By George Dionne
(resident jack of all trades)

I want to thank all of the readers and fans for visting Rock Is Life.com. Without you we would not be going into our4th year. I also owe a great debut to the PR companies, record labels, and artists that have submitted their materials, accepted criticism, offered giveaways, and contined to support us as well.

I did not get to review as many CDs as I have in prior years, and I found it tough this year to group certain types with others. So this year I am returning to my original format, and breaking the best down by category.

Please enjoy my best of Veteran Acts, Rookies, Reissues, Hits Packages, Covers, DVDs, EPs, and the Better Luck Next Year.

Best of...Veteran Acts
( 3+ CDs in a career )

#10.) MXPX
Secret Weapon

I'm going to reveal the punk rockers 'secret weapon': an onslaught of high energy rhythms, rapid-fire guitar riffage, and relatable& catchy lyrical hooks.

#9.) THE DONNAS
Bitchin' [Review]

I thought they would lose their luster without major label help. They managed to keep the hooks and naughty lyrics coming.

#8.) MINISTRY
The Last Sucker [Review]

My first real introduction to Ministry, and it's their last f'n album.

#7.) DANNY VAUGHN
Traveller [Review]

Ex-Tyketto frontman delivers his career defining album. Too bad you can only get it in Europe.

#6.) PAUL MCCARTNEY
Memory Almost Full [Review]

Hey, even I can't believe I'm throwing McCartney on this list. I just can't deny the catchiness of this album.

#5.) STAN BUSH
In This Life [Review]

You know him has having "The Touch" from the original Transformers movie, but Bush forges ahead with a melodic rock masterpiece. The 80s never die.

#4.) JOHN FOGERTY
Revival [Review]

After numerous nostalgia releases, Fogerty finally returns to the studio. The result is a roots-returning, blusey, swamp rock winner.

#3.) GLENN HUGES
Music for the Divine [Review]

A 2006 left-over that leaves most of the 2007 competition in the dust with its hard rock music and blusey vocals.

#2.) KID ROCK
Rock N Roll Jesus [Review]

By mixing his old-school rapping with his love four southern rock and soul, Kid Rock returns to his thrown as the Rock N Roll Messiah.

#1.) SCORPIONS
Humanity: Hour 1 [Review]

Pure 80s hard rock for the new millennium. The Scorps revive their slump with a return to form. I listen to tracks from this disc at least once a day. That's a first.

SEE SOMETHING YOU LIKE? - SEACH AND BUY THEM HERE

Best of...The Rookies

#4.) GRANDVILLE
S/T [Review]

Whether their kicking it old school glam, melodic power-pop, or straight up rock; the group wins the gold in the Olympics of indie rock.

#3.) SHERWOOD
A Different Light [Review]

When I wrote the review I said it would be the 1st on my best of list, and here it is. The first album released by MySpace Records and probably the only good thing MySpace ever produced.

#2.) DRIVEBLIND
S/T [Review]

One of the strongest debuts ever! Now does the label believe in them to give them a follow-up?

#1.) MELEÉ
Devils & Angels [Review]

Great singer-songwriter music is back, with a rock and roll twist. This is a major label release, but no one is giving it any publicity. Step it up Warner Brothers!

SEE SOMETHING YOU LIKE? - SEACH AND BUY THEM HERE

Best of...The Reissues

#2.) GENESIS
Abacab (Expanded & Remastered) [Review]

I always avoided non-radio Genesis songs, but this album is great from start to finish, albeit very progressive.

#1.) MXPX
Let It Happen (Deluxe Edition) [Review]

Even their leftovers are good. Why did I wait so long to check them out?

Best of...Greatest Hits Packages

#7.) STEVIE NICKS
Crystal Visions: The Very Best Of

One disc version of a past 3-CD box set collection, but this is the only disc you really need.

#6.) H.I.M.
And Love Said No: Greatest Hits 1997-2004

Catch the goth, love metal rockers at their peak, because their recent mainstream material is slowly turning to crap.

#5.) THE BEACH BOYS
The Warmth of the Sun

One of the 50+ Beach Boys hits collections, but this time focusing on the sounds of summer. What would the summer be without them (at least for your parents)?

#4.) PAULA ABDUL
Greatest Hits: Straight Up!

She wasn't the greatest singer in the world, but her work is certainly a guilty pleasure worth savoring. It set the sound track for my high school years, and probably most of your too.

#3.) JOE COCKER
Classic Cocker

The title says it all. Blows away previous hits packages with 19 songs and a bonus DVD of videos.

#2.) THE DOOBIE BROTHERS
The Very Best Of

You have to hand it to the folks at Rhino Records. They ALWAYS deliver the goods when it comes to greatest hits albums. The Doobie Brothers always kept it interesting, no matter who was behind the microphone.

#1.) THE TRAVELING WILBURYS
The Traveling Wilburys Collection

The Beatles’ George Harrison, Electric Light Orchestra’s Jeff Lynne, Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison, and Tom Petty. Need I say more?

SEE SOMETHING YOU LIKE? - SEACH AND BUY THEM HERE

Best of...Covers

#1.) SHAW-BLADES
Influence [Review]

Among the truck-load of covers albums that were released and reviewed this year, this was the only one I gave a 5 out of 5.

Best of...DVDs

#2.) STYX
One With Everything DVD [Review]

Yeah, the orchestra collaboration thing has been done to death, but Styx still keep it interesting. A Styx live show packs so much energy, this DVD can only come close to doing it justice.

#1.) SAMMY HAGAR AND THE WABOS
Livin' It Up: Live in St. Louis DVD [Review]

Somehow Sammy found a way to fit a party with lots of great music and tequila onto a tiny DVD.

SEE SOMETHING YOU LIKE? - SEACH AND BUY THEM HERE

Best of...EPs

#7.) DIALIS
S/T EP

Dark, twisted, and haunting.

#6.) STEPANIAN
Wait Out the Rain EP

Love the vocal melodies, love the pop-rock sound, love the lyrical content…want a full release.

#5.) THE COMPULSIONS
Laughter From Below EP

Gritty, raw, and hook-laden blues rock with such addictive properties, that you’ll be jones’n for more.

#4.) EVERY AVENUE
Ah! EP

If Every Avenue could continue what they have put forth into a full album, I would buy it in an instant.

#3.) MARGO GURYAN
16 Words [CD Single]

a clever political commentary piece in the vein of a 60s protest song. I was expecting one thing before I pressed play, and I was pleasantly surprised with the final product.

#2.) THE WILDBIRDS
Suzanna EP

The worst part of this disc is that it only has 4 songs.

#1.) PALE OBSESSION
Songs of Love & Death EP

You almost feel trapped in a frightening horror movie. They could give H.I.M. a run for the money on the gothic rock scene. Somebody sign these guys!

SEE SOMETHING YOU LIKE? - SEACH AND BUY THEM HERE

Better Luck Next Year
( All Categories - No Rankings )

JJ CALE & ERIC CLAPTON
The Road to Escondido

The result is true to both legends’ blues roots, but unfortunately lacks any energy or punch to make any of the songs interesting. Somehow I believe that their ride to Escondido is in an old Cadillac traveling at 20mph in the fast lane with their blinker on.

THE PHOTO ATLAS
No, Not Me, Never

There’s a sad, sad trend in rock music today. Apparently if you can write catchy hooks, but can’t sing for shit, you can get someone to put out your album.

TEMPLE OF BRUTALITY
Lethal Agenda

Once you feel the burn from the opening track, you’ll swear to God that you’re feeling (and hearing) the same exact burn over and over again until it’s over. Only brutal on the ears.

ROBOT GOES HERE
The Byte is in My Blood

A computer nerd’s wet dream, but a rock fan’s nightmare. Some people have way too much spare time (and money to burn). And he thinks I'm the one that doesn't "get it." This is the only album to get a ZERO this year.

THE TRUCKEE BROTHERS
Double Happiness

Double Happiness evokes a lot of the 70s underground alternative rock, but when the dual vocalists share the microphone, especially trading off each line or two, it becomes a distraction and outright annoying.

PEARL JAM
Live at the Gorge 05-06 [Box Set]

Anyone that can sit through 7CDsof this dreary, un-inspired, boring music, must be really committed. Since Peal Jam caters to their fans, I’m sure they won’t be disappointed with this set. Although, you may need a few uppers to prevent a lack of charisma-induced coma.

SPARTA
Threes

Emo garbage!

SUPERDUDE
Pot Head Punk

Superdude’s claim to fame is that he was part of Andy Warhol’s entourage. So what? How does this qualify you to be a musician? Superdude shows how much of a non-vocalist he is by lazily firing through nine songs. The entire album is beyond terrible. It’s super-crap! Although not as bad as Robot Goes Here. This got a 1 out of 5.

THE LOVING LOSS
You Could Kill EP

This seven track EP displays some great guitar tones, but is literally destroyed by the vocalist whining and screeching his way through the lyrics.

H.I.M.
Venus Doom

It seems the more and more “Americanized” H.I.M. is becoming (what I mean by that is the more promotion they are receiving in the U.S.), the more and more they are just plain sucking. Valo still remains a tortured soul lyrically, but sonically the band’s dark tones are fading away.

THE AGENCY
Turn

Same MTV friendly pop-rock that’s been shoved down your throat for years.

VIXEN
Live & Learn

No energy, no emotion, no production, no voice, no need for a "reunion."

LUSCIOUS JACKSON
Greatest Hits

Save your money and download “Naked Eye;” it’s the only song you’re going to remember.

NATIONAL PRODUCT
Luna

More of the same pop-rock, emo, screamo (WHATEVER) crap that's flooding the music market.

SEE SOMETHING YOU LIKE? - SEACH AND BUY THEM HERE