Tet's Journal: 2006 in music

It hasn't been a great year IMHO. I struggled to pick my top 10 albums, with only the top 5 really being worthy of the list. The rest, are all fine albums, but a bit journeyman like. There's nothing bad about them, but nothing to stand out either. All of the bands have produced far better material in the past, and are struggling to live up to their former glories. Anyway, my picks for albums of the year:

• Persuader -- "When Eden burns"
• Firewind -- "Allegiance"
• To-Mera -- "Transcendental"
• Poisonblack -- "Lust stained despair"
• Borknagar -- "Origin"
• Motörhead -- "Kiss of death"
• Lacuna Coil -- "Karmacode"
• Iron Maiden -- "A matter of life and death"
• Hammerfall -- "Threshold"
• Queensrÿche -- "Operation: Mindcrime 2"

In terms of gigs, I saw a record 140 bands at 37 shows this year. Surprisingly, despite the large numbers, I didn't really see an utterly outstanding performance this year. Several very good ones, it's true, and indeed, I'd probably say the average quality was higher than the last few years. But none that really blew me away. Anyway, the best of the bunch this year were:

• Doro (The Underworld)
• Epica (The Underworld)
• Evergrey (The Underworld)
• Edguy (The Astoria, supporting Dragonforce)
• Battlelore (The Underworld, supporting Turisas)

Of those, Battlelore takes my pick as show of the year, as perhaps the closest to an outstanding performance in 2006.

Looking forward to 2007, the future looks bright, with new albums due from Megadeth, Grave Digger, Therion, Epica, Rise To Addiction, Season's End and Turisas, and a promising set of gigs lining up already.

Update: I'd add Blind Guardian's "A twist in the myth" to my album list. Forgot about that one when I did the list originally.

Queensrÿche - OM2

[jawtheshark]

Oh, is Operation Mindcrime 2 and good? I love "Operation Mindcrime". My sister bought it years ago, when discmen were still "hip" and I borrowed it all the time. Saw it at a bargain bin for 7€ and bought it. So now, years later, I have my own copy and listen to it regularly. I have a copy of it in my car. My wife hates it though :-/

Worth buying?

Re:

[Tet]

Worth buying?

I'm not sure. I mean, it's a reasonable enough album. But it's not really worthy of the "Mindcrime" title IMHO. It in no way lives up to its predecesor. Sure, it continues the story. But the music just isn't there. It's not epic enough, and it lacks the magic that the first one had. YMMV.

Even now, the original would still make it into my list of the top 10 albums of all time. This one barely makes it into my top 10 of 2006.

Re:

[jawtheshark]

Well, I'd gladly take some music recommendations as I like "epic albums" (I guess, this doesn't even surprise you anymore, eh)....

Re:

[Tet]

Well, I guess I should be flattered that you chose to celebrate the coming of the new year by posting a comment in my journal on the stroke of midnight, but you really need to get a life :-)

Music recommendations, eh? Taking a rough guess at the type of music you might like:

• Epica -- "The phantom agony"[1]
• Blind Guardian -- "Nightfall in Middle Earth"
• Masterplan -- "Masterplan"
• Rage -- "Ghosts"
• Nightwish -- "Century child"
• Therion -- "Deggial"
• Avantasia -- "The metal opera"[2]
• Lacuna Coil -- "In a rever

Re:

[jawtheshark]

Well, I guess I should be flattered that you chose to celebrate the coming of the new year by posting a comment in my journal on the stroke of midnight, but you really need to get a life :-)

Ah, but you failed to consider timezomes. For me it was 0:50 (or around) and was just checking my messages while drinking my last glass of bubbly. We were just at my parents (sister was there too), so at 0:00CET we drank a bit bubbly and watched "Pink Floyd - Pulse" concert on 3Sat [3sat.de]. When that was done, most of th

Thanks!

[grub]

I loved your #6 album (Motorhead's Kiss of Death). I think it was their second best album in many years. Their previous disc Inferno takes that honour.

There's a few bands I haven't heard of in there, so off to google to read reviews and check 'em out if they sounds cool. (fwiw Queensryche's disc wouldn't have made my top 10 :))

Forgot to add...

[grub]

I was really hoping Slayer's new disc Christ Illusion would be better having the 'classic' Slayer lineup with Dave Lombardo back on the drums but it wasn't too great. The songs are too long, too contradictory and the band is taking itself far too seriously.

Seeing them live in July headlining the 5 band Unholy Alliance Tour was great as I haven't seen them since ~1984 but bands like Mastodon and Lamb of God put on just as good shows at the gig.

Re:

[Tet]

I think it was their second best album in many years. Their previous disc Inferno takes that honour.

Really? Strange. I thought "Inferno" was their weakest album of the modern era. Certainly "Hammered" and "We are Motörhead" are much better IMHO, as indeed is "Kiss of death". Ho hum. Opinions, eh... who'd have 'em?

Re:

[grub]

Ha, well.. it's all Motorhead so it's all (at least) good :) I wasn't a big fan of Hammered although it has its moments. We Are Motorhead kills, especially with the opening track "See Me Burning". Did you see them on tour in 2003? They were opening up with "We Are Motorhead" off that disc. (also see the nice Boneshaker DVD for that)

Have a happy and headbanging new year!

g