Music Meridian

It's that time of year again! Sorting through the mass of music I listened to this year and highlighting the best of the best! Here is my list of albums I kept coming back to again and again dispite what else was happening. These are in no particular order, aside from being my favorite 10 albums this year.

1. An Albatross - Blessphemy (of the Peace-Beast Feastgiver and the Bear Warp Kumite)
This album is a total rush. Hyperspeed brutal prog mixed with psych rock weirdness and mellow jazzy breakdowns. Each song sugues into the next, suggesting a classic concept album of sorts (There's even a song with 3 movements!). While this thing totally kicks ass, they will totally knock the wind out of you live.

2. Daughters - Hell Songs
I didn't see this one coming. Taking their basis of grindcore mixed with Arab On Radar and throwing it over the deep end. The vocalist is yelping all over this instead of the standard death-grunt. Drums pummle and the guitars are twisty and nervous sounding. Plus, it's catchy as can be! Melodies re-occur making it all tie together. Plus there's a neat appearance by Kayo Dot.

3. Flying Luttenbachers - Cataclysm
Blasting back with some of the complexity of Infection And Decline with the rock stamp of The Void, this is a record to be reckoned with. Completely intense and overbearing. Your only hope of salvation is the spot-on cover of the 4th movement of "L'Ascension". San Francisco has certainly not mellowed out Weasel Walter, and this is the proof.

4. Ocrilim - Anoint
Mick Barr of Orthrelm creates this instrumental guitar masterpiece. Forget all the shredders you think are amazing. Mick Barr is the future. Jump on board now or be left in the dust.



5. Bob Dylan - Modern Times
Even I can't escape the mastery of ol' Bob. While I don't think this reaches the heights of Time Out Of Mind (still the benchmark for Dylan's comback) this is another fine effort that blows away the competition and shuts up the naysayers.


6. Skip Heller - Mean Things Happening In This Land
An unsung hero of jazz guitar. This is a album with a running theme of the corrupt Bush administration which a focus on the Katrina disaster. You can hear the frustration and sadness in the playing of all the musicians. Also includes fine covers of XTC and The Dead Milkmen.

7. The Roots - Game Theory
Another big surprise after a couple lackluster releases from the Roots! They are back!!! Game Theory doesn't have a weak moment. Every track is a keeper, and is easily the catchiest thing they've ever done. Plus there's still the instrumental prowess and thought-provoking messages.

8. Ghostface Killah - Fishscale
This album proves that the Wu-Tang Clan is still a viable force in hip-hip....even 13 years(!!) after the release of Enter The 36 Chambers. That's like 3 lifetimes in hip-hop years. Great productions, twisted rhymes, lots of return value.



9. Mastodon - Blood Mountain
Believe the hype. Mastodon up the prog turning in another concept album. They turn up the weirdness with crazy breakdowns and wild vocal effects. And they turn up the drums in the mix! Brann Dailor is obviously one of their strengths. This band just keeps getting better and better.


10. Estradasphere - Palace Of Mirrors
Dropping the goofball lyrics and satire songs Estradasphere makes an album I've been hoping to hear since It's Understood. Sounding like a movie soundtrack (their live show even had video footage that went along with the music). This is cereberal instrumental music. Think surf, death metal, Morricone, jazz, and rock n' roll. You'll be on the right track, but still unprepared for what this album has to offer. It's not a hodge-podge...it's a seamless piece of work.

Honorable Mentions:
Steve Vai - Real Illusions: Reflections, NoMeansNo - This Way ToAusfahrt, Intronaut - Void, Genghis Tron - Dead Mountain Mouth

Re-Issues of Note

1. Robert Fripp - Exposure
2. Agoraphobic Nosebleed - PCP Torpedo/ANBRX
3. Johnny Cash - At San Quenton
4. Lake Of Dracula - Skeletal Remains
5. Frank Zappa - MOFO 4CD Edition