Friday, December 26, 2008
LOVELY!
The Worst
01. Fall Out Boy (429 votes)
Forget the fact that Fall Out Boy had very little presence in 2008 until this month’s release of Folie A Deux. The quartet’s very existence is disconcerting enough to earn the #1 Worst Band…again.
Most of the news relating to Fall Out Boy this year was usually associated with the band’s figurehead, Pete Wentz, who apparently pissed off a lot of you by procreating. Or perhaps it was Wentz’s new gig hosting the MTV show FNMTV, which often focused its attention on artists that already have ample attention (i.e. Snoop Dogg). It should be noted that UG users’ comments have been a lot less scathing on FOB-related news stories lately, and that might be an indication that Wentz and the boys might just win you all over in a few years – or at least fall to the #2 Worst Band. Dare to dream.
02. Metallica (425 votes)
Although Death Magnetic received generally positive reviews, there are some who still feel that Metallica's first studio album in 5 years is a far cry from the Master Of Puppets days.
The legendary metal band has seemed to lighten up quite a bit since the whole Napster debacle, but it may take more than a few songs on Rock Band/Guitar Hero and a sub-par mastering job on Death Magnetic to win a lot of the hardcore fans over again.
03. Jonas Brothers (422 votes)
It makes little difference that the Jonas Brothers have received little to no coverage on Ultimate-Guitar.
You just need to visit your local Walmart, Toys R’ Us, or magazine rack (Lord have mercy, they were on the cover of Rolling Stone) to see that this is one band where the marketing has overtaken the music.
04. Coldplay (331 votes)
While there are plenty of "alternative" radio stations and magazine publications hailing Coldplay's latest album Viva La Vida as one of the best offerings of 2008, the UG community didn’t quite agree.
Churning out another huge helping of low-key soft rock that is often mistaken for something much heavier or artistically daring, Coldplay didn’t make many new fans at UG this year. And the cherry on top? Chris Martin transformed into a misanthropic diva on the BBC Radio 4 program after being probed about his songs’ meanings. Wow, imagine being famous and having people interested in the music you create. Must be rough, Chris.
05. Tokio Hotel (329 votes)
For those living in the United States, the force of nature that is Tokio Hotel hasn’t perhaps been fully understood. But you only need visit Sweden or Italy to witness the Backstreet Boys-meets-glam-rock hysteria existing among the kids overseas these days. It seems those of you who are extremely familiar with the Tokio Hotel rage are pretty damn disgusted.
Whether it’s because of vocalist Bill Kaulitz’s cartoonishly punk hairdo (which seems to not fit his musical style in any manner) or just the fact that screaming teen girls do tend to make up a good chunk of the band’s core fan base, there are quite a few reasons that might push Tokio Hotel to the #1 slot in a few years’ time.
And rounding out the list…
06. Guns N' Roses (246 votes)
07. Slipknot (198 votes)
08. DragonForce (180 votes)
09. Nickelback (161 votes)
10. My Chemical Romance (149 votes)
The Best
01. Metallica (1087 votes)
This was no close call. Metallica might have popped up on the Worst Bands of 2008 list as well, but the number of people extolling the virtues of the legendary metal outfit far exceeded the naysayers.
And what could possibly make it even sweeter? Metallica won by a landslide, with 5 times as many votes as the 2nd runner up. It’s a huge victory for a band that only a few years back was becoming a frequent butt of jokes, thanks in part to the band alienating a new generation of downloading fans. But the past is the past, and Death Magnetic is a sign that even in their mid-40s the guys in Metallica are still in their prime.
02. Slipknot (277 votes)
Changing up the formula is not always a wise idea for a band already at the top of its game, but Slipknot has seemingly come back stronger after a little change of pace. Along with opting to record the latest album All Hope Is Gone in their hometown of Iowa, Slipknot also incorporated each member in the songwriting process – a first for the masked musicians. Critically acclaimed and praised as their heaviest offering yet (particularly in the layered percussion work), All Hope Is Gone proves there is plenty of substance behind the elaborate costumes.
03. Avenged Sevenfold (264 votes)
Avenged Sevenfold might have slipped a few notches from last year’s #1 title, but it still holds the prestigious honor of no longer being considered among the worst of the worst.
The release of last year’s self-titled album was met with a flurry of both praise and pans, but a solid work ethic on the road and the entertaining new live CD/DVD Live in the LBC & Diamonds in the Rough has won the majority over.
04. Trivium (221 votes)
The comparison to Metallica has always haunted Trivium, but 2006’s The Crusade pushed a lot of fans over the edge. Frontman Matt Heafy’s vocal style morphed into a carbon copy of James Hetfield’s, and all the screaming heard on the first few releases was a distant memory. But don’t ever accuse Trivium of being a band that doesn’t heed fans’ advice. The new album Shogun not only features the return of Heafy’s grittier vocals, it also combines the best parts of Trivium’s previous releases. Between the technical efficiency and the solid melodies, Shogun ranks up there with the best albums of 2008.
05. AC/DC (213 votes)
If there is one great unifier in rock, Angus Young is thy name. Don’t believe me? Young’s riffs have the amazing ability to be appreciated anywhere from your standard rock concert to a high school mixer to a wedding – and the list goes on and on. There’s just something incredibly relatable about an AC/DC tune, and that’s a valuable trait to have.
After an 8-year break AC/DC has given the public Black Ice, and it’s full of reliable yet gritty rock tunes. The band knows not to mess with the formula, and while there are a few slight twists along the way, Black Ice stays true to the AC/DC that we’ve loved since the days of Bon Scott.
Rounding out the best…
06. Opeth (130 votes)
07. Muse (122 votes)
08. Bullet For My Valentine (113 votes)
09. Children Of Bodom (107 votes)
10. The Offspring (87 votes)
By Amy Kelly
Ultimate-Guitar.Com © 2008