Synic's Top Ten: An Ever-changing List

All over social media in the past few weeks, aside from the end of the world conspiracies, racism, and general political bullshit, people have been challenging their friends to post their top ten albums that inspired their musical tastes. While these posts are typically limited to one album a day, I thought I might put my current top ten into a single post, as my favorite albums are constantly changing. Sure, the top 3-5 are pretty much always locked, but albums 7-10 change depending on whatever my current obsession may be. So maybe I'll do a post like this once a year, maybe I won't. Stay tuned. It's also worth noting that after #5 these albums are in no specific order. Enjoy.

Anyway, here we go:

1. Poodle Hat - "Weird Al" Yankovic

While this may not be my favorite record "Weird Al" has come out with, (second favorite, if you were curious) this album belongs as the first on the list because it is the first concert I ever attended. And you never forget your first. My life was forever changed that night, as I am a concert fiend now and go to as many as I can every year. Al has been the keystone in forming who I am musically ever since I was young, and for that I am eternally grateful.

See also: Running With Scissors, Mandatory Fun

2. Powerage - AC/DC

Followers of my Twitter account may have probably guessed this gem would be next. AC/DC has been my all-time favorite band for a long time now, as many of my family and friends could easily attest. Many listeners of classic-rock radio may or may not be fans of AC/DC because they claim "all their songs sound the same." well to some extent that may be true of their records produced since the late 80's, people who make this claim have certainly never heard Powerage in it's entirety. In fact, many casual fans of the band (and certainly most haters) probably wouldn't recognize a single track on this album, with it's most-known song being "Sin City." Did you know it without Googling it first? This record was the second to last to come from beloved frontman Bon Scott, and it is the record of choice for many hardcore fans because it is the most underplayed and diverse record of their entire discography. This is one you need in your collection.

See Also: Let There Be Rock, Highway To Hell, Back In Black, For Those About To Rock, Flick Of The Switch, Black Ice, Rock Or Bust

Actually, fuck it. Just listen to all of their albums, okay?

3. For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge - Van Halen

F.U.C.K. was the third record Van Halen released with Sammy Hagar on the mic. It was also the first "Van Hagar" record to feature a return to their classic guitar-heavy sound, and they took a step away from the keyboard-driven love songs. Every track on this album is a rocker, with the exception of instrumental "316." Eight of the songs on this album would easily go on my "Van Halen Favorites" playlist if I ever made one.

See also: Van Halen, Fair Warning, Balance, Van Halen III

4. Conspiracy Of One - The Offspring

This album is the one I blame (or rather thank) for my love of punk music. While post-1994 Offspring may have become too-pop-to-be-punk but too-rock-to-be-pop, this is the album that started it all for me. There is not one skippable song on this record. In fact, the first favorite song I ever had (that wasn't a Weird Al song) was "Original Prankster," track 3 on this masterpiece. I could go on forever about this record, but I still have 6 more to go.

See also: Ignition, Americana, Splinter

5. Ten Thousand Fists - Disturbed

One of those bands that people either love or hate. Frankly, I will never understand the hate this band gets. Musically, they kick ass. This band is the reason I became a fan of metal in the first place. They have a tremendous rhythm section in drummer Mike Wengren and bassist John Moyer. Then comes one of the best riff-masters in the business, Dan Donegan. To cap it off is one of my favorite male vocalists of all time, David Draiman. He's also one of my favorite lyricists of all time. If I ever got the opportunity to meet these men, I would probably gush until my heart stopped and I threw up all over their shoes. So why this record of their entire catalogue? Listen to personal favorites "Overburdened" and "Sons of Plunder" and maybe you'll get it. I also must mention that I still favor their version of "Land of Confusion" over their "Sound of Silence" cover.

See also: The Lost Children, Evolution

6. The Strange Case Of... - Halestorm

For many bands the sophomore record far underperforms the debut record. This is a widely-feared phenomenon in the music industry. However, Halestorm dodged that bullet with Strange Case by winning their first grammy for opening track "Love Bites (So Do I)." The radio hit "I Miss The Misery" also went platinum just last summer, which is a truly impressive feat when you consider how many streams you have to get to equal a sale. Seriously, check out the numbers sometime. It might make you reconsider how you consume your music. It's also worth mentioning that the track "Mz. Hyde" was the Halestorm song that won me over as a fan in the first place, not that that is anywhere near impressive as a Grammy or a platinum single.

See also: Halestorm, Into The Wild Life, Vicious

7. In Step - Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble

The last record SRV would release during his lifetime, and in my opinion, his best. The strong opener "The House is Rockin'" is immediately followed by my two favorite SRV tracks "Crossfire" and "Tightrope," and the killer tracks do not stop there. This is another record that I can sit through in its entirety without the temptation of skipping even a single track. In fact, I nearly cry when I listen to it because I know I will never have the opportunity to see this man perform live, nor ever hear any new material from him and his band. His sudden early death was a true tragedy to his family, music, and the world.

See also: Texas Flood, Couldn't Stand The Weather

8. Screaming For Vengeance - Judas Priest

I feel this album needs no introduction or justification. I love metal, and Priest has another one of my favorite male vocalists of all time, Rob Halford. The man is often referred to as the Metal God, so need I say more?

See also: Rocka Rolla, British Steel, Nostradamus, Firepower

9. Slave To The Grind - Skid Row

Skid Row is another band that dodged the sophomore-record-flop curse. In fact, I believe their smash-hit debut record (featuring all their radio hits) was actually them creating a name for themselves before finding their true sound. This album was, and is, their heaviest and angriest record to date, and in my opinion, their best. Sebastian Bach cemented himself on this album as one of the great voices in hair metal. Opening tracks "Monkey Business" and "Slave To The Grind" are like a one-two punch that just tells you right away "I Remember You" was pussy shit compared to what you're about to hear.

See also: Skid Row, B-Side Ourselves

10. F8 - Five Finger Death Punch

This album is very special to me, as it was the first record reviewed on this blog. It was the album that made me want to review music in the first place. I said in that review that it damn well might be my pick for metal record of the year, and with COVID delaying anything and everything, the competition hasn't exactly been all that stiff. I don't know what to say about this album that I didn't already say, so I'll leave it here. I fuckin love you, Ivan Moody.

See also: War Is The Answer, The Wrong Side Of Heaven And The Righteous Side Of Hell

Honorable Mentions & Current Obsessions:

Enter: The Conquering Chicken - The Gits

Sinner - Joan Jett & The Blackhearts

Scatter The Rats - L7

The Interrupters - The Interrupters

Scarecrow - John Cougar Mellencamp

Hold Your Fire - Firehouse

Ritual - In This Moment

Night Songs - Cinderella

Rub My Mind - Barb Wire Dolls

Light Me Up - The Pretty Reckless