Year in Review 2011
January 4th 2012 09:13
Wow, hasn’t that year flown by a little too quickly. So much music to sink my teeth in it was one hell of a year. We saw many bands break up or go hiatus and many more reform. We had more tours and more festivals than you can shake a glow stick at and had a few cancel last minute. I set myself a goal to see a hundred bands perform live this year. I can proudly say I ended up seeing 147! (and I didn’t see anyone in June)
And is such the norm for this part of the year, top 5’s!!!!!! So go grab a beer/wine/vodka/coffee or whatever tickles your fancy and read my self indulgent opinion on everything this year condensed down to a few paragraphs!
Top 5 Albums
The Horrible Crowes - ‘Elsie’
Brian Fallon can do no wrong. So when he teamed up with his guitar tech Ian Perkins from Gaslight Anthem you knew it would be good. Lyrically and musically some of Fallon’s best. This album has a late night whisky blues feel and is perfect from the first words in ‘Last Rites’ to the outro of final track. Another masterpiece.
Cold War Kids - ‘Mine Is Yours’
I was surprised by how catchy this album was. I picked up on it about two months after its release and found I’m still listening to it some seven months later. Genuine and heartfelt, a perfect album of emotional driven pop punk songs.
Rise Against - ‘Endgame’
Having always liked Rise Against, this was the first album which felt complete for me. In the past I’d criticize them for having a few throwaway tracks. But “Endgame” is a solid record when Tim’s lyrics really find a home to Zach’s riffs. And live, the band was awesome and narrowly missed my top 5 gigs
Trial Kennedy - ‘Living Undesigned’
It was a three year wait since their debut and well worth the wait. Tim Morrison has one of the best voices in rock in this country and its on display here. Melodic, impassioned and powerful, by far the best local release this year and thats saying something considering some blistering records came out this year from Aussie bands.
Mariachi El Bronx - ‘II’
I love the concept and I love this album. The Bronx Mexican alter egos. The hardcore band find themselves with Spanish guitars and songs about Senorita’s. When I visit Mexico this year I hope to find a mariachi band that can sound like this.
Top 5 Gigs
The Gaslight Anthem @ The Metro
Really....was I going to put any other band in this spot? But seriously, seeing them twice in two days was amazing. Their set at the Metro blew me away. I have never felt so connected to a band and their music like I did that night.
City & Colour @ The Enmore
Dallas Green has a voice of an angel and the songwriting talent of a Beatle. His first headlining tour was a sell out and the (ex)Alexisonfire guitarist let his sombre, sad, love songs serenade the Sydney crowd.
John Farnham @ ANZ Stadium
The old man still has it. His voice is still as powerful as it was in his prime and god damn if they didn’t put a show. An army of bagpipes during “You’re The Voice” and a AC/DC cover, he literally owned the stage at ANZ that night and I tell you what, I’ll be first in line for tickets for his next tour (and he will tour again. One more farewell tour for the fortieth time!)
The Living End @ The Enmore
Wholly crap are these guys on song or what. A cracker new album and a hour and half set of classic tracks that you knew all the words to and sung with as much vigor as the guys played them. I haven’t seen them live in some fifteen years. (I forgot I saw them open a BDO in the mid nineties) I was blown away. Such a strong performance.
Rammstein @ BDO
Talk about putting on a show. Fireworks, pyrotechnics, props, they had it all and even though I don’t really like industrial metal or the German language, anyone who was anyone there at the Big Day Out would be hard pressed to say they did not enjoy that spectacle. They blew Tool out of the water and made them look....well....shit. Fantastic set for a festival.
Top 5 Disappointments
Soundwave Revolution cancelling
The debacle just saw alot of egg on the face of the promoters and left us wondering who thought it would be a good idea to book Van Halen and pay them upfront? Van Halen bailed, so did the unnamed 2nd headliner (rumored to be Aerosmith) and then offer up a weak, watered down substitute of a festival Counter Revolution?
Blink 182’s come back record
I hated this record at first. I listened to it alot since, trying....wanting to like it. But besides three tracks, it’s pretty ordinary.
Lack of tours from Rancid & Weezer
I swear I’ll have to go to the States to see thee bands play.....
Tool @ BDO
See above in regards to being blown off the stage by Rammstein. In Sydney, they were dreadful. Although I do hear good things about the rest of the BDO shows so maybe Sydney just got the short, shit straw.
Metallica & Lou Reed’s “Lulu”
Just listen to one track and that was enough for me to label this the worst record released this year. And thats tough seeing LMFAO released that fucking album! Seriously, this was a bad idea to start with and the proof is in the end result. It’s boring, it’s bland, it doesn’t work and deserves the pounding it got in the press.
Top 5 Aussie Acts
The Beards
Whats not to love about a band of bearded men who sing songs about beards and how awesome they are?
Gay Paris
Whats not to love about a front man who may be a lunatic with a voice like Tom Waits who knows how to party harder than Charlie Sheen?
Trial Kennedy
They stepped past the second album syndrome to release a record better than their debut and continue to shine live touring the country a number of times. What ever you do this year, check out a TK show at a pub and tell me it doesn’t rock? Cause it will my friend....it will.
Emma Dean
While the New Yorker claimed her to be the one to look out for in 2011, Emma grew in strength as a musician and performer. From acting, to a stripped back version of her stage show, the new queen of Australian pop cabaret has a great voice and a way with pointing out tired quasi journalists spelling mistakes!!!
Calling All Cars/Bliss N Eso
Ah yes....a tie. Calling All Cars released a fantastic record also this year but Bliss N Eso tore up stages around the country. I couldn’t leave either of them off this list.
Top 5 Surprises (to me)
My continuing love for Kayne West
He’s the only reason I’m heading to the Big Day Out this year. Plan and simple.
Plan B’s record.
Surprising good and fun to listen to despite it not necessarily being my thing, it sure is catchy. Think Buble or Sinatra.
Alexisonfire splitting up
Didn’t see that coming. First Dallas pulls the pin, then Wade joins Gallows. Rest assured the headliners for 2015 Soundwave will be Alexisonfire reformed!
Not hating myself for seeing a Glenn Danzig less Misfits
Always told myself I wouldn’t do see the Misfits unless Danzig was leading them. But, I went and I kinda enjoyed it. Lets face it, it’ll be the closest I get.
John Farnham’s performance at the V8 gig
See above. It was fucking brilliant.
Well thats it kids. 2012 looks like another excellent year in music and I'll do my best to keep you all updated.
I need to thank the awesome sites Musicfeeds & The AU Review who I write for predominately and all the other publications I've submitted to this year. Also thanks to anyone who actually reads this and those who even subscribed........you poor sorry bastards!!!!
Cheers!
And is such the norm for this part of the year, top 5’s!!!!!! So go grab a beer/wine/vodka/coffee or whatever tickles your fancy and read my self indulgent opinion on everything this year condensed down to a few paragraphs!
Top 5 Albums
The Horrible Crowes - ‘Elsie’
Brian Fallon can do no wrong. So when he teamed up with his guitar tech Ian Perkins from Gaslight Anthem you knew it would be good. Lyrically and musically some of Fallon’s best. This album has a late night whisky blues feel and is perfect from the first words in ‘Last Rites’ to the outro of final track. Another masterpiece.
Cold War Kids - ‘Mine Is Yours’
I was surprised by how catchy this album was. I picked up on it about two months after its release and found I’m still listening to it some seven months later. Genuine and heartfelt, a perfect album of emotional driven pop punk songs.
Rise Against - ‘Endgame’
Having always liked Rise Against, this was the first album which felt complete for me. In the past I’d criticize them for having a few throwaway tracks. But “Endgame” is a solid record when Tim’s lyrics really find a home to Zach’s riffs. And live, the band was awesome and narrowly missed my top 5 gigs
Trial Kennedy - ‘Living Undesigned’
It was a three year wait since their debut and well worth the wait. Tim Morrison has one of the best voices in rock in this country and its on display here. Melodic, impassioned and powerful, by far the best local release this year and thats saying something considering some blistering records came out this year from Aussie bands.
Mariachi El Bronx - ‘II’
I love the concept and I love this album. The Bronx Mexican alter egos. The hardcore band find themselves with Spanish guitars and songs about Senorita’s. When I visit Mexico this year I hope to find a mariachi band that can sound like this.
Top 5 Gigs
The Gaslight Anthem @ The Metro
Really....was I going to put any other band in this spot? But seriously, seeing them twice in two days was amazing. Their set at the Metro blew me away. I have never felt so connected to a band and their music like I did that night.
City & Colour @ The Enmore
Dallas Green has a voice of an angel and the songwriting talent of a Beatle. His first headlining tour was a sell out and the (ex)Alexisonfire guitarist let his sombre, sad, love songs serenade the Sydney crowd.
John Farnham @ ANZ Stadium
The old man still has it. His voice is still as powerful as it was in his prime and god damn if they didn’t put a show. An army of bagpipes during “You’re The Voice” and a AC/DC cover, he literally owned the stage at ANZ that night and I tell you what, I’ll be first in line for tickets for his next tour (and he will tour again. One more farewell tour for the fortieth time!)
The Living End @ The Enmore
Wholly crap are these guys on song or what. A cracker new album and a hour and half set of classic tracks that you knew all the words to and sung with as much vigor as the guys played them. I haven’t seen them live in some fifteen years. (I forgot I saw them open a BDO in the mid nineties) I was blown away. Such a strong performance.
Rammstein @ BDO
Talk about putting on a show. Fireworks, pyrotechnics, props, they had it all and even though I don’t really like industrial metal or the German language, anyone who was anyone there at the Big Day Out would be hard pressed to say they did not enjoy that spectacle. They blew Tool out of the water and made them look....well....shit. Fantastic set for a festival.
Top 5 Disappointments
Soundwave Revolution cancelling
The debacle just saw alot of egg on the face of the promoters and left us wondering who thought it would be a good idea to book Van Halen and pay them upfront? Van Halen bailed, so did the unnamed 2nd headliner (rumored to be Aerosmith) and then offer up a weak, watered down substitute of a festival Counter Revolution?
Blink 182’s come back record
I hated this record at first. I listened to it alot since, trying....wanting to like it. But besides three tracks, it’s pretty ordinary.
Lack of tours from Rancid & Weezer
I swear I’ll have to go to the States to see thee bands play.....
Tool @ BDO
See above in regards to being blown off the stage by Rammstein. In Sydney, they were dreadful. Although I do hear good things about the rest of the BDO shows so maybe Sydney just got the short, shit straw.
Metallica & Lou Reed’s “Lulu”
Just listen to one track and that was enough for me to label this the worst record released this year. And thats tough seeing LMFAO released that fucking album! Seriously, this was a bad idea to start with and the proof is in the end result. It’s boring, it’s bland, it doesn’t work and deserves the pounding it got in the press.
Top 5 Aussie Acts
The Beards
Whats not to love about a band of bearded men who sing songs about beards and how awesome they are?
Gay Paris
Whats not to love about a front man who may be a lunatic with a voice like Tom Waits who knows how to party harder than Charlie Sheen?
Trial Kennedy
They stepped past the second album syndrome to release a record better than their debut and continue to shine live touring the country a number of times. What ever you do this year, check out a TK show at a pub and tell me it doesn’t rock? Cause it will my friend....it will.
Emma Dean
While the New Yorker claimed her to be the one to look out for in 2011, Emma grew in strength as a musician and performer. From acting, to a stripped back version of her stage show, the new queen of Australian pop cabaret has a great voice and a way with pointing out tired quasi journalists spelling mistakes!!!
Calling All Cars/Bliss N Eso
Ah yes....a tie. Calling All Cars released a fantastic record also this year but Bliss N Eso tore up stages around the country. I couldn’t leave either of them off this list.
Top 5 Surprises (to me)
My continuing love for Kayne West
He’s the only reason I’m heading to the Big Day Out this year. Plan and simple.
Plan B’s record.
Surprising good and fun to listen to despite it not necessarily being my thing, it sure is catchy. Think Buble or Sinatra.
Alexisonfire splitting up
Didn’t see that coming. First Dallas pulls the pin, then Wade joins Gallows. Rest assured the headliners for 2015 Soundwave will be Alexisonfire reformed!
Not hating myself for seeing a Glenn Danzig less Misfits
Always told myself I wouldn’t do see the Misfits unless Danzig was leading them. But, I went and I kinda enjoyed it. Lets face it, it’ll be the closest I get.
John Farnham’s performance at the V8 gig
See above. It was fucking brilliant.
Well thats it kids. 2012 looks like another excellent year in music and I'll do my best to keep you all updated.
I need to thank the awesome sites Musicfeeds & The AU Review who I write for predominately and all the other publications I've submitted to this year. Also thanks to anyone who actually reads this and those who even subscribed........you poor sorry bastards!!!!
Cheers!
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