Useless Entertainment

Top Albums of the Year 2010 Edition

2011-01-10T18:50:00.001-05:00

I didn't keep up with new music this year like I normally do but here are my favorite albums of the year:

25. No Age - Everything In Between

24. Titus Andronicus - The Monitor

23. Rocky Votolato - True Devotion

22. Wolf Parade - Expo 86

21. Pete Yorn - Pete Yorn

20. Unknown Mortal Orchestra - Unknown Mortal Orchestra

19. Band of Horses - Infinite Arms

18. Fake Problems - Real Ghosts Caught On Tape

17. Sleigh Bells - Treats

16. Surfer Blood - Astrocoast

15. Minus The Bear - OMNI

14. Glossary - Feral Fire

13. Motion City Soundtrack - My Dinosaur Life

12. My Chemical Romance - Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys

11. Ted Leo and the Pharmacists - The Brutalist Bricks

10. Spoon - Transference

9. Dr. Dog - Shame Shame

8. Arcade Fire - The Suburbs

7. Beach House - Teen Dream

6. Black Keys - Brothers

5. LCD Soundsystem - This Is Happening

4. Tokyo Police Club - Champ

3. Gaslight Anthem - American Slang

2. Bad Books - Bad Books

1. The Morning Benders - Big Echo

Top Albums of the Year 2009 Edition

2010-01-08T17:35:00.020-05:00

#30 The Thermals - Now We Can See

Another great snotty pop punk record from one of the better pop punk bands still putting out records. This record is a bit more polished and catchier than their previous efforts but all of the signature Thermals sounds are there.

#29 St Vincent - Actor

After seeing the last St Vincent record on a ton of end of year lists, I decided to give the new record a chance. I'm glad I did. It's a great indie rock record with amazing vocals and interesting song arrangements. Check out a video of my favorite track on the record:

#28 The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - The Pains of Being Pure at Heart

My friend Sean turned me on to this band. The album is made up of songs full of catchy melodies layered over distorted guitars. Something about this album just puts me in a good mood. I recommend this band to fans of The Jesus and Mary Chain.

#27 Joey Kneiser - The All-Night Bedroom Revival

Joey is the lead singer of a band called Glossary, which had an album on my list last year. This is a great album to just throw on and chill. It's mostly acoustic and Joey pours his heart into his lyrics. You can get the entire album here.

#26 Cursive - Mama, I'm Swollen

Cursive just keeps churning out great albums. This album was not quite as strong as their last few releases but was still great from start to finish. The album starts off with a few amazing songs and then gets weaker as the album progresses. This release is anything but "swollen," coming in at 10 tracks total, which makes for a perfect length.

#25 Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest

Grizzly Bear is all over every music blog ever created but I still don't totally understand why. When their last release blew up, I gave it a chance and just could not get into it. It was just a bit too boring for me. This album suffers from the same problem. A lot of the songs are just too soft and have minimal instrumentation, which just bores me for the most part. On the songs that I actually enjoy, the harmonies are great and the music is often catchy. The only thing that has changed for this album is that there are more songs on this release that actually keep my attention and a few that I really enjoy including the one below.

#24 The Decemberists - The Hazards of Love

The Decemberists just continue to put out solid albums. This album is essentially a rock opera. It's very well done and feels like one long song for the most part. There are several guest vocals on this album including Jim James of My Morning Jacket and Shara Worden of My Brightest Diamond. This may not be the best album to jump into if you are not familiar with this bands back catalog; but it is a welcome addition.

#23 Malajube - Labyrinthes

I had never heard of this band before this year. Greg sent me the album and I was a little turned off at first because it's in french. I quickly got past the language barrier and began to really enjoy the album. It's very poppy and catchy. Take a listen below:

#22 Ben Harper & Relentless7 - White Lies for Dark Times

Another rocking bluesy record from Ben Harper. This time he has a different backing band but it's the same awesome result. I'm a huge fan of slide guitar and there is plenty of it on display here. If you don't know who he is by now then you really need to check this album out.

#21 POS - Never Better

This is the only rap album on my list this year. It has some of the best beats I've heard in a while and the rhymes are intelligent and well thought out. If you like rap then you need to check this album out.

#20 Passion Pit - Manners

This album is just straight up catchy. If it doesn't make you dance then there's something wrong with your ears.

#19 Cymbals Eat Guitars - Why There Are Mountains

I'm glad that Sean mentioned this band. I just happened to remember their name and decided to check out the album. The album has a full sound through out and alternates between loud noise and soft beautiful melodies, which I think is what makes me love it so much. I also like the vocals which are hard to categorize.

#18 The Danger O's - Massively Intimidating Episodes

You may remember this band from my list last year. They had the #1 album of the year. They came back this year with a 6 song EP that is amazing and would be much higher if not for the fact that it's only an EP. The clever lyrics are there and the songs just keep getting catchier. Below is a video I took of them performing 2 songs off of the EP back in December:

#17 Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion

Here's another indie band that I just didn't understand the hype for until recently. This album is great to put on and just zone out. It can be very repetitive but is still enjoyable.

#16 Frank Turner - Poetry of the Deed

I've had one of Frank's EPs for a few years now. I loved it but always forgot to check out his newer work. I finally got around to it with this release and was blown away by how great the album is. The lyrics are written from the heart and have the punk attitude you would expect from someone that is doing more than just playing an acoustic guitar. Somehow Frank has managed to combined punk and acoustic rock music into a great record with songs full of great stories and messages about life, love, and being on the road.

#15 Metric - Fantasies

I was a little late on this band's last release but once I gave it a chance, I loved it. On Fantasies, the band picks up where they left off with the last release. Catchy songs and beautiful vocals by Emily Haines keep me coming back to this album even though it came out at the beginning of the year. If you like female vocals and songs that get stuck in your head, then this is the album for you.

#14 Deer Tick - Born on Flag Day

Some of the best alt country rock out there. The vocals are definitely an acquired taste but I suggest giving them a chance. These guys just like to be on the road and to get drunk at shows and it shows in their music. This is just a fun album that I keep coming back to.

#13 Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

I had never heard of this band and was really late getting into this album. It has dominated my stereo in the last few months. Every song is catchy and full of great lyrics. I wouldn't even know these guys were from France unless someone told me.

#12 Dan Auerbach - Keep It Hid

I became a huge fan of the Black Keys last year. This year, Dan Auerbach (1/2 of the Black Keys) released his first solo effort. I had no idea what to expect from this album but what I got was one of the best blues influenced albums I've heard in some time. Check out the single below:

#11 RX Bandits - Mandala

One of my new favorite bands released this gem. They have gotten rid of their horn section for the most part but the music still has that off beat ska feel. I finally had the chance to see them live this year and was not disappointed. Check out a video I took at the show:

#10 Portugal. the Man - The Satanic Satanists

This band is putting out albums at a ridiculous rate. Last year's "Censored Colors" was one of my favorites and this album is not far behind it. The lyrics and vocals are really mellow and the music is very psychedelic rock influenced. This is a great album to just throw on and relax.

#9 Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca

I hated this album the first time I listened to it. It just felt like a band that was trying to cram every time signature and sound they could into each song. Once I was able to step back and just give the album a chance, I just kept getting sucked in by the arrangements and vocals of each song. This album may not be for everyone but I highly recommend giving it a chance....and then a second chance.

#8 Brand New - Daisy

Every album this band puts out is a major departure from the previous one. I'm beginning to think they chose their name because of this. The album is a bit heavier than their other releases and Jesse seems to like to scream a bit more than he used to but it seems like the natural progression for the band. Check out my video from one of their Philly shows below:

#7 The Builders and the Butchers - Salvation Is a Deep Dark Well

I really wish this band had been opening the east coast dates of Brand New's tour instead of the west coast. I have been listened to this album at least once every other day for the past few months. I don't really know how to describe the music but I'll try. The best I can come up with is that it's a mix of americana style folk and alt country rock. The vocals are similar to Jesse Lacey of Brand New in some songs but in others I can't really describe it. Check out their awesome video for their single below:

#6 Wilco (The Album)

Another great release from Wilco. It seems that they can do no wrong. The album sounds like pieces of all of their other albums were thrown into a blender. The arrangements on the record are beautiful and it sounds amazing on vinyl.

#5 Lucero - 1372 Overton Park

I think these guys have taken over as my favorite band right now. They are by far my favorite live band. Their album is a good mix of the up tempo drinking songs and the slow paced ballad style drinking songs. The addition of a horn section also greatly helped out the band's sound.

Johnny Davis from Lucero on Vimeo.

#4 Kevin Devine - My Brother's Blood

Kevin is one of the best songwriters of this decade and I wish more people were into him. This album isn't as cohesive as his last few but the songs are all amazing and the lyrics are among the best of the year. Check out his new video:

#3 Thrice - Beggars

Thrice just keeps maturing with each release. I feel like my musical tastes are maturing with them. This is a very solid album with amazing lyrics. It may not be as ambitious as their last release but it's great enough to have been stuck in my stereo since it was released.

#2 David Bazan - Curse Your Branches

I was familiar with David Bazan from his days with Pedro the Lion but I didn't think his new album would be even better than his previous work. The general theme of the album is David's struggle with and eventual loss of faith. It's rare to see someone bare so much of their soul in their songs and it makes for a very intimate album. I highly suggest checking out an acoustic version of the first track off of the album below:

#1 Manchester Orchestra - Mean Everything to Nothing

This was one of my most anticipated albums of this year. I heard the band perform some songs from it at Lollapalooza 2 summers ago and was hooked. I've been listening to this album regularly all year and don't see that stopping any time soon. I think they topped their last release which I didn't think could happen. This album just flat out rocks (although it has its nice slow songs too).

Albums Not On My List

2009-12-21T22:13:00.004-05:00

There are numerous indie releases that I didn't get around to checking out and don't even know what they sound like but I keep seeing them on lists. Aside from those, here are some albums that won't be on the list because I did not get around to giving them the proper amount time and attention but liked what I heard when I did listen:

Arctic Monkeys - Humbug
Chuck Ragan - Gold Country
The Dead Weather - Horehound
Mew - No More Stories are Told Today…
Foreign Born - Person to Person
Clipse - Till the Casket Drops
Look Mexico - Gasp Asp EP (yes, I realize this is kind of funny since there is a post about them below this.)

I will add to the list as I think of more.

Lis(z)tomania 2009

2009-12-21T21:09:00.005-05:00

Please excuse the pun in the title but it's that time of year again. Time for me to stop being lazy and decide what albums I loved this year and maybe even this decade (no promises). I'm thinking of only doing around 20-30 albums this year so don't expect a crazy long list like last year; I just didn't listen to as much music this year. I hope to start posting this week but we'll see how things go.

-Steve

"It all worked out, we just had to wait for it to come."

2009-01-27T18:37:00.002-05:00

I've decided to start posting on here whenever I feel like I need to tell people about a band or movie or something else that I think is awesome. The first installment will be about the band Look Mexico. I've seen them a few times at shows around here and I absolutely love that they make it a point to stop in Delaware every summer. They sound similar to Minus the Bear but a little more melodic. Here are a few videos:

Look Mexico - You're Not Afraid Of The Dark, Are You? from Punknews.org on Vimeo

Look Mexico - You Ever Get Punched In the Face for Talking Too Much? from If You Make It on Vimeo

Top 50 Albums of the Year 2008 Edition

2008-12-10T21:03:00.073-05:00

It has been a great year for music and the fact that I had 50 albums I loved this year should prove that. Find those albums below:

#50 Bloc Party - Intimacy

This album calls back to Silent Alarm era Bloc Party but also tries to incorporate the band’s love of electronic music. The result is an album that is better than their last effort but lacks cohesiveness. The album is a collection of mediocre/good songs and includes high points such as Halo, Trojan Horse and Ion Square which are enough to make me come back to the album for repeat listens.

#49 Chuck Ragan and Austin Lucas - Bristle Ridge

The discovery of Chuck Ragan’s solo career was one of the highlights of my year, musically. I went to one of his shows just to see Ben Nichols (Lucero) open. I decided to stick around and watch some of Chuck’s set and was blown away by Chuck, accompanied by fiddle player Jon Gaunt who also plays on this record. Between this album, his back catalogue of solo material and the hot water music discography, I have had a lot of Chuck in my life this year. He writes honest songs and his gravelly voice is one of my favorites. I’m unfamiliar with Austin Lucas’ material but this collaboration is a great folk/alt country/bluegrass album and would probably be higher on the list if I had listened to it more (this will be a theme for this list; I had a lot of albums to listen to this year).

#48 Margot and the Nuclear So and Sos - Animal

I was happy to see another release from this band (two actually) this year. They manage to craft beautiful, yet catchy indie songs using a myriad of instruments and a sincere voice. Stream the album at their myspace page.

#47 Tim Barry - Manchester

Here’s another musician of the alt-country variety that I have welcomed into my life this year. Tim was the lead singer of punk band Avail before starting his stripped down solo project which consists of songs for the working class that tell the truth and don’t sugar coat anything. Most songs could lead to a drunken sing-a-long in any working class bar. Stream the album here.

#46 Drag the River - You Can't Live This Way

Another release from my new favorite record label, Suburban Home Records (also see Tim Barry above). Drag the River play country influenced rock that could keep any party going. It’s crazy how many bands I’ve gotten into this year that are perfect bands to listen to while having some drinks with some friends, and these guys may be the best. I think that’s a pretty good endorsement considering I don’t drink. Stream the album here.

#45 Foxboro Hot Tubs - Stop Drop and Roll

Green Day’s 60’s garage rock side project. They should have just released this under the Green Day name because it rocks.

#44 Silver Jews - Lookout Mountain, Look Out Sea

It took me a while to get into this band. They sound a lot like if Johnny Cash sang for The Shins. If you like either, check this album out.

#43 The Felice Brothers - The Felice Brothers

I saw these guys open for Bright Eyes last year and they were everything you could ask for in an opening band. I didn’t once think “are these guys done yet?” They have a Bob Dylan/The Band like bluesy folk rock sound and their lyrics sound like they could have been written anywhere from 40 years ago to the present. They claim that their demo was recorded in a chicken coup on a farm and I think that pretty much sums up this band.

#42 The Bronx - The Bronx III

They bring the same old Bronx sound that I’ve grown to love over the past 2 albums. The album is filled with raw, straight ahead rock with vocals that are borderline singing/yelling. This is a great album if you just want to rock out. Stream the song "Six Days A Week" here.

#41 Nas - Nas

This is the best rap album of the year. Nas just has a way with words and seems to be able to come up with a rhyme for anything. The beats on the album are also really good and are a refreshing change from the garbage that gets played on MTV and the radio.

#40 Right Away, Great Captain - The Eventually Home

This is the side project of Andy Hull (singer/guitarist for Manchester Orchestra). He puts his amazing lyrical skills on display with this album of stripped down tunes. The songs consist of vulnerable vocals on top of acoustic guitars with the occasional piano. If you are familiar with Manchester Orchestra, then imagine an entire album more like the softer/slower songs on their album. If you are not familiar with Manchester Orchestra, check them out.

#39 Kay Kay and His Weather Underground - Kay Kay and His Weather Underground

I don’t really know how to describe this band. It’s a few guys from Gatsby’s American Dream and that influence is definitely apparent. This album has a ton of instruments on it and manages to mix them all really well. There are sprinkles of jazz, blues and ragtime thrown into the mix along with pop and 60’s rock. This is one of the more ambitious releases I’ve listened to this year. I can’t wait to hear more from this band.

#38 Conor Oberst - Conor Oberst

Conor sheds the Bright Eyes moniker on this release and what we get is a group of songs that are a bit looser and more straight ahead folk-rock than most Bright Eyes releases. This album also does away with any ambient noise and other things leaning toward the strange side of Bright Eyes. As you can see above, the cover is Conor passed out on a hammock, which is a perfect image to accompany this collection of songs. Stream the full album here.

#37 Tokyo Police Club - Elephant Shell

I recorded this band’s set for the hell of it, when they were opening for Cold War Kids last year. I found myself listening to it a lot more than I expected. After releasing a couple of promising EPs, Tokyo Police Club finally put out a full length this year. It delivers the same great indie rock but is more polished than the EPs. They dish out pop-rock with keyboards in short bursts, usually between 2 to 3 minutes.

Tokyo Police Club-In a Cave
by SaddleCreekRecords

#36 Joey Cape - Bridge

I will listen to anything that is graced with Joey Cape’s voice. There’s something about it that just sits well with me. This stripped down acoustic album is perfect for showcasing his voice and songwriting abilities. His punk routes still show through even if it is just an acoustic album. Stream the album here.

#35 Local H - Twelve Angry Months

A roller coaster ride of 12 break-up songs, this album has as many mood swings as someone who just got a divorce. Songs about splitting up record collections and hating your ex’s new love. If you just went through a rough break-up, this is the album for you.

Local H - "24 Hour Break-Up Session" on Carson Daly

#34 The Gaslight Anthem - The '59 Sound

This band came out of nowhere this year and just as I was getting into their last album, released this gem. Being from New Jersey, they obviously are influenced by Springsteen and it shows. They music sounds a lot like Springsteen if he had more of a punkier edge. This is a great album for riding around in the summer with the windows down and no destination in particular. Stream the album at their myspace page.

#33 The Matches - A Band In Hope

I had high hopes for this album. Their last album was my #1 album two years ago. This album is slightly more cohesive than the last but it just didn’t keep me hooked all year like the last one did. There are a lot of great pop punk songs on this disc. The lyrics are great as usual and the choruses are very catchy. I expect more good things on their next release.

The Matches - Yankee in a Chip Shop

#32 Death Cab For Cutie - Narrow Stairs

Like all of their albums before, it took me a while after the first listen to fully get into this album. I would occasionally listen to it at work on my iPod but that was it. The use of Bixby Canyon Bridge (possibly my favorite song on the album) in an episode of Friday Night Lights really made me go back to the album and give it another shot. This album is pretty much what everyone has come to expect from Death Cab; beautiful but catchy songs with heartfelt and honest lyrics. Chris Walla’s production is great (you’ll here more from him later in the list), he doesn’t do anything too crazy and just makes the recording sound clean but not overproduced. Stream the album here.

#31 Ben Nichols - The Last Pale Light In the West

My favorite vocalist, Ben Nichols of Lucero, decided to put out an EP this year. I had no idea until it was released. It was a pleasant surprise. This is a great acoustic solo album, which is based on Cormac McCarthy's book "Blood Meridian, Or the Evening Redness in the West." I haven’t read the book so I can’t say how well it follows the plot. The songs are all acoustic and have a country feel to them. They make you feel like you are out in the Midwest in the middle of nowhere. Stream the title track here.

#30 Chris Walla - Field Manual

I mentioned above that Chris Walla would turn up later in the list. I was a little late getting around to this album but I’m glad I finally did. The music is what Death Cab would sound like if more electronic elements were involved and the production was a little more prevalent. I feel like this album was Chris getting some production techniques out of his system that wouldn’t fit on a Death Cab album. He has a surprisingly good voice and writes above average lyrics. Most of the songs have an electronic sounding rhythm section but Chris also steps away from the board and rocks out on songs such as The Score (my favorite on the album). Listen to the full album here.

#29 Eli "Paperboy" Reed & the True Loves - Roll With You

I saw these guys open for Robert Randolph this summer. I walked in and thought it was a band covering James Brown or some other soul song. Turns out they are a soul band, complete with a horn section and background singers. Their frontman, Eli “Paperboy” Reed, puts on a great show and it translates well to the recording. The record is full of soul songs (fast and slow). This is a great album when you are looking for something fun to listen to.

#28 Fake Problems - How Far Our Bodies Go

I'm counting this album as 2008 even though it was released originally in 2007, because it was re-released this year and I had no knowledge of it before then. These guys describe themselves as "roots-punk" and I think that's better than any description I can come up with. It's melodic punk that calls on the Replacements as a major influence. The gruff vocals seem to be something I really like lately, so it has that going for it as well. I really like the song "Born & Raised." I highly recommend you check it out along with the rest of the album here.

#27 The Gay Blades - Ghosts

This self-proclaimed “nefarious trash pop duo” came to my attention at the beginning of the year. I can’t exactly remember the circumstances but I’m glad I found them. Although they self released the album in 2007, I’m counting it as 2008 since it just recently got a proper release on a label. These guys put on a killer live show, full of energy and hilarious banter. I’ve only seen them once but I am hoping to see them again soon. I talked to them after the show and they seemed like really nice guys. Their music ranges from dance-y rock songs to slow ballads and have extremely underrated lyrics. Check out the video below for a taste of their live show.

#26 Ninja Gun - Restless Rubes

Ninja Gun is another band of the punk/southern rock/alt country variety that I fell in love with this year. They are also on my new favorite record label, Suburban Home Records. Most of the songs on the album revolve around the theme of being stuck in a place and wanting to get out and see something different. The song “Red State Blues” tells a story of someone stuck in the South and feeling like they belong anywhere but where they are. This is the perfect album for anyone that feels like they don’t belong in their current station in life, but have hope that they belong somewhere. I think I'm going to find myself coming back to this album a lot. You can stream the album here.

#25 The Supreme Genius of King Khan & the Shrines

This album is a compilation of scattered tracks and album tracks from previous releases that actual flows really well. King Khan is a blast of garage rock, soul and funk. It combines some of my favorite genres to create an amazing listening experience. Khan’s humorous lyrics such as “she’s fat, she’s ugly, she’s fat and she’s ugly, but I love her, I need her, yes I do” also help out his cause and make for the most fun you will have listening to a record this year. Stream the album at his myspace page.

#24 She & Him - Volume 1

She & Him consists of actress/singer Zooey Deschanel and musician M. Ward. I was familiar with M. Ward’s music and was a fan of Zooey Deschanel’s eyes ever since I saw Almost Famous, but I had no idea what to expect from the duo’s first album “Volume One.” I was dragging my feet on checking this album for some reason but one day I finally put it on my Ipod to listen to at work. It turned out to be a great album full of stripped down soul/folk songs. Zooey has a great voice and M. Ward does a great job on guitar and backing vocals. Check out their video below:

She and Him - New Music - More Music Videos

#23 Sleepercar - West Texas

Sleepercar is Jim Ward of Sparta/At the Drive-In’s side project. It’s being used as an outlet for songs he writes that don’t sounds like Sparta songs. This is a much more laid back sound than his previous bands. The distorted guitars and semi-screaming have been traded in for acoustic and clean sounding electric guitars along with softer yet still just as emotional vocals. This album is like a documentary of Jim’s home of West Texas. This was one of my most anticipated releases of early '08 and it did not disappoint. Check out the video for “Broken Promise” below:

Sleepercar "A Broken Promise"

#22 Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes/Sun Giant EP

I was pretty late getting into this band. They have a folk sound with beautiful, soaring vocal harmonies, reminiscent of Crosby, Stills and Nash. This is a great album to just put on and tune out the rest of the world. The vocals also remind me of the softer My Morning Jacket songs. I feel like my parents might enjoy the folk/bluegrass feel of this album. Check out their video below:

#21 Ryan Adams & the Cardinals – Cardinology

This is the same old Ryan Adams. If you are unfamiliar with him, just pick up one of the 8000 albums he has released in the last few years. This one is just as enjoyable as the last few. I feel like he may never get back to the greatness he showed us on “Heartbreaker” but he hasn’t really released a bad album since then either. He still bounces around from folk to alt country to rock but they all feel right when he’s playing them.

#20 Jenny Lewis – Acid Tongue

Jenny returns without the Watson twins but more than makes up for it with guest vocalists. She bounces back and forth between folk and indie rock on this record. There are guest vocals from Zooey Deschanel, Chris Robinson of the Black Crowes and Elvis Costello to name a few. This album is a lot of fun to listen to and even inspired Elvis Costello to record his new album after going in to the studio to record the song “Carpet Baggers” for Jenny’s album.

#19 Vampire Weekend – Vampire Weekend

These guys are Peter Gabriel inspired hipster music that was the buzz of every blog at the end of last year. Once the buzz wore off, what was left was an easily accessible hipster album that I’m still listening to almost a year later. It’s sort of a college educated rich boy’s take on the indie genre, with songs about Cape Cod and Oxford Commas.

#18 Okkervil River – The Stand Ins

I finally gave this band a chance earlier this year with their previous release. It was a pleasant surprise when I learned they released an album this year. Very good indie rock with great vocals and lyrics. The perfect follow up to last year's "Stage Names." There’s a good mix of styles on display here, such as piano ballads, acoustic folk tunes and straight ahead indie rock to name a few. The album is very textured folk pop at its best. Stream the album at the band’s myspace page.

#17 Q-Tip – The Renaissance

This album has helped solidify Q-Tip as my favorite rapper. My cousin got me into A Tribe Called Quest back when I was in high school and I’ve been a fan of Q-Tip ever since. I was sad to see his last album get shelved and then have no releases for almost a decade. I was very surprised to see a new album out this year. The beats on this album are amazing as usual and the lyrics are top notch. Q-Tip definitely put his 10 year forced hiatus to use. This man could rhyme “orange.” Stream the album here.

#16 Cold War Kids – Loyalty to Loyalty

I saw these guys almost 2 years ago and they played some new songs and I got really excited for this album. Since then I had forgotten about it. I randomly heard their first single off of the album and got excited again. They are back with the same soulful rock with slightly mumbled lyrics and I wouldn’t want it any other way. I love the piano in most of the songs, which I’m sure will be awesome live. I really need to see these guys again. I somehow doubt it will be in the basement of a church this time. Stream the album here.

#15 Andrew Morgan – Andrew Morgan/EPs

I fell in love with Andrew’s last album “Misadventures in Radiology” but I got it long after it was released. I’m glad to finally be able to put one of his albums on my list. This album was multiple years and locations in the making. It was interesting to follow the progress on his blog. The album was released along with numerous EPs, so I’m counting them all as one release. The arrangements on these songs are full of strings and horns, and the vocal harmonies remind me of the Beach Boys. With songs about the first snow of the year and the autumn/winter months in Kansas, this album and some of the EPs are perfect music for frozen precipitation and shorter days. Please check out Andrew’s music at his website.

#14 Deer Tick – War Elephant

I saw these guys open for Jenny Lewis and was really impressed. I had never heard of them and they managed to hold my attention for their entire set to the point where I wanted them to keep playing at the end of their set. The songs are a country/folk/rock blend with unique vocals that may turn some people off due to their raspy, almost weathered sound. The lyrical content of this album is outstanding. One of my favorite lyrics is, "and you cried all night till you created a stream/ and it flows forever, it's made of dreams/ that didn't come true and I'm sorry but there's nothing more that I can do." There are quite a few songs about love and failed love, which are some of the best on the album. Download a few songs for free here.

#13 Thrice – Alchemy Index, Vol. 3 & 4: Air and Earth

I wrote about the first 2 volumes of this release last year. I decided to keep these as one release rather than 2 separate releases because I like them both equally and also it allowed me to slip Q-Tip into the list at the last minute. Once again, Thrice has done an amazing job conveying the elements of Air and Earth with the music and lyrics of this release. The Air disc has a spacious sound and it almost feels as though you are floating and the lyrics deal a lot with flying. The Earth disc has a very organic, stripped down sound, with the use of acoustic guitars with a lot of picking of the strings and also use of piano and sparse drumming. I’m not sure how to explain how these aspects are synonymous with Earth but it definitely works.

#12 My Morning Jacket – Evil Urges

I got into these guys with their last release “Z.” I was a little late to the party but I’m glad I found them in time to enjoy their most recent release “Evil Urges.” Some people weren’t happy with Jim James singing in a falsetto on some of these songs but I think that it gives these songs a hint of vulnerability, which I like. With the exception of the song “Highly Suspicious,” this album is very similar to “Z.” This album is a great roots rock album that has some rocking songs on it along with some more chilled out songs. This band definitely still knows how to rock but they also know when to hold back and give us a beautiful song.

#11 Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds – Dig Lazarus Dig

I never really new what Nick Cave’s music sounded like. I have been aware of its existence for some time but never got around to checking it out. That all changed when I saw “The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford” and fell in love with his score of the film. I then decided to check out his website which is wear I found the video for “Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!” which can be seen below. Nick brings the rock on this album along with a funky/soul sound added to the mix. His vocals range from singing to half singing/talking. If the video below doesn’t make you want to check out the album then I don’t know what will.

#10 Dr. Dog – Fate

I have been hearing about this Philly band for a while now but never gave them a shot. I don’t know if it’s because I think their name is ridiculous or something else. I saw their set at Lollapalooza this year which brought about two great things. The first being that I finally gave them a chance and have been listening to the record constantly, and second being that I watched the set with Randy from season 4 of The Wire. Their sound is reminiscent of 60’s pop/rock with obvious inspiration from the Beatles and the Zombies. The lyrics are fantastic, which plays well with me because I always like a band with great lyrics. Listen to the album here.

#9 Glossary – The Better Angels of Our Nature

This is one of my favorite new bands that I discovered this year. Their slide guitar player played with Lucero on a few of their recent tours and then Glossary finally toured with Lucero this year. I was lucky enough to see them twice and instantly fell in love with their alt country, bluesy sound. They remind me of The Band, especially their vocals. The lyrics are top notch and I hope to hear more from this band in the future. You can download the album for free from the band’s website here. I think this was released in 2007 as a digital release and then in 2008 as a physical cd, so I'm counting it as this year.

#8 The Last Shadow Puppets – The Age of Understatement

I was really excited when I heard that Alex Turner of the Arctic Monkeys had a side project coming out. It was not at all what I expected and managed to exceed my expectations. It’s essentially Alex Turner singing over amazing arrangements of strings, horns, drums and guitar. The arrangements are done by Miles Kane, who I am not previously familiar with. The songs have a 60’s vibe that I find myself drawn to lately. I’m also a fan of the album art which you can check out above. It blows my mind that both of the band members are 3 years younger than I am.

#7 Kings of Leon – Only By The Night

I slept on this band for way too long. I finally got into them on their last release. This album has been getting a lot of playing time from me lately and it all started with the song “Sex on Fire.” The album is similar to their last release, which was a bit cleaner and pop oriented than their first 2 releases but I think it’s just the band growing and it sounds great. I don’t know if you can still call this indie rock but if it is, they are doing it just as well as anyone else in the genre. Stream the album here.

#6 Portugal. The Man – Censored Colors

I saw these guys open for Minus the Bear and was very surprised with how good they were. I had listened to their first full length album and was not impressed. Seeing them live made me pick up their previous release which was a solid album. I decided to give this release a shot and it is a major step in the right direction for the band. They are maturing with each album and have created a great album that I see myself listening to for years. The album is a mix of 60’s pop and 60’s psychedelic rock. Check out their video below.

#5 TV on the Radio – Dear Science

These guys release solid album after solid album. This may be their best one yet. The vocals still sound a lot like Peter Gabriel but the music is distinctly their own. Dave Sitek creates such a noisy background with his guitar work and production. Then catchy melodies are layered on top of the noise. The songs are infectious and make you dance even if you don’t want to. They slow it down on a few songs, one of which is my favorite on the album (Family Tree). Stream the album on the band's myspace page.

#4 The Hold Steady – Stay Positive

I will admit that I thought this band was extremely overrated when the internet had a collective orgasm over their last release. I have since come to love them and wish I had enjoyed them sooner. They often get compared to Springsteen but I feel like they are a little more of a party band than that. This album is all about staying positive, even when you are down on your luck. Ben Nichols (see #31) contributes backing vocals to numerous songs, so that makes the album even better. Stream the album at the band's myspace page.

#3 The Raconteurs – Consolers of the Lonely

I’m really glad these dudes decided to make another album together. I was afraid it would be one and done. They play the perfect mix of bluesy rock that I go wild for. I really like Brendan Benson’s voice and it creates a great balance with Jack White’s vocals. This album, like the last, has a good mix of rocking songs and slow ballads. They do both styles very well. They were one of the best sets I saw at Lollapalooza, see video evidence below:

#2 The Black Keys – Attack and Release

Speaking of bluesy rock and great Lollapalooza sets, this band satisfies both categories. These guys put on the best set I saw at Lollapalooza. For just two guys, they manage to make a lot of noise. The Danger Mouse production on this album is clean but not too clean considering they are playing blues influenced distorted rock. This album brings the rock and was probably the second most played album of the year in my car, with my #1 album being the most played. Stream the album here.

And without further procrastination, here is my favorite album of 2008:

#1 The Danger O's – Nineteen Ninety Four

I know what you are thinking. You've never heard of this band. I highly recommend you give them a listen. This was, without a doubt, the release I listened to the most this year. These guys obviously listened to a lot of 90's indie/college rock like the Pixies and Archers of Loaf, 90's pop/rock like the Refreshments and Toad the Wet Sprocket, and 70's punk like the Clash and the Ramones. They mix their influences well to create a great rock record that deserves to reach a much larger audience. The lyrics are top notch and contain some of my favorite chorus's of the year such as "New York City ain't no disco, We've been hanging on a dream, New York City's got nothing for you or me, All the kids are hands in pockets, All the kids are eyes on feet, New York City's got nothing for you or me," from the song "No Metro." The last two songs see the band slow things down and go in a direction I hadn’t heard from them before on their EPs or live, and it’s a great way to end the album. The band went through some line-up changes and I think they’ve come out on the other side a lot better than they were before. I can’t wait to hear what these guys have in store in the new year.

If you end up giving some of these albums a try and like them, please let me know in the comments. I enjoy the feedback and it helps motivate me to make another list next year.

It's About That Time

2008-11-28T01:55:00.005-05:00

As you can see above, I bought a lot of vinyl this year. I'm currently listening to them all again and figuring out my top albums of the year. I hope to start posting soon. I think I might do my top 50 and just post 50-21 without write ups and then do write ups for the remaining 20. We'll see how it goes. -Steve

Summer Mix Exchange

2008-08-25T21:19:00.004-04:00

Here's the track listing for the mix I made for Hayley's Summer Mix Exchange:

Disc One:

1 Art Brut - Sound of Summer
2 Ted Leo - La Costa Brava
3 Wilco - Heavy Metal Drummer
4 The Hold Steady - Constructive Summer
5 The Ziggens - Have A Bitchin' Summer
6 The Format - Oceans
7 The Danger O's - No Metro
8 As Tall As Lions - Song for Luna
9 Lucero - Last Night In Town
10 Houston Calls - Einstein On the Beach
11 The Roots - Birthday Girl
12 Long Beach Shortbus - Take It Slow
13 The Decemberists - Summersong
14 Regina Spektor - Summer in the City
15 The Starting Line - The Drama Summer
16 Onelinedrawing - Smile
17 Jets To Brazil - One Summer Last Fall
18 Sundowner - Midsummer Classic
19 The Fire Theft - Summertime

Disc Two:

1 Atmosphere - Sunshine
2 Jonah Matranga - Not About A Girl or A Place
3 Wilco - Summer Teeth
4 Neutral Milk Hotel - In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
5 Jets to Brazil - In the Summer's When You Really Know
6 Pepper - Tradewinds
7 G Love - Cold Beverage
8 Sublime - Badfish
9 My Morning Jacket - I'm Amazed
10 Minus the Bear - The Fix
11 Billy Bragg - The Beach is Free
12 Radiohead - Electioneering
13 Spoon - June's Foreign Spell
14 Manchester Orchestra - Golden Ticket
15 Rx Bandits - Apparition
16 Rilo Kiley - With Arms Outstretched
17 Dave Elkins - Summertime
18 Margot and the Nuclear So and Sos - The Ocean
19 Death Cab for Cutie - Summer Skin
20 Brandtson - The Bottle and the Sea

#1 Wilco - Sky Blue Sky

2008-01-02T18:09:00.002-05:00

I'm ashamed to admit I hadn't listened to Wilco until this was released. I was missing out big time. Something about this album just struck a chord with me. I actually started paying attention to VW commercials. I had to go out and start buying all of their albums. This was another simple, laid back album like Spoon that just felt right. Little did I know that this was actually a departure from the experimental direction the band had been going. Jeff Tweedy writes awesome songs and deserves more credit than he gets. There's a sense of hope through out this album and it's nice to hear it. Sometimes that's all you need from music. This is a great album to listen to in the fall when the leaves are turning and you just want to sit back and relax. I really need to see this band live. If you only check out one album on this list then I suggest this. I realize that should be obvious but it's an album that I think anyone can fall in love with.

Highlights:
Either Way
Shake It Off
Impossible Germany

Favorite Lyrics:
“Maybe you still love me maybe you don't
Either you will or you won't
Maybe you just need some time alone
I will try to understand
Everything has its plan
Either way I'm going to stay right for you”

“With the sky blue sky, this rotten time
Wouldn't seem so bad to me now
Oh, if I didn't die I should be satisfied I survived
It's good enough for now”

#2 The Weakerthans - Reunion Tour

2008-01-02T18:09:00.001-05:00

One of my favorite bands FINALLY releases another album after roughly 3 years of touring. I can't believe I have another album ranked above this but this has been a great year for music. JK Samson is quite possibly the best lyricist I have ever heard. He can take an everyday situation and pick a random person out of it and have them tell an amazing story, such as the bus driver in Civil Twilight. He has also written multiple songs from the point of view of a cat named Virtute and the one on this album is an amazing example of what JK is capable of. I could have just filled in the favorite quotes section of this entry with the lyrics to the whole album. The music on the other hand isn't quite up to par with what I had come to expect from The Weakerthans. Not to say it's bad but it just didn't hit me as fast and took some time to grow. Luckily those lyrics were there to always keep me interested. I had the pleasure of seeing these guys live again and it was one of the best shows I went to all year. Listen to the lyrics of "Utilities" and try to tell me Samson isn't a gifted song writer.

Highlights:
Civil Twilight
Relative Surplus Value
Virtute the Cat Explains Her Departure

Favorite Lyrics:
“Every other hour I pass that house,
Where you told me that you had to go
I wonder if the landlord has fixed the crack,
That I stared at, instead of staring back at you;
My chance to say something seemed so brief, but it wasn't.
Now I know I had plenty of time
Between the sunset and certified darkness
Dusk comes on and I follow the exhaust from memory up to the end
The civil twilight”

“And the pause feels like an extra year
of high school
The CEO takes me aside
I'm down 12 points
and they're selling.
The graphs in the board room show
by the time that the market
opens in Tokyo
I'll be worthless
So, what I'm trying to say,
I mean what I'm asking is,
I know we haven't talked in a while
but could you come get me?”

#3 Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga

2008-01-02T18:08:00.002-05:00

This album and the 2 that follow should all just be tied for #1. I have changed them around numerous times while making this list. Spoon was off my radar until the release of "Gimme Fiction" and I quickly became a fan. This was another highly anticipated album. There is something really simplistic about the album and it's what takes what would have been a good album and makes it great. They didn't use fancy bells and whistles or strange production techniques that I know of. It's just a straight ahead album full of great songs. Britt Daniel's voice is another one of my favorites and he uses it well. The album has a 60's/70's feel to it and I can't pick out why; it may be the production and the background horn section on some songs. I like every song on this album a lot and really hope their next release is just as good, if not better. There's another former Get Up Kid sighting in bassist Ryan Pope on this album and his bass lines are what really make this album get into a groove. This release also has my favorite album art on this list.

Highlights:
The Underdog
You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb
Don't You Evah

Favorite Lyrics:
“You got no time for the messenger,
got no regard for the thing that you don't understand,
you got no fear of the underdog,
that's why you will not survive”

“I believed that someone'd take care of me tonight
As I'm lookin' out at you, can you see that in...
In my eyes, on the mend, now they could lead me home
Street tar in summer will play a trick on your soul”

#4 Minus the Bear - Planet of Ice

2008-01-02T18:08:00.001-05:00

Now here's a band that can do no wrong. Minus the Bear is one of the few bands I listen to that I can honestly say have an original sound that I never hear anywhere else. It's technical and catchy at the same time and they use an array of effects pedals to set themselves apart from their peers. The amazing thing is that the songs translate perfectly to their live show, I didn't think they could do it. This album has a more experimental, pink floyd sound to it compared to their earlier releases. Their lyrics used to tell simple stories but now they seem a little more sexual and a little more abstract. They also ditched the funny and sometimes long song titles for normal titles. I don't know if I would have suggested that they make all the changes because they were fine the way they were but as you've noticed in this list, bands maturing is a theme. I just wish some of these songs were on rock band.

Highlights:
Throwin' Shapes
Burying Luck
Knights

Favorite Lyrics:
“In the nightmare desert stood a building.
Outside someone was diggin' a hole in the ground.
They were burying my luck.”

“Her body's under the covers
And there's nothing wrong with a single inch and then we change positions
She's got me on my back losing common sense
Lay on the bright lights
You can't hear the music but we're playing the same tune
Each beat, every note played perfectly by you”

#5 Arctic Monkeys - Favourite Worst Nightmare

2008-01-02T18:07:00.002-05:00

Finally, a buzz band that avoids the sophomore slump. I'm sure there have been others but probably not 2 albums as solid as these. Alex Turner's slightly slurred British delivery is still there and I love it. The only thing that has changed is that the band sounds a little tighter and some of the songs rock a little harder than the first album. They also continue the trend of ending the album with the strongest song of the bunch; if you haven't heard "505" please do so now. The double time feel of the songs mixed with the dancy bass lines makes this a great party album. I hope these guys have a long career full of fun albums ahead of them.

Edit: While listening to the album after I wrote this, this line really hit me:
"I hope you're holding hands by New Year's Eve
They made it far too easy to believe
That true romance can't be achieved these days"

Highlights:
505
D is for Dangerous
Brianstorm

Favorite Lyrics:
“Stop and wait a sec
When you look at me like that
My darling, what did you expect?
I probably still adore you
With your hands around my neck
Or I did last time I checked”

“As she walked away
Well her shoes were untied
And the eyes were all red
You could see that we'd cried
And I watched and I waited until she was inside
Forcing a smile and waving goodbye
Curiosity becomes a heavy load
Too heavy to hold”

#6 Thrice - The Alchemy Index: Water

2008-01-02T18:07:00.001-05:00

The second part of the 2 EP release by Thrice. For the other half, see #10. I remember complaining that Thrice was too soft when Vheissu was released. It's funny how time changes things. I now prefer the more mellow Thrice songs like the ones present on this disc. It is amazing how each song makes you feel as though you are floating in the sea or under water. The use of the sonar sound from a submarine is really creative. All of the imagery created by the lyrics is nothing short of breathtaking. I can't imagine trying to write a collection of songs that all tie together one element but somehow Thrice has done it perfectly twice, with 2 more to come. I did not think these songs would translate well to the live show but I was wrong. Seeing these songs performed live was great and I can't wait to catch them on a headlining tour.

Highlights:
Digital Sea
Open Water

Favorite Lyrics:
“I awoke, cold and alone
Adrift in the open sea
Caught up in regrets and tangled in nets
Instead of your arms wrapped around me
And I wept but my tears are anathema here
Just more water to fill my lungs
I hear someone scream
'God what is it we have done?'
I am drowning in a digital sea
I am slipping beneath the sound
Here my voice goes, to ones and zeroes
I'm slipping beneath the sound”

“I'm starting to
believe the ocean's
much like you,
because it gives
and it takes
away.
Between the devil
and the deep blue sea,
I stare into the abyss.
The open water
is an awful thing,
But I'm anxious till the anchor is
aweigh.”

#7 Ted Leo and the Pharmacists - Living With the Living

2008-01-02T18:06:00.003-05:00

Ted's last release came out of nowhere and just owned me. This was one of my most anticipated releases of the year. It may not be his strongest release to date but I was not disappointed one bit. Everything I love about Ted is present on this album. The lyrics are top notch as usual, touching on social issues but doing it in a somewhat subtle way (except on bomb, repeat, bomb.). The catchy songs are there, including reggae and mod influences that Ted's known for. I would say that Ted can do no wrong but then someone would point out his first record "Te(j) Leo" and I would be proven wrong. I'm just glad Ted got that experiment out of his system early. Anyone who randomly goes into "Dayman" from It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia in the middle of his live show is nothing short of amazing. Ted always kicks it up a notch live and these songs are no exception. Ted and the pharmacists are one of those bands that I try to see whenever they are in town. I suggest you do the same.

Highlights:
Who Do You Love?
La Costa Brava
The Unwanted Things

Favorite Lyrics:
“Everyone needs a sunday some days, everyone needs to take some time away.
So come on home from the front lines, baby,
You know you've done more than your time there was supposed to have been.
A little time out could turn your head 'round,
A little time out could lift us our of the mess we're in.
And down by the beach there's a small cafe,
Where we'll hang on for Joan and drink Bonet all day.”

“And so goes the most of our freedom of speech: we live for the city, we work for the beach
And when the weekend seems to be just out of reach
Just make the most of what you’re paid, dear
Your love’s a ghost, and that’s why we’re delayed here”

#8 LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver

2008-01-02T18:06:00.001-05:00

Oh how my musical tastes have evolved. In college I probably would have hated this album. Now it just makes me want to dance around in my seat at work or in the car. I'm still not completely sold on the more repetitive, techno sounding songs but I don't dislike them. The lyrics on the rest of the songs are first rate and would probably be my favorite lyrics of the year if not for one of my favorite song writers releasing an album this year. The entire album with the exception of the closing track is upbeat musically even though the lyrics can be quite the opposite. The closing track is an amazing portrait of New York and why so many people love it and hate it for the same reasons. Song of the year candidate "All My Friends" was a song I could really relate to and deals with growing up and the twists and turns along the way. I had the privilege of seeing this band live at the Virgin Festival and was completely blown away. I had seen them live on Letterman before and was less than impressed so seeing them perform so well was a shock to the system. I don't think my foot stopped tapping the entire time.

Highlights:
North American Scum
All My Friends
New York, I Love You but You're Bringing Me Down

Favorite Lyrics:
“And if the sun comes up, if the sun comes up, if the sun comes up
And I still don't wanna stagger home
Then it's the memory of our betters
That are keeping us on our feet
You spent the first five years trying to get with the plan
And the next five years trying to be with your friends again
You're talking 45 turns just as fast as you can
Yeah, I know it gets tired, but it's better when we pretend
It comes apart
The way it does in bad films
Except in parts
When the moral kicks in”

“New York, I Love You
But you're freaking me out
There's a ton of the twist
But we're fresh out of shout
Like a death in the hall
That you hear through your wall
New York, I Love You
But you're freaking me out
New York, I Love You
But you're bringing me down
New York, I Love You
But you're bringing me down
Like a death of the heart
Jesus, where do I start?
But you're still the one pool
Where I'd happily drown”

#9 The Shins - Wincing the Night Away

2008-01-02T18:05:00.002-05:00

It feels like this album came out a long time ago. I think I've had this longer than any other release on this list except maybe Lily Allen. When the year started I thought that nothing would be able to top this album. The fact that 8 albums have says a lot about the quality of music being released this year. The Shins continue doing what they do best. Catch pop songs that pick you up and then gently put you down when they are over. Sea Legs might be one of my favorite songs of the year. The use of bottle caps and a popping bag to make the beat for this song is genius. James Mercer's voice is amazing as usual; it was nice to hear it show up again on the Modest Mouse record. Sleeping Lessons is one of the best opening tracks I've heard in a while.

Highlights:
Sea Legs
Sleeping Lessons
Turn On Me

Favorite Lyrics:
“Of all the churning random hearts
Under the sun
Eventually fading into night,
These two are opening now
As we lie, I touch you
Under fuller light.
Girl, if you're a seascape
I'm a listing boat, for the thing carries every hope.
I invest in a single lie.
The choice is yours to be loved
Come away from an emptier boat.”

“Close your eyes to corral a virtue,
Is this fooling anyone else?
Never worked so long and hard,
To cement a failure”

#10 Thrice - The Alchemy Index: Fire

2008-01-02T18:05:00.001-05:00

Thrice just keeps maturing and getting better with each release. Fire was one part of a release of 2 EPs this year, with 2 more to follow next year. This was a very ambitious project. Every song on this album has it's roots in fire, both lyrically and musically. It's just a heavy, burning stretch of 6 songs. The album starts with the strike of a match and catches fire from there until it finally burns out. The conclusion to the EP is a sonnet from the point of view of fire and the lyrics are beautiful although you'll probably have to read them because it's hard to make them out through the screaming. People who wanted another heavy Thrice album should be very happy with this one. I can't wait to hear the next 2 EPS, Earth and Air.

Highlights:
Burn the Fleet
Firebreather

Favorite Lyrics:
“There are still good shepherds scattered,
but they're far between and few.
And the sheep's skin that the wolves all wear is so thin I see right through.
And I think maybe all that's need is some gas and open flame,
because I don't think that any one of them believes that fire can erase their names.
But I will see this city burn.”

“Well the old flag,
Will burn with the sand,
And a new one,
Will fly if we fail.
But the fire,
Continues to rise,
And it shows not a hint,
Of any fear in our eyes.”

#11 The Playing Favorites - I Remember When I Was Pretty

2008-01-02T18:04:00.000-05:00

As you can see, there isn't much pop punk on this list. The combination of market saturation and good pop punk bands moving to a more mature sound have made it hard to find quality pop punk. If that's what you are looking for, you need this album. One of my favorite voices in music, Joey Cape, is involved so that's what initially put them on my radar. They are also on a great record label called Suburban Home Records which is where I first heard a few songs and immediately pre-ordered the vinyl. The band consists of a bunch of friends who just sat down and wrote some songs and recorded them. No label pressures or deadlines were involved. What resulted is a cohesive effort written by 4 people including Joey Cape from Lagwagon/Bad Astronaut/Me First and the Gimme Gimmes and Marko Desantis from Sugarcult. I listened to the album at work on repeat for at least a week. The songs are just so catchy and energetic. It's a breath of fresh air in a genre that is spreading itself too thin. This is further proof that anything Joey Cape touches is worth a listen.

Highlights:
Leavingtown
Good Years
Waiting

Favorite Lyrics:
“So impressed with your wallet size
She'll overlook your hollow eyes
But I'm the one who gets to hear her cry on the phone.”

“I don't mind if I get strung out,
If she picks me up when I'm down
I need someone to love
And I think I might need a drug I can put my arms around”

#12 Motion City Soundtrack - Even If It Kills Me

2008-01-02T17:58:00.000-05:00

Motion City Soundtrack rarely disappoints. Their last album was a bit on the weak side compared to their debut but it was still a great album. They came closer to the first album with this release and I don't think I can expect much more since it sounds as if they are moving away from the quirky things I loved so much about their debut. I can't complain about a band maturing though because this album is stellar. The songs are becoming poppier and poppier with each release. The one thing that keeps them rooted in their early material are the lyrics. Justin crafts witty and a lot of times self deprecating verses that stick in your mind long after the record stops. My favorite thing about MCS is the moog and there is plenty of it on this album. I saw them perform some of these songs live before the album came out and they were awesome. It's no secret that MCS is one of my favorite live bands and i feel these songs will translate well to the high energy shows they are known for putting on.

Highlights:
It Had To Be You
Even If It Kills Me
Fell In Love Without You

Favorite Lyrics:
“They say what doesn't kill us makes us who we are.
All this time and everything's changed
But I still feel the same.
All good things eventually end and get lost down the drain.
What a disaster it would be if you discovered that I cared
A little too much for friends, but not enough to share.”

“I wonder if I'll ever lose my mind
I tried hard for a while but then I kind of gave up
Winter is a killer when the sun goes down
'I'm really not as stubborn as I seem'
Said the knuckle to the concrete
But I'm too tired to go to sleep tonight
And I'm too weak to follow dreams tonight
For the first time in a long time I can say that I want to try
To get better and overcome each moment
In my own way”

#13 Radiohead - In Rainbows

2008-01-02T17:10:00.000-05:00

I'm going to get a lot of shit for this being on my list but I don't care. I have never been much of a radiohead fan but the album was essentially free so I gave it a shot. This album really surprised me. It has a lot more structure and coherence than some of their recent releases. The album starts off with a great song and just keeps on churning out well crafted songs until the end. I can actually relate to some of the lyrics, which I was not expecting at all. Thom Yorke's voice is rather soothing on these songs rather than being annoying as I had come to expect in the past. It's impossible to talk about this release without touching on the way it was released. It was a very inventive way to cut out the labels and avoid an album leak. Of course we can't look at this as a new model because a band without the following of Radiohead would surely fail. I think the best part of this release was the fact that not even the blogs and press had copies until it came out so there was a fresh discussion online that everyone could take part in at the same time.

Highlights:
Bodysnatchers
Weird Fishes/Arpeggi
Reckoner

Favorite Lyrics:
“How come I end up where I started?
How come I end up where I went wrong?
Won't take my eyes off the ball again
You reel me out then you cut the string”

“In the deepest ocean
The bottom of the sea
Your eyes
They turn me
Why should I stay here?
Why should I stay?
I'd be crazy not to follow
Follow where you lead
Your eyes
They turn me
Turn me on to phantoms
I follow to the edge of the earth
And fall off
Everybody leaves
If they get the chance”

#14 The New Pornographers - Challengers

2007-12-31T18:18:00.000-05:00

Around this time in 2005 I was wondering what the big deal was with their last release "Twin Cinema." I gave it a few tries back then and just could not get into it. I don't know what happened between then and now but their most recent release, "Challengers" grew on me instantly. The use of many different vocalists and the harmonies that result make for a fun listening experience. Lyrically, this is a great album and I notice more every time I listen. The variety of styles and instrumentation on the album also makes for an interesting listening experience. The songs range from rocking songs to softer female lead folky tunes. The female voices on the album are outstanding and really carry the album.

Highlights:
Challengers
All The Old Showstoppers
Unguided

Favorite Lyrics:
“Until I see you around
Until we clear the accounts
Leave it there
Leave it to us
We are the challengers of
The unknown”

“Yes a heart will always go one step too far
Come the morning and the four corners I see
What the moral of the back story could be
Come with me, go places
And a heart will always stay one day too long
Always hoping for the hot flashes to come
For the glue to dry on our new creation
Come with me, go places
Come head on, full circle
Our arms fill with miracles
Play hearts, kid, they work well
Like classics play aces
Stay with me, go places
Once more for the ages
Yes a heart should always go one step too far
Come the morning and the day winding like dreams
Come the morning every blue shade of green
Come with me, go places”

#15 Marr-dest Mouse - We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank

2007-12-31T16:32:00.000-05:00

Modest Mouse added guitarist Johnny Marr from the Smiths into the mix for this album. I was a little worried about it since I'm not a big Smiths fan. The finished product is another solid release by modest mouse that gets better with every listen. I hear a little bit of a funk influence on top of the countless influences they have already showcased on previous releases. The old modest mouse is in there; the sound has just been polished and may be a little harder to pick out. The addition of James Mercer of the Shins on backing vocals on multiple songs was also a great idea. I love his voice and it really fits in well with the music. One of the best shows I saw this year was Modest Mouse at the Virgin Music Festival in Baltimore. The fact that I saw them instead of watching the second half of the Police set should tell you how good they were.

Highlights:
Dashboard
Florida
We've Got Everything

Favorite Lyrics:
“I'll be beating my heart's record for speeding
I'll be beating the record for hearts skipping in the dark
Our tails wagged and then fell off
But we just turned back, marched into the sea”

“While we're on the subject
Could we change the subject now?
I was knocking on your ears
Don't worry, you were always out
Looking towards the future
We were begging for the past
Well, we know we had the good things
But those never seemed to last
Oh, please just last”

#16 Zookeeper - Becoming All Things

2007-12-31T16:10:00.000-05:00

Chris Simpson's (former singer of Mineral and The Gloria Record) new project hit me out of nowhere. I don't even recall how I found out about it a few years ago. The debut EP was released last year and flew under most people's radar. I thought it was a good jumping off point but did not expect the first full length to be this good. A lot of the songs are multi-layered, sometimes to the point of cacophony but mostly just enough to make the songs more interesting. This is a great album to listen to while driving in the rain. I'm not sure why that is, but I always seem to have it on at work when it's raining. Most of these songs just make me smile and I can't pinpoint why. The cover looking like the "I'm the Pope" picture we used to laugh at in college doesn't hurt either.

Highlights:
Snow in Berlin
Everyone's a DJ
Born With Things To Do

Favorite Lyrics:
“Been counting the days for most of our lives
And it looks like a pattern has begun to materialize
Yeah it looks like we're alive
But it looks like we're all eyes
And no ears to hear the trumpets so near
The trumpets so clear”

“But everyone's a DJ
Everyone's a critic today
We're all miracles, and maybes
Trading passion down for safety
It's a compromising world”

#17 The One AM Radio - This Too Will Pass

2007-12-31T15:50:00.000-05:00

The One AM Radio is the brainchild of Hrishikesh Hirway. He programs most of the drums and ambient noise with his computer and his live show consists of a rotating cast of characters. I have seen him live 3 times and the instrumentation was drastically different each time. His songs can be extremely soothing even when they tough on subjects that would normally evoke the opposite reaction such as heartbreak and loneliness. His use of many different instruments makes for a very diverse album. I did not listen to this album enough this year and should probably be placing it higher (already moved up 4 spots while making my list). Hrishikesh writes some of the best lyrics I have ever heard and something about them seems to reach me on a personal level even when I don't necessarily relate to the lyrics. I highly recommend diving into the One AM Radio catalog. Go buy this album. You won't regret it. I know you don't have it, what are you waiting for?

Highlights:
Cast Away
The Echoing Airports
In the Time We've Got

Favorite Lyrics:
“I go to airports
and wait by the gate for arriving flights.
I go to airports
to watch the lovers reunite.
I go to airports.
In every city they're the same.
The lonely airports,
echoing with all the shouted names
of loves who've been caught sight of,
returned from miles away,
from tiny lights
receding into the night
at the end of the runway.”

“the sound of the hull against the waves is not around to lull you to sleep nowadays.
you just lie awake, listening to the gulls in the bay.
breathe in salt air as you stare at the ceiling,
trying to recapture the feeling of being married to the sea,
but your vision gets so watery.
every night you dream of the same underwater scene,
but safe beneath your sheets,
you'll never find your way back to that peace.”

#18 Bright Eyes - Cassadaga

2007-12-31T13:28:00.000-05:00

It still annoys me that Conor feels the need to start every album with random noise or something else that usually isn't considered "music." Once you get through the nonsense at the beginning though, you have a great album. It's the same old country influenced sound that Bright Eyes is known for. It's funny how Digital Ash in a Digital Urn got me into them and now I prefer the sound of their other album that was released that year. Conor still writes songs about politics and religion but I don't feel like he's beating us over the head with it on this release, which is nice. I can't talk about this album without mentioning how cool the packaging is. There is a decoder thing that you move along the cover and everywhere else to find more art and messages. On top of a great release, Bright Eyes also blew me away live in Wilmington this year at the Grand Opera House. It was my first time seeing them and hopefully not my last.

Highlights:
Four Winds
If the Breakman Turns My Way
Soul Singer In a Session Band

Favorite Lyrics:
“When panic grips your body
And your heart's a hummingbird
Raven thoughts blacken your mind
'Til you're breathing in reverse
All your friends and sedatives mean well
But make it worse
Every reassurance just magnifies the doubt
Better find yourself a place to level out”

“Life is too short
Death doesn't ask
It don't owe you that
Some things you lose
You don't get back
So just know what you have
And make a plan to love me sometime soon”

#19 Queens of the Stone Age - Era Vulgaris

2007-12-31T11:43:00.000-05:00

This was the first band that Guitar Hero really got me into. I had heard there singles before and thought they were good but never really got into them. Then i heard 3's and 7's on Guitar Hero 3 and immediately bought the album. Sometimes you just need some straight ahead rock and this is the perfect album for that. I really like the drumming on this album, which is strange because it's not something that usually draws me to an album. The album isn't all straight ahead rock though; there are some slower songs and I feel those are where Josh Homme's voice really shines. I have to go back and check out their back catalog now.

Highlights:
3's and 7's
Turnin' On the Screw
Misfit Love

Favorite Lyrics:
“My generation’s for sale
Beats a steady job.
How much have you got?
My generation don’t trust no one
Its hard to blame
Not even ourselves
The thing that’s real for us is fortune and fame
All the rest seems like work.”

“I'm gonna suture up my future
I ain't jaded
I just hate it
See, I been down too long
It's kinda hard to explain
Done and buried
All I carried
All my evil
Through a needle
As it pull through the eye
What was and what will
They're all gone”

#20 The New Amsterdams - At the Foot of My Rival

2007-12-29T13:20:00.000-05:00

Matt Pryor has one of my favorite voices in music today. He also writes amazing songs and I'm glad to see he's back at it. Their last release, "Story Like a Star" was a bit lackluster but they've come back strong with this release. There's a song on this album called "Story Like a Star" that is better than anything on the album of the same name. The best thing about this album was that I didn't even know it was being released until a few weeks before it came out. My expectations weren't very high after the last album but I think I would have loved this album regardless. It's funny how Matt Pryor makes music for pretty much each age range he's lived so far. You've got the Terrible Twos for kids, the Get Up Kids for teens and early twenties and The New Amsterdams for everything after that. I can't wait to hear what's next. Now if only his partner in crime from the Get Up Kids would release another Blackpool Lights album...

Highlights:
Story Like a Scar
A Beacon in Beige
The Blood on the Floor

Favorite Lyrics:
“I'm just a fool who
you love to be cruel to
gravel under your wheels”

“life is too rich
to waste it waiting around for you
life is too rich
to waste it waiting around for you
whatever you wanna do”

#21 Lily Allen - Alright, Still

2007-12-26T23:12:00.000-05:00

This album is my guilty pleasure. It’s straight up pop and I love it. When I first heard LDN on Lily’s myspace page back before the album came out it was stuck in my head for weeks. The thing I love the most about this album is the reggae/ska influence reminiscent of The Specials, which is displayed on numerous songs. Every year I find an album that fulfills my craving for off beat ska rhythms. Lily has a great voice and a knack for writing witty and often hilarious lyrics; that is, if she writes the songs herself. The comedy should come as no surprise since her dad is British comedian Keith Allen. She also has some serious songs such as the amazing “Littlest Things.” I hope Lily can keep up the good work and release another album while juggling a tv show and a new baby.

Highlights:
LDN
Shame for You
Knock ‘em Out

Favorite Lyrics:
“The littlest things that take me there,
I know it sounds lame, but it's so true.
I know its not right, but it seems unfair,
That things are reminding me of you.”

“What happened to the good old days?
I was kinda hoping this was all a stupid phase
Who are you anyway?
I know you've heard this all before
I know some people who are calling you a whore
Don't know you anymore”

#22 Jonah Matranga - And

2007-12-25T22:26:00.000-05:00

Jonah makes some of the most heartfelt songs I’ve ever heard. I finally got to see him live recently and was blown away with how personal the shows are and how nice Jonah is to everyone that approaches him. It’s nice to hear songs about hope and about going through the emotions of dealing with your child’s problems and other real life situations in a time when most songs are nonsense. Jonah pours his heart out in these songs and at the same time manages to mask the lyrics in catchy pop tunes. The songs range from pop to folk/rock and all have that Jonah feel to them.

Highlights:
So Long
Lost, Then Found
Definitely, Definitely, Definitely

Favorite Lyrics:
"We've been through a lot.
We've gone a lot of miles.
And with a little luck we'll keep going for a long while.
So for every aching night and every perfect day.
When I ask if you love me, don't laugh or turn away.
I love you all the time,
But I can't read your mind."

"Always say the best is lost, then found.
Whatever it is you're going through the best things in life are coming around.
The future’s just a worry, the past is just a dream.
This isn't my opinion, it's only what I've seen."

#23 As Tall As Lions - Into the Flood EP

2007-12-20T22:45:00.000-05:00

I love this band. There is something about them that is just a breath of fresh air. I wrestled with putting it on the list since I haven’t had it for very long. It eventually won out because it keeps reminding me how awesome their last release is. The soothing vocals and incredible harmonies are still there and it makes me wish I could discover the last album all over again. The only downside to this album is that it’s only a 5 song EP so it is just a tease of what’s to come. I really hope a new full length follows in the new year.

Highlights:
We’re the Ones That Keep You Warm

Favorite Lyrics:
“dreams of yesterday
have haunted my life
they bleed through the day
and creep through the night
blacked out but not gone
well sometimes you need love to hold on
blacked out but not gone
I see you walk away like the setting sun”

#24 Ryan Adams - Easy Tiger

2007-12-20T20:29:00.000-05:00

Lately Ryan Adams can’t let a year go by without releasing something. He released a full length and an EP this year alone. I don’t know how he can consistently put out solid releases; it will have to end eventually although I hope it doesn’t. I nearly put the EP on here just for his cover of Alice in Chains’ “Down in a Hole.” Most of this album displays the country side of Ryan Adams, although he touches on his rock side with “Halloween Head.” Some of the songs are very reminiscent of Neil Young. Something about his voice and lyrics just make him seem so vulnerable and easy to relate to. I love to put this album on and just zone out. I initially got into Adams based on his rock sound but I’m starting to prefer the style closer to this album. I hope Ryan can keep up with his trend and release some stellar albums again next year.

Highlights:
Halloween Head
These Girls
Goodnight Rose

Favorite Lyrics:
“God bless all the late night girls,
and they're coming out to play.
I've been stranded in their doorstep
for every night and day.
I only want them more,
how sad,
but when they smile,
how can anybody feel bad?
It makes me tired and I wanna go to bed
These girls are better off in my head.”

“I taught myself how to grow
Without any love and there was poison in the rain
I taught myself how to grow
'Til I was crooked on the outside, inside's broke
I taught myself how to grow old”

#25 Small Sins - Mood Swings

2007-12-17T22:18:00.000-05:00

This is one of the first bands I discovered through XM radio. I heard a few songs from their last album released in ’06 and immediately downloaded the album. I listened to that album a lot this year and was not expecting anything new to come out any time soon. One day I’m driving home from work and I go to XMU on XM and they are starting to play their new record straight through with commentary between songs from the lead singer, Thomas D'Arcy. I almost wanted to drive home really slow just to hear it all. The album is very electronic based (keyboards and drum loops appear more often than not). It may be some of the catchiest music to come out this year. A lot of the lyrics provide a stark contrast to the music, often creating images of guns and violence such as “and you know I'd shoot you, if I only had a gun.” Even the album art consists of a drawing of a gun. Not all of the lyrics follow in this vein though. The second track on the album (Morning Face) is what sold me on buying this release. I heard it during my listen on XMU as I mentioned early. Darcy said the track was about waking up with someone and realizing you are one of the only people that get to see their “morning face.” The fact that someone thought to write a song about that just blew me away.

Highlights:
Morning Face
On the Line
I Need a Friend

Favorite Lyrics:
“Yes these are loaded questions
Sent to you late at night
But baby I still need answers”

“If you give me the gun,
Well I’ll shoot myself in the foot,
And I want to be different this time,
But I know that I won’t.
So I need a friend,
To get me on my feet again,
Yeah I need a friend
This time.
Hard working and under slept,
But lazy at heart,
Everything that you know you want
Seems like no big deal when it starts,
So come take my hand my dear,
And show me where I should draw the line,
Cuz I need a friend this time.”

#1 The Matches - Decomposer

2007-01-01T12:38:00.000-05:00

Upon first listen of this album, I thought, “this is just a weird album, what were they thinking”. That was mostly based on the first track which consists of mostly strings and no guitars, along with hearing some of the songs live and wondering why the songs sounded so different. The rest of the album is still mostly pop punk, but the first track turned me off at first. I decided to give it a few more listens and from there it was stuck in my cd player for months. The album is made up of tracks produced by a plethora of producers (9 total including Mark Hoppus, Tim Armstrong, Nick Hexum and John Feldmann). You would think this could cause the album to have a lack of continuity and possibly be a complete mess. This is not the case. Most of the songs have the same feel and go together to form one coherent work. Some of the best songs are produced by Mark Hoppus; I wish he had lent his vocal skills to a few though. That’s just wishing for more Hoppus, I’m not trying to take anything away from Shawn Harris’ vocals. The band experiments with drum loops, electronic elements and layered vocals to put together the most fun you will have listening to an album this year. Seeing these guys live a second time was a great chance to see how well the songs have translated to their live show. The best word to describe this album is “energetic”.

Highlights:
Sunburn vs. the Rhinovirus
Drive
Lazier Than Furniture
You (Don’t) Know Me

Favorite Lyrics:
“What we know about sex
learned from alcohol
What we know about sex
learned from bathroom walls
We know about love
what little we know about love
what we know 'bout love
what little we know about love
stole from rock and roll”

“may your organs fail before your dreams fail you
waving in the distance, waving (ha ha ha)
waving in the minutes, waning (ha ha ha)
waiting for this to make sense, waiting
stop waving back, I'm drowning”

#2 Blackpool Lights - This Town's Disaster

2006-12-31T12:23:00.000-05:00

I was so glad to hear that another member of the now defunct Get Up Kids was making an album. Jim Suptic sang some of my favorite GUK songs. What he has given us now is a great pop/rock record. I don’t know what the right description is, it might just be straight ahead rock. It is reminiscent of indie rock from the late 80s and 90s. I remember seeing them in Philly this summer with around 20 other people and Jim got up on stage and said “tell those kids that just left to come back because we play that emo that they love so much”. They put on a great show even though the audience was very small, and even played a GUK song. Ok, enough rambling, back to the album. The lyrics are very mature which makes sense since Jim had been writing GUK songs for around a decade. The music varies from faster pop punk tunes to slower rock ballads. This album didn’t leave my cd player for at least a month when I first got it. The New Amsterdams could lose their crown as best band by a former member of the Get Up Kids, but I’ll wait on that until Blackpool Lights release another album.

Highlights:
It’s Never About What It’s About
Blue Skies
Crash Sounds
This Town’s Disaster

Favorite Lyrics:
“A best friend and an honest man
Isn't that what you wanted
Your dishonesty and lack of modesty
Were the traits that you flaunted
You're so emotional
I gave you room to grow
Then you act like a child
I didn't stop you, I could never do that
It's never about what it's about
Even if I knew you'd still walk out”

“Nothing that's good ever stays
Everything withers away
When will you learn
That someday you'll return
As long as you get through today”

#3 As Tall As Lions

2006-12-31T01:09:00.000-05:00

WOW! That word pretty much sums it up. They really matured from their last effort to this album. It’s just one beautiful song after another. This is a great chill album. The lyrics are also first rate, often touching on subjects such as finding love and losing love. Dan Nigro’s vocals are some of the best I’ve heard this year. These guys definitely win the “most improved” award this year. I wish more bands on “scene” record labels would take chances like these guys did and record songs that might not fit within the normal formula for the genre.

Highlights:
Love Love Love (Love Love)
Maybe I’m Just Tired
Hidden Track

Favorite Lyrics:
“If love comes your way
don't be afraid
Unlock the box you heart's encased
Hope it wont change
and beware of the games
that she'll want to start playing
Oh, lately babe
I stay awake thinking this life gets lonely
Well maybe I'm just scared
scared to let you go
I want you to know
right from hello
your love just kept me wondering
Well maybe I'm just tired
tired of never knowing”

“heard your broken voice on the telephone
made my heavy heart sink like a stone
and after all this time, i should have known
you'd let me down
right down to the bone
you know you're right, im incomplete
and i could never write down what i mean
and if you told me that the world, was ending tonight
that's alright by me”

#4 Heavens - Patent Pending

2006-12-30T15:52:00.000-05:00

A few years ago I would have hated this album. The two main elements of the album were two things I could not stand. One being electronic drums and the other being Matt Skiba’s voice. I’ve since grown to tolerate the first and love the second. It’s the same old shit from Matt Skiba, dark lyrics and the trademark vocals. The best part is what was brought to the table by the other half of the song writing team, Josiah. Joe supplied some simple yet amazing music which Matt later wrote the vocals for. The songs range from sparse punkish sounding songs to slow ballads. It’s too bad that this is just a one album side project. I’m glad I saw them live when I had the chance.

Highlights:
Counting
Patent Pending
Leave

Favorite Lyrics:
“Won't you please step inside?
Something to show, something to share
My knife still wants to hide
Deep inside of you
I'll announce the grand prize
Arterial spray-painted carpet
Before your eyes
Better fucking believe it
Take this back
If you really want to
Take this back
I'm counting on you”

“Don't leave just yet
Quiet on the set
Let's give this one more go
Make ourselves ill, poppin' sugar pills
Will swallow nice and slow
Don't leave just yet
We've just had a wreck
I'll need your name and phone
And water for these slow-dying trees
Where gardens used to grow”

#5 The Lawrence Arms - Oh! Calcutta!

2006-12-29T12:27:00.000-05:00

This one really came out of nowhere. THE best straight ahead punk album released this year. It’s got everything you could want: fast tempos, short songs, raspy lyrics with cleaner backing vocals. Oh, it even has a country sounding hidden track. It manages to be a rocking punk album and also have catchy choruses. I saw these guys a few years back on the Plea for Peace tour and liked them but didn’t do more than download a few songs by them. I decided to give this album a shot and I was instantly hooked on it. Just when I think I’m listening to less punk, this and rise against come along and remind me why I love it so much. Buy this album is you feel the need to jump around and break things and want a soundtrack.

Highlights:
Key to the City
The Devil’s Takin’ Names
Recovering the Opposable Thumb

Favorite Lyrics:
“I've never tried that
But I know I don't like it
Or maybe I do I'm just too weak to fight it
Maybe I do I'm just too weak to fight it
Maybe I do I'm just too weak to fight it
Where are you? Where are you?
I hate to let em see me crying”

“Somewhere along the way I lost my destination
And then I ended up in a thousand different places
The road is long tonight
Maybe we'll be somewhere by morning
We're never anywhere, never either coming or going”

#6 Liam and Me - There's a Difference

2006-12-29T12:21:00.000-05:00

80’s DANCE PARTY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! One of the best new bands to come out of this year. This band writes amazing pop songs with an 80’s vibe. The lyrics are also a strong point for this band. They just take you over and make you dance around. I don’t know why it took them so long to sign with a label (happened a few weeks ago), but now that they are I expect them to be huge in the New Year. The album is great, but live it’s even better. They are a very tight band and also really nice guys. I was lucky enough to see them 3 times this year, once in Rehoboth (Dogfish Head) of all places. If you like the sound of this and want the album, you better get it on smartpunk.com before it sells out. They aren’t printing anymore since they are going to rerecord it for their new label. My only problem with the album is that it is only 10 songs, but this should be taken care of when they rerelease it.

Highlights:
There’s a Difference
Pretty Black Dress
Call the Cops
Take Your Time

Favorite Lyrics:
“Now I can't keep up with you darling cause you're living way too fast.
I don't make a whole lot of money so I gotta make it last.
(Well I've been alone)
I'm waiting up all night while you go out late dancing.
(I've been alone)
You sparkle in the lights and his approving glances, oh yeah.
Gotta know, is there something to tell me?
There's a difference in your heartbeat.
(Gotta know)
All I know is it's driving me crazy,
there's a difference in your heartbeat, baby.”

“Last chance for your pretty black dress tonight,
if its time for goodbyes, then we'll do it in style.
Last chance to be forward and set it right,
it doesn't help that you're looking so nice tonight.”

#7 Kevin Devine - Put Your Ghost to Rest

2006-12-28T22:28:00.000-05:00

Kevin Devine is one of my favorite songwriters out there today. Last year, his album was my #5 favorite album of the year. He’s back at it again with his latest release. His shaky voice just makes the songs seem more sincere than most of what I listen to. This album hit me at the perfect time. The songs just seemed to fit where I am in life. I originally downloaded this album before it had been mastered and I was disappointed in it. I’m not sure if that was because the finishing touches weren’t there or because I just wasn’t in the mood for it. Whatever the reason, I was glad to give it another listen once I had a mastered version. I’m glad I gave it that second chance. Seeing some of the songs played live made them even better. This album seems to capture the strange stage in life that follows college.

Highlights:
Just Stay
Me and My Friends
You’ll Only End Up Joining Them

Favorite Lyrics:
“it's the same corner booth,
the same smith street bar,
the same sour mouths,
and the same empty arms.
forever and ever our lives
on a loop.
it's the same dollar draft,
the same whiskey words,
the same hanging heart,
and the same old scorched earth.
we're further and further
away from the truth.
i wanna stop it.
i wanna stop it.
i wanna stop it.
but it's the only life i know how to live
we make a mess of what matters
give our good grace away
we try to drink the clock backwards
and pretend like nothing’s changed”

“so as i inched towards resolution, yeah, i'm not sure which life feels right. no narrow noose or the wading water will hang in hex or open eyes. i know my brother, he went one way and at the fork i heard him say, "don't you follow. don't go making my mistakes." and i realized what he meant: don't kill yourself to raise the dead. it never works. you'll only end up joining them. it never works. you'll only end up joining them.”

#8 Cursive - Happy Hollow

2006-12-26T13:59:00.000-05:00

Cursive always have a story or message that holds all of the songs on the album together. This record takes on issues such as the war and organized religion. Although I may not buy into everything they are saying, I still think this is an amazing record. The use of horns and strings is just breathtaking. Their use of minor keys and distortion make for a dark ride and I wouldn’t want anything different. Tim Kasher’s voice is always just a little off which works well with the music. The production turns something that seems like it should be rough around the edges into something clean and tight. This album is great, not just for the music, but for the questions it raises.

Highlights:
Big Bang
Dorothy at Forty
Retreat

Favorite Lyrics:
“We're not the kids that we once were
We can't be the adults we want to be”

“Original sin, idyllic garden
Some talking snake giving apples away
What would that snake say if he could only see us today?
Ha ha ha!”

#9 Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins - Rabbit Fur Coat

2006-12-23T16:27:00.000-05:00

I got this album around this time last year. Little did I know I would still be listening to it now. This album was a mainstay in my cd player all year. This is the closest thing to country that you will ever hear me listening to by choice (other than the old stuff like Johnny Cash). Something about Jenny’s voice is just soothing. I don’t even know what to call it when combined with the Watson Twins. Seeing them live pushed this album even more into my rotation. This is definitely one of the better side project bands I have ever heard. One of the highlights of the album is their cover of the Traveling Wilburys’ “Handle with Care”, which features Connor Oberst, M Ward and Ben Gibbard on vocals.

Highlights:
Handle with Care
Rise Up With Fists
Melt Your Heart

Favorite Lyrics:
“what are you changing?
who do you think you're changing?
you can't change things
we're all stuck in our ways
it's like trying to clean the ocean
what do you think, you can drain it?
well it was poison and dry
long before you came”

“when you're kissing someone who's too much like you
it's like kissing on the mirror
when you're sleeping with someone who doesn't get you
you're going to hate yourself in the morning
it's bound to melt your heart
one way or another"

#10 RX Bandits - ...and the Battle Begun

2006-12-23T15:34:00.000-05:00

RX Bandits are one of those bands that I always heard about but never bothered checking out. I am so glad I finally gave them a shot on the new album. It’s the best ska type album I have heard in quite some time. They do a great job of mixing ska, punk and reggae while keeping it original. I can listen to this album over and over and never get tired of it. From the opening untitled intro track, the album just grabs you and won’t let go. At times, the vocal harmonies are chilling. Sometimes the songs even have a prog rock feel except with horns in them too. This album just keeps getting better with every listen. I already moved it up multiple spots since I started making the list.

Highlights:
Apparition
1980
Only for the Night

Favorite Lyrics:
“Am I crazy because I want to touch your skin?
Is it ludicrous that I’ve got nothing to believe in that was built by human hands or controlled by demand?
So if love is true, let’s burn the factory, take off your shoes it’s time for dancing”

“She says she’s gonna come over tonight
Look like a ghost sound like a whisper shivering down my spine
I’m just a traveling soul, say you’d never leave me low
Tell me you need me so tonight”

#11 Rocky Votolato - Makers

2006-12-23T15:18:00.000-05:00

This isn’t the usual music that is known to come out of Seattle. The sparse arrangements are a far cry from the grunge and post punk that the area is known for. It forces you to focus on the lyrics which tell the usual stories of heartbreak and life in general, but somehow Rocky makes them believable. Rocky can write a song like no one else. The honesty in his voice pulls the listener into his world and doesn’t let you out until the album is over. He also points out his own shortcomings in some songs, which is a welcome departure in a genre full of songs that seem to lay the blame on others for the situation that the artists have found themselves in.

Highlights:
She Was Only In It For the Rain
White Daisy Passing
Tinfoil Hats

Favorite Lyrics:
“here's the 1st of many songs you wanted me to write
just for you I hope to god you like it
it's as pretty as it is cruel”

“all those evenings on the back deck of our first apartment
they meant everything but the wind just carried ‘em off
and you can't go back now just a passing moment gone”

#12 Brand New - The Devil and God are Raging Inside Me

2006-12-22T18:04:00.000-05:00

Probably my most anticipated release of the last 3 years. I don’t want to call this a disappointment because it’s a great album. It’s just that after hearing the demos that leaked earlier in the year, I was expecting something different. The album has grown on me with each listen. Although the band has been very tight lipped about the past couple years, judging from the lyrics it seems they have had some rough times. Their song writing is a lot darker than their previous efforts, both lyrically and musically. The songs have all sounded even more amazing live. If you see their new video on mtv2, don’t use it to judge the album. It is the worst “song” on the album and was released as a single to piss off their label. Another problem I have with the album is that the packaging is one of the worst things ever. This album could have been the worst thing I have ever heard and I still would have loved it just because it was something new from one of my favorite bands.

Highlights:
Degausser
The Archers Bows Have Broken
Welcome to Bangkok

Favorite Lyrics:
“In the choir, I saw our sad Messiah.
He was bored and tired of my laments.
He said, "I died for you one time, but never again"”

“Please don't be technology
Cause I can't turn off your love
Like some cold machine
Don’t feed me scraps from your bed
And I won't be the stray coming back
Just to be fed"

#13 Arctic Monkeys - Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not

2006-12-20T19:58:00.000-05:00

This is one of the first albums I was in love with this year. It did not age as well as Bloc Party did last year but it’s still amazing. It just makes me want to shake my moneymaker. They are one of the most hyped bands I have ever listened to and I think they deserved every bit of it. They mix clever lyrics with danceable rock (all the kids are doing it these days). The English accents add another lovable aspect to the music. The album starts off fast and never lets up. The album ends on one of my favorite songs of the year.

Highlights:
A Certain Romance
The View From the Afternoon
From the Ritz to the Rubble

Favorite Lyrics:
“There's only music, so that there's new ringtones”

“Stop making the eyes at me
I'll stop making the eyes at you
And what it is that surprises me
Is that I don't really want you to”

#14 Pete Yorn - Nightcrawler

2006-12-20T19:38:00.000-05:00

I have no idea why I downloaded this album, but I sure am glad I did. I liked one of his previous singles but had never gotten into him. This album is pure gold in terms of singer/songwriter type music. Pete has created an album full of great pop songs that he delivers with his slightly shaky voice. The songs are all very chill, it's a great album to just kick back and relax to. This is the kind of music that should be on the radio. It isn't hard to digest and the masses would eat it up. Maybe Pete doesn't want it that way.

Highlights:
For Us
Splendid Isolation
Undercover

Favorite Lyrics:
“You say your empty mind is easy when it's drugged.
I watched you fall out of bed and scrape up your back. Well, maybe this life is like the drug.
This life is like the drug.”

“Don't want to wake up with no one beside me
Don't want to take up with nobody new
Don't want nobody coming by without calling first
Don't want nothing to do with you”

#15 Manchester Orchestra - I'm Like a Virgin Losing a Child

2006-12-20T19:24:00.000-05:00

This was supposed to be one of my big “sleeper” albums, so much for that. The vocals on this album remind me of Nate from The Format mixed with the guy from Zella Mayzell, mixed with the Rocket Summer, mixed with the guy from Placebo. It’s just a great rock record. There are some slow ones sprinkled in that keep it from rocking you face off completely, which is a good thing sometimes. I haven’t had the record long enough to say much more about it. I may come back and edit this later considering it’s all I’ve listened to lately.

Highlights:
Wolves at Night
Now That You’re Home
Golden Ticket

Favorite Lyrics:
"You're the reason i like losing sleep"

“Am I really that old, ignorant or too slow
to realize that I’ve lost my golden ticket back home?”

"i've got to take what i'm making
and turn it into something
i've got to take what i'm making
and turn it into something
for you
i've got to break what i'm making
and turn it into something
i've got to break what i'm making
and turn it into something
for you
god, where have you been?”

#16 Lucero - Rebels, Rogues & Sworn Brothers

2006-12-20T19:16:00.000-05:00

Oh sweet southern rock, how I had missed you. I’m so glad the band decided to add some organ to the mix, it worked out well. I did not give this album enough attention until I saw them live a month or so ago. The album just blows me away. It’s southern rock mixed with some punk backgrounds. Add in the amazingly gruff vocals from Ben Nichols and you have a great formula. You can’t go wrong with songs that alternate between straight ahead southern rock and slowed down tales of heartbreak. The album makes you feel like you should be in a bar down south raising hell. Ben Nichols makes you feel as if he’s just venting to you about his life and there just happens to be some kick ass music behind it. In hindsight I will probably wish I ranked this higher.

Highlights:
I Can Get Us Out of Here Tonight
Sing Me No Hymns
1979

Favorite Lyrics:
“I might not be the one
But that's alright
I can get us outta here tonight”

“Tell me why, just why
You had to go
Cause I'm, I'm no good
Out here on my own”

#17 TV on the Radio - Return to Cookie Mountain

2006-12-20T18:58:00.000-05:00

This album is genre-bending. At one point you think it’s electronic and then all of a sudden it’s rocking out (or both at once). One of the key elements that make this album great is the distorted, fuzzy guitar that can be heard in most songs in the background. It creates a wall of noise that everything else builds upon. Tunde Adebimpe’s vocals are reminiscent of Peter Gabriel, so much so that sometimes it is scary. Kyp Malone adds an afro and beard into the equation. Although this does not translate to the record, it is quite the spectacle. The album flows together very well, creating an atmosphere that I can’t quite explain. David Bowie lends some guest vocals to one of my favorite tracks on the album. Although this album isn’t for everyone (Greg), it is worth giving a try. It has grown on me a lot since I first gave it a listen. One of the only downsides to this album is that it does no justice for TVOTR’s live show.

Highlights:
I Was A Lover
Province
Wolf Like Me

Favorite Lyrics:
“I'm locked in my bedroom, so send back the clowns”

“dirty little whirl wind
I am pinned by the heat of your swirl
dirty little whirl wind
descender, destroyer, I’ve found you
you dirty little whirl wind
tangled up in the flesh of a girl”

#18 Rise Against - The Sufferer and the Witness

2006-12-17T22:57:00.000-05:00

"This is noise." That’s how the album begins. What follows is one of the best punk albums this year. Upon its release, it was my #1 album of the year (obviously that has changed). I absolutely love the gruff vocals mixed with the straight ahead punk riffs. They also throw in some great slow songs (such as “swing life away” on the last album and “roadside” on this album) and manage not to kill the mood. The album seems a little less refined than most major label albums, which I think is amazing. This is the album to put on to just rock out. I haven’t heard of anyone not thinking that this album is one of the best of the year. Beware, the album will make you want to drive fast. I’m glad to see a band that doesn’t seem to compromise their artistic vision for a major label.

Highlights:
Drones
Chamber the Cartridge
Survive

Favorite Lyrics:
“Somewhere between happy and total fucking wreck
Feet sometimes on solid ground, sometimes at the edge
Spend your waking moments, simply counting time
Give up on your hopes and dreams”

“And if strength is borne from heartbreak
Many mountains I could move
And if walls could speak I’d pray
That they would tell me what to do”

#19 Damien Rice - 9

2006-12-17T21:55:00.000-05:00

Finally, a new album from Damien Rice and Co. It’s more of the same and I wouldn’t want it any other way. There isn’t a bad song on this album. Each song carries on the tradition of sounding like it should be in a movie (I’m sure some of them will end up there). I’ve always loved the way Damien can shift from soft and delicate to somewhat harder and angry from song to song and it never feels weird or out of place. Some of my favorite moments on the album are when it is just piano and singing. These are some of the most beautiful songs I have heard in awhile that weren’t arranged by Sufjan. I just wish the album had more songs. Let’s all hope the next album shows up faster than this one did.

Highlights:
Me, My Yoke and I
Rootless Tree
9 Crimes

Favorite Lyrics:
“waking up without you,
is like drinking from an empty cup.”

“Oh and she's always dressed in white
She's like an angel, man
She burns my eyes
Oh and she turns
She pulls a smile
We drive around
And she drives us wild”

#20 My Chemical Romance - The Black Parade

2006-12-15T19:20:00.000-05:00

I really thought I would hate this album. The first few times I heard the single, I was very disappointed. I was completely uninterested in the album until I heard the single on the radio at work a week or so before the album came out. Suddenly my mind was completely changed and I can’t explain why. Once I was able to digest the album in its entirety, it became clear that MCR have embraced their fame and are able to live up to the expectations of most of their fans. Although some people will say that they just ripped off Green Day’s formula for a great concept album/rock opera, I really don’t see why that’s a bad thing. They still create a dark mood as they did with their first 2 albums, but they were able to build on this and create a storyline and great music that goes beyond what anyone would have expected from this release. They still rock out but they also slow it down and vary the tempo throughout the album to make it interesting. Now if I could just pretend I never heard the hidden track…

Highlights:
Teenagers
House of the Wolves
This Is How I Disappear

Favorite Lyrics:
“teenagers scare the living shit out of me”

“Just sleep,
The hardest part is letting go of
Your dreams”

#21 (+44) - When Your Heart Stops Beating

2006-12-14T22:43:00.000-05:00

When I heard the Angels and Airwaves cd this year it made me miss Blink 182 a lot. This album on the other hand, has weakened that blow substantially. This album showed me that Mark Hoppus was everything I loved about Blink. Catchy choruses with great lyrics. That’s all you really need. The songs range from slower rock songs to in your face pop-punk goodness. Some songs even have electronic elements in them. I wish this album had been out in the summer because it would be a great summer album. I’m glad Mark and Travis kept moving in the direction that Blink had been moving instead of trying to be some U2 rip-off band (don’t get me wrong, the AVA cd is enjoyable but it’s not that great). This is one of those albums that I can just put on and rock out to. Sometimes a little pop-punk is all a guy needs. I saw these guys live and Travis was drumming with only one arm….it was nothing short of amazing. I don’t know what that has to do with the album but I felt that it needed to be said.

Highlights:
When Your Heart Stops Beating
Make You Smile
155

Favorite Lyrics:
“The past is just the future with the lights on”

“If I could, I'd only want to make you smile
If you would stay with me a while”

#22 Clipse - Hell Hath No Fury

2006-12-09T19:53:00.000-05:00

Another breath of fresh air in the rap genre this year came from a duo that has been forced out of the game for a few years. You may remember their last album “Lord Willin’” which included the single “Grindin’”. A record label merger caused the most recent album to be shelved for over 2 years. It was finally released upon the world and what we got was an amazing, lyric driven gangster rap record. Combine that with the entire album being produced by the Neptunes and you have a winner. The signature minimalist yet catchy Neptunes beats are there along with the raw lyrics of the Clipse. They don’t rely on any gimmicks with their music. It’s nice to listen to some rap that doesn’t try to tell you what to do, such as “Lean Back” and “Snap Yo Fingers”. They also chose not to have any filler such as skits or unnecessary guests on every track. The only guests were Pharrell and a few of their close friends. The Clipse are made up of brothers Malice and Pusha T, who don’t shy away from rapping about their time spent selling drugs. The album documents the ups and downs that can accompany being a coke dealer. The entire album is dark, gritty and unapologetic in regards to their association with drug dealing. I read somewhere that the duo has skipped the anti-hero stage and gone straight from being rappers to being villains. I think that’s a fair assessment.

Highlights:
Ride Around Shining
Momma I'm So Sorry
Keys Open Doors

Favorite Lyrics:
"it's like trying to fly but they clippin' your wings
and that's exactly why the caged bird sings"

"I philosophize about glocks and ki's
niggas call me young black Socrates"

"Brain like Teri, face like Eva
I aint forgettin them other Housewives neither"

#23 Gym Class Heroes - As Cruel As School Children

2006-12-07T18:45:00.000-05:00

Another album full of great beats made by a band and not a producer. On top of this are vocals by one of my favorite rappers, Travis McCoy. He can take a topic like myspace and make a great song out of it. I remember seeing this band open for Fallout Boy when I had no idea who they were. I turned to Greg and said “I have no idea what these guys sound like”. We watched them set up their instruments and start playing…..then the rap started. I turned to Greg and said “wasn’t expecting that”. They won me over at that show. I bought their current album and had been highly anticipating something new. They did not disappoint. This album is catchy song after catchy song. I just wish they didn’t have skits (there are only 3), but at least the dialogue in them rhymes. They continue their theme of having a song on their album where Patrick Stumpf (Fallout Boy) sings the chorus which is a sample of an old song. On this album it’s a slight variation of Jermaine Stewart’s “We Dont Have to Take Our Clothes Off” and on the last it was Supertramp’s “Breakfast in America”. This is a great album to just put on and chill or to have on at a party.

Highlights:
3^rd Period: New Friend Request
13^th Period: On My Own Time (Write On!)
6^th Period: Viva La White Girl

Favorite Lyrics:
“We put the F U back in fun.”

“Got chicks, all hot chicks
Indie rock chicks, and hip hop chicks
Slim chicks, round chicks
Black, white, yellow, and brown chicks”

#24 The Bronx

2006-12-07T18:01:00.000-05:00

Hard. Fast. Loud. I wouldn’t expect anything less from this band. They were the band that recorded their first album “live” in the studio, with a maximum of 3 takes per song. This time they are back with the same album title (or lack there of). Sometimes you just need to listen to some angry rock. This is the perfect album for doing just that. Most of the songs clock in at under 3 minutes, which is all they need to get their point across. The vocals are somewhere between screaming and singing. I guess you could call it yelling. You can tell the band just wants to rock and doesn’t care if it doesn’t sound perfect. There are a few songs on the album that are a little slower than the rest, but they are just as good. The album flows together so well that there are times at the beginning of the album that you aren’t sure if the song changed. I would keep writing but in keeping with the spirit of the album, I’ll keep it short.

Highlights:
White Guilt
Shitty Future
Around the Horn

Favorite Lyrics:
“You're a trainwreck and that’s entertainment!”

“So drag me down to the ocean floor
Cause I don't want to fight no more
Against these tides pulling from all sides
I'm never going back to shore”

#25 Sufjan Stevens - The Avalanche

2006-12-05T20:14:00.000-05:00

Another beautiful album by one of the best song writers/arrangers of our time. This is a B-sides/Outtakes album that is better than most bands’ A material. One thing that kind of annoyed me about this album was that there are 3 versions of Chicago included; although, it did show me that he chose the right one to include on Illinois. Other than that, all of the Sufjan elements are present. You have the odd time signatures, crazy arrangements and a truckload of instruments. If you haven’t listened to Sufjan yet (What are you waiting for?) then this probably isn’t the album to start with. Although the songs were recorded for Illinois, they do not flow as well as his previous efforts have. This album shows that he could pretty much write as many songs as he wants about a certain subject, such as a state, and still keep someone’s attention. Sufjan continues to paint portraits with sound. He is able to convey emotion in almost every story he tells, whether it be a mid-life crisis or author Saul Bellow.

Highlights:
The Henney Buggy Band
Springfield or Bobby Got a Shadfly Caught in His Hair
The Mistress Witch from McClure

Favorite Lyrics:
“If my father took his life
for the national plan, I don't care
I'm not about to stick my grave with an
apron and a bucket of plans, never ever
I can take the pillow cases
off the yellow pillows,
make a property line from the bed
In the living room, the living room,
the morning papers made the most
out of nothing at all”

“Sound the horn
Make the bed
Pull the cord
Raise the dead”

#26 Lupe Fiasco's Food and Liquor

2006-12-05T19:02:00.000-05:00

I would like to preface this by saying that this would be ranked higher if Lupe did not constantly remind us what the album is called and give shout outs to “F and F” on what feels like every track. With that being said, this album is amazing. One of the best rap albums of recent memory. I’m a sucker for beats that utilize guitars, horns and/or strings. The songs make you move but also consist of intelligent and sometimes informative lyrics. The album is a great window into the mind of Lupe and how he sees the world. He raps about skateboarding and has Jonah Matranga in one of his songs. It does not get much cooler than that. I feel bad that when I heard Kanye’s “touch the sky” I was thinking “who is this guy singing, he’s nobody”. Some of the tracks on the album showcase Lupe’s ability to tell a good story through rap. He tells stories and manages to still make everything rhyme. Did I mention he raps about skating?

Highlights:
Kick, Push
American Terrorist
I Gotcha

Favorite Lyrics:
“He said I would marry you but I’m engaged to the aerials and varials”

“Now come on everybody let’s make cocaine cool
We need a few more half naked women up in the pool
And hold this mack ten that’s all covered in jewels
And can you please put your titties closer to the 22’s”

#27 Thunderbirds are Now - Make History

2006-12-02T23:15:00.000-05:00

Put on your dancing shoes. This album makes you want to move. From start to finish, this album is filled with ass shaking rhythms, catchy choruses and vocals that I once thought were coming from a woman (I was mistaken). The rhythm section and the synth keep the songs pounding forward and the album never lets up. If you are looking for intelligent, catchy music then this is the album for you. If you see me dancing around while driving, this album is probably in the cd player.

Highlights:
(The Making of...) Make History
We Win (Ha Ha)
Why We War

Favorite Lyrics:
" We don’t know what we want but we want it all"

"The things that people say, make me want to take the words right out of their mouths"

#28 Bad Astronaut - 12 Small Steps, One Giant Disappointment

2006-12-02T22:56:00.000-05:00

I had heard rumors that “Houston, We Have a Drinking Problem” was going to be the last album by this side-project band, especially after one of the band members died. When I heard that one last Bad Astronaut album would be released, it immediately became one of my most anticipated releases of this year. Joey Cape has one of my favorite voices in rock music. Upon first listen, the great voice was there but nothing on the album really jumped out at me. I just went through the album only half paying attention. It was as if the album was exactly what the title described, but after a few listens I knew it was more than that. It was an album that was released even after a member of the band died during recording. It might not be the best work of the band, but it was a great achievement that it was even finished at all. Even if it is not up to par with their previous release, Joey’s voice combined with some catchy rock was enough to get this album on the list.

Highlights:
Autocare
Go Humans
The “F” Word

Favorite Lyrics:
“Hey Mom
Hey Dad
Hey Mom
I’m’ Rad”

“It stands to reason and I can't be by myself
It makes no difference who I am
It stands to reason and it's better left undone
It makes no difference what I have
I'm by myself
And you won't call me now”

#29 Sparta - Threes

2006-12-02T00:31:00.000-05:00

This is the third album by the underrated half of At the Drive-In (for the overrated half, see The Mars Volta). I would describe this album as At the Drive-In’s “In Casino Out” without the crazy aspects and abstract lyrics. I was hit out of nowhere by this album. I had no idea it was coming out and then…BAM!, it hits me. The disc entered my car stereo while leaving Best Buy and stayed there for a few weeks. The album shifts gears from moderate to fast paced but always manages to rock. On each album, Sparta always manages to create a mood that slowly transforms from one of urgency to one filled with hope. The album starts off in a hurry and pulls you through each song, but by the end it’s as if the listener is floating through the music without a care (with a few bumps along the way). This was a pleasant surprise in a year when my attention was focused more on bands that I had been anticipating for months and even years.

Highlights:
Crawl
Atlas
Red.Right.Return. (Straight In Our Hands)

Favorite Lyrics:

“The difference between
finding what you love,
and loving what you've found
Is killing us right now”

Change of Plans

2006-12-02T00:29:00.000-05:00

I have decided to just post the albums whenever i sit down and decide to write the reviews. This means that there could be a couple one day and then nothing the next. Just keep checking back or IM me or something and ask if I added anything. You could bookmark the page but that seems like too much effort for something that i update a couple months out of the year.

#30 The Format - Dog Problems

2006-12-01T23:16:00.000-05:00

There seem to be two types of people when it comes to opinions on this album. On one hand there are the ones that call it “amazing” or “genius”. On the other hand are those that see it as a huge disappointment. I started out seeing this album as a disappointment. Their previous effort, “Interventions and Lullabies” was a great pop/rock album; it made you tap your foot and bob your head. “Dog Problems” doesn’t quite pull that off, at least the first few times through. This being said, I did not give up on the album. I thought that maybe if I listened enough that I would turn into one of the many calling it “genius”. I found that the first problem that I was having with the album was that I wasn’t a huge fan of the first 2 tracks. They were slow and seemed to drag on, which inevitably led to a decision to give up on the album before it really started. I started skipping to the third track “Time Bomb” to start the album off. This did the trick (I eventually started liking the first 2 tracks as well). The track starts with a Queen-esque high pitched harmony and then jumps around from horn sections to string sections to a chorus that reminds me of “Interventions and Lullabies”. The rest of the album keeps pace and delivers catchy songs with some interesting arrangements. Although I still have not reached the point of calling the album “amazing” or “genius”, I will say that it is a solid effort of catchy pop songs from a band that seems to have a bright future ahead of them.

Highlights:
Time Bomb
Dog Problems
The Compromise

Favorite Lyrics:

“can you hear me?
are you listening?
this is the sound of my heart breaking.
and i hope it's entertaining,
'cause for me it's a bitch.
was it worth it?
when you slept with him?
did you get it all out of your system?”

“open arms are prison cells”

Top 30 Albums of 2006

2006-12-01T23:13:00.000-05:00

It's that time of year again. I will begin to post my top 30 albums of the year. I will try to post one a day until new years. I might post the first one tonight which would give me a little wiggle room if I forget to post one. I am going to try to write up a nice review of sorts for each album but who knows how long that will last. Once the albums are all posted I will post my favorite songs of the year and perhaps movies.

Top Ten Songs of 2005

2006-02-11T03:50:00.000-05:00

1. Thrice - The Earth Will Shake
2. Sufjan Stevens - Come On! Feel the Illinoise!:Part I) The World's Columbian Exposition; Part II) Carl Sandburg Visits Me In A Dream
3. Motion City Soundtrack - Everything Is Alright
4. Bloc Party - Helicopter
5. Minus the Bear - The Game Needed Me
6. Acceptance - Take Cover
7. Bayside - Devotion and Desire
8. John Ralston - Gone Gone Gone
9. Jack's Mannequin - Bruised
10. Gatsby's American Dream - Shhhhhh! I'm Listening to Reason

11 through 20

2006-02-09T19:48:00.000-05:00

11. Houston Calls - Sunrise Goodbyes
12. I Am the Avalanche - Green Eyes
13. Say Anything - Wow, I Can Get Sexual Too
14. Ted Leo - Since U Been Gone/Maps Medley
15. Panic! at the Disco - I Write Sins Not Tragedies
16. The New Amsterdams - Drinking in the Afternoon
17. Bright Eyes - Lua
18. We Are Scientists - The Great Escape
19. Steel Train - Wake Your Eyes
20. Sufjan Stevens - Casmir Pulaski Day

21 through 30

2006-02-08T22:35:00.000-05:00

21. The Academy Is... - Slow Down
22. Armor for Sleep - The More You Talk
23. Nightmare of You - The Days Go By Oh So Slow
24. The Spill Canvas - Break A Leg
25. Jimmy Eat World - Over
26. Bloc Party - This Modern Love
27. Art Brut - Good Weekend
28. Panic! at the Disco - Camisado
29. Cartel - Save Us (Demo)
30. Lucero - And We Fell

31 through 40

2006-02-07T18:09:00.000-05:00

Top Songs of '05 cont.:

31. Koufax - Why Bother At All
32. Armor for Sleep - Stay on the Ground
33. Maximo Park - Apply Some Pressure
34. Elliott Smith - High Times
35. Circa Survive - Act Appalled
36. Kevin Devine - Cotton Crush
37. Alkaline Trio - Back to Hell
38. Bright Eyes - Easy/Lucky/Free
39. Boys Night Out - Medicating
40. Kanye West - Touch the Sky

I know it's late but whatever....

2006-02-06T19:13:00.000-05:00

I am posting my top 50 songs of 2005. I will be posting 10 per night if I remember.

Here are 41 through 50:

41. Bloc Party - Positive Tension

42. Fall Out Boy - Nobody Puts Baby in the Corner

43. Ben Folds - Late

44. Fiona Apple - Waltz (Better than Fine)

45. Beck - Earthquake Weather

46. Joshua Radin - Closer

47. Death Cab for Cutie - Summer Skin

48. Mae - Anything

49. Face to Glass - Hourglass

50. Spoon - I Turn My Camera On

#1 Bloc Party - Silent Alarm

2006-01-01T01:59:00.000-05:00

This is one of the best albums I have heard in a long time. I got it in like february or march and I havent really stopped listening to it on a regular basis. This album really makes me want to dance and I hate dancing. I listen to it at work every friday and dance around in my cubicle a little bit.

#2 Minus the Bear - Menos el Oso

2005-12-31T01:57:00.000-05:00

I love everything about this band. They are one of the few truly unique bands that I listen to. There is a funkiness to the music that I really like. The lyrics usually tell a story and can often be very witty. They set a mood with their album that I just can't quite explain. Everyone should give these guys a listen.

#3 Nightmare of You - Nightmare of You

2005-12-30T02:56:00.000-05:00

I was so happy to hear these guys were releasing something this year. I had the original demos for what seemed like forever. They matured a lot from the demos to the new album. I love the lyrics and Brandon's voice. The music spans a range of influences and keeps the album fresh. They throw everything at you, from a country style steel guitar to 80's synth and it all works.

#4 Sufjan Stevens - Illinois

2005-12-28T23:17:00.000-05:00

Holy shit, this album hit me out of nowhere. This is one of the most beautiful albums of recent memory. Sufjan can take any subject and write an amazing song. I recall reading that he played most of the instruments on the album, which if it's true, is an amazing feat. Another thing that he has going for him is taht his song titles are longer than fall out boy's titles. I love this album but i like the next 3 a little more.

#5 Kevin Devine - Split the Country, Split the Streets

2005-12-28T08:55:00.001-05:00

Kevin might write the best lyrics of recent memory (ok, maybe that's a stretch, but they are damn good). I would quote you some examples but I might get my blog shutdown by the RIAA. Although I don't always agree with the political messages in a few of the songs, I feel like they don't overpower the songs and I can still enjoy them. The reason I feel that this album is top 5 material is that this fall, I listened to this album at least twice a week. Something about the honesty in his lyrics mixed with somewhat catchy music draws me in. It's a great album to just sit back and relax to, although there are a few songs that rock. Overall this album, although similar to the last, seems to be a little more personal. My only problem is the lack of more fast songs because those were my favorite on his last album.

#6 Gatsbys American Dream - Volcano

2005-12-28T08:51:00.000-05:00

These guys put out one of the catchiest albums of the year and most of the songs don't even have choruses. I also think that Nick has one of the best voices in the scene. There is just something about this band that does it for me. I feel like their energy from their live show somehow comes through on their album, and that's a great thing.

#7 Thrice - Vheissu

2005-12-26T11:30:00.000-05:00

I saw these guys play 2 songs from the album at warped tour and it got me extremely excited for this release. When I finally got the album, I was very disappointed. The album had more mellow songs than I was looking for. After the initial disappointment wore off, I found that this is really a great album. Thrice took a risk and I feel that in the long run it will work out well for them. "The Earth Will Shake" was amazing at warped tour and the album version just blows me away. I feel like everyone should pick up this album (the limited edition one with the comments from the band members in the liner notes)and just sit down and read it while listening.

#8 Motion City Soundtrack - Commit This To Memory

2005-12-25T00:52:00.000-05:00

Probably one of my most anticipated releases of 2005. This is my favorite live band and the new songs are really good live. Although I like the last album better, this album has a much fuller sound. I also think that it was a step in the right direction for Justin to write more personal songs rather than just make up stories for each song. I don't know how influential Mark Hoppus was on the album but I think it is a solid debut for his production skills. I think this band could be huge and their next album might just put them there.....hell, their next single (Hold Me Down) might just do it.

#9 Houston Calls - A Collection of Short Stories

2005-12-24T12:28:00.000-05:00

This album was a huge step forward for these guys. I really needed this album; I had listened to their sampler cds way too many times. It is an up beat album that puts me in a good mood. I must have listened to it all day at work for at least a week straight.

#10 Jimmy Eat World - Stay On My Side Tonight

2005-12-23T15:14:00.000-05:00

If you take the remix off of this album it would be higher. I love every song on this album that isn’t a remix. I usually don’t buy that many EPs but this one was an exception. The more that I hear songs from the Mark Trombino sessions, the more I wish they released that album instead. I really love the percussion on this album.

#11 Armor for Sleep - What To Do When You Are Dead

2005-12-22T17:54:00.000-05:00

I was extremely excited for this album and it exceeded my expectations. The concept of the album is very cool and the art work goes along with it well. The album bounces from rocking out to somewhat chill very easily. Ben has a unique voice that I really enjoy. This album is much more complex and layered than the last one (not that there is anything wrong with the last one, it rocks). Both of their albums seem to create their own mood and draw you in.

#12 John Ralston - Needle Bed

2005-12-21T20:08:00.000-05:00

One of the few bands on this list that I did not learn about through downloading and/or absolutepunk.net. I was totally surprised by this band when they opened for the Get Up Kids in June. I was pissed about the openers being bands I didn’t know because some of the shows were being opened by bands like Straylight Run. It turns out that John Ralston is better than Straylight Run, so I quickly changed my mood from pissed to entertained. The album is very catchy, the songs Gone, Gone, Gone and When We Are Cats are exceptionally good. Oh, this guy is unsigned so get the cd from cdbaby.com.

#13 Panic! at the Disco

2005-12-20T20:01:00.000-05:00

This band came out of nowhere. They hadn’t even toured when they released this album. Although they draw many comparisons to Fall Out Boy, they definitely have a uniqueness with the addition of synth and often better lyrics that the new Fall Out Boy record. This album will put you in a good mood and have you dancing in no time. I remember having a demo sent to me of one of the songs long before the album was released and I just listened once and forgot about it. Once I had versions of the songs with synth, I was excited for this release. It also managed to stay off the internet until the Friday before release which is very impressive.

#14 Say Anything - Vs. Aids Demos/...Was A Real Boy

2005-12-18T23:56:00.000-05:00

This wasn’t even a real release but I don’t care. I had one of the demos for awhile and really liked it even though the quality was awful. Then I got the rest of the demos and despite the horrible quality, I would listen to them all the time just because it was something new from a great band. Finally, some of them were re-recorded for the reissue of “Is a Real Boy” called “Was a Real Boy”. The songs are all a step forward for the band and make me excited for the next release and almost make up for them canceling the show this summer. Now if only Max could get into a better mental state and write the new album.

#15 Gym Class Heroes - The Papercut Chronicles

2005-12-17T23:57:00.000-05:00

I saw these guys open for Fall Out Boy twice. The first time I had no idea who they were and was totally not expecting a rap act that uses instruments. They pull it off very well. The lyrics are actually somewhat intelligent which is a breath of fresh air in the rap department (thanks also to Kanye West). It is also nice to listen to a “rap” album that doesn’t have skits every other song. This album uses a tight rhythm section, a talented guitarist and an intelligent and gifted lyricist to create something unique.

#16 Mae - The Everglow

2005-12-17T11:59:00.000-05:00

This album mixes piano and pop rock very well. The songs range from catchy pop songs to slow, sometimes sad piano driven songs. The best part of the album is that all of these songs are mixed together and all seem to have a sense of hope attached to them. The concept of the album being like a book combined with the artwork that resembles a book is great also.

#17 Jack's Mannequin - Everything In Transit

2005-12-16T18:37:00.000-05:00

This was a great summer album. Andrew wrote this song as a soundtrack to his life, and I think that was a great idea and it definitely shows in the lyrics. This is just a fun album that puts me in a good mood.

#18 Fiona Apple - Extraordinary Machine

2005-12-15T07:27:00.000-05:00

This album was a long time coming. The hype was built up by the supposed shelving of the album by Sony although this was actually just because Fiona was not happy with the album. I don’t know what was wrong with the original version, but the final version isn’t that much different. Fiona always puts me in a certain mood that I can’t describe, but I like it.

#19 Death Cab for Cutie - Plans

2005-12-15T07:25:00.000-05:00

A somewhat disappointing release but still a solid album by one of my favorite song writers. I didn’t really get into Death Cab until the summer of 2004; I picked up Transatlanticism on a whim and loved it. This album is not quite as good as some of their previous albums but it shows that they are not going to change their sound just because they are on a major label. There are many beautiful songs on this record such as Summer Skin and Soul Meets Body. It is the type of album that I love to listen to in the car or at work to relax when I’m a little stressed. Ben Gibbard continues to write great songs which is enough to make me happy until the next release.

#20 Bayside

2005-12-13T20:38:00.000-05:00

The first time I listened to this album was at work and as soon as “Devotion and Desire” hit my ears I was blown away and immediately stopped doing my work. There is so much emotion in the lyrics and the music fits this perfectly. I was lucky enough to see them play this fall before their drummer was killed in a van accident on the way to a show. The band continued to tour as an acoustic act for the rest of the tour; this shows me that the band has a lot of courage and I greatly respect them. The lyrics are somewhat dark and honest as they were on the last album, which I think is a great change from some of the bands I listen to. I hope that the band can find a new drummer and continue to write great music. I would recommend this band to anyone that likes Alkaline Trio, the vocals are very similar.

#21 Veda - The Weight of an Empty Room

2005-12-12T20:47:00.000-05:00

My God this girl has got an amazing voice. I first heard their EP on their record label’s site. When the full length was released, I immediately fell in love with Kristen’s voice all over again. Her voice is so overpowering that Thrice couldn't find a way to put her in a song on their new album without her voice taking over the song. It’s one of those albums that you put on and just get lost and then all of a sudden it is over and you want to do it all again. I highly recommend giving this band a chance, especially if you like female vocalists.

#22 Bright Eyes - Digital Ash in a Digital Urn/I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning

2005-12-11T16:12:00.000-05:00

Until these albums were released, I was not much of a Bright Eyes fan. I had trouble enjoying Conor Oberst’s voice, but with these releases I was able to get used to it. There is a reason I have listed them as one album. First of all, they were released on the same day and could very well be a double album that has one side of acoustic music and one side of more electronic rock. The main reason is that I started listening to Digital Ash and didn’t pay much attention to Wide Awake; Digital Urn seemed to suit me more at the time. Recently I have started listening to Wide Awake more often. It’s a mix of singer songwriter type music and country if country was good. Although I don’t agree with most of the political aspects of the album, they are not so overwhelming that I can not enjoy the album. I would recommend the songs “Easy, Lucky, Free” and “Lua” as starting points for each album.

#23 Acceptance - Phantoms

2005-12-11T15:54:00.000-05:00

Everyone should buy this album. It’s a great mix of catchy rock and emo. You should have heard of this band but you probably haven’t. The unmastered version of the album leaked very early (like months and months ahead of time). The combination of this and poor marketing by Columbia records (they picked horrible singles) has not helped this album’s sales at all. This really is one of the catchiest albums of the year.

Album #24 The Spill Canvas - One Fell Swoop

2005-12-08T23:42:00.000-05:00

I was someone excited for this album but did not want to get my hopes up because their first album was hit or miss. Although this album does not deliver a track as stellar as “the tide,” I feel that is a much more solid album. I must have listened to this for a week straight at work. A lot of the songs seem to describe situations I was going through or had been through, so that was an added bonus. Although the lyrics can seem a bit cheesy at times, overall they are very well written and seem to come from the heart.

And so begins the countdown......

2005-12-08T18:10:00.001-05:00

Album #25: Millencolin – Kingwood

I’ve been a Millencolin fan for awhile now, but I think I got this album more for Steve and JP, so I didn’t listen to it that much at first because I knew they would be playing it constantly. Once summer rolled around I started listening to it a lot and then saw them at warped tour and was blown away. Then I saw their video and was also blown away. This is a great pop punk record that everyone should give a listen.

Top Ten Songs of All Time

2005-12-03T21:14:00.000-05:00

This is subject to change, but this is it as of this second:

10. Pearl Jam - Yellow Ledbetter
9. Red Hot Chili Peppers - Breaking the Girl
8. Weezer - Say It Ain't So
7. Green Day - She
6. Elliott Smith - Bled White
5. Otis Redding - (Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay
4. Brand New - Jaws Theme Swimming
3. The Get Up Kids - Walking on a Wire
2. The Clash - Spanish Bombs
1. Sublime - Badfish