Dave’s Best Of 2007

TOP 10 ALBUMS OF 2007

1. Dream Theater – Systematic Chaos

Outstanding prog metal from the masters

2. Rush – Snakes And Arrows.

It was about time the boys came back with a truly great album!

3. Joe Bonamassa – Sloe Gin

The most outstanding bluesman around today

4. Danny Vaughn – Traveller

The man with THE voice delivers his best album yet.

5. Great White – Back To The Rhythm

After all their issues, to reconvene and come up with this was nothing short of stunning.

6. Thunder – Rock City 6, The Smell Of Snow

A nice mix of originals and covers in the relaxed environment of their Christmas 2006 show.

7. Magnum – Princess Alice and the Broken Arrow

Top quality melodic hard rock.

8. Hoggwash – The Last Horizon

Quite simply interesting music, my proggy guilty pleasure.

9. Odin Dragonfly – Offerings

It’s still Heather’s great voice, whether its fronting Mostly Autumn or here in a looser folk/acoustic setting.

10. Waking The Witch – Boys From The Abattoir

A bit folk, a touch rock, very slightly country and often compared to Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young.

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TOP 5 Re-Issues

1. Gillan – The Singles

Brilliantly packaged, limited edition and most definitely a 5/5 collectors piece!

2. The Answer – Rise II (special edition)

How do you improve on the brilliant first issue of an album? Easy, just add more of the same and re-issue as double CD!

3. Queen – Rock Montreal

A couple of extra tracks from the original video release and not available on the DVD either makes this a must have for every Queen fan.

4. Wishbone Ash – Argus

Twin guitars ….. and more of them

5. UFO – Force It

Bonus tracks including 4 of the album tracks featured live, priceless!

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TOP 5 Live Gigs

1. Twisted Sister – Hard Rock Hell, Minehead

A totally unashamed return to my formative years.

2. Mostly Autumn – Cox’s Yard, Stratford

Everyone needs to catch them live at least once and there is nowhere better than at an intimate venue like this.

3. Bluehorses – Cambridge Rock Festival

Definitely one of the most visual of performances I have ever witnessed.

4. Y&T – Thekla, Bristol

An unusual venue, an absolutely storming set in front of a packed, extremely enthusiastic crowd by a band all too infrequently seen on these shores.

5. Blaze Bailey/Wolfsbane – Rock of Ages Festival, Tamworth

History in the making in the town where it all kicked off for them.

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DH