[Heeplist] 2014

[Dave Crookham]

Outsider was definitely in my top 5 for 2014 - probably the first Heep CD to 
make it there since Sea Of Light.  This has become my favorite Heep release 
since Abominog. The high's aren't as high as Sea Of Light, but the lows 
aren't as low either.

There are at least two releases that I definite put ahead of Outsider for 
the year.

First is The Pretty Reckless' Going To Hell. I always thought this group was 
kind of a joke because it is fronted by 20 year old actress Taylor Momsen 
(of Gossip Girl fame). I happened to see them on one of those festival 
highlight shows that run on Palladium all the time and was intrigued enough 
to buy the CD. I've been blown away since first listen. This is one of the 
best female fronted hard rock groups ever. Great songs and Momsen's lyrics 
are not what you would expect from a 20 year old female (from her voice you 
would guess she was closer to 40 than 20 anyway) - her's are about as far 
from the Taylor Swift school of lyrics as you can get. Darkly beautiful 
ballad "House On The Hill" is itself alone worth the price of the CD. If 
there were still real rock radio this band would be as big as Guns N Roses 
got when Appetite for Destruction came out.

Second CD that I place ahead of Heep Is Helix's Bastard of The Blues. The CD 
leads off with the title track and Even Jesus (Wasn't Loved In His 
Hometown), and you already have the 2 best songs Helix has ever put out. The 
rest of the CD is very solid. Where they came up with this release at this 
late point in their career I have no idea, but I'm happy to have it.

Dave