no idea this album was even recorded or coming out. One day when i was doing new releases at work it showed up. Didn’t even think they were still a band. The album is about Katrina since all the band lives in New Orleans. Phil does a bit of a different vocal styling than I’m used to hearing from him. Great album from start to finish. I would of liked to have seen them play live when they came to town, but i had to work. It’s not really a “metal” album cause there are no shredding guitars and such but it’s fargin rocking. Very heavy and almost “stoner rock” if you will.
The Hives – The Black And White Album
I love the Hives and when i heard they were going to be working with Pharrell Williams i thought it would be over and they would destroy all they have worked so hard to do. I mean, look what happened to the Mooney Suzuki when they worked with the Matrix production team. The funny thing is once i heard the album i couldn’t tell what songs were produced by him and which were not. The Hives have made another rocking album that translates just as well live as it does on the album. Songs like “You Dress Up For Armageddon”, “Well Alright”, “It Won’t Be Long” and the UK bonus track “Fall Is Just Something Grown ups Invented” are going to be Hives classics in no time. Then you got the song “A Stroll Through Hive Manor Corridors” which is one of my favorites cause it’s weird, lo-fi and just unexpected.
Turbonegro – Retox
The best album of the year??? It’s hard to say but it’s right near the top if it’s not. Return to form for Turbonegro even though they never left their form. Dirty rock as it’s supposed to be played. Loud, fast and out of control. The one song i can’t stand is “Back In Denim” but everything is top notch. “Store The Shaft” is what you’ve come to love from Turbonegro’s tongue in cheek approach. The stand out track on this album is “Boys From nowhere”. It’s got radio hit written all over it and it’s something the Jackass boys will probably be using all the time from here on out.
