Blog

Disclaimer: my top 50 don't really reflect my current taste in music all that well. I'm working on changing that.

1. How did you get into 31?
In Flames. I was looking for a good metal instrumental, and someone recommended Man Made God.

2. What was the first song you ever heard by 22?
Ah, Cynic's Veil of Maya. This may be my favorite album opener of all time.

3. What's your favorite lyric by 29?
"Bow to the savior of the fearful and desperate / Shepherd of deception / Prophet of infection / Behold the Xenochrist!". Awesome outro. The Faceless were the ones who convinced me that Deathcore wasn't all shit.

4. What is your favourite album by 49?
No contest, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers). The first hip-hop album I ever liked.

5. How many albums by 13 do you own?
Mastodon. All five of their full-lengths. I also bough the ATHF movie soundtrack just for Cut You Up With A Linoleum Knife.

6. What is your favorite song by 50?
Demons and Wizards. Probably Fiddler On The Green.

7. Is there a song by 4 that makes you sad?
I'm pretty sure that there's a Beatles song for every emotion. I'll go with Julia.

8. What is your favorite song by 15?
Tough one, because The Doors have a lot of amazing tracks, but I'll say The Unknown Soldier.

9. What is your favorite song by 5?
Kalmah is another tough one. Doubtful About It All, maybe?

10. Is there a song by 6 that makes you happy?
The Jimi Hendrix Experience, of course. Off the top of my head, Angel.

11. What is your favorite album by 40?
Definitely Caught Somewhere in Time. Where Iron Maiden peaked in my opinion.

12. What is your favorite song by 10?
Ensiferum. Has to be Into Battle. The guitar solo... rock.

13. What is a good memory you have involving 33?
Explosions in the Sky. Too many to count, mostly involving psychedelics.

14. What is your favorite song by 37?
Radiohead. Surprisingly, I guess it's Meeting In The Aisle, a random instrumental B-side off of some EP.

15. Is there a song by 19 that makes you happy?
Fuck yeah Necrophagist. To Breathe in a Casket always makes me glad that I'm not currently buried alive, I guess.

16. How many times have you seen 24 live?
Lamb of God - just once, in LA. Not that great a show.

17. What is the first song you ever heard by 23?
Nirvana. Almost certainly Smells Like Teen Spirit.

18. What is your favorite album by 11?
Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here.

19. Who is a favorite member of 1?
Death? The obvious answer, Chuck Schuldiner (R.I.P.).

20. Have you ever seen 14 live?
Nope, never seen Joe Satriani.

21. What is a good memory involving 45?
Sir Mix-A-Lot? Well, this is embarrassing. The time the Pitt band played Jump on It at halftime at some football game, maybe? (This is one of the artists covered in the above disclaimer, by the way.)

22. What is your favorite song by 16?
Metallica. Easily The Call of Ktulu.

23. What is the first song you ever heard by 47?
Black Sabbath. Dunno, likely Iron Man.

24. What is your favorite album by 21?
Not much of a selection as far as Dethklok albums go. I liked Dethalbum II better than the first one.

25. What is your favorite song by 18?
Pixies. Hmm... I Bleed.

26. What is the first song you ever heard by 38?
Guns N' Roses. First I can remember is Welcome To The Jungle.

27. What is your favorite lyric by 3?
Sigh... Children of Bodom. Who knows, it's not like the lyrics to any of their songs are distinguishable anyways. Maybe "Warheart! With no compassion or love / Warheart! Hate your fellow as yourself" from Warheart.

28. What is your favorite song by 2?
Sublime. A lot of great songs, but I'll go with Boss D.J..

29. What was the first song you ever heard by 32?
Slayer. I think it was Angel of Death, which I still regard as their best song.

30. What is your favorite song by 8?
Wow, this is a tough choice for Led Zeppelin. I have to say Nobody's Fault But Mine, but this is very very close.

31. How many times have you seen 17 live?
I have no idea what OutKast is doing in this position. Never.

32. Is there a song by 44 that makes you happy?
Yep, nearly all of Tenacious D's songs will do the trick. Double Team always cracks me up.

33. What is your favorite album by 12?
God Dethroned. Easily Bloody Blasphemy.

34. What is the worst song by 46?
Where to start with Styx? I used to like Mr. Roboto, but all it does now is raise my urge to kill.

35. What was the first song you ever heard by 34?
Elvis. Hound Dog, I guess?

36. What is your favorite album by 42?
Immortal Technique. Revolutionary Vol. 2 is amazing.

37. How many times have you seen 39 live?
Jay-Z, never.

38. What is your favorite album by 36?
Also a pretty sparse selection for Gorillaz. Between the two, I'll say Demon Days.

39. What was the first song you ever heard by 28?
The Who. This is unusual, but the first one I can remember is Christmas.

40. What is your favorite album by 7?
Queen, A Night At The Opera.

A

ABBA ─ Gold: Greatest Hits (1992)
Aborym ─ Generator (2006)
Amanda Palmer ─ Who Killed Amanda Palmer (2008)
Arch Enemy ─ Doomsday Machine (2006)

B

Bal-Sagoth ─ The Chthonic Chronicles (2006)
The Beach Boys ─ The Platinum Collection (2005)
Beastie Boys ─ Licensed to Ill (1986)
The Beatles ─ Rubber Soul (1965)
The Beatles ─ Revolver (1966)
The Beatles ─ Magical Mystery Tour (1967)
Bleeding Through ─ The Truth (2006)
Bleeding Through ─ Declaration (2008)
blink-182 ─ Greatest Hits (2005)
Britney Spears ─ Britney (2001)
Britney Spears ─ In the Zone (2003)
Britney Spears ─ Blackout (2007)
Britney Spears ─ Circus (2008)

C

Cannibal Corpse ─ Evisceration Plague (2009)
Catgut Mary ─ Bourbon and Black Porter (2006)
Coldplay ─ Parachutes (2000)
Coldplay ─ X&Y (2005)
Coldplay ─ Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends (2008)
Cradle of Filth ─ The Principle of Evil Made Flesh (1994)
Cradle of Filth ─ Vempire or Dark Faerytales In Phallustein (1996)
Cradle of Filth ─ Dusk... and Her Embrace (1997)
Cradle of Filth ─ Cruelty and the Beast (1998)
Cradle of Filth ─ From the Cradle to Enslave (1999)
Cradle of Filth ─ Midian (2000)
Cradle of Filth ─ Bitter Suites to Succubi (2001)
Cradle of Filth ─ Lovecraft & Witch Hearts (2002)
Cradle of Filth ─ Live Bait for the Dead (2002)
Cradle of Filth ─ Damnation and a Day (2003)
Cradle of Filth ─ Nymphetamine (2004)
Cradle of Filth ─ Thornography (2006)
Cradle of Filth ─ Godspeed on the Devil's Thunder (2008)

D

The Dandy Warhols ─ ...The Dandy Warhols Come Down (1997)
The Dandy Warhols ─ Thirteen Tales From Urban Bohemia (2000)
The Dandy Warhols ─ Welcome To The Monkey House (2003)
The Dandy Warhols ─ Odditorium or Warlords of Mars (2005)
The Dandy Warhols ─ ...Earth to the Dandy Warhols... (2008)
The Dandy Warhols ─ The Dandy Warhols Are Sound (2009)
David Bowie ─ Space Oddity (1969)
David Bowie ─ The Man Who Sold The World (1970)
David Bowie ─ Hunky Dory (1971)
David Bowie ─ The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars (1972) #1
David Bowie ─ Aladdin Sane (1973)
David Bowie ─ Pin-Ups (1973)
David Bowie ─ Diamond Dogs (1974)
David Bowie ─ Young Americans (1975)
David Bowie ─ Station To Station (1976)
David Bowie ─ Low (1977)
David Bowie ─ Heroes (1977)
David Bowie ─ Scary Monsters (1980)
David Bowie ─ Reality (2003)
Dethklok ─ The Dethalbum (2006)
DevilDriver ─ The Fury of Our Maker's Hand (2005)
Dimmu Borgir ─ Spiritual Black Dimensions (1999)
Dimmu Borgir ─ Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia (2001)
Dimmu Borgir ─ Death Cult Armageddon (2003)
Dimmu Borgir ─ In Sorte Diaboli (2007)
The Dresden Dolls ─ The Dresden Dolls (2003)
The Dresden Dolls ─ Yes, Virginia... (2006)
The Dresden Dolls ─ No, Virginia... (2008)

E

Elvis Presley ─ The Essential Elvis Presley (2007)
Emperor ─ In the Nightside Eclipse (1994)
Ennio Morricone ─ Platinum Collection (2007)

F

Faith No More ─ Angel Dust (1992)
Finntroll ─ Nattfödd (2004)
Funeral for a Friend ─ Hours (2005)

G

Garbage ─ Absolute Garbage (2007)
Goblin ─ Tenebre (1982)
Gorillaz ─ Gorillaz (2001)
Gorillaz ─ Demon Days (2005)
Green Day ─ Dookie (1994)
Green Day ─ American Idiot (2004)
Gwen Stefani ─ The Sweet Escape (2006)
Gyroscope ─ Fast Girl/Beware Wolf (2005)

I

Immortal ─ Blizzard Beasts (1997)
Immortal ─ At the Heart of Winter (1998)
Immortal ─ Damned in Black (2000)
Immortal ─ Sons of Northern Darkness (2002)

J

Jebediah ─ Slightly Odway (1997)

K

KoЯn ─ Korn (1994)
KoЯn ─ Life Is Peachy (1996)
KoЯn ─ Follow the Leader (1998)
KoЯn ─ Issues (1999)
KoЯn ─ Untouchables (2002)

L

Little Birdy ─ Bigbiglove (2003)

M

Marilyn Manson ─ Lest We Forget (The Best Of) (2004)
Michael Jackson ─ Off the Wall (1979)
Michael Jackson ─ Thriller (1982)
Michael Jackson ─ Dangerous (1991)
Michael Jackson ─ HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I (1995)
Michael Jackson ─ Invincible (2001)
Moby ─ Play (1999)
Moby ─ 18 (2002)
Moby ─ Last Night (2008)
Moon ─ Satan's Wept (1999)
Muse ─ Showbiz (1999)
Muse ─ Origin Of Symmetry (2001)
Muse ─ Absolution (2003)
Muse ─ Black Holes & Revelations (2006)
Muse ─ The Resistance (2009)
My Chemical Romance ─ Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge (2004)

N

Nine Inch Nails ─ Pretty Hate Machine (1989)
Nine Inch Nails ─ Broken (1992)
Nine Inch Nails ─ The Fragile (1999)
Nine Inch Nails ─ The Slip (2008)
Nine Inch Nails ─ Ghosts I-IV (2008)

O

The Offspring ─ Ixnay on the Hombre (1997)
The Offspring ─ Americana (1998)

P

Pantera ─ Far Beyond Driven (1996)
Peter Bjorn & John ─ Writer's Block (2006)
Pink Floyd ─ The Wall (1982)
Placebo ─ Placebo (1996)
Placebo ─ Without You I'm Nothing (1998)
Placebo ─ Black Market Music (2000)
Placebo ─ Sleeping With Ghosts (2003)
Placebo ─ Meds (2005)
The Prodigy ─ Their Law: The Singles 1990-2005 (2005)
The Prodigy ─ Invaders Must Die (2009)

R

Roadrunner United ─ The All-Star Sessions (2005)

S

Slayer ─ Reign in Blood (1986)
Slipknot ─ Slipknot (10th Anniversary Edition) (1999)
Slipknot ─ Iowa (2001)
Slipknot ─ Vol. 3: The Subliminal Verses (2003)
Slipknot ─ 9.0: Live (2005)
Slipknot ─ All Hope Is Gone (2008)
The Smashing Pumpkins ─ Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness (1995)
The Smashing Pumpkins ─ Adore (1998)
System of a Down ─ System of a Down (1998)
System of a Down ─ Toxicity (2001)
System of a Down ─ Steal This Album! (2002)
System of a Down ─ Mezmerize (2005)
System of a Down ─ Hypnotize (2005)

U

Unlord ─ Schwarzwald (1997)
Unlord ─ Lord Of Beneath (2002)

V

The Verve ─ Urban Hymns (1997)

Soundtracks

The Boat That Rocked (2009)
Various Artists ─ Kill Bill, Vol. 1 (2003)
Various Artists ─ Kill Bill, Vol. 2 (2004)
Howard Shore ─ The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
Elton John ─ The Lion King (2003)
Richard O'Brien ─ The Rocky Horror Picture Show: 25 Years Of Absolute Pleasure (2000)
Francois Tétaz Rogue ─ (2007)
Francois Tétaz Wolf Creek ─ (2005)

Sound Of God's Absence by Manufacturer's Pride

track 1
sounds of the sea; srsly, boat sounds and everything

track 2
Vocals sound like they are from under the sea.
00:36 death metal vocals like Ahab and the like.
1:08 sounds like the record is skipping
2:22 good god, Porcupine-ish vocals, I can't think of a better way to describe it.
3:08 gar vocals man.

track 3
Dethklok start here.
00:22 The synths ruin it, but their soon gone, so no worries.
2:11 sound of sitting down wtf? I hope that not correct.
2:55 keyboard melody and it doesn't suck, oh my!

track 4
Catchy guitar melody to start off with
00:49 haha ridiculous vocals, death vocals harmonizing with "normal" vocals, laaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaameeeee.
2:07 they musta auto-corrected the non-death metal vocal guy's voice to hell and back. It sounds so unnatural.
2:55 punk-ass scream

track 5
1:19 I think I can hear the trillian log-on sound.
1:56 Suddenly acoustic! The vocals here, good god. I guess they were going for epic Porcupine Tree sound, but failed.
2:17 The ooohhhs and ahhhs in the background, jesus why?

track 6
Thank god that's over
0:16 Ick, non death metal vocals
0:27 fuck yes metal vocals!
1:08 I can't decide who this non-metal guy's voice sounds like, but I don't like it.
2:23 Goddamn is this some radio rock bullshit with the calling back and forth singing. I hate the /mu/tant who named this best of the year.
2:58 Slow it down and switch styles to spacey jazz fusion.
3:36 The rock kicks in.

track 7
hits the ground running, thankfully because I thought the last track would never end.
0:49 "eat the whore" or is it "horse"?
1:58 The keyboard ruins this section up.
2:19 oh no "spooky"!
2:38 I like the break down here, actually. The absence of the keyboards probably makes it sound better though.
3:36 Good god, even the solo sounds neutered and friendly.

track 8
Starts out okay
0:14-0:22 epic growling right here
0:40 another song breaks in and ruins it.
1:00 Harmonizing in a metal song is hard to pull off. This band cannot pul it off.
1:17 "I will make this love last forever," come the fuck onnnnn. The only love I want in my metal is a love of Satan or murder (see kill for satan - upsidedowncross)

track 9
Thunder and ambient strings and submarine sounds. Talking about a missing person and something else, it sounds like they're talking out of a drive though speaker, so they could be order fries and a large Coke to.

track 10
Good moody start.
0:58 Using the death metal vocals here was a good choice.
1:14 Whoops they utilized the other guys voice.
2:27 I can not stress enough how terrible this guy's voice is.
2:53 More ambient space sounding music.
3:22 That guy's voice is almost tolerable here. I must be developing an immunity.
4:19 Thank god the death metal vocals kick in again.

track 11
Starts out fast.
2:00 This isn't a bad song, but I'm so fucking sick of this album now.
2:38-3:12 Does every song have to have a quiet part?

track 12
0:23 Nice drum work, too bad it's over so soon and replaced with some quiet "thoughtful" parts.
0:54 Heavy it up, yesssss.
1:56 Ug slows it down. This album would be about 20 times better without the slow parts and 50 times better with only death metal vocals.
3:23 Finally the heavy part kicks in.
5:08 This is going to be a long-ass outro i can tell
6:28 More samples of people talking through a speaker or something
7:08 The sound of waves splashing.

*edited to make it slightly more politically correct, and fixed some spelling errors.

Fri 13 Nov – Adult Swim Presents: Metalocalypse’s Dethklok, Mastodon, Converge, and High on Fire

Despite loving Converge intensely for 5+ years, every one of their tours has coincided with something I absolutely couldn’t get out of, or with me being out of the country. Last night I finally broke that streak.

I nearly missed them this time, too, since apparently “doors at 6” meant “High on Fire at 6:20”, or High on Fire played a 20 minute set. or both. Anyway, I walked in right as Converge were starting, so I was farther back than I’d planned.

I’m not normally emotional about shows, and certainly large (2.700+) shows are usually less engaging. So it was shocking to me, just how affecting it was when they broke into Last Light. When the whole floor was screaming along to “This. Is. For. The Hearts. Still. BEATING! BEATING! BEATING! BEATING!” I lost it. Tears in my eyes and everything. You Fail Me is my sad music, but I didn’t really expect it to be that way wtih other people in the room. I’ve gotten chills from the music, at shows before, but this was communion on a wholly other level.

It was refreshing also, after seeing Coalesce at funfunfunfest basically deal entirely in noise and chaotic spasms, seeing Kurt Ballou play so incredibly tightly and adeptly. Really, Bannon exudes enough energy/spit/sweat for the whole band, but even Ballou does his share of tricks, even playing with his guitar held over his head.

Mastodon was the 3rd show I've seen this year of an album played through live (c.f. Kylesa, The Decemberists). It was a huge contrast to their set at Pitchfork a couple of years ago. Where that show was handily the highest intensity of the festival, this was a much more prog-nerdy, intentional affair. Certainly the accompanying video changes the way the audience is involved in the show as well, but it's strange to see a band that had such stage presence 2 years ago, standing stock still. And to see Brent Hinds, formerly referred to by security dudes as "the guy who does the smurf vocals", now wielding a double-necked guitar.

As for the set itself, Crack The Skye is what it is. Starts off with 2 great songs, moves through a few longwinded but really good songs, and then devolves into self-indulgence. After the album, they played one song from each of their 4 previous albums. Heavier songs that brought the energy level back up, but deep cuts and still without any stage banter.

I'm probably making this sound unnecessarily harsh - I enjoyed the show a lot, it was just very reserved.

Dethklok Is still made up of Mike Keneally and Gene Hoglan, which is an amazing thing to behold. I didn't stay too long into their set, though, as they played a lot of the same songs and clips from last time I saw them.

1. What's your favorite song by 15?
Arcturus
Kinetic

2. How did you get into 20?
Amon Amarth
Either from friends or general exploration of viking-ish bands

3. Who is your favorite member in 1?
Carcass
It's gotta be Ken Owen! ever since his appearance at Bloodstock 08

4. What’s your favorite lyric bit by 29?
Devin Townsend
And Music? Well it's JUST ENTERTAINMENT, FOLKS!

5. Have you ever seen 22 live?
DevilDriver
no

6. What's your favorite album from 10?
Immortal
At the Heart of Winter

7. Do you own any merchandise from 3?
Children of Bodom
uh, a flag, a signed limited LP and not much else really.

8. What is a good memory you have of 7?
Septic Flesh
every time I listen to the crushing riff in Sangreal

9. Is there a member of the same age as you in 2?
Moonsorrow
uh, no.

10. When did you first get into 8?
Municipal Waste
At bloodstock, having never heard them before. (I thought they were from the 80s!)

11. Who likes 4 along with you?
Devin Townsend Project
SEAN!

12. Which song did you first hear from 16?
Korpiklaani
Wooden Pints, I think.

13. What song made you fall in love with 5?
Finntroll
Vindfärd / Människopesten. EPIC KEYBOARD

14. Which song do you not like by 18?
In Flames
not so keen on the first 2 albums, but I love every other song they've ever done.

15. Why do you like 14's songs?
Vesania
If Dimmu Borgir weren't dicks, weren't so theatrical, and so much more KVLT and TRVE, then you'd have the makings of a band like Vesania. so much darker and just generally better.

16. Where did you first hear 6?
Behemoth
On my recommended station

17. How long was 19 a band before you liked them?
Strapping Young Lad
They'd already split up, sadly.

18. Does 13 have a song that gives you a bad memory?
Dethklok
Absolutely not.

19. When did you get into 17?
Slayer
Not soon enough! I curse my parents for not playing it to me in the womb.

20. How long have you been into 9?
Kreator
Since Bloodstock, when I got the best black eye of my life in the pit!!

21. If 11 had a concert 300 miles away, would you drive there to see them?
Hypocrisy
no, not only because I don't have a license

22. How many CDs do you own of 12?
Black Label Society
1 - Mafia

23. Does 21 have a song that makes you cry?
Genghis Tron
I'd be too damn confused to cry!

24. Does 27 have a song that makes you happy?
HIM
They all do, in a sort of melancholy tragic gothic romance kinda way.

25. Does 23 have a song that makes you smile?
Bloodbath
that AWESOME riff in Devouring the Feeble!

26. What's the last song you've listened to from 28?
Devin Townsend
I'm listening now, to Deep Peace, from Terria

27. Is there a song by 32 that you've listened to more than 30 times?
Down
Probably Stone the Crow

28. What is a song from 50 that you've only listened to once?
Hawkwind
no

29. Is there a song you are sick of hearing by 24?
Opeth
no! how could I?!

30. What song got you into 40?
Gama Bomb
Bullet Belt

31. What is your favorite single by 25?
Dimmu Borgir
The Serpentine Offering

32. If 49 hated you, what would you do?
Iron Maiden
kill myself for sure

33. What would you say if 42 or one of the members from 42 asked you out?
Exodus
respectfully decline

34. Would you care if 41 had a boyfriend/girlfriend?
Iced Earth
not really

35. Who has the best voice in 46?
Ramones
they all sound the same

36. Do you think 26 is/are good looking?
Dissection
in a strange swedish black metal way

37. How many times have you listened to your favorite song by 36?
Brujeria
Matando Gueros, countless times

38. How many CDs do you own of 30?
Swashbuckle
none

39. Is there a song from 38 that makes you mad?
Entombed
most of them... I'm sure they're doing something right then!

40. Which member from 31 do you want to see go solo? If 31 is only one artist, what would you do if they joined a group?
Graveworm
pah, they should stay as they are

41. What does your favorite song from 48 remind you of?
Eluveitie
they remind me of Burn's Night, when I dressed as Braveheart!

42. Did you hate 43 at first?
Dream Evil
no, i never hated the METOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL!

43. Does your best friend also listen to 33?
Lamb of God
they all do

44. Do you think your parents would like 37?
Svartsot
actually yes

45. Does 47 have a song that makes you want to dance?
Vomitory
they make me want to crush some skulls!

46. Have you ever seen 34 in person?
Machine Head
sadly not

47. Do you like 44's name?
Satyricon
one of those names that I wish I had thought of

48. Is there someone in 35 that you want to go out with?
Pain
Peter Tagtgren- I would!

49. Do you know anyone that hates 39?
Chimaira
I know alot of people who probably would

50. Have you ever danced to a song from 19?
Strapping Young Lad
All the time, baby

I've taken a look ahead at the new releases for December, and with the exception of the new 30 Seconds to Mars record, we don't have anything to look forward to. So, without further ado, I present my top ten list for 2009.

1. Between the Buried and Me - The Great Misdirect
Everything you could want from a progressive metal record is here, from brutal thrash sections to calm and reflective passages, from throat-killing growls to cool-as-ice croons, from classic rock guitar solos to a piano break pulled straight out of a saloon in the Old West. The braintrust that is Between the Buried and Me knows no boundaries. There's no style these guys won't try, and most of the time they make it work in a way you'd never think possible. Fucking geniuses, these five men are.
2. Neko Case - Middle Cyclone
I am in love with Neko Case. She is, hands down, the best singer/songwriter out there right now. I can't say enough good things about her, and specifically about this latest record. I've probably listened to it at least once a day since it came out way back in the beginning of the year.
3. Green Day - 21st Century Breakdown
This is Green Day's best album yet. They just keep getting better and better. They picked up where American Idiot left off and took it to the next level. Also, their decision to work with Butch Vig instead of going with Rob Cavallo on this record turned out to be a stroke of genius.
4. Thursday - Common Existence
Thursday came back in a big way ten months ago. A lot of people heralded this record as a return to their old sound, and while there is a big Full Collapse influence here, they aren't stuck in the past. I see it as a huge step forward for Thursday.
5. Brand New - Daisy
It seems like all Brand New's old-school fans ditched them when this record came out. No, it's not like anything else they've put out. It's their most raw and emotional record to date. That's what I love about it. There were no limits this time around. They did whatever they felt was right, even if, as Jesse admits, it wasn't the most obvious choice.
6. Silversun Pickups - Swoon
Another band who made significant strides forward with their songwriting this year. Leaps and bounds better than Carnavas, and I like that record quite a bit. "Panic Switch" is one of my favorite songs of the year.
7. Lily Allen - It's Not Me, It's You
Every top ten list needs a cheeky British woman, right? Lily Allen is possibly the best lyricist working in the music business right now. And because she can sing as well, she's not confined to writing for other people. This record never fails to put a smile on my face.
8. Imogen Heap - Ellipse
Best electronica album of the year. She can make an instrument out of anything, including her kitchen sink. I consider her to be a musical genius.
9. Dethklok - Dethalbum II
Brandon Small does a great job of keeping the humor of the show separate from the music. This album on it's own is a stand-out metal record, which is something I think other TV-based spoof acts like Flight of the Conchords have trouble with. You don't need to have seen any episodes of Metalocalypse to enjoy this record. Brandon Small is a hell of a guitarist as well.
10. Dashboard Confessional - Alter The Ending
This album was only released a couple weeks ago, but it snuck onto my list. I'd written Dashboard off when they released Dusk and Summer a few years ago. But this record...it's just a damn good pop record. I don't know how he got to the place in his life where he could write music like this, but I hope he stays there for a while. Because this is the kind of pop music we need on the radio.

Honorable Mentions (Other Records from 2009 You Should Have in Your Collection)
AFI - Crash Love
Atreyu - Congregation of the Damned
Coheed and Cambria - Neverender: A must-have for CoCa fans, especially if you can get your hands on the Children of the Fence box set.
Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band - Outer South
Destry - It Goes On
Jimmy Eat World - Clarity Live: I don't include live albums or EPs on my top ten list, but this record is a must-have for any Jimmy Eat World fan.
Lightning Dust - Infinite Light
The Lonely Island - Incredibad
Placebo - Battle For The Sun
Rihanna - Rated R
Rx Bandits - Mandala
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz

Cd's I bought today:
Misery Index - Discordia
Voivod - Voivod

(All Bought)
!T.O.O.H.! - Rad A Trest
3 Inches of Blood - Advance and Vanquish
3 Inches of Blood- Trial Of Champions
Aborted - The Archaic Abattoir
The Absence - From Your Grave
...and Oceans - A.m.g.o.d.
Abaddon Incarnate - The Last Supper
Absu - Absu
Acid Bath - Demos: 1993-1996
Agathodaimon - Higher Art of Rebellion
Agathodaimon - Serpent's Embrace
The Agony Scene - The Darkest Red
Agoraphobic Nosebleed - Honky Reduction
Akercocke - Choronzon
Alice In Chains - Dirt
American Head Charge - Can't Stop The Machine
American Head Charge - The Feeding
American Head Charge - The War of Art
Amon Amarth - Fate of Norns
Amon Amarth - Twilight of the Thundergod
Amon Amarth - Verses the World [2 CD Edition]
Amon Amarth - With Oden on Our Side
Amorphis - Far From the Sun
Anaal Nathrakh - The Codex Necro
Anal Cunt - It Just Gets Worse
Angel Corpse - Of Lucifer and Lightning
Animosity - Animal
Anthrax - Among The Living
Anthrax - Attack of the Killer B's
Anthrax - Sound of White Noise
Anthrax - Spreading the Disease
Apocalyptica - Plays Metallica By Four Cellos
Arch Enemy - Anthems of Rebellion
Arch Enemy - Black Earth
Arch Enemy - Burning Bridges
Arch Enemy - Dead Eyes See No Future
Arch Enemy - Doomsday Machine
Arch Enemy - Rise Of The Tyrant
Arch Enemy - Stigmata
Arch Enemy - Wages Of Sin [Special Edition]
A Tribute to the Four Horsemen
At the Gates - The Red in the Sky Is Ours
Austrian Death Machine - A Very Brutal Christmas
Austrian Death Machine - Double Brutal
Austrian Death Machine - Total Brutal
Bathory - Nordland
The Beavis and Butthead Experience
Behemoth – Demigod
Behemoth - Pandemonic Incantations
Behemoth – Satanica
Behemoth – The Apostasy
Belphegor - Pestapokalypse VI
Benümb - Withering Strands of Hope
The Berzerker - Dissimulate
The Berzerker - World of Lies
Beyond The Embrace - Insect Song
Biomechanical - The Empires of the Worlds
The Black Dahlia Murder - Deflorate
The Black Dahlia Murder - Unhallowed
Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath - Children of the Grave
Black Sabbath - Heaven And Hell
Black Sabbath - Paranoid
Black Sabbath - Sabotage
Blo.Torch - Blo.Torch
Bloodbath - Breeding Death
Bloodbath - Nightmares Made Flesh
Bloodbath - Resurection Through Carnage
Bloodbath - The Fathomless Mastery
Bloodbath - The Wacken Carnage
Bloodbath - Unblessing The Purity
Blood Duster - Blood Duster
Blood Red Throne - Come Death
Bolt Thrower - Those Once Loyal
Bonded By Blood - Feed The Beast [2 Disc Special Edition]
Borknagar – Epic
Bring You to Your Knees: A Tribute to Guns 'n Roses
Buried Dreams – Necrosphere
Burn the Priest - Burn the Priest
Burzum - Hliðskjálf
Callenish Circle - Forbidden Empathy
Cannibal Corpse - The Bleeding
Cannibal Corpse - Bloodthirst
Cannibal Corpse - Butchered at Birth
Cannibal Corpse - Centuries Of Torment: The First 20 Years DVD
Cannibal Corpse - Evisceration Plague [Special Edition]
Cannibal Corpse - Eaten Back to Life
Cannibal Corpse - Live Cannibalism
Cannibal Corpse - Gore Obsessed
Cannibal Corpse - Kill
Cannibal Corpse - The Wretched Spawn
Cannibal Corpse - Vile
Cannibal Corpse - Worm Infested
Carcass - Necroticism-Descanting the Insalubrious
Carcass - Heartwork
Carcass - Reek of Putrefaction
Carcass - Swansong
Cardiac Necropsy - Scumwhore Superstar!!!
Carnal Forge - Who's Gonna Burn
Carnifex -The Diseased And The Poisoned
Cattle Decapitation - Karma.Bloody.Karma
Cattle Decapitation - To Serve Man
Cavalera Conspiracy - Inflikted
Celtic Frost – Monotheist
Century Media 2006 Sampler
Century Media Distro Spring Sampler Volume 3
Cephalic Carnage - Anomalies
Cephalic Carnage - Conforming to Abnormality [Reissue]
Cephalic Carnage - Exploiting Dysfunction
Cephalic Carnage - Xenosapien
Children of Bodom - Are You Dead Yet?
Children of Bodom - Follow the Reaper
Children of Bodom - Hatebreeder
Children of Bodom - Hate Crew Deathroll
Children of Bodom - Trashed, Lost & Strungout
Chimaira - Chimaira
Chimaira - Impossibility of Reason
Chimaira - The Infection
Chimaira - Pass Out of Existence
Chimaira - Resurrection
Circle of Dead Children - Exotic Sense Decay
Coal Chamber - Chamber Music
Coal Chamber - Coal Chamber
Coal Chamber - Dark Days
Coal Chamber - Giving the Devil his Due
Coldworker - The Contaminated Void
Contaminated 5.0: Relapse Records Music Sampler
Contaminated 6.0: Relapse Records Music Sampler
Contaminated Vol. 7 Relapse Records Music Sampler
Council of the Fallen - Deciphering the Soul
The County Medical Examiners - Olidous Operettas [Special Edition]
Cradle of Filth - Bitter Suites to Succubi
Cradle of Filth - Cruelty and the Beast
Cradle of Filth - Damnation and A Day
Cradle of Filth - Lovecraft & Witch Hearts
Cradle of Filth - Midian
Cradle of Filth - Nymphetamine
Cradle of Filth - Thornography
Criminal - Dead Soul
Cryptopsy - Once Was Not [Special Edition]
Cryptopsy - None So Live
Cryptopsy - The Unspoken King
Cryptopsy - Whisper Supremacy
Daath – Hinderers
Dalmerot's Kingdom - Ha'mistorin Ha'nitzchi
Damageplan - New Found Power
Danzig - Danzig
Danzig - The Lost Tracks of Danzig
Darkane - Rusted Angel
Dark Tranquillity – Character
Dark Tranquillity - Damage Done
Dark Tranquillity - The Gallery [Deluxe Edition]
Dawn of Azazel - Sedition
Death - Individual Thought Patterns
Death - Symbolic [The Expanded Edition]
Death - Scream Bloody Gore
Death Angel - Act III
Death Breath – Let it Sink
Death Breath - Stinking Up the Night
Decapitated - Organic Halucinosis
Deeds of Flesh - Inbreeding the Anthropophagi
Dekapitator - Storm Before the Calm
Dethklok - The Dethalbum
Dethklok - Dethalbum II
Disgorge – Gorelics
Dismal Euphony - Autumn Leaves - A Rebellion Of Tides
Deicide - The Best of Deicide
Deicide - Insineratehymn
Deicide - Legion
Deicide - Once Upon the Cross
Deicide - Scars of the Crucifix
Deicide - Stench of Redemption [Box Set Edition]
Deicide - Til Death Do Us Part [Special Edition]
Demon Hunter - Summer of Darkness
Destruction - Inventor of Evil
DevilDriver - Devildriver
DevilDriver - The Fury of Our Maker's Hand
DevilDriver - The Last Kind Words [Bonus Track]
DevilDriver - Pray For Villains [Special Edition]
Dimmu Borgir - Death Cult Armageddon
Dimmu Borgir - For All Tid [Special Edition]
Dimmu Borgir - Godless Savage Garden [Reissue]
Dimmu Borgir - In Sorte Diaboli [Digipack]
Dimmu Borgir - Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia
Dimmu Borgir - Spiritual Black Dimensions
Dimmu Borgir - Stormblåst
Dimmu Borgir - Stormblåst [Reissue]
Disbelief – Disbelief
Disbelief – Infected
Disturbed – Believe
Disturbed - The Sickness (Signed)
Disturbed - Ten Thousand Fists (Signed)
Divine Heresy - Bleed The Fifth (Signed)
Divine Heresy - Bringer Of Plagues
Drawn and Quartered - Return of the Black Death
Drawn and Quartered - Merciless Hammer of Lucifer [Limited Edition]
Dream Evil - United
Dream Theater - Awake
Dying Fetus - Descend Into Depravity
Dying Fetus - Destroy the Opposition
Dying Fetus - Killing on Adrenaline
Dying Fetus - War Of Attrition
E-Force - Evil Forces
Emperor - In the Nightside Eclipse
Enforsaken - The Forever Endeavor
Ensiferum - Iron
Entombed - Entombed
Evile - Enter the Grave
Exhumed - Gore Metal
Exodus - Fabulous Disaster
Exodus - Shovel Headed Kill Machine
Faith No More - Album of the Year
Faith No More - The Real Thing
Fear Factory - Archetype [Digipack]
Fear Factory - Demanufacture [Digipack]
Fear Factory - Digimortal
Fear Factory - Hatefiles
Fear Factory - Obsolete [Digipack]
Fear Factory - Soul of a New Machine [Digipack]
Fear Factory - Transgression
Finntroll - Ur Jordens Djup
Five.Bolt.Main - Venting
Fleshcrawl - Structures of Death (Digital Release)
Freddy Vs. Jason OST
Gadget – Remote
Gama Bomb - Citizen Brain
Goatwhore - A Haunting Curse
God Dethroned - Into the Lungs of Hell [Digi-Pack] (Signed)
God Dethroned - The Toxic Touch
God Forbid - IV: Constitution of Treason
God Forbid - Gone Forever
Gojira - The Way Of All Flesh
Gorgasm - Masticate to Dominate
Gorgoroth - Antichrist
Gorgoroth - Pentagram
Gorgoroth - Twilight of the Idols
Gorguts - Considered Dead
Gorguts - The Erosion of Insanity
Gorguts – Obscura
Graveworm - (N)utopia
Grimfist - Ghouls of Grandeur
Gwar - America Must be Destroyed
Gwar - Beyond Hell
Gwar – Hell-O!
Gwar - Scumdogs of the Universe
Gwar - Violence Has Arrived
Hammerfall Sampler
Hatebreed – Perseverance
Hatebreed - Rise of Brutality
Hatebreed - Supremacy
Hate Eternal - I, Monarch
The Haunted - The Dead Eye [Special Edition]
The Haunted - Made Me Do It
The Haunted - One Kill Wonder
The Haunted - rEVOLVEr [Digipack]
The Haunted - Versus
The Heart of Roadrunner Records
Heaven Shall Burn - Antigone
Heavy Metal 2000 OST
Hecate Enthroned - Kings of Chaos
Hellhammer - Demon Entrails
Hypocrisy – Abducted
Hypocrisy - The Arrival
Hypocrisy - Into the Abyss
Hypocrisy – Virus
Hyngd - Demo
I – Between Two Worlds
Iced Earth - Days of Purgatory
Iced Earth - Framing Armageddon
Identity 5: I Defy
Identity, Vol. 8
Impaled - Medical Waste
Impaled Nazarene - Pro Patria Finlandia
Impending Doom - Nailed. Dead. Risen.
Imperanon – Stained
Incantation - Mortal Throne of Nazarene
In Flames - Come Clarity [Digipack] (Signed)
In Flames – Colony
In Flames – Clayman
In Flames - Lunar Strain/Subterranean
In Flames - Reroute to Remain
In Flames - Soundtrack to your Escape
Into Eternity - Buried In Oblivion
Into Eternity - The Scattering of Ashes
Ion Dissonance – Minus the Herd
Jagermeister Rareties 2004
Jungle Rot - Dead and Buried
Kataklysm - In the Arms of Devastation
Kataklysm - Prevail
Kataklysm - Serenity In Fire
Kataklysm - Shadows & Dust
Kataklysm – Sorcery & The Mystical Gate of Reincarnation
Killswitch Engage - Alive or Just Breathing
Killswitch Engage - As Daylight Dies [Special Edition]
Killswitch Engage - The End of Heartache
Killswitch Engage - Killswitch Engage
King Diamond - Abagail II: The Revenge
King Diamond - Conspiracy
King Diamond - The Puppet Master [Digipack]
King Diamond - Them
Kingdom of Sorrow - Kingdom of Sorrow
Kreator - Enemy of God
Krisiun - Bloodshed [Special Edition]
Lamb of God - Ashes of the Wake
Lamb of God - As the Palaces Burn
Lamb of God - New American Gospel
Lamb of God - Sacrament
Lamb of God - Wrath
Lay Down Rotten - Reconquering the Pit (Digital Release)
Lollipop Lust Kill – My So Called Knife
Machine Head - The Blackening
Machine Head - The More Things Change
Machine Head – Supercharger
Machine Head - Through the Ashes of Empire
Maddface – Denatured
Mahavatar - From the Sun, the Rain, the Wind, the Soil
Malevolent Creation – Envenomed
Man Must Die - The Human Condition
Manowar - Louder Than Hell
Marduk -Dark Endless
Mastodon - Crack The Skye
Mastodon - Leviathan
Megadeth - Peace Sells...But Who's Buying?
Megadeth - So Far, So Good...So What!
Megadeth - The System Has Failed
Meshuggah - Catch Thirtythr33
Meshuggah -Chaosphere
Meshuggah -Nothing
Meshuggah - Obzen
Metal For The Masses Vol. 2
Metal For The Masses Vol. 3
Metal For The Masses Vol. 4
Metal Massacre XIII
Metallica - ...And Justice for All
Metallica - Death Magnetic
Metallica - Kill 'Em All
Metallica - Master of Puppets
Metallica - Metallica
Metallica - Ride the Lightning
Misery Index - Discordia
Misery Index - Retaliate
Misery Index - Traitors
Mnemic - The Audio Injected Soul
Moonspell - Darkness and Hope
Morbid Angel - Covenant
Morta Skuld - Surface
Motograter - Motograter
Mudvayne - L.D 50
Mudvayne - The Beginning of All things to End
Mudvayne - The End of All things to Come
Mudvayne - Lost and Found [Dual disc Edition]
Municipal Waste - The Art of Partying
Mushroomhead - Savior Sorrow [3-D Artwork]
Mushroomhead - Superbuick (Signed)
Mushroomhead – XX
Mushroomhead – XIII
The Music of Grand Theft Auto IV
My Dying Bride - A Line of Deathless Kings
Nachtmystium - Assassins: Black Meddle Pt. 1
Naglfar – Diabolical
Napalm Death – Conspiracy in Capitals
Napalm Death – Diatribes
Napalm Death - Leaders Not Followers: Part 2
Napalm Death - The Code is Red...Long Live the Code
Nasum - Grind Finale
Necrophagia - Black Blood Vomitorium
Necrophagia - Season of the Dead
Necrophagia - Slit Wrists and Casket Rot
Necrophagist - Epitaph
Necrophagist - Onset of Putrefaction
Nevermore - Dead Heart in a Dead World
Nevermore - Enemies of Reality
Nevermore - This Godless Endeavor
Nile - Annihilation of the Wicked
Nile - In the Beginning
Nile - Ithyphallic
Nile - Legacy of the Catacombs
North - Na Polach Bitew
Nothingface – Skeletons
Novembers Doom - Into Night's Requiem Infernal
Nuclear Blast: Weapons of Musical Destruction 2006 Sampler
Obituary - The End Complete (RR two from the Vault)
Obituary - World Demise (RR two from the Vault)
Obscura - Cosmogenesis
ohGr - Devils In My Details
Omnium Gatherum - Spirts and August Light
Opeth - Blackwater Park
Opeth - Ghost Reveries
Origin - Antithesis
Origin - Informis Infinitas Inhumanitas
Overkill - Killbox 13
Overkill - Years Of Decay
Ozzfest 2001 Summer Sampler
Ozzfest 2001: Second Millennium
Ozzfest 2002 Summer Sampler
Ozzfest 2003 Summer Sampler
Ozzfest Live 2002
Pantera - Best of Pantera: Far Beyond the Great Southern Cowboys' Vulgar Hits
Passenger – Passenger
Pig Destroyer - Phantom Limb
Plague Bringer - As the Ghosts Collect, The Corpses Rest
Plague Bringer - Life Songs in a Land of Death
Polterchrist - Engulfed by the Swarm
Possessed - Seven Churches
Powerman 5000 - Tonight The Stars Revolt!
Powerman 5000 - Transform
Primus - They Can't All Be Zingers
Probot - Probot
Protest - The Truth Enslaves Us
Psychostick - Sandwich
Psychostick - We Couldn't Think of a Title
The Punisher OST
Rage - Speak of the Dead
Rage Against the Machine - The Battle of Los Angelas
Rammstein - Mutter
Rammstein - Reise, Reise
Rammstein - Rosenrot [Special Edition]
Rammstein - Sehnsucht
The Red Chord - Clients [Deluxe Edition]
Requiem for a Scream - Requiem for a Scream
Relapse Records Extreme Music Sampler
Resident Evil O.S.T
Resident Evil Apocalypse O.S.T
Rise Against - Appeal To Reason
Roadrunner Records Fall 2005 Sampler
Roadrunner United (The All-Star Sessions)
Rob Zombie - Hellbilly Deluxe
Rob Zombie - House of 1000 Corpses Soundtrack
Rob Zombie - Past, Present, & Future
Rob Zombie - The Sinister Urge
Rotting Christ - Passage to Arcturo
Rumpelstiltskin Grinder - Living for Death, Destroying the Rest
Samael - Era One
Samael - Lesson in Magic
Satyricon - Now, Diabolical
Satyricon – Volcano
Savatage - Power of the Night
Scar Symmetry - Pitch Black Darkness
Sceptic - Unbeliever's Script
Septic Flesh - Sumerian Daemons
Sepultura - Against
Sepultura - Chaos A.D.
Sepultura - Roots [Digipack]
Sentenced - The Cold White Light
Shadows Fall - The Art of Balance
Shadows Fall - Destroyer of Senses
Shadows Fall - Threads of Life
Shakra - Fall
Sigh - Imaginary Sonicscape
Six Feet Under - Bringer of Blood [Digipack]
Six Feet Under - Graveyard Classics 2
Six Feet Under - Maximum Violence
Six Feet Under - True Carnage
Skinlab - Nerve Damage
Skinless - Foreshadowing Our Demise
Skinless - Trample the Weak, Hurdle the Dead
Slayer - Christ Illusion
Slayer - Diabolus in musica
Slayer - Divine Intervention
Slayer - God Hates Us All
Slayer - Haunting the Chapel
Slayer - Reign in Blood
Slayer - Seasons in the Abyss
Slayer - Show No Mercy
Slayer - South of Heaven
Slayer - Undisputed Attitude
Slipknot - Mate. Feed. Kill. Repeat.
Soilent Green – Confrontation
Soul Demise - In Vain
Soundgarden - A-Sides
Staind - Dysfunction
Static-X - Beneath... Between... Beyond
Static-X - Cannibal
Static-X - Cult of Static
Static-X - Machine
Static-X - Shadow Zone
Static-X - Start a War
Static-X - Wisconsin Death Trip
Stone Sour - Stone Sour [DigiPack]
Strapping Young Lad - Alien
Strapping Young Lad - SYL
Strapping Young Lad - The New Black
Suffocation - Blood Oath [Limited Blood Red Edition]
Suffocation - Souls to Deny
Suffocation - Human Waste
Suffocation - Suffocation
Superjoint Ritual - A Lethal Dose of American Hatred
Sworn Enemy - Sworn Enemy
Testament - First Strike Still Deadly
Testament - The Gathering
Testament - Low
Testament - Practice What You Preach
Testament - The New Order
Throwdown - Venom & Tears
Today is the Day - In the Eyes of God
Tool - Ænima
Tool - Lateralus
Type O Negative – Life is Killing Me
Unleashed - Viking Raids
Vader – Blood/Reign Forever World
Vader - The Art of War
Vader - The Ultimate Incantation
Venom - Black Metal [Reissue]
Venom - Metal Black
Vital Remains - Dechristianize
Vital Remains - Icons of Evil
Voivod - Voivod
Voivod - War and Pain
Vomitory - Terrorize Brutalize Sodomize
Warbringer - War Without End
Watch Them Die - Watch Them Die
Wednesday 13 - Transylvania 90210
White Zombie - Astro Creep: 2000
White Zombie - La Sexorcisto: Devil Music Vol. 1
White Zombie - Supersexy Swingin' Sounds
Winds of Plague - Decimate the Weak
Zimmers Hole - When You Were Shouting At The Devil...We Were In League With Satan

515 Albums
Itunes Stats:
Songs-9456 Songs
Playing Time-26 Days, 16 Hours, 03 Minutes, 43 Seconds
Size- 45.79gb