2. Suffering and the Hideous Thieves + The Hush Hush – Double EP
A second dose of Suffering and crew, just when you thought it couldn’t get any better. This incredibly talented collection of musicians took Real Panic Formed, and evolved. The sound is more direct and focused. The vocals are better. It would take over the number 1 slot, but it only has 5 songs. The Hush Hush contribution is a wonderfully easy to take encounter. The entire CD is smooth and understated. Very much a late-night relaxing drive CD.
3. System of a Down – Steal This Album!
One of my favorite recent purchases. This takes the number 3 slot in no small part because I still have no idea how they got as popular as they have. Let me explain why...
a. Bands who are politically vocal don’t gain widespread popularity as easily as bands that sing about other topics (I know you’re saying Rage Against the Machine, but see the next point).
b. They are barely radio friendly (where as RATM had the heavy rap-rock hook-laden beats that drove radio DJs nuts). It really doesn’t fit well with many of the formats of X-radio stations that play them.
c. Serj’s vocals are unlike any other popular mainstream metal act. It isn’t forced either, flowing naturally with the hammering guitar, bass and drums.
d. They consider their music art, not simply entertainment. This is a whole mindset that unfortunately goes against the grain for popular music as a whole. Most musicians who have a similar art-based mindset as Soad see their music as a vehicle to take one to another level, reaching for the experience. Entertainers just want to get paid. Ultimately they only end up pissed off about Peer to Peer file sharing and totally miss the event that they could have created
4. The Vines – Highly Evolved
The Vines made me excited to see rock returning to the masses again. I think that their efforts have paid off for this album, but I’m not expecting to hear another attention grabbing album from The Vines again. It might have grabbed the number 3 position, but it gets too tiring listening to them sing about how much they love pot.
5. Killswitch Engage – Alive or Just Breathing
Hardcore screams, death-metal snarls, gorgeous anthems that prod the listener to answer deeper questions. This album beats on the heart in a way that few bands are able to equal. These guys have influences coming at you from all over; when you expect it the least. This is the kind of album that will make you fall in love with metal all over again.
Article comments
1 - Marko
What about Sigur Ros?? Can I hear it for Sigur Ros? Anyone?
2 - markbrandt
So for Christmas people gave me CD's and 2 of these have the chance of making my top 5 if I would have had them before I wrote the top 5.
Anthallo - Sparrows: This is good. It makes all other emo look silly and unimportant
Hopesfall - The Satellite Years: melodic hardcore but better then the other melodic hardcore bands. It's beauty mixed with brutality
so consider these honorable mentions
3 - mike larkin
Matt DeBenedictis writes:
Cornell is conservative? I didn't know that; I guess I just assumed that because he hangs out with the Vedder crowd, he's a leftie. Are you sure?; if true, it's too bad, although it doesn't effect my admiration for his talents.
4 - Matt Debenedictis
yes Cornell is know to be conservative. in what end I'm not sure as he is not very public about his political convictions. That was the first thing he made clear when Audioslave started no politics...human rights..yes. Politics no.
"I have allways respected Chris for never backing down on his convictions." Eddie Vedder speaking on Chris cornell.
If you remember chris did some rock the vote PSA's back in the day on MTV. Which he soon spoke out against because rock the vote was using it's platform to get kids to vote democratic straight ticket style. Which even though I'm far from a conservative Chris was right to speak out like he did. Rock the vote was shifty and not honest.
5 - mike larkin
Thanks! I have a friend who's a big Soundgarden fan, and he said the same thing. He's a conservative himself, so i guess i should have figured.
I take solace in the thought that Cornell can't be all THAT conservative if he hangs out with ex-Ragers and with Vedder.
And you're right about Rock the Vote; that was a fraud, little more than a Clinton front group, really.
6 - markbrandt
Rock the Vote was lame. Instead of having kids get informed they just brainwashed them..lame...I don't really like Audioslave, but that's not the point.
7 - Menddave
YOU ALL FORGOT STAVESACRE. SHAME ON YOU.
8 - Solamente Frost
no, actually none of us forgot stavesacre.
9 - jess
ouch.
10 - jess
ouch.
11 - Matt DeBenedictis
I didn't forget the Stavesacre record. I think it's an a mazing record. their best to date. I just felt the other records i mentioned had a bigger effect than that record did.