over yet.
We start counting with the number 1, we don’t start at 0. Year 1 was the start, so 11 is the start of a new decade. That’ll be 2011 then.
So with that out of the way – music in 2009, in that I mean decent music not some big industry manufactured crap beating out some cheesy TV pap for a meaningless chart spot. So returns of old favourites, super groups and the rise of someone who just gets better.
Last.fm says I listened to a lot… a hell of a lot of Maiden this last 12 months, but I’m not going to include the CD release of “Flight:666” in my top five albums of the year.
So old favourites return…The Black Crowes: “Before The Frost…Until The Freeze”. Some didn’t like the bluegrass sound, especially of the freebie second disc, some didn’t like the funk of “I Ain’t Hiding”. I liked it all, think it’s the best stuff I’ve heard from the Crowes in a while…
Alice In Chains: “Black Gives Way To Blue” – It was never going to be “Dirt”, it really never could be now could it. But as the wordsmith Rutty put it…
@Toxic_Web It's better than it had a right to be. Nothing could ever be as good as Dirt 😉
— Dave Rutt (@rutty_uk) October 16, 2009
Boy them groups is super…2009 was after all the year of the ‘Foot.
Chickenfoot: “Chickenfoot” – It was big dumb, riffing, screeching and hairy. Not going to solve any world crisis just good old fashioned fun rock and or roll from Messrs. Hagar, Satriani, Anthony and Smith.
Them Crooked Vultures: “Them Crooked Vultures” – One part Led Zeppelin, one part Queens Of The Stone Age, one part Nirvana/Foo Fighters. What could go wrong? Nothing…
Neko Case: “Middle Cyclone” – Star on the rise. A certain individual told me he was worried about the album. Why? Because he liked it so much and that usually meant the kiss of death. A debut at number three in the US album charts, glowing reviews all round and spots on all the main US TV shows, I figure he didn’t need to worry…
So that’s the five but I’ll also include an honourable mention for The Dead Weather: “Horehound” which I also liked a lot…