Well I’ve finally completed my best of 2005 CD for Rob. For the purposes of the disc the music just has to be stuff I’ve heard for the first time this year so it could have been released at any time. This is just as well because I don’t think it’s been a vintage year musically. What follows is a track by track guide to the disc just to give you some insight as to just how appalling my musical taste is…
Barron’s ‘Örrible Cräp – Crapösaurus Alotäcus
Within Temptation – Ice Queen. Taken from the album Mother Earth. A more Celtic sounding version of Nightwish? Nah, not really, the Tempts, as I’m sure they must be known somewhere, are much easier on the ears and in Sharon den Adel they have a much better vocalist.
Kamelot – The Haunting. Taken from the album The Black Halo. Dream Theatre comparisons abound musically but in Khan they have a vocalist it is possible to listen to for a whole album. A top 3 album of the year.
Children of Bodom – Deadnight Warrior. Taken from the album Something Wild. Imagine if you can Yngwie Malmsteen collaborating on the next Cradle of Filth album, this is what you would end up with, no honest. A little heavier and gruntier than I normally like but damn good.
Ry Cooder – 3 Cool Cats. Taken from the album Chavez Ravine. A concept album about a Latino housing project and UFO’s? Sounds about right for my taste this year. Great late night drinking music.
Sonata Arctica – Reckoning Night. Taken from the album Reckoning Night. Where do these bands come up with these names from? It pays not to listen to the lyrics too closely on this one, I’m sure it’s lost something in the translation from Finnish.
Luca Turilli – Prince of the Starlight. Taken from the album Prophet of the Last Eclipse. This is just plain barking stuff from the Rhapsody guitarist. So over the top and badly written it is a masterpiece.
System of a Down – BYOB. Taken from the album Mezmerize. Loud, powerful and thought provoking SOAD have produced a mesmerising (sorry) modern protest song. Any track from the album would have deserved a place on here.
Ayreon – Day Eleven: Love. Taken from the album The Human Equation. The album is almost as OTT as the Turilli one but this track is more of a straight forward progy AOR sort of thing. Heather Finlay of Mostly Autumn does her best Kate Bush impersonation on this.
Demons and Wizards – Beneath the Waves. Taken from the album Touched by the Crimson King. Take Blind Guardians vocalist and add Iced Earth’s guitarist and you get half a great album. The other half is fairly ropey to be fair. Love Hansi’ voice though.
Coheed and Cambria – Welcome Home. Taken from the album Good Apollo, I’m Burning Star IV: Volume 1. From Fear Through The Eyes Of Madness. Yes it’s a concept album, how did you guess. This their third album is apparently the fourth part of the story, go figure. A dark, dirty album and definitely the best thing I’ve heard this year.
Kate Bush – Aerial. Taken from the album Aerial. This album was a pleasant surprise and not even the presence of Rolf Harris could put me off. Very laid back and calming.
Blind Guardian – War of Wrath/ Into the Storm. Taken from the album Live. The best Euro Metal band out there, full stop. The DVD is also cracking stuff, even the Spinal Tap’isms.
Nightwish – Wish I had an Angel. Taken from the album Once. Perhaps the most over rated rock band this year. The album is a generally fairly turgid affair but this is one of two decent tracks. Now looking for a new vocalist.
Chris Caffery – Music Man. Taken from the album Faces. This album from the sometime Savatage guitarist was one of this years most pleasant surprises. This is the mellowest track on the CD and has a nice bluesy feel which is missing from much of this year’s selection.
Paul Anka – It’s My Life. Taken from the album Rock Swings. Bon Jovi goes Vegas! I can’t help but have a smile listening to this, which can’t be bad.
Freedom Call – Dancing With Tears in My Eyes. Taken from the album Live Invasion. The Helloween sound’alikes take on the Ultravox hit and it’s as bad as you could possibly imagine.
So there you have it the obligatory Blue Oyster Cult rip off title and the dodgy cover versions to end things with. It’s not as varied as last years disc and there is a predominance of Euro Metal but that’s where I’ve been this year so…
Posted Robs copy today so he should get it before Christmas and I’ll give Billy his copy when I see him tomorrow after my trip to Whitley Bay. I stand ready to be shot down in flames.
Barron’s ‘Örrible Cräp – Crapösaurus Alotäcus
Within Temptation – Ice Queen. Taken from the album Mother Earth. A more Celtic sounding version of Nightwish? Nah, not really, the Tempts, as I’m sure they must be known somewhere, are much easier on the ears and in Sharon den Adel they have a much better vocalist.
Kamelot – The Haunting. Taken from the album The Black Halo. Dream Theatre comparisons abound musically but in Khan they have a vocalist it is possible to listen to for a whole album. A top 3 album of the year.
Children of Bodom – Deadnight Warrior. Taken from the album Something Wild. Imagine if you can Yngwie Malmsteen collaborating on the next Cradle of Filth album, this is what you would end up with, no honest. A little heavier and gruntier than I normally like but damn good.
Ry Cooder – 3 Cool Cats. Taken from the album Chavez Ravine. A concept album about a Latino housing project and UFO’s? Sounds about right for my taste this year. Great late night drinking music.
Sonata Arctica – Reckoning Night. Taken from the album Reckoning Night. Where do these bands come up with these names from? It pays not to listen to the lyrics too closely on this one, I’m sure it’s lost something in the translation from Finnish.
Luca Turilli – Prince of the Starlight. Taken from the album Prophet of the Last Eclipse. This is just plain barking stuff from the Rhapsody guitarist. So over the top and badly written it is a masterpiece.
System of a Down – BYOB. Taken from the album Mezmerize. Loud, powerful and thought provoking SOAD have produced a mesmerising (sorry) modern protest song. Any track from the album would have deserved a place on here.
Ayreon – Day Eleven: Love. Taken from the album The Human Equation. The album is almost as OTT as the Turilli one but this track is more of a straight forward progy AOR sort of thing. Heather Finlay of Mostly Autumn does her best Kate Bush impersonation on this.
Demons and Wizards – Beneath the Waves. Taken from the album Touched by the Crimson King. Take Blind Guardians vocalist and add Iced Earth’s guitarist and you get half a great album. The other half is fairly ropey to be fair. Love Hansi’ voice though.
Coheed and Cambria – Welcome Home. Taken from the album Good Apollo, I’m Burning Star IV: Volume 1. From Fear Through The Eyes Of Madness. Yes it’s a concept album, how did you guess. This their third album is apparently the fourth part of the story, go figure. A dark, dirty album and definitely the best thing I’ve heard this year.
Kate Bush – Aerial. Taken from the album Aerial. This album was a pleasant surprise and not even the presence of Rolf Harris could put me off. Very laid back and calming.
Blind Guardian – War of Wrath/ Into the Storm. Taken from the album Live. The best Euro Metal band out there, full stop. The DVD is also cracking stuff, even the Spinal Tap’isms.
Nightwish – Wish I had an Angel. Taken from the album Once. Perhaps the most over rated rock band this year. The album is a generally fairly turgid affair but this is one of two decent tracks. Now looking for a new vocalist.
Chris Caffery – Music Man. Taken from the album Faces. This album from the sometime Savatage guitarist was one of this years most pleasant surprises. This is the mellowest track on the CD and has a nice bluesy feel which is missing from much of this year’s selection.
Paul Anka – It’s My Life. Taken from the album Rock Swings. Bon Jovi goes Vegas! I can’t help but have a smile listening to this, which can’t be bad.
Freedom Call – Dancing With Tears in My Eyes. Taken from the album Live Invasion. The Helloween sound’alikes take on the Ultravox hit and it’s as bad as you could possibly imagine.
So there you have it the obligatory Blue Oyster Cult rip off title and the dodgy cover versions to end things with. It’s not as varied as last years disc and there is a predominance of Euro Metal but that’s where I’ve been this year so…
Posted Robs copy today so he should get it before Christmas and I’ll give Billy his copy when I see him tomorrow after my trip to Whitley Bay. I stand ready to be shot down in flames.
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