The year is almost over so it is time to look back at what was awesome in music during the year. I have already looked back at the Top Rock Albums of 2016 (click to read). This list will cover all other genres that I listened to over the year including Pop, R&B, Christian and whatever other genre you want classify these albums. Rock is my favorite genre that is why it gets it’s own list, but that doesn’t take away from any of these choices as I think they are great on their own.
Note: These albums were my favorites and not necessarily the most played on the radio (which I hate the radio) or even the biggest sellers. These are just what I came across during the year and connected with me in some way. So, we might as well get started…
The #1 Album of 2016
Lady Gaga – Joanne (Interscope Records): This was an easy pick for me. The album was such a pleasant surprise and a departure from her last album. It had a little bit of everything from Pop to Country to Rock to Folk. It was such a great mixture of songs that gave us one cohesive album. The title track, “John Wayne”, “A Million Reasons” and “Perfect Illusion” were all great songs. Even the Deluxe Edition was great with “Grigio Girls”. All around classic album for Lady Gaga. Check out my review here.
Happy Friday. This is the last Friday New Release update of the year. The next two weeks might have some new releases but nothing on my radar.
This week’s list is very limited as well. The only one worth writing home about is the 40th Anniversary of Rush’s classic album 2112. Outside of that I might listen to the Bon Jovi live album (won’t buy it) and I will always listen to anything Tony Bennett. See if there is anything you are interested in hearing.
Rush – 2112 (40th Anniversary) – (Mercury Records): Hard to believe it has been 40 years since this album came out. Amazing. And I am getting old. It will be great to go back and listen to this amazing classic. If you have 20 minutes to kill, check out the video.
I was in the garage getting down the Christmas decorations and I came across a box that strangely said…”Posters”. It dawned on me rather quickly that these were posters that I had when I was younger and posters from when I worked at the Sam Goody Music Stores.
I couldn’t get the box down fast enough to see what was in there. I was surprised at how many I still had after 25-30 years and what great shape they were still in. There were a few slight rips or tears and maybe a little discoloration, but all-in-all I thought they were in great condition.
We will start with those from my personal collection that actually hung on my walls when I lived at home in my parents house around 25+ years ago. First, you will notice the crystal looking candlesticks holding down the posters. They have been rolled up for quite some time and wouldn’t stay open, so I had to have some help.
If you know me, then you know I had to have either Def Leppard or Kiss on my wall. Actually, I had both. The Def Leppard posters were from High & Dry and Pyromania era live shows.
On the follow-up to ‘Prayers for the Damned, Vol. 1’, Sixx:A.M. is back in a little over 6 months with the ‘Prayers for the Blessed, Vol. 2’. What I love about Sixx:A.M. is the consistency they have with the quality of songs and the album and this one is no different. There are not too many bands that are hitting on all cylinders like they currently are.
When the first song, “Barbarians (Prayers for the Blessed)”,kicks in you immediately know the band has picked up right where Vol. 1 left off. The heavy ass drums and guitar just screams ‘CRANK ME UP!!!’
The first single off the album is “We Will Not Go Quietly” and is more of what I have come to expect and salivate over. James Michael’s vocals are outstanding and you can’t complain about the greatness of DJ Ashba’s guitar work either.
On Black Friday, November 25th, it was Record Store Day. A day to celebrate independently owned Record Stores. Bands will release special edition or unique offerings to celebrate. I was in the middle of traveling to Atlanta from Charlotte and was not able to hit my local record store to show my appreciation.
However, on Saturday I did visit a record store in Marietta, Ga because there was one album I was eager to obtain. It was a special 2 LP release of The Wild Feathers ‘Live at the Ryman’. There were only 3,000 copies made and I can say I am one of the very proud owners of one copy.
This weeks My Sunday Song #18 is by my all time favorite band, Def Leppard. The song is off their latest self-titled album and is called “We Belong”. Def Leppard just released the new video in the last couple days while promoting their upcoming DVD which is called And There Will Be a Next Time – Live From Detroit. It is a DVD-Blu-ray/two-CD set which will be released On Feb. 10, 2017. They are taking preorders at Pledgemusic.com.
The Tracklisting is 17 songs and includes the following:
1. “Rocket”
2. “Bringin’ on the Heartbreak”
3. “Switch 625″
4. Medley: “Hysteria” / “Heroes”
5. “Let’s Get Rocked”
6. “Pour Some Sugar on Me”
7. “Rock of Ages”
8. “Photograph”
I will be getting my copy for sure. Go get yours.
Now back to the song. This is the first song that every band member has a part in the lead vocals. That to me is the charm behind this great song and one of my favorite songs on the album.
I tried to look up the meaning behind the song, but really couldn’t find anything on it. In reading the lyrics it looks like it is about God. With lyrics like “You’re all that I am, You’re all that I see, The keys to the kingdom Are waiting for me” and “If you cast the first stone I will roll it away, I will kneel at your throne Hold my hands up and pray” are why I have the impression it is about his faith.
You can interpret it anyway you want, but this is my take away and why I wanted to showcase the song. To me, it screams I am not good enough to be loved by God and how can I be a part of His Kingdom.
I hope you get something out of it and enjoy. Let me know your thoughts on the song.
“We Belong”
Sometimes I feel I don’t belong here
Sometimes I just don’t feel
I feel so uninvited
A wound that never heals
I need a little shelter
Just for a little while
Sometimes I hide the sadness
Behind a painted smile
If you cast the first stone
I will roll it away
I will kneel at your throne
Hold my hands up and pray
I will hold back the tide
Push the oceans aside
Save the day
But I can be stronger
You’re all that I am
You’re all that I see
The keys to the kingdom
Are waiting for me
So don’t hold me back
Don’t hold me down
Just hold me and don’t let go
You’re all that I am
You’re all that I do
The end of the rainbow
Is waiting for you
So tell me I’m right
Cause this can’t move on
Not if we belong
Whatever happened to forgiveness
Are the words too hard to say
What happened to the answers
They disappeared along the way
I hide behind the madness
Still looking for the clues
And there’s nothing left to chance
When there’s nothing left to lose
And the voice in my head
Screams the words I believe
And the light in the dark
Is the air that I breathe
You’re all that I am
You’re all that I see
The keys to the kingdom
Are waiting for me
So don’t hold me back
Don’t hold me down
Just hold me and don’t let go
You’re all that I am
You’re all that I do
The end of the rainbow
Is waiting for you
So tell me I’m right
Cause this can’t move on
Back where we belong
As you cast the first stone
And I roll it away
And I kneel at your throne
These words that I say
You’re all that I am
You’re all that I see
The keys to the kingdom
Are waiting for me
So don’t hold me back
Don’t hold me down
Just hold me and don’t let go
You’re all that I am
You’re all that I do
The end of the rainbow
Is waiting for you
So tell me I’m right
Cause this can’t be wrong
Not if we belong
As we get closer and closer to Christmas, there will be fewer worth while releases. However, we aren’t there yet as the Rolling Stones are set to release their new album “Blue & Lonesome”. This will be tops on my list for today. The others I will check out are highlighted in Blue.
The Rolling Stones – Blue & Lonesome – (Promotone B.V): The Stones are going back to their roots and bringing us an old school Stones album and it sounds great from what I have heard so far. Can’t wait for the rest.
Night Ranger – 35 Years and a Night in Chicago – (Frontiers Music Srl): Wow! 35 years of Night Ranger. I will celebrate by listening to their new live album. I just picked up their first 3 on vinyl and still love them.
I have been going to records stores way too often as I continue my obsession on buying vinyl. On the flip side of that, I also don’t feel like I have gone enough. Confusing I know. I actually enjoy just browsing through the store and seeing what is there. It is rare I go into the store and I don’t buy anything, but lately I am picking up 5 or 6 at a time and I am loving it.
Most everything I am picking up is of course from the 70’s or 80’s since vinyl died out in the 90’s. The new releases that are out now are too expensive to make it a habit so I focus on the used record. There are no shortages of those, but what I want is seldom available on my visits. It is hit or miss.
Lately, it has been more hit than miss. And it has mostly been 80’s records so I guess the 80’s are back. Yes, I am buying records for albums I had already purchased back in the 80’s whether on cassette or CD, but I don’t have any of those anymore so I actually only have the one physical copy of the album. The other copy is now digital and you can’t really hold that in your hand.
So, what I have been picking up on my adventures you might ask that is from the 80’s? Well, you probably aren’t asking but I am going to tell you anyway.
For My Sunday Song #17, I needed something powerful and heavy. I needed something to remind my that I am can accomplish anything. I know I wasn’t focusing on Christian artist for this set of 10 songs, but I kept coming back to the song “Feel Invincible” by the band Skillet. The song is off their latest release ‘Unleashed’. Plus, it is my blog and I can change the rules at anytime.
The song is great for motivating me to accomplish whatever I am working on at the time. It reminds me that because of Jesus dying for us, I can overcome any obsticle that I face with Him by my side. I hope you get that from this song as well.
In an article on iHeart.com written by Nicole Mastrogiannis, Skillet explains the meaning behind the song:
“‘Feel invincible’ is a song that’s about finding that one thing in your life that helps you wake up tomorrow morning, even though this whole world is going crazy. Every week or every few days, there’s another terrible tragedy or attack. There’s so many terrible things happening, and it’s easy to lose faith. It’s easy to just kind of give in to that fear. And ‘Feel Invincible’ is about finding that one thing. What is it that helps you believe in yourself? One thing that helps you believe and hope for the world. And it’s kind of an escape. That can be lots of things. That’s the beauty of music, is that it can mean one thing to someone, and you know it could be about a wife or a husband or a girlfriend or whatever. It could be about a friend, it could be about God, it could be spiritual. In my life, that one thing that gives me hope is my relationship with God. But, that’s the beautiful thing about writing poetry, is that it can mean lots of different things to different people.”
I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. It is Black Friday and everyone will rush out shopping so you might as well pick up some new music. There is not a whole lot out which makes sense as it is the day after a major Holiday. The good thing is it will give me a chance to catch up on some prior releases. The only two I will give a listen to this week are highlighted in Blue.
The Weeknd – Starboy – (The Weeknd XO): His last release actually grew on me and I found it quite interesting. Hopefully he can take it to the next level with this one and become a bonafide star. I like his voice and think he has major potential.
Lady Gaga – Joanne (Interscope Records): This was an easy pick for me. The album was such a pleasant surprise and a departure from her last album. It had a little bit of everything from Pop to Country to Rock to Folk. It was such a great mixture of songs that gave us one cohesive album. The title track, “John Wayne”, “A Million Reasons” and “Perfect Illusion” were all great songs. Even the Deluxe Edition was great with “Grigio Girls”. All around classic album for Lady Gaga. Check out my review here.
2 Loud 2 Old Music 