Top 10 Rock Albums Of 2008

My Rock Dose Top 10 Rock Albums Of 2008 covers mainly established rock acts and not this new wave of modern rock as we know it. I’ll go through each none and tell you why I chose it. Take in to consideration that I only went through bands that I’ve heard this year and not every rock album that has come out. If you expect Nickelback or Hinder to be on this list then you came to the wrong place. So what does this list mean? Nothing really, it’s just MY favorite picks of 2008, so don’t cry if your favorite band didn’t make my cut. Instead give them a shout in the comment section.

1. AC/DC: Black Ice – I haven’t liked a new AC/DC album in a long time, but their latest release shows that these guys still know how to rock. Even if it sounds like so many other AC/DC albums, it still has that punch, that energy that AC/DC always has. You didn’t expect them to change and sound like BuckCherry did you? (They won’t be on this list)
2. Candlebox: Into the Sun – Candlebox brought their signature sound once again to their latest album and did well. This is what sets apart good rock bands. Having your won sound and not sounding like every other rock band out there. That’s the problem with today’s modern rock.
3. Tesla: Forever More – Tesla is still Tesla and write great tunes. Forever More is no exception.
4. Bob Dylan: Tell Tale Signs – This may not be an album full of newer songs, but a lot of Dylan fans have said that this is one of the best Dylan releases. I haven’t heard much more Bob Dylan than you hear on the radio, but this is a great double disc set. Little bit of country, blues and rock intertwined.
5. Bigelf: Cheat The Gallows – Their sound may not be totally original in the aspect of sounding like a few classic bands mixed together, but Bigelf is an entertaining and interesting band. The music just kind of flows and makes your ears happy.
6. David Gilmour: Live At Gdansk – Normally I wouldn’t feature a live album in a top 10, but David Gilmour is always great and this 2 disk set is amazing. It also features the late Richard Wright on keyboards and vocals.
7. Royal Bliss: Life In-Between – I got this as a promotional copy earlier this year. It doesn’t come out until January, but it’s something to look out for. Royal Bliss bring a post-grunge era sound with a modern vibe and melody that a lot of modern bands lack.
8. Tom Morello: The Nightwatchman “The Fabled City” – Acoustic guitar effects? You heard it. Tom Morello proves to be not just some guitar player but a great song writer and singer once again with his second solo effort. Political, controversial and guitar driven rock…the way it should be, even if it is acoustic.
9. Shinedown: The Sound Of Madness – While Shinedown make an effort to be harder and heavier at times on this record, they shine the most with the ballad type songs.
10. Taproot: Our Long Road Home – Taproot still has what it takes to stay relevant in this age when being almost too heavy is as cool in mainstream rock. They can mix it up, going from moderately mellow to a heavy breakdown that almost go in to the realms of metal at times.

Biggest Disappointment

• Motley Crue: The Saints Of Los Angeles – I thought this would be a much better album. It sounds juvenile for a bunch of guys over 40. They are trying to tell a story here…the story of Motley Crue. A Story we already know. We didn’t want to the story of Motley Crue, we can get that on VH1. We wanted another kick ass Motley Crue album like the ones they wrote in the 80’s. Instead we got rehashed riffs and teenage lyrics.

Better Than Expected

• Sixx:A.M.: The Heroin Diaries Soundtrack – After tearing this an undeserving new one, I actually gave it a good listen instead of sampling songs online. Really listening to the songs and reading the lyrics is enlightening. If you think it’s just a rock album, read the title of the album again. It’s a sound track. A sound track to a book nonetheless, but a soundtrack. It’s sound like a rock opera because that’s basically what it is.

Most Annoying

• Sound And Fury – Old School punk has come and gone. This isn’t even a respectable attempt at modernizing an old school sound in an already over-populated punk/pop genre.

Honorable Mentions

• The Answer: Never Too Late Ep
• Trapt: Only Through The Pain

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