After just finishing a quick listen of The Darkness' new record on Rhapsody (I didn't NOT like it, it's just they sound too tongue-in-cheek to be taken as a serious band, they're Spinal Tap "to Eleven"), I decided now's a good time to get opinions on the best rock record of 2005; I think all the major releases are done for the year anyway, right?
First of all, I think Audioslave's Out of Exile definitely made my list of the biggest musical disappointments of the year (along with Stevie Wonder's record as a whole and the fact that Crooked I couldn't get his act together this year); to go from as stunningly hard-rocking as their debut was, to not only a mellower, but wayward, meandering record with no focus or drive to it (which both Rage and Soundgarden had, that's for sure), made me shake my head. Like Stevie's record (different genre, but bear with me), it had maybe 3 or 4 KILLER tracks to it, and NOTHING else.
Anyway, here's my list of the five top records that ROCKED (in their own ways, and in my humble opinion):
5. Oasis-Don't Believe the Truth (I just loved the entire vibe of this record, there may not be one AMAZING song in the bunch, but the bluesy, muddy, mid '60's mood to the record made just about all the songs work, Lyla especially)
4. Foo Fighters-In Your Honor (It would be much higher on the list if it was one disc of ten songs, mostly taken from the first, harder disc, but I've always liked Dave Grohl, I like his hard-working style of music (Probot, Queens of the Stone Age, etc.), and "DOA" and "Best of You" are definitely hard-rocking singles)
3. Queens of the Stone Age-Lullabies to Paralyze (I've very seldom been sucked into the mood of a record as much as I was in this, hazy, murky, dreamlike experience. Stoner-rock, Monster Magnet-lite, IMO, and I loved it, especially "Everybody Knows You're Insane")
2. Turbonegro-Party Animals (The difference between this band and The Darkness, is the simple fact that Turbonegro still rocks hard without going over the top, they're not parodies of themselves, and I love this record even more than their earlier records, "High on the Crime" is a very anthemic song)
1. System of a Down-Mezmerize/Hypnotize (Could it have been any other record, really? I consider this a double album, and I've always been critical of double albums, but while I think this could have been trimmed down to one disc, neither record is really weaker than the other. I've found myself really liking "Attack" as an opening track, just a blitzkrieg, bludgeoning opening track as I've ever heard one)
Disturbed's record was very disappointing, whatever the hell the White Stripes were trying to do didn't work at all, and I've never been one to jump on the Coldplay wagon, I just don't get where they're coming from. Maybe that's why I hate U2 so much.
Just thought I'd throw that in
First of all, I think Audioslave's Out of Exile definitely made my list of the biggest musical disappointments of the year (along with Stevie Wonder's record as a whole and the fact that Crooked I couldn't get his act together this year); to go from as stunningly hard-rocking as their debut was, to not only a mellower, but wayward, meandering record with no focus or drive to it (which both Rage and Soundgarden had, that's for sure), made me shake my head. Like Stevie's record (different genre, but bear with me), it had maybe 3 or 4 KILLER tracks to it, and NOTHING else.
Anyway, here's my list of the five top records that ROCKED (in their own ways, and in my humble opinion):
5. Oasis-Don't Believe the Truth (I just loved the entire vibe of this record, there may not be one AMAZING song in the bunch, but the bluesy, muddy, mid '60's mood to the record made just about all the songs work, Lyla especially)
4. Foo Fighters-In Your Honor (It would be much higher on the list if it was one disc of ten songs, mostly taken from the first, harder disc, but I've always liked Dave Grohl, I like his hard-working style of music (Probot, Queens of the Stone Age, etc.), and "DOA" and "Best of You" are definitely hard-rocking singles)
3. Queens of the Stone Age-Lullabies to Paralyze (I've very seldom been sucked into the mood of a record as much as I was in this, hazy, murky, dreamlike experience. Stoner-rock, Monster Magnet-lite, IMO, and I loved it, especially "Everybody Knows You're Insane")
2. Turbonegro-Party Animals (The difference between this band and The Darkness, is the simple fact that Turbonegro still rocks hard without going over the top, they're not parodies of themselves, and I love this record even more than their earlier records, "High on the Crime" is a very anthemic song)
1. System of a Down-Mezmerize/Hypnotize (Could it have been any other record, really? I consider this a double album, and I've always been critical of double albums, but while I think this could have been trimmed down to one disc, neither record is really weaker than the other. I've found myself really liking "Attack" as an opening track, just a blitzkrieg, bludgeoning opening track as I've ever heard one)
Disturbed's record was very disappointing, whatever the hell the White Stripes were trying to do didn't work at all, and I've never been one to jump on the Coldplay wagon, I just don't get where they're coming from. Maybe that's why I hate U2 so much.
Just thought I'd throw that in
