Best albums
1. Electric Mary -
Down To The Bone
What a pleasant surprise! Retro-rockers Electric Mary really show
Australia is still a force to be reckoned! The sheer blues-based power
riffing, Bonhamesque acoustic sounding drums with a drummer that really
matches the sound. A singer that tops it all off with an outstanding rough
edged, but still very melodic voice. What could be better? Well, of course,
the song material - it's of course also top notch!
2. Plankton - Ocean Tales
So, call me an old retro fart. Swedish retro rockers Plankton have always
been among my favourite Swedish bands and their new release didn't change
this fact! Outstanding instrumental 70s oriented guitar-driven progressive
rock drawing influences from Wishbone Ash and Mahogany Rush as well as
Swedish folk music father Jan Johansson (father of Jens and Anders). Feeling,
emotions, raw analog Strats, Bonhamish drums and melodies that touch the
bare soul! Friggin' amazing album!
3. Jay Jesse Johnson - Play That Damn Guitar
Suck me sideways!!! I have two previous albums with this American heavy
blues cat, but it's not until now I really see how damn great he is! Raw,
fat and merciless heavy riffing dating back to Hendrix but brought into
2009!
4. Freak Kitchen - Land Of The Freaks
It took quite a while for the biggest little trio of Gothenburg to deliver
this little baby. Once it was delivered I shall admit I wasn't fully convinced,
however after a few spins things fell into place and it quickly got stuck
in my CD-player. It's not overshadowing earlier classics like "Spanking
Hour", but it sure is a kick ass CD!
5. F.K.Û - Where
Moshers Dwell
This is a CD that really snuck up on me in the last quivering moments
of 2009. Don't know why I missed it, but once I started listening I was
moshing the night away! Works fine in the car (no speed limits exist),
at home (it's however hard to mosh and type at the same time), well, everywhere!
Outstanding!
Runner-ups: Time Code Alpha - Welcome
To My Freakshow, Black Water Rising - s/t,
Three Minute Madness - Disgraceful, Crucified
Barbara - Til Death Do Us Party, Wolf
- Ravenous, Katatonia - Night Is The New
Day, Europe - Last Look At Eden
Biggest disappointments
- Sweden Rock Festival
Not so much the bands and festival itself, but everything that's happened
afterwards. The fact that something that I've dedicated myself to and
stood up for, through thick and thin, since 1993, can make me SO disappointed
and downright angry
that's definitely the biggest disappoint of
2009!
- My f***ing computer!!!!!!!
- Despite a lot of really great releases,
there was no really outstanding classic. I kinda missed that
Best live concerts
1. John Waite (Germany)
I can't say I'm the world's biggest fan, but I discovered the Babys
way back in the 70s and have all their albums, and I DO really love most
of it. John Waite as solo artist I also do like his stuff, but hasn't
really dug into it, until my fiancée started playing Waite on a
regular basis. Seeing him live was however a real surprise! The man ROCKED!!
He also proved to be a very nice guy, too!
2. Ace Frehley (KB, Malmö, Sweden)
Well, I'm not really a big fan of neither Kiss nor Frehley as a
solo artist either. Ok, I DO like "Sonic Boom" and I recently
bought Frehley's first solo album and discovered it was actually really
good. I wasn't at all convinced when seeing the rock icon at Sweden Rock,
but of course I joined my finacée when the Starchild was playing
in Malmö. I shall admit when seeing the man at a place like this
it all came together. It was fucking brilliant! He's not much of a singer
or guitarist for that matter, but holy crap - the dude rocked! The songs
all hit me in solar plexus. I'm not sure if it was the context of it all,
but I loved it!
3. Pretty Maids + Skagerack (Amager Teater, Copenhagen)
Pretty Maids are almost always really good live. However this year,
with the addition of a re-united Skagerack this annual Christmas hard
rock event was a really pleasant experience! Skagerack sounded surprisingly
fresh and the Danish Maids rocked it out to the max!
4. The Tubes (Sweden Rock)
The funny thing is
I'm not even a fan! I don't have one single
album, and have only heard some songs here and there. However, the live
show rocked!! Fee Waybill is a fully fledged entertainer with a capital
E! Was he, or was he not drunk? Was that fall on purpose? Well, as he
was stone cold sober in the next song, I guess it WAS an act! The music,
yeah, man - it rocked, too!
5. Thalamus (Pub Anchor, Stockholm)
These Dalecarlian dudes sure know how to groove!! The album is
a killer, but live, well, they do it justice to say the least! Heavy,
swingin', groovin' riff-ornamented heavy rock of the prime caliber. They
only got to play four songs at Sweden Rock, so this felt like a sweet
revenge. The only thing I regret, is not seeing them the day before, too
but I must admit, the show I went to that day, at The Cave in Sundbyberg,
featuring Gothenburg melodic metallurgists and technical death wizards
C.B Murdoc
well, I would wanna miss that one either. So an honourary
mention of these two is in its place here.
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