Best of 2011 so far

[Metal T]

Just saw where Gary Jefferies (Asphalt Ballet/Aligator Stew) just released a solo disc-Gary is the real deal!

[Geoff]

the new Ten is better than my first impression but i think quite hard to pass the 7.5/10 mark and probably already max-ed out on that score for me

 

btw Geoff, how about Blackrain, probably you missed that one on your top 10?

and Lovex and John Waite discs, aren't you diggin' it as well?

The Blackrain CD is admittedly probably a little far back in my list... haven't heard it for ages so that might have resulted in it's slide. But the Lovex is about where it belongs. Very good album, but I prefer at least those currently above it. As for Jon Waite, some wonderful tracks but also several duds... definitely not one of the higher ranked CDs of the year, despite me enjoying it.

[TIM (2)]

The two big albums for me this year, light-years ahead of everything else, are:-

 

TRIVIUM - In Waves

TOBY HITCHCOCK - Mercurys Down

[Geoff]

TOBY HITCHCOCK - Mercurys Down

I should mention I have heard this one by now too and it does kind of sky-rocket right to the top of the list. Crazy consistent, brilliant songs one after another. Hard to pick the best, purely because there's so freakin' many of them!

[Glen]

TOBY HITCHCOCK - Mercurys Down

I should mention I have heard this one by now too and it does kind of sky-rocket right to the top of the list. Crazy consistent, brilliant songs one after another. Hard to pick the best, purely because there's so freakin' many of them!

 

'Tear Down The Barricades'.

 

I love that song. All together now......."We've got wings to fly..........".

 

Perfect stuff IMO.

[JamesEagle]

The two big albums for me this year, light-years ahead of everything else, are:-

 

TRIVIUM - In Waves

TOBY HITCHCOCK - Mercurys Down

 

Hmm ... one that I seriously need to get my hands on (Toby Hitchcock) and one that I would rather pour molten lead into my ears than listen to.

 

[Flo]

No specific order:

PAGAN's MIND

AFTER HOURS

JOURNEY

ELECTRIC BOYS

THE FEELING

THE OUTFIELD (i'm waiting the physical cd; hope it will come one day)

[KarpetRydOFunk]

ELECTRIC BOYS

 

Yes! Finally, someone else appreciates the new Electric Boys.

[Flo]

ELECTRIC BOYS

 

Yes! Finally, someone else appreciates the new Electric Boys.

 

yes , a very good album IMO

[TIM (2)]

Here's my list so far. House of Lords and Shy could make the list (haven't played them much), but neither are any great shakes. I've had to include modern metal too as I could never have found enough from just the MR field as, aside from a few killer discs, it's been a poor year for the genre IMO...

 

 

1. TOBY HITCHCOCK - Mercury's Down

2. MACHINE HEAD - Unto the Locust

3. TRIVIUM - In Waves

4. WORK OF ART - Progress

5. LOVEX - Watch Out

6. ASKING ALEXANDRIA - Reckless and Relentless

7. TIMES OF GRACE - The Hymn of a Broken Man

8. IN FLAMES - Sounds of a Playground Fading

9. DAVID COOK - This Loud Morning

10. BAD HABIT - Atmosphere

11. FARCRY - Optimism

12. RISE TO REMAIN - City of Vultures

[Geoff]

First time I've done a combined list, and to be honest this surprises even me. Especially the 3 Doors Down one - do I really like it that much?!

 

1 . Toby Hitchcock - Mercury's Down - 93.33

2 . Trust Company - Silence in black and white - 92.50

3 . Work of Art - In progress - 90.67

4 . Xorigin - State Of The Art 90.45

5 . Bai Bang - Livin' my dream - 88.25

6 . Lovex - Watch out! - 86.50

7 . David Cook - This loud morning - 85.79

8 . Simple Plan - Get your heart on - 84.91

9 . Stealing Eden - Truth in tragedy - 84.55

10 . Forever the Sickest Kids - s/t - 84.09

11 . Destrophy - Cry havoc - 84.00

12 . Adelita's Way - Home School Valedictorian - 83.18

13 . The Friday Night Boys - Everything you ever wanted: The B-sides - 83.09

14 . Bad Habit - Atmosphere - 83.08

15 . Human Zoo - Eyes of a stranger - 82.73

16 . Alyson Avenue - Changes - 82.64

17 . Miss Behaviour - Last Woman Standing - 82.27

18 . Blackrain - Lethal dose of… - 81.14

19 . Yellowcard - When you're through thinking say yes - 81.00

20 . 3 Doors Down - Time of my life - 80.92

[JamesEagle]

First time I've done a combined list, and to be honest this surprises even me. Especially the 3 Doors Down one - do I really like it that much?!

 

1 . Toby Hitchcock - Mercury's Down - 93.33

2 . Trust Company - Silence in black and white - 92.50

3 . Work of Art - In progress - 90.67

4 . Xorigin - State Of The Art 90.45

5 . Bai Bang - Livin' my dream - 88.25

6 . Lovex - Watch out! - 86.50

7 . David Cook - This loud morning - 85.79

8 . Simple Plan - Get your heart on - 84.91

9 . Stealing Eden - Truth in tragedy - 84.55

10 . Forever the Sickest Kids - s/t - 84.09

11 . Destrophy - Cry havoc - 84.00

12 . Adelita's Way - Home School Valedictorian - 83.18

13 . The Friday Night Boys - Everything you ever wanted: The B-sides - 83.09

14 . Bad Habit - Atmosphere - 83.08

15 . Human Zoo - Eyes of a stranger - 82.73

16 . Alyson Avenue - Changes - 82.64

17 . Miss Behaviour - Last Woman Standing - 82.27

18 . Blackrain - Lethal dose of… - 81.14

19 . Yellowcard - When you're through thinking say yes - 81.00

20 . 3 Doors Down - Time of my life - 80.92

 

Okay, I probably shouldn't ask, but I'm going to. How do you end up with such precise ratings?

[TIM (2)]

First time I've done a combined list, and to be honest this surprises even me. Especially the 3 Doors Down one - do I really like it that much?!

 

1 . Toby Hitchcock - Mercury's Down - 93.33

2 . Trust Company - Silence in black and white - 92.50

3 . Work of Art - In progress - 90.67

4 . Xorigin - State Of The Art 90.45

5 . Bai Bang - Livin' my dream - 88.25

6 . Lovex - Watch out! - 86.50

7 . David Cook - This loud morning - 85.79

8 . Simple Plan - Get your heart on - 84.91

9 . Stealing Eden - Truth in tragedy - 84.55

10 . Forever the Sickest Kids - s/t - 84.09

11 . Destrophy - Cry havoc - 84.00

12 . Adelita's Way - Home School Valedictorian - 83.18

13 . The Friday Night Boys - Everything you ever wanted: The B-sides - 83.09

14 . Bad Habit - Atmosphere - 83.08

15 . Human Zoo - Eyes of a stranger - 82.73

16 . Alyson Avenue - Changes - 82.64

17 . Miss Behaviour - Last Woman Standing - 82.27

18 . Blackrain - Lethal dose of… - 81.14

19 . Yellowcard - When you're through thinking say yes - 81.00

20 . 3 Doors Down - Time of my life - 80.92

 

Okay, I probably shouldn't ask, but I'm going to. How do you end up with such precise ratings?

 

Oh god, don't ask that. Maybe start a new thread called: 'geoff has too much time on his hands' or something.

[Geoff]

First time I've done a combined list, and to be honest this surprises even me. Especially the 3 Doors Down one - do I really like it that much?!

 

1 . Toby Hitchcock - Mercury's Down - 93.33

2 . Trust Company - Silence in black and white - 92.50

3 . Work of Art - In progress - 90.67

4 . Xorigin - State Of The Art 90.45

5 . Bai Bang - Livin' my dream - 88.25

6 . Lovex - Watch out! - 86.50

7 . David Cook - This loud morning - 85.79

8 . Simple Plan - Get your heart on - 84.91

9 . Stealing Eden - Truth in tragedy - 84.55

10 . Forever the Sickest Kids - s/t - 84.09

11 . Destrophy - Cry havoc - 84.00

12 . Adelita's Way - Home School Valedictorian - 83.18

13 . The Friday Night Boys - Everything you ever wanted: The B-sides - 83.09

14 . Bad Habit - Atmosphere - 83.08

15 . Human Zoo - Eyes of a stranger - 82.73

16 . Alyson Avenue - Changes - 82.64

17 . Miss Behaviour - Last Woman Standing - 82.27

18 . Blackrain - Lethal dose of… - 81.14

19 . Yellowcard - When you're through thinking say yes - 81.00

20 . 3 Doors Down - Time of my life - 80.92

 

Okay, I probably shouldn't ask, but I'm going to. How do you end up with such precise ratings?

 

Oh god, don't ask that. Maybe start a new thread called: 'geoff has too much time on his hands' or something.

Nah, really simple actually. Probably exactly the same as anyone else who gives accurate scores with their reviews. I just rate each song out of 10 and then get the average score for the album, plus a couple of points out of 5 to distribute as I see fit for production, vibe etc. Originally my sexy little spreadsheet obviously didn't factor in any decimals. But when I've rated 150 albums this year, pretty much all within the 60-100% range, I had to find some way to differentiate. So I just used that decimal space button in Excel and found out there's decimals for each score. How accurate those couple of decimal points are in terms of ranking close albums is anyone's guess, but if it's the only way for me to rank accurately, I'll take it.

 

I have no more time on my hands than anyone else who rates albums... I just do it this way. Everyone else probably has their own method too. How else do you come up with a difference between a 91% or 92% album, for example - there's got to be some kind of calculation, amirite?

[Nightrain]

First time I've done a combined list, and to be honest this surprises even me. Especially the 3 Doors Down one - do I really like it that much?!

 

1 . Toby Hitchcock - Mercury's Down - 93.33

2 . Trust Company - Silence in black and white - 92.50

3 . Work of Art - In progress - 90.67

4 . Xorigin - State Of The Art 90.45

5 . Bai Bang - Livin' my dream - 88.25

6 . Lovex - Watch out! - 86.50

7 . David Cook - This loud morning - 85.79

8 . Simple Plan - Get your heart on - 84.91

9 . Stealing Eden - Truth in tragedy - 84.55

10 . Forever the Sickest Kids - s/t - 84.09

11 . Destrophy - Cry havoc - 84.00

12 . Adelita's Way - Home School Valedictorian - 83.18

13 . The Friday Night Boys - Everything you ever wanted: The B-sides - 83.09

14 . Bad Habit - Atmosphere - 83.08

15 . Human Zoo - Eyes of a stranger - 82.73

16 . Alyson Avenue - Changes - 82.64

17 . Miss Behaviour - Last Woman Standing - 82.27

18 . Blackrain - Lethal dose of… - 81.14

19 . Yellowcard - When you're through thinking say yes - 81.00

20 . 3 Doors Down - Time of my life - 80.92

 

Okay, I probably shouldn't ask, but I'm going to. How do you end up with such precise ratings?

 

Geoff is a math professor at the local girl college, so it explains right ?

[Glen]

First time I've done a combined list, and to be honest this surprises even me. Especially the 3 Doors Down one - do I really like it that much?!

 

1 . Toby Hitchcock - Mercury's Down - 93.33

2 . Trust Company - Silence in black and white - 92.50

3 . Work of Art - In progress - 90.67

4 . Xorigin - State Of The Art 90.45

5 . Bai Bang - Livin' my dream - 88.25

6 . Lovex - Watch out! - 86.50

7 . David Cook - This loud morning - 85.79

8 . Simple Plan - Get your heart on - 84.91

9 . Stealing Eden - Truth in tragedy - 84.55

10 . Forever the Sickest Kids - s/t - 84.09

11 . Destrophy - Cry havoc - 84.00

12 . Adelita's Way - Home School Valedictorian - 83.18

13 . The Friday Night Boys - Everything you ever wanted: The B-sides - 83.09

14 . Bad Habit - Atmosphere - 83.08

15 . Human Zoo - Eyes of a stranger - 82.73

16 . Alyson Avenue - Changes - 82.64

17 . Miss Behaviour - Last Woman Standing - 82.27

18 . Blackrain - Lethal dose of… - 81.14

19 . Yellowcard - When you're through thinking say yes - 81.00

20 . 3 Doors Down - Time of my life - 80.92

 

Okay, I probably shouldn't ask, but I'm going to. How do you end up with such precise ratings?

 

Oh god, don't ask that. Maybe start a new thread called: 'geoff has too much time on his hands' or something.

 

I have no more time on my hands than anyone else who rates albums... I just do it this way. Everyone else probably has their own method too. How else do you come up with a difference between a 91% or 92% album, for example - there's got to be some kind of calculation, amirite?

 

Yes you are - Ive been doing this for 2 years now.

 

What I cant fathom is how you can listen to 150 albums in 9 months (ive probably gone through about 40 and that seems a hell of a lot) and ever hope to accurately score every one....I mean, most of those you must have listened to just once?? Impossible IMO. Some albums really dont hit the spot when I first listen, but do grow over a period to be really great (examples this year, Ten, Dream Theater, Whitesnake, Voodoo Circle, Edguy, Shy).

 

And the reverse is also true.....some sound great initially and then wear thin real quick (like Coldspell, Elevener, Robin Beck, Stealing Eden, Victory, Human Zoo etc).

 

Just my 2 cents.

[Geoff]

First time I've done a combined list, and to be honest this surprises even me. Especially the 3 Doors Down one - do I really like it that much?!

 

1 . Toby Hitchcock - Mercury's Down - 93.33

2 . Trust Company - Silence in black and white - 92.50

3 . Work of Art - In progress - 90.67

4 . Xorigin - State Of The Art 90.45

5 . Bai Bang - Livin' my dream - 88.25

6 . Lovex - Watch out! - 86.50

7 . David Cook - This loud morning - 85.79

8 . Simple Plan - Get your heart on - 84.91

9 . Stealing Eden - Truth in tragedy - 84.55

10 . Forever the Sickest Kids - s/t - 84.09

11 . Destrophy - Cry havoc - 84.00

12 . Adelita's Way - Home School Valedictorian - 83.18

13 . The Friday Night Boys - Everything you ever wanted: The B-sides - 83.09

14 . Bad Habit - Atmosphere - 83.08

15 . Human Zoo - Eyes of a stranger - 82.73

16 . Alyson Avenue - Changes - 82.64

17 . Miss Behaviour - Last Woman Standing - 82.27

18 . Blackrain - Lethal dose of… - 81.14

19 . Yellowcard - When you're through thinking say yes - 81.00

20 . 3 Doors Down - Time of my life - 80.92

 

Okay, I probably shouldn't ask, but I'm going to. How do you end up with such precise ratings?

 

Oh god, don't ask that. Maybe start a new thread called: 'geoff has too much time on his hands' or something.

 

I have no more time on my hands than anyone else who rates albums... I just do it this way. Everyone else probably has their own method too. How else do you come up with a difference between a 91% or 92% album, for example - there's got to be some kind of calculation, amirite?

 

Yes you are - Ive been doing this for 2 years now.

 

What I cant fathom is how you can listen to 150 albums in 9 months (ive probably gone through about 40 and that seems a hell of a lot) and ever hope to accurately score every one....I mean, most of those you must have listened to just once?? Impossible IMO. Some albums really dont hit the spot when I first listen, but do grow over a period to be really great (examples this year, Ten, Dream Theater, Whitesnake, Voodoo Circle, Edguy, Shy).

 

And the reverse is also true.....some sound great initially and then wear thin real quick (like Coldspell, Elevener, Robin Beck, Stealing Eden, Victory, Human Zoo etc).

 

Just my 2 cents.

I admit some of my reviews of the albums I don't really like are sometimes based on only about 3 listens (at very least) if I don't really want to bother with that album anymore. But anything worth reviewing properly is given a good go, and then recaps on later spins if I'm in the mood, just to make sure I got it right. And shit like Hurtsmile and the like, I probably won't even bother rating because they're too painful to hear again.

[Glen]

OK, time for a first draft - this may well change in December, but this will do so far -

 

1. Toby Hitchcock - Mercurys Down

2. Work Of Art - In Progress

3. The Magnificent - s/t

4. Steel Panther - Balls Out

5. Dynazty - Knock You Down (Euro)

6. Night Ranger - Growin Up In California

7. Edens Curse - Trinity

8. Vain - Enough Rope

9. Destrophy - Cry Havoc

10. Bad Habit - Atmosphere

11. Miss Behaviour - Last Woman Standing

12. Lionville - s/t

13. Reckless Love - Animal Attraction

14. Shy - s/t

15. Journey - Eclipse

16. Within Temptation - The Unforgiven

17. Xorigin - State Of The Art

18. Lovex - Watch Out

19. Outloud - Love Catastrophe

20. Edguy - Age Of The Joker

 

Honourable Mentions - (most probable 21-30, but impossible to place)

 

Ten - Stormwarning, Grand Design - Idolizer, The Poodles - Performacracy, Bai Bang - Livin My Dream, Human Zoo - Eyes Of A Stranger, Adelitas Way - Home School Valedictorian, White Widdow - Serenade, Farcry - Optimism, Chris Ousey - Rhyme & Reason, Mecca - Undeniable

 

 

The only 2 Im not really sure about is Shy & The Magnificent, as both could move up, but TH will take top honours....nothing to touch it in my opinion and contains probably 5 or 6 or the best 10 songs this year.

[Geoff]

This is my rough list at the moment, with some contenders (for the top 20) still to be rated like Vain, The Magnificent, James Durbin (yep, heard it yesterday and it was excellent!), Issa (much better 2nd spin I had), Kimball/Jamison, Fergie Fredirckson, Grand Design etc. So there is still a lot of work to do, but at the moment this is how the cards are falling:

 

1 . Toby Hitchcock - Mercury's Down

2 . White Widdow - Serenade

3 . Trust Company - Silence in black and white

4 . Steel Panther - Balls Out

5 . Work of Art - In progress

6 . Xorigin - State Of The Art

7 . Bai Bang - Livin' my dream

8 . Lovex - Watch out!

9 . David Cook - This loud morning

10 . Alyson Avenue - Changes

11 . Reckless Love - Animal Attraction

12 . Simple Plan - Get your heart on

13 . Stealing Eden - Truth in tragedy

14 . Mitch Malloy - II

15 . Forever the Sickest Kids - s/t

16 . Destrophy - Cry havoc

17 . Shy Shy

18 . Adelita's Way - Home School Valedictorian

19 . The Friday Night Boys - Everything you ever wanted: The B-sides

20 . Bad Habit - Atmosphere

 

A real shame in that list is Shy. Unfortunately I do have to rate an album based on everything that gets released. If that was a 10 track CD without 'Live for me' and 'Union of souls,' - which both really drag the overall score down - I reckon this would be well and truly lodged in my top 10, because it does feature my favourite song of the year and about 4 other top finishers.

[Captain Howdy]

So far I'd say the standouts for me are:

1:Alice Cooper - Welcome 2 my nightmare

2:Steel Panther - Balls out

3:Mitch Malloy - II

4:Reckless Love - Animal attraction

5:Wolfsbane - Wolfsbane save the world

6:Megadeth - Th1rt3en

7:Anthrax - Worship music

8:Sixx:AM - This is gonna hurt

9:Sebastian Bach - Kicking and screaming

10:Jamie Allen - Storyteller

11:Bang Tango - Pistol whipped in the bible belt

12:Electric Boys - Them boys done swang

13:Miss Behaviour - Last woman standing

 

Stuff like Warrant, Whitesnake, Fiona, Duff McKagans Loaded & Liberty N Justice were all ok, but just didnt blow me away.

Shame I have a rule not to include covers albums, as there were a couple of really good ones this year.

[Glen]

This is my rough list at the moment, with some contenders (for the top 20) still to be rated like Vain, The Magnificent, James Durbin (yep, heard it yesterday and it was excellent!), Issa (much better 2nd spin I had), Kimball/Jamison, Fergie Fredirckson, Grand Design etc. So there is still a lot of work to do, but at the moment this is how the cards are falling:

 

1 . Toby Hitchcock - Mercury's Down

2 . White Widdow - Serenade

3 . Trust Company - Silence in black and white

4 . Steel Panther - Balls Out

5 . Work of Art - In progress

6 . Xorigin - State Of The Art

7 . Bai Bang - Livin' my dream

8 . Lovex - Watch out!

9 . David Cook - This loud morning

10 . Alyson Avenue - Changes

11 . Reckless Love - Animal Attraction

12 . Simple Plan - Get your heart on

13 . Stealing Eden - Truth in tragedy

14 . Mitch Malloy - II

15 . Forever the Sickest Kids - s/t

16 . Destrophy - Cry havoc

17 . Shy Shy

18 . Adelita's Way - Home School Valedictorian

19 . The Friday Night Boys - Everything you ever wanted: The B-sides

20 . Bad Habit - Atmosphere

 

A real shame in that list is Shy. Unfortunately I do have to rate an album based on everything that gets released. If that was a 10 track CD without 'Live for me' and 'Union of souls,' - which both really drag the overall score down - I reckon this would be well and truly lodged in my top 10, because it does feature my favourite song of the year and about 4 other top finishers.

 

yeah I must get that Durbin album...sounded really good, and perhaps even David Cook...I like that dude's voice but not sure on the ballad content. Ive also yet to give the Daughtry album a proper spin, so that could possibly feature as well. Great year all in all.

[Geoff]

This is my rough list at the moment, with some contenders (for the top 20) still to be rated like Vain, The Magnificent, James Durbin (yep, heard it yesterday and it was excellent!), Issa (much better 2nd spin I had), Kimball/Jamison, Fergie Fredirckson, Grand Design etc. So there is still a lot of work to do, but at the moment this is how the cards are falling:

 

1 . Toby Hitchcock - Mercury's Down

2 . White Widdow - Serenade

3 . Trust Company - Silence in black and white

4 . Steel Panther - Balls Out

5 . Work of Art - In progress

6 . Xorigin - State Of The Art

7 . Bai Bang - Livin' my dream

8 . Lovex - Watch out!

9 . David Cook - This loud morning

10 . Alyson Avenue - Changes

11 . Reckless Love - Animal Attraction

12 . Simple Plan - Get your heart on

13 . Stealing Eden - Truth in tragedy

14 . Mitch Malloy - II

15 . Forever the Sickest Kids - s/t

16 . Destrophy - Cry havoc

17 . Shy Shy

18 . Adelita's Way - Home School Valedictorian

19 . The Friday Night Boys - Everything you ever wanted: The B-sides

20 . Bad Habit - Atmosphere

 

A real shame in that list is Shy. Unfortunately I do have to rate an album based on everything that gets released. If that was a 10 track CD without 'Live for me' and 'Union of souls,' - which both really drag the overall score down - I reckon this would be well and truly lodged in my top 10, because it does feature my favourite song of the year and about 4 other top finishers.

 

yeah I must get that Durbin album...sounded really good, and perhaps even David Cook...I like that dude's voice but not sure on the ballad content. Ive also yet to give the Daughtry album a proper spin, so that could possibly feature as well. Great year all in all.

Yeah, I was going to mention Daughtry too - might still sneak in there, as it was quite similar to the David Cook CD, except Daughtry is much better produced. The Durbin album was a deadset proper hard rocking disc like we'd expect from a band within "our" genres... certainly does not sound like a standard Idol contestant type of CD. I'll be interested to see how I rate it.

 

I agree, it's been an outstanding year. In the end, I think I'll have great-excellent releases right up to the end of my top 50 or so.

[zacharyamelie]

Her is my list so far. Doubt it will change by years end. I only buy 25 or so releases a year anyways. I can only listen to music so much, there has to be other things in life.....I'll let you know when I can come up with anything.

 

1) The Magnificent – s/t

2)Darkwater – Where Stories End(came out in late 2010, but was only made available to me in March)

3) Dream Theater – A Dramatic Turn Of Events

4) Work Of Art – In Progress

5) Toby Hitchcock – Mercury’s Down

6) Steel Panther – Balls Out

7) White Widdow – Serenade

8) Reckless Love – Animal Attraction

9) Lovex – Watch Out!

10) Miss Behaviour – Last Woman Standing

11) Lionville – s/t

12) Borealis – Fall From Grace

13) The Poodles – Performocracy

14) Rob Moratti – Victory

15) Night Ranger – Somewhere In California

[TIM (2)]

This is my rough list at the moment, with some contenders (for the top 20) still to be rated like Vain, The Magnificent, James Durbin (yep, heard it yesterday and it was excellent!), Issa (much better 2nd spin I had), Kimball/Jamison, Fergie Fredirckson, Grand Design etc. So there is still a lot of work to do, but at the moment this is how the cards are falling:

 

1 . Toby Hitchcock - Mercury's Down

2 . White Widdow - Serenade

3 . Trust Company - Silence in black and white

4 . Steel Panther - Balls Out

5 . Work of Art - In progress

6 . Xorigin - State Of The Art

7 . Bai Bang - Livin' my dream

8 . Lovex - Watch out!

9 . David Cook - This loud morning

10 . Alyson Avenue - Changes

11 . Reckless Love - Animal Attraction

12 . Simple Plan - Get your heart on

13 . Stealing Eden - Truth in tragedy

14 . Mitch Malloy - II

15 . Forever the Sickest Kids - s/t

16 . Destrophy - Cry havoc

17 . Shy Shy

18 . Adelita's Way - Home School Valedictorian

19 . The Friday Night Boys - Everything you ever wanted: The B-sides

20 . Bad Habit - Atmosphere

 

A real shame in that list is Shy. Unfortunately I do have to rate an album based on everything that gets released. If that was a 10 track CD without 'Live for me' and 'Union of souls,' - which both really drag the overall score down - I reckon this would be well and truly lodged in my top 10, because it does feature my favourite song of the year and about 4 other top finishers.

 

Too right it's a rough list mate. Bai Bang and Xorigin above the likes of Lovex and Shy? Seriously? That Shy album needs to move up and I think you know it...

 

P.s. Nice list otherwise.

[Geoff]

This is my rough list at the moment, with some contenders (for the top 20) still to be rated like Vain, The Magnificent, James Durbin (yep, heard it yesterday and it was excellent!), Issa (much better 2nd spin I had), Kimball/Jamison, Fergie Fredirckson, Grand Design etc. So there is still a lot of work to do, but at the moment this is how the cards are falling:

 

1 . Toby Hitchcock - Mercury's Down

2 . White Widdow - Serenade

3 . Trust Company - Silence in black and white

4 . Steel Panther - Balls Out

5 . Work of Art - In progress

6 . Xorigin - State Of The Art

7 . Bai Bang - Livin' my dream

8 . Lovex - Watch out!

9 . David Cook - This loud morning

10 . Alyson Avenue - Changes

11 . Reckless Love - Animal Attraction

12 . Simple Plan - Get your heart on

13 . Stealing Eden - Truth in tragedy

14 . Mitch Malloy - II

15 . Forever the Sickest Kids - s/t

16 . Destrophy - Cry havoc

17 . Shy Shy

18 . Adelita's Way - Home School Valedictorian

19 . The Friday Night Boys - Everything you ever wanted: The B-sides

20 . Bad Habit - Atmosphere

 

A real shame in that list is Shy. Unfortunately I do have to rate an album based on everything that gets released. If that was a 10 track CD without 'Live for me' and 'Union of souls,' - which both really drag the overall score down - I reckon this would be well and truly lodged in my top 10, because it does feature my favourite song of the year and about 4 other top finishers.

 

Too right it's a rough list mate. Bai Bang and Xorigin above the likes of Lovex and Shy? Seriously? That Shy album needs to move up and I think you know it...

 

P.s. Nice list otherwise.

I do know it in Shy's case... but keeping true to my scoring system I don't know if I can tweak it accordingly. The one thing that neither the Bai Bang or Xorigin CDs have that the Shy album does have, is fillers. There are a lot of excellent songs on the Bai Bang and Xorigin CDs, but also nothing bad. There are about 5 of my favourite songs of the year on the Shy CD, but also 2 deadset fillers and one not far off ('Pray'). Unfortunately those 3 tracks hurt the overall score.

 

And I totally agree with a post you made the other day, that a CD with stand-out tracks and a few fillers is far superior to a consistent and safe CD with all good songs but no real standouts. But we're not talking about muppet CDs here in the case of Bai Bang and Xorigin. Production aside, that Bai Bang disc is full of killers, and quite frankly, I love that Xorigin album and think it certainly deserves that spot - some stunning stuff on that.

 

Who knows, positions might change, but I'm pretty confident with my ratings so far. As for Lovex... love the album and I think that's a great position for them. At the end of the day, they still have that typical Finnish sound which I don't like (especially those vocals), but despite that it's still an excellent CD.