My 10 Favorite Albums of 2016 (so far)
So last year I did a list of my favorite 365 albums of all time and revealed them one day at a time for the entire year. The main reason I did it was to listen to music as I actually listened to each of the 365 albums last year. It’s hard to find time to listen to music, at least listen to it the way I like to listen to it. Nothing else going on, just listening to the music.
I’ve had some extra time in Seattle over the last few weeks so I’ve gone through and listened to the albums that I have that were released in 2016. It hasn’t been a great year so far but there are still some worthy albums on the list.
10. Heavy Crown by Last In Line
This was Ronnie James Dio’s band (minus the keyboard player) in the 80’s. It’s a straight up rock record. Nothing really stands out. I like it but it’s not inspiring or different. Just good hard rock.
9. Ten Drunk Summers Long by Chillin Sun
Another straight up hard rock record from the guitar player/singer from Steelheart. A little more diversity here than the Last In Line record and a very good cover of Led Zeppelin’s Kashmir.
8. Generation Me by The Treatment
This one sounds like it’s right out of 1987. It’s less plodding than the previous two records. A lot more groove and melody. I guess this is their third record and I had no idea they existed until my cousin turned me on to them. There aren’t a lot of bands out there that embrace that 80’s rock sound but these guys do it wholeheartedly.
7. Edge of Tomorrow by Sunstorm
Sunstorm is Joe Lynn Turner’s hard rock band. Turner is one of the hardest working guys in hard rock as it seems like he’s on 2–3 albums a year. Edge of Tomorrow is Melodic Rock through and through (in other words, sounds like Journey). There are a lot of bands producing these kinds of records (mostly in Europe) but JLT makes this one stand out. Lots of guitars and melody with those keyboard accents that scream Journey. It’s good stuff for what it is. Still looking to be inspired…
6. Boxes by Goo Goo Dolls
I really like the songs on this record but they forgot to plug in the guitars. I’m not even sure I could classify this as a rock record. It’s hard to imagine that these guys started as a punk band. After I finished listening to this record I put on some older Goo Goo Dolls stuff to remember what guitars sound like. It’s a bummer because there are some really good songs here. Maybe they could re-release the record and invite the guitar player?
5. Prayers For The Damned by Sixx: A.M.
This is the biggest surprise for me so far. They’ve released a few records but this is the first one I’ve sat down and listened to. It’s really good. Now that Motley Crue is done Nikki Sixx is going to concentrate on this band. It’s more melodic and modern than Motley but still heavy and surprisingly catchy. I need to go back and listen to their other stuff now.
4. Fight Another Day by Dan Reed Network
This is a hard one for me to review. I absolutely loved Dan Reed Network back in the late 80’s and early 90’s. Their third record, The Heat, is one of my favorites. It’s been 25 years since that record and they reunited to make Fight Another Day. Reed has put out a few solo albums in recent years and this record sounds more like Reed’s solo records than the DRN stuff. Half of this record is high quality while the other half is good but not great. I think I need more time with this record as I was so excited to hear it that it’s hard to get past my expectations. Probably the first record here that would make the Top 365.
3. Thoughts That Float On A Different Blood by Dustin Kensrue
So far this is the year of Dustin Kensrue. This is his solo acoustic live covers record. Usually I wouldn’t include a live album or a cover album but I know so few of these songs that it sounds like a new record to me. It’s just Dustin and his acoustic guitar playing mostly songs from the last few years that he has put his own spin on. There’s everything here from Radiohead to Miley Cyrus to Counting Crowes to Johnny Cash. I don’t think there is one song on this record where I like the original version. But Kensrue finds the beauty in each song and his passionate versions draw you in. As much as I love electric guitars what really draws me to music is the passion and meaning.
2. Painkillers by Brian Fallon
Fallon is the lead singer of The Gaslight Anthem. This is his first solo record and it’s another mostly acoustic affair. It sounds like a cross between late 80’s Mellencamp and Bruce Springsteen. This is a storyteller record with Fallon singing songs about the good old day of youth and lost love. No heavy guitars here either…I must be getting old. Just some great songs stripped down to the basics.
- To Be Everywhere Is To Be Nowhere by Thrice
And there’s the guitars….ahhhhhhh. Simply put, this is probably my favorite album of the decade. I can’t express how much I love this record. It has absolutely everything I love about music. Heavy guitar, melody, passion, meaning…it’s all there. Thrice took a break a few years ago and Kensrue moved to Seattle to work with Mark Driscoll. Most of you know what happened there and Kensrue was right in the middle of it. That experience is all over this record. It’s full of frustration and rebellion and hope. Every song on this record is fantastic but none are alike. This record gives me hope that music can still be powerful and move me.
So that’s the list so far. There are a few records that are supposed to be released in the second half of 2016 that I’m pretty excited about. I’m not sure anything will come close to the Thrice record but I’m hoping for some quality over the next few months.