Best hair metal albums 5-1

Here they are.


5-Twisted Sister-Stay hungry-1984
Any of their first three albums would fit here but I think this one had the greatest influence on the genre.


4-Def Leppard-Pyromania-1983
These guys started out doing NWOBHM and eventually became an AOR band. In between they knocked out this really catchy album.

 
3-Motley Crue-Shout at the devil-1983
Wow, what a great album. A shame they never came close to this level after this album.


2-Motley Crue-Too fast for love-1981/1982
To me this was a an 80's hair metal album that had a slight nod to 70's glam.


1-Guns and Roses-Appetite for destruction-1987
If people try to turn up their nose at all hair metal this is the first I point out as the one showed how good this style could be. Unfortunately for every band like GnR or early Motley Crue you got five bands like London, Trixter or Warrant.

Best hair metal albums 10-6

The countdown rolls on.


10-Tigertailz-Bezerk-1990
Heaven is a horrible ballad, but the rest of the album  is impressive.


9-Cinderella-Long cold winter-1988
Their debut "Night songs" was run of the mill, but the three albums after that were very good.


8-Dokken-Tooth and nail-1984
They never came close to where they were for this album. Very solid effort.


7-WASP-s/t- 1984
Fantastic debut. I liked their later albums when they became more serious, but they were far more fun on the early albums.


6-Ratt-Out of the cellar-1984
All of Ratt's albums from 1983 to 1990 were good, but this is best one.

***The top five will be coming up soon.

Best hair metal albums of all time 15-11

Here you go.



15-Quiet Riot-Metal Health (1983)
Really helped push hard rock into the mainstream. Whether or not that was a good thing or not is debatable.



14-Gypsy Pistoleros- Wild, beautiful, damned (2007)
Easily the best hair metal band of the last 10 years.



13-Tesla-Mechanical resonance (1986)
One of the more talented bands of the genre. Also one of the more consistent as well.



12-Lizzy Borden-Give 'em the axe (1984)
They always kind of rode the line between hard rock and metal.



11-Faster Pussycat-s/t (1987)
One of the few times a hair band had a real sense of humor and it worked.

Best Hair Metal albums of all time-20-16

The countdown moves on to numbers 20-16. By looking at this set it's safe to assume that 1989 was good year for hair metal.


20-Skid Row -s/t (1989)
I don't like this one near as much as I did back then. Still was a decent kick in the pants that went against the sappier hair metal that was on the rise.


19-Tigertailz-Young and crazy (1987)
Not their best album (hint hint), but it does feature their best vocalist-Steevi Jaimz.



18-Tora Tora -Surprise Attack (1989)
These guys played a solid brand of blues hard rock. It's sugary, but active.


17-King Kobra-ready to strike (1985)
If they get remembered at all often this band gets remembered as "oh, yeah the four bleached blond guys and Carmine Appice". Their debut was very tight.


16-Bang Tango-psycho cafe (1989)
These guys were impressive on their debut with a mix of hard rock and light funk.

Numbers 15-11 on Saturday.

Best Hair Metal albums of all time-25-21

Before I begin the countdown I just have a few more rules. Live albums and anthologies are not eligible for the list, just studio LPs and EPs. A band can have more than one album on the list. So here we go.


25-Poison-Look what the cat dragged in (1986)
This may be at the top of some people's lists. The playing is very basic, but this is an influential album in this style.


24-Smash Alley-Too late to say no (2007)
Chicago's Smash Alley were active back in the hair metal hey day, but this wasn't released until just a few years ago. Very solid hair metal with strong riffs. If they have left the two ballads off then I may have had the album even higher on the list.


23-Witch-The hex is on (1984)
This EP was very rough and raw. These guys had a sound somewhere between early Motley Crue and WASP.


22-LA Guns-s/t (1988)
This is short and to the point. Nothing fancy, but just slick hair metal.


21-TKO-In your face (1984)
Such an underrated band. I liked all their albums, but this was the best one.

Numbers 20-16 coming Friday.

Best Hair Metal albums of all time-Honorable mentions

As I announced the other day I will be tackling a top 25 hair metal albums of time list. Over the last few days I listened to albums and made the list. However I decided to put out some honorable mentions first and then tomorrow and I'll begin the countdown with numbers 25-21.Here in no order are the honorable mentions.

Spread Eagle-s/t (1990)
Generally I think hair metal was getting weaker in the 90's, but these guys were one of the exceptions.

Black-n-Blue-s/t (1984)
Now they may have made the top 25 list had their debut album been more like their demo. Still a very good effort even if some of the lyrics are really bad.

Wrathchild-Stakk Attack- Do you want my love- twelve inch (1983) and s/t (1984)
Both the single and their debut LP were rough and simple. However these guys don't always get the credit they deserve for being very influential on this style.

Kix-s/t (1981)
Usually this band gets far more credit than they deserve, but their debut was fun. Also because I grew up in Maryland the local radio stations played songs off this album like every hour or so in the 80's.

Dangerous Toys-s/t (1989)
As much just straight out ass kicking rock and roll as it is hair metal.

Pretty Boy Floyd-Leather boys with electric toys (1989)
Totally unoriginal album. However it's catchy and slick, which is why it still holds well today.

Alleycat Scratch-Dead Boys in trash city (1993)
Kind of like Poison done by guys that could play their instruments.

Bastardz-Jungle Outlawz(2008)
Wait, a hair band with a decent rhythm section? How'd that happen? Oh, I see, it wasn't done in the 1980's.

Cowboy Prostitutes-Swingin' at the gates (2008)
So much attention has been given to the Swedish glam explosion in recent years. Yet some fine glam bands have come out of Italy too. This is the best one I have heard. This album came so close to making my top 25. Any young band wanting to play glam should really hear this album.

Crashdiet-Rest in sleaze (2005)
The best of the bands from the Swedish glam explosion.

***I'll begin the countdown of the top 25 hair metal albums of all time tomorrow.

Top Hair Metal albums of all time

I have contemplating doing this list for some time and there are plenty of reasons to do it and plenty of reasons not. Ultimately I have decided to do a Top 25 all time Hair Metal albums list. I'll probably do it as a countdown in sets of five and then put the whole list together at the end.
Before I begin the lists I wanted to add come clarifications and lay down ground rules. I think the term hair metal is a big broad and some people may include bands that others would not. I have seen Ozzy and the Cult end up on Hair Metal lists. Ozzy is (or before his mind completely rotted) was metal, just metal. The Cult are more of a rock band.
Here are some clarifications from me.

Are Van Halen hair metal? I may give get plenty of people who disagree with me, but for the sake of this list I am going to say. If you ask for a reason I'll say because they started in the 70's and their sound owes more 70's hard rock than to the hair metal that was so big in the 80's. They were a major influence on hair bands, but they will not be included on this list.

You like Hanoi Rocks, Metal Mark. Are they hair metal? Yes, I love Hanoi Rocks. They along with Soho Roses, Trashcan Darlings, Queeny Blast Pop and others had a hair metal look, but their sound owed much more to 70's glam like the New York Dolls, Sweet, Slade, early Alice Cooper and others. So not Hanoi Rocks are not hair metal.

Now for others:
WASP/Lizzy Borden and others with some metal in their sound-These bands are heavier than many others in this category, but I am going to say yes to including them in hair metal although for WASP their earlier albums fall into hair metal and the later albums are more metal.

Def Leppard-I think Def Leppard went from NWOBHM to hard rock to AOR. So are they hair metal? I'll say yes except for their NWOBHM phase.

Twisted Sister-I debated long and hard on this one because they don';t sound a lot like other hair metal bands yet again they really are not metal enough or 70's glam enough to be excluded so I'll yes they are hair metal.

Now I have to start on my list. Hope to have the first batch out tonight.

Top 25 hard rock/metal bands

I love to make lists and I have not done my favorite hard rock/metal band list in a while so here is my current top 25 in order.

1-Iron Maiden
2-Black Sabbath
3-Led Zeppelin
4-Hanoi Rocks
5-Motorhead
6-Van Halen
7-Judas Priest
8-Deep Purple
9-Hendrix
10-Pentagram
11-WASP
12-Acid King
13-Ted Nugent
14-AC/DC
15-Rush
16-Budgie
17-Slayer
18-Medieval
19-Cirith Ungol
20-Electric Wizard
21-Lizzy Borden
22-Slough Feg
23-Saint Vitus
24-Guns-n-Roses
25-Armored Saint

Feel free to add your own top bands list.

Top 25 albums of 2010

Andy posted his top 25 the other day and I finally got around to getting mine together so here you go.

1-Ufomammut-EVE-Beautiful, bizarre and brilliant all at the same time.

2-Iron Maiden-The Final Frontier-It’s not a Matter of life and death, but still really good.

3-Slough Feg-Animal Spirit-The masters knock out another masterpiece.

4-Gallows End-Nemesis Divine-This was has been climbing up my list for months.

5-Stone Axe-2-Like stepping back into 1971.

6-Earthride-Something wicked-In your face mean spirited doom.

7-Kylesa-Spiral Shadow-Not quite the monster I was hoping for, but still plenty to offer.

8-Helloween-7 sinners-Still the best power metal band going.

9-Armored Saint-La Raza-Wow, they really branched out this time around and pulled it off quite well.

10-Cough-Ritual Abuse-Just heard this one in recent weeks. Glad I didn’t miss out on it.

11-Bison BC-Dark Ages-Thick and heavy metal with lots of muscle behind it.

12- Ratt-Infestation-Shocker of the year. Their last album was 11 years ago and blew hard, but they came back put out probably the second best album of their career.

13-Dusted Angel-Earth sick mind-I was blown away by their EP last year and this full length didn’t disappoint.

14-The Ocean-Anthropocentric-Now I need to hear Heliocentric.

15- Canvas Solaris-Irradiance-Normally prog metal isn’t my thing, but I have been into this band for a while now.

16-Skullhammer-Pay it in blood-Fantastic retro-thrash.

17-Enforcer-Diamonds-Good, but unlike everyone else I preferred the previous album.

18-Sister Sin-True sound of the underground-Not a great year for hard rock, but this was one of the better releases in that style.

19- Exodus-Exhibit B the human condition-Rerecording Bonded by blood a few years ago was a mistake, but they bounced back from it nicely.

20-King Giant-Southern Darkness-Southern fried hard as nails stuff that will stomp you flat.

21-Heathen-Evolution by chaos-Perhaps their best album.

22-Halford-Made of metal-How come the last two Priest albums stunk and all of his solo stuff is good?

23-Sungrazer-s/t-Heavy psychedelic madness.

24-Darkthrone-Circle the wagons-Thick, noisy and powerful.

25-Tie
The Sword-Warp Riders-Made the list, but disappointing for them.
and
Witchsorrow-s/t-Great outing from UK doom trio.

Top albums of 2010 coming soon

Some time this week Andy and I will both be posting out our lists for the best albums of 2010. So come by and check them out and here are links to other music blogs that will be posting their lists in the next week or so. So check them out too.

All Metal Resource — http://allmetalresource.com/


Bring Back Glam — http://bringbackglam.squarespace.com/


Hair Metal Mansion — http://hairbangersradio.ning.com/


Hard Rock Hideout — http://hardrockhideout.com/


Heavy Metal Addiction — http://heavymetaladdiction.com


Heavy Metal Time Machine — http://metalmark.blogspot.com/


Imagine Echoes — http://www.imagineechoes.com/


Metal Excess — http://metalexcess.com/


Metal Odyssey — http://metalodyssey.wordpress.com/


The Ripple Effect — http://www.ripplemusic.blogspot.com/


Hard Rock Nights — http://hardrocknights.wordpress.com/


Layla’s Classic Rock — http://laylasclassicrock.blogspot.com/


The Metal Minute — http://rayvanhornjr.blogspot.com/

Let the games begin

December is not far and that means the top 25 albums of 2010 list. Which means I actually begin listening to contenders now in order to narrow them down and have it done in two months. I stay open to end of the year releases that be worthy of adding in, but now I am making a stack of possibilities and I'll be playing some back to back for comparison. It's also a fun, but often tough process.

Top 25 albums of 2009

I posted these the other week, but I am putting them out again as a whole in case you missed it.

25-Sister-Deadboys making noise

These guys changed their image and sound some since 2008. It worked out for the best.

24-Chris Laney-Pure

Animal guitarist and seasoned producer Chris Laney knocked out a solo album full of some of the best hard rock songs of the year.

23-Outloud!-s/t

What is this? 1980's style AOR in 2009? Yes, but so well done I fell for it right away.

22-At War-Infidel

A reunion album that didn't suck. Thrash trio still had something left to give.

21-Sacred Oath-s/t

Veteran band sounding sharp.

20-Panzer Princess-Oh, no it’s Panzer Princess

One of the better glam albums of the year.

19- Dark Castle-Spirited Migration

Doom the way it should be played, slow and thick.

18-Wino-Punctuated Equilibrium

Doom legend sounding a lot like Pentagram on his solo disc.

17-Nasty Idols-Boy’s Town

These guys still have some gas left in he tank.

16-Gypsy Pistoleros-Hotel De La Muerte

A shame it's only an EP, but anything from this band is worth hearing.

15-Praying Mantis-Sanctuary

A very good release from this NWOBHM band.

14-Artillery-When death comes

Great thrash comeback with new singer.

13-WASP-Babylon

Nothing new, but solid.

12-Argus-s/t

This one was flying up my list as I put it together.


11-Sepultura-A-Lex

Probably the first really good album that I heard in 2009.

10-Kylesa-Static Tensions

This might be the album on this list that took me the longest time to get into.



9-Nihiltia-Nihilist Militia

Rough, but I got into it right away.

8-Wolfmother-Cosmic Egg

These guys have grown as songwriters since the last album.

7-Black Math Horseman-Wyllt

Strange, but appealing stoner/drone.

6-Steel Assassin-In hellfire forged

Re-recordings of some old songs, but very sold classic style metal.

5-Slough Feg-Ape uprising

More of their style of NWOBHM with underlying folk melodies, but one of their stronger albums.

4-Slayer-World painted blood

One of their best in a long time.

3-Black Cobra-Chronomega

Slow, thick and heavy.

2-Admiral Browning-Magic Elixar

Holy shit, these guys built a wall of sound on this album.

1-Mastodon-Crack the skye

Not what I figured this album would be like, not even what I hoped for perhaps, but great nonetheless.


***Other bloggers have already or will soon be posting their top albums of 2009 lists this week. So check them out too.



All Metal Resource — http://allmetalresource.com/
Bring Back Glam — http://bringbackglam.squarespace.com/
Hair Metal Mansion — http://hairbangersradio.ning.com/
Hard Rock Hideout — http://hardrockhideout.com/
Hard Rock Nights – http://hardrocknights.wordpress.com
Heavy Metal Addiction — http://heavymetaladdiction.com/
Imagine Echoes — http://www.imagineechoes.com/
Layla’s Classic Rock — http://laylasclassicrock.blogspot.com/
Metal Excess- http://metalexcess.com/
The Metal Minute — http://rayvanhornjr.blogspot.com/
Metal Odyssey — http://metalodyssey.wordpress.com/
Rock Of Ages — http://rockofages.wordpress.com/
The Ripple Effect — http://www.ripplemusic.blogspot.com/

My top 25 albums of 2009 finishes up today.

5-Slough Feg-Ape uprising
More of their style of NWOBHM with underlying folk melodies, but one of their stronger albums.
4-Slayer-World painted blood
One of their best ina long time
3-Black Cobra-Chronomega
Slow, thick and heavy.
2-Admiral Browning-Magic Elixar
Holy shit, these guys built a wall of sound on this album.
1-Mastodon-Crack the skye
Not what I figured this album would be like, not even what i hoped for perhaps, but great nonetheless.



There you go.

Top 25 countdown: Numbers 10-6

My top 25 albums of 2009 continues with numbers 10-6.

10-Kylesa-Static Tensions
This might be the album on this list that took me the longest time to get into.

9-Nihiltia-Nihilist Militia
Rough, but I got into it right away.

8-Wolfmother-Cosmic Egg
These guys have grown as songwriters since the last album.

7-Black Math Horseman-Wyllt
Strange, but appealing stoner/drone.

6-Steel Assassin-In hellfire forged
Re-recordings of some old songs, but very sold classic style metal.



***Final five up on Friday!

Top 25 countdown: 15-11

Here are numbers 15-11 of my top 25 albums of 2009.

15-Praying Mantis-Sanctuary
A very good release from this NWOBHM band.

14-Artillery-When death comes
Great thrash comeback with new singer.

13-WASP-Babylon
Nothing new, but solid.

12-Argus-s/t
This one was flying up my list as I put it together.

11-Sepultura-A-Lex
Probably the first really good album that I heard in 2009.



***10-6 on Thursday.

Top 25 countdown: 20-16

My top 25 albums of 2009 continues with 20-16.

20-Panzer Princess-Oh, no it’s Panzer Princess
One of the better glam albums of the year.
19- Dark Castle-Spirited Migration
Doom the way it should be played, slow and thick.
18-Wino-Punctuated Equilibrium
Doom legend sounding a lot like Pentagram on his solo disc.
17-Nasty Idols-Boy’s Town
These guys still have some gas left in he tank.
16-Gypsy Pistoleros-Hotel De La Muerte
A shame it's only an EP, but anything from this band is worth hearing.



***Number 15-11 out on Wednesday.

Top albums of 2009: 25-21 and honorable mentions

Three honorable mentions for albums that didn't quite make the list.

UFO-The Visitor
Very good classic style hard rock.

Johnny Lima-Livin' out loud
Producer/guitarist/vocalist nails it with a likable 80's style glam album.

Flood-Native
Likely the slowest album of the year. A massive drone fest that will take over your senses.

Let the top 25 albums of 2009 countdown begin.

25-Sister-Deadboys making noise
These guys changed their image and sound some since 2008. It worked out for the best.

24-Chris Laney-Pure
Animal guitarist and seasoned producer Chris Laney knocked out a solo album full of some of the best hard rock songs of the year.

23-Outloud-We'll rock you to hell and back again
What is this? 1980's style AOR in 2009? Yes, but so well done I fell for it right away.

22-At War-Infidel
A reunion album that didn't suck. Thrash trio still had something left to give.

21-Sacred Oath-s/t
Veteran band sounding sharp.



***20-16 on Tuesday.

Top albums of 2009 coming soon

In looking at the calender it looks like I am going to devote the week of December 13th to awards for 2009. So on the 13th I'll do best re-issues and best album covers. Then starting the 14th I'll do the top 25 abums of of 2009 as a countdown and I'll reveal five per day and wrap up with the final five on the 18th. I already knwo the top five or so, but for the others I need to do some more listening between now and then to figure who is in and what the order will be. Hope you will stop by and check out my lists.

Number one

Here we are, the the end of my top 25 hard rock/metal guitarist countdown. Number one is of course...


Jimi Hendrix

Hendrix was an insanely brilliant player in tone and technical ability. He made it look so easy and did so much in a short period time. There were good players before him, but the guitar has not been the same since Jimi got ahold of it.

There you go.

Number two

My top 25 hard rock/metal guitarist countdown is almost at a close. Number two is...


Tony Iommi

This is the man who changed not just metal and hard rock, but all heavy music. Sabbath's guitarist may not be the greatest technical player of all time, but he more than made up for it with deep tones and the off the cuff bursts. He could pull so much energy out of a few notes and then just run like crazy with some other passages.

***So that leaves just one left. May have that one posted some time this weekend.