The reviews of all the albums reviewed this year continue to pile up. The Top 10 Best Albums of 2021 has been finalized, I think, with the final album added this week but some shuffling around of those picked has started the second-guessing. Oh! I also got a new Rush album. Don’t get too excited, see below.
- Merry Axemas – (album)
I told you Merry Axemas would remain on The Weekly Playlist for a few weeks.
- Mammoth WVH – Self-titled (album)
Wolfgang Van Halen’s debut album. Read the review.
- Duran Duran – Future Past (album)
Still going after 40 years, Duran Duran’s new album shows the band looking for new ways to reinvent themselves. Read the review.
- Weezer – Van Weezer and Maladroit (albums)
Van Weezer isn’t the first hard rock (ish) album from Weezer as 2002’s Maladroit also had some heavier guitars and mildly head-banging chords that showed a different side to this band. A band that probably has created its own musical niche by now. Read the review for Van Weezer.
- Daughtry – Dearly beloved (album)
Another listen to Daughtry’s new album. Read the review.
- Dream Theater – A View From the Top of the World (album)
I wish I would have seen Dream Theater last month but the violence that has engulfed Portland, especially near the area of the venue, keeps me at home. Read the review.
- Greta Van Fleet – The Battle at Garden’s Gate (album)
Another listen to Greta Van Fleet’s sophomore album. Read the review.
- Styx – Crash of the Crown (album)
Styx returns to my area next summer with REO Speedwagon. For a while I was seeing Styx seemingly all the time but it’s been some time since I’ve seen them. I suspect they will play plenty off their new album. Read the review.
- Rush – Icon (album)
A friend texted me a photo of the new Rush Icon album he found at Wal-Mart. It was a limited edition white vinyl. I didn’t realize “they” (whoever they is from Canada as it came from Canada) released it on vinyl. So, the next day I went to Wal-Mart and found four copies, three on white and one on cobalt blue. I grabbed the cobalt blue. I am sure “limited edition” means 10,000 copies or some such making the whole “limited edition” thing a bit meaningless but an interesting selection of songs from the first 11 Rush albums.
Drew's Reviews 
I always thought that Wolfgang Van Halen was such a bada** name! You have the words “wolf” and “gang” in your name, enough said!
naked after Mozart!
Nice score on the RUSH release. That Styx/REO/Loverboy looks like a great tour. I would go to that one for sure if it came to my hometown which it isn’t lol. Some great rock stuff on this list Sir!
they are playing a big venue. will be interesting to see how tickets sell.
I bet it will pull good numbers. People are staving for more nostalgia! lol
that’s very true. recently read an article about people longing for nostalgia and reaching back into their past. I hope to go. love both bands and never seen loverboy!
It will be a great night of music. Reno still sounds good.
Lots of great stuff here. I have tickets to see Mammoth with Dirty Honey in February. Can’t wait!!
awesome. good to know he’s touring. he opened for Guns over summer which I didn’t see. I’ll check to see if he’s coming back. thanks!