Best of 2013 -- Brian's Take
Tuesday, December 31, 2013 at 12:01AM Allyson asked me for my opinion on the five best albums of the year. Here's my list!
1. Built to F***, Born to Kill by Bile - OK, I get that this is a glam site, but if this is my top 5 list of 2013, this album is FAR AND AWAY my No. 1 album of the year. For those that do not know, Bile is an underground techno hardcore band who have been around for over 20 years, and quite honestly, are amazing. This new album is, perhaps, their greatest album since 1996's Teknowhore album. 'Robots Ate My Baby' is one of my new favorites, but the album is strong from beginning to end. I have listened to this album consistently since its release in January, and it is angry perfection.
2. Start @ One by Killer Dwarfs - Since this album was officially released in 2013, it can be included here. I LOVE the classic 80s Dwarf sound on this album. The guitar tone, the sound of Russ' voice and the general feel of this album are all solid 80s glam, and this is the perfect follow-up album to Dirty Weapons and Method to the Madness.
3. No More Hell To Pay by Stryper - What else can be said about Stryper? They are a band that have found new life over the past eight or 10 years, and are one of only a few bands that sound as good, if not better, than they did in their prime. This album is, in my opinion, their strongest since To Hell With The Devil. Michael Sweet can still hit all the high notes and the band sounds as tight as ever.
4. Blackout the Sun by Sevendust - One of my favorite bands. Morgan Rose's drumming along with the staccato guitar/bass and Lajon's powerful voice never disappoint. While it was almost an impossible task to follow-up the previous album Cold Day Memory, this was as strong an effort as imaginable. Now I'm anxiously awaiting the acoustic album the band is currently in the process of recording.
5. Second Coming by Stryper - Cannot believe that this band is making a second appearance on a listing of only five albums, but they deserve to be on here twice. Second Coming is re-recorded versions of songs up through To Hell With The Devil. There are some tweaks and differences to the songs (changes that the band has made to the songs while playing live) that give the songs some new life. Again, the band sounds great on these versions, and this does not come across as an easy way to put out a new product for fans to buy, but rather seems to really pay homage to the songs that helped them build their career.
So, what do you think? Like my list or hate it? Let me know in the comments below.
Reader Comments (11)
Before people falsely accuse me (Christain) of Living in the 80's (only half right, there are plenty of other new bands who ROCK much more than who ya got here.
Still, to each his own, as everyone reminds me.
Okay, everybody in The BBG! Peanut Gallery, ready your lists. I'll be posting mine in Comments on tomorrow's post.
Have A Very ROCKIN' Metal New Year, Everyone!
p.s. Bri! Slick move with The Dwarfs as "Best of 2013" since it was recorded 20 years ago in '93 but not released until this year. Stryper's better than ever. I really think Michael Sweet's stint in Boston was a positive influence. "No More Hell To Pay" is so great, even an atheist will LOVE it!
10. Brandon Reeves – A Decent Melody. A fantastic independent release from a Georgia-based blues artist, Reeves’ album is much better than decent.
9. Pearl Jam – Lightning Bolt. The kings of the nineties rule again with a throwback to the seventies.
8. Justin Timberlake – The 20/20 Experience 2 of 2. Part 1 is good, but Part 2 will go down as a historically great record.
7. Stryper – No More Hell to Pay. The Yellow and Black Attack is back with soaring vocals and squealing guitar solos, a fantastic hair metal album.
6. J Roddy Walston & The Business – Essential Tremors. Another throwback rock band with hints of Aerosmith and the Black Crowes.
5. Black Sabbath – 13. Ozzy, Iommi, and Butler recaptured the magic of the band’s beginnings and reached No. 1 on the US Billboard 200 charts.
4. Newsted – Heavy Metal Music. It’s heavy and it’s loud and it’s everything you would expect from a former member of Metallica.
3. Krokus – Dirty Dynamite. Full of catchy hooks, but the best song might be the Beatles cover “Help,” arranged as a hair metal ballad.
2. Twenty One Pilots – Vessel. Modern rock at its finest, and they really rock out with a ukulele on “House of Gold.”
1. Death On Two Wheels – Death On Two Wheels. Traditional hard rock sound with more authenticity than anyone else out there.
I saw J. Roddy Walston & The Business on Letterman the other night. They were pretty good but maybe just a tad too Hipsterish for my taste.
And why not just call themselves The Business?
Still, I do kinda like 'em. They're kinda like The Strokes if they were Zeppelin freaks.
In the meantime, I will check out Powerwolf again. I listened to 'em a little while ago but spaced 'em out!
Great to see you back, Bro!