Rockblog

The Rockblog has liked a number of good rock albums in 2008. Be warned, narrowing this down to one winner and two runners up has been so difficult the results might change by the time I reach the end of this post.

Criteria for best album are the album has to rock and it has to have been released in 2008. Judging is down to what the Rockblog has been listening to repeatedly through 2008 and will likely continue to listen to in 2009 and beyond.

First up are the runners up for the Rockblog’s Best Rock Album of 2008…

The Hellacopters - Head Off

I wouldn’t usually consider an album consisting solely of cover versions for an album of the year candidate. But Head Off is not your typical covers album consisting of the Led Zeppelin favorites the band grew up listening to. Instead, the Hellacopters chose songs by bands they felt deserved more attention, so instead of getting another version of songs you’ve heard a million times before and were done better by the original artists, you get an album of songs where you can go search out the original artists to fill in the gap left by the Hellacopters calling it a day in 2008.

Sound and Fury - S/T

I’m really liking this debut from Canadian punk/rock band Sound and Fury. I like it so much it’s playing right now and it hasn’t been out of my 5 CD changer since I received it a couple of weeks back. Sound and Fury claim to be fans of 1970’s punk and rock and the influences come through loud and clear without sounding like a wannabe retro act. This is what rock and roll is meant to be - down and dirty and packed full of attitude. Sound and Fury recently completed a UK tour with Australian band Airbourne, whose Runnin’ Wild album just missed out on this list and is also well worth checking out.

and the winner of the Rockblog’s 2008 Rock Album of the Year is:

Alice Cooper - Along Came A Spider

I’ve been an Alice Cooper fan since I was five years old and I still am 30 some odd years later. Does that mean I’ve liked everything he’s put out in that time? No. I’ve been disappointed a few times along the way, but Along Came A Spider is one of his best albums in years.

Alice returned to the concept album for Along Came a Spider, which is about a serial killer that wraps his victims in silk. I’m sure there are criminal psychologists that could point out where the story falls down factually, but who cares? It’s a great rock album from a true rock legend.

Alice has said there would be a tour for Along Came A Spider in 2009, and I hope it happens. Nobody does theatrical rock like the Coop and it’s not hard to imagine where a lot of Alice classics could be woven into a stage show that revolves around the Along Came A Spider story to keep even casual fans happy.