My favorite rock/metal albums of 2009

Amazon Listmania!

Artist: Devin Townsend Project
Album: Addicted
I Say: See my review here.

Artist: Baroness
Album: Blue Record
I Say: Sludge metal; second full release.

Artist: Revocation
Album: Existence Is Futile
I Say: Boston area thrash; signed to Relapse Records in 2009.

Artist: Hot Leg
Album: Red Light Fever
I Say: See my review here.

Artist: Devin Townsend Project
Album: Ki
I Say: Referred to by Townsend as "an aperitif" as the first album of the four-part series under the Devin Townsend Project pseudonym.

Artist: The Wildhearts
Album: Chutzpah!
I Say: Ninth studio album from Ginger and the England rockers.

Artist: Lazarus A.D.
Album: The Onslaught
I Say: See my review here.

Artist: Them Crooked Vultures
Album: Them Crooked Vultures
I Say: John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin), Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters, Nirvana), and Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age, Kyuss).

Artist: Tenet
Album: Sovereign
I Say: See my review here.

Artist: Spinnerette
Album: Spinnerette
I Say: Brody Dalle (The Distillers), Tony Bevilacqua (The Distillers), Jack Irons (Red Hot Chili Peppers, Eleven, Pearl Jam) and Alain Johannes (Eleven, Queens of the Stone Age).

Album review: Devin Townsend Project - Addicted!

Addicted is the second album of the four-part series under the Devin Townsend Project pseudonym, essentially a project featuring Townsend and musicians he hand-picks for each album, which is really cool. Ki, the first part released six months prior, serves as a delectable appetizer with mostly tranquil listening. It’s controlled and teases with letting the wrath loose, and Addicted picks up where Ki left off, the perfect second course. The building anticipation in the title track is heavy. It’s exciting.

There’s a plethora of sounds and protruding from them all is the experienced, yet virtually unheard of Anneke van Giersbergen, female Dutch singer. Her gentle voice is everywhere – sometimes in the background, sometimes in the forefront, and she surprisingly complements Townsend’s wild side. One song that features her alone is the revamped “Hyperdrive” from Ziltoid the Omniscient, formerly with Townsend’s vocals, but now with Giersbergen’s.

While Townsend’s subtler stuff like Ki doesn’t go unappreciated, it’s the radical stuff that most people really love, and Addicted brings back the “wall of sound” but in a more melodic fashion. Each and every song is catchy with metal elements. Most songs are “Material”-like (Physicist) with a whirlwind of layers & effects, varying degrees of Townsend vocal intensities, and just plain greatness. The exception is the relatively tame “Ih-Ah!” and ironically it’s one of the better songs. Try not to sing along.

Addicted is more commercial than previous solo projects and is beautifully heavy. It’s very easy to get in to and will likely go down as one of Townsend’s most approachable albums.

http://www.amazon.com/review/R1L8L275CSF4JP

Album review: Dead Cats Dead Rats - Dead Cats Dead Rats

The place is dark, poorly lit. A few townies sit hunched over at the bar cradling their pint glasses. On the floor there are a few interlopers bearing flannel shirts and tattered jeans amongst a standing, waiting crowd of friends and random comers. Cans of Pabst Blue Ribbon are nursed inside while outside people smoke cigarettes waiting for the next rockers to go on. This is the scene.

Dead Cats Dead Rats (yeah, you know, like The Doors tune) hail from the North Shore of Massachusetts, and while just a trio, they pack a sick, grungy sound that would indicate they’ve been doing this thing for awhile. How long have they been together? Don’t know; they have just the self-titled release and a quality music video for “Marla” which can be viewed at their web site and YouTube. They have also been esteemed as contestants for the highly-renowned WBCN Rock N’ Roll Rumble.

The band’s sound is a concoction of grunge, punk, and garage rock. Singer/guitarist Matt Reppucci’s delivery and angst is much like that of Kurt Cobain – a little raspy, a little screechy at times. This fits the hasty Misfits-esque riffing of songs that average about two minutes in length. It honestly wouldn’t be the same if the songs were any longer. They need to be quick and in your face to be effective. And there aren’t any solos. It’s just rock, a lot of it really catchy, and there literally isn’t enough time to squeeze in fancy doodling.

What I like most about Dead Cats’ style is that the bass is so prominent. This isn’t to say it’s the focal point, but it’s not muddled out by the guitar and drums like so many bands unfortunately do to the instrument. The bass is not just a foundation here. It’s tasty and heavy in numbers like “Donkey Lips” and “Cross Bones” and there’s tapping or something to begin “Marla.” Both guitar and bass together make for that grungy, dirty tone.

Of all the bands in the Boston area, Dead Cats Dead Rats are one of my favorites. Make them one of your’s.