The resulting album is groovy, ghetto-tech eclectic. Peeping Tom is the most accessible album Patton has made since his Faith No More days. Patton makes use of the strongest talents of his assembled collaborators, while at the same time allowing them freedom to stretch their artistic muscles, resulting in works that are diverse and accomplished. And it proves that Patton is still capable of making something to be enjoyed by the masses.
5. Meds -Placebo
Brian Molko’s voice is distinctive, alluring, and totally compelling. The nearly-legendary band Placebo have those same qualities. They are the perfect match really; I don’t think that Molko would fit with any band in the such a uniquely seductive way. Meds, Placebo’s first completely new album since 2003, sees them return to their more unpolished indie rock roots and avoid the radio friendly tracks of their last album.
Meds is thick with Placebo’s goth/punk influences like Bauhaus, Sonic Youth, The Pixies, and particularly David Bowie – but what artist alive today hasn’t been influenced by Bowie? This sleek album has the synthesizer-driven melodies that Placebo are famous for and Molko’s essence-of-goth lyrics and still maintains a raw but emotionally mature feeling. Meds isn’t a departure for the band but it is a beautiful example of why they don’t need to deviate from their ultra cool style.
4. The Beauty of Letting Go - Green River Ordinance
Fort Worth, Texas-based Green River Ordinance (GRO) are the next big band-on-the-block. GRO are intelligent, diverse, dynamic alt/pop/rock with plenty of heart and soul and they inspire me in a way that few rock bands do. GRO’s warm, intense, emotive rock and roll tunes illicit feelings in me that are all at once sexual and joyous, passionate and compassionate. With an alt.rock-power pop sound that will make you think of Third Eye Blind, Nickelback or Matchbox Twenty, GRO are truly the next legend-band in the making.
GRO’s debut album The Beauty of Letting Go is in turns warm, intense, romantic and passionate. Their lyrics are a bit country with a pop twist but still rock and roll and somehow maintain an ardent passion and emotional intensity. Their music is guitar driven indie rock with a smooth river of Texas flowing through the heart of it. This album is easily the best album from an unsigned artist released this year. It is so good that is the only album from an independent artist on my list.
Article comments
1 - M.D. Sandwasher
Excellent Best of List.
I totally agree with Iggy Pop's work with the Teddybears. When I first heard the song, I couldn't believe that was Iggy. I didn't think he still had it in him.
2 - A.L. Harper
Iggy is brill on Punkrocker. Best thing he has done in ages!
3 - D'oh
Another one that has forgotten 10,000 Days by TooL
But that's ok, I'll just add it here for you.
Give it a listen, and be amazed.
4 - Al Barger
"Stupid Girls" is a fine song as music - melody, rhythm and harmony, stuff like that. It's also a good, well-focused lyric seriously challenging the culture and behaviors of her own audience. She's saying something important at the significant risk of alienating part of her audience.
But this lyric Miss Harper quotes for "Dear Mr President" is crap. Now, I hate Bush as bad as the next guy, but direct political polemics generally make for poor songwriting craft. As is common for such things, this is just typical leftwing boilerplate that doesn't adhere as any kind of cohesive artistic statement. She could have just as well said simply "Bush sucks" over and over and left it at that.
Also, specifically the business about how Bush would hate his daughter if she were gay is just a complete malicious fabrication. No Bush has been anti-gay. It's just dumb and dishonest to say that. But Bush is a bad guy, so it's ok to just make up any old evil dumb crap on him, cause he deserves it. Indeed, it'll automatically rate your pedestrian song as a Major Artistic Statement.
Which is not to say that Bush can't be usefully and memorably criticized artistically. WAY the best artistic bashing of W that I've seen is through The Boondocks. The worse than worthless heir Ed Wuntzler III is a danger to humanity playing gangster with family immunity insulating him from all the damage he does. Note his big gold "W" bling hanging around his neck as he goes around wreaking havoc and trying to convince himself that he's Billy Badass from the streets.
But this involves Mr McGruder putting in some actual creative thinking about how to portray this character and dramatize the damage. That's a lot harder than a puked up diatribe.
5 - Greekmenrule
Why such Harsh Criticism of Mariah Carey? I don't understand, There is enough room for everyone. I bet you have never listened to her music beyond what you might hear on the radio. Her Music and Voice are Divine and there is truly alot more substance to her music and artistry than you are giving her credit for. You sicken me..Pink's album deserves to be on this list, Snow Patrol=OVER RATED along w/ all of your other "Music"...give ANY of these artists the chance at serious mainstream success and they'd sell alot more than their souls for it!
6 - DJRadiohead
Yeah, Guster is Voldemort and Pink released the third best album of the year. I think that about says it all.
7 - A.L. Harper
*laugh* So I take it you haven't heard the new Pink album darling.
8 - DJRadiohead
I heard a clip of whatever that rubbish first single was and have heard her previous rubbish material. Hideous.
9 - A.L. Harper
A clip? You're judging from a clip? Sad.... very sad.
10 - Mark Saleski
ms. harper, i thought that the best chance (and it's a small one, i admit) of the dj enjoying Aquilera would be to send him an mp3 of something from the second disc, maybe "Nasty Naughty Boy".
but, like...he knows where i live and stuff.
11 - Mark Saleski
...and the same goes for Pink. though in that case the change of enjoyment is pretty much zero.
12 - DJRadiohead
I didn't have to hear the whole thing to know I hated it. I'm decisive. I know crap when I hear it. =)
13 - neptunian
Snow Patrol....hahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!! no soul, no balls and not an ounce of originality in this album. Sorry, I visited the wrong planet, I shall now go back to planet earth. My fellow earthlings won't believe me when I tell them that...
14 - Mark Sahm
I won't take sides on the Snow Patrol or Pink threads here (since I've heard neither). But I can fully agree with the #10 choice, as Jose Gonzalez is a seriously talented singer-songwriter. Veneer has this optimistic tragedy to it that makes it a complete listen, and not just a couple good singles with filler.
Ms. Harper, if you should have the chance to see Gonzalez live, I highly recommend it. I wrote an article here at BC about a show he did with Zero 7 last fall. My wife and I enjoyed his performace a lot, and bought Veneer the next day. Cheers.
15 - r dorsett
your right on with g.r.o. and snow patrol.great songs through entire album.thanks
16 - A.L. Harper
R, you are very welcome! I'm so pleased you liked GRO.