2009 Top Albums According to Me

Here’s my list. No particular order.

David Crowder*Band – Church Music – Crowder’s music is always interesting, envelope-pushing and enthralling. DC*B added a touch of ‘80s keyboard jam to make one of the year’s most engaging releases. I love the epic “God Almighty, None Compares.”

Neal More – So Many Roads: Live in Europe – How can you not like a TRIPLE LIVE CD set for $14.99 or so? Full of great progressive rock that is a virtual “greatest hits” of Morse’s work with Spock’s Beard, Transatlantic and his solo work. I love the mash of “Author of Confusion/I’m the Guy,” and the folk surprise “That Crutch.” And Morse's European band is top-notch.

Transatlantic – The Whirlwind Special Edition – Prog supergroup Transatlantic made a righteous return in 2009 after a way-too-long silence. The preferred edition is the Special Edition box ‘cause you must have the covers (Beatles! America! Santana! Gabriel-era Genesis!), the extra songs, and the DVD. Plus I took pix and vid for the project. It is the only one of the albums on my list with my name on it!

Dream Theater – Black Clouds and Silver Linings – 3 Disc Special Edition – Portnoy and company know how to please the fans…a great new CD, a bonus disc with great covers (Queen! Zebra! King Crimson!), and a third disc with instrumental versions of the new album.

Wilco – Wilco (the album) – Late entry! Thanks to John Shenberger I have now discovered Wilco. In late 2009! Great stuff!

Switchfoot – Hello Hurricane – A return to form for Switchfoot. Some great songs, especially the rocker “Mess of Me.”

Mike Farris – SHOUT! Live – A wonderful belt of Gospel from one of the best voices in music today.

Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers – The Live Anthology – Amazing 4 disc live set for a CHEAP price! Picked up mine for $22.99 with another 25% off at The Great Escape Records & Comix in Bowling Green. Gotta’ support the local music emporium.

Glass Hammer – Three Cheers for the Brokenhearted – A huge surprise…Glass Hammer is always a favorite prog band for me. But who knew they had an amazing psychedelic/pop masterpiece in them? You must check out “Come On, Come On, Come On,” “A Bitter Wind,” and the classy cover of the Zombies “A Rose for Emily.”

Muse – The Resistance – I love Muse. This CD finally helped the band break big in the US. Paranoid lyrics aside (just what are these guys resisting against?), this is a great listen.

Owl City – Ocean Eyes – Big fun smooth pop made even better by some assistance by Matthew Thiessen (Relient K). Who says top 40 has to suck?

Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix – Another latecomer (thanks for costing me $$$ Shenberger). The first band I ever liked from France. Yummy power poppishness.

Levon Helm – Electric Dirt – I love The Band, and it is so cool that Levon Helm is able to sing and perform again. This CD is a lot of fun and hearkens back to some of the classic stuff from The Band.

Cheap Trick – Sgt. Pepper Live/The Latest (TIE) – Trick returns with their best album in YEARS with The Latest. And the fanboy in me LOVED their version of Sgt. Peppers. A highlight of 2009 was watching Cheap Trick do Sgt. Peppers live @ The Hilton in Las Vegas. An amazing show!

Rufus Huff – Self Titled – Take Free, Cream, Mountain, and healthy dose of thunderous southern fried blues rock and add a whoppin’ amount of fun and you’ll get Rufus Huff. Great stuff from my buddy Greg Martin, Dean Smith, Jarrod England, and Chris Hardesty.

Reissues/Box Sets

The Beatles – Stereo Box Set – Yes I know that the buzz was for the mono set. But for my $$$ the real thing is the stereo set. Simply a must purchase for any music fan.

Big Star – Keep and Eye on the Sky – Classic power pop from Big Star in abundance…featuring a bevy of alternate cuts, live stuff, demos and more. Some truly great music on this set.

King Crimson – In the Court of the Crimson King – The 5.1 surround remix is jaw-dropping. Remarkable stuff.

Where the Action Is: Nuggets Los Angeles – 1965-1968 – Rhino hits another one out of the park with this box set focusing on the mid-sixties music scene. Here hits and great garage band stuff; one hit-wonders and early tunes from The Byrds, The Doors, Love and more.

There you go. What was your favorite music in 2009?