Thursday, April 9, 2015

Top 20 albums of 2014 Part 2

Once you become a music enthusiast, in order to keep yourself updated, you have to listen to around 50 albums per month. Therefore it's bloody hard to choose only the best 20. Therefore the second part of the list is nothing weeker than the previous ten in Part 1 and show some incredible pieces from heavy rock to heart touching ambient/pop.



11. Anathema - Distant Satellites
Since 2010 and their album We're Here Because We're Here, I tend to place Anathema at the top my lists, as their are simple breathtaking. The latest album showed to me "few too many experiments" but major part of this album is on the same level, as their previous albums. I promote this band anywhere I go and so far everybody, fell in love with them and it doesn't matter if they listen to rock music or not. Every human being feels the beauty of their music. However I would say that their music si fully understood and enjoyed, if you are going through a personal crisis, or having your heart broken. Than you'll hear all three singer preaching to you... until you start to cry like a lil' girl. I don't blame you ;D




12. KXM - KXM
VIP band #1 - Every musician, would like to reach a level, where you don't care about the money and you form bands on birthday parties. Enjoy the heavy rock relax project of Korn's drummer Ray Luzier, King's X bassist/vocalist dUg Pinnick and Lynch Mob/ex-Dokken guitarist George Lynch.




13. Killer Be Killed
VIP band #2 - "F*ck the world and play metal", one drunk would say. At first you rub your eyes if the line-up is really true: Max Cavalera (Soulfly), Greg Puciatio (The Dillinger Escape Plan), Troy Sanders (Mastodon), Dave Elitch (ex-The Mars Volta). I don't have to mention that such a mix of incredible musician will make an adequate album...




14. Within Temptation - Hydra
As a teenager I wanted to specialise in the bands with female singers, not only cause I loved them but after you get to know few hundreds of them, you cover the whole genre. On the other hand, times change, many bands broke-up since and bunch of disasters were formed since then. Not many of us stayed loyal to Within Temptation, but eventhough we might not agree with all their experiments, they are still worth a respect. 




15. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - Sins Of My Youth
Never give up on the high class rock music, even if you think it's for the old b*stards. Rock music with rock'n'roll and blues origins is a building block of all heavier genres and in order to grow as a listener, you might want to check the dinosaurs of rock. Last year I would have recommended David Bowie, this year it's Tom Petty.



16. Markéta Irglová - Muna
I'm not a big fan of music of my home country Czech Republic, but once in a while there is an album, which makes me soooo proud. You may know Markéta Irglová from a movie Once, where they've received with Glen Hansard, number of awards. She moved to Iceland in the meantime and gave me a reason, after a while, to recommend a Czech artist to the world.



17. Philm - Fire From The Evening Sun
One of the most unique rock/metal bands I heard in years, including Dave Lombardo (ex-Slayer) on drums. Bassplayer Pancho described their music as a "weather forecast on cocain" - confirmed



18. Maybeshewill - Fair Youth
Another post rock pioneers adding brilliantly bits and pieces of electronics and pop. Nothing is as heavy, as post rock bands and with all respect, pop is the highest stage of post rock. 



19. Beck - Morning Phase
Grammy for Best Rock Album truly deserved...





20. Evegrey - Hymns For The Broken
I was obsessed with Evergrey for many years, but we all, including many of his bandmates gave up on Tom S. (aassss ;D) Englund few years ago, for many reasons. Ex-members forgave him recently and returned though. I guess I should also work on my forgiving skills…




Extra: Periphery - Clear EP, Animals As Leaders - The Joy Of Motion, Avatarium - All I Want EP, , Behemoth - The Satanist, California Breed - California Breed, Decapitated - Blood Mantra, Devin Townsend Project - Z², In Flames - Siren Charms, The Intersphere - Relations In The Unseen, Triosphere - The Heart of the Matter, Kayo Dot - Coffins On Io,...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead - IX, Mono - Rays Of Darkness

Thursday, April 2, 2015

Top 20 albums of 2014 Part 1

It was hell of an year, full of incredible music. I could say, that years as 2011 or 2012 were stronger, but I guess that's just a sentiment. Naturally you will find here mainly rock (ocassionaly heavier) tips, but also some nice surprises in ambient and clever pop. If you are looking for great tips on electronic music, I can only recommend to see Jack.



1. Lonely The Brave - The Day's War
2. Skyharbor - Guiding Lights
3. Alcest - Shelter
4. Blues Pills - Blues Pills
5. Mayhem - Esoteric Warfare
6. Valley Of The Sun - Electric Talons Of The Thunderhawk
7. Sleepmakeswaves - Love Of Cartography
8. Sólstafir - Ótta
9. Myrkur - Myrkur EP
10. Mastodon - Once More 'Round The Sun

1. Lonely The Brave - The Day's War
One could say they are one of the simple rock bands, which count into hundreds, but in years, no band became so close to me, as these guys. Since childhood you wanna know, you have an album close to you, which you can play whenever you need. When you are f*cking depressed, sunshine happy, enjoying the walk through the night, or needing a religious moment once in a while, when you stand on the top of the mountain. I'll always keep this album with me.





2. Skyharbor - Guiding Lights
God bless the internet for giving a chance to grow to musicians from all around the world. Indian band Skyharbor with a singer Daniel Tompkins (back in Tesseract again), started as a bedroom djent project of guitarist Keshav Dhar, but very soon it developed into a local miracle, which sells out stadiums and inspires whole generation with their mix of prog metal and ambient. Footage from 5:55 shows some breath-taking anthropological moments and supports my life-fascination with a music world.


3. Alcest - Shelter
It was really hard to pick a number three, but Alcest truly deserve it with their heavenly music.

 

4. Blues Pills - Blues Pills
This is the answers to all old b*stards crying for their Woodstock bands. New generation drinks blues milk as well and flower power and respect for rock giants from 60's and 70's is stronger than ever...
        






5. Mayhem - Esoteric Warfare
Honestly, I never thought in my life, I would say: "I loved a Mayhem album". Honestly, I really did!
Note - seriously not for everybody...








6. Valley Of The Sun - Electric Talons Of The Thunderhawk
This song was waking me up for weeks. I desperately want to get a jeep and ride the dunes!




7. Sleepmakeswaves - Love Of Cartography
Space rock experts adding bits of electronics. For the fans of Interstellar sth here from 4:04




8. Sólstafir - Ótta
Enjoy the Islandic nature and music mastery 



9. Myrkur - Myrkur EP
Mix Angelzoom and Mayhem and you will get this briliant one-woman project



10. Mastodon - Once More 'Round The Sun
Mastodon - no need to comment ;D