Favourite Five Of 2011

Wasting Light by Foo Fighters

Wasting Light is the seventh studio album released by Foo Fighters

Foo Fighters recorded this album in frontman Dave Grohl’s garage in Encino, California using only analogue equipment. The band sought a heavier sound and wanted to recapture the sound of their earlier material. The process worked and the album was another successful one for the band. Six singles were released and the album debuted at number one in 12 countries. It was their first to top the US charts.

Favourite track: “Bridge Burning”

From Here To Anywhere by Sneaky Sound System

Sneaky Sound System released their third studio album in October 2011

This is actually the 5th studio album in my collection to feature Connie Mitchell as lead vocalist, as I also have the two albums she released with Primary. I have always loved her vocals and I think this is the most cohesive effort from Sneaky Sound System. Four singles were released and the album was nominated for Best Dance Release at the ARIA Music Awards.

Favourite Track: “Friends”

The Unforgiving by Within Temptation

The Unforgiving is the fifth studio album by Dutch symphonic metal band Within Temptation

The Unforgiving part of a multimedia storytelling project and involved a series of six comic books and three short films. The album featured more pop and 80s influences than previous efforts and three singles were released. The album reached the top 10 in several European countries, the top 30 in the UK and Australia and the top 50 in the US.

Favourite track: Third single, “Shot In The Dark”

To The Horses by Lanie Lane

Lanie Lane released her self-produced debut album, To The Horses, in 2011

Lanie Lane seemed to come out of nowhere to most listeners upon release of this, her debut album, in 2011. I had the advantage of being involved in community radio at the time so got to know her material from the start, before this was released. I was an instant fan and really enjoyed her music. The album was a success and reached number 12 in the Australian album charts. Six singles were released and Lanie was nominated for five ARIA Music Awards.

Favourite track: “Betty Baby”

Welcome 2 My Nightmare by Alice Cooper

Welcome 2 My Nightmare, was released as a sequel to 1975’s Welcome To My Nightmare

Producer Bob Ezrin convinced Alice Cooper to release a sequel album to the biggest album of Alice’s career. It was a wise decision as it made the top 30 around the world and was his most successful album in the US since Trash back in 1989. The album also featured some tracks recorded with the surviving members of the original Alice Cooper band, their first recordings together since 1973’s Muscle Of Love.

Favourite track: “I’ll Bite Your Face Off”

Favourite Five Of 2001

That’s What I Am by Eric Gales

Child prodigy Eric Gales released his first solo album at the ripe old age of 27

Having released two albums with his band in 1991 and 1993 respectively and another with his brothers in 1996, it was surprising that his first real solo album didn’t come until later. Primarily showcasing his guitar chops the album also features hip-hop style vocals, turntable scratching and a fiery cover of Jimi Hendrix’s “Foxey Lady”, an artist he is often compared to. He is much funkier here than was indicated on his previous releases.

Favourite track: “Insane”

Lateralus by Tool

The album arrived five years after its predecessor mostly due to legal issues with their label

Lateralus is quite epic in its scope compared to previous Tool releases and even includes one three track song cycle that totals more than 23 minutes in length. As a big fan of Tool I was always going to like this although I still prefer Ænima. It rewards repeated listening, as does much of their work, not least due to the complexity of the rhythm changes and the album’s dynamic sound.

Favourite track: Album opener “The Grudge”

Watching The World by Primary

Primary was my first taste of the vocal stylings of Connie Mitchell, it would not be my last

Before a brief stint with Machine Gun Fellatio and joining Sneaky Sound System, Connie Mitchell performed vocals out the front of Primary. The Fonti brothers, previously members of Caligula, formed techno rock group Primary with Connie. I enjoyed their debut album This Is The Sound, but I thought their sound had improved markedly on this one and loved it right from the first listen.

Favourite track: “Not For Me”

Gold by Ryan Adams

Released in September 2001, Gold was the second solo studio album by Ryan Adams

I was never really a fan of Whiskeytown, which featured Adams on lead vocals and guitar, so I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoy this album. I hadn’t heard his first solo album and so this was the first of his releases I had ever listened to in its entirety. Released only two weeks after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the single “New York, New York” did well for the singer accordingly. His intent was to create a modern classic and he originally intended for it to be a double album, but sadly his record company didn’t agree.

Favourite track: “Enemy Fire”

Strange Little Girls by Tori Amos

Four different album covers were available representing four different tracks from the album

Amos released Strange Little Girls as a concept album reinterpreting songs written and performed by males, from a female perspective. If you didn’t know these songs otherwise you’d be mistaken for thinking them her own compositions so unique are her interpretations. I have been a fan of Tori’s work since her debut so I soon as I heard which songs she’d be covering I knew I would have to get my hands on it.

Favourite track: Her unusual take on Slayer’s thrash metal classic “Raining Blood”