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metalden
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Dernier: 01/06/09 | Sujet: AOR Awards
Envoyé le: 28/02/2009 10H27 | |
a défaut du réfé de Toff, j'ai trouvé ce AOR Awards interessant (tout l'article ici : http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=78014542&blogId=468082350 ) :
Hey, welcome back, I’ve missed you. You’re just in time to join me as I take a look through the best bits of 2008, a round up of the labels and my top tens of the year. Is it me or did 2008 just seem to fly by? An eventful year, I think I can safely say that it was the year that melodic rock seemed to make a massive indent into the mainstream. Move over Britney, take a seat Take That as the rock circus is coming to town to steal your thunder. Huge tours from the likes of Journey, Bon Jovi and Def Leppard/Whitesnake were some of the biggest attractions of the year. It would also seem that every top melodic rock band was intent on having a share of the pie as the likes of Whitesnake, Uriah Heep, Def Leppard, Motley Crue, Extreme and Journey all released quality product last year. But 2008 wasn’t all about wrinkly rockers, oh no. We saw the rise of several up ‘n’ coming new acts in 2008. The likes of H.E.A.T, Work Of Art, Elevener, Hungry Heart and Crazy Lixx all made sure that AOR is in safe hands for a few years yet.
2008 was also the year of the greatest AOR festival to ever grace these shores. That’s right, I’m talking about the Firefest Festival. Two whole days of some of the best AOR that it’s been my pleasure to witness. I for one will never forget White Sister’s performance for the rest of my life. It was rumoured to be the last Firefest ever, but I think I can safely say that they’ll be another one. Can I suggest Autograph for this years?
Journey also went and proved me wrong (it doesn’t happen often, so make the most of it) by releasing their best album in ages. In Arnel Pineda they have a class act and Neil Schon can be rightly proud of himself for picking a mighty fine singer. I had huge doubts about this collaboration, but I’m glad I was proved wrong. Their gig at the Manchester Apollo was spellbinding.
So what about 2009? I personally would like to see new albums from Wig Wam, Mecca, H.E.A.T and Danger Danger. Here's my run down on the highs, lows, bands and disappointments of 2008.........
ALBUMS OF THE YEAR 2008
I loved 2008 and thought that it was a great year for AOR. Albums from the likes of Bob Catley, Def Leppard, Whitesnake, House Of Lords, Shadowman, David Roberts and Rick Springfield were all great albums. For me though there was only one winner and that was the kid’s from H.E.A.T. Why? Because they are the future of melodic rock, that’s why. Here it is, the top ten.....
1. H.E.A.T – S/T. This album was an easy one for me. Six kids from Sweden delivering some of the tastiest, eighties inspired, AOR had success written all over it. The cover, the promotion and the live performances all go into making this band one of the scenes brightest hopes for over two decades.
2. JOURNEY – REVELATION. Any other year and this album would have walked it. "Revelation" saw Journey introduce their new singer and made me eat humble pie. I openly admit that they proved me wrong. Sure, Arnel is a total clone, but he’s a damn good one. Their tour last year was one of my personal highlights. Class!
3. MARCELLO/VESTRY – S/T. Man! Was this a surprise or what? This had to be one of the feelgood albums of the year. Let’s hope that there’s going to be another one.
4. ALLIANCE – ROAD TO HEAVEN. Another surprise, especially after the mediocrity that was their previous albums. They can finally live up to their name as an AOR supergroup with this album, such is its quality. A damn fine album.
5. ELEVENER – WHEN KALEIDOSCOPES COLLIDE. Another new band and another storming release. Great keys, great songs and a very impressive vocal performance from Johan Bergquist all made sure that this album crashed into my top ten with ease.
6. WORK OF ART – ARTWORK. At the beginning of the year I thought that this album would be my favourite by a mile. Hey, I didn’t know we were in for one of the best years for melodic rock since the eighties, did I? Still, this is a classy album that worships at the altar of all things Toto.
7. BROTHER FIRETRIBE – HEART FULL OF FIRE. They returned with an album that captured the spirit of their debut and added a few twists and turns along the way. Surely those promised live dates can’t be to far away?
8. MOTLEY CRUE – SAINTS OF LOS ANGELES. The return of my favourite Glamsters didn’t dissapoint, that’s for sure. Easily their best album for a long while.
9. PETER FRIESTEDT – LA PROJECT II. By far and away the best Westcoast album of the year. The impressive guest list of musicians made sure of that but it was the quality songs that cemented the deal.
10. ARRIVAL – POINT OF ORIGIN. These guys delivered an old-school style AOR/Pomp album and I loved it. With six songs featuring Mark Free it’s success was nearly guaranteed. Quality.
INDEPENDENT ALBUMS OF THE YEAR 2008
Once again there was some really strong Independent albums from last year. The likes of Big Krush, Liz Larin, Shannon, Rock Ignition, Union Of Saints and Dwayne Ford all released quality albums. I’ll be honest I struggled to pick a number one, such was the quality. In the end I opted for Australia’s Someone Else’s Life. Here's the top ten....
1. SOMEONE ELSE’S LIFE – LOOK INSIDE. Carrying on from where Square One left off, Someone Else’s Life have delivered an album of utter class. From the musicianship through to the songs, not to mention the brilliant harmonies, this album had winner written all the way through it.
2. CRAZY LIXX – LOUD MINORITY. I loved this album. It reminded me of the Dirty Penny album from last year. It is so unashamedly eighties that it should come with free leg warmers and a copy of Miami Vice. They sure wear their influences on their sleeves. Great live act as well.
3. MYLAND – NO MAN’S LAND. This was one of the best pure AOR albums of last year. It is so inspired by Journey, that is no bad thing as long as it’s done well, and this is done very well.
4. VALENTINE – SOUL SALVATION. The return of Valentine with their second album in twenty years was greeted like a long lost friend by the AOR community. A lot slicker, and more AOR, than the debut, it delivered on so many levels.
5. DAVID MADER – 90 DAYS OF RAIN. For an independent this album blew me away. David is a gifted singer/songwriter that should be signed to a major AOR label. This album is certainly head and shoulders above a lot of the stuff that these so called labels delivered this year, that’s for sure.
6. BIG COCK – MOTHERLOAD. The return of everybody’s favourite double entendre saw them deliver their usual brand of hard rock with gusto. They’re certainly a breath of fresh air in a stale and PC scene.
7. HELL N DIESEL – PASSION FOR POWER. Man! This was one of my favourite hard rockin’ albums of last year. They delivered an album of pure sleeze rock that just kicked my ass! Imagine the Gunners meeting Faster Pussycat, only with better make-up, and you’ve got this album.
8. NEWMAN – DECADE. Steve Newman has been one of British AOR’s most consistent performers. This double album sees him re-recording his best songs and adding a second disc of unreleased material.
9. HARTLESS – FULL CIRCLE. Greg Harts new vehicle saw him deliver an album of classy, seventies inspired, hard rock that owed a debt of gratitude to the likes of Thin Lizzy, Sweet and Queen. A most welcome of returns.
10. OZ KNOZZ – 10,000 NIGHTS. This one snuck into the top-ten very late in the year, but what an album. This is a pomp fans wet dream.
DEMOS OF THE YEAR 2007
There didn’t seem to be a wealth of demos this year. What we did get was very impressive and I’m sure we’ll be hearing from one or two of these bands in the next year or two. For me there was nobody to touch Italy’s Second Sight. Here's the top ten.... |
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| Axljwen
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Dernier: 01/06/09 | Sujet: Re:AOR Awards
Envoyé le: 28/02/2009 11H12 | |
Oui, oui, oui ! j'avais visité sa page myspace et lu ce message blog  | |
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