• Registered: 2008-02-14
  • Posts: 2,578

Topic: Best other albums of the year so far...

I thought it was time for an album list for the first half of 2010:


Best ‘blues rock’ album
Philip Sayce - Innerevolution
More of the rock less of the blues, this is a great album of great songs with some fabulous guitar work, superb vocals and a great set of songs.

Runner Up
Wilson T King - Follow Your First Mind
This is a dark and non commencial album with some stellar guitar work firmly in the Hendrix/Trower mold, with Wayne Proctor on drums.

Best rock album
The Black Keys - Brothers
This is their strongest and most varied album yet which features a full band and a great collection of songs. Should see them rise to Kings of Leon popularity.

Best ‘live’ album
Aynsley Lister - The Tower Sessions - this truely highlights all that’s great about the ALB’s live set. A flawless release and great starting point if you don't have the earlier releases.

Best modern blues album
Marcus Bonfanti - What Good Am I To You
Without a release from Ian Siegal this year, Marcus is the next best thing. Superb rootsy vocals and powerful playing on his resonator. Deserves to be better known.

Best second album
Scott McKeon - Troubles
Scott’s first album was very Hoax derivative and he’s taken a long time to release this second album. It has real cross over potential with some funk and r&b influences making it a very modern sounding album.

Runner up
Oli Brown - Heads I Win…
Solid followup from young Oli. He’s certainly avoided that difficult second album. Song writing for the most part is stronger and he’s never sounded better.

Best blues rock debut
Mitch Laddie - This Time Around
Very impressive set of original songs by young Laddie, features his high powered and funky guitar playing. Looking forward to seeing him live.

Best cross over debut
Stefan Schill - Don’t Believe A Word
Very self assured collection of original songs by Dutch teenager Schill. Commercial with a funky groove and shades of Price and John Mayer.

Best Traditional Blues Album
Alabama Mike - Day To Day
Mike is a soulful US singer and this album with a top group of musicians recalls Chicago blues at its best - from Elmore James to Robert Cray.

Biggest Let Down
Michael Landau, Robben Ford, Jimmy Haslip, Gary Novak - Renegade Creation
Ford is one of the tastiest guitarist ever, so a collaboration with Landau must surely be hot. Sadly though it rarely gets cooking - a collection of the individual components rather than a sum of its parts.

Turkey of the year
Steve Miller Band - Bingo!
Miller returns after a 17 year absence with a collection of blues covers played the Miller way. This is high budget soulless white boy blues at it’s worst. Get Tom Petty’s Mojo instead.

Best Album released this month
Walter Trout - Common Ground
Ok, I’m cheating as it’s the only album I’ve heard released this month. However it is rather good. A little more melodic that we’ve been used to, but very good collection of songs.

Also coming this year:

Dani Wilde - Shine
WT Feaster Band
Simon McBride
Bex Marshall Band
Stevie Nimmo solo album
King King
Matt Schofield live album
BCC

"The recently formed Edinburgh Blues Club has identified an appetite for the personal communication between musicians and audience that the blues long ago perfected." The Herald Newspaper (Scotland)
http://www.edinburgh-blues.uk
  • From: Oxfordshire, England
  • Registered: 2008-11-10
  • Posts: 835

Re: Best other albums of the year so far...

Best ‘blues rock’ album
Philip Sayce - Innerevolution
Go to agree Duncan. Philip is a star in the making and his live act is incredible for it's energy and his stunning guitar work.

Best rock album
Y & T - Facemelter
Huge fun, classic rock, dubious lyrics – what's not to like?

Best ‘live’ album
Derek Trucks Band – Road Songs
All that's best about Derek with added horn section for a fuller sound

Best live album - “bootleg” (cheating here a bit to get Gov't Mule in the list)
Gov't Mule – Live in Berlin, 21 June 2010
Saw the show, got the t-shirt, now bought the recording from Mule Tracks. Mule at their brilliant best – Warren was on fire.

Best second album
Oli Brown - Heads I Win…
Seconded; this boy is good and getting better

Best cross over - I
Grace Potter & the Nocturnals
A bit of pop, bit of alt-country, plenty of soulful rock. She's on a stellar trajectory

Best cross over - II
Sandy Thom – Merchants & Thieves
Bluesy, folky and featuring a certain JB on This 'Ol World

Looking forward to....
Simon McBride's new album


That's my choice.

  • LynB
  • LynB
  • BONAMETAL
  • Offline
  • From: Poole - UK
  • Registered: 2006-10-02
  • Posts: 1,155

Re: Best other albums of the year so far...

Greenose wrote:

I thought it was time for an album list for the first half of 2010:

Best second album
Scott McKeon - Troubles
Scott’s first album was very Hoax derivative and he’s taken a long time to release this second album. It has real cross over potential with some funk and r&b influences making it a very modern sounding album.

Duncan, I'm so glad you've included Scott.  This second release by Scott gets my vote as album of the half year and quite possibly of the year, even ahead of <ahem> Black Rock.  It's on permament play in my car CD. 

Looking forward to ... BCC in October.

  • Curby
  • Curby
  • BONAMETAL
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2008-12-19
  • Posts: 2,606

Re: Best other albums of the year so far...

I love these type threads cause it gets the juices flowing.  I may include a late '09 release because I didn't hear it till this year.

Best Blues/Rock Album
Henrik Freischlader - Recorded by Martin Meinschafer  11/09
Henrik made a quantum leap with this effort.

Runner Up & Best Second Album
Scott Mckeon - Trouble
Probably one of the best sophomore efforts ever. Great, great album.

Best Rock Album
Slash - Slash
A fine production highlighting the guitar hero and interesting guests.

Crossover Album
I have listened to some of Stefan Schill and agree his debut album is excellent.  I'll wait to hear the whole album before rating it.  For me the three best efforts I've heard this year are all from mid to late 2009 and are:
Tony Lucca- Come Around Again
This is the record I've most listened to this year.  Great playing, singing and writing.  It's mostly a blues album, but there are other flavors as well.
Assembly of Dust - No Assembly Required
Like Slash's album this is a collaborative effort with great guest musicians.
Band of Heathens - One Foot in the Ether
These guys are just flat out talented.

Biggest Let Down
I wouldn't put Renegade Creation on this list because I think Robben Ford salvages it.  The album I was most disappointed with has to Mayer's, but that I got late last year.  For this year I'd have to say Grace Potter's new album.  I like her and her bands previous music, but don't like the commercial direction the bands taking. 

Best Album So Far This Month
Easily Walter Trout's Common Ground.  I think it's one of his best.

5 Reply by ahsmith33 (edited by ahsmith33 2010-07-19 13:03:42)

  • Registered: 2008-06-16
  • Posts: 4,021

Re: Best other albums of the year so far...

have to agree with Duncan on the Renegade Creation. It's not bad music, just disappointing in the song writing and overall effort. as in a "team" effort, they just don't seem to have much chemistry going on.

My few -

Tom Petty - MOJO

Popa Chubby - The Fight is On
Don't turn your nose up yet as this is a fairly brilliant production of songs sounding anywhere from Kiss, to Rory, to.................. Jimmy Buffet (you need to hear this to believe it)

Lee Ritenour - Six String Theory

Robert Randolph - We Walk This Road

Eric Gales - Relentless , due out 7/27 and it should be a barnburner, Mike Varney exec producer again
***This will be moved to 8/24 or maybe a week later release date, due to Eric still being in rehab.

Tres

As corn through a goose, so are the days of our lives
  • Registered: 2008-02-14
  • Posts: 2,578

Re: Best other albums of the year so far...

Thanks for the contributions guys, I'm only surprised there's not been more of them. It seems although many have found Joe they'd rather wallow in nostalgia than listen to other albums released this year - quite a few of which I rate as being better than Black Rock.

"The recently formed Edinburgh Blues Club has identified an appetite for the personal communication between musicians and audience that the blues long ago perfected." The Herald Newspaper (Scotland)
http://www.edinburgh-blues.uk

7 Reply by Romans8 (edited by Romans8 2010-07-20 04:51:54)

  • From: Hastings, UK
  • Registered: 2009-02-21
  • Posts: 291

Re: Best other albums of the year so far...

No need to be 'sniffy' about others preference Greenose. Got out of bed the wrong side today?  hmm

What do you mean "wallow in nostalgia", the albums listed have come out this year as per the title of the post so is it the performers of the albums that you see as under the banner "nostalgia"?  roll

As to "better than Black Rock", well, I would say that is entirely subjective.  neutral

Different to maybe, but why "better".  tongue

I would suggest it was a poor choice of words; 'better than' would suggest that Black Rock was somehow 'less than'!!

  • Curby
  • Curby
  • BONAMETAL
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2008-12-19
  • Posts: 2,606

Re: Best other albums of the year so far...

Greenose wrote:

Thanks for the contributions guys, I'm only surprised there's not been more of them. It seems although many have found Joe they'd rather wallow in nostalgia than listen to other albums released this year - quite a few of which I rate as being better than Black Rock.

"Wallow in nostalgia".  Those are pretty strong words, but you hit the the bullseye with the above quote.  I've felt the same way too the past few months.  There are too many shouts going uncommented on in this forum and I'm not just speaking for myself.  Nostalgia does appear to be the prevailing focus.  I suppose I'm the salmon swimming against the current because I've stopped listening to greatest hits in favor of hungry young musicians passionate about making music.  Here's a song from one artist I've never heard mentioned here.  His name's Amos Lee.  He's basically of the singer/songwriter type, but occasionally dips into the blues genre.  I listen to his music from time to time and his "Little Bit of Rain"is so far the best blues song I've heard in 2010.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19mu57sd4Mg

9 Reply by Greenose (edited by Greenose 2010-07-20 06:13:26)

  • Registered: 2008-02-14
  • Posts: 2,578

Re: Best other albums of the year so far...

Romans8 wrote:

No need to be 'sniffy' about others preference Greenose. Got out of bed the wrong side today?  hmm

What do you mean "wallow in nostalgia", the albums listed have come out this year as per the title of the post so is it the performers of the albums that you see as under the banner "nostalgia"?  roll

As to "better than Black Rock", well, I would say that is entirely subjective.  neutral

Different to maybe, but why "better".  tongue

I would suggest it was a poor choice of words; 'better than' would suggest that Black Rock was somehow 'less than'!!

You misunderstand me Romans, I was not refering to the contributions on this thread and the albums mentioned which have all been very good. I was referring rather to the pre-occupation elsewhere on the forum with many towards older acts which we've all heard of before.   Joe may well be the best known modern artist in his field, yet he's not the only one and quite a few have released albums this year at best equal to Black Rock.  Many would do well to check them out...

"The recently formed Edinburgh Blues Club has identified an appetite for the personal communication between musicians and audience that the blues long ago perfected." The Herald Newspaper (Scotland)
http://www.edinburgh-blues.uk
  • From: Harrison, Arkansas
  • Registered: 2006-04-21
  • Posts: 3,155

Re: Best other albums of the year so far...

I'm amazed that more people on here haven't talked about Robert Randolph's new album. Really good stuff and shows Robert maturing. Also, shows that it's not a one-man show, his band is just important as he is, with Danyel Morgan taking over many of the vocal duties on a lot of the tracks. Although Robert's not playing long drawn-out jams, when he does let loose it is very soulful. The sky's the limit with this band.

Also, although it might be considered nostalgic, Jimmie Vaughan's new album Plays Blues, Ballads And Favorites is really good if you like Jimmie's style. His voice has really improved I think.

"And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make"

My ReverbNation page for Dees & Friends - check us out!
www.reverbnation.com/deesfriends
  • Brack
  • Brack
  • BONAMETAL
  • Offline
  • From: London, getting hotter \m/
  • Registered: 2009-02-24
  • Posts: 6,462

Re: Best other albums of the year so far...

Rock Album - Slash - Slash

~ Brack ~

GOOD KARMA - http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m3zkw … o1_500.jpg
Avatar Credit: D.Hirst,Olympic Union Flag
Adele: RAH http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Oio8V3e3WU&ob=av2e -
We Are The Champ20ns

Brack's Website

  • From: Salem, Oregon
  • Registered: 2010-01-07
  • Posts: 844

Re: Best other albums of the year so far...

Being really only into the Rock and Rockin' blues genre I am going with the follwing titles:
1. Tom Petty -Mojo. This disc has everything and it's simply the best overall record so far in 2010
2. Black Keys- Brothers. Pretty close to the Tom Petty for sheer number of good songs in one collection. This band continues to morph and improve with age.
3. Y&T-Facemelter. Like some great lead guitar riffs and over the top fun energetic hair metal? A big heaping serving of 80's rock....see them live!!
4. Slash- lots of good tunes, but a little disjointed....however it's Slash, so great guitar abounds.
5. White Stripes-Under great white northern lights. The best live disc of the year in my opinion.

Murfdog
  • From: Ruhrpott, Germany
  • Registered: 2010-02-06
  • Posts: 1,326

Re: Best other albums of the year so far...

Bought a lot of stuff in 2010 but not so many CDs were released this year.
Here are the highlights of my 2010 collection.

Best live album
Aynsley Lister – Tower Sessions
Yes, great sound and finally the long awaited live version of Sugar Low and Purple Rain.

Best raw and dirty blues rock album
Johnny Mastro & Mama’s Boys – Beautiful Chaos
Very close to the live set they play. It rocks. One of my favourite live bands I want to see at least once a year.

Best debut album
Christian & The 2120’s – Nolo Contendere
Great debut with lots of ingredients in it.
Hope to catch the guys when they’re touring Germany in fall.

Best rootsy album
Moreland & Arbuckle – Flood
Young and fresh rootsy style.

Best nothing to do with blues album
The National – High violet

Not bad but somehow disappointing
Steve Miller Band – Bingo - good marketing made me buy this old fashioned CD
Band of Horses – Infinite arms - not bad but I miss new influences and inspiration
Coco Montoya – I want it all back - too much Keb’ Mo and mainstream in it – go and see Coco live

2010 Favourite Singles in alphabetical order
A day – Bas Paardekooper & The Blew Crue – The blues on my side
Angels on high – Shakura S’Aida – Brown sugar
Bird on a wire – Joe Bonamassa – Black rock
Hard Love – Wolf Mail – Electric love soul
I can make your day – Oli Brown – Heads I win, tails you lose
Lilac Wine – Jeff Beck – Emotion & Commotion
Love Train #2 – Johnny Mastro – Beautiful chaos
Purple Rain – Aynsley Lister – Tower sessions
Sugar Low – Aynsley Lister – Tower sessions
Young Man Blues – Joe Bonamassa – Live from Eugene Portland (internet download)

2010 Best festival
The 3 J’s: Jimmy Bowskill, Joe Bonamassa, Jeff Beck – Museumsplatz Bonn
What a day. See show reviews and set list, Bonn, if you want to know more.

2010 Best solo artist & best jam
Ian Siegal – Maastricht
Natural born story teller and performer. This guy is absolute fascinating.
His jam session with King Mo, Kellie Rucker, Krissy Matthews and Henrik Freischlader at the end of the evening was absolute mind-blowing.

2010 Best 2-man-band
Cedric Burnside & Lightnin’ Malcolm – Moulin Rouge, Ospel
Rootsy blues and wonderful groove to dance to and best drummer (not only what I think, Cedric got an award as best drummer. Try the CD Juke Joint Duo from 2007. Actually, one of the best CDs I bought this year. Go and get them if you can see them live.

2010 Best 3-man-band
Eric Sardinas & Big Motor, Grolsch Blues Festival in Schöppingen
This band really hit me. Fore me it was a magic performance, some other people didn’t like it. Taste is different. Never heard such a beautiful live version of „As the crow flies“ before.

2010 Best 3-man-1-woman-band
Jeff Beck, Museumsplatz Bonn
Great interaction among the band members. The new band members are great, what a drummer and what a bassist. Rhonda Smith with the best bass solo I’ve seen so far playing and singing a stunning „Rollin’ and Tumblin“. Oh, forgot to say Jeff isn’t that bad either letting his guitar sing.

And the year isn't over.
Next Friday could be another highlight: Layla Zoe, a fiery lady from Canada, will be on stage with Henrik Freischlader and his previous band. Layla blew me away last year at the Grolsch Blues Festival in Schöppingen and I hope she'll do it again.

  • suhl
  • Titanium
  • Offline
  • From: Springfield, IL
  • Registered: 2007-01-27
  • Posts: 936

Re: Best other albums of the year so far...

my favorite album of the year has been tom petty's mojo.  It's the best new album I've heard by any major label artist in a long, long time.  well, since the black crowes before the frost anyway.  really the whole album reminded me of a crowes album which is high praise.

I don't listen to that many new albums except from my favorite artists as I am always trying to catch up on the ones I have missed over the past fifty years.  Heard probably a hundred albums this year that were new to me, maybe five were actual new albums.  my take on the albums mentioned in this thread:

I didn't like black rock, popa chubby's latest effort was stale and probably the most forgettable album I've heard from him, really enjoyed derek trucks band's roadsongs, and was also a fan of scott mckeon's new one.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=fCdNsm7gvu8

If wine and pills were hundred dollar bills
I might keep you satisfied

suhl's Website

  • From: near Nürnberg Germany
  • Registered: 2008-04-19
  • Posts: 1,204

Re: Best other albums of the year so far...

Best albums: Philip Sayce, Walter Trout, Black Keys (Oli Brown I didn´t buy up to now because it´s still high-priced)
Live albums: Derek Trucks, Aynsley Lister,
Best Festival: Schöppingen, specially Eric Sardinas, Tommy Castro, Delta Moon, Jason Ricci
Best Shows: Mule in Berlin, Jeff Beck in München, Joe in Winterbach, Oli Brown in Roth, Matt Schofield in Wendelstein
Best Solo show: Ian Siegal in Ingolstadt
Günter

Rock On and Keep the Faith

Guenter's Website

  • From: near Nürnberg Germany
  • Registered: 2008-04-19
  • Posts: 1,204

Re: Best other albums of the year so far...

Added live album: Matt Schofield: Live from the Archive.
Günter

Rock On and Keep the Faith

Guenter's Website

17 Reply by Roger62 (edited by Roger62 2010-08-03 16:01:58)

  • From: Braintree, Essex UK
  • Registered: 2009-12-05
  • Posts: 631

Re: Best other albums of the year so far...

My top cds of the year so far
24 Pesos - Busted Broken And Blue
Marcus Bonfanti - What Good Am I To You
Philip Sayce - Innerevolution
Furyon - Gravitas
Touchstone - Live In The USA

looking forward to

BCC
The Spikedrivers
Clare Free
and of course my good buds Voodoo Six


Looking back

Anything by The Hoax
Floyd Lee - Mean Blues
Hokie Joint - Thats The Way It Goes Sometimes

Roger
Live 4 The Music  www.fanzeyeview.com

Facebook  http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?ref … =700219411

Roger62's Website

  • RickB
  • RickB
  • BONAMEGAMETAL
  • Offline
  • From: San Diego
  • Registered: 2009-10-30
  • Posts: 12,198

Re: Best other albums of the year so far...

Great selections all!
I saw a cut as a single, I loved Jeff Beck's Emotion and Commotion but what category would it fit into. Once again, Jeff goes out on a flyer and has a different take.
Rick

Free download from Vienna! http://mbsy.co/bNLR
Lots of unique videos of Joe http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwd5vL8fXTw
Buy Joe's merchandise here. http://www.jbonamassa.com/affiliates/id … hp?id=1381

RickB's Website