The Best of the Best: Bring Back Glam! Picks the Most Awesome Albums and Songs of 2009

Well, it’s that time of the year again. Yep, time for the best Glam of 2009.  A few weeks ago I asked for your input and many of you sent me your lists for the top ten Glam releases of the year. I’ve looked at all the ballots and compiled the winning list below. Some of you also had some off-the-wall choices, which helped me expand my musical horizons. For this list, we’re staying strictly Glam. Later on we’ll look at the best Metal of 2009 and toward the end of the week, a look at the best music of the last decade.  The only rules for the lists below were 1) all music must have been released in 2009, including radio-ready singles, 2) no compilations were allowed, 3) no re-releases were allowed. When there were ties in the lists you submitted, I broke them based on my opinion.

Without further adieu, the Bring Back Glam! best albums of 2009:

10. Chickenfoot – S/T
09. Dirty Penny – Young & Reckless
08. Charm City Devils – Let’s Rock-n- Roll
07. Winger – Karma
06. Billy Sheehan – Holy Cow
05. Europe – Last Look at Eden
04. The Last Vegas – Whatever Gets You Off
03. Vains of Jenna – Art of Telling Lies
02. Papa Roach – Metamorphosis
01. Steel Panther – Feel the Steel

Just because a band didn’t make the best album cut doesn’t mean they didn’t have some great songs.

Here’s the Bring Back Glam! best songs of 2009:

10. “Flatine” – from the album Sick by Duff McKagan’s Loaded
09. “Let’s Rock n’ Roll (Endless Road)” – from the album Lets Rock n’ Roll by Charm City Devils
08. “Aftermath” – from the album For Your Entertainment by Adam Lambert
07. “I’m Bad” – from the album Whatever Gets You Off by The Last Vegas
06. “I Get Off”  -from the album Halestorm by Halestorm
05. “100 in a 55” – from the album Lipstick on the Mirror by Pop Evil
04. “Lifeline” – from the album Metamorphosis by Papa Roach
03. “Enemy in Me” from the album Art of Telling Lies by Vains of Jenna
02. “Death to All But Metal” – form the album Feel the Steel by Steel Panther
01. “I Almost Told You That I loved You” – from the album Metamorphosis by Papa Roach

Well, there you go. What do you think? Agree? Disagree? I’m not surprised by the outcome. From the first listen of both the Papa Roach and Steel Panther albums, I knew they would be the top of my year-end list. Basically, the vote was dead even for both and I sat for a long time, debating which band deserved the top spot. Steel Panther is a parody act, but the guys in the band really do live as professional musicians and they are awesome at their craft. Papa Roach has the more radio-friendly songs and flat out rock live. I decided to pretend it was 1989 and gave the best album award to Steel Panther because, well, they wear spandex on stage.

Oh and if you're keeping score at home, you'll notice that KISS, Ace Frehley, Bon Jovi and Queensryche didn't make the list.  Yes, some of you voted for them - but not enough to make a difference in the countdown.

Comments

[nirVrana]

I guess I should finally listen to Steel Panther's album. My problem is that I *hate* 'Death to all but metal' compared to Tuff's 'American Hair Band'. Tuff's is clever and funny, where SP's is mean and crude and quite lazy.

I compare it to Axl Rose going from "Feel my serpentine" on Welcome to the Jungle to "Suck my motherf**kin dick" on Get in the Ring. F every band, even good ones of different genres, doesn't even make sense.

Plus, SP disses Papa Roach, so how do you let that slide?

[Fitz]

Steel Panther?? Please a comedy album is #1 That sucks!
What about Stryper's Murder By Pride? I agree with Winger and Charm City Devils. But the Vains and dirty Penny CDs are pretty weak compared to their debuts I love both bands but I expected way better from their new music.

[kari]

Peter: If you are in L.A., you'll have to see Steel Panther at the HOB now (Key Club just closed).

Johnnie NirVrana: Death to All but Metal is the weakest song and I agree it's got NOTHING on American Hairband!

Charm City Devils & Murder By Pride = GOOOOOD STUFF!

[Pat]

I think Casino Logic by ZO2 deserves a chance. They got cool songs and the sound is really good!

www.myspace.com/bls_viking

[strutter]

papa roach ???????!?!? c'mon. really?

[Peter]

kari thanks for news about Steel Panther, didn't know Key Club was closed , last time I was in L.A It was open, but it was some time ago. Where is HOB exactly ?

[Metal Misfit]

I wanted to check out the new Europe and Dirty Penny, but never got around to it this year, despite the good reviews for both albums.

[Hilari]

This is a great list. I adore Steel Panther, but I probably would have chosen Vains of Jenna for the number one spot. I love Lit Up/Let Down, but The Art of Telling Lies just blew me away. Every song is perfection and they did a fantastic job of covering Tom Petty's "Refugee." I saw these guys live with Dirty Penny and both bands put on an incredible performance and were incredibly nice to boot! Dirty Penny's "Young and Reckless" is a great album as well. I can listen to it over and over again, never skipping a track. Next on my to do list is see Steel Panther live . . . if they will ever come to the east coast or I can make it to LA . . .

[Zak]

What?!? Papa Roach is SHIT. They are not glam AT ALL!!! Steel Panther should be 1, and Dirty Penny should be 2!!! NOTHING MORE TO SAY!!!

[Rhodeislandrock]

I missed a few of the albums on your top 10: Charm City Devils, The Last Vegas, Dirty Penny, Europe. I have read some good reviews on all so I will be looking to pick them up early in 2010. The Winger album is excellent but I got it after I made my Top 40 list.

Steve
Heavy Metal Addiction
http://heavymetaladdiction.com