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15) Crystal Stilts – Alight of Night (Slumberland)

This is the kind of album that takes a few listens before it opens up and you really start appreciating how good it is. Like the Vivian Girls, this is on a post-punk, early twee tip, but nowhere near as sweet and bubbly. In fact, singer Brad Harget’s deep baritone keeps things rather sullen, no matter how upbeat the music gets. Imagine Ian Curtis fronting a Nuggets-era pysch-pop group, using the Jesus & Mary Chain’s audio equipment. Sound good? Of course that does!

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14) Bonded by Blood – Feed the Beast (Earache)

These West Coast beasts are like the Second Coming of the band they named themselves after–Exodus! I don’t know why it is, but metal is just better when it’s being done by teens, and that’s exactly what Bonded by Blood are. They’re 17-18 year old thrash heads making the kind of metal that should have never gone away. Killer riffs, devilish lyrics, and just a head-banging good time.

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13) Gun ‘N Roses – Chinese Democracy (Geffen)

Somewhere between Rolling Stone’s 4 star review and Pitchfork’s 5.8/10 lies the truth regarding this album. I’m not placing this album so high on the list because I feel it’s some musical masterwork (it isn’t). Few albums on on any list escape the “really good-great” label for me into full-fledged masterpiece. I am rating this album so high simply because of how much listening enjoyment it’s provided me in such a short span of time. The one common thread I’ve read in every review regarding this album, good or bad, is everyone’s unwavering opinion that Axl sounds amazing. So with that said, what more could you have wanted or expected? If you were looking for another Appetite For Destruction here, then move along. You were foolish to even have that sort of expectation. Are you jaded or too elitist to fraternize amongst the musical tastes of the masses? Again move along, this is a straight up as dumbed-down commercial rock record and you’ll find. However, if you’re through being cool and can appreciate the simple pleasures of catchy songs, and want to welcome a much missed voice, then you’re in the right place. I have no doubt that I will grow tired and bored of this album once its songs are everywhere, but even then, I’ll still be able to appreciate it for what it is. Had this come out when I was 18-25, I would have never given this album the time of day. But these days, I’m doing all sorts of new things I never expected, like learning to appreciate Aerosmith’s Get A Grip and Ozzy’s No More Tears for what they are, and not in the context of those artists’ stifling legacies. (I’m even just letting go of the fact that while maybe Bush and STP were “poseur” attempts at 90s grunge, they made some damn catchy songs.) As it is, Chinese Democracy is no revelation, no masterpiece and definitely nothing new. But it is the most enjoyable, truly commercially-pandering hard rock album I’ve heard since, well… Use Your Illusion.

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12) RTX – JJ Got LIve RaTX (Drag City)

OK, I never thought Royal Trux (or RTX, as they’re now calling themselves) would ever put out an album this good without Neil Haggerty. I clearly was wrong! Royal Trux were always the kind of band that seemed to get better with each passing album, but after Jennifer Herrema and Neil Haggerty split, I figured that was that. The subsequent Scene Creamers, Howling Hex, and RTX releases were good, but not on par with the Trux… until this album came along! This is some seriously tasty groove-based rock, with equal parts stoner jams and glam metal… This is the album I was anticipating since Pound for Pound, everything they had been building up to from Sweet Sixteen through Veterans of Disorder. And while the lineup of this Royal Trux may not be the same, this album proves that the band is the same. Your move, Mr. Haggerty!

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11) Ladyhawke – Ladyhawke (Modular)

How much you like or loathe this album really depends on what you think about  New Wave & synthpop. If you’re like me and you eat that shit up,  and hunt down every obscure band or single you can, then hearing this album is like discovering that long lost Missing Persons, Adam Ant or Bananarama album where EVERY song is really, really good & catchy. Never at any point does this album sound like a retro revival, it sounds like the genuine article which to me is what makes this album so good. These kind of album hinge almost solely on the strength of melody and the voice bellowing it. Pip Brown never once fumbles a melodic opportunity to hammer a song deep into your head, and her voice echos of the kind of power and confidence as if she’s tapped into Stevie Nicks via Cyndi Lauper. This is the kind of album with such a well of great songs that you end up listening to for days on end pulling new favorite songs every few listens as old favorites grow old.

We’re coming down to the top ten, be here tomorrow!

• For albums 20-16 on the list click here!

• For albums 25-21 on the list click here!

• For albums 30-26 on the list click here!

• For albums 35-31 on the list click here!

• For albums 40-36 on the list click here!

- My Pal the Crook