The Best of 2010 - Number 9

Albums of 2010

9. Jimmy Eat World - "Invented"

Jimmy Eat World are the greatest "emo" band of all time. There is no question, there can be no argument. The fad may have come and - thankfully - gone fairly quickly, but Jimmy Eat World have stood the test the time better than any.

Their seventh album is quite frankly superb, the mix of uptempo bouncy punk tracks mix with the mellow, introspective tracks to create an excellent album, filled to the brim with great songs. "Invented" sees a band still at the top of their game.

Essential Tracks: "Coffee and Cigarettes" "Movielike" "Action Needs An Audience"

Watch: "My Best Theory"

Songs of 2010

9. Weezer - "Memories"

Weezer released "Hurley" their fantastically titled and adorned eighth album in 2010 and it was preceeded by "Memories", their best single since, well since their last single.

"Memories" was a blast from the past of epic proportions, even the lyrics harked back to the olden days. Weezer are quite fantastic. Simple as.

Watch: "Memories"

The Best of 2010 - Number 10

Albums of 2010

10. Coheed and Cambria - "Year of the Black Rainbow"

Coheed and Cambria's fifth studio album - a spellbinding concept prequel to their previous works hits the same heights as the band's existing albums, but hits further heights not yet explored.

As over the top and complex as before, Coheed and Cambria weave a story through their lush progressive symphonies. An incredible album, worthy of continuing the saga.

Essential Tracks: "Guns of Summer" "Pearl of the Stars" "The Black Rainbow"

Watch: "Here We Are Juggernaut"

Songs of 2010

10. My Chemical Romance - "Na Na Na (Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na)"

The lead single from My Chemical Romance's fourth album is a high octane, high energy punk rock attack which should have made the world stand up and notice.

Gleefully stupid, fun and downright catchy, this was the return of a band who know exactly what they're doing. And doing it well.

Watch: "Na Na Na (Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na)"

The Best of 2010 - Number 11

Albums of 2010

11. Joe Bonamassa - "Black Rock"

The eighth solo studio album from New York blues rock legend Joe Bonamassa is his standard mix of startling original songs and covers that may just surprise. Recorded in its entirity in greece, Bonamassa once again stuns and entertains in equal measures.

The guitar work is second to none, the vocals are supreme. This is Bonamassa at his best, and at still only 33 years old, how much more can come from this man?

Essential tracks: "Quarryman's Lament" "Bird on a Wire" "Blue and Evil"

Watch: "Bird on a Wire (live)"

Songs of 2010

11. Rumer - "Slow"

Pakistani born English singer songwriter Rumer has been in and around the fringes of the music scene for going on ten years now, but finally in 2010, she released her debut solo work. And it was wonderful.

"Slow" is a quiet, introspective song, with sedate yet lush instrumentation underneath Rumer's smoky vocals. A beautiful song, and one that left you waiting for more.

Watch: "Slow"

The Best of 2010 - Number 12

Albums of the Year

12. Bad Religion - "The Dissent of Man"

Bad Religion have been around for over thirty years now, yet every few years they manage to put out something that perhaps eclipses their previous output. "The Dissent of Man" is one of those somethings.

Bad Religion basically invented pop-punk, and are still more than relevent in 2010. "The Dissent of Man" is the best punk album of the year, and shows that there's still life in the old dogs yet.

Essential Tracks: "The Day the Earth Stalled" "The Devil in Stitches" "Avalon"

Watch: "The Devil in Stitches (live)"

12. Jimmy Eat World - "Action Needs an Audience"

The standout song from Jimmy Eat World's seventh album is a startling midpaced dual vocalled wildcard of a song. Completely expected from such an incredible band, but completely unexpected at the same time. Let the song do the talking.

Watch: "Action Needs an Audeince (live)"

The Best of 2010 - Number 13

Albums of the Year

13. Avenged Sevenfold - "Nightmare"

The death of drummer, founding member and key songwriter Jimmy "The Rev" Sullivan in December of 2009 could have spelt the end for Orange County metallers Avenged Sevenfold, but in an incredible show of solidarity, tghey teamed up with (at the time) Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy and recorded the best album of their career.

"Nightmare" covers all the bases you expect from the band, thrashing riffs, powerful vocals, and the epic ballads they have become accustomed to. Portnoy's drumming gives a distinctive edge never before heard on a Sevenfold record and the lyrics, while deeply personal, resonate easily.

As a tribute, this is great, as a standalone piece of music, this is fantastic.

Essential Tracks: "Nightmare" "Victim" "Fiction"

Watch: "Nightmare"

Songs of the Year

13. The Gaslight Anthem - "American Slang"

The lead track from the Springsteen endorsed Jersey folk punk heroes' third album is everything you would come to expect and more.

"American Slang" is a Gaslight Anthem song, plain and simple, with progression thrown in. Folkier, yet still harder than before, great lyrics and a great melody. Another triumph.

Watch: "American Slang"

The Best of 2010 - Number 14

Albums of the Year

14. Black Label Society - "Order of the Black"

Over eleven years since their debut, with "Order of the Black", Zakk Wylde and Black Label Society have finally recorded their masterpiece.

Splitting with Ozzy has clearly helped Wylde's songwriting, as he seems to completely writing for himself, without thinking about how his former boss may sound on the tracks. The pounding harmonics mix well with the piano led ballads to give the band's most complete album to date.

Essential Tracks: "Parade of the Dead" "Darkest Days" "War of Heaven"

Watch: "Parade of the Dead"

Songs of the Year

14. Eminem feat Lil Wayne - "No Love"

Eminem, with Lil Wayne in tow, sampling Haddaway. This really shouldn't work. But yet not only does it work, it's one of the finest hip hop songs of the past five years.

The lyrics and flow are at Eminem's ferocious, angry best, and the sample, on paper a ridiculous idea, is absolutely inspired. Eminem back at his best, and about time.

Watch: "No Love"

The Best of 2010 - Number 15

Albums of the Year

15. The Pretty Reckless - "Light Me Up"

When it was revelaed that teenage tearaway actress Taylor Momsen was fronting a rock band, it was easy to scoff and think that it was going to be a pseudo pop monstrosity akin to much of the musical output from the "Disney Generation".

Someone forgot to mention that Momsen has a bit of attitude however, and "Light Me Up" turned out to not only be a rather enjoyable 35 minutes, but actually really good. Momsen does not sound like a seventeen year old at any point, and her vocal maturity, coupled with what are some pretty killer riffs melted into one of the most surprising debuts of the year.

Essential Tracks: "My Medicine" "Make Me Wanna Die" "Miss Nothing"

Watch: "Miss Nothing"

Songs of the Year

15. B.o.B. feat Rivers Cuomo - "Magic"

Following up "Airplanes", which contained some of the worst 'white girl wants to be ghetto' singing I've ever heard from Hayley Williams, was always going to be hard, but amazingly, B.o.B. not just followed it up, but blew it right out the water. Gone were the memories of one of the year's most overrated songs, in was a hip-pop masterpiece.

Produced by pop meaestro Dr Luke, and co-written and featuring the talents of Weezer's Rivers Cuomo, this track is one of the biggest guilty pleasures of 2010, as well as one of the best pop songs released this year.

Watch: "Magic"

Long Live Rock N Roll

Ronnie James Dio July 10, 1942 – May 16, 2010

The Greatest Song. Round 1, Match 2

Rush are in the lead in matchup 1, which will run for another 48 hours. Meanwhile, matchup 2 is announced, and an iconic song will fall.

John Lennon
"Imagine"
Released: 1971
From the Album "Imagine"
Peak UK Chart Position: 1 (1981)

The Clash
"London Calling"
Released: 1979
From the Album "London Calling"
Peak UK Chart Position: 11

Get voting below...

Greatest Song of All Time: Round 1: Fixture 1

What is the greatest song ever recorded? Well, every song have been whittled down to 64. Nominated by you, and featuring some Melody and Drama wildcards, these are the songs you will vote on. The songs have been randomly drawn against each other, here is round one.

Rush
"The Spirit of Radio"
Released 1980
From the album "Permanent Waves"
Peak UK Chart Position: 13

vs

Incubus
"Drive"
Released 2001
From the album "Make Yourself"
Peak UK Chart Position: 40

Vote for your favourite below to take the song into the last 32

Live Review: Reef, Glasgow ABC

Live Review

REEF

w/ Matthew P

Glasgow ABC

Saturday 17th April 2010

With a string of Top 20 singles, and one of the most influential rock albums of the era, Reef were one of the late 90's biggest and best British rock bands. Now, seven years after splitting, the band embark on a reunion tour, and show they've not missed a beat.

Support act Matthew P was a reasonable warm up, his jaunty acoustic numbers receiving applause from the constantly growing crowd.

But the masses weren't in attendance for any support act, and as soon as the lights went down and the intro tape started the crowd, many of whom had clearly been around to see the band in their original days, went absolutely crazy.

Opening with "Feed Me", it was clear right away that this was a band who despite being away for seven years, were as good as they ever had been. Twenty-four songs and almost two hours later, everyone left happy.

All the hits were present, "Come Back Brighter" and "Place Your Hands" still sound like full on rock anthems all these years later, and "Consideration" and "I've Got Something To Say" are as beautiful and moving as ever.

I can only hope that this isn't a one off reunion, as more and more people need to see this band. Fantastic.

1.Feed Me
2.Come Back Brighter
3.Stone For Your Love
4.I Would Have Left You
5.Good Feeling
6.Mellow
7.Weird
8.Summer's In Bloom
9.Life Seems So Clean
10.Consideration
11.New Bird
12.Place Your Hands
13.Don't You Like It
14.Lucky Number
15.I've Got Something To Say
16.Superhero
17.Who You Are
18.Set The Record Straight
19.Lately Stomping
20.Choose To Live

Encore:
21.Naked
22.I Do Not Know What They Will Do
23.Yer Old
24.End

The Young and the Restless: Daisy Dares You, Virgin Marys, We the Kings, Selena Gomez and the Scene

It's The Young and the Restless time, where four of the hottest new acts around are showcased on Melody and Drama.

Daisy Dares you is the stage name of 17 year old Essex girl Daisy Coburn, the latest in a seemingly endless line of solo females tipped for the top. Daisy is a step above most with her spiky vocals and a charming pop rock sound to distinguish her from the electropop masses. Her debut single "Number One Enemy", released February 28th features a somewhat needless rap from rising star Chipmunk, but that aside is a pretty fantastic little tune.

Daisy Dares You - Number One Enemy (featuring Chipmunk) (Demo Version)

Virgin Marys are a three piece classic rock band from Macclesfield, catching the attention of Scotland's Rock Radio, and british rock journeyman Toby Jepson, who have hailed the band as one of the hottest prospects in the UK. Check out the cracking "Portrait of Red" below and see what you think.

Virgin Marys - Portrait of Red

We the Kings are possibly the next big thing in pop-punk. The Florida quartet have toured with the likes of Cobra Starship, You Me At Six, All Time Low and Hey Monday, and this summer will tour the USA on the legendary Warped Tour. Their new single "We'll Be a Dream" features the guest vocals of a certain Miss Demi Lovato, and the self-confessed metalhead brings a brand new quality to the song.

We the Kings - We'll Be a Dream (featuring Demi Lovato)

Another Disney teen star branching into music is "Wizards of Waverly Place" star Selena Gomez, who has spurned the conventions and formed an actual band. The Scene's debut album "Kiss and Tell" is a electropunk smash, and brand new single "Naturally" shows Selena's vocal talents to the max.

Selena Gomez and the Scene - Naturally

Thursday Tracks: HIM, Priestess, Marina and the Diamonds, Demi Lovato

Tuesday Tracks just didn't happen this week, so here's Thursday tracks, as I showcase four of the hottest songs around just now.

First up on Thursday tracks this week is the return of Finnish love metal superstars HIM. The band's seventh album "Screamworks: Love in Theory and Practice" hits shelves (and download sits) on February the 8th and looks set to be their best yet if lead single "Heartkiller" is anything to go by.

HIM - Heartkiller

Secondly this week are Canadian stoner metal architects Priestess. Second album "Prior to the Fire" is out on February the 1st, having already seen a limited release in Canada at the tail end of last year. Following on from the brilliant "Hello Master", here's a taster with the excellent "Raccoon Eyes"

Priestess - Raccoon Eyes

24 year old Welsh singer-songwriter Marina Diamandis, aka Marina and the Diamonds has been making waves for a while now with a couple of EPs and singles already released and coming in runner up in BBC's Sound of 2010 poll, hings are starting to look up. Debut album "The Family Jewels" is due for release on February 22nd, and is preceeded next week by the brilliant "Hollywood" single. It might take a couple of listens, but you will love it.

Marina and the Diamonds - Hollywood

Finally this week is Disney teen princess Demi Lovato, and one of the most surprising songs of the year. Due for release on February 15th, and co-written by self confessed metalhead Lovato, "Remember December" is a spiky rock song with pop sensibilities aplenty shining through. An unexpected pleasure, and a song that will stick in your brain for quite sometime.

Demi Lovato - Remember December

Monday Mashup

After a week of problems with uploading and stuff, Melody and Drama returns with the Monday Mashup. Classic songs as you've never heard them before.

These tracks really take very little explaination, just enjoy.

Iron Maiden vs The Monkees - Trooper Believer

Queen vs Outkast - Hey (We Will Rock) Ya!

Apologies

Updates coming soon. Having some uploading problems.

Nine Inch Nails - Free DVD!

The lovely people at This One Is On Us - a pretty damn great Nine Inch Nails fansite have released "Another Version of the Truth: The Gift" a completely gratis DVD (with Blu-Ray coming soon).

The DVD features some frankly excellent live footage, great sound, and is well worth the download. Cheers guys

Download Here

There is a Friday megapost coming tomorrow featuring Monday Mashup, Tuesday Tracks, The Young and the Restless and Friday Remix Corner! 8 tracks, all free to sample from Melody and Drama. Stay tuned.

Friday Remix Corner: Kasabian, Delphic, Regina Spektor, The Strokes

It's Friday remix corner here on Melody and Drama, as we take an alternative look at some of the best known bands.

First up is Kasabian, and superstar DJ Zane Lowe's reworking of their new single "Vlad the Impaler". A warped take on an already bizarre song, check it out.

Kasabian - Vlad the Impaler (Zane Lowe Remix)

Next up is hotly tipped Manchester collective Delphic, who's new single "Doubt" is given a dark electronic reworking by Cryptonites.

Delphic - Doubt (Cryptonites Remix)

Piano toting New York singer songwriter Regina Spektor has been passing off quirky pop tunes for a number of years now, and mcDj's bizarre interpretation of "Us" is a brand new look.

Regina Spektor - Us (mcDj Remix)

Finally it's The Strokes. This is a drum n bass version of "Reptilia. Nuff said.

The Strokes - Reptilia (Remixed by Zagk Gibbons)

The Young and the Restless: New Device, Poppy and the Jezebels, Young Guns

Right, let's ignore the fact I called yesterday's post Tuesday tracks when it was clearly Wednesday, we'll call that an oversight and get onto todays music, from three young, up and coming bands who really need to be heard.

First up are New Device, a straight up rock band from South East England who formed in London in 2007. They've steadily built up a following around the UK, and recently blew joint headliners Heaven's Basement and Dear Superstar clean off the stage on a UK tour. Their debut album, "Takin' Over" is available now, and you can test out a couple of tracks below. Make sure you buy the record.

New Device - In the Fading Light
New Device - Takin' Over

Secondly today are Birmingham's Poppy and the Jezebels. Four teenage girls who met at school in 2005/6 and have formed a quirky, effervescent girl band all of their own. A string of singles and a fantastic EP already under their belts, the girls release their debut album later this year. Check out the tracks below before taking a look into their back catalogue.

Poppy and the Jezebels - Frank Chevallier
Poppy and the Jezebels - Rhubarb and Custard (Live Almost Acoustic)

Finally today are High Wycombe's Young Guns. Fresh from supporting Lostprophets around the UK, they're currently touring on the Kerrang Relentless Energy Drink tour and by all accounts tearing the tour up. Their debut EP "Mirrors" was a minor iTunes hit last summer, and they have another EP scheduled for this summer. Make sure to check out the two tracks here.

Young Guns - The Weight of the World
Young Guns - Winter Kiss

Tuesday Tracks: Alkaline Trio, Amy MacDonald, Hadouken, Lostprophets

Alkaline Trio release their new album "This Addiction" in February, promising a sound harking back to their punk rock roots. The first single, the album's title track certainly seems to showcase this.

Alkaline Trio - This Addiction

Scottish singer-songwriter Amy MacDonald returns with her second album, as yet untitled on March 8th. If you don't fancy waiting that long, here's a taster, with first single "Don't Tell Me That It's Over"

Amy MacDonald - Don't Tell Me That It's Over

Hadouken!'s sophmore effort "For the Masses" is unleashed later this month, and has been preceeded by the frankly brilliant single "Turn the Lights Out". The London techno-punks have turned up the heat with this storming track.

Hadouken! - Turn the Lights Out

It's hard to believe that Lostprophets' forthcoming album "The Betrayed" is their fourth full length, but the Welsh band continue to turn out quality tunes. "Where We Belong" is one of their trademark catchy rock tracks that will lodge in your head for days.

Lostprophets - Where We Belong

Top 30 Albums of the Decade 2000-2009: Number 1

Number 1

Mastodon

"Crack the Skye"

Released: March 24th 2009

Key Tracks: "Oblivion" / "The Czar" / "The Last Baron"

The album I've named the best of the last ten years is "Crack the Skye" by Mastodon. There's several reasons for this, the main one being, it fucking rocks. It really fucking rocks.

This is how you make a progressive metal record. In fact this is just how you make a record full stop. It's technical, ethereal, brutal, tender, agressive, melodic, just about everything. From the opening note of "Oblivion" to the closing note of "The Last Baron", you have fifty minutes of brilliant music, lyrics that tell a story and a sound that can allow you to escape reality and visualise the whole thing.

"Crack the Skye" is something else. It's just incredible. There have been a lot of great records over the past decade, but this one stands atop all of them. Sensational doesn't quite do it justice. Make sure you track it down if you don't already have it.

Mastodon - Oblivion

Top 30 Albums of the Decade 2000-2009: Number 2

Number 2

Machine Head

"The Blackening"

Released: March 26th 2007

Key Tracks: "Clenching the Fists of Dissent" / "Now I Lay Thee Down" / "Halo"

Their ill advised late nineties foray into rap-metal was already erased with 2003's "From the Ashes of Empire" but it was in 2007 that Machine Head defined their career with "The Blackening". Their magnum-opus, 8 tracks, a shade over an hour long and absolutely outstanding.

Make no mistake, "The Blackening" is the greatest thrash metal album of all time. It eclipses"Master of Puppets" and "Peace Sells". Seriously. The groove metal stylings are still audible, but this is balls out thrash. From the opening "Clenching the Fists of Dissent", through the journalist baiting "Aesthetics of Hate" and the genre defining "Halo" to the closing "A Farewell to Arms", the power, speed and emotion doesn't once let up.

"The Blackening" is the finest album of it's kind,a nd only a very very special record has kept it from the number one spot.

Machine Head - Now I Lay Thee Down

Top 30 Albums of the Decade 2000-2009: Number 3

Number 3

Black Stone Cherry

"Folklore and Superstition"

Released: August 18th 2008

Key Tracks: "Blind Man" / "Peace Is Free" / "Devil's Queen"

Black Stone Cherry's second album carried on where they left off with their self titled debut, and improved on their sound even further. Their southern tinged hard rock sound expanded, included some soft, poignant ballads and long, drawn out jams, which moulded perfectly together to create the highly accomplished finished article.

Chris Robertson's gravelly vocals boom over his and Ben Wells' sublime guitar work, with John Fred Young and Jon Lawhon's tight as tight can be rhythm section. The songs are fantastic, the musicianship shown is second to none,a nd the whole thing just sits brilliantly.

The deluxe edition of the album adds an entire disc to the mix, but it's the original album that really stands out. "Folklore and Superstition" is an album that everyone should hear.

Black Stone Cherry - Devil's Queen

Top 30 Albums of the Decade 2000-2009: Number 4

Number 4

At the Drive-In

"Relationship of Command"

Released: September 12th 2000

Key Tracks: "One Armed Scissor" / "Invalid Litter Dept." / "Rolodex Propaganda"

"Relationship of Command" is simply put, the greatest post-hardcore record ever recorded. Brutally agressive yet emotional and melodic, everything you could want is right here on the band's third, and ultimately final album.

From the sheer adrenaline rush of "One Armed Scissor" to the reflective "Invalid Litter Dept." At the Drive-In convey so much emotion and power through their songs and lyrics. There's an edge to the music which perhaps hinted at the eventual and inevitable implosion, and it only heightens the impact.

Their dissoluion left us with the not very successful Sparta and the overly prog Mars Volta, but as a final document of their work, "Relationship of Command" was the perfect way for At the Drive-In to go out.

At the Drive-In - One Armed Scissor

Top 30 Albums of the Decade 2000-2009: Number 5

Number 5

The Strokes

"Is This It"

Released: July 30th 2001

Key Tracks: "The Modern Age" / "Last Nite" / "Hard to Explain"

"Is This It" is one of the most important albums released in the last ten years. It spearheaded the garage rock revival - admittedly short lived - but also paved the way for scores of bands to make the big time. Can you imagine Kings of Leon, The Vines, The White Stripes etc having the amount of exposure they have without The Strokes? It wouldn't have happened.

And the beauty behind "Is This It" is that it's so simple. Two guitars, bass, drums and vocals. No tricks, no gimmicks, no frills, just straight up rock music. The way it should be. Eleven tracks, thirty six minutes of pure rock music. And the songs were brilliant. The false ending in "Hard to Explain" still brings a smile to my face, "Last Nite" pretty much soundtracked the autumn of 2001 and "The Modern Age" is one of my personal favourite songs.

"Is This It" was, and still is a truly magnificent album, one of the best of the decade, and one of the best ever made.

The Strokes - The Modern Age

Top 30 Albums of the Decade 2000-2009: Number 6

Number 6

Dream Theater

"Train of Thought"

Released: November 11th 2003

Key Tracks: "As I Am" / "Endless Sacrifice" / "In the Name of God"

Dream Theater's heaviest album to date. Dream Theater's best album to date. A progressive metal masterpiece, seven songs, seventy minutes, absolutely outstanding.

From the opening bars of "As I Am" to the closing notes of "In the Name of God" the album is nothing short of stunning. The diverse and precise musicianship, always present in a Dream Theater release, is as good as ever, and it's hard to believe that such a vast and wonderful soundscape has been made by just five men.

"Train of Thought" is an utterly incredible album, one of the finest metal albums ever recorded. Make sure you check it out.


Dream Theater - As I Am

Top 30 Albums of the Decade 2000-2009: Number 7

Number 7

Bloc Party

"Silent Alarm"

Released: February 2nd 2005

Key Tracks: "Helicopter" / "Banquet" / "So Here We Are"

It was the release of "Silent Alarm" in early 2005 that finally alerted most of the population to Bloc Party's eclectic, genre-hopping sound. Five years later, it's hard to think what modern music would sound like without them.

Mixing indie rock with dance, punk with electro and ballads with electronica, "Silent Alarm" was a record not quite like any other. Until their next one. "Banquet" is a classic single, an infectious riff in a strange key, and Kele Okereke's infectious vocals over a mesmerising drum loop. The rest of the album doesn't fall far from the apple.

"Silent Alarm" is an album which still sounds fresh today, five years after it's release, and still will in another ten years time and beyond.

Top 30 Albums of the Decade 2000-2009: Number 8

Number 8

Shinedown

"Us and Them"

Released: October 4th 2005

Key Tracks: "Heroes" / "I Dare You" / "Shed Some Light"

Shinedown's second album, and second album to feature on this countdown, is equal part post-grunge hard rock and epic rock balladry, creating a truly special listening experience throughout.

Brent Smith's vocals soar from start to finish, gravelly on the hard rock smash of "Heroes", clean on the acoustic "Shed Some Light" and somewhere in the middle on the frankly incredible "I Dare You". The band shines as well, their instrumentation tight and frank, making "Us and Them" as technically good as the songs themselves.

A great album by a great band, and worthy of its place inside the top 10.

Top 30 Albums of the Decade 2000-2009: Number 9

Number 9

Metallica

"Death Magnetic"

Released: September 12th 2008

Key Tracks: "That Was Just Your Life" / "The Day That Never Comes" / "All Nightmare Long"

After the disappointment that was 2003's "St Anger", Metallica returned in style with their ninth studio album "Death Magnetic". A hark back to the thrash days of old, with elements of modern Metallica thrown in, "Death Magnetic" proved to be the band's best work in almost twenty years.

The guitar solos so painfully lacking on "St Anger" returned with a vengenance on "Death Magnetic", both Kirk Hammett and James Hetfield being given their chance to shine, and on Rob Trujillo's first official release as a member of the band, the bass rumbles exactly the way it should.

"Death Magnetic" is a definite return to form, and will leave a lasting legacy as one of the outstanding metal albums of the noughties.

Eminem vs Miley??

I have no idea where this actually came from, but it's utterly fantastic. Take Dido out of "Stan", replace her with Miley Cyrus and you've got one of the strangest, yet most pleasing mashups I've heard in a long time.

Check it out, and let me know what you think.


Eminem vs Miley Cyrus - Stan (The Climb Remix)

Top 30 Albums of the Decade 2000-2009: Number 10

Number 10

Jimmy Eat World

"Bleed American" (Retitled "Jimmy Eat World" for some copies)

Released: July 18th 2001

Key Tracks: "Bleed American" / "The Middle" / "Get It Faster"

Is this emo's defining album? Probably. The stunning forty-six minutes which launched Jimmy Eat World into the bigtime. Their fourth, most successful and ultimately best album, truly one of the ten best of the last ten years.

The hard rock of "Bleed American" mixes with the pop-punk gold nugget "Sweetness" while wrestling with the tender and heartbreaking "Hear You Me" to create a thrilling, diverse album, worthy of multiple listens.

"Bleed American" is simply put, brilliant. There's something for everyone, and more. Fantastic.

Top 30 Albums of the Decade 2000-2009: Number 11

Number 11

Kasabian

"Kasabian"

Released: September 13th 2004

Key Tracks: "Club Foot" / "Processed Beats" / "L.S.F. (Lost Souls Forever)"

Kasabian's self titled debut album exploded the Leicester band onto the British rock scene in the biggest possible way.

A psycadelic romp through several different rock styles merging into one of the best crafted debuts in recent memory seems like a pretty accurate way to describe listening to "Kasabian". The opening gambit, "Club Foot" sets the tone perfectly for the rest of the record, while "L.S.F>" will go down as one of the modern classics of British rock music.

With Oasis' late 2009 disbanding, Kasabian have been left as the sole heirs to the rock n roll crown in the UK. Listening back to "Kasabian" it's clear they deserve that place.

Top 30 Albums of the Decade 2000-2009: Number 12

Number 12

Green Day

"American Idiot"

Released: September 21st 2004

Key Tracks: "American Idiot" / "Jesus of Suburbia" / "Boulevard of Broken Dreams"

Green Day's big 2004 comeback consisted of a fifty-seven minute rock opera about the anti-hero "Jesus of Suburbia". "American Idiot" was born, and it stands up as one of the best records the band has released.

No longer punk, but still unmistakably rock, the record opens with the three minute blast that is "American Idiot" and what follows is a glorious mix of hard rock and supreme balladry from one of the finest bands of their generation.

"American Idiot" set the standard for mid-noughties rock albums, and can be listened to again today and enjoyed every bit as much as the first time.