The Best of 2009

Audio Commentary to Explain the Picks

Listen to these tracks while going through the list to get a better idea of what Nick and Jeff were thinking when they made their selections.

Nick - Jeff

Top 10 Albums of 2009

Nick

1. Transatlantic - The Whirlwind

2. Dream Theater - Black Clouds and Silver Linings

3. Redemption - Snowfall on Judgment Day

4. Shadow Gallery - Digital Ghosts

5. Riverside - Anno Domini High Definition

6. Roswell Six - Terra Incognita: Beyond the Horizon

7. Porcupine Tree - The Incident

8. IQ - Frequency

9. Phideaux - Number Seven

10. Amorphis - Skyforger

Jeff

1. Redemption - Snowfall on Judgment Day

2. Bloodbound - Tabula Rasa

3. Lord - Set in Stone

4. Jaded Heart - Perfect Insanity

5. Machines of Grace - Machines of Grace

6. Killing Touch - One of a Kind

7. Savage Circus - Of Doom and Death

8. Mind Key - Pulse For a Graveheart

9. DGM -Frame

10.Dream Theater - Black Clouds and Silver Linings

Songwriter/Composer of the Year

Nick: Nic Van Dyk (Redemption - Snowfall on Judgment Day)

Jeff: Nick Van Dyk (Redemption - Snowfall on Judgment Day)

Vocalist of the Year

Nick: Neal Morse & Roine Stolt (Transatlantic - The Whirlwind)
Jeff: Urban Breed (Bloodbound - Tabula Rasa)

Guitarist of the Year

Nick: Gary Wehrkamp (Shadow Gallery - Digital Ghosts, Roswell Six - Terra Incognita: Beyond the Horizon)

Jeff: "Lord" Tim Grose (Lord - Set in Stone)

Bassist of the Year

Nick: Mariusz Duda (Riverside - Anno Domini High Definition)

Jeff: Sean Andrews (Redemption - Snowfall on Judgment Day)

Keyboardist of the Year

Nick: Jordan Rudess (Dream Theater - Black Clouds & Silver Linings, Jordan Rudess - Notes on a Dream)

Jeff: Jens Johansson (Stratovarius - Polaris)

Drummer of the Year

Nick: Mike Portnoy (Transatlantic - The Whirlwind, Dream Theater - Black Clouds & Silver Linings)

Jeff: Chris Quirarte (Redemption - Snowfall on Judgment Day)

Guest Appearance of the Year

Nick: James LaBrie (Roswell Six - Terra Incognita: Beyond the Horizon)

Jeff: James LaBrie (Redemption - Snowfall on Judgment Day)

Song of the Year (Song Under 10 Minutes)

Nick: Riverside - Egoist Hedonist

Jeff: Saxon - Battalions of Steel

Epic of the Year (Song Over 10 Minutes)

Nick: Dream Theater - The Count of Tuscany

Jeff: Dream Theater - The Count of Tuscany

Ballad of the Year

Nick: Roswell Six - Merciful Tides

Jeff: Primal Fear - Hands of Time

Disappointment of the Year

Nick: Vision Divine - Nine Degrees West of the Moon

Jeff: Heaven and Hell - The Devil You Know

Comeback Album of the Year

Nick: Sonata Arctica - The Days of Grays

Jeff: Dream Theater - Black Clouds and Silver Linings

Newcomer of the Year (Three or fewer albums.)

Nick: Roswell Six - Terra Incognita: Beyond the Horizon

Jeff: Machines of Grace - Machines of Grace

Album Cover/Artwork of the Year

Nick: Phideaux - Number Seven

Jeff: Killing Touch - One of a Kind

Top 3 Shows/Tours of the Year

Nick

1. Progressive Nation 2009

2. Beardfish at NEARfest

3. Tesla's Forevermore Tour

Jeff

1. Primal Fear's 16.6 Tour in New York City

2. Saxon in New York City

3. King's X's XV Tour in Poughkeepsie, NY

Live DVD of the Year

Nick: Pain of Salvation - Ending Themes

Jeff: Pagan's Mind - Live Equation

Most Anticipated Release in 2010

Nick: John Petrucci

Jeff: Avantasia - The Wicked Symphony/Angel of Babylon

Results of the 2009 Album of the Year Poll

1. Redemption - Snowfall on Judgment Day (68 Votes, 35%)

2. Dream Theater - Black Clouds & Silver Linings (54 Votes, 28%)

3. Riverside - Anno Domini High Definition (19 Votes, 10%)

4. Shadow Gallery - Digital Ghosts (15 Votes, 8%)

5. Transatlantic - The Whirlwind (14 Votes, 7%)

6. Bloodbound - Tabula Rasa (9 Votes, 5%)

7. Savage Circus - Of Doom and Death (7 Votes, 4%)

8. Lord - Set in Stone - (3 Votes, 2%)

9. Roswell Six - Terra Incognita: Beyond the Horizon (2 Votes, 1%)

10. Jaded Heart - Perfect Insanity & Machines of Grace - Machines of Grace (1 Vote, 1%)