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 2009

Anomaly by Ace Frehley

Anomaly was the first album of original material from Frehley since 1989’s Trouble Walkin’

This was the first studio album recorded by original KISS guitarist Ace Frehley since becoming clean and sober. It tells in the quality of his playing, the quality of the song-writing and his focus on recording a cohesive album. I loved this from the first moment I heard it, but then he was always my favourite member of KISS.

Favourite track: “Outer Space”

Before The Frost…Until The Freeze by The Black Crowes

Before The Frost… was released on a CD that was manufactured as a vinyl LP replica

When buying Before The Frost… a code was provided for downloading …Until The Freeze

This double album from the Black Crowes was recorded before a live audience at Levon Helm’s studio The Barn in Woodstock, New York. I loved this whole thing from start to finish and for me, was their best recording for more than a decade. Although they are back performing live again, albeit with a different line-up, they still haven’t recorded any new original studio material since this release.

Favourite track: “Been A Long Time (Waiting On Love)” just for the guitar fireworks of the last 3 minutes or so of the 8 minutes plus track

Sound Awake by Karnivool

Sound Awake was the second studio album from singer Ian Kenny’s “other” band

Karnivool was singer Ian Kenny’s original band before also joining Birds Of Tokyo. Despite this, Karnivool have only released three albums whereas Birds Of Tokyo have released six. I think this album is brilliant and is still on high rotation more than a decade after acquiring it. The album was also a success debuting at number two on the ARIA charts and achieving Gold certification for sales in Australia. Two singles were also released from the album.

Favourite track: The epic “New Day”

Chickenfoot by Chickenfoot

Chickenfoot was the self-titled debut of the band which was released in June 2009

This is the first of two “supergroups” to feature in my favourite five albums of 2009. This band features one my favourite guitarists, Joe Satriani, on guitar. It also includes drummer Chad Smith of Red Hot Chili Peppers and two ex-Van Halen members, Michael Anthony on bass and vocalist/guitarist Sammy Hagar. What a line-up! Three singles were released from the album and it achieved the top five in both the US and Canada.

Favourite track: “Soap On A Rope”

Them Crooked Vultures by Them Crooked Vultures

Prior to the release of this album Cream was my favourite “supergroup”

Them Crooked Vultures included Josh Homme of Queens Of The Stone Age on guitar and vocals, Dave Grohl of Nirvana/Foo Fighters on drums and former Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones. This band absolutely rocks! I love this album so much it would be in my top ten albums of all time and one of my “desert island discs” as they say. The album was a success reaching the top 5 in Australia, Norway, Belgium, Canada and New Zealand. It also made the top 20 in the US, Germany, the UK and Ireland.

Favourite track: “Bandoliers”

Favourite Five Of 2002

The Rising by Bruce Springsteen

The Rising was the first album fully recorded with the E Street Band since Born In The USA

The Rising was an instant commercial and critical success for Springsteen. Unsurprising as it is the first full album recorded with the E Street Band since their reunion. They always seem to bring out the best in him in my opinion. Written in the aftermath of 9/11 in contains some of his most poignant work. The album topped the charts around the world and three singles were released. He then launched a successful world tour supporting the album and I finally got my chance to see him live at an outdoor gig at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Favourite track: “You’re MIssing”

Songs For The Deaf by Queens Of The Stone Age

Songs For The Deaf, a concept album taking the listener driving through the California desert

Featuring Dave Grohl on drums, Songs For The Deaf was the third studio album from Queens Of The Stone Age. The late Mark Lanegan, formerly of Screaming Trees, was also a member of the band at the time of recording. Three singles were released from the album and it was very successful for the band making the top 10 in the UK, Norway, Australia, Belgium and Germany.

Favourite track: The fantastic lead single “No One Knows”

Up by Peter Gabriel

Excluding Gabriel’s soundtrack work Up was his seventh studio album and thirteenth overall

Initially I found this album quite different to what I was expecting from Peter Gabriel, but like a fungal infection it grew on me. I now consider it a masterpiece on a par with Us and So. Largely concerning themes of death, it is considerably darker than his previous work. But that is also its appeal. Four singles were released and it was another successful album for Gabriel.

Favourite track: “Growing Up”

By The Way by Red Hot Chili Peppers

The eighth studio album from Red Hit Chili Peppers went on to sell 8 million copies

Guitarist John Frusciante has gone on record to say that writing this album was one of the happiest times of his life. It shows in the material, which has a strong melodic focus and little of the funk fusion that made their name. Four singles were released and it peaked at #1 on numerous album charts around the world.

Favourite track: “The Zephyr Song”

Strange Beautiful Music by Joe Satriani

Virtuoso guitarist Joe Satriani released his ninth studio album in June 2002

I have bought everything Joe Satriani has released ever since I became a fan upon hearing Surfing With The Alien. His releases never disappoint and I am continually amazed by his compositions as he somehow allows the music to breathe even when playing at his fastest. Someone else summed up his abilities as having the knack of knowing when not to play.

Favourite track: “Chords Of Life”