Archive for December, 2009

PopMatters Picks: The Best Metal Albums of 2009

Posted on Monday, December 21st, 2009

It seems every year I say it, but this year it’s truer than ever: this was one hell of a year for metal. Sure, we had our share of high profile duds come our way (Heaven and Hell, Ensiferum, Pelican, Killswitch Engage) and more than enough popular records that had many of us wondering if this was the end of not only metal, but music in general (Suicide Silence, Five Finger Death Punch, Winds of Plague), but when we got good albums, a very surprising number of them turned out to be great ones. In fact, not only was this year’s list of 20 the most difficult to compile in a long time, but I could easily take the next 20 that didn’t make the cut and make a formidable list out of those discs (come to think of it, that’s just what I’ll do).

Cobalt - Gin

There was an embarrassment of metal riches in 2009, so much so that the rankings below don’t mean anything whatsoever; you cannot go wrong with any of the titles I mention. That said, if you merely dabble in heavy music and think the Mastodon record is good (which it most certainly is), just wait until you hear this list’s top three –Adrien Begrand, PopMatters.

Continue reading: The Best Metal Albums of 2009 < Columns | PopMatters.

Tags: Adrien Begrand, metal, PopMatters
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PopMatters Picks: The Best Psych Albums of 2009

Posted on Monday, December 21st, 2009

Psychedelia has influenced so many things in 2009 — whether the band is labeled freak-folk, psych-pop, or garage psychedelia to name a few — that the creative approach to songwriting has influenced and been adopted by so many genres that barely any independent label has remained untouched by its reaches. ...read more

We Want Your Top 10 Albums Of The Decade

Posted on Sunday, December 20th, 2009

Update:  The votes are in, the points have been awarded and the math has been done. More than 150 of you have taken the time to forward your Top 10 list for the Roadburn Album of the Decade. Continue Reading (please note: the comment box down below is closed!) As ...read more

Hawkwind: Lords Of Sword And Sorcery

Posted on Tuesday, December 8th, 2009

In Goldmine Magazine’s latest issue there is an article on Hawkwind, Lords of Sword and Sorcery: Of all the British festival circuit bands of the acid-drenched end of the ’60s, Group X — aka Hawkwind Zoo, aka Hawkwind as they finally christened themselves — seemed the least likely contenders for ...read more