Welcome to our Thursday Music Feature! This week Dave and Susan were supposed to be talking about their top albums of 2020, but Dave apparently made up his own rules!
Be sure to let us know what YOUR favorite albums were this year in the comments. Also don't forget to add your party songs to the Muser Music Post HERE! Dave's Top Albums
When I was presented with this task of making my Top 10 Albums of the Year, I knew right away I had to do it my way. And of course, that means making my rules because that’s always more fun!
So, I bent a few rules, just a little bit. :) You know - Dave is very lucky he isn't entering a giveaway with this post as I do like my rules! But as this is just a feature, and he and Susan did all the work, I guess I can let it pass .... this time! Melanie
Anthrax - Persistence of Time
OK, this maybe a little of a cheat. Originally released in 1990, this is a 30th Anniversary edition released this year with bonus tracks and a live DVD but it’s one of their best, the music still holds up.
Def Leppard - London to Vegas
Two full concerts in one! One is the complete Hysteria record performed in its entirety, pretty awesome stuff and the other from their Vegas residency.
Metallica - S&M2.
Yes, I'm repeating myself since you probably read the article before but I love the blend of the symphony with a rock band it came out great.
In This Moment - Mother.
Amazing record. Guest vocals by Lizzy Hale and Taylor Momsen on a cover of "We Will Rock You". I love that the 3 of them worked together but I do wish it was on an original song instead of a cover.
Amaranthe - Manifest.
Blending a male and a female vocalist with different styles and tempos. "Viral" and "Boom" need to be checked out.
Queen and Adam Lambert - Live Around the World
Admittedly, I'm not the biggest Queen fan but the performances here, collected from several live shows leadoff off their talent and how well Adam fits in the band.
As a bonus, a few new songs from CDs coming out soon but will surely make next year’s list.
Butcher Babies - Bottom of the Bottle. Met them a few times after shows. They have been evolving over the years and progressing. A few sample clips sound great. This first single is a departure for them but is amazing.
Escape the Fate - Chemical Warfare, coming in February but 3 new songs hit this year-- "Walk On", "Invincible" featuring Lindsey Stirling, and "Christmas Song". If these are any indication, this next record will be phenomenal. Within Temptation - Entertain You. No release date for this one yet but this video is electric! Surely a sign they that have been working on something special for next year! The Pretty Reckless - Death by Rock n Roll. Been waiting for this record for a while too. Taylor and the gang change style a little with each record as they grow but this first single is great. I am impatiently waiting to hear more.
Dave Christy loves horror, music, documentaries, breaking the rules, and more. He is also the co-runner of several fan based groups including Morningstars (THE Lucifer fan group also run by Melanie), and now is a member of the VIPers Spotlight Lounge team for Melanie's Muses. Other than "In The Spotlight" Features -check out his "31 Days Of Halloween Movies"
Susan's Top Albums
2020 was an epic year for music, with albums released from rock royalty to the new artists breathing new life into the genre! The old and new collide in my list below, all released in 2020
(with one little cheat right at the end!) Melanie - UGH Susan! You are as bad as Dave!
Marilyn Manson – We are Chaos
This is, hands down, for me, Manson's best album and I know that's a bold statement but the album backs it up and them some. Some tracks like We Are Chaos and Paint You With My Love surprised me as its essentially a ballad...as much of a ballad that you would expect from Manson and I loved the little change in sound. Notable tracks: Red, Black and Blue, We Are Chaos, Halfway and One Step Forward, Infinite Darkness, Keep my head Together and Broken Needle
Notable tracks: Simmer, Leave it Alone, Creepin', Dead Horse, Why We Ever, Sugar on the Rim and Watch me While I bloom
Nothing but Thieves- Moral Panic
I loved this album so much that I write a blog post after it's release (You can check it outhere) Moral Panic is one of those rare albums, like with most NBT albums, that is an album you can listen to from start to finish without skipping, You delve right in with Unperson, a song that speaks to anyone struggling to find their identity, and how society wants you to be a carbon copy of those around you. The first song released off the album, Is Everybody going crazy?, gave you a feel for how the album was going to be...then, among the guitar heavy songs, you get the reprieve of Real Love Song and Impossible, which could absolutely be an alternative wedding song. Notable tracks: Unperson, Moral Panic, Phobia, Can you afford to be an Individual? and Before we Drift Away
Pvris – Use me (deluxe version as well)
Lynn Gunn from Pvris has this hauntingly beautiful voice that can do from sweet to rock chick in a split second. I've been a fan of Pvris since day one, ALOT of her songs show up on my playlists over and over again. Use Me is an angst filled album that makes you want to bop your head and sing the lyrics out loud. This is also one of those rare albums where you can listen from start to finish without skipping a song. As you can see below, narrowing down a few notable songs was hard! Notable tracks: Gimmie a Minute, Stay Gold, Good to be Alive, Old Wounds, Loveless, January Rain, Use Me Ft.070 Shake, Wish you well and Thank you ft Raye
The Hunna – I’d Rather Die Than To Let You In
The Hunna are a band that I would have listened to over the years, some songs finding their way onto book playlists, but I never truly appreciated their sound until this year, with the release of the newest album. I always tend to fall in love with a singer voice and Ryan Potter has a unique edge to his to voice that drew me in from the start. Notable tracks: I wanna Know, Young & Faded, Dark Times, If this is love ft Phem, and I'd rather die than let you in
Yungblud – Weird!
I've been a fan of Yungblud for a long time, with his ability to blend rock with pop and basically sing whatever the hell he wants. Weird! is essentially an album about accepting yourself, finding your tribe, owning who you are and not giving a f**k about others opinions. Notable tracks: Teresa. Mars, Superdeadfriends, god save me. but don't drown me out, love song and its quiet in Beverly hills
ACDC- PWR UP!
After 47 years and 17 albums, ACDC have firmly made their mark on music. Never a band for straying from what they are good at, the new album was a nod to Malcolm Young, who passed away in 2017. The sound of ACDC is unmistakable, from the very first chord, you just know that you can get stuck in and Power Up is one of those albums to listen to on a road trip. Most of the members of ACDC might be in their sixties and seventies, but Power Up proves that age is just a number and you can still get your rock on! Notable tracks: Shot in the dark, Kick You When You're down, Wild Reputation and Code Red
And reasons to be excited for music in 2021...
After hearing 25 from The Pretty Reckless, like Dave, I'm excited for the new album and the new You me at six album Suckapunch....But we will also get new Foo Fighters and I for one, am flipping excited!!!!
Susan Harris is a writer from Cork, Ireland and when she’s not torturing her readers with heart-wrenching plot twists or killer cliffhangers, she’s probably getting some new book related ink, binging her latest TV or music obsession, or with her nose in a book. She is a proud founding Member of the Muser VIPers and is responsible for Melanie not breaking the Website on an almost daily basis!
You can check out all her books on Amazon HERE All Links To Buy / Subscribe to Amazon Programs On Amazon in this article areAmazon Affiliate Links (As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases which in turns helps support all the Muser giveaways we do!) |
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