Below are my Top 10 CD purchases of 2009 (in no particular order). What this means is that of all of the CDs I purchased last year, these are my faves. Note that the some of the discs were released way before 2009. In this case, for whatever reason, I purchased the disc in 2009.
10. No Line on the Horizon – U2
The big blockbuster album of the year and, for the most part, it did not disappoint. U2, Eno, and Lanois unleashed No Line on the Horizon in late February and embarked on a world tour later in the year. U2 fans are apt to compare the latest album to what came before and I am of the opinion that No Line sounds a lot like Achtung Baby. The lyrical content is some of the most blatantly Christian of the band’s career (“Magnificent” being a great example) and the music is outstanding. The band has stated their disappointment with sales of the album but, in the age of downloading single tracks, I’m not sure albums are even a valid concept anymore.
9. The Ballad of John Henry – Joe Bonamassa
The Ballad of John Henry is guitarist Joe Bonamassa’s finest studio album to date. It is an album full of blues rock goodness that finally showcases equal amounts of songcraft and stunning musicianship. Bonamassa has always impressed with his audacious guitar skills. His songs, however, have always been somewhat uneven. The album is full of slower songs about broken hearts, pain, and despair. Bonamassa has said that all of this is autobiographical as he wrote most of the album following a bad breakup. The inclusion of Ike & Tina Turner’s “Funkier Than a Mosquito’s Tweeter” and Tom Waits’ “Jockey Full of Bourbon” are huge surprises. The highlight of the album is the slow burn of “Stop!” where Bonmassa implores “You better stop before you tear me all apart.” And when he sings it, you feel it down in your bones.
8. O How the Mighty Have Fallen – The Choir
After a five year hiatus, The Choir put out some new music in 2005 with O How The Mighty Have Fallen. The album continues on with the leitmotif of every Choir album, Christian faith in the midst of life’s struggles. Fortuantely the band continues to excel both lyrically and musically and there is a lightness and joy even in the midst of the serious subject matter.. It is interesting to hear how Steve Hindalong’s feelings about parenting have changed from a daughter who was full of “wide-eyed wonder” to one of concern for a daughter who is struggling in the song “She’s Alright.” Also, who else but The Choir could compose a pop song that manages to cover plastic swordplay, covenant succession, and Hüsker Dü in 3 1/2 minutes (“Fine Fun Time”)? This is a deeply great album created by a deeply great band.
7. Performing this Week…Live at Ronnie Scott’s – Jeff Beck
Fans who took in the 2007 Crossroads Guitar Festival raved about Jeff Beck and his band. Beck, evidently sensing the power of the unit, scheduled a series of concerts at London’s fabled Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club and recorded a live album and DVD. Beck is accompanied by drummer Vinnie Colaiuta, keyboardist Jason Rebello, and bassist Tal Wilkenfeld. Although each member stretches out at various points (Wilkenfeld’s bass solo on “‘Cause We’ve Ended as Lovers” is a show-stopper) the focus is squarely on Beck as he tears through his back catalog with a vengeance. The album ends with the haunting instrumental “Where Were You.” Here Beck sings, cries, moans, and shouts with as much emotion as a vocalist, showing that an electric guitar can sing as effectively as a human being, but only in the right hands.
6. Black Clouds & Silver Linings – Dream Theater
This is a 2009 release and it surely go down as one of the high points in Dream Theater history. The album manages to seamlessly combine the two different sides of the band’s personality: their experimental, proggy side with their überheavy metallic side. The term “progressive metal” is finally a good descriptor of the band’s music. They are progressive and metallic all at the same time. “A Nightmare to Remember” is a daring 16 minute opening track. “Wither” is perhaps the best ballad the band has written. “The Shattered Fortress” is a fitting end to drummer Mike Portnoy’s “AA saga.” And “The Best of Times” is a moving tribute to Portnoy’s deceased father and features some of guitarist John Petrucci’s most heartfelt soloing. Black Clouds and Silver Linings is as as dense and challenging as any album in Dream Theater’s impressive discography.
5. By A Thread – Gov’t Mule
Gov’t Mule produces some of the biggest, fattest, and nastiest blues-rock this side of the Pecos. The band’s sound is what ZZ Top would sound like had that little ol’ band from Texas not discovered synthesizers and sequencers. Warren Haynes is Gov’t Mule’s guitarist and lead vocalist and his voice and guitar are right up front on this album. By a Thread proves that there is still music out there that feels like it was recorded like a live band in the studio. It is a throaty masterpiece of an album that should delight Mule-heads and bring many more new fans into the fold.
4. Fahrenheit [Remaster] – Toto
This album was originally released in 1986 in the heyday of pristine, brittle CD transfers. In other words, it has needed a remaster for a very long time. It finally received one in 2009 thanks to the fine folks at Friday Music. Thankfully the Friday Music folks get how to do remasters. Fahrenheit does not receive the squashed, over-compressed treatment. Rather, this is a legit remaster job with a modest volume boost and a huge improvement in clarity. The percussion tracks and Mike Porcaro’s bass all benefit from the better sonics. This album contains two hits (“I’ll Be Over You” and “Without Your Love”) and listening to them on this edition is like hearing them for the first time. If you liked this album when it was released the first time, you will LOVE this remastered edition.
3. The Best of the Capitol Masters: 90th Birthday Edition – Les Paul with Mary Ford
When Les Paul died on August 12, 2009, the music industry lost one of the last of their giants. Paul was responsible for so many innovations history has probably lost count. His two major innovations were the invention of multi-track recording (the ability to record multiple tracks onto a tape machine) and the popularization of the solidbody electric guitar. Les Paul and his wife Mary Ford were pop music icons in the 1950s and had a number of beautiful hit songs. Most of those hits are gathered together into The Best of the Capitol Masters: 90th Birthday Edition. All of trademarks are here: Mary’s beautifully layered vocals, Les’ shimmering guitar work, and great songs. How interesting that the Gibson Les Paul would go on to obtain a reputation (when paired with a Marshall amplifier) as a distortion monster of a guitar. Les Paul’s guitar work never even imagines the world of distortion, as Les uses crystal clear tones to weave his magic.
2. Out Standing in Their Field - Steve Morse Band
Steve Morse had not released a Steve Morse Band album since 2002′s Split Decision. In 2009 he decided to rectify that situation by reuniting with his trusty rhythm section of bassist Dave LaRue and drummer Van Romaine and release Out Standing in Their Field. The album does nothing to change Morse’s template over his past album. The songs include several Led Zep-esque rockers, a chicken-pickin’ tune, a mellow song, and a quasi-classical piece with a title containing a cornball play on word “baroque” (this time it is “Baroque ‘N Dreams”). Fans of Morse’s guitar music will most certainly rejoice as the man has lost none of his legendary technique and his compositional prowess continues to shine.
1. Live & Live Some More: Dallas ’94 - King’s X
This disc captures one of King’s X’s most legendary performances, a 1994 gig in Dallas, Texas during the “Dogman” Tour. There are 16 songs here all performed beautifully by a band firing on a cylinders. The live versions of “Pillow,” “Fool You,” and “We Were Born to be Loved” are some of the best versions of the tunes that I have ever heard. Long a favorite among King’s X bootleg traders, Live & Live Some More is a welcome treat to the band’s die-hard fans.
