ProgNaut.com - Prof's Top 20 Picks Of 2009

Prof's Top 20 Picks for 2009:

01. The Black Crowes - "Before the Frost…Until the Freeze" *** – This double album hasn’t left the CD player since they moved up the release date and got it to me on August 31st! The concept, the story in the music, two albums full of songs recorded live before 2 – 300 of their favorite fans on the momentous occasion of the anniversary of Woodstock, in Levon Helm’s barn is just too much for any other band to compete with this year. Seeing them live only confirmed that this band is now the greatest band in rock n’ roll still performing and recording! “The music sounds just like it feels!”

02. Izz - "The Darkened Room" *** – Yes, it really is that good. If the second album to the story came out this year it might have given the Crowes a real run for the top. It will be one of the most anticipated follow ups along with Unitopia, Candlebox, and the Gracious Few next year!

03. Dave Matthews Band - "Big Whiskey and the Gru Grux King" ***– Dave and the band are back!

04. The Guilt Machine - "On this Perfect Day" *** – Looking forward to the next one!

05. Ben Harper - "White Lies for Dark Times" *** – Ben is back!

06. 6. U2 - "No Line on the Horizon" – Great album, but there were some incredible surprises this year getting in the way of their early predictions.

07. Sylvan - "Force of Gravity">/a> ***– Includes some of my favorite songs of theirs!

08. Pearl Jam - "Backspacer" – Best in years.

09. Stream Of Passion - "The Flame Within" *** – This band is over the sophomore hump and livin’ large!

10. Satellite - Nostalgia" ***– The digi pack included some nice extras.

11. Peter Gabriel - "Big Blue Ball" - The Voice is back!

12. Tenth Planet - "Everything is Never Over" *** – Another of the big surprises this year!

13. Olson/Louris – "Ready for the Flood" - Ditto!

14. Sting - "If On A Winter’s Night" ***– Great to have him back recording again. This one will be a permanent winter favorite.

15. O.S.I. - "Blood" *** – One of the highlights of the summer.

16. Circa - "HQ" and "Overflow" – Great but they need more variety in their sound.

17. Syngularity - "A Musical Guide to Cosmic Wonders" *** –Wow, what a stunner. One of the year’s best surprises!

18. Echo Us - "The Tide Decides" *** –Finally something cool out of our little neck of the woods!

19. Nosound - "A Sense of Loss" ***- Great but they need more variety in their sound.

20. Gazpacho - "Tick Tock" ***

* = reviewed Ron

(**) reviewed by Joseph

*** reviewed by Prof

+ = reviewed by Elias

++ = reviewed by Terry