Top 10 Releases Of 2001 Accord

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The KNAC.COM staff has assembled a list of out Top 10 releases of 2001. Yes, on-air-staff, writers, contributors, editors and techs all chime in on their faves for the year. Some added little explanations, while others kept it short and sweet. Check in throughout the week 'cause more will be added as we stagger into the holdays!



(Scroll to the bottom for new additions!)



Elaine Garvican, Contributor
1. System of a Down Toxicty (American Records): A sterling follow-up to their ’99 debut, and spawning some killer singles. Rocks hard and loud, just the way we like it. Highlights include the smash-hit single “Chop Suey” and “Prison Song.”
2. Godsmack Awake (Universal Records): Only released this year in the UK, the album spent a considerable chunk of time in the US top 100 billboard, peaking at number 5. Turn the volume up to max and play the album’s title track and monster single and it’s easy to see why ~ a definitive survival declaration of venomous hate.
3. Queensryche Operation Livecrime Reissue (EMI): Cheating slightly, since it is a re-release, but every time I hear Geoff Tate I just think ‘damn, that guy can sing!’
4. Black Crowes Lions (V2 Records): A melting pot of rock n’ roll riffs, blues, and 60s jive, peppered with a heavy dose of electric guitar and groovy bass. Cool.
5. Slipknot Iowa (Roadrunner Records): Over-hyped possibly, long-awaited definitely, but heavier, harder, faster, sicker and more destructive than ever before.
6. New Found Glory New Found Glory (MCA Records): Debut from the Florida boys and a whole album of the songs that should have featured on every American teen, coming-of-age, road movies ever made. Zany, upbeat, childlike, infectious, bubble-gum rock.
7. The Cult Beyond Good and Evil (Atlantic Records): A top-class album from a band who rarely get it wrong.
8. Alice Cooper DragonTown (Eagle Records): I’ve said it before and I’ll no doubt say it again. The Coop rocks. He’s a living legend.
9. P.O.D Satellite (Atlantic Records): I’ll go on record saying these guys have a successful future.
10. Various Artists Rock Star Soundtrack (Posthuman Records): The movie may not have been Oscar material, but the soundtrack has some classic ‘80s all-out rock anthems and the five reworked tracks by Steel Dragon, alone, make it worth the purchase.



Jennifer Maerz, Contributor
1. Betty Blowtorch Are You Man Enough? (Foodchain)
2. Distillers Sing Sing Death House (Epitaph )
3. Black Halos Violent Years (Sub Pop)
4. The White Stripes White Blood Cells (Sympathy for the Record Industry)
5. The Immortal Lee County Killers The Essential Fucked Up Blues (Estrus)
6. Fireball Minstry FMEP (Small Stone)
7. Cutthroats 9 You Should Be Dead (Reptilian Records)
8. Drunk Horse Tanning Salon (Biblical Proportions Man's Ruin)
9. Bottles & Skulls Never Kiss the Was (Cheetah's)
10. The Hives AKA Idiot (Gearhead)



S.L. Duff, Contributor
1. Strokes Is This It (BMG)
2. Gorillaz Gorillaz (Virgin)
3. Cut Chemist/DJ Shadow Product Placement (sold at gigs)
4. Son of Sam Songs of the Earth (Nitro)
5. Bob Dylan Love and Theft (Columbia)
6. Black Crows Lions (V2)
7. Crystal Method Tweekend (Uni/Outpost)
8. Kool Keith Spankmaster (TVT)
9. Rob Zombie The Sinister Urge (Uni)
10. The Locust The Locust (Gold Standard Laborities)



Daniel Höhr, Contributor
1.Aria Chimera (Classic Company)
2.Saxon Killing Ground (SPV)
3.Empire Hypnotica (Lion Music)
4.The Traceelords Sex, Money, Rock 'n' Roll (Massacre)
5.Judas Priest Demolition (SPV)
6.Bonfire Strike Ten (BMG)
7.Marillion Anoraknophobia (EMI)
8.Axxis Eyes Of Darkness (Massacre)
9.Powergod Bleed For The Gods. That's Metal-Lesson I (Massacre
10.Gamma Ray No World Order (Sanctuary)



Ace Annese, Contributor
1. Biohazard Uncivilization (Sanctuary Records): Strangely prophetic, no?
2. American Heartbreak/Libertine Split CD You Can't Kill Rock 'n' Roll (Coldfront Records): And this CD proves it...
3. Alice Cooper Dragontown (Spitfire Records): Another brilliant record from the Coop. And how about those great commercials?
4. The Streetwalkin' Cheetahs Waiting For The Death of My Generation (Triple X): This one's "Automatic"!
5. Slayer God Hates Us All (American Records): Say no more!
6. KISS Box Set (Mercury): The best part is that a lot of underrated tunes from Hotter Than Hell end up on here and also the demo for "It's My Life."
7. The Damned Grave Disorder (Nitro Records): Damned if you do...
8.Machine Head Supercharger (Roadrunner Records): These guys just keep getting better!
9. Iggy Pop Beat 'Em Up (Virgin Records): His best work in ages!
10. Sugarcult Start Static (Ultimatum/Artemis Records): Watch out for these guys!



Jeff Watson, Contributor
1. The Strokes Is This It (RCA): Hate them because they're boarding school kids. Hate them because the singer's dad is the head of a modeling agency. Hate them because they came outta nowhere to become the IT band du jour. Believe me, I do too. But the album is full of immediate hooks and damn good songwriting. "Is This It?" Hate to say it, but it really is.
2. The Richmond Sluts Self-Titled (Disaster Records): If Johnny Thunders sang lead on the Rolling Stones' Sticky Fingers, you'd get this record. Sex, swagger, and sticky riffs. This rules.
3. System of a Down Toxicity (American): Couldn't stand 'em before. Love 'em now. A breath of fresh air in a mediocre rap-metal market. Bonus points for integrating Middle-Eastern melodies in Western rock. Amazing.
4. Sugarcult Start Static (Artemis): A syringe needle of sugar right into your brain. If Elvis Costello stopped thinking he was the next Burt Bacharach, he might have put out this record.
5. The Hives Your Favorite Band (Burning Heart): Why, oh why, does Sweden keep putting out kick-ass rock n' roll? Your Favorite Band? You bet. They put the roll back in rock 'n' roll.
6. Slayer God Hates Us All (American): Leave it to Kerry King and co. to put out the soundtrack to a post-9/11 world. Chaotic and evil. Perfect for strafing retreating Taliban jeeps.
7. The Black Halos The Violent Years (Sub Pop): In what looks like to be their swan song, this Canadian quintet kicked your ass with rock. Sadly, you probably didn't know about it.
8. Throwrag Tee-Tot (Hellnote Records): Makes you remember why The Cramps ruled the earth long ago. Plus, the singer looks like Mike Love from the Beach Boys on a smack bender. Cool.
9. The Streetwalkin' Cheetahs Waiting For The Death Of My Generation (Triple X): Okay, so I used to play in the band…. but this record still kicks ass, with or without me. So there.
10. Ron Sexsmith Blue Boy (Spin Art): My top 10 wouldn't be honest without this record. Sure, KNAC.COM wouldn't touch his McCartneyesque melodies and elegiac songs with a ten-foot pole, but FUCK this record's amazing.



Vinnie Apicella, Contributor
1. W.A.S.P. Unholy Terror (Sanctuary Records): Potent return to form after their last few passive releases.
2. Moonspell Darkness & Hope (Century Media): Combines the fury of their past with the scope of their future.
3. Alice Cooper Dragontown (Spitfire Records): Still more powerful and compelling than ever.
4. Danzig Live On The Left Hand Side (Restless Records): Good to hear some of the classics with the old band again after the shit he's been putting out in recent years.
5. Accept Balls To The Wall Reissue (Legacy Records): Seventeen years later and still got plenty o' you know what!
6. Testament First Strike Still Deadly (Spitfire Records): Even deadlier this time around.
7. Evergrey In Search Of Truth (Century Media): One of the few new "impact" bands of the year this one's got it all.
8. Kreator Violent Revolution (SPV Records): Put 'em back on the path to reconquering the Thrash Metal throne.
9. Akercocke The Goat Of Mendes (Peaceville Records): No one else makes devil worship this fashionable.
10. Quiet Riot Metal Health Reissue (Legacy Records): Songs about straight jackets, noize, head-banging... still what it's all about ain't it!



Keith McDonald, Contributor
1. Tesla Replugged Live (Sanctuary): Not a bad song on this entire album…very underrated band.
2. KISS Box Set (Mercury): Can't go wrong with a box set from this band.
3. Saxon Killing Ground (SPV): Still got that metal working.
4. Twisted Sister Club Daze II (Spitfire): Live in the bars is what TS was all about.
5. Alice Cooper Dragontown (Spitfire): This legend can still turn out kick-ass rock.
6. Queensryche Live Evolution (Sanctuary): The best progressive hard rock band I ever heard.
7. Dust To Dust Self-Titled (Sanctuary): A great up and coming band I hope to hear more from.
8. Britny Fox Best Of (Portrait/Legacy): I usually wouldn't put a best-of on the list but I love this band.
9. Ozzy Down To Earth (Epic): What more needs to be said about Ozzy?
10. Creed Weathered (Wind-up) Continuing to pump out great music.



Gerri Miller, Contributor
1. Puddle of Mudd Come Clean (Universal/Geffen)
2. Tesla Replugged Live (Sanctuary)
3. Saliva Every Six Seconds (Universal)
4. Buckcherry Time Bomb (Atlantic)
5. Aerosmith - Just Push Play (Sony/Columbia)
6. Cult Beyond Good and Evil (Atlantic)
7. Beautiful Creatures Beautiful Creatures (Warner Bros.)
8. Spike 1000 Waste of Skin (Sony/Columbia)
9. Halfcocked The Last Star (Dreamworks)
10. Pete. Self-Titled (Warner Bros.)



Jess Carmichael, Contributor
1. Tool Lateralus (Volcano): Every year an album comes out that challenges the very institution that had been metal for the preceding twelve months. And more often than not, that album springs from the twisted collective mind of Tool. The musicianship of Maynard James Keenan and company is simply phenomenal. They’re constantly evolving and raising the standards for themselves and their fellow rockers. Forever pushing the boundaries, they reached a new level of experimentation and ingenuity with this little gem of musical brilliance heavy, powerful, and (as always) inspired almost to the point of being creepy. Without a doubt, a must have for every metal fan and my pick for the year’s best!
2) Dream Theater Live Scenes From New York (Elektra)
3. Megadeth The World Needs A Hero (Sanctuary)
4. Slayer God Hates Us All (Universal)
5. P.O.D. Satellite (Atlantic)
6. The Streetwalkin Cheetahs Waiting For The Death Of My Generation (Triple X)
7. Betty Blowtorch Are You Man Enough? (Foodchain)
8. Tantric Tantric (Maverick)
9. Nickelback Silver Side Up (Roadrunner)
10. Eve To Adam Auburn Slip (Mikendra)



Nikki Neil, Contributor
1. Garbage Beautifulgarbage (Interscope)
2. No Doubt Rock Steady (Interscope)
3. Static X Machine (Warner Bros.)
4. The Avalanches Since I Left You (London/Sire)
5. The Crystal Method Tweekend (Geffen/Outpost)
6. Betty Blowtorch Are You Man Enough? (Foodchain Records)
7. Basement Jaxx Rooty (Astralwerks/XL Recordings)
8. Depeche Mode Exciter (Reprise)
9. Days Of The New Red Album (Outpost)
10. Tool Lateralus (Volcano)



Meredith Brunswick, Contributor
1. Rammstein Mutter (Universal )
2. Tool Lateralus (Volcano)
3. Rob Zombie The Sinister Urge (Universal)
4. Kid Rock Cocky (Atlantic/Lava)
5. Pink Floyd Echoes: The Best of Pink Floyd (Capitol)
6. Puddle of Mud Come Clean (Universal/Geffen)
7. Saliva Every Six Seconds (Universal)
8. The Cult Beyond Good & Evil (Atlantic)
9. Clutch Pure Rock Fury (Atlantic)
10. Sevendust Animosity (TVT)



Frank Meyer, Editor In Chief
1. Tenacious D Self-Titled (Sony): Best comedy rock band since Spinal Tap.
2. Slayer God Hates Us Al (American): The definition of heavy...
3. Hanoi Rocks Decadent Dangerous Delicious (Castle): The best of this awesome glam punk band with some choice bonus cuts.
4. The Dictators D.F.F.D. (Dictators Records): The return of New York’s finest couldn’t come at a better time.
5. Adam Bomb Fatal Attraction Reissue (Metal Mayhem): A truly underappreciated album repackaged with bonus tracks and enhanced videos!
6. P.O.D. Satellite (Atlantic): I never woulda thought this would be up my alley but a great record is a great record no matter how ya slice it.
7. Electric Frankenstein The Buzz of 1,000 Volts (Victory): Another classic from the best hard rock/metal/punk band on the planet bar none.
8. COC Live Volume (Sanctuary): Live slabs of metallic brutality. Nothing more, nothing less.
9. Rubber City Rebels Live From Akron (Mind Control Laboratories/ White Noise): A killer live reunion album from one of the most underatted bands from the ‘70s.
10. Betty Blowtorch Are You Man Enough (Foodchain): L7 meets Zodiac Mindwarp meets Motley Crue in a bar fight. Truly classic stuff. RIP Bianca…



Jason Daze, Webmaster
1. Pressure 4-5 Burning The Process (Dreamworks)
2. Pennywise Land Of The Free (Epitaph)
3. Boy Sets Fire After The Eulogy Re-Release (Wind Up)
4. Vision Of Disorder From Bliss To Devastation (TVT)
5. Tool Lateralus (Volcano)
6. Machine Head Supercharger (Roadrunner)
7. Sevendust Animosity (TVT)
8. Slayer God Hates Us All (American)
9. Ozzy Osbourne Down To Earth (Epic)
10. Tomahawk Self-titled (Ipecac)



Diana DeVille, On Air Personality

1. Ozzy Osbourne Down to Earth (Epic)
2. Rob Zombie The Sinister Urge (Universal)
3. The Cult Beyond Good and Evil (Atlantic)
4. War & Peace Light at the End of the Tunnel (Shrapnel)
5. Crossbreed Synthetic Division (Artemis)
6. Drowning Pool Sinners (BMG/Wind Up)
7. Armored Saint Nod to the Old School (Metal Blade)
8. Betty Blowtorch Are You Man Enough? (Food Chain)
9. Various Artists Rock Star Soundtrack (Posthuman Records)
10. Heaven and Earth Windows to the World (Frontiers Records)



The Rack, On Air Personality
1. TIE System of a Down Toxicity (American) / Slayer God Hates Us All (American)
2. Soil Scars (J-Records)
3. Lacuna Coil Unleashed Memories (Century Media)
4. TIE Slipknot Iowa (Roadrunner) / Pissing Razors Where We Come From (Spitfire)
5. Dry Kill Logic Darker Side of Nonsense (Roadrunner)
6. Iced Earth Horror Show (Century Media)
7. Betty Blowtorch Are you Man Enough? (Foodchain)
8. Static-X Machine (Warner Bros.)
9. The Gathering If_Then_Else (Century Media)
10. TIE Testament First Strike Still Deadly (Spitfire) / Tool Lateralus (Volcano)



RJ Stone, On Air Personality

1. Saliva - Every Six Seconds (Universal/Island)
2. Days of the New Red Album (Universal/Outpost)
3. Ozzy Osbourne Down to Earth (Epic)
4. Rob Zombie The Sinister Urge (Universal)
5. American Head Charge The War Of Art (American)
6. Roger Waters In The Flesh Live (Sony/Columbia)
7. Pink Floyd Echoes: The Best of Pink Floyd (EMD/Capitol)
8. Tool Lateralus (Volcano)
9. Iced Earth Horror Show (Century Media)
10. Puddle of MuddCome Clean (Universal/Geffen)



Ilse Baca, Contributor

1. The Strokes Is This It? (RCA)
2. Iggy Pop Beat 'em Up (Virgin)
3. Beautiful Creatures – SelfTitled (Warner Bros.)
4. The Cult Beyond Good and Evil (Atlantic Records)
5. The Streetwalkin' Cheetahs Waiting For The Death of My Generation (Triple X)
6. Weezer Green Album (Interscope)
7. P.O.D Satellite (Atlantic)
8. The White Stripes White Blood Cells (Sympathy for the Record Industry)
9. Tori Amos Strange Little Girls (Atlantic)
10. Halfcocked The Last Star (Dreamworks)



Jeff Kerby, Gonzo Contributor
1. Old 97’s - Satellite Rides (Elektra): Credited as being one of the progenitors of the musical movement known as twangcore, this band is almost good enough to make up for all the cultural atrocities the great state of Texas has bestowed on the rest of the country i.e. the Dallas Cowboys, the Bush family and those horrifying singsong accents that butcher the English language. Rhett Miller’s stories of booze, dust and lost women strike pretty close to home. This album shows why he’s the best songwriter in music today. Period.
2. Queensryche - Live Evolution Disc 1 (Sanctuary): I still don’t know who the hell killed Mary in Operation Mindcrime, but the first disc of this double offering isn’t too darn bad. The second disc of this collection kinda blows though, and the band must suspect this since they have been saving the Mindcrime related material for the end of their live shows. Good move.
3. The Cult - Beyond Good and Evil (Atlantic): Glad this group is back playing rock music again. Their last album, entitled The Cult, which threw a lot of techno into their music, just flat sucked. This album is a great rebound.
4. Weezer - Green Album (Interscope): Rivers Cuomo writes catchy pop tunes, but let me get this straight, their last album was released in ’96, and this one comes in at just under 29 minutes. Damn, that means all they had to do was come out with five or six usable minutes of music per year. Shit, I need a job like that.
5. Rob Zombie - Sinister Urge (Geffen): Rob Zombie’s Sinister Urge this year must have been to come out with an album that sounds just about like his other albums. That’s ok, I like his other albums. Horns up.
6. Megadeth - The World Needs A Hero (Sanctuary): Last year, I stuck Megadeth’s compilation on my top ten list and said “Dave Mustaine is cooler than anyone in Metallica.” Hmmm. A year has passed, and I’d say that the only thing that has changed is that Dave Mustaine is TWICE as cool as anyone in Metallica.
7. Jimmy Eat World - Bleed American (Dreamworks): Weezer Jr. and uh, if you like Weezer, that’s a good thing. Sensitive white guy rock - not the manliest shit around. Don’t tell too many people if you like this.
8. Stabbing Westward - Self-Titled (Koch Records): Whoever dumped Christopher Hall back in high school should be proud. Hell, he’s been crying about it for years - what greater compliment for a man-eating female. Essentially, they make the list because his pain brings me joy.
9. Monster Magnet - God Says No (A&M Records): This band scares me. Might have been the best live performance I saw this year.
10. Butthole Surfers - Weird Revolution (Hollywood Records): This is definitely not their best effort, but not quite up to par for the Surfers is still better than 90% of the bands out there. Besides, it’s worth owning just for the cover alone.



Junkman, On Air Personality

1. Tool - Lateralus (Volcano)
2. Iced Earth - Horror Show (Century Media)
3. Ozzy - Down to Earth (Epic)
4. Slayer - God Hates Us All (American)
5. The Cult - Beyond Good And Evil (Atlantic)
6. System Of A Down - Toxicity (American)
7. Megadeth - World Needs A Hero (Sanctuary)
8. Beautiful Creatures - Beautiful Creatures (Warner Bros)
9. Soil - Scars (J records)
10. Tuff - American Hair Band (RLS Records) the single, for clearly saying what needed to be SAID!!!



Frankie DiVita, On Air Personality
1. The Cult - Beyond Good And Evil
2. Disturbed - The Sickness
3. Aerosmith - Just Push Play
4. P.O.D. - Satellite
5. Godsmack - Awake
6. Bon Jovi - One Wild Night Live
7. Creed - Weathered
8. Queensryche - Live Evolution
9. Black Crowes - Lions
10. Iced Earth - Horrow Show



Gail Worley, Contributor
1. Buckcherry - Time Bomb (Dreamworks)
Sex and drugs and tattoos and porn stars. Buckcherry keep rock n' roll in the gutter where it belongs.
2. Alice Cooper - Dragontown (Spitfire)
Nobody is better than Alice at what Alice does.
3. Betty Blowtorch - Are You Man Enough? (Foodchain)
RIP Bianca. A truly great band and certainly one of the hardest rocking chick outfits ever to grace rock.
4. The Damned - Grave Disorder (Nitro)
Legendary.
5. Moke - Carnival (Ultimatum/Artemis)
The '70s are not over yet.
6. Col. Parker - Rock & Roll Music (V2)
It's only rock n' roll but I like it.
7. Black Halos - The Violent Years (Sub Pop)
Frontman Billy Hopeless is a sexy motherfucker, and this album kicks your face in.
8. Megadeth - The World Needs a Hero (Sanctuary)
He pretends to be a prick, but Dave Mustaine just wants your love. Can you feel it? Ow!
9. LA Guns - Man in the Moon (Spitfire)
What L.A. glam rock is all about.
10. Beautiful Creatures - Beautiful Creatures (WB)
We're so pretty oh so pretty, and I think we just got dropped from our label...



More To Come…Check in throughout the next week…