Album of the Year - 2012



 

I promise you: this surprised the Christ out of me. At a very young age a belief began developing and after three decades of nothing but constant validation from the universe that my beliefs were accurate, it was jarring to have those beliefs utterly destroyed.

This is what I used to believe: it’s the GUYS’ job to rock, and it’s the CHICKS’ job to look hot, stay thin, and maybe take some clothes off in the videos.

And then I met Lzzy Hale. [Not literally...what are you, retarded?]

I’d heard one of their singles on the radio from their last album and I guess it made an impression, as I kinda connected the dots years later as I heard this year’s offering and remembered them. But I’d certainly never pursued them. Earlier this year a buddy of mine gave me a copy of …the Strange Case of… and I immediately opted to not listen to it (in my defense, this awesome friend of mine had lumped it in with six gigs worth of music, so…I’m still working my way through it all).

And then a funny thing happened: months later that same friend sends me a link. “Hey, check this out – Lzzy Hale covering ‘Out ta Get Me.’”

Ninja’s Note: the quickest way to get me to ignore your e-mail is to include a link to a video in it. And the quickest way to ensure that I never see a particular Youtube video is to send it to me and suggest I watch it (DC will back me up on this one). However, this time was different: you all know about my affection for Appetite for Destruction. I was very much intrigued and slightly confused: “’Out ta Get Me?’ But Lzzy Hale is a girl. I don’t get it.”

In the end, I caved and clicked the link. And I’m sooo glad I did…because Lzzy Hale rocks harder than most dudes out there. I immediately went home and dug out …the Strange Case of… and it’s been played daily ever since.

Did you know? …the Strange Case of… is a nod to the original short story by Robert Louis Stevenson that introduced the world to Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (the full title was “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde”). Did you also know that the story was allegedly inspired by a Scottish fellow who would become something resembling a different person (in character) when drunk? Did you also know that you should have known this long before now?

THIS is what your rock music should be like, folks. You have your energy, your attitude, and how about this: we finally get an album that was not made in the 1980s where more than half the songs are radio-worthy. How about that! Back in those days if I wanted to listen to an hour’s worth of music, I would select an album and press PLAY. Ever since Pearl Jam and Korn stormed Castle Metal and made mediocrity the norm I’ve had to compile my own mixes from the random non-garbage you’d salvage out in the wasteland that is the rock music scene. But this?

From start to finish the album is a juggernaut. Drummer Arejay Hale is a joy to listen to as his enthusiasm for drums and being a drummer come through in every beat somehow (I have no idea how certain drummers do this…the Rev pulled it off, Tommy Lee used to be able to pull it off…weird. Maybe I’m insane?). The guitar playing is solid and maybe at times a bit understated but – let’s face it – the guitar isn’t supposed to be the star here, is it?

No comment (wife reads the blog).

Lzzy Hale is the star. From the opening line of the opening track she sets out to convince you that she belongs in the company of only the most legendary rock vocalists out there. Over the course of the album she demonstrates complete dominance over just about every classic technique there is. Her choice of techniques and her choice to move (effortlessly) back and forth between belting it out and exercising restraint shows us how well she understands not only her instrument but rock music in general. This is rare: modern artists seek to bend the rules of rock n roll to fit themselves. Lzzy Hale chooses strict adherence to the Rules of Rock, and I applaud her for it.

In a way, this whole album is a throwback to the Golden Age of Rock & Roll (which, yes, was the 80s – suck it Eddie Vedder). “Daughters of Darkness” utterly gives me the chills; can you think of the last time someone other than an aging Glenn Danzig sang about anything remotely evil??

Bottom line: Halestorm is a great band that put together an amazing album. And they very much deserve the Grammy nomination for “Love Bites (but So Do I).”

Look guys.  Another photo

Ninja’s Note: 2012 was destined to be the year I learned my lesson about girls in music; initially album of the year was going to go to Florence + the Machine for Ceremonials…until I found out that Ceremonials was released late 2011. Oh well, sorry Flo. You kick ass up & down the block too.