1. Hanoi Rocks - Another Hostile Takeover - Read review
Originally this album was only rated 7,5, but it has proven to be a very consistent and has been rotating in my CD player ever since I got the CD in April - the album rating should have been higher since the album stands the test of time and still keeps getting better. As stated in the review "Another Hostile Takeover" has a few weak songs, but as a whole the album is a growing masterpiece.
Better High achieves the honor of sharing the title as favorite song of the year.
2. Forty Deuce - Nothing to Lose - Read review
Forty Deuce is Richie Kotzen's new group and their debut album "Nothing to Lose" is packed with spectacular songs. The music is melodic, heavy and energetic with edge. Forty Deuce has their own powerful sound with Kotzen's soulful voice in center. The album has lots of highlights - for example
Oh My God (I Fucked Up Again), I Still, Complicated, Say and
Stand Up.
3. CrashDïet - Rest in Sleaze - Read review
I had to re-write the words for this album. The first draft was in line with the review concerning how CrashDïet is on the way to super star status with their unpretentious 80's Glam/Sleaze Rock. You certainly have a good time during the playing time of "Rest in Sleaze" and
Breakin' the Chainz shared the title as favorite song of the year.
However, in the meantime lead singer and guitarist Dave Lepard died. Dave Lepard's vocals are the trademark of the band and since he was main songwriter all dreams of superstardom unfortunately came to an abrupt end.
The album title "Rest in Sleaze" can be turned into Rest in Peace. Dave Lepard was only 25 years old - a great loss. Lepard left the world with a strong testament in the shape of 10 great songs.
4. MPG - Martie Peters Group - Read review
Martie Peters from Push made a solo album based in Hard Rock but with a strong stint of maturity. The album is packed with highlights and the first 7 songs are all minor masterpieces.
5. L.A. Guns - Tales from the Strip - Read review
L.A. Guns is one the most classic bands based in the Hollywood scene. "Tales from the Strip" was the first studio album to feature new guitarist Stacy Blades and the theme was L.A. Guns' long time affiliation with L.A.'s legendary rock scene located on the Sunset Strip.
"Tales from the Strip" is one of L.A. Guns' finest discs. Stacey Blades deserves lots of credit on this album and he fits in perfect with the band.
6. Hardcore Superstar - Hardcore Superstar - Read review
A huge surprise. Lots of attitude filled sleazy hard rock with a grain of Faster Pussycat. Album highlight
Wild Boys sticks to your mind immediately with its pounding beat and "fist in the air" sing along chorus.
7. The Mob - The Mob - Read review
A "new" super group with Reb Beach, Kelly Keagy, Timothy Drury and Doug Pinnick plus help from Kip Winger. I support the genius choice of Doug Pinnick from King's X as vocalist. Doug's deep warm voice is in contrast to many Hard Rock singers, but it makes this record stand out.
The Mob is based on the best ingredients from the 80's and the 90's with great vocals, tight harmonies, pompous production and great musicianship with Beach glowing on as guitarist
8. Alice Cooper - Dirty Diamonds - Read review
Alice goes back to his roots and with "Dirty Diamonds" everything comes full circle, since Alice made a full blown 70's Rock record where several songs sound like they are direct descendants of
Under my Wheels.
"Dirty Diamonds" follows the garage rock style from "The Eyes of Alice Cooper" and "Dirty Diamonds" mainly consist of 3 minute power rockers.
9. Tramp's White Lion - Rocking in the USA - Read review
Mike Tramp - lead singer of White Lion - formed a new band with unknown musicians with the mission of playing White Lion songs true to the sound of the original White Lion. Tramp's White Lion does a great job on this live recording, which was supposed to ignite a European Tour. The planned tour was unfortunately put to sleep because of the miserable state of the music business.
10. Darkness - One Way Ticket to Hell and Back - Read review
YES - it is a great record. "One Way ticket To Hell and Back" inclines more towards AC/DC than Queen and is a mixture of AC/DC's rocky riffs and Queen's love for bombastic anthems.
11. Triggerdaddy - Stereosonic Meltdown - Read review
All of a sudden Tim Karr returned to the music scene and got some very prominent names to help him out. The music speaks for itself with no frills straight melodic rock.
12. Nickelback - All the Right Reasons - Read review
Nickelback seem to have found a golden formula for writing Hard Rock songs with a melodic twist. "All the Right Reasons brings Nickelback is on top of the throne as stadium rockers mixing Heavy Rock with lots of hooks and melodies that sticks like super glue
13. UFO - Showtime (2-CD and 2-DVD)
"Showtime" is a double live album (and 2-DVD) displaying UFO in the year 2005 in the original line-up plus skin basher Jason Bonham and guitarist Vinnie Moore. Unfortunately only featured on the DVD there is a handful of songs recorded with strings -
Try Me is simply breathtaking.
14. Vain - On the Line
The comeback album of the re-united Glam Rockers Vain. The music has gotten a strong touch of AC/DC to their traditional Glam style - still with Day Vain's Glam voice as center point.
15. Thunder - The Magnificent Seventh -
Read review
Thunder's formula on "The Magnificent Seventh" is melodic appealing songs, soulful vocals and amazing guitars - all build on the classic British Rock bands of the seventies. The album doesn't stand as strong as the first two albums or "Shooting at the Sun". However, Thunder's seventh studio album is a fine addition to Thunder's catalogue and has plenty of melodic songs, a bunch of fast paced rockers, soaring melodies and soulful ballads.
