Its that time of year again, where various people throw out lists of the top 10 albums of the year. Usually they’re filled with whatever album that hit single the radio kept playing came from.

My list is a little different.

I think.

I don’t really listen to the radio, so maybe the top 40 stations are playing this stuff.

And maybe there is a Santa Claus.

Anyway, enough pseudo-hilarity, lets get to the list:

10. Les Claypool – Of Fungi and Foe: Bass for days. as you’d expect from a solo album from the weirdest bassist in the known (and likely also the unknown) universe. Lots of groove, lots of insane lyrics.

Fav songs: Red State Girl, Boonville Stomp, Primed by 29

9. Dream Theater – Black Clouds and Silver Linings: Their tenth album, sounds exactly like you’d expect. The main album is growing on me, but it didn’t really stand out at first. The second disc on the other hand, which is filled with covers of bands like Rainbow, Queen and King Crimson, is mindblowingly awesome – if it was the only disc it would be up in the top 5. Which is not to say that the album itself is bad, it just feels kinda “normal”. Hopefully they’ll step out of their comfort zone and do something really new and progressive on the next one.

Fav songs: Shattered Fortress, The Best of Times, All of the covers.

8. Megadeth – Endgame: The thrash album of the year. Much better than what Slayer put out (hence Slayer aren’t in this list). Buckets of fast riffs, face melting solos, and the conspiracy theory laden lyrics we’ve come to expect from Mr Mustaine. This is what you put on if you want to headbang until your neck hurts.

Fav songs: Dialectic Chaos, 1320, Head Crusher

7. Alice in Chains – Black Gives Way to Blue: This is the album you put on if you want to cry and headbang. Filled with everything that Alice in Chains was known for. Although I kinda wished that William DuVall, the new vocalist, sang more solo parts. At times it starts to sound a little too much like Jerry Cantrell’s Degradation Trip. Other than that, it has the heavy grooving riffs, it has the softer acoustic songs, and the title track with its piano part played by Elton John makes me tear up every time.

Fav songs: Check My Brain, Black Gives Way to Blue, A Looking In View

6. Mz Ann Thropik – S.O.S.: The only Australian band on my list (and frankly one of the few oz bands in my collection). Hard Rock at its best. Lots of great songs, and Mzzy can really sing in that rock chick way that I just love. The fact that she is probably the only artist on here that will read this post is just a bonus.

Fav songs: Cock-o-roach, Witch Hunt, Flesh Crawler

5. Steel Panther – Feel The Steel: Hair metal. Except all the innuendo and hints about sex are made completely fucking blatant. Every song reminds you of the style of the a certain band, and then lays on a big load of sleaze. It is simultaneously both a totally hilarious send up and a totally respectful tribute.

Fav songs: Death to all but Metal, Community Property, The Shocker

4: Kittie – In The Black: Totally heavy. Totally metal. Everything I’ve liked about Kittie turned to 11. The mix of vocal styles is awesome, Morgan finally has the confidence to sing better than most pop stars, and then she still growls like a banshee in the next line. The riffs are heavier than ever (and faster where they need to be), and they stick in my head unlike some from bands who didn’t make this list. Even the occasional guitar solos are good. Plus when that cowbell comes in on the bridge to Whiskey Love Song I just have to stop whatever I’m doing and air drum and headbang away.

Fav Songs: Whiskey Love Song, Cut Throat, My Plague

3. Mastodon – Crack the Skye: An album that you might have seen on some other lists (even that of Time Magazine). I heard about this album so much from various sources that I finally listened to the first single, and I had two thoughts: 1. I have to buy this 2. “Core” is dead. Progressive and Psychedelic…. but still totally heavy. The album to put on and get high to, or have sex to.

Fav songs: Oblivion, Crack The Skye, The Last Baron

2. Diablo Swing Orchestra – Sing Along Songs for the Damned & Delirious: Its real simple. When I’m in charge I’m going to put this album on. Anyone who doesn’t feel an irresistible urge to dance gets a tattoo on their arm and then gets shipped off to a death camp. Swing Jazz + Metal + Awesomeness = This Album. If you’ve ever liked music, you need this album.

Fav songs: A Tap Dancer’s Dilemma, Bedlam Sticks, Vodka Inferno.

And finally, our number one albums….

1. The Devin Townsend Project – Ki and Addicted: Yes, I’m a total fanboy. Yes, it might be cheating to give the #1 spot to two albums – but since they are part of a larger whole I think it counts.

Ki: A soft, delicate album. Ambient and progressive in the way that Pink Floyd can be on their more mellow songs. Lots of clean guitar. Lots of space for the notes to reverberate. Yet with a style that is unmistakably devy.

Addicted: Heavier, but with a poppy edge that blows me away. Reminds me of my music, except that it is well written and actually produced. Big riffs, bigger hooks, and all the vocals from Anneke van Giersbergen make it my true album of the year.

Fav songs: All of it.

That is it for now. Up soon will be my Best of the Decade list.

Also, it probably doesn’t take psychic powers to predict that the next 2 DTP albums (Deconstruction and Ghost) will be my favs next year.