The Second Annual MATTY AWARDS Part One: The Best of Music in 2004
Dec 28 '04
The Bottom Line ...
This review is part of Demon and Drew's year end music wrap up write off. Thanks to my two kind hosts for the invite!
Hello, and thank you, I am your host, Matt, and welcome to the second annual MATTY AWARDS. Since The Grammys can't seem to get anything right, it has fallen on me, 'The Epinions King of Rock,' to give out awards in not only the classic categories, but to create some categories of my own. Please note that since *I* am writing this, this means that this is the definitive list of what was good in music this year. Part two will be the definitive list of what was BAD in music this year. Also, please note that if you took that last line seriously, consider yourself a co-winner of the "Jackass who doesn't know sarcasm when he/she is reading it" award.
And now, the classic categories:
Album of the Year
1.Green Day-American Idiot: Punk has always been about protest, but in recent years, protest in punk has seemingly died, with no one having anything remotely intelligent to say. And so here comes Green Day out of nowhere with this rock opera that manages to strike the perfect chord in describing the state of the nation under our (just re-elected, blech) president. Add in the numerous musical nods to the band's forgotten influence, The Who, and the ambition of the album and the songwriting and the music, and nothing else comes close to a whiff for this award.
2.Aerosmith-Honkin on Bobo: Aerosmith had become almost a parody of themselves in recent years, moving farther and farther away from their hard rocking roots in order to sell a few more albums. Bobo is a raucous return to form, and while only one song on the record was an Aero original (The Grind, a song that grew on you with every listen), their choice of covers showcased the collective talents of the entire band, while also featuring Steven Tyler blowing the harp, something that hasn't been seen nearly enough in recent years.
3.Hanson-Underneath: Yes, they subjected us to MMMBop over seven years ago, but really, haven't they paid their dues? Underneath is a near perfect pop record, showcasing the band's harmonies and penchant for coming up with a great hook (see: Penny and Me).
4.Probot-Probot: Dave Grohl's heavy metal tribute album, which, after one week of being released, pretty much got ignored by everyone. Tis a shame too, since it was probably the best metal album of the year, not to mention the album that probably has no business being as good as it is.
5.U2-How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb: Some have complained that this latest U2 album doesn't have the passion of previous efforts, but I would heartily disagree. The death of Bono's dad runs through at least half the songs on the album (either directly or indirectly), and The Edge is finally given some room to show off, after being all but forgotten for the better part of a decade.
6.The Darkness-Permission to Land: OK, so this came out in '03 and I'm late, so sue me. Replayability is an important trait for any album, and this disc has it in spades. Had the band picked/written better ballads (how How Dare You Call This Love? was ever left off is beyond me), it would be even higher.
7.Prince-Musicology: Modern R&B needed a good swift kick in the nether regions, and out of nowhere came Prince to give it. Whether he was strutting out hot funk jams like the title track, or singing a ballad the way that only Prince can, Musicology was one of the nicest musical surprises of the year.
8.Silvertide-Show and Tell: The world needed a reminder of what good ole rock and roll was, and Silvertide brought it. Sure, at times it was derivative, but it was also one of the most entertaining rock listens of the year. It gets bonus points for its at times surprising creativity and above average experimentation (for a young band's debut, at least).
9.Chris Robinson-This Magnificent Distance: So how did Chris Robinson celebrate the release of his overall finest musical moment in almost a decade? He broke up his New Earth Mud project after a short supporting tour. Supposedly to reform the Black Crowes with brother Rich (who also put out a damn good solo offing this year). TMD is a great album, overlong at times to be sure, but the songs are light years ahead of Robinson's last solo batch (2002's New Earth Mud).
10.Velvet Revolver-Contraband: I think this release befuddled more reviewers than it ever should have. 3/5 of Guns 'N' Roses get together with Scott Weiland (from STP) and a guitarist friend of Slash's, and they make a hard charging rock and roll record. And you were expecting....???
Honorable Mentions:
Franz Ferdinand's self titled debut was dancerockeriffick. Saliva came out of nowhere to actually release an album that had more good songs than bad on it. Sum 41 grew up and went more metal, and it worked! A Perfect Circle recorded a covers album that decidedly did not suck. And The Music made me remember everything good about Jane's Addiction and Led Zeppelin.
Songs of the Year:
1.Fall to Pieces-Velvet Revolver: Over the best bit of guitar ballad melody that Slash ever wrote, Weiland writes one of the most personal and heart-wrenching songs that rock has seen in years. Add in the most fitting to a song solo of the year, and Fall to Pieces is far and away this year's king.
2.Jesus of Suburbia-Green Day: The unquestioned centerpiece of their American Idiot album, this nine minute plus, five part suite has disaster written all over it, at least when you consider the "nine minute plus, five part suite" is next to Green Day's name. But the band pulls it off, and not only that, it makes you want to hear it again and again, right after listening to it.
3.Old Red Wine-The Who: When it was announced that The Who were putting two new songs on their latest greatest hits set, eyes rolled. After all, the band's last two albums without drummer Keith Moon sucked, and NOW they don't have Entwistle on bass either. But Old Red Wine is a fitting tribute to their dearly departed bassist, featuring Daltrey's best studio performance in a quarter century. There's hope for the new Who record after all...
4.Take Me Out-Franz Ferdinand
5.Tessie--Dropkick Murphys: Did it really propel the Red Sox to their first World Series title in 86 years? Oh who cares, as long as it replaces friggin Sweet Caroline as Fenway's anthem of choice, it's fine by me.
6.White Houses-Vanessa Carlton
7.Musicology-Prince
8.I Believe in a Thing Called Love-The Darkness
9.You Gotta Move-Aerosmith
10.Hey-Hanson
3 more for good measure
11.Boulevard of Broken Dreams-Green Day
12.Survival of the Sickest-Saliva
13.It's About Time-Van Halen
MOST PROMISING RELEASE
Yes, it comprises 3/4 of Creed, but Alter Bridge's debut One Day Remains has been growing on me steadily since reviewing it in August. This will be a band to be reckoned with in another couple of albums.
GUILTY PLEASURE OF THE YEAR
Say what you want, but Snoop Dogg's Drop It Like It's Hot is just undeniably catchy. Yeah, the lyrics suck a*s, but so does 75% of the rest of commercial rap.
VIDEO OF THE YEAR
A tough choice, but one that has to go to Fall to Pieces. Besides further ripping out Scott's heart, the entire video has emotion written all over it, and I commend the band for putting out a clip that does justice to the song. But I'd be remiss to not mention bands like Franz Ferdinand and Modest Mouse in this category, not to mention Vanessa Carlton (dueling personalities anyone?), and of course, the The Darkness for their hilarious clip for Growing on Me.
CONCERT OF THE YEAR
I saw a lot of great shows this year, but nothing could top the performance I saw back in August, when Prince got perhaps the loudest welcome I've ever heard. And it hardly let up either. He captivated for 2 and a half solid hours, and the most awe-inspiring part of the night may have been the acoustic solo set, which was just out and out bada*s. And oh yeah, I saw all this for TWELVE BUCKS!
Pearl Jam put on a pair of solid shows, including the treat of hearing two certain songs for the first time in a decade. The Darkness' live show was everything I had heard and more: fan f*cking tastic. And The Presidents of the United States of America put on an extremely solid show here back in October.
BEST RETROSPECTIVE
Bon Jovi's box set 100,000,000 Fans Can't Be Wrong is a virtual treasure trove of great unreleased songs, not to mention solid tracks from soundtracks like Good Guys Don't Always Wear White. Forget the hype about the Nirvana set.
BEST MUSIC DVD
With three different shows, each with a different setlist, The Rolling Stones Four Flicks is the type of DVD Box that just doesn't come around very often. Any fan of rock and roll should find a lot of joy in this set, and Stones' fans especially will be in heaven, thanks to the inclusion of hardly ever (if at all) performed classics.
EPINIONS AWARDS
Review of the Year: My boy Mike has been taking a lot of heat for slaughtering the sacred cow known as Nas. But man, I gotta give props to those who slaughter sacred cows. Besides that, his review made me laugh my a*s off. So be sure to check it out by clicking here
Music Reviewer of the Year: This is never an easy category, if only because of the amount of highly skilled writers we see in the music section. But I gotta give props this year to madtheory. Besides giving much needed beat downs when needed, the dude has a genuine love for music and, especially, hip hop, that makes him truly admirable.
That's it for the good stuff folks. Stay tuned for part two, where I'll filet the biggest LOSERS of the year!
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
MattA75
|
 - Top 50 |
|
Member: Matt Aucoin
Location: South Berwick, ME
Reviews written: 1163
Trusted by: 465 members
About Me:
Gonna be a daddy, April 2010!
|
|
|
© 1999-2010 Shopping.com, Inc.