Brave New World.

 So here we go a brand new era, here's hoping that you like it if it not, erm well lets not go there!

I'm going to start off with my fave albums of last year, you might not agree, unfortunately, thats not an option for you, agree to disagree or go somewhere else this is a brand new world.......onwards!

So here we go strap your self in, here's the 2020 top ten.....in no particular order.

Thundermother - Heatwave, A swedish version (but an all girl version) of Halestorm, well Halestorm crossed with Airbourne, i like them, it is a little too polished for me (their fourth album) a little more rough around the edges would probably win them a few more fans !

Blue Oyster Cult - The Symbol Remains. One of my fave all time bands, when this was released i  had low expectations after their last album (some 20 years ago) boy was i wrong this is probably their strongest album since Fire of Unknown Origin, damn its good and the fresh blood has helped here's hoping that it won't be another 20 years before another album.

Tokyo Motor Fist - Lions, members from Danger Danger and Trixter made a damn good debut album, this might not be as good as that debut but it does move along at a pace and does tick all of the boxes.

Lonely Robot - Feelings are Good. Their fourth (who am i kidding its John Mitchell and friends) album its not as good as the first three (but there was a thread that ran through those albums) this is still a damn good album simply not as immediate as the previous releases.

Richie Kotzen 50 for 50. Yes thats right 50 songs for his 50th birthday its a long album (actually three CD's) but a damn good release, this appeals to me, its damn good!

Dennis De Young - 76 East (Vol 1). everything that a Styx album is missing,Classic songs , Classic vocals, and well lets be honest Dennis himself, this was to be his last album but he enjoyed making it so much it turned into two volumes, i wait with baited breath for the next one, Styx should have a listen because all of the ones that they have done without Dennis have been without humor or songs for that point.

Fish - Weltschmerz. this should have been my album of the year, but i had a strop, me with my reputation, as it happens i do have a few points of issue, its a double album, its got three of the tracks from the " A Parley with Angels" EP, albeit that they are remixed and i dont know which one should have been left off to make the said EP a bit more special, i dont care about more live stuff sorry its the new lyrics and tunes i want to pull apart, the fact that he is also retiring hasn't made me happy either, i mean does he not know who i am, dammit a great album and yes it is actually my album of the year.............Go Figure! the fact i have 73 albums by the gentleman with re issues and live stuff i'm sure he won't mind me having a strop it is a great album.

FM - Synchronized. another year another album, (actually its usually every two years) and another great album, a slight detour from their usual sound, thankfully they don't try and repeat previous glories, for me still the best British Vocalist of the last thirty years (damn i feel old). i could have gone for Steve Overland's solo album but i didn't, yes this is a damn good release.

Jim Kirkpatrick - Ballad of a Prodigal Son. another solo album from a member of FM, surely this can't be that good, 2020 was a damn good year and any other year and this would have been my album of the year, yes it has the DNA of Bernie Marsden on it, its in a style similar to Joe Bonamassa,  but listen to it and see if you don't think that this a damn good album, go on i dare you!

Joe Satriani - Shape shifting. I dont play an instrument, i have no understanding of the complexity of six string wizardry, but damn it this is so good, no shred or technicality boarding on alien skills, this is everything that you need in a guitar album, there is thread of humanity that runs through it from start to finish, another strong contender for album of the year.

There you go a brief overview of what i liked from last year and there was tons more, far too many to mention, they might creep in over the coming weeks, s low start to break me in slowly, i hope you like it please spread the word, i dont get paid to do this and i dont get free copies of the music listed this is what i liked from last year mind i'm not averse to the odd album being sent my way to review, hint hint, watch the skies the new wave has started, until then ........Toodles!