Considering the classic picture of Robert Plant and Jimmy Page, did you hear the buzz about Led Zeppelin reuniting for a tour? I guess Robert Plant doesn’t want to have anything to do with it. Let me digress a bit more. Lately I’ve been waxing nostalgic for the great rock bands and albums of by-gone decades. Some of the rock music albums released this year were really good, but not great in the classic sense. I even reviewed some of those new releases. Maybe it’s me, but why don’t I find any great rock music from bands like those of the 70’s. Bands like Rush, Yes, Foghat, Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, Pink Floyd, Jethro Tull, Black Sabbath, or BTO? These bands were not flashes in the pan like most bands today. Some of these bands are even around today, and still making great music. Maybe those bands and their music just remind me of my youth? But I think something can be said of those great “classic” rock bands and the music they created. I run into teenagers and young adults (including two of our own) every day who are into those classic rock bands. Their music definitely has staying power. Enough said.

Ranting aside, it has been an interesting and wonderful year in music. I reviewed thirty-two albums this year. If you’ve read more than a few of my reviews you will, no doubt, surmise that I stick to the music I like. I do not stray too far from the genres of music I normally listen to. But there were a few surprises this year. Some of those surprise album reviews have been prompted by the things I hear on the local college radio station, and by the things my wonderful wife and pop culture daughter have heard. Such was the case with Duffy and her “Rockferry” album. The album was a breath of fresh air for me and my usual head-banging ways. Another surprise review came from a record company intern who had commented on a review and ultimately sent me some of their releases. The release I selected out of those was the one from Shawn McDonald called “Roots“.  Some other surprises were album releases from older rockers like Steve Winwood, John Fogerty, Ozzy Osbourne, Queen (+ Paul Rodgers), Def Leppard, Tesla, Whitesnake, and The Black Crowes. The albums reviews I had the most fun putting together were the brand new ones, to me, and to the music industry. Those would include the extreme guitars of Dragonforce, the down home Southern rock of Black Stone Cherry, The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus (the name alone does it for me), and the eclectic tones of 10 Years.

If I had to pick great albums or bands that might stand the test of time, like those mentioned in my nostalgic rant above, I’d pick the following top five out of the all the reviews I did this year:

5.  3 Doors Down – 3 Doors Down

4.  10 Years – Division

3.  Metallica – Death Magnetic

2.  Kutless – To Know That You’re Alive

1.  Shinedown – The Sound Of Madness

Rock On!

Sloi Deo Gloria!!