Anyway, here's my list of the 10 best albums from the past year. You can now replace whatever shit you've been listening to previously, listen to strictly this list, and tell your ears they're welcome.
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10
Shook Ones - The Unquotable A.M.H.
This melodic hardcore band known previously as more or less a Kid Dynamite tribute band finally branched their sound out with this release, and the result was fantastic. Blistering fast, angry punk, with a pop sensibility not usually found in hardcore.
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9
Chuck Ragan - Gold Country
For his sophomore full length, Mr. Ragan took his brand of roots country/folk with a punk rock energy to new lengths. He branched his sound to encompass much more country and bluegrass this time around. While each song displays one of a wide array of sounds, each is truly catchy and helps makes this album his most accessible and cohesive.
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8
Green Day - 21st Century Breakdown
What can I possibly say about this you don't already know? It's not their best, but it's still Green Day and unlike a few other bands (ahem, Weezer), that still counts for something. Musically it's better than American Idiot. Lyrically, about the same, maybe slightly worse. Again, it's not Warning or anything they did from the 90s, but it's Green Day. Count it.
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7
Propagandhi - Supporting Caste
Propagandhi release their first album in years and it ends up being the perfect combination of everything this band is good at: insane hardcore, brilliantly witty and intelligent lyrics, and Chris Hannah's fantastic vocals. They also upped the melody on this, which is a nice touch.
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6
Strike Anywhere - Iron Front
This is Strike Anywhere's best album, by far. It's a perfect mix of fast punk, catchy melodies, and anthemic sing-a-longs.
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5
Frank Turner - Poetry of the Deed
I was a little late getting into Frank Turner, so this album blew me away. It's folk/country with a punk energy and fantastic melodies. You'll want to sing along with every song here.
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4
Fake Problems - It's Great To Be Alive
Fake Problems started as a folk-punk band, and a damn good one at that. With It's Great To Be Alive, they've added some indie and even some disco. At times this sounds like Modest Mouse meets Against Me!, meets...something dance-y. It's weird as fuck, but it works. It works really well. Truly an album with something for everyone.
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3
Bomb The Music Industry! - Scrambles
Bomb The Music Industry! is a music "collective" featuring one man, Jeff Rosenstock, and a rotating group of his friends and fellow musicians who contribute when needed. It's punk, it's ska, it's electronica, it's acoustic, but above all else, it's insanely good. Hands down the best lyricist in music right now, Rosenstock's writing is equal parts witty, cynical, critical, and hilarious. The music is at times downright strange, but it's always infectious and catchy. Besides the fact that any of these songs are deserving of your hard-earned cash, Rosenstock gives all his music away for free download via Quote Unquote Records, asking for donations where you see fit. But buy the CD from Asian Man Records. He deserves it.
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2
Nothington - Roads, Bridges and Ruins
Nothington's debut, All In, was one of my favorite albums of 2007. It was a great mix of punk and southern rock. With this album, they've toned down the southern rock, but the songwriting, melodies, and vocals are some of the best I've heard in a long time. The first time I listened to this album, I ended up listening to it over and over non-stop for 3 days. All I can hope for in the future with this band is more implementation of dueling vocals in songs, as everyone in this band has a great voice.
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1
The Swellers - Ups and Downsizing
It's truly been amazing watching what this band has accomplished in their first 7 years of existence. From tiny shows while we were all still in high school, to signing a major recording contract and touring with one of the biggest bands in the world, I'm so proud of them. With this album, they've proven what all the fuss is about. Not since Green Day's Dookie in 1994 has an album been this refreshing. This is the call to arms for the new generation of pop-punk. I'm saying it now, The Swellers are the future of rock and roll. They're the hardest-working and nicest people in music, and they also happen to have the best songs.
All the album covers were captured from the nice people at Punknews.Org, the only place you should get your music news.
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