Well, 2012 has come to a close.
Personally, I’m quite surprised by how things have come out this year. It looks
like I got more music compared to last year. Like previous years, I will sum up
each album I got in one paragraph. This will also include albums I got a bit
later and did not review when they came out. The albums will also be split into two
categories: new albums and archival/live albums.
New
albums
Ringo
Starr
Ringo
2012
Rating: ***
Not
much is expected from Ringo Starr when it comes to his studio albums. Ringo 2012 is an example of this. The
album is average at best but it’s still a fun album to listen to. Ringo decided
to re-record “Wings” and “Step Lightly”, both of which are nice renditions. My
favorite song might be “Wonderful” but everything else is just alright.
Paul
McCartney
Kisses
on the Bottom
Rating: ***
½
It
sounded great at first: two former Beatles would release new studio albums this
year. In all honesty, Kisses on the
Bottom is nice album but it isn’t the Paul McCartney we are used to. Still,
Paul wanted to make an album like this for a long time: an American songbook.
“My Valentine”, which is one of the two original songs on the album, is
probably my favorite. Overall, it isn’t a bad album at all but I would want the
next McCartney album to be a Paul McCartney album.
Van
Halen
A
Different Kind of Truth
Rating: ****
Van
Halen are back! I’m not kidding. They really are. A Different Kind of Truth is the band’s first album in 14 years as
well as their first album with singer David Lee Roth since 1984. It really is a
return to the old-school Van Halen sound. With songs like “Blood and Fire”,
“She’s the Woman”, “Bullethead”, and “Stay Frosty”, you’ve got yourself a very
Van Halen sounding album. Even with original bassist Michael Anthony absent,
Van Halen still rocks!
Ian
Anderson
Thick
As A Brick 2
Rating: ***
½
With
the 40th anniversary of Jethro Tull’s Thick as a Brick this year, Ian Anderson decided to the released a
“sequel” of some sort but as a solo album. The sequel explores the
possibilities of what might’ve happened to Gerald Bostock, the boy who wrote
the controversial long poem all those years ago. While an interesting idea, I’m
really not a fan of sequels to classic albums. Considering what it’s up
against, Thick as a Brick 2 can be
considered one of the best sequels to a concept album.
Accept
Stalingrad
Rating: ****
Much
to the surprise of some people, Accept reunited in 2009 with former TT Quick
singer Mark Tornillo taking over for original singer Udo Dirkschider. The 2010
reunion album, Blood of the Nations,
won both critics and fans over. Almost two years later, Accept released the
follow-up Stalingrad. In all honesty,
I didn’t listen to Blood of the Nations until
two years after it was released. Blood of
the Nations is a great album and Stalingrad
is a pretty worthy follow up. Songs such as the self-titled track, “Shadow
Soldiers”, and “Flash to Bang Time” are all heavy duty material. Still, I
prefer Blood of the Nations but Stalingrad is a very good album.
Rush
Clockwork
Angels
Rating: ****
In
their four decades of being together, Rush are not a stranger to doing the
conceptual song. However, Rush haven’t ever released a full-blown conceptual
album…until now. Clockwork Angels,
the band’s 19th studio album, is a remarkable piece of work. I’m
just surprised at how much thought went into this one album. The album follows
the concept of the voyages of a man living in a steampunk world. Songs like
“Headlong Flight” and “The Wreckers” are up there with Rush’s best songs. “Seven
Cities of Gold” is another personal favorite of mine. Overall, Rush have really
impressed me with Clockwork Angels.
Bob
Dylan
Tempest
Rating: ****
FAVORITE
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
I
have to say that I do like a good surprise. Bob Dylan has done just this with
his 35th studio album, Tempest.
I wasn’t crazy about his last studio effort, Together Through Life. It was painful to listen to because of
Dylan’s shot voice (and because of this, I didn’t bother getting his Christmas
album released later that year in 2009). On Tempest,
Dylan’s voice has not changed. So what makes this album better? I would have to
say it’s the songs. “Duquesne Whistle” is a dark but somehow warm approach to
Dylan’s music. The entire album is like a modern day version of Blood on the Tracks, in my opinion. I do
enjoy the 14 minute long self-titled track, which tells the story of the sinking
of the Titanic. “Roll on John” is a
heartfelt tribute to John Lennon while “Pay in Blood” is personally my favorite
song off the album. At 71 year old, Bob Dylan is still a pretty cool guy.
Ian
Hunter
When
I’m President
Rating: ****
Ian
Hunter returns with a simple little rock n roll album. Hunter’s solo career is
a bit overlooked compared to his time in Mott the Hoople. When I’m President sees Hunter still at it and it’s just really
good. There’s the boogey-fueled “Comfortable”, the brilliantly written
self-titled track, and the hip shaker “What For”. I like this album.
Steve
Harris
British
Lion
Rating: ***
Much
to the surprise of many people, Iron Maiden bassist Steve Harris decided to
release a solo album. The result is one of the most confusing albums I’ve ever listened
to. Sure, this isn’t Iron Maiden. This is a Steve Harris solo album and his
first too. So that allows him to do whatever he wants since it isn’t Iron
Maiden. The problem is Harris’ choice in lead singer, Richard Taylor. Taylor
has a good voice but it isn’t ballsy enough to tackle the heavier tracks. It’s
just a really strange album but still, it isn’t bad at all.
John
Cale
Shifty
Adventures in Nookie Wood
Rating: ****
John
Cale decided to release an album this year, his first in seven years. Cale is
one of those musicians who will try anything at least once (and you can expect
that from a former member of the Velvet Underground). Shifty Adventures in Nookie Wood sees Cale experimenting with
electronic music and even dabbling in Autotune a bit too. Compared to the other
albums in Cale’s solo career, Shifty
Adventures in Nookie Wood does stick out. I really enjoy songs like “Face
to the Sky” and the brilliantly written “December Rain”. Cale even works with Danger
Mouse on “I Wanna Talk 2 U”. Overall, Shifty
Adventures is a good album.
Kiss
Monster
Rating: ****
Four
decades after their creation, Kiss have unleashed a monster of an album with Monster. The album heavy, hard-hitting
rock n roll and it does tend to sound like their music back during the peak of
their career. “Hell or Halleluiah”, “Freak”, “Long Way Down” and “The Devil Is
Me” are all great. Even without the original line-up, Kiss still knows how to
make a kick ass album.
Neil
Young
Psychedelic
Pill
Rating: ****
Neil
Young and Crazy Horse released two albums this year. The second of them, Psychedelic Pill, is a sort of “blast
from the past” sounding album. Young’s voice hasn’t really aged and the band
sound great. The album certainly lives up to the title: it really is
psychedelic. “Driftin’ Back”, “Ramada Inn”, and “Walk Like a Giant” are very
long jams from Young and Crazy Horse, which does sort of get boring after a
while. The self-titled track is pretty good as well. Overall, Psychedelic Pill is worth checking out.
Aerosmith
Music
From Another Dimension
Rating: ***
As
their first album of original material in 11 years, Aerosmith had a lot to make
up for: pop-oriented albums, Steven Tyler’s stint on American Idol, and the feud between Tyler and Joe Perry. Even with
original producer Jack Douglas’ presence, Music
From Another Dimension isn’t the comeback album fans were expecting. Sure
there are some good rockers like “Lover Alot”, “Legendary Child”, and “Street
Jesus”.
2012 Albums Ranked
1. Bob Dylan- Tempest
2. Van Halen- A Different Kind of Truth
3. Rush- Clockwork Angels
4. Kiss- Monster
5. John Cale- Shifty Adventures in Nookie Wood
6. Ian Hunter- When I'm President
7. Neil Young- Psychedelic Pill
8. Accept- Stalingrad
9. Ian Anderson- Thick As A Brick 2
10. Paul McCartney- Kisses on the Bottom
11. Aerosmith- Music From Another Dimension
12. Steve Harris- British Lion
13. Ringo Starr- Ringo 2012
Archival/Reissue/Live
albums
The
Rolling Stones
Google Play
have released five more albums in the Rolling Stones bootleg series. Those
albums are:
Hampton Coliseum (Live, 1981)- ****
L.A. Friday (Live, 1975)- **** ½
Tokyo Dome (Live, 1990)- ****
Light the Fuse (Live, 2005)- ****
Roundhay Park (Live, 1982)- ****
All
of these releases are very good and it’s a great way to celebrate the band’s 50th
anniversary. Of those five released this year, L.A. Friday is my favorite. All of the other ones are great as
well. Still the best in the series was the one released last year, The Brussels Affair, but these albums
follow it up just fine.
Captain
Beefheart
Bat
Chain Puller
Rating: ****
FAVORITE ARCHIVAL RELEASE OF THE YEAR
After
years and years of being bootlegged, Captain Beefheart’s original 1976 Bat Chain Puller album has finally seen
the light of day. Kept in the vaults by Frank Zappa’s estate, Gail Zappa was
nice enough to release the long-awaited album. Listening to different renditions
of songs such as “Bat Chain Puller”, “Harry Irene”, and “The Human Totem Pole”
is just amazing. I really like the “new” songs too. My favorite song here is
“Odd Jobs”, which is just a wonderful combination of spoken word poetry and
rock music.
Quiet
Riot
Live
at the US Festival 1983
Rating: ****
Quiet
Riot’s performance at the US Festival in 1983 was finally released this year in
a CD/DVD combo pack. The band plays an electrifying 40 minute set to a crowd of
500,000. The video has been brilliantly restored and remastered as well.
Janis
Joplin
The
Pearl Sessions
Rating: ****
While
this might be seen as a cash-grab of sorts, The
Pearl Sessions is actually a pretty good release from the Janis Joplin
estate. While this does come with the original Pearl album, the real treat is the second disc which has outtakes
and all kinds of goodies. Listening to the second disc, the listener might feel
as if they are in the studio with Joplin.
George
Harrison
Early
Takes- Volume 1
Rating: ****
While
really unnecessary, Early Takes is a
surprisingly good release that ties in with the DVD release of the Martin
Scorsese directed documentary on George Harrison. Hearing these songs stripped
down is amazing.
Paul
McCartney (and Linda McCartney)
Ram
Rating (original album): ****
½
Rating (bonus disc): ****
The
McCartney Archive Collection continues with the reissue of the 1971 classic Ram. The original album sounds wonderful
and the remastering is really top notch. The bonus disc is an improvement over
some of the other bonus discs that have come with the three previous entries in
the collection as we get song brand new songs. My personal favorite: “A Love
For You”.
Joey
Ramone
Ya
Know?
Rating: ****
Much
to the surprise of some people, Joey Ramone did have enough material recorded
to make another posthumous solo album. Ramone, who died in 2001, had been
working on his first solo album Don’t
Worry About Me at the time of his death. That album would be released in
2002. So a decade has passed and it turns out Ramone had more material
recorded. I would give this a low four-star rating but the material on here
isn’t bad at all. “Rock N Roll Is the Answer” is probably the strongest cut on
here. The other tracks are pretty good.
Led
Zeppelin
Celebration
Day
Rating: ****
or **** ½
FAVORITE
LIVE RELEASE OF THE YEAR
Nearly
five years later, Led Zeppelin have finally released their reunion concert from
2007 at London’s O2 Arena. Even after being apart for so long, the band are
still able to play these classic songs. At times, the band does sound a bit
sluggish but as the concert progresses the band gets better. Even at his age,
Robert Plant can still sing the material. The surviving members (Plant, Page,
and Jones) are also with Jason Bonham, who takes the place of his late father
for this one-off performance.
In Memoriam
Bob Weston- guitarist for Fleetwood Mac
Mark Reale- guitarist for and founding
member of Riot
Michael Kramer- bassist for the MC5
Davy Jones- singer for the Monkees
Ronnie Montrose- guitarist for Montrose,
Edgar Winter Group, Gamma
Levon Helm- drummer for the Band
Robin Gibb- member of the Bee Gees
Bob Welch- guitarist for Fleetwood Mac
Jon Lord- original keyboardist for Deep
Purple
Ed Cassidy- drummer for Spirit
