2]
DREAM THEATER - Scenes From A Memory [Elektra] one of the years biggest surprises and newest discoveries here. This is just an amazing disc with a great concept, interesting storyline, great playing, lots of heavy prog and metal as well as brilliant ballads, all done dramatically.

3]
BRUCE CAMERON - Midnight Daydream {Brain Cell] This album really lived up to the hype surrounding it with the umpteen guest stars. Great guitar playing and songwriting that would appeal to anyone who loves the classic 70s stuff with the likes of Ken Hensley, ex Alice Cooper Group guys, ex Hendrix guys, etc... Extremely sad that Cameron left this earth just when the album was coming out to reviewers and early buyers.

4]
YES - The Ladder [Beyond] I haven't heard much Yes in years. Wasn't overly crazy about "Union" years back, but this is much better IMO. John Anderson is simply superb vocally, and lyrically, with this album containing plenty of lighter new and fresh sounding Yes alongside plenty of classic Yes styles.

5]
CORK - Speed Of Thought [Lightyear] a very strong album that'll appeal to blues rock, rock, and funk types. Eric Schenkman shows how good of a guitarist he is apart from his Spin Doctors' days [which i was never a fan of]. Best Mountain related release in years.

6]
STUART SMITH - Heaven And Earth [Samsung] Great Hard - Classic Rock stuff in the vein of Purple, 80s Rainbow, Heep, etc... Lots of guests as well which make this such a cool album such as Joe Lynn Turner, Glenn Hughes, Kelly Hansen, Howard Leese, ... and a superb version of Deep Purple's "When A Blind Man Cries" with Ritchie Sambora on vox.

7]
Humanary Stew - A Tribute To ALICE COOPER [Deadline] a great line up of singers and excellent performances that make this one of the best tribute releases I've heard yet.

8]
TWISTED SISTER - Club Daze [Spitfire] a killer collection of 'Sister outtakes pre 1980. Loads of great riffs, more aggressive than the hits they had in the 80s, and great packaging! Dee rules!

9]
KENNY WAYNE SHEPHERD BAND - Live On [Giant] superb blues rock. great player, great vocalist in his band. Retains what the blues and Southern is all about, and beefs it up to make it highly appealing.

10]
STYX - Brave New World [CMC] a nice return from Styx. wish it were heavier at times, and yes I'm of the opinion that it's DeYoung's 'show' tunes that let it down at times, but never the less a good album for the rest of the stuff. Tommy Shaw deserves a lot of credit for making this a good album, along with James Young - who keep Styx fresh sounding and still rockin at times.

11]
HELIX - B-Sides [Beak] A fine collection of outtakes and rarities from this Canadian band that broke big in the 80s for a while. This being a nice addition to fans collections, as well as a nice intro to them, and reminder that they could indeed come up with some great stuff and still do.

12]
KEN HENSLEY - A Glimpse Of Glory [HIS] the fact that Ken Hensley [and Visible Faith] released an album at all is a great surprise in itself, 'cause it's been like nearly 20 years since his last one! This may not be up to what i had hoped for in comparison to his previous work [solo or Heep], but for the 4 or 5 songs that i really do like it was worth the cost!

13]
STEVE HACKETT - The Tokyo Tapes [Snapper] a great release from 1997 live shows with John Wetton, Chester Thompson, Ian McDonald doing classic Genesis, King Crimson, and a few Wetton tunes.

14] CANNED HEAT - Boogie 2000 [Ruf] classic blues n boogie stuff from a band we rarely hear from any more. Great cover of Fats Domino's "Wait And See", and plenty of different sounds and styles that make this an enjoyable disc.

15]
JEFF WATSON - Around The Sun [Deadline] good solo effort from Night Ranger guitarist, shows he is indeed an excellent player in his own right, and can come up with good songs. Steve Walsh on a few songs helps too.

16]
Encores, Legends, and Paradox - A Tribute To ELP [Magna Carta] what can ya say really? great songs, great performances, John Wetton, Glenn Hughes... !

17]
MOTORHEAD - Everything Louder Than Everyone Else [CMC] great collection of Motorhead material done live and loud!

18]
PHIL NARO - Ten Year Tour [Interplanet] solid release of aor / rock tunes from Canada's Phil Naro. Lots of good guitar rock, keyboards and vox, nice ballads spanning the past decade of the man's unreleased works.

19]
VERSITAL - A New Millennium [VMI] good guitar rock. plenty of cool riffs and solos, musically reminiscent of old Queensryche.

20]
FIREHOUSE - Category 5 [Mystic] a good set of pop-rock, with nice harmonies, catchy tunes, strong melodies, riffs, and some very good ballads.

21]
The Secret Sessions - Featuring Laing, Pappalardi, Hunter, Ronson [Pet Rock] great vault release featuring some long lost gems with Ian Hunter, Corky Laing, Mick Ronson, Todd Rundgren, and Felix Pappalardi.

22]
TILES - Presents Of Mind [Magna Carta] good heavy prog stuff, much in the vein of old Rush. not too clinical, not too long winded!

23]
MULLMUZZLER - Keep It To Yourself [Magna Carta] decent solo effort from Dream Theater's frontman. More rock and groove oriented than DT stuff.

24]
SAVOY BROWN - The Blues Keep Me Holding On [Mystic] fine blues & blues/rock album. One of the albums in 99 that really got me more interested in the blues, with Kim Simmonds amazing guitar work too.

25]
SHAW / COLLINS - Picking Locks [LT} I'd put this higher but it's only a 3 song, but still a big treat to us Heep fans to hear Bernie Shaw on this.

KJJ
Happy New Year to All !