The purpose of this feature is to give you an unbiased and diverse look at what the StonerRock.com Community thought were the best albums released in the year 2001. Well, as diverse as possible considering that we`re mostly die-hard heavy rock fans! We`ve provided a total of 6 lists to ensure as much diversity as possible. The first list was compiled from a poll (via our Top 21 Albums of 2001 contest) conducted among the general members of the StonerRock.com Community, the second list is an individual member`s own list (the winner of the contest), and the final 4 lists were compiled by the staff here at StonerRock.com. Our staff lists were put together completely seperate from each other with absolutely no collaboration. None of us saw each other`s lists before they were complete so none of us could influence each other`s choices. We hope these lists provide new fans with ideas for which albums they should pick up first and the die-hard fans with a list of great albums that they`re missing out on.
A great many of the albums listed below are available for purchase in our All That`s Heavy Online Music Store. Those that are available will be linked directly to that album in the store or you can just click here to go to the main page of the store. Sorry for the shameless self promotion but it`s the sales from the store that keep StonerRock.com online - if it weren`t for those sales we wouldn`t be able to bring you this feature. Please support StonerRock.com by doing some of your record shopping with us.
And now onto the feature, starting with the StonerRock.com Community Top 21 Albums of 2001.
Community Top 21 Albums of 2001
Between January 1st and 15th, 2002 we ran a competition on StonerRock.com that our community members could enter by submitting their "Top 21 Albums of 2001" lists. This was run like a poll with very strict rules. There were hundreds of lists submitted and very very few were suspicious. I personally went through every list and compiled a master list and then alloted points based on a strict and fair criteria. This took me many hours and I was extremely careful not to miss any submissions. I won`t reveal my system for determining the points because I don`t want people to cheat the next time we run a poll/competition like this but I will guarantee that this list is very accurate and gives you an almost perfect representation of what albums the StonerRock.com Community favours.
- Mammoth Volume - A Single Book of Songs (976 pts)
- Clutch - Pure Rock Fury (969 pts)
- Tool - Lateralus (956 pts)
- Spirit Caravan - Elusive Truth (865 pts)
- Karma to Burn - Almost Heathen (825 pts)
- Nebula - Charged (787 pts)
- Masters of Reality - Deep in the Hole (485 pts)
- Dozer - Madre de Dios (476 pts)
- Desert Sessions - Volumes 7 & 8 (454 pts)
- Monster Magnet - God Says No (446 pts)
- Cathedral - Endtyme (433 pts)
- Five Horse Johnson - The No. 6 Dance (425 pts)
- Fantomas - Director`s Cut (423 pts)
- Warhorse - As Heaven Turns to Ash (418 pts)
- Roachpowder - Atomic Church (391 pts)
- Beaver - Mobile (386 pts)
- Acid King / Mystick Krewe of Clearlight - Split CD (379 pts)
- Halfway to Gone - High Five (339 pts)
- Neurosis - A Sun that Never Sets (328 pts)
- Operator Generator - Polar Fleet (315 pts)
- Sea of Green - Time to Fly (311 pts)
Click here to view the Community Top Albums Master List - Contains all albums that were voted for by StonerRock.com Community Members in the "Top 21 Albums of 2001" contest....
Contest Winner`s Top 21 Albums of 2001
In a random drawing VanMan (a regular StonerRock.com forums poster) won our "Top 21 Albums of 2001" contest. As part of his prize (which also included his choice of any 5 items from our All That`s Heavy Online Music Store) his "Top 21 Albums of 2001" list that he submitted is being included as part of this feature, so here it is:
- Clutch - Pure Rock Fury
- Mammoth Volume - A Single Book of Songs
- Tool - Lateralus
- Black Label Society - Alchol Fueled Brewtality - Live!! +5
- Spirit Caravan - Elusive Truth
- The Glasspack - American Exhaust
- Desert Sessions - Volumes 7 & 8
- Karma to Burn - Almost Heathen
- System of a Down - Toxicity
- Slow Horse - II
- Scissorfight - Mantrapping for Sport and Profit
- Scissorfight - American Cloven Hoof Blues
- Stevie Ray Vaughan - Live at Montreaux
- Tenacious D - Tenacious D
- Buddy Guy - Sweet Tea
- Rollins Band - Nice
- Slayer - God Hates Us All
- Nebula - Charged
- Ozzy Osbourne - Down To Earth
- Warhorse - As Heaven Turns to Ash
- Stone in Egypt - Self Titled
Robwrong`s Top 21 Albums of 2001
(Rob is an official reviewer/writer for StonerRock.com and is also the frontman of the Portland stoner/doom band Witch Mountain)
My Top 21 Albums of 2001 list is a combination of EP`s and LP`s... I really have to commend Gammera for having the one that truly touched my heart in all the right spots. The simplistic live recording straight to 2-inch tape has a very realistic feel and just grabbed me by the nuts the first time I heard it...plus the music just pummels! That is my favorite out of everything in 2001, and there were some great records, Dead Meadow had two! Anyhow- thanks for all the great music and good times...and rock on in 2002!!!
- Gammera - Smoke and Mirrors
- Spirit Caravan - Elusive Truth
- Dead Meadow - Self Titled
- The Glasspack - American Exhaust
- Operator Generator - Polar Fleet
- Drunk Horse - Tanning Salon / Biblical Proportions
- Raging Slab - The Dealer
- Roachpowder - Atomic Church
- Sourvein - Self Titled
- Bottom - Feels So Good When You�re Gone
- Dern Rutlidge - Lines on the Table
- Warhorse - As Heaven Turns to Ash
- Dead Meadow - Howls from the Hills
- Dixie Witch - Into the Sun
- Karma to Burn - Almost Heathen
- Khanate - Self Titled
- Bad Wizard - Free and Easy
- Porn (The Men of) - Experiments in Feedback
- Acid King / Mystick Krewe of Clearlight - Split CD
- Altamont - Our Darling
- Mammoth Volume - A Single Book of Songs
Randolfio`s Top 21 Albums of 2001
(Mark (Randolfio) does the shipping & receiving for our All That`s Heavy Online Music Store.)
2001� What a year for ROCK� So many bands have prevailed over the mainstream rock monster and exceeded my expectations. So many great shows, and so many great new releases. For me, 2001 was kind of a revolutionary year. I started listening to a wider variety of stuff� both heavier and mellower. I also had one of the greatest experiences of my life playing bass for Porn (The Men of) on their US tour. I got to meet and play with some of my favorite bands� six weeks that I wouldn�t trade for anything in the world� It�s already recounted in my tour diaries, and everything else in rock of 2001 pales in comparison to that for me, so I�ll just get straight to it� By no means was I able to listen to every release of 2001. Some I have heard, but haven�t given the proper attention they deserve� so here goes�
- Mammoth Volume - A Single Book of Songs
- Masters of Reality - Deep in the Hole
- Ween - White Pepper
- Drunk Horse - Tanning Salon / Biblical Proportions
- Gammera - Smoke and Mirrors
- Greenhouse Effect - Blast Shield Down
- Canyon Creep - Hijack the World
- Beaver - Mobile
- Suplecs - Sad Songs... Better Days
- Operator Generator - Polar Fleet
- Acid King / Mystick Krewe of Clearlight - Split CD
- Dead Meadow - Self Titled
- Dead Meadow - Howls from the Hills
- The Brought Low - Self Titled
- Bottom - Feels So Good When You�re Gone
- Dixie Witch - Into the Sun
- Porn (The Men of) - Experiments in Feedback
- Desert Sessions - Volumes 7 & 8
- Natas / Dragonauta - Split CD
- Witch Mountain - Come the Mountain
- Church of Misery - Master of Brutality
Hogfeldt`s Top 21 Albums of 2001
(Peter Hogfeldt is an official reviewer/writer for StonerRock.com - our European correspondent)
2001 - A Scandinavian Rock Odyssey!!!
Compiling the Top 21 of 2001 hasn`t been easy. I have had more than 40 different albums on this list, each and every time I`ve taken a look at the list I`ve done some changes... and if there wasn`t a deadline on when I had to send in these lists I would probably make changes for weeks to come. This means that a few albums I was sure would make the list when I started compiling it aren`t on it... I tried to make room for Khanate, Viaje A 800, Bottom, Nebula, The Heads, Halfway To Gone, Cathedral, Blutch, Dead Meadow, Operator Generator, Karma To Burn, Fistula, Smoke Blow, Witch Mountain and Satellite Circle among others (all of `em killer albums), but I would have to do a Top 40 (or even 50) to make room for each and every album that has put a smile on my face this year (sure there has also been a bunch of turds released during 2001, but most of the releases have ranged from good to amazing). There`s also a few albums that have grown on me since I first heard `em (and in some cases reviewed `em), that I originally wouldn`t have thought would end up on my best of 2001 lists... but then again if you asked me in another couple of weeks I would probably end up with a completely different list (except for a bunch of the albums on top of the list, like Abramis Brama, Backdraft, Slow Horse and Grand Magus) This year we also saw the end of Man`s Ruin, and this during one of their best years since they started... Usually half of the Man`s Ruin releases have sucked, but this year they`ve ranged mostly from good to great with stunning releases from Dozer, Begotten, Bottom, Suplecs and so on. The two labels with the best output this year must be Berserker Records with a bunch of great sludge releases and the amazing new Slow Horse album and Lunasound Recording, a label that seems to sign each and every good unsigned band out there like Backdraft, Gorilla, Generous Maria, Roadsaw and the list goes on...
If you look thru my Top 21 (and Top 10), you`ll see that about half of the releases are from Scandinavian bands (mostly Swedish, but also Finnish, Norwegian and Danish). A large percentage of the really innovative bands in the genre come from Scandinavia, and I`m starting to get tired of remarks like "I once was so drunk that I bought an album from a Swedish stoner band" (those of you on the Stoner Rock Mailing List know what I mean). I don`t know if it`s jealousy or what... It seems like it`s easier to get signed if you`re in a good Swedish stoner band than if you`re in a bad Sabbath clone band, that might have something to do with it (sure there`s been a few Swedish bands that have been signed who shouldn`t have been, but most of `em have deserved it). In 2002 there will be even more great releases from Scandinavian bands like Half Man, Spiritual Beggars, Mustasch, The Awesome Machine, Generous Maria, On Trial, Gas Giant, Gate 9, WE and the list goes on... so 2002 has every chance to become another great year in music.
2001 TOP 21 (full length CD`s & LP`s):
- Abramis Brama - N�r Tystnaden lagt Sig
- Slow Horse - II
- Grand Magus - Grand Magus
- Backdraft - Here to Save You All
- Gorilla - Self Titled
- Mammoth Volume - A Single Book of Songs
- Baby Woodrose - Blows Your Mind!
- Church of Misery - Master of Brutality
- Spirit Caravan - Elusive Truth
- Five Horse Johnson - The No. 6 Dance
- Terra Firma - Harms Way
- Raging Slab - The Dealer
- Greenleaf - Revolution Rock
- Roachpowder - Atomic Church
- Dozer - Madre de Dios
- Masters of Reality - Deep in the Hole
- Warhorse - As Heaven Turns to Ash
- Mississippi Sludge - Biscuits and Slavery
- 3D House of Beef - Low Cycle
- Sunride - The Great Infiltration
- El Caco - Viva
2001 TOP 10 (Splits, EP`s and Singles)
- Mustasch - The True Sound Of The New West
- Gas Giant vs. WE - Riding The Red Horse To The Last Stronghold Of The Freaks
- Cruevo / Brainoil - Split CD
- Fireball Ministry - FMEP
- Rickshaw vs. Hateball - Double Deluxe Split CD
- Souldivider - The Big Relax
- Leechmilk / Sofa King Killer - Split CD
- 35007 - Sea of Tranquillity EP
- Backbiter / Elope - Split CD
- Porn (The Men of) - Experiments in Feedback
El Danno`s Top 21 Albums of 2001
(El Danno is me! I am the owner, webmaster, writer and all-rounder at StonerRock.com, All That`s Heavy and MeteorCity Direct)
I always hear people talking about how the stoner rock `scene` has grown stagnant and the releases mediocre. I just don`t understand this. IT`S CRAZY TALK MAN! There are a lot of stoner fans out there who don`t know their ass from a hole in the ground, I guess. That`s the only explaination I can come up with anyways. If this were actually the case then it would have been a lot easier for me to compile my Top 21 Albums of 2001 list. But, as a matter of fact, it was extremely difficult and even frustrating due to the sheer number of excellent albums released in 2001. There are literally a couple of dozen releases that I loved but just could not fit into my Top 21 list. I even moved compilations and collaborations to my "Top 10 EPs & Splits" list to make room for more full lengths in my main list and still had to leave off albums by The Satellite Circle, Baby Woodrose, Roadsaw, Nebula, Fooz, Greenleaf, Dozer, Gorilla, Gammera, Solarized and Slow Horse - all of which RULE - and the list goes on and on.. Oh well, here`s what I came up with for my final lists:
Top 21 Albums of 2001
- Raging Slab - The Dealer
- Drunk Horse - Tanning Salon/Biblical Proportions
- Witch Mountain - Come the Mountain
- Mammoth Volume - A Single Book of Songs
- Operator Generator - Polar Fleet
- Spirit Caravan - Elusive Truth
- Sloth - The Voice of God
- Wellwater Conspiracy - The Scroll and it`s Combinations
- Roachpowder - Atomic Church
- Astroqueen - Into Submission
- The Brought Low - Self Titled
- Dead Meadow - Self Titled
- Warhorse - As Heaven Turns to Ash
- The Glasspack - American Exhaust
- Dead Meadow - Howls from the Hills
- 500 ft. of Pipe - Dope Deal
- Blind Dog - The Last Adventures of Captain Dog
- Church of Misery - Master of Brutality
- Masters of Reality - Deep in the Hole
- Khanate - Self Titled
- Dixie Witch - Into the Sun
Top 10 EPs, Splits, Collaborations & Compilations
- V/A - I Am Vengeance: Soundtrack Volume 1
- Josiah - Out of the First Rays 10"
- Acid King / Mystick Krewe of Clearlight - Split CD
- Canyon Creep - Hijack the World
- Fireball Ministry - FMEP
- Scene Killer - Scene Killer
- Leechmilk / Sofa King Killer - Split CD
- V/A - South of Hell: 14 Songs from the New South
- Desert Sessions - Volumes 7 & 8
- Generous Maria / Skua - Split CD
So all you hatshitters out there who think 2001 was a mediocre year for THE ROCK can just go shit in your hats for all I care.. Or better yet, how about you actually pick up some of these albums and listen to them? Uh.. Yeah boss.. Duh.. Which way did he go? Which way did he go? It`s your choice: pull your head out of your ass and listen to some good music or continue to complain, rant and rave and shit in your hat. I choose the former. \m/ 2001 \m/
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