Ready for my favourite albums of this year??
This has been a great year in terms of releases and there are lots of names that were supposed to be in this chart (the long-awaited solo album by Bruce Dickinson, above all, but also Sebastian Bach, Rage, and many others...) but I ended up appreciating and listen to more other albums. So, after my song selection (click in case you missed it), these are my albums of the year. Let me know through social media, what are your albums. Let's get started.
10) Beth Hart - You Still Got Me
The usual quality release by Beth Hart and the usual variety and different contaminations from the American musician, including a fantastic song with Slash (they always collaborate together) and a tribute to Johnny Cash.
9) Richie Kotzen - Nomad
Speaking of quality, here's another artist who releases constantly and always delivers (how many songs and albums has he published in his career? I've lost track!). Nomad is the usual classy album and very slim, 8 songs for 35 minutes of music, and I often listen to it during short trips in my car.
8) Green Day - Saviors (Click for the full review)
This was a very good surprise. I didn't expect an album this good by Green Day (especially after some meh releases). Instead, it's very enjoyable from start to finish (well, almost excluding the last two tracks, for me) and I find it overall inspired. Not with instant classics, but a solid, unexpected work. At least for me.
7) Scott Stapp - Higher Power (Click for the full review)
If you like 90s power ballads, this is the album for you. Usually, there are 2-3 ballads per album, but this one is full of them. Scott has always his warm timbre and when it comes to catchy choruses, he is still a top player, even after all these years.
6) Pearl Jam - Dark Matter (Click for the full review)
I had no expectations at all after Gigaton, for me their lowest point by far but Dark Matter surprised me in some very good episodes. I really like at least half of the album and some songs are just right at this point of their career.
5) Deep Purple - =1 (Click for the full review)
The band has lost an important piece (Steve Morse left) but even with another guitarist, they delivered a solid album, that I really enjoyed. Ian Gillan is almost 80 but the band keeps going releasing very good albums. Every band should get old like these guys.
4) Soul Asylum - Slowly but Shirley (Click for the full review)
A very strange one, with a rough production, the usual bizarre cover, and a few crazy songs but with all the soul of Dave Pirner. Always been a fan of Soul Asylum since the early 90s and this album is probably my favourite one of the last decade.
3) Myles Kennedy - The Art of Letting Go (Click for the full review)
Myles decided to go solo and release an album not very different from Alter Bridge. I don't understand why he did this but it's a super solid album and the best one of his solo career, in my opinion. Not a single bad track in it and the usual quality (both guitar and vocals) you expect from the American musician.
2) David Gilmour - Luck and Strange (Click for the full review)
A pure Gilmour album, with his soft touch and rare class. This time, he collaborates with his entire family and the result is a very inspired album, with lots of great songs and solos (and sound, if I can add) you expect from this top player. Same thing as Deep Purple.
1) Judas Priest - Invincible Shield (Click for the full review)
For me, it was almost impossible to replicate the quality of their predecessor Firepower, but they did! The usual fantastic production by Andy Sneap and a band that sounds at least 30 years younger, with instant classic songs. I don't know what they eat and what they to be like this, but, again... love live Judas Priest, again another number 1 in my top 10.