The Best of the 10's - Danny's Best Rock Music of the Decade!

THE BEST ROCK ALBUMS OF THE 2010's:

Note: I decided to try something a little different here. Typically, in my Best of the Year lists, I look at the best songs of the year. But now, looking back at the decade, I thought it'd be appropriate to look instead at the best albums. Because any band can have a great song or two - but putting out a really great album? Even in the age of streaming, that's what cements a band as legend and creates fans for life.


1. Daft Punk - Random Access Memories (2013)

- I actually didn't really love Daft Punk's landmark album at first listen. I was coming off of their Tron Legacy soundtrack and wanted more of the same. But over time, I came to appreciate just how great Random Access Memories really was. From uber-catchy dance songs to cosmic techno and everything in between - this really is a modern classic.


2. Twenty One Pilots - Vessel (2013)

- With its earworm songs and exciting combination of rap, rock, and techno, Twenty One Pilots' breakout album was a game-changer.


3. Foxy Shazam - The Church of Rock and Roll (2012)

- Full of bombastic rock, Foxy Shazam showed they had what it takes to be the next great rock band with this 2012 album. If only they'd stayed together!


4. Daft Punk - Tron Legacy Soundtrack (2010)

- Want to hear the soundtrack to the electro-future of your dreams? Look no further than the instant-mood-setting of Daft Punk's seminal score to Tron Legacy.


5. Scorpions - Sting in the Tail (2010)

- Doubt me if you want, but Scorpions' Sting in the Tail is a late-career epic from the classic rock stalwarts, that came nearly fifty years into the band's career. From "Raised on Rock" to "The Best Is Yet to Come," this one is chock full of killer rock anthems.


6. The Darkness - Hot Cakes (2012)

- After a long hiatus, The Darkness returned in 2012 with a kick-ass comeback album that's filled with fist-pumping rockers.


7. Alice Cooper - Welcome 2 My Nightmare (2011)

- The spiritual sequel to one of the all-time great rock albums did not disappoint. Sure, old-school fans may have been shocked to see Alice Cooper collaborate with the likes of Kesha, but true fans know that one of the secrets to Alice's success is that he's always evolving.


8. Greta Van Fleet - Black Smoke Rising (2017)

- While Greta Van Fleet may have suffered from overexposure, there's also no denying that this debut EP absolutely ripped. From start to finish, it's full of new songs and covers that evoke mystical, magical 70's-era rock.


9. John Carpenter - Lost Themes (2015)

- The soundtrack to so much of my writing in recent years, legendary movie director (and film score composer!) John Carpenter blessed us with two albums of all-new music this decade. The instrumental songs evoke his trademark foreboding, synth-y style.


10. Slash - Slash (2010)

- Before Guns n' Roses improbably reunited to tour again, GnR guitar legend Slash came out with this killer album. Filled with collaborations with everyone from Ozzy to Fergie (and eventual bandmate Myles Kennedy of Alter Bridge), this one took you to paradise city and back.


THE NEXT BEST:


11. Rush - Clockwork Angels (2012)

- Rush's final album was one hell of a farewell. A steampunk-themed concept album, Clockwork Angels was jam-packed with killer prog-rock anthems filled with geeky-awesome imagery.


12. The Dropkick Murphys - Signed and Sealed in Blood (2013)

- Boston's favorite sons are nothing if not reliable - but Signed and Sealed is one of their best. Quite simply, it's loaded with great songs that will have you belting out the lyrics like it's last call at the pub. The boys, as they say, were back.


13. The Offspring - Days Go By (2011)

- By the time this album released, The Offspring were struggling to get rock radio airplay - the world had moved on from their brand of catchy punk rock. But that's a shame, because this was a great album, mixing vintage Offspring-style tunes ("Slim Pickens ...") with super-fun experiments ("Cruising California (Bumpin' in My Trunk")).


14. Kesha - Warrior (2012)

- I've always liked Kesha's rock n' roll attitude, and this album featured everything from iconic dance-pop tracks like "Die Young" to rock collaborations ("Dirty Love") with the likes of Iggy Pop.


15. The Interrupters - Fight the Good Fight (2018)

- The Interrupters' most recent album is a testament to just how good this band is - one of the best new bands of the decade, in fact. From new punk-rock anthems like "She's Kerosene" to more contemplative fare like "Room With a View" - this is statement album. Statement being: there's a new sheriff in town.


16. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Hypnotic Eye (2014)

- Tom Petty and his legendary band continued to put out incredibly good albums up until the singer's untimely death in 2017. Their 2014 effort is the final Heartbreakers album, but it shows a band still near the top of its game - from the mesmerizing "Shadow People" to the rockin' "Forgotten Man."


17. Weird Al Yankovic - Mandatory Fun (2014)

- How great was 2014, aka the year that Weird Al took over the world (again!)? This album was the culmination of a glorious period in which Al dropped new songs/music videos online every day for several days in a row. The songs were creative, unique, and oftentimes hilarious. A true national hero.


18. Charly Bliss - Guppy (2017)

- If, in the 10's, you were missing 90's-style grungy power-pop, Charly Bliss was there to fill that void. This female-fronted rock group's breakout album was full of catchy, crunchy alt-rock goodness.


19. Joan Jett - Unvarnished (2013)

- Another great album from a classic rocker with, perhaps, something to prove - Joan Jett's 2013 album showed a legend still kicking ass and taking names. Just listen to "Any Weather." If that doesn't strike you as a new rock classic, then I don't know what to tell you.


20. Andrew WK - You're Not Alone (2018)

- Andrew WK's best album since his seminal 2000 debut, this one had a number of songs that were Andrew WK at his infectiously-positive, hard-rocking best. 


21. Paul McCartney - New (2013)

- Between this and his more recent Egypt Station, McCartney had a pretty good decade - and that's saying something. Seriously, how is Sir Paul still cranking out amazing pop-songs in his 70's? I don't know, but I do know that the title track on this one is up there with his best. 


22. Rise Against - Endgame (2011)

- Rise Against entered this decade as one of the breakout bands of the 2000's. They continued their hot streak with their 2011 album, which gave us more of their epic rock stylings - including one of my favorite songs of theirs, "Make It Stop (September’s Children)."


23. The Interrupters - The Interrupters (2014)

- The Interrupters' debut album was a true monster of punk-rock awesomeness. From the anthemic "Take Back the Power" to the funky stylings of "This Is The New Sound" - this signaled the emergence of a great new band.


24. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Mojo (2010)

- Another good one from Petty, this album marked a return to recording with the Heartbreakers after Petty's previous solo effort. I could go through all of the solid-to-excellent songs on this album, but I'll simply say: listen to "Something Good Coming." It's one of the best songs Tom Petty ever sang.


25. AC/DC - Rock or Bust (2014)

- And then there was AC/DC. One of the most consistent bands in the history of rock did not disappoint with 2014's Rock or Bust - despite health issues that sidelined founding member Malcolm Young. But man, what other band could churn out a late-career album with this many instantly-iconic tunes? For those about to rock, AC/DC continues to salute you.

THE BEST OF 2019 - The Best ROCK Of The Year

 
- I don't like to live in the past. With most pop-culture, I like to maintain a healthy appreciation for the classics, but I also try to always be in on the conversation around the latest and greatest. But with music - especially here in the ultra-fragmented, hyper-personalized landscape that is 2019 - it can be hard to keep up. Especially when your interest is primarily in rock - a genre where one has to be increasingly proactive to stay current. That's why, for the last few years, I've made it a point to spend some time at the end of the year seeking out the must-listen new music that I missed over the previous several months. It's kind of fun, and it makes for a great supplement to the new music I discovered organically throughout the year.

All that said, the defining musical moments of 2019, for me, mostly involved finally seeing some true legends perform live.

For the first time ever, I saw Sir Paul McCartney in concert - at a huge, epic show held at Dodger Stadium. I was never a huge Beatles fan growing up, but my appreciation for The Beatles and for Sir Paul has really grown in recent years. I was amazed at how great of a show McCartney could still put on in 2019, and just how musically gifted the man truly is. Plus, bonus: Ringo himself showed up and got behind the drums for a trio of songs to close out the show. Amazing.

I also finally saw Iron Maiden live this year - my first time! - and the legendary metal band did not disappoint. At LA's huge Banc of California stadium, Iron Maiden wowed the amped-up crowd with classic song after classic song. Pumping my fist to rock anthems like Fear of the Dark and Run to the Hills was an experience I will not soon forget.

I actually kicked off the year by seeing KISS live as part of their supposedly-final tour. Final or not, the show was a lot of fun, and they had the Forum in LA rocking with plenty of vintage hits. KISS never skimps on the pyrotechnics or theatrics, and Paul Stanley is a uniquely charismatic frontman. As a longtime KISS fan, it was awesome seeing them live one more time.

Another amazing show took place at the Hollywood Bowl in late Summer. I saw a double-bill of Joan Jett and Heart, and man, it was an incredible show. Joan Jett had long been on my concert bucketlist - as she's one of my all-time favorites. It was amazing - and kind of surreal - to finally see her play some of my favorite songs ever, like Bad Reputation, live and in person. I'd seen Heart once before, so I knew they'd be great. But once again, I was absolutely blown away by the ethereal power of Ann Wilson's vocals and the electrifying, mesmerizing guitar-playing prowess of sister Nancy.

I saw Avril Lavigne in concert for the first time ever. Yep, I'm the one person who saw both Avril Lavigne and Iron Maiden live this year. But hey, it's well-documented that I've always been a fan of Avril's semi-guilty-pleasure pop-punk stylings, so it was a fun nostalgia rush to see her live at the Greek Theater and get to sing along to her pretty-impressive catalog of hits.

And finally, I once again saw the one and only "Weird" Al live. Hell yeah. Also taking place at the Greek Theater, this was another uber-fun show from the living legend. Every time I see Al in concert, I'm amazed at the multiple generations of fans who show up, smiles plastered on faces, everyone just happy to experience a night of good vibes and hilarious parody songs. The man is truly a national treasure.

Anyways, on with the show. After all, you can't be content to simply live in the past. So here are my picks for the best of 2019.


DANNY'S TOP ROCK SONGS OF 2019:


1.) Gary Clark Jr - "Pearl Cadillac" / "This Land"

- Gary Clark Jr. has been around for a while now, but he was new to me in 2019. But I'm glad I stumbled onto him - his new album has heavy rock leanings, mixing the funky stylings of Prince with the epic rock balladry of late-period Guns n' Roses. Check out Pearl Cadillac for a hypnotically awesome, funktastic power-ballad. And give This Land a listen for a truly unforgettable, fight-the-power screed against racism.

2.) The Darkness - "How Can I Lose Your Love" / "We Are the Guitar Men"

- The Darkness have been a reliable source for good, ol'-fashioned, no-shame rock n' roll since their early-in-the-decade comeback. And their newest album, while not quite as strong as earlier efforts, still features its share of bombastic, over-the-top rockers that are worthy of The Darkness name. The band always has some tongue in cheek cheekiness in its songs, so even the endearingly earnest Guitar Men seems to coming at us with a knowing wink and a smile.

3.) Weezer - "End of the Game"

- Weezer is having a moment, in what's been a remarkable career of highs and lows. In my opinion, almost every era of Weezer has had its high points - and while it's been a long time since the band put together a whole album's worth of goodness, each album release usually has at least one or two gems. And so it may go with their 2020 release Van Weezer (love the title ...). The first single - End of the Game - is vintage Weezer power-pop wrapped up with an 80's Van Halen-esque bow. I'll take it.

4.) Sleater-Kinney - "Can I Go On" / "Bad Dance"

- Legendary alt-rockers Sleater-Kinney delivered their first album post parting ways with drummer Janet Weiss, but it was, even so, a banger. A couple of favorite songs from the release include the can-do anthem Can I Go On and the apocalyptic party song Bad Dance. These badass women have still got it.

5.) Billie Eilish - "Bad Guy"

- This song was everywhere in 2019, and deservedly so. It's a catchy and mesmerizing piece of futuristic dance-pop-rock, and it helped to make Eilish one of the breakout pop stars of the year. I'll be honest, a lot of pop stuff this year left me pretty cold. But this song stood out as an instant-classic earworm that will likely have some serious staying power.

6.) Ozzy Osbourne - "Under the Graveyard"

- Ozzy dropped some surprise singles towards the end of the year, in anticipation of a new 2020 album. And - wow! - Under the Graveyard is legit. It's a vintage Ozzy song - in 2019 - that conjures up the black magic of 80's-era Ozzy (though with some more modern flourishes). But this is a real-deal head-banger that may just make you bark at the moon.

7.) Tool - "Fear Inoculum"

- I've never been a Tool die-hard, but I have always had a healthy appreciation for the moody, complex, industrial-rock prowess of the band. And of course, I've often used their songs as background when I'm writing and trying to get into a particularly dark and ominous mindset. Anyways, it's easy to see why their long-awaited 2019 album release was a bonafide rock music event. No one does this kind of music quite like Tool - they are practically a genre unto themselves. The album title track, Fear Inoculum, is the new song that grabbed me most.

8.) The Black Keys - "Lo/Hi"

-The Black Keys returned in 2019 with a new album that returned the band to their original alt-rock sound. Lo/Hi feels like vintage Black Keys - something that had been sorely missing from the rock scene for the last couple of years. As soon as those fuzzy guitars kick in, you know you're off to the races.

9.) Sam Fender - "The Borders"

-If you haven't heard Sam Fender, he's a British dude who seriously channels the kind of soulful, introspective rock made famous by the likes of Bruce Springsteen. The Borders is a great example of his style - a song with cinematic lyrics and a driving, fist-pumping rhythm (not to mention a Boss-esque sax interlude). This is some seriously good stuff - I think this guy may be going places.

10.) Yonaka - "Rockstar" / "Fired Up"

- Yonaka is one of those artists who just sounds like the future. Mixing dance-pop with rock guitars, her songs are guaranteed to get you moving and bopping. Fired Up is an energy-filled dance song that's a guaranteed crowd-pleaser, and Rockstar is a similarly get-up-and-dance kind of song. 

Just Missed the Cut:

11.) Tenacious D - "Hope"
12.) Simple Creatures - "Drugs"
13.) Doll Skin - "Outta My Mind"
14.) Jenny Lewis - “Red Bull & Hennessy"
15.) Charly Bliss - "Hard to Believe"

THE BEST OF 2015 - The Best ROCK Of The Year

THE BEST OF 2015 - THE YEAR IN ROCK

- In 2015, I saw some of the best and most memorable concerts that I've ever seen. I saw AC/DC play at Dodger Stadium on my birthday, in what may well prove to the final tour for the legendary rock band. It was an incredible show - I'd seen the band play once before, but this one took the prize for sheer enormity and earth-shaking epicness. Angus Young strutted around the stage like a man possessed. Brian Johnson's voice rang out through the stadium leaving fans thunderstruck. For one night only, we were all passengers on the proverbial highway to hell, and lo, it was good. Seeing AC/DC perform to a sold-out stadium filled with people of all ages - young people, old people, parents with kids - it made me realize that rock n' roll was alive and well, even if the radio won't play it, the media largely ignores it, and the awards shows will barely acknowledge it. People love to rock, and they always will.

And yet, so many of the legendary bands are nearing the ends of their runs - and too many have had their reigns prematurely cut short. You have to wonder - who will be left to carry the torch?

I also saw Rush - one of my all-time favorites - perform live this year, as part of their R40 tour. It now looks like that will also have been their final major tour, following iconic drummer Neil Pert announcing his retirement. Rush has been around for forty years, and in all that time they've continued to innovate. Their incredible, career-spanning live set on the R40 tour took audience-members on a journey from the band's classic-rock roots to its high-concept experimental stuff to its synth-filled prog-rock era to its more modern hits. When will we ever see another band like this again?

One of my favorite new rock songs of 2015 came from The Darkness' new album. Its title track, "Last of Our Kind," felt appropriate in terms of how I felt about rock music this year. Bands like The Darkness sometimes felt like the last survivors of some great rockpocalypse, keepers of an ancient but dying tradition. I think people will come around though. These are crazy times we live in, and crazy times call for rage against the machine. And one of the most cathartic ways to do that is via some good, old-fashioned, rock n' roll. It's why The Interruptor's punk-rock protest song "Take Back the Power" felt like the kind of thing we needed a lot more of in 2015 and will need in the years to come. A straight-up fight-the-power fist-pumper. Not something we're going to get from the Coldplays of the world.

In addition to the aforementioned, life-changing, mind-altering AC/DC and Rush live shows, I saw a bunch of other great live music this year from some of my favorite bands. After decades of being a fan, I finally saw The Offspring live this year at the OC Fair in Costa Mesa - an absolutely kick-ass show that also featured a fantastic opening set from The Interruptors. The hometown hero Offspring brought the house down, and it was amazing to see some of the defining rock songs of my pre-teen and teen years performed live. I also saw another live show from The Scorpions, who released a great new album this year celebrating 50 (!!!) years of rock. The Scorpions don't show their age at all when you see them live. This was my third time, and they destroy every time they go on stage. Opener Queensryche was also pretty excellent. And to cap it off, I saw another legend live - the one and only "Weird" Al Yankovic - at the storied Greek Theater. Getting to the Greek to see Al for the third time was yet another reminder that no one, and I mean no one, puts on a show like the Weird One. Dare to be stupid? Yes, please.

In any case, here are my top rock songs of the year. Here's hoping that as torches continue to be passed, there are bands waiting in the wings ready to keep the fire burning.


DANNY'S TOP ROCK SONGS OF 2015:


1.) Dead Sara - "Something Good"

-  Dead Sara put out my pick for 2012's song of the year with "Weatherman," In 2015, they came roaring back with an all-new album, the highlight of which was the timeless, sing-along rocker "Something Good." Dead Sara's latest album has a decidedly 90's alt-rock feel, but "Something Good" blends fuzzed-out 90's sound with the kind of classic rock power-ballad feel that evokes the likes of Heart and other such bands. One thing's for certain, vocalist Emily Armstrong has one killer set of pipes, and she can belt 'em out with the best of 'em. Dead Sara is one of the best things to happen to rock in quite some time,

2.) The Interrupters - "Take Back the Power"

- I discovered The Interrupters by accident. They opened for The Offspring when I saw the band live, and I was sort of blown away by what I saw. When I realized that the lead singer was actually Aimee Allen - who had been a favorite of mine since she did the kick-ass theme song to the Birds of Prey TV show - I was sold. Allen brings amazing vocal chops to the group, and a lot of personality to boot. But what's more, the band is exactly what's been missing of late from the mainstream rock scene - a peppy punk-band who can both sing both tongue-in-cheek party songs and fight-the-power ragers. "Take Back the Power" is going to be a personal rock anthem of mine for a long time to come.

3.) Scorpions - "We Built This House"

- I don't know how they do it, but The Scorpions keep coming out with great rock albums that sound like they'd fit in seamlessly with their catalog in their 80's heyday. "We Built This House" is just a classic Scorpions rocker that showcases their trademark melodic guitar-playing and arena-friendly anthems.

4.) The Darkness - "Open Fire" / "Last Of Our Kind"

- After a lengthy hiatus, The Darkness thankfully re-united a few years ago, and have been on a tear ever since. Their latest album - a concept album with a running barbarian-age theme - continues the band's resurgence. "Open Fire" is just a great throwback rock song, with strong shades of The Cult. "Last of Our Kind" is a soaring rock-ballad with a belt-it-out chorus. These two - and the entire Last of Our Kind album - come highly recommended.

5.) Twenty One Pilots - "Stressed Out"

- Last year I hailed Twenty One Pilots as the next big thing in rock - a totally unique fusion of rock, pop, rap, and EDM. Looks like others felt the same way, as the band has blown up and become huge - their hybrid style winning them fans across multiple music genres. I'll be honest though, I thought their new 2015 album, Blurryface, was a bit of a step down from their breakthrough Vessel. Whereas Vessel raged, Blurryface plays it safer - with a much more pop-y feel. Still, "Stressed Out" is a clear standout - a catchy, super-likable song that showcases the band's trademark rapid-fire rap lyrics with a throw-your-hands-up chorus.

6.) Fallout Boy - "Uma Thurman"

- How can you not like this song? It samples the theme song to The Munsters and is all about Uma Thurman's character from Pulp Fiction. Plus, it's just a really fun dance-rock song that puts you in a good mood. Fallout Boy continues their late-period comeback - and I can't complain that they've seemed to embrace the ways of rock n' roll since they jumped back on the scene. If songs like this one help nudge the mainstream music scene a little bit back towards rock, hey, I won't complain.

7.) The Dead Weather - "Cop and Go"

- Jack White's super-group side-project has been a reliable source of solid, Zeppelin-esque rock for a while now. And so their new 2015 album was a welcome package of straight-up rock grooves, with Alison Mosshart's searing vocals ripping through song after song. My favorite of the bunch is "Cop and Go," a heavy, atmospheric rocker filled with sick riffs and satisfyingly snarling delivery from Mosshart.

8.) Hollywood Vampires - "My Dead Drunk Friends"

- A super-group featuring Alice Cooper, Joe Perry, and Johnny Depp?! Okay, I'm interested. The Hollywood Vampires released a one-shot album this year of mostly covers, but the original track "My Dead Drunk Friends" was a nice bonus. It's a whiskey-tinged barroom elegy to friends that have come and gone -a tribute to the guys Cooper used to party with on the Sunset Strip, where he and other legendary rockers were knows as the Hollywood Vampires. I'm always excited for new Cooper material, so this one was an interesting oddity that also happens to be a nice, down n' dirty rock song.

9.) Weezer - "Thank God For Girls"

- Weezer released a couple of late-in-the-year singles that made for a nice end-cap to 2015's year in rock. "Thank God For Girls" is a fun, tongue-in-cheek song about, well, girls - but it's nice to see Weezer having fun and rocking hard following a few rough patches over the previous decade.

10.) The Offspring - "Coming For You"

- No new Offspring album in 2015, but they did release this one-off single that is vintage Offspring - an aggressive punk-rocker that could easily live alongside the band's old-school material. Seeing The Offspring live this summer, it's amazing what a deep catalog of great songs they have - and also amazing that they continue to put out new material that has been largely excellent. Write them off if you will, but The Offspring can still bring it.

THE BEST OF 2012 - The Best ROCK Of The Year

THE BEST OF 2012 - THE YEAR IN ROCK

- All in all, rumors to the contrary, rock n' roll was quite alive - and even kicking - in 2012. This may sound cheesy, but I felt like rock got a kick in the pants thanks to a single song that sent shockwaves through the system. That song is "Weatherman" by the band DEAD SARA. Maybe you've heard it, maybe you haven't. It wasn't a mainstream hit (few real rock songs are these days), but it marked the first time in a long time that I heard a new, totally out-of-nowhere song on the radio and said "what is that? I need to hear that again right now!" The song, with its driving guitars and flaming-hot vocals from lead singer Emily Armstrong, was a revelation. In a year when rock radio was taken over by folk revival bands, Weatherman was a stark reminder that real rock n' roll was still out there, and it could still hit you like a thunderbolt when the right new song or band came along.

Another similar revelation about the state of rock came about early in the year, when I went to see THE DARKNESS in concert. The Darkness coming back after a hiatus of several years was big in and of itself. A playful throwback to glam-rock excess, The Darkness were my favorite new band during my college years, and it was fantastic to finally have them back - touring and putting out a great new album to boot. I was psyched to finally see The Darkness live, but the real eureka moment at the concert came before the band even took the stage. A band I'd never previously heard of, called FOXY SHAZAM, was the opener. They got on stage, and within about 20 seconds my jaw was on the floor, shocked at what I'd seen. Channeling the likes of Queen and Iggy Pop, the band owned the stage like few other rock acts I've seen, and churned out a set of instantly-memorable, bombastic rock songs that, quite frankly, blew my mind. This was another sign to me that rock n' roll was very much alive. 

In fact, this year I sought out, listened to, and enjoyed more great new music than I have in a long while.

Old favorites - Aerosmith, Kiss, Green Day - turned out albums that, even if not top-to-bottom successful, at the least contained some killer tunes. The Offspring rallied from a disappointing couple of albums with a kick-ass return to form. Rush had an epic new concept album that only got better the more I listened. The Darkness finally came out with their long-awaited third album, and it was pretty damn good. Jack White went solo, and had an exciting debut. Bruce Springsteen had a timely new album that produced the rallying cry of the year and Barack Obama's political anthem. This was a great year for rock n' roll.

Personally, I saw some incredible concerts this year. I started the year with a bang, with the aforementioned Darkness / Foxy Shazam show at the House of Blues in Hollywood. Soon after that, I got to see another awesome show from one of my classic-rock favorites, The Scorpions. A year earlier, my brother and I thought we'd seen seen them on their last-ever tour. But now, they were back for one "final sting," and seemed as good as ever ... perhaps talk of their retirement was premature. 

Speaking of classic rockers, this past summer I saw the legendary Meatloaf in concert at the Wiltern in LA. Meat has made more headlines lately for his political stunts than anything else - but, putting that aside, it was a thrill to see a musician I've long been a fan of live and in concert. Meatloaf still had some real power in his voice, and despite a lukewarm crowd it was a really great show. I'm glad I saw him in concert while I had the chance. 

Also this the summer, I went to the Hollywood Bowl to see another band that I wasn't sure if I'd ever get to see again - Aerosmith. The last time I was set to see the Bad Boys from Boston live, they cancelled the show due to a Steven Tyler injury. Soon after that, the band essentially broke up. Then Tyler joined American Idol, and the hopes for more 'Smith seemed shaky at best. But, finally, the band got their act together and went back on tour. And man, they were in fine form on that summer evening. After being intro'd onstage by none other than Stan Lee, Tyler, Joe Perry, and the rest of the band blasted through classic after classic (plus some choice cuts from their new album) looking rejuvenated, and reminding fans why they shouldn't be a pop-culture punchline, but should truly be considered one of America's great rock n' roll institutions. And also, it was great to see opener Cheap Trick again. This was my fifth time seeing Aerosmith in concert, and it was up there as one of the best live overall performances I've seen from them. 

In the Fall, I finally crossed a big item off of my rock n' roll bucket list - I saw RUSH live! The concert, at the Honda Center in Anaheim, was truly epic. Surrounded by an elaborate, steampunk-themed set, the soon-to-be Hall of Famers played a number of classics (a lot of 80's stuff, in honor of the 30th anniversary of their Signals album), plus a good portion of their new Clockwork Angels album, backed by a full string section no less. A series of video vignettes telling the story of the sci-fi themed album set the mood, and the pyrotechnics were spectacular. Plus, Rush ended with a kickass play-through of the 2112 sequence, only appropriate given the year. A ridiculously awesome, monumental show. 

Finally, I capped off 2012 by heading to the Orpheum in downtown LA to see another legend - Alice Cooper. I'd seen Alice once before, paired with Rob Zombie, but this was the first time I'd seen him as a headliner. And it was great to see Alice and his band (which included the female guitar virtuoso Orianthi) tear through so many of the hits - 70's classics like "Eighteen", "School's Out," and "Welcome to My Nightmare," 80's monster-mashers like "He's Back (The Man Behind the Mask)", "Hey Stoopid," and "House of Fire," "Feed My Frankenstein" from the 90's, and a couple of great songs off his latest album, including a previous rock song-of-the-year pick from me, "I'll Bite Your Face Off." Alice also paid tribute to fallen rock comrades by doing a "Raise the Dead" segment of the show, covering classics from Hendrix, Lennon, The Doors, and more. The theatrics - from sword-fighting to hangings to giant Frankenstein monsters - were all vintage Cooper. And the odd coincidence of the year? At both the Aerosmith and Alice Cooper shows I attended, none other than Johnny Depp made a surprise appearance towards the end of each concert, showing up onstage rather mysteriously and hammering through several songs on backup guitar. 

I saw some amazing shows this year - some - The Darkness/Foxy Shazam, Rush, and Alice Cooper - I'd count as easily among the best I've ever seen. 

But, back to the new music that came out this year ... here they are, my picks for the year's best in rock.



DANNY'S TOP ROCK SONGS OF 2012:


1.) Dead Sara – “Weatherman”

- A sonic blast of pure, straight-up rock n' roll, this was far and away the single most kickass rock song of 2012 - a reminder of what rock can be when it's in-your-face and unrelenting. A pure adrenaline rush, matched with Emily Armstrong's raspy, passionate, almost apocalyptic vocals, "Weatherman" is rock magic, the likes of which we haven't seen from a brand new band in a long, long time.



2.) Bruce Springsteen – “We Take Care of Our Own”

- A rallying cry for 2012, this latest Springsteen rocker was a great song but also a poignant one, a thesis statement for what America can and should be. The song was prescient, summing up the stakes in the 2012 presidential election, and boldly challenging the GOP platform by questioning if they stood for the masses, or only the select few. Sometimes Springsteen can be overhyped, but this was a song that was worthy of the praise, and of instant-classic status.


3.) The Darkness – “She’s Just a Girl, Eddie”

- Man, it was great to have The Darkness back, with a new album that showed the band to still be in top form. This is my favorite comeback track, a sing-along rocker that's just-about perfectly crafted in every way - mixing the band's trademark glam-rock bigness with their tongue-in-cheek lyrics. One of the best-ever "get over that girl" songs.


4.) Foxy Shazam – "Holy Touch"

- This is such a good song - catchy as hell and sort of a "we have arrived" statement of purpose from the best up-and-coming rock band around, Foxy Shazam. When you hear singer Eric Nally's soaring vocals, you can't help but think of Freddie Mercury. And indeed, Foxy performs with the same operatic bombast as Queen, kicking down the door of the rock world, singlehandedly working to save rock with the holy touch of the guitar gods.


5.) Rush – "Wish Them Well"

- My favorite track off of Clockwork Angels, this song works as the a kickass climax to an epic concept album that could only have come from the minds of Geddy Lee and his band. Who else would make a steampunk sci-fi concept album like this? What other classic rock band could make such a top-to-bottom great album - one that is harder and heavier than almost anything they've done before - at this stage of their careers? Rush is one of a kind.



6.) Aerosmith – “Out Go the Lights”

- Yes, Aerosmith's new album "Music From Another Dimension" is a bit of a mixed bag. It's got enough lame ballads (including a duet with Carrie Underwood) to make a hardcore member of Aeroforce One cringe. But ... and this is a big but ... a good 50 to 60% of the new album actually owns it, and "Out Go The Lights" is case in point. A big, brash, bluesy, soulful rocker that is vintage 'Smith, this song makes me smile and sing along every time. 


7.) The Offspring – "Slim Pickens Does The Right Thing and Rides the Bomb to Hell"

- I think I unfairly dismissed the new Offspring album when I heard the first single, "Days Go By," and assumed that the whole album would be that same sort of semi-bland pop-rock. Luckily, I was wrong, as the album is a total comeback for the band, and features a great mix of pop-punk, novelty songs, and more hardcore, vintage Offspring-style songs like this one. "Slim Pickens" is just a jolt of energy, a burn-it-all-down bit of nihilism that begs you to crank up the volume.


8.) Rush – "The Wreckers"

- The most epic song off an an insanely epic concept album, "The Wreckers" is a five-minute sonic journey that is emblematic of Rush's ability to tell a story and create a whole fictional universe via song. Another reason why Clockwork Angels is among the finest albums of the year.


9.) Green Day – "Wow! That’s Loud"

- Green Day released two of my all-time favorite rock albums in American Idiot and 21st Century Breakdown. It was going to be tough to follow those up, but the band, ever-ambitious, chose to release a trio of back-to-back-to-back companion albums late this year. Did we really need a triple-album? No - in my view there's a lot of filler on these three discs. But there are some gems, particularly on Dos, which I thought was by-far the best overall album of the three. Among the standouts is "Wow! That's Loud," an instantly-catchy anthem that feels like classic Green Day.


10.) Foxy Shazam – "Freedom"

- Foxy Shazam infuses their lyrics with a mix of personal confession, jokey satire, and bombastic balladry. While "Holy Touch" is a bouncy, jokey, darkly-funny song, "Freedom" hints at the band's ability to craft a modern-day power-ballad for the ages. Freedom is Springsteen-esque swagger and Americana mixed with Queen-style go-for-broke bigness. It's over-the-top, but man, it's over-the-top in the way where you've simply got to turn it up and belt it out.


THE REST OF THE BEST:

11.) Green Day – "Nightlife"
12.) Foxy Shazam – "Last Chance at Love"
13.) Green Day - "Let Yourself Go"
14.) Aerosmith – "Legendary Child"
15.) Kiss – "Take Me Down Below"
16.) Aerosmith – "Beautiful"
17.) Slash with Myles Kennedy – "Anastasia"
18.) The Offspring – "Cruisin’ California (Bumpin’ in my Trunk)"
19.) Jack White - "Sixteen Saltines"
20.) The Darkness – "Keeps Me Hangin’ On"
21.) Linkin Park – "Burn It Down"
22.) Kiss – "Outta This World"
23.) Jack White – "Freedom at 21"
24.) Foxy Shazam – "The Temple"
25.) The Darkness – "Living Each Day Blind"

ALBUMS OF THE YEAR:

1.) Foxy Shazam - The Church of Rock n' Roll
2.) Rush - Clockwork Angels
3.) Tie: The Darkness - Hot Cakes, The Offspring - Days Go By

POP SONGS OF THE YEAR:

- Yes, as much as I love rock, I like all kinds of music - pop, hip-hop, rap, whatever. I appreciate a great pop-song, and here are my picks for the best tunes of the year that, hey, even a guy like me can't help groovin' to on occasion.

1.) Rihanna - "Diamonds"
2.) Gotye featuring Kimbra - "Somebody That I Used to Know"
3.) Carly Rae Jepson - "Call Me Maybe"
4.) Ke$ha - "Die Young"
5.) Fun featuring Janelle Monae - "We Are Young"


And that's the year in ROCK for 2012. Thoughts? Personal picks? Feel free to comment. But hey, here's to 2013 being a rockin' year for us all.