MR

2011 Ultimate Classic Rock Awards: Album of the Year

by: Matthew Wilkening 1 hour ago

http://ultimateclassicrock.com/2011-ult ... -the-year/

In the second category of our inaugural annual Ultimate Classic Rock Awards, we’re asking you to vote for the best album released by a classic rock band during 2011. This is obviously a serious responsibility, and we’re hoping you sit down and really think out your decision, as you’ll only get to vote once.
We already ran down our Top 10 Albums of 2011, but there’s no reason you’ve got to line up with us, and judging from the healthy Facebook discourse which followed that story, it’s clear many of you did not. In fact, your comments got Journey onto the final ballot in this category for their ‘Eclipse’ album.

They are joined by, in no particular order: ‘Fly From Here‘ by Yes, Chickenfoot‘s ‘III,’ ‘In Your Dreams’ from Stevie Nicks, the Cars‘ ‘Move Like This,’ and Alice Cooper‘s ‘Welcome 2 My Nightmare.’ Which one deserves to be called the album of the year? It’s up to your votes!

As we mentioned at the start, you only get one shot at this, so ponder carefully, maybe revisit all the albums with a nice drink over the next few weeks. Or just vote now, your choice! You have until 11:59 PM EST on Jan. 1, 2012 to make your selection, and we’ll announce the winners on Tuesday, Jan. 3.

You can also vote for the 2011 Ultimate Classic Rock Award for “Tour of the Year” right over here.


2011 Album of the Year

VOTE..


Journey, 'Eclipse
'Chickenfoot, 'III
'Stevie Nicks, 'In Your Dreams'
Yes, 'Fly From Here
'Alice Cooper, 'Welcome 2 My Nightmare
'The Cars, 'Move Like This'

I have those minus Alice Cooper.

Damn surprising Eclipse even made this list. While I like it, I had to give Alice Cooper my vote because I like his new album better.

Just heard Alice Cooper on Television last night. He called in to Talking Dead to talk about the season finale of Walking Dead. Apparently, he's a big fan.

The Cars? Not even close...

Eclipse seems to be popping up on a lot of best of 2011 lists...especially the classic rock lists. Of course, I'm one of those that loves this album! Where's Whitesnake?

Voting % so far:

The Cars, 'Move Like This' 6.53%


Alice Cooper, 'Welcome 2 My Nightmare' 26.7%


Journey, 'Eclipse' 17.9%


Yes, 'Fly From Here' 9.38%


Stevie Nicks, 'In Your Dreams' 5.68%


Chickenfoot, 'III' 33.81%

tater1977 wrote:Voting % so far:

The Cars, 'Move Like This' 6.53%


Alice Cooper, 'Welcome 2 My Nightmare' 26.7%


Journey, 'Eclipse' 17.9%


Yes, 'Fly From Here' 9.38%


Stevie Nicks, 'In Your Dreams' 5.68%


Chickenfoot, 'III' 33.81%

No surprise to see Chicken Foot ranked so high. Their stuff is super polished and fresh. The four of them really seem to be on the same page creatively and it's evident in the music whether you hear is via the studio cuts or see them performing it live. Although each of them are associated with a different style of Rock music, all of them bring loads of talent as well as decades of experience to the table which they have drawn on to create a sort of new blend of Rock that has just as much edge but less grunge than what has been dotting the mainstream Rock landscape the past several years. I wasn't completely sure I was going to like them at first and thought, "Another group of veteran rockers past their prime throwing together a bunch of obscure cuts and drawing on their celebrity to sell a few albums." But, after setting aside that mindset and giving it a fair shake, I was really impressed with it.

Stevie Nicks - meh, The old gray mare aint what she used to be. You can tell the album's content is deeply personal to her and while it's well written, there isn't a single song on it that manages to produce a hook. I'm not against soliloquies by any means. They're just risky and require musical accompaniment that's equally as good as the song's lyrics.

Eclipse (aka The Neal Schon Vanity Project) - This one has been hashed and rehashed to death here so no need to discuss its pros and cons. Surprising to see it even ranked. I wasn't aware anyone outside this forum was even aware of its existence.

Yes - Umm... No.

The Cars - Haven't heard more than a couple of tracks from it. If their objective was to release something instantly recognizable... mission accomplished. However, that was also the problem I had with the new music; it wasn't anything new. It sounded like it could have been "previously unreleased" material from 1980.

Alice Cooper - OUTSTANDING! There are few people with as much clout, respect, experience and staying power in the music business, let alone someone who is still releasing new material as Alice - material that just keeps getting better in my opinion. He has worked with and developed relationships with everyone imaginable in the business and even more importantly, has managed to maintain those relationships without pissing anyone off or burning any important bridges along the way. As usual Alice has drawn on the expertise and talent of some of the the best in the biz to create, record, produce and market his latest offering which, as he put it, "took about 18 months to put the album together but actually took the last 35 years or so to write."
When it comes to Alice, I'm admittedly somewhat biased. That's not to say I love everything he's ever done. I don't. However, the instantly recognizable, world famous, iconic Rock music deity that is Alice Cooper is a different person when he's not in front of the mic or a camera. Here in Phoenix where he's lived since high school, he's also just a regular local guy who does a lot for the community, owns a kickass sports bar called Cooperstown (yes, the name is intentional - it's also a baseball hall of fame/museum sorta thing) and makes himself approachable and available to his fans. The lack of ego and entourage accompanying him has helped to make him a hometown favorite which translates to tons of airplay, Alice Cooper-related announcements et al, unit sales, etc. I've met and talked with him many times - but then again, who here in the Phoenix area hasn't.
The album just rocks plain and simple. I knew it would do well locally but I'm kind of surprised it hasn't gotten more attention nationally and globally. It's not everyday an album of this caliber is released and those who haven't given it a listen are truly missing out on some outstanding material.

Does Chickenfoot really qualify to be this category, since the band is only what..3 years old? At least two of it's band members are certainly "classic rock" alumni. I definitely think Chickenfoot is a great new "mainstream" rock band, but a CLASSIC rock band? I don't know...

jrnyjetster wrote:Does Chickenfoot really qualify to be this category, since the band is only what..3 years old? At least two of it's band members are certainly "classic rock" alumni. I definitely think Chickenfoot is a great new "mainstream" rock band, but a CLASSIC rock band? I don't know...

All rock veterans, and not straying from the classic formula, or breaking new ground, so I can see it.

Where's Black Country Communion 2? FAIL

Stevie Nicks leads today...

The Cars, 'Move Like This' 5.79%
Alice Cooper, 'Welcome 2 My Nightmare' 20.18%
Journey, 'Eclipse' 17.28%
Yes, 'Fly From Here' 5.69%
Stevie Nicks, 'In Your Dreams' 27.17%
Chickenfoot, 'III' 23.88%

Peartree12249 wrote:Where's Black Country Communion 2? FAIL

Wait for me EOY Awards

tater1977 wrote:Stevie Nicks leads today...

The Cars, 'Move Like This' 5.79%
Alice Cooper, 'Welcome 2 My Nightmare' 20.18%
Journey, 'Eclipse' 17.28%
Yes, 'Fly From Here' 5.69%
Stevie Nicks, 'In Your Dreams' 27.17%
Chickenfoot, 'III' 23.88%

Stevie Nicks still leads..

The Cars, 'Move Like This' 4.37%
Alice Cooper, 'Welcome 2 My Nightmare' 24.11%
Journey, 'Eclipse' 15.36%
Yes, 'Fly From Here' 4.42%
Stevie Nicks, 'In Your Dreams' 33.2%
Chickenfoot, 'III' 18.54%

Peartree12249 wrote:Where's Black Country Communion 2? FAIL

Good album

Alice Cooper has won this hands down. I'm happy for him, just a great guy and his longevity is awesome. The guy is three time the artist Bruce Springsteen is, IMO.

I can't believe that Somewhere in California by Night Ranger is not on that list. That cd is as good as I've heard in years. Every song is great.

tater1977 wrote:

tater1977 wrote:Stevie Nicks leads today...

The Cars, 'Move Like This' 5.79%
Alice Cooper, 'Welcome 2 My Nightmare' 20.18%
Journey, 'Eclipse' 17.28%
Yes, 'Fly From Here' 5.69%
Stevie Nicks, 'In Your Dreams' 27.17%
Chickenfoot, 'III' 23.88%

Stevie Nicks still leads..

The Cars, 'Move Like This' 4.37%
Alice Cooper, 'Welcome 2 My Nightmare' 24.11%
Journey, 'Eclipse' 15.36%
Yes, 'Fly From Here' 4.42%
Stevie Nicks, 'In Your Dreams' 33.2%
Chickenfoot, 'III' 18.54%

Alice is leading now..

The Cars, 'Move Like This' 5.5%
Alice Cooper, 'Welcome 2 My Nightmare' 39.13%
Journey, 'Eclipse' 11.81%
Yes, 'Fly From Here' 3.7%
Stevie Nicks, 'In Your Dreams' 18.68%
Chickenfoot, 'III' 21.18%