Favourite Five Of 2016

Dig In Deep by Bonnie Raitt

2016 saw the release of American singer-songwriter Bonnie Raitt’s seventeenth studio album

For my taste, this is Bonnie Raitt’s best album for more than two decades. It is not a coincidence that it is the first for some time to feature some original Raitt compositions. But she also shines when performing the material of others. The album peaked at #11 on the US charts and also reached the top 40 in Belgium, Canada, the Netherlands and the UK.

Favourite track: The slinky, bluesy cover of the INXS hit, “Need You Tonight”

The Lexicon Of Love II by ABC

ABC chose to release a sequel to their 1982 debut studio album The Lexicon Of Love in 2016

Deciding to revisit a classic time in a band’s career is fraught with all sorts of pitfalls. Thankfully ABC didn’t fall into any of those and have instead created a worthwhile successor to their very successful debut. Although lead singer Martin Fry is now the sole member of ABC, this album’s lush orchestrations hark back to the original The Lexicon Of Love as they were created once again by Anne Dudley. I heard one song off this and thought it good enough to warrant investing in the whole album and I was not disappointed.

Favourite track: “The Flames Of Desire”

Santana IV by Santana

Santana chose to call their twenty-fourth studio album, Santana IV

Santana IV picks up where Santana III left off back in 1971 (hence the title) as it features the majority of the line-up from that album in a reunion of sorts. The album was an astounding success, debuting at number 5 in the US as well as reaching the top ten in Germany, the UK, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Poland and Switzerland. The album peaked at number 11 here in Australia and I really enjoyed it right from the first listen.

Favourite track: “Shake It”

Post Pop Depression by Iggy Pop

Iggy Pop’s 17th studio album was recorded Rancho De La Luna in Joshua Tree, California

Post Pop Depression is largely co-written by Iggy Pop and Josh Homme, of Queens Of The Stone Age. Homme also produced the album as well as playing on it in a band that featured fellow bandmate from Queens, Dean Fertita and the drummer from Arctic Monkeys, Matt Helder. A sympatico group of musicians that supported Pop in the best possible way which, well, let Iggy be Iggy. The result was a resounding success that made the top ten in album charts around the world.

Favourite track: “Sunday”

Blackstar (stylised as ★) by Iggy Pop

Blackstar is the 26th and final studio album released by the late David Bowie

Blackstar was Bowie’s most experimental album for some time containing art rock combined with avant-garde jazz. Bowie was suffering from liver cancer during its recording and in fact died only two days after the album’s release. The lyrics do appear to feature his impending death and I believe he left us with one last masterpiece before his departure from this mortal coil. Unsurprisingly, it was a number one album all around the world.

Favourite track: The hauntingly beautiful “Lazarus”

Favourite Five Of 1989

In Step by Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble

In Step, the fourth and final studio album released by Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble

In hindsight, it is no surprise to anyone that In Step is the band’s strongest studio album largely due to it being the first that Stevie Ray Vaughan recorded clean and sober. The album featured strong compositions from the band as well as inspired cover songs. The album performed well in the US, Canada and Australia and won the the Grammy for Best Contemporary Blues Album.

Favourite track: The epic jazz-influenced instrumental “Riviera Paradise”

Flying In A Blue Dream by Joe Satriani

Flying In A Blue Dream, Satriani’s first album to include tracks with him performing vocals

Joe Satriani will never be remembered for his vocal work, but they were serviceable on the tracks he chose to sing. His success continued with this album, featuring four top 40 hits in the US. The album itself remained in the US charts for 39 weeks and made the top 40 in three other countries.

Favourite track: The title track “Flying In A Blue Dream”

Disintegration by The Cure

Disintegration was the eighth studio album released by English band The Cure

Recorded during a time of upheaval within the band, founding member Lol Tolhurst was sacked before the album’s release, the album is a return to the group’s gothic rock from earlier in the decade. The Cure released four successful singles from the album. The album itself fared very well internationally as it made the top ten in Australia, Austria, the UK, Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, Germany, Ireland and France. It also peaked at #12 in the US.

Favourite track: The delightfully creepy “Lullaby”

The Healer by John Lee Hooker

The Healer featured an epic list of guest artists alongside blues legend John Lee Hooker

Although only reaching #62 on the US charts, the album made the top 20 in Australia and was successful enough to let John Lee Hooker live in comfort the rest of his life. John Lee won his first Grammy Award for his duet with Bonnie Raitt on “I’m In The Mood”. Featuring a plethora of guest contributors alongside a core band of session musicians, the guests featured included Carlos Santana, George Thorogood, Robert Cray and Los Lobos.

Favourite track: “The Healer” featuring the blistering guitarwork of Carlos Santana alongside John Lee’s simpler rhythmic playing

Pretty Hate Machine by Nine Inch Nails

The debut album from industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails was released in October 1989

I became an instant Nine Inch Nails fan from the first moment I heard “Head Like A Hole”. I had heard nothing like it before and loved its sound, which in turn made me seek out the album. I love this album still and own it in several formats. It also remains perhaps the most accessible of the Nine Inch Nails releases.

Favourite track: “Kinda I Want To”