Simon Rushworth
Throughout 2011 our dedicated team of reviewers have delivered the key verdicts first on the very best albums and gigs of the year.
So settle down and compare your annual favourites with our top team’s top choices from the last 12 months.
CALUM ROBSON (REVIEWS EDITOR)
ALBUMS OF THE YEAR
1 Tom Waits – Bad As Me
Nearly 40-years have passed since the beautiful folky jazz of Closing Time modestly landed into the musical world. Seventeen studio albums in, and ol’ Tom’s only gotten wiser. Bad As Me is an absolute triumph for the 62-year-old and further evidence that there’s even more artistic life taking spectacular shape in this incredible man.
2 While Heaven Wept – Fear Of Infinity
3 Moonsorrow – Varjoina Kuljemme Kuolleiden Massa
4 Opeth – Heritage
5 Tombs – Path Of Totality
6 Maybeshewill – I Was Here For A Moment, Then I Was Gone
7 The Devin Townsend Project – Ghost
8 Textures – Dualism
9 Lo! – Look And Behold
10 Mastodon – The Hunter
GIGS OF THE YEAR
1 A Forest Of Stars – Damnation Festival, Leeds
A Forest Of Stars are an unbelievable new find. This was more than just a gig – it was a spiritual experience and an exceptionally powerful one at that.
2 Devin Townsend – Newcastle University
3 Opeth – Sonisphere UK, Knebworth
4 Rush – Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle
5. Gojira – Sonisphere UK, Knebworth
SELF MADE MAN (IAN MURTAGH)
ALBUMS OF THE YEAR
1 Rival Sons – Pressure And Time
On this evidence, retro really is the future. Think the Faces, the Stones and Mott the Hoople thrown together and this would be the result. It’s big, brash, ballsy and brilliant.”
2 The Answer – Revival
3 Stevie Nicks – In Your Dreams
4 Leslie West – Unusual Suspects
5 Noel Gallagher – Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds
6 Black Country Communion – 2
7 Joe Bonamassa – Dust Bowl
8 Greg Allman – Low Country Blues
9 Kasabian – Velociraptor
10 Whitesnake – Forevermore
GIGS OF THE YEAR
1 Rush – Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle
As someone who has followed this brilliant band’s career for more than 30 years this set proved they’re still getting better.
2 Kings of Leon – Stadium of Light, Sunderland
3 Paul Rodgers – Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle
4 Whitesnake – Newcastle City Hall
5 Journey, Foreigner, Styx – Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle
VIKI RIDLEY
ALBUMS OF THE YEAR
1 Trucker Diablo – Never Too Late To Sin
Hard rocking Irish blues metal, with a down home Lynyrd Skynyrd style edge, is the only way to describe this album. It is heavy, full of dirty guitar riffs, pulsating drums, and the most provocative lyrics I have heard since Prince was a lad. This album is my must have of the year, a totally unexpected rock N roll gem, given to me by someone ‘in the know’. Play it loud, open a beer, and get low down and dirty.
2 Nickelback – Here and Now
3 Butch Walker – The Spade
4 Daughtry – Break The Spell
5 Black Stone Cherry – Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea
6 St. Jude – Diary Of A Soul Fiend (released 2010)
7 Falling Red – Hasta La Victoria Sempre
8 Ritchie Kotzen – 24 Hours
9 Mr Big – What If…
10 Rival Sons – Pressure and Time
GIGS OF THE YEAR
1 Cinderella – Shepherd’s Bush Empire London
Proving that Tom Keiffer still has the vocal from the days of Gypsy Road!
2 Steel Panther, Motley Crue and Def Leppard – SECC Glasgow
3 Voodoo Six – Legends Newcastle
4 Jimmy Barnes – O2 Academy, Newcastle
5 Alter Bridge, Black Stone Cherry – Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle
MARTYN P JACKSON
ALBUMS OF THE YEAR
1 The Foo Fighters –Wastin Light
While the Foos have produced a slew of great songs in the past, they’ve never managed to put together a truly great album – until now. A ‘back to basics’ project recorded in Dave Grohls garage by Nevermind producer Butch Vig, using good old-fashioned analogue equipment and tape, Wasting Light captures the Foos at their vital best.
2 Chickenfoot – III
3 Black Country Communion – 2
4 The Union – Siren’s Song
5 The Answer – Revival
6 Jethro Tull – Aqualung: 40th Anniversary Special Edition
7 Joe Bonamassa – Dust Bowl
8 Alice Cooper – Welcome 2 My Nightmare
9 Vintage Trouble – The Bomb Shelter Sessions
10 Ronnie James Dio – The Ronnie James Dio Story: Mightier Than The Sword
GIGS OF THE YEAR
1 The Union – Newcastle Academy 2
The Union’s breaktrough gig? Let’s hope so. It was certainly announced as their first ever sold-out show by Pete Shoulder after taking to the stage. Shoulder’s emotive, bluesy vocals and guitar work were a joy, as was fromer Thunder guitar slinger Luke Morley’s lead work when it was his turn in the spotlight. Spine-tinglingly brilliant.
2 Iron Maiden – Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle
3 Black Country Communion – Newcastle Academy
4 Roger Daltrey – The Sage Gateshead
5 Dio Disciples – Newcastle Academy 2