10) Steel Panther - Feel The Steel (Island)

http://images.play.com/covers/9565009m.jpg

It's probably heresy to include such an album in a serious review of the year. There's no way anyone could possibly consider a full-on comedic pisstake of the idiotic excess of '80s glam metal in an end-of-year spotlight - it's bad enough it was enjoyed in the first place! Well, comedy or not, this is certainly one of the most enjoyable records of the year, both in daft, exaggerated lyrical output ("What'd you have to do for that backstage pass, 'cause I found a poisoned laminate inside of your ass…" -…

I saw this on another journal and I thought I'd follow suit, just to see what it looked like.

These are the albums I named "album of the year" by that year end at the time. However, now, having spend oodles on music since then have no doubt found better albums from that year that are higher up in my all-time list. I'll come to that later, though. For now, this list is based on the years that I have been buying CDs since and do this list…

1996

Soundgarden - Down on the Upside

1997

3 Colours Red -…

Yep, that time of year, missed a year too. Ah well always fun I guess. And as usual, I guess I'll find an absolute gem from this year in 6 months time which missed the list. Typical. Anyway, in reverse order:

10: POISON THE WELL - Versions

A gap of four years, 2 less full time members and an apparent does of Country music, it seems. Ever heard raw, brutal riffage underpinned by a banjo? You have now. An unexpected, intense joy.

9: THE SOUNDS - Dying to Say this to you

Scandinavia does it again. Danceable pop rock magic…

Because it has to be done.

1) THRICE - Vheissu

It was close call between this and the number 2. However, this album surprised me. I've been a huge fan of their efforts since The illusion of Safety. I was a litle disappointed by the weaker The Artist in the Ambulance. I basically wasn't expecting Vheissu to be the huge, epic, heavy, beautiful piece of work it was. A combination of awe and surprise. Well done.

2)COHEED & CAMBRIA- Good Apollo I'm Burning Star IV:Volume 1: From Fear Throught the Eyes of Madness.
3)OPETH- Ghost Reveries…