The RockUnited.Com Readers' Poll is becoming a tradition, now that this is the third time we've asked you to vote. We might have to re-think the questions for next year, since some of them didn't work out that well. It seems that certain questions resulted in different answers from just about everyone who voted...
Last year's album chart included a couple of suprises we couldn't have predicted, but I'd say that this year we're on more familiar waters...
THE ALBUM OF THE YEAR 2008 CHART as voted by our readers:
1. H.E.A.T. - s/t (Stormvox/Playground)
RockUnited.Com review: " This is the new generation of Melodic Hardrock acts as these Swedes are all in their early twenties. It's frankly a fun mix of AOR/MHR in the vein of Europe, Winger, The Storm, Giant. It's mostly uptempo tracks, biting guitar work and fun keyboards... this is a MUST-HAVE for any fan of the genre. It's hardly 'original' or new, groundbreaking music. But seriously, who cares as long as it's this catchy." [read the full review]
2. Brother Firetribe - Heart Full Of Fire (Spinefarm)
RockUnited.Com review: "It's hard to believe how much Firetribe has matured since the first release, but while doing so they haven't lost their magic. On the contrary, they've raised the stakes to where I'd start calling them the Gods of melodic rock, and I'm not joking. If a band can fill an albums worth of classics and do it as heartwarmingly and kickass style as Firetribe has, with lyrics anyone can relate to, they should by now be in the big leagues." [read the full review]
3. Marcello Vestry - s/t (NL Distribution)
This one wasn't sent to us for a review, but our readers know their stuff and won't let a gem like this pass them by. Featuring the Danger Danger guitarist Rob Marcello, this album has been compared to early Danger Danger... both musically and lyrically. There's some rather juvenile lyrics here, but the catchy melodies and hooks make it worthwhile. Solid stuff!
4. Work Of Art - Artwork (Frontiers)
What? We didn't review this one? Must've been released during the dark ages... Frontiers' "talkover promo" period... Anyway, excellent, smooth AOR, westcoast'ish in style.
5. Whitesnake - Good To Be Bad (SPV)
RockUnited.Com review: "As an album, “Good To Be Bad” is right up there with the best the band have produced. The three slower songs break it up nicely, but in all honesty they left me wanting to skip forward or back to the rockier stuff. Coverdale is still a frickin' rock god, and you can picture him singing these songs with a glint in his eye and a big smile on his face. If you were ever a Whitesnake fan you have to have this album, and go and see the tour whilst you're at it." [read the full review]
6. House Of Lords - Come To My Kingdom (Frontiers)
7. Khymera - The Greatest Wonder (Frontiers)
8. AC/DC - Black Ice (Sony)
9. Jimi Jamison - Crossroads Moment (Frontiers)
10. Seventh Wonder - Mercy Falls (Lion Music)
11. Metallica - Death Magnetic (Warner Bros)
12. Mötley Crüe - Saints Of Los Angeles (Motley Records)
12. Elevener - When Kaleidoscopes Collide (AOR Heaven)
14. Hinder - Take It To The Limit (Universal)
15. Journey - Revelation (Frontiers)
16. Rick Springfield - Venus In Overdrive (Angelmilk)
17. Guns N' Roses - Chinese Democracy (Geffen)
18. Leverage - Blind Fire (Frontiers)
19. Nickelback - Dark Horse (Roadrunner)
20. Eclipse - Are You Ready To Rock (Frontiers)
TOP 9 SONGS OF 2008
1. Work Of Art - Why Do I
2. Brother Firetribe - Wildest Dreams
3. Mötley Crüe - Saints Of Los Angeles
4. Guns N' Roses - Better
5. Leverage - Mister Universe
Beyond the fifth place, the votes were very scattered. Several bands suffered of having too many good songs to choose from - take Brother Firetribe for example: 7 of their songs from the album recieved votes! At least they got one song to the chart though... Khymera, H.E.A.T., House Of Lords and Jimi Jamison suffered more, they all had 4 or 5 songs which recieved votes but not enough to make it to the chart.
TOP NEWCOMER OF 2008: H.E.A.T.
(Runner-up: Work Of Art)
H.E.A.T. won this "award" by a landslide. Frankly, that didn't come as much of a surprise...
RE-ISSUE OF 2008
1. Guns N' Roses - Chinese Democracy
2. Glen Burtnick - Talking In Code
3. Michael Bolton - Everybody's Crazy
4. Atlantic - Power
Hah. Nope, it wasn't a re-issue, it just took so damn long. Our readers are cheeky!
DVD OF 2008
1. FM - Back In The Saddle
2. Tesla - Comin' Atcha Live!
3. Within Temptation - The Black Symphony
BEST GIG OF 2008
1. Firefest V
2. Whitesnake/Def Leppard
3. SwedenRock
BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENTS OF 2008
1. Guns N' Roses - Chinese Democracy
2. TNT - Atlantis
3. Def Leppard - Songs From The Sparkle Lounge
4. Metallica - Death Magnetic
What a surprise...
FAVOURITE ROCKUNITED.COM ARTICLES OF 2008
1. Swedenrock 2008
2. Brother Firetribe album review
3. Leverage Interview
4. Danny Vaughn Interview
ALBUM YOU'RE MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO IN 2009
1. Places Of Power
2. U2
3. Danger Danger
Our last question about up'n coming bands you thought would rock the world in 2009 didn't raise any band above any other - merely single votes for every band. Some cheeky chap even voted for himself...
The winners of our Readers' Poll Give-A-Way are:
Gareth from the UK, Michael from Germany and Gustavo from Brazil. Emails have been sent to the winners.
Thanks to all the voters!