The Best of 2011

Audio Commentary to Explain the Picks

Listen to this while going through the list to get a better idea of what Nick was thinking when he made his selections.

Top 10 Albums of 2011

Nick

1. Beardfish - Mammoth

2. Dream Theater - A Dramatic Turn of Events

3. Flaming Row - Elinoire

4. Pain of Salvation - Road Salt Two

5. Symphony X - Iconoclast

6. Neal Morse - Testimony Two

7. Eden's Curse - Trinity

8. Pendragon - Passion

9. Arch/Matheos - Sympathetic Resonance

10. Royal Hunt - Show Me How to Live

Songwriter/Composer of the Year

Nick: Martin Schnella (Flaming Row)

Vocalist of the Year

Nick: Russell Allen (Symphony X, Adrenaline Mob)

Guitarist of the Year

Nick: Jim Matheos (Arch/Matheos)

Bassist of the Year

Nick: Eddie Beckenridge (Thrice)

Keyboardist of the Year

Nick: Jordan Rudess (A Dramatic Turn of Events)

Drummer of the Year

Nick: Tobias Anderson (Leprous)

Guest Appearance of the Year

Nick: James LaBrie (Eden's Curse)

Song of the Year (Song Under 10 Minutes)

Nick: The Deeper Cut (Pain of Salvation)

(Note: This was originally listed as Symphony X's Iconoclast until I realized that it was over 10 minutes and that song is used in the commentary.)

Epic of the Year (Song Over 10 Minutes)

Nick: This Green and Pleasant Land (Pendragon)

Ballad of the Year

Nick: Jayda (Neal Morse)

Disappointment of the Year

Nick: Dedicated to Chaos (Queensryche)

Comeback Album of the Year

Nick: What If... (Mr. Big)

Newcomer of the Year (One or two albums)

Nick: Elinoire (Flaming Row)

Album Cover/Artwork of the Year

Nick: This Mortal Coil (Redemption, Travis Smith)

Top 3 Shows/Tours of the Year

Nick

1. Dream Theater's A Dramatic Tour of Events

2. Evergrey in Philadelphia

3. Neal Morse in New York City

Live DVD of the Year

Nick: Rush - Time Machine Tour

Most Anticipated Release in 2012

Nick: Rush - Clockwork Angels

Results of the 2011 Album of the Year Poll

1. Dream Theater - A Dramatic Turn of Events (40%)

2. Pain of Salvation - Road Salt Two (13%)

3. Flaming Row - Elinoire (11%)

4. Arch/Matheos - Sympathetic Resonance (8%)

5. Haken - Visions (8%)

6. The Dear Hunter - The Color Spectrum (5%)

7. Three - The Ghost You Gave to Me (3%)

8. Fair to Midland - Anchors and Arrows (3%)

9. Karmakanic - In a Perfect World (3%)

10. Leprous - Bilateral (3%)

11. Mr. Big - What If? (3%)