Tag Archives: Best Rock Album

Muse: The Resistance

On September 14, 2009, “Helium – 3”, and “Warner Bros” labels released “The Resistance”, the fifth Muse studio album, It was recorded September 2008 – May 2009, at “Studio Bellini” in Lake Como, Italy, and was produced by Matthew Bellamy, Chris Wolstenholme and Dominic Howard. At the 53rd “Annual Grammy Awards”, it won the award for “Best Rock Album”. It was certified platinum in the UK by “BPI” and in US by “RIAA”.

Personnel:

  • Matthew Bellamy – vocals, guitars, keyboards, piano, synthesisers, programming, orchestral arrangements
  • Chris Wolstenholme – bass, backing vocals
  • Dominic Howard – drums, percussion, synthesizers, programming
  • Edodea Ensemble; orchestra, conducted by Audrey Riley and led by concertmaster Edoardo de Angelis
  • Enrico Gabrielli – bass clarinet
  • Tom Kirk – handclaps, football hooligan noises
  • Adrian Bushby – engineer, handclaps, football hooligan noises
  • Tommaso Colliva – additional engineering, technical setup
  • Mark “Spike” Stent – mixing
  • Matthew Green – mixing assistant
  • Ted Jensen – mastering
  • Paul Reeve – additional vocal production, handclaps, football hooligan
  • La Boca – artwork
  • Danny Clinch – photography
  • Des Broadbery – additional technical and logistical support

Track listing:

All tracks by Matthew Bellamy, except where noted.

  1. Uprising
  2. Resistance
  3. Undisclosed Desires
  4. United States of Eurasia (+Collateral Damage) – Matthew Bellamy, Frédéric Chopin
  5. Guiding Light
  6. Unnatural Selection
  7. MK Ultra
  8. I Belong to You (+Mon Cœur S’ouvre a ta Voix) – Matthew Bellamy, Camille Saint-Saëns
  9. Exogenesis: Symphony Part 1 (Overture)
  10. Exogenesis: Symphony Part 2 (Cross-Pollination)
  11. Exogenesis: Symphony Part 3 (Redemption)

The Tragically Hip: Phantom Power

On July 14, 1998, “Universal” label released “Phantom Power”, the sixth Tragically Hip (The) studio album. It was recorded 1997 – 1998, at “The Bathouse” in Bath, Ontario, Canada, and was produced by Steve Berlin, Mark Vreeken, Gord Downie, Rob Baker, Paul Langlois, Gord Sinclair and Johnny Fay. In 1998,”Phantom Power” won the 1999 “Juno Awards” for “Best Rock Album” and “Best Album Design”.

Personnel:

  • Gord Downie – lead vocals
  • Rob Baker – lead guitar
  • Paul Langlois – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
  • Gord Sinclair – bass guitar, backing vocals
  • Johnny Fay – drums
  • Steve Berlin – keyboards, flute, percussion
  • Bob Egan – lap steel, pedal steel, mandolin
  • Mark Vreeken – recording, mixing
  • Don Smith – mixing
  • Jim Rondinelli – mixing
  • Stephen Marcussen – mastering
  • Andrew McLachlan, Brock Ostrom – art direction
  • Bernard Clark, David Ajax – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Gord Downie, Rob Baker, Paul Langlois, Gord Sinclair and Johnny Fay.

  1. Poets
  2. Something On
  3. Save the Planet
  4. Bobcaygeon
  5. Thompson Girl
  6. Membership
  7. Fireworks
  8. Vapour Trails
  9. The Rules
  10. Chagrin Falls
  11. Escape Is at Hand for the Travellin’ Man
  12. Emperor Penguin

The Tragically Hip: Music @Work

On June 6, 2000, “Universe” label released “Music @ Work”, the seventh Tragically Hip (The) studio album. It was recorded in 2000, at “The Bathouse” in Bath, Ontario, and was produced by Mark Vreeken, Steve Berlin, Gord Downie, Rob Baker, Paul Langlois, Gord Sinclair and Johnny Fay. At the 2001 “Juno Awards”, “Music @ Work” won the “Best Rock Album” award.

Personnel:

  • Gord Downie – lead vocals
  • Rob Baker – lead guitar
  • Paul Langlois – rhythm guitar
  • Gord Sinclair – bass guitar, backing vocals
  • Johnny Fay – drums

Track listing:

All tracks by Gord Downie, Rob Baker, Paul Langlois, Gord Sinclair and Johnny Fay.

  1. My Music at Work
  2. Tiger the Lion
  3. Lake Fever
  4. Putting Down
  5. Stay
  6. The Bastard
  7. The Completists
  8. Freak Turbulence
  9. Sharks
  10. Toronto #4
  11. Wild Mountain Honey
  12. Train Overnight
  13. The Bear
  14. As I Wind Down the Pines

Powderfinger: Vulture Street

On July 4, 2003, “Universal Music” label released “Vulture Street”, the fifth Powderfinger studio album. It was recorded in 2003, and was produced by Nick DiDia and Tony Reyes. The album won three “ARIA Music Awards”, including “Best Rock Album”, “Album of the Year”, “Best Cover Art”, and Powderfinger won the award for “Best Group”. “Vulture Street” was certified Platinum in Australia by “ARIA”.

Personnel:

  • Bernard Fanning – vocals, guitar
  • Darren Middleton – guitar, keyboards, backing vocals
  • Ian Haug – guitar, backing vocals
  • John Collins – bass guitar
  • Jon Coghill – drums, percussion
  • Tony Reyes – keyboards, guitar, backing vocals
  • Shauna Jensen, Maggie McKinney – backing vocals
  • Lachlan Doley – Hammond organ, piano
  • Nick DiDia – tambourine, anüsaphone, engineer
  • Anton Hagop – additional engineer
  • Catherine Claire – engineer assistant
  • Brendan O’Brien – mixing
  • Steven Gorrow – art direction
  • Christopher Morris – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by John Collins, Ian Haug, Bernard Fanning, Jon Coghill and Darren Middleton

  1. Rockin’ Rocks
  2. (Baby I’ve Got You) On My Mind
  3. Since You’ve Been Gone
  4. Love Your Way
  5. Sunsets
  6. Don’t Panic
  7. Stumblin’
  8. Roll Right by You
  9. How Far Have We Really Come?
  10. Pockets
  11. A Song Called Everything

The War on Drugs: A Deeper Understanding

On August 25, 2017, “Atlantic” label released “A Deeper Understanding”, the fourth War on Drugs (The) studio album. It was recorded in 2017, and was produced by Adam Granduciel. “A Deeper Understanding” won “Best Rock Album” at the “60th Annual Grammy Awards”.

Personnel:

  • Adam Granduciel – vocals, Linn drum, samplers, Yamaha CS-5, piano, Wurlitzer, mellotron, Hammond organ, E70 organ, Nashville guitars, acoustic guitars and electric guitars, vibes, celeste, Juno 106, synthesizers, bass guitar, Korg Trident, harmonica, Arp Solina, Vox Jaguar, Roland Juno-60, tape loops, Vox organ, drums, percussion
  • Robbie Bennett – Prophet 12, piano, celeste, Hammond organ, Rhodes, Baldwin organ, backing vocals
  • Anthony LaMarca – acoustic and electric guitar, slide guitar, drums, backing vocals
  • Jon Natchez – baritone saxophone
  • Dave Hartley – bass guitar, glockenspiel, acoustic guitar, fretless bass, Höfner bass, backing vocals
  • Charlie Hall – drums, percussion, electric guitar, vibes, backing vocals
  • Patrick Berkery – drums, percussion
  • Michael Bloch – electric rhythm guitar, electric guitar
  • Meg Duffy – slide guitar
  • Max Hart – Prophet 6, Oberheim expander, pedal steel
  • Otto Hauser – drums, percussion
  • Darren Jesse – drums, percussion
  • Michael Johnson – Arp Odyssey
  • Josh Kauffman – amplified voice, electric guitar
  • Parker Kindred – percussion
  • Sterling Laws – drums, percussion
  • Lucius (Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig) – backing vocals 
  • Carter Tanton – acoustic guitar
  • The Dove & The Wolf (Louise Hayat & Paloma Gil) – backing vocals
  • Shawn Everett – mixing
  • Greg Calbi – mastering

Track listing:

All tracks by Adam Granduciel, except where noted.

  1. Up All Night
  2. Pain
  3. Holding On – lyrics by Adam Granduciel, music by Adam Granduciel, Robbie Bennett
  4. Strangest Thing
  5. Knocked Down
  6. Nothing to Find
  7. Thinking of Peace
  8. In Chains
  9. Clean Living
  10. You Don’t Have to Go

Courtney Barnett: Tell Me How You Really Feel

On May 18, 2018, “Milk! Records”, “Mom + Pop Music + Marathon Artists” labels released “Tell Me How You Really Feel”, the second Courtney Barnett studio album. It was recorded in July 2017, at “Soundpark” in Northcote, Victoria, Australia, and was produced by Courtney Barnett, Burke Reid and Dan Luscombe. At the 2018 “ARIA Music Awards”, “Tell Me How You Really Feel” won the “Best Rock Album”.

Personnel:

  • Courtney Barnett – vocals, guitar, Polaroids, artwork
  • Dan Luscombe – keyboards, organ, guitar, backing vocals
  • Kim Deal – guitar, backing vocals
  • Bones Sloane – bass, backing vocal
  • Dave Mudie – drums, percussion
  • Kelley Deal – backing vocals
  • Burke Reid – recording, mixing
  • Guy Davie – mastering

Track listing:

All tracks by Courtney Barnett.

  1. Hopefulessness
  2. City Looks Pretty
  3. Charity
  4. Need a Little Time
  5. Nameless, Faceless
  6. I’m Not Your Mother, I’m Not Your Bitch
  7. Crippling Self-Doubt and a General Lack of Confidence
  8. Help Your Self
  9. Walkin; on Eggshells
  10. Sunday Roast

tame Impala: The Slow Rush

On February 14, 2020, “Modular” and “Island Australia” labels released “The Slow Rush”, the fourth Tame Impala studio album. It was recorded in 2020, at Kevin Parker’s home studio in Fremantle, Australia, and in Los Angeles, and was produced by Kevin Parker. At the 2020 “ARIA Music Awards”, “The Slow Rush” won five categories: “ARIA Award for Album of the Year”, “Best Group”, “Best Rock Album”, “Engineer of the Year” and “Producer of the Year”.

Personnel:

  • Kevin Parker – vocals, guitar, bass, keyboards, drums, mixing, art concept
  • Greg Calbi – mastering
  • Steve Fallone– mastering
  • Glen Goatze – co-executive production
  • Neil Krug – photography, design, art concept

Track listing:

All tracks by Kevin Parker.

  1. One More Year
  2. Instant Destiny
  3. Borderline
  4. Posthumous Forgiveness
  5. Breathe Deeper
  6. Tomorrow’s Dust
  7. On Track
  8. Lost in Yesterday
  9. Is It True
  10. It Might Be Time
  11. Glimmer
  12. One More Hour

Green Day: 21st Century Breakdown

On May 15, 2009, “Reprise” label released “21st Century Breakdown”, the eighth Green Day studio album. It was recorded January 2008 – April 2009, at “Ocean Way Recording” inHollywood; “Studio 880” in Oakland, California,  “Jel Studios” in Newport Beach, California, “Costa Mesa Studios” in Costa Mesa, California, and was produced by Butch Vig, Billy Joe Armstrong, Tré Cool and Mike Dirnt. At the 52nd Grammy Awardsheld in January 2010, “21st Century Breakdown” won “Grammy Award” for “Best Rock Album”. The album was certified Platinum in US by “RIAA”.

Personnel:

  • Billie Joe Armstrong– lead vocals, guitar, piano
  • Mike Dirnt– leaf and backing vocals, bass guitar
  • Tré Cool– drums, percussion
  • Jason Freese– piano
  • Tom Kitt– string arrangements
  • Patrick Warren – string conducting
  • Chris Dugan – engineer
  • Keith Armstrong – engineer assistant
  • Nik Karpen – engineer assistant
  • Wesley Seidman – engineer assistant
  • Brad Kobylczak – additional engineering
  • Joe McGrath – additional engineering
  • Andrew Schubert – additional engineering
  • Brad Townshend – additional engineering
  • Chris Lord-Alge– mixing=
  • Ted Jensen– mastering
  • Chris Bilheimer – design, photography, stencils
  • Andrew Black – stencils
  • Micah Chong – stencils
  • David Cooper – stencils
  • Marina Chavez – back cover photography

Track listing:

All lyrics by Billie Joe Armstrong, all music composed by Billie Joe Armstrong, Tré Cool and Mike Dirnt.

  1. Song of the Century
  2. 21st Century Breakdown
  3. Know Your Enemy
  4. ¡Viva la Gloria!
  5. Before the Lobotomy
  6. Christian’s Inferno
  7. Last Night on Earth
  8. East Jesus Nowhere
  9. Peacemaker
  10. Last of the American Girls
  11. Murder City
  12. ¿Viva la Gloria?
  13. Restless Heart Syndrome
  14. Horseshoes and Handgrenades
  15. The Static Age
  16. 21 Guns
  17. American Eulogy: A. Mass Hysteria/B. Modern World
  18. See the Light

Foo Fighters: Wasting Light

On April 12, 2011, “Roswell/RCA” label released “Wasting Light”, the seventh Foo Fighters studio album. It was recorded September – December 2010, at Dave Grohl’s garage, and was produced by Butch Vig. In 2012, “Wasting Light” earned Foo Fighters five “Grammy Awards”, including “Best Rock Album”. The album was certified 2 x Platinum in Australia by “ARIA”, Platinum in Canada by “Music Canada”, 2 x Platinum in New Zealand by “RMNZ”, and Platinum in UK by “BPI”.

Personnel:

  • Dave Grohl– lead vocals, rhythm guitar, lead guitar
  • Pat Smear– rhythm guitar, lead guitar, baritone guitar
  • Nate Mendel– bass
  • Taylor Hawkins– drums, backing vocals, percussion
  • Chris Shiflett– lead guitar, backing vocals, tenor guitar
  • Bob Mould– guitar and backing vocals, backing vocals
  • Krist Novoselic– bass, accordion
  • Rami Jaffee– keyboards, mellotron, organ
  • Jessy Greene– violin
  • Fee Waybill– backing vocals
  • Butch Vig – percussion
  • Drew Hester− percussion
  • James Brown – engineer
  • Alan Moulder– mixing
  • Joe LaPorta– mastering
  • Emily Lazar– mastering
  • Morning Breath Inc. – art direction, design
  • Steve Gullick – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Dave Grohl, Taylor Hawkins, Nate Mendel, Chris Shiflett and Pat Smear.

  1. Bridge Burning
  2. Rope
  3. Dear Rosemary
  4. White Limo
  5. Arlandria
  6. These Days
  7. Back & Forth
  8. A Matter of Time
  9. Miss the Misery
  10. I Should Have Known
  11. Walk

The Black Keys: El Camino

the_black_keys_el_camino

On December 6, 2011, “Nonesuch” label released “El Camino”, the seventh Black Keys studio album. It was recorded March – May 2011, at “Easy Eye Sound Studio” in Nashville, and was produced by Brian Burton (Danger Mouse), Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney. At the 55th “Annual Grammy Awards”, The Black Keys won the award for “Best Rock Album”, “Best Rock Performance” and “Best Rock Song” for “Lonely Boy”. The album was certified 2 x Platinum in Australia by “ARIA”; 3 x Platinum in Canada by “Music Canada”; Platinum in France by “SNEP”; Platinum in Ireland by “IRMA”; 2 x Platinum in New Zealand by “RMNZ”; Platinum in UK by “BPI”, and Platinum in the US by the “RIIA”.

Personnel:

  • Dan Auerbach– vocals, guitars
  • Patrick Carney– drums
  • Brian Burton– keyboards
  • Leisa Hans – vocals
  • Heather Rigdon – vocals
  • Ashley Wilcoxson – vocals
  • Kennie Takahashi – engineer
  • Collin Dupuis – engineer assistant
  • Tchad Blake – mixing
  • Tom Elmhirst – mixing
  • Ben Baptie – mixing assistant
  • Brian Lucey – mastering

Track listing:

All tracks written Dan Auerbach, Patrick Carney, and Brian Burton.

  1. Lonely Boy
  2. Dead and Gone
  3. Gold on the Ceiling
  4. Little Black Submarines
  5. Money Maker
  6. Run Right Back
  7. Sister
  8. Hell of a Season
  9. Stop Stop
  10. Nova Baby
  11. Mind Eraser