[Reaper16]

5.) Agalloch – The White (EP)
Agalloch, one of America’s very best bands (top 3, probably) didn’t put out a full length this year. But this was a large enough taste to quench the thirst. The White is primarily a folk album; it is great to see Agalloch get back to that side of their sound after having heavily dimished that aspect on 2006’s mostly-Post-Rock release “Ashes Against the Grain.” The album, to me anyway, seems like a tribute to that cult-classic film The Wicker Man. It feels like Summerisle, with all of its old-world charms and creepy unease. (One track even features dialogue from the movie). Acoustic instruments, loads of atmosphere – it is an Agalloch release. That’s good enough for anyone’s top ten.

4.) Tech N9ne – Killer
An ambitious double album that perhaps didn’t need to be, Killer is nevertheless another excellent, infectious Tech N9ne album. It’s too bad that Lil Wayne gets all the rap credit this year, because he can’t hold a dick up to Tecca Ninna’s flow. Great songs, good hooks, some underrated beats, including more of the pop-culture-related beats that elevate some Tech songs to the level of genius. “Psycho Bitch II” is the sequel to “Psycho Bitch,” which featured the theme from the movie “Halloween” in its beat. This go-around, the beat uses the organ from “The Phantom of the Opera.” I can’t really say much more than to encourage you to grab the album if you are unfamiliar with Tech N9ne. *sigh* Why can’t Americans listen to good music? It is a damn shame that Tech isn’t a ****ing superstar.

3.) Ayreon – 01011001
Ayreon’s previous album, 2005’s The Human Equation, is my second favorite album of all time. The new one, whose art I had as my avatar here from December 2007 to Janurary 2009, didn’t disappoint. Arjen Anthony Lucassen’s – the modern day Alan Parsons, only better -- amalgam of guest singers and guest musicians is the most satisfying rock/metal opera since, well, the last Ayreon album is extraordinarily impressive. Jorn Lande, Daniel ****ing Gildenlow (Pain of Salvation), Tom Englund (Evergrey), Floor Jansen (After Forever), Jonas Renske (Katatonia), Hansi Kursch (Blind Guardian) et al give tremendous vocal performances over sweeping, spacy prog epics. A thoroughly enjoyable two hours of music that commands multiple listens.

2.) The Mars Volta – Bedlam in Goliath
Holy shit. Can this band put out anything that doesn’t rule? Some people have said that this is the worst Mars Volta album. They are idiots. Sure, it’s the least cracked-out, as this album has a sonic focus around driving, heavy, bassy, funky music (well, as focuses as this band is ever going to get, anyway). But the songs are so damn good and the musicianship is off the charts. The new drummer, Thomas Pridgen, is a ****ing caged beast. You may think that all of his drum parts are just wild solos at first, but he is controlled as a mother****er. His insane asylum drumming is the perfect background for the guitar and vocal head **** from Omar and Cedric. Best of all this album is the bass work from Juan Alderete. The album’s concept, something about a Ouija board and a goliath, doesn’t matter. The songs are ****ing awesome. They just won a Grammy for the short song “Wax Simulacra,” which on the album serves as a great intro to the best song of the band’s career, “Goliath,” a song with so much palpable energy that it threatens to corrupt your mp3 past two listens. This album needs to be sold with a change of underwear.

1.) Opeth – Watershed
Of course this was going to be number one. The 9^th album by the best band on the whole Earth again shows why 99% of other bands really don’t have a reason to exist. Opeth continues to deliver their patented masterblend of light and dark musical passages while continuing to embrace their progressive side. This is Opeth’s most prog album to date, to the point that there is little to no actual death metal remaining in Opeth’s sound. I say that in general terms; “Heir Apparent” is perhaps Opeth’s heaviest, deathiest song they’ve ever recorded. The other songs, while they may have harsh vocals still, are nearly entirely prog metal. Mikael’s clean vocals are much stronger than they have ever been, too; he is a legitimately great all-around vocalist now. I’m not going to give a track-by-track breakdown of the sophisticated, measured, awe-inspiring turns of musical phrase, though I want to. I’m just going to recommend that you listen to it. Because it is great.