TODDSTAR’S TOP 50 RELEASES OF 2016 + LIVE RECAP
As the year closes out… it is literally less than 62 hours from now until the end of 2016… I am faced with ranking all of the great material that surfaced over the last 12 months. With the turning tides and changing face of the music industry and its landscape, I dug into some classic material, shiny new stuff from classic rockers and new comers alike, and even some reissues, compilations, and live releases. I have come to a couple conclusions as I look at my list for the year… my musical palate is ever changing, as broad as most can get, and I still LOVE music. As my wife would tell you, other than family and friends, this is my passion. That said, I am also looking at the list of material that is coming soon, the rumors of live shows to come, and the thoughts of cool interviews to tie into both the new discs and live shows and I am very excited to see what is headed our way… Here are my choices for the Top 50 Music Releases of 2016 as well as links to related live shows and interviews, as well as links to some great live shows I had the honor to cover in words and photos.
TOP 50 RELEASES
1. Metallica – Hardwired…To Self-Destruct
2. Cheap Trick – Bang Zoom Crazy… Hello
Read my Live Review (July 14) HERE
See my Live Photos (July 14) HERE
Read my Live Review (July 13) HERE
See my Live Photos (July 13) HERE
Read my Jeff Scott Soto Interview HERE
4. Sixx A.M. – Prayers For The Blessed, Vol. 2
5. Sixx A.M. – Prayers For The Damned, Vol. 1
6. The Dead Daisies – Make Some Noise
Read my Live Review (August 24) HERE
See my Live Photos (August 24) HERE
Read my Live Review (August 15) HERE
See my Live Photos (August 15) HERE
Read my Live Review HERE
See my Live Photos HERE
8. The Pretty Reckless – Who You Selling For
Read my Live Review HERE
See my Live Photos HERE
10. Alter Bridge – The Last Hero
Read my Myles Kennedy Interview HERE
11. Whitford St. Holmes – Reunion
Read my Live Review HERE
See my Live Photos HERE
12. Ace Frehley – Origins, Vol. 1
13. Andy Black – The Shadow Side
15. Sunstorm – Edge Of Tomorrow
16. Ted Poley – Beyond The Fade
Read my Ted Poley Interview HERE
Read my Tiffany Interview HERE
Read my Live Review HERE
See my Live Photos HERE
18. Decyfer Down – The Other Side Of Darkness
Read my Brandon Mills Interview HERE
Read my Live Review HERE
See my Live Photos HERE
20. Lee Aaron – Fire And Gasoline
Read my Lee Aaron Interview HERE
21. Rob Zombie – The Electric Warlock Acid Witch Satanic Orgy Celebration Dispenser
Read my Live Review HERE
See my Live Photos HERE
22. Axel Rudi Pell – Game Of Sins
23. Crossing Rubicon – No Less Than Everything
24. Lorrie Morgan – Letting Go… Slow
Read my Lorrie Morgan Interview HERE
25. Steve Porcaro – Someday / Somehow
26. Darkhaus – When Sparks Ignite
27. Serious Black – Mirror World
29. The Defiants – The Defiants
30. Mother Feather – Mother Feather
31. Foghat – Under The Influence
Read my Roger Earl Interview HERE
32. Nordic Union – Nordic Union
33. Last In Line – Heavy Crown
Read my Vivian Campbell Interview HERE
35. The New Black – A Monster’s Life
36. The Paul Nelson Band – Badass Generation
Read my Paul Nelson Interview HERE
37. Anni Piper – More Guitars Than Friends
Read my Anni Piper Interview HERE
38. Walking With Giants – Worlds Unknown
Read my Live Review HERE
See my Live Photos HERE
45. Purson – Desire’s Magic Theatre
46. Blackfoot – Southern Native
47. Bloody Hammers – Lovely Sort Of Death
Read my Anders Manga Interview HERE
49. Deana Martin – Swing Street
Read my Deana Martin Interview HERE
50. Rossington – Take It On Faith
TOP 10 EPS
Read my Live Review HERE
See my Live Photos HERE
2. Spraygun War – Into The Blackness
4. The Killing Floor – Tongue Tied
7. Hunter Valentine – The Pledge
Read my Interview HERE
10. Morgan Myles – Miss Morgan Myles
TOP 25 LIVE SHOWS
1. Elton John – September 28, 2016 (Toledo, OH) – Review / Photos
2. Hollywood Vampires – July 13, 2016 (Mount Pleasant, MI) – Review / Photos
3. Luke Bryan – April 14, 2016 (Toledo, OH) – Review / Photos
4. Whitesnake – June 17, 2016 (Detroit, MI) – Review / Photos
5. Brad Paisley – March 10, 2016 (Toledo, OH) – Review / Photos
6. Carnival of Madness f/ Shinedown – August 18, 2016 (Clarkston, MI) – Review / Photos
7. Avenged Sevenfold – September 15, 2016 (Toledo, OH) – Review / Photos
8. Heart – July 14, 2016 (Clarkston, MI) – Review / Photos
9. Ghost – October 3, 2016 (Detroit, MI) – Review / Photos
10. Kiss – August 15 (Saginaw, MI) and August 24 (Toledo, OH) – August 15 – Review / Photos // August 24 – Review / Photos
11. Butch Walker – September 9, 2016 (Detroit, MI) – Review / Photos
12. Rob Zombie – May 19, 2016 (Saginaw, MI) – Review / Photos
13. Barry Manilow – April 27, 2016 (Toledo, OH) – Review / Photos
14. Brit Floyd – March 8, 2016 (Toledo, OH) – Review / Photos
15. Melissa Etheridge – June 23, 2016 (Detroit, MI) – Review / Photos
16. Brantley Gilbert – February 18, 2016 (Toledo, OH) – Review / Photos
17. Lamb of God / Anthrax – January 28, 2016 (Royal Oak, MI) – Review / Lamb of God Photos / Anthrax Photos
18. Ted Nugent – August 14 & August 28 (Lexington, MI) – August 14 – Review / Photos // August 28 – Review / Photos
19. Tegan And Sara – October 26, 2016 (Royal Oak, MI) – Review / Photos
20. 3 Doors Down – October 5, 2016 (Detroit, MI) – Review / Photos
21. Tiffany – September 4, 2016 (Lexington, MI) – Review / Photos
22. Justin Moore – November 11, 2016 (Toledo, OH) – Review / Photos
23. William Michael Morgan – November 11 (Toledo, OH) and November 12 (Flint, MI) – November 11 – Review / Photos // November 12 – Photos
24. Colt Ford – October 28, 2016 (Lexington, MI) – Review / Photos
25. Chase Bryant – April 23, 2016 (Port Huron, MI) – Review / Photos
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10 April 2013 NATIONS AFIRE JOINS HARDLINE ENTERTAINMENT’S SOCAL ROCK FAMILY
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11 October 2023 A Dirty Dozen with CARLOS CROWCELL and KADIN WISNIEWSKI from SOLEMN VISION – October 2023
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Category: Articles, CD Reviews, Interviews, Live Reviews, Photo Galleries
About the Author (Author Profile)
ToddStar - that's me... just a rocking accountant who had dreams of being a rock star. I get to do the next best thing to rocking the globe - I get to take pictures of the lucky ones that do. I love to shoot all genres of music and different types of performers. If it is related to music, I love to photograph it. I get to shoot and hang with not only some of my friends and idols, but some of the coolest people around today.Subscribe
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