Top 10 Favorite Albums of All Time

[Zeldy]

1)The Rasmus - DeadLetters

With their all-black dress code, unsmiling faces and doom-laden rock, The Rasmus are a pretty scary lot. Most frightening of all, however, is the fact that they formed as 14-year-old schoolfriends in Helsinki a decade ago and had three hit albums before their 20th birthdays. Now all that hard work seems to be paying off, with their new single 'In The Shadows' topping the charts all over Europe. It's easy to see why - pounding guitars, wailing vocals and an impeccably catchy 'Uh-oh' chorus are exactly what an awful lot of disaffected teenagers are desperate to hear. And in fairness to The Rasmus, they do it an awful lot better than most. The problem is that their new album contains little more than endless variations on the same formula, with predictably diminishing returns. And after half an hour of grinding soft-rock and po-faced lyrics about suicide, even the most indulgent listener is likely to get a bit restless.
Ardent music fans, already writhing at "success on a plate" bands, such as Keane or Snow Patrol will probably roll their eyes and think, not another, when they hear current single "In the Shadows" has been added to the chart addicted masses favourites list.
To those thinking that they are another band who doesn't have to lift a finger to sell out a venue, It will come as a surprise to hear that The
Rasmus formed way back in 1996, and have had five albums prior to "Dead Letters" as well as already enjoying a stream of successes in their native Finland, from number ones to Finnish grammy awards.
Lead singer Lauri says his lyrics are always personal and that every word has a meaning. Latest album, and debut to the UK, "Dead Letters" is no acception, with each song resembling a potential letter to someone. This could be an apology, a confession, a proclamation of affection, or a cry for help. No emotion is left untouched, and you cannot fault him for expression of feelings, perhaps this is what comes from bleak landscapes and winters that seem like a lifetime. His innovative approach creates no surprise that he is one of the most appreciated composers in Finland today.
The band behind Lauri is Pauli on Guitars, Aki on drums, and Eero on bass, not to be outdone, they all contribute to the feel of the album, and their powerful, personality fuelled sounds cannot be faulted. Right from the opener "First Day of My Life, "an instantly distinct track, it is unmistakable that the whole album shows a band collected, which can only be expected of members who have been playing together since the tender age of sixteen, and who were friends prior to this.
The Rasmus attempt, and succeed with every idea going, "In my life" is a powerful and pounding tune, and the band also uses melancholy well, still managing to get some personal anger out in the process, as heard on "Time to burn."
"Tell me why do I feel this way, all my life I been standing on the borderline."
"Not Like the Other Girls" even brings a poetic element into the picture. If any track stands out, it is none more than this one, it's melodic sounds, and classic guitar solo to rival the old classics, intensely creates a feeling not dissimilar to having just seen the gig of a lifetime.
" Funeral Song" is more of a brooding and dark ballad, but not hard hitting doom and gloom as the title suggests. A track which brings to mind the image of swaying lighters, and mobile phones held in the air, complete with vocals and strings to bowl you over. Past European hit "FFF Falling," creates a stir, with its story of a downward spiral in life.
However "If You Ever" and "Whatever" is a crash down to earth with a bang, hardly leaving you on the high note of previous tracks. Not that the songs are not well-crafted, they resemble a case of who put that there? The closing track could have favoured a more stand out track to finish.

2) Cradle Of Filth - Nymphetamine
3) NightWish - Wishmaster
4) The Rasmus - Into
5) My Chemical Romance - Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge

But The Rasmus are releasing a new album and deadletters will drop