To make way for the new best of list, have moved the old ones here.
Parx-e Web Zine – Best Of 2011 List
This is what I have enjoyed and liked this year, I hope you enjoy and if you wanna know why I liked the album’s and ep’s leave me a comment and I will responded back. Wasn’t enough room to list why.
Cheers
Chris
Best Overseas Albums for 2011
1. Devin Townsend Project – Deconstruct/Ghost
2. Tupelo Honey – Caught Up In The Excess
3. Black Country Communion – 2
4. The Poodles – Performancy
5. The Feelers – Hope Nature Forgives
6. Mr Big – What If
7. Noel Gallagher – High Flying Birds
8. Joe Bonamassa – Dust Bowl
9. Plain Jane Automobile – Your Tomorrow
10. Shannon Hurley – California
11. Beth Hart & Joe Bonamassa – Don’t Explain
12. Brooke Annabelle – Under Streetlights
13. Jenna Bryson – Make/Believe
14. Beady Eye – Different Gear, Still Speeding
Best Local Albums for 2011
1. Chaos Divine – The Human Connection
2. Catherine Traicos – The Love Inside
3. The Bon Scotts – We Will All Die At The Hands Of C.G.I.
4. Go Go Sapien – This Body Is Wrong For Us
5. Emma Hamilton – La Musique
6. Rosaline Yuen – Tiny Goddess
7. Susan Lily – Butterfly
Best Ep’s
1. Steph Hannah – Mouthful Of Water
2. Celadore – The Bright And Blue
3. Ten Thousand – Tales From The Wasteland
4. Seasons – A Moment of Clarity
5. If I Were A Gladiator – Hallowed Antiquity
6. Jenny Dalton – Blood Folk
7. Charlotte Sometimes – The Wait
8. Jesse Lee – Come After Me
9. Tim Reid – Only One
10. Iluka – Eyes Closed/Nikki Thornburn – To The Place
11. 180 Proof – The Gutter Sessions – Part 1
12. Bec Plath – Nightfall
13. The Bloodpoets – Wings
14. Sophhie Serafino – Gold Violin
15. Katie Weston – Say The Word
16. Emily Kinney – Blue Toothbrush
17. Blazin’ Entrails – Los Barstos
18. Chinook – We Could Be Friends For a While
19. Bill Knight – The Yarn Spinner
Movies
1. Rogue River – This is an amazing horror picture that horror fans will enjoy with a stand out performance by Michelle Page
1. Some Guy Who Kills People – Unique film worth seeing, horror,comedy & drama all rolled into one.
2. Barely Legal – The Asylum Teen Sex Comedy with an amazing performance by Melissa Johnston.
3. Red State – Kevin Smith latest masterpiece.
TV Shows
Twentysixmiles
Hawaii 5-0
NCIS LA
Swift & Shift Couriers
Housos
Crownies
Best Gigs
Soundwave 2011
Any show that I have organized
Best Bands Of 2011
(These two lists are all local acts in Australia and are in no order so they being listed here means I think they are worthy)
onekind
Black Hayet
Ten Thousand
King Of The North
Andrew Higgs Band
The House Of Honeys
180 Proof
Voodoocain
Celadore
The Bloodpoets
The Murderballs
Dirty Canary
Nine Sons Of Dan
The Bon Scotts
Go-Go Saipen
The Superguns
The Jail Bird Jokers
Chinook
Best Solo Artists
Steph Hannah
Catherine Traicos
Iluka
Bec Plath
Rosaline Yuen
Susan Lilly
Tim Reid
Mark Gardner
Bill Knight
My Person To Watch Out For In 2012
Michelle Page
She is one of the most professional hard working, kind, respectful acting talents in Hollywood. She always gives 100% to every role she does and you can see it when you see the work she does. I Always give it her because I believe in the work she does, I have known her for a while now, she is an amazing talent she has done some good work this year, her performance in Rogue River which she was also involved in as an associate producer, was award worthy. She working her way to become a producer alongside doing amazing work as an actor. You will see her winning excellent roles soon, the people will soon know why I think she is an amazing talent and I say it every year that she is going places and I always believe it. She will be one of the biggest things in Hollywood, I know she will.
People To Watch Out For In 2012
Melissa Johnston – Incredible acting talent, who is multi talented at doing screen and stage, hard working, honest talent with the drive to make a successful career in acting. She also now getting into producing which is awesome. I can see her being one of the next big acting talents in Hollywood and winning awesome roles and awards too. Her performance in the film Barely Legal was excellent.
Ten Thousand – Awesome rock band who out-shined the headliner at the hi-fi bar and had the crowed buzzing at their ep launch at the palace as part of the house of rock.
Steph Hannah – amazing singer songwriter with a solid voice, who writes and plays such beautiful and catchy music. Her ep Mouthful Of Water is a must have.
King Of The North – A two piece band who have so much energy and passion in their music, their shows at the retreat have seen them gain new fans and even a solid review in beat magazine.
Voodoocain – If you were ready to start gigging a year ago, and you give one of the best performances for a debut live act, you know you are going places.
Black Hayet – What can I say about these guys, they always give a great performance and the energy comes off stage into the crowd. They describe themselves as Metalbilly and they are band that very much worth your time seeing live.
onekind – These guys are good, good musicians with solid sounding songs. Their album mono/stereo is a catchy slice of modern rock just well done.
Emily Kinney – actor/singer songwriter who put a really enjoyable EP called Blue Toothbrush and doing good things on the successful TV series Waking Dead,
Tupelo Honey – Canadian hard rock/modern rock band who has put out an album worthy of radio plays your ears and destined for stadiums, these guys are good.
The Blood Poets – Brisbane alternative rock band and play some catchy tunes which has got them radio play, media buzz and fans all over the country including me.
Chaos Divine – One of the best metal bands coming out of Australia at the moment, their album The Human Connection is a masterpiece. Solid production and the opening track One Door is the best way to open an album.
Gillian Emmett – Great Australian actor, doing things and making a name for herself, she an one to watch.
Alexandra Van Zeelandt – Model, Actor, Musician with a bright future ahead of her.
Katie Cole – Great singer songwriter now living in LA, comes from Melbourne. She is going from strength to strength. She will go far.
Julie Dickson – Hard working Aussie talent who acts, hosts and runs a couple of business. Expect to see more of her
Iluka – Amazing singer songwriter with a great voice and a bright future.
Allira Cohrs – My Favorite Australian model. She been doing it for a while, with a great personality and have just released, a great Calendar which looks amazing. She got a bright future ahead of her. She will go far.
Elise Jackson – great american actor/writer with an extremely bright future ahead of her. Watch this space she will be going far.
Best Record Label
Popboomerang Records
Scott Thurling who runs Popboomerang is a real top bloke and has put out some cracker releases this year from, Celadore, Go-Go Saipan, The Bon Scotts, The Deserters, Skipping Girl Vinegar and heaps more. Scott loves music and you can see it with the quality of releases he put’s out, only the best. Go on and support this fine Aussie record label.
Parx-e Web Zine Best Of 2010 List
-
Far – At Night We Live – Far
are back with their latest album in over 10 years and it’s amazing.
If you never heard Far this is something to get. -
Juke Kartel – Levolution –
Juke Kartel have put out a solid rock album full of great songs and
loads of energy. -
Minus The Bear – Omni – It’s a
great album melodic, energetic, vibrant, full of emotion. If you
know their music you’ll have this already. -
One Kind – Mono/Stereo – This
is solid modern rock music with an 80’s twist. An amazing album just
good music. -
Saraha Smith – Myth of The Heart
– Solid voice, song blues, roots, country, rock tunes and she
writes them all herself. Incredible talent. -
Sunshine Ponies – Mixtapes &
Soundtracks – Call this an aussie super album full of some of the
best aussie pop talent writing songs to Scott & Sarah Poems.
It’s really well done. -
Ennis Tola – Seed – Fantastic
middle eastern prog rock. They are solid live and the album is
really good. -
Direct Influence – War In My
Kitchen – Think a little hip hop, a little funk, a little reggae
and it’s really well done. -
Sons Of Rico – Reactions –
This is a solid alt rock album, think Birds Of Tokyo meats Temper
Trap and good honest tunes -
Joshua James – Build Me This –
This actually came out in 2009 but thanks to my friend Michelle Page
she sent to me this year and think it’s incredible. He doing
alt-country/folk music that just really well done. Solid tunes with
such honesty and passion. -
The Pleasants – Forests And
Fields – Amanda Rogers is my favorite singer songwriter, love her
music. This is her new project duo with Mike Mata. It’s lovely and
sweet and really well written and done.
Honorable Mentions
Jimmy Gnecco – The Heart, Laura
Stevenson And The Cans – A Record, The Olive Grove – Here’s A
Letter, The New Pornographers – Together, The Holy Sea – Ghosts
Of The Horizon, Georgia Fields – Self Titled, Laneous & The
Family Yah – Found Things, Ella Freestone – Self Titled.
Favorite Ep’s Singles
Andrew Higgs Band – Stomp – Good
Blues Rock Music and boy are they solid live.
Chelsea Wilson – Bitterness – Great
Jazz Singer Songwriter with an amazing voice.
Mark Gardner – The Great Divide –
Good aussie singer songwriter with good honest tunes about the land,
love and the environment.
The Reefs – The Ghost E.P. – Great
band with some solid tunes and they play their instruments really
well
Celadore – Distance Is A Gun – One
Of my favorite Melbourne bands, just good honest melodic pop
rock/power pop music and the songs are good.
The House Of Honeys – Self Titled –
Just good old Rock’n’Roll done well and they are a hoot live. Love
watching those guys play.
Coby Grant – Fanfare For Love –
just good pop rock folk tunes and Coby is an amazing songwriter,
loads of talent and she got a great voice. The live CD/DVD @ The Toff
is a must also.
Francesca De Valence – Oh It’s Simple –
Some times it’s all it can take is having songs that are good honest
well written and performed and are consistent. Francesca latest
relase has all of that and a solid voice. She got the talent and the
material to go far. I can see radio picking up on her very soon.
The Fabled Ink – The Myph’s Alive &
Well – Something special this is, a little atmospheric, a little
pop and a little folk and you have something worth listening to.
Really took me by surprise.
Favorite Bands Seen in 2010
Devin Townsend Project – He was my
best show of 2010. He and his band just performed for two hours Non
stop doing all of Devin Non syl work and he knows how to perform and
have the audience hang off your every word.
Celadore – Good band with solid tunes
and energy on stage. They got the talent and songs to go far.
One Kind = Ok I’m bias here they did a
show for me which was a huge and yeah they have put out a kick ass
rock album. I think they are amazing live and you all should have
been there to seen them.
Brothers Crossing – Bias again also
they did a show for me too and they are just a good modern rock band.
Dig these guys heaps.
The House Of Honeys = Just a good solid
rock’n’roll band. The songs are good and the sound is tight.
Nacional – It’s dirty electro pop and
the kids are gonna love it. Female lead singer, catchy well written
songs, good vocals and the band is solid live.
Ennis Tola – Good middle eastern prog
rock band and a really fun to watch live.
The Murderballs – Punkabilly that’s a
lot of fun. These guys have some great tunes that are fun to watch
and sing a long to and yeah the bass player a genius.
Tim McMillian Band – Tim McMillian is
a genius, amazing front man and a legend on the guitar and anybody
who likes Devin Townsend is alright by me.
Black’n’Blue – Just good blues music
and they have a great front man with a great voice suited for the
music.
Favorite Singer Songwriters Seen Live
in 2010.
Coby Grant – Good solid singer
songwriter full of energy and live. She knows how to grab an audience
and keep them hanging off her every word.
Catherine Traicos – First saw
Catherine in early 2010 and have been going to her shows ever since.
Amazing singer songwriter such honesty.
Lydia Phillips – I’ve done shows with
Lydia and think she great, she got a great voice and some sweet
touching songs. I always dig what she does.
Kate Lucas – I booked Kate for a show
based off her songs on myspace and boy she was so good live. Hints of
Blues & Jazz and some rock in the mix.
Courtney Barnett – Courtney a lot of
fun. She writes nice little pop ditties that are fun and sweet to
listen to.
Mark Gardner – Mark an artist who
writes with such honesty and passion, he sings about the land, love &
environment. He also an extremely multi-talented musician.
Victor Stranges – I love this guy and
his music, he does power pop tunes sings with so much energy and
passion. His album Hello Me To You is an instant power pop classic
and he digs The Kinks what not to like.
Chelsea Wilson – Now this is a girl
who know how to write a tune. Chelsea does Jazz music and it’s so
good and she can really really sing well.
Georgia Fields – She a good artist with a good album and good songs, She been winning fans all over Melbourne and I expect to see soon everybody else to feel the same way. She a first class artist in this town of Melbourne.
Favorite Live Shows
Devin Townsend Project @ Billboards
March 2010 – He was my best show of 2010. He and his band just
performed for two hours Non stop doing all of Devin Non syl work and
he knows how to perform and have the audience hang off your every
word.
Juke Kartel @ The Sandbelt September
2010 – Now this threw me by surprise. I got offered tickets to
show, so why not. It was full band show but instead of loud electric
guitars, acoustic and boy was I blown away. Seriously was an epic
show and now I’m hooked onto the band.
One Kind Album Launch @ The Spanish
Club September 2010 – Yeah I worked on the show, I booked and yeah
I’m bias but stuff it, It was a killer show and one that really
worked for me. All the bands were solid, Sound was tight and
everybody had a lot of fun
Celadore @ The Evelyn May 2010 – I
love these guys and they did an epic set at The Evelyn, solid crowd
there too. All the supports were really good as well.
Laneous & The Family Yah @
Northcote Social Club October 2010 – These guys are a fun a band,
It’s different and something unique and boy was crowd up and rocking.
Oh special mention about the support act Clairy Brown & The
Banging Rackets they were excellent.
Chelsea Wilson Bitterness Ep Launch @
The Toff In Town October 2010 – This was show where everything was
done right. Chelsea sings and plays Jazz music. She has a solid voice
and is a solid performer. Love what she does and doing something that
is just good.
Catherine Traicos – Notes From Hell
Fringe Festival @ Spensers Live October 2010 – I love Catherine
music, she just a good honest singer songwriter and this show was
about an album that never was to happen. It was a really great show,
she a great performer and is world class.
Popboomerang Label Gig @ The Birmy June 2010 – This was a fun gig all quality acts and they all peformed well. Good way to showcase a fine record label that is Popboomerang.
People to Watch out for in 2011.
Michelle Page – She been a friend of
mine for a few years now and I always support her no matter what. We
are good friends and she done some awesome work this year, Rogue
River which will surely put her on the map far as getting some
amazing work. Sensored was great. Plus a few shot films and her role
in the comedy Smash which looks like a lot of fun. She an incredibly
talented lady and she always get my one to watch out for always
because I believe in her work no mater what. She always been
supported of what I’ve been doing, so kind and gracious. I think she
is an amazing lady.She the real deal.
Emily Sandifer – Multi Talented
Actor, Photographer & Director, she got a bright future ahead of
her.
Coby Grant – She one of the best
singer songwriters this country got, she toured over europe, america
by her own and just did it. Expect great things from her.
Gilliant Emmett – Amazing Australian
actor who has stared in a movie Malcolm McDowell called Suing The
Devil which will ensure her place as an actor on the rise.
Celadore – Good local Melbourne band
doing just good music with a solid EP in Distance Is A Gun. expect
the kids to go nuts soon.
Ella Freestone – This girl is only 17
and has put out an album that puts a lot of people to shame. It’s
really well done and songs are suited for radio. Expect the labels to
chase her soon.
Julie Dickson – Julie is an actor who
busy plugging away at it all. Not letting things pass her by. She
got the talent and the drive to go far and seriously make a name for
her self. She got a real future ahead of her
Francesca De Valence – A superstar
singer songwriter in the making, good solid tunes that are both
powerful and catchy and honest at the same time.
Sarah McMongale – Sarah I reckon is
the best country singer songwriter that Australia has got right now.
She has put out a country album worthy of your time. She write all
her own music. She’s a fine singer and tell stories and truth in her
music.
Georgia Fields – The album is good
and the future is looking bright for her. You’ll know her name sooner
or later. If you’ve haven’t fallen in love with her yet, you will.
Nacional – This band is incredible, they have played some solid gigs this year, supported some top Australian talent, known & up and coming. They do dirty electro pop and it’s fantastic. Good sound and a great lead singer.
Record Label Of The Year –
Popboomerang Records
Scott Thurling who runs Popboomerang
Records is a man who plugs away and always puts something out that is
always worth a listen and this year has been no different for the
label. His releases have always been consistent from The Solomons To
The Bon Scotts to Georgia Fields. But he moving forward with the band
Celadore, it’s a lot different to anything else as it’s got a pretty
radio friendly sound and the kids love them. His label has always
something to offer and he been doing it for a while. If you love good
music Popboomerang has something to offer.
