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 1994

Amorica by the Black Crowes

Amorica’s risque cover photo was taken from the July 1976 issue of Hustler magazine

Amorica was the third studio album released by the Black Crowes and the second of three featuring what is for me the definitive line-up of Chris and Rich Robinson, Eddie Harsch, Marc Ford, Johnny Colt & Steve Gorman. The album was another successful one for the band, reaching the top 20 in Australia, the US and the Netherlands and made it in to the top 10 in the UK.

Favourite track: “High Head Blues”

The Downward Spiral by Nine Inch Nails

Nine Inch Nails released their second studio album five years after their debut

The Downward Spiral was intended as a concept album detailing the self-destruction of a man from the beginning of his misanthropic “downward spiral” to his suicide. Dark and abrasive, I have always considered this both a challenging and rewarding listen. Progressive rock guitarist Adrian Belew, was given a brief that asked him play freely yet react to melody, concentrate on rhythm and use noise. He certainly stuck to the brief!

Favourite track: “Hurt”, both the original version and the fantastic Johnny Cash cover version.

Around The Next Dream by BBM

BBM was an acronym for the last names of members Ginger Baker, Jack Bruce & Gary Moore

In 1993 legendary power trio Cream were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame and were briefly reunited to play a few tracks at the induction. Baker and Bruce wanted to reform and go on tour but Eric Clapton was not ready to do so (they would not reform until 2005). Not wanting to lose momentum they formed a short-lived trio with Gary Moore instead. They recorded just the one album, went on a short tour and then disbanded. Being a fan of both Cream and Gary Moore, I bought the album on its day of release and have loved it ever since.

Favourite Track: The track featuring one of Gary Moore’s finest solos, “Why Does Love (Have To Go Wrong?)”

Grace by Jeff Buckley

Jeff met his singer-songwriter father Tim Buckley, only once during their equally short lives

When Grace was released sales were initially slow despite critical acclaim and celebrity endorsement from the likes of David Bowie, Bob Dylan, Brad Pitt, Jimmy Page and Robert Plant. The album sold well in Australia and Buckley toured twice in late 1994 and early 1995. The album consisted of his own compositions alongside three covers, including his well-known take on Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah”.

Favourite track: “Last Goodbye”

Purple by Stone Temple Pilots

Purple, the hugely successful second album from Stone Temple Pilots, released in June 1994

Purple debuted at number one on the US charts and would go on to sell six million copies. Three singles were released and were also successful. The album didn’t just do well in the US, it also topped the charts in Australia and was a top ten hit in Canada, New Zealand, Sweden and the UK. I love this whole album, including the hilarious hidden track, and I still listen to it as an album regularly.

Favourite Track: “Big Empty”