TOP 5 EP's OF 2009
5. Straighten Things Out-I Think We Better Split Up
I've been a big fanboy of these guys since I got into them the summer before my senior year of high school. Their song "My Daily Wreck" ruled my Summer of 06. What was great about this EP is that I didn't get sick of it because, well...it was only 5 songs. Their previous effort was 10+ songs of super fast skate punk and while yes, I LOVE that, they didn't change up song structure enough to keep me interested. This EP gives you a slow, mid-paced, and of course, fast melodic skate punk. Favorite song: Call This Song As You Wish
4. Transit-Stay Home
While yes, I did enjoy Mutiny! by Set Your Goals, I never really took it seriously. This whole super positive pop punk/hardcore seems to be making a little push these days and I really can't think of a band doing it better than Transit. I had only heard 1 or 2 songs by Transit prior to listening to this and this EP is a great representation of their sound and what is to come of the band. I couldn't be more excited for the full length.Favorite Song: Stay Home
3. The Lawrence Arms-Butt Sweat and Tears
The Lawrence Arms have been around for a long time and I've for some reason neglected them. I had a couple of their albums in mid/late high school but seemed to be turned off by the vocals. That's youth? Well I listened to The Greatest Story Ever Told in August/Septemeber and it went down as one of my all time favorite albums SO as a result of that, I was heavily anticipating their EP. It seems to pick up right where it left off with TGET. From what I've heard, The Lawrence Arms have this great way of structuring their work. It's like everything comes full circle in the end. In a way, even though it's only 5 songs, you feel so completely satisfied and complete with the EP because with just the 5 songs they put out, you feel like you listened to a full length. Favorite Song: Them Angels Be Talkin'
2. Menzingers-Hold On Dodge
People on the Org went fucking nuts when this came out back in June. I was stuck in a big Descendents phase and had no more room in my rotation so I didn't end up getting this until a month ago. Incredible. Very fun, anthemic, pop punk with some gruff vocals. Not that any of the other bands listed don't describe this, but listening to the Menzingers is what kind of defines my love of punk rock. Sing along hooks, passionate vocals, and simple melodies that stay stuck in your head for weeks. I can't wait till I'm arm and arm with a complete stranger screaming my lungs out to Sunday Morning or Kentucky Gentlemen.Favorite Song: Sunday Morning
1. A Wilhelm Scream-A Wilhelm Scream
It's not every day where you hear something so good that it makes you...angry. A Wilhelm Scream has made an impact on my life that's hard for even ME to fully comprehend. From start to finish, this EP absolutely rips. Fun Time is one of my particular favorites on the EP. Why? Well with Career Suicide being nothing but a "lets make this as fast as possible" album, we lost that 1 maybe 2 slow songs that they would throw onto their albums. Fun Time is no life changing song, but it's got a chorus that will have you singing for days. Even with the addition of Mike Suppina's shredding skills, Trevor is still very present with his melodic tapping in most of the EP. Bri is defying the laws of punk rock bass players once again, Nuno's vocals are as good as they've ever been, and the drummer(who seems to go un noticed for as amazing as he is) sounds better than he ever has. Favorite Song: Skid Rock
TOP 5 FULL LENGTHS OF 2009
5. David Bazan-Curse Your Branches
My love for Pedro the Lion and David Bazan has been expressed many times on this blog. His story telling lyrics and great vocal range made me fall in love with him once again. While I don't particularly like the happier songs, the flow of the album can not be denied. Possibly the best part of it is how it ends with such a chilling vibe. It leaves you with your breath still held and I think it's the little things like that that make albums art.Favorite Song: Curse Your Branches
4. Heartsounds-Until We Surrender
Yet another band that I took time to thoroughly discuss on this blog some time ago. Heartsounds came about earlier this year and got nothing but great responses. It seemed like they were just a huge sigh of relief with all the folk punk singers or org core bands coming out non stop. Very melodic skate punk with awesome guy/girl duo vocals. I think after first listen you might say that all the songs sounds the same, but if given time, you can see that each song has it's own identity. They have a great way of switching up tempos and spreading out the vocals well and had this come out earlier this decade, I'm sure it would be looked at as one of the classic skate punk albums of the era.Favorite Song: Slave To A Heart That Strays
3. Strike Anywhere-Iront Front
Strike Anywhere is my best friends 2nd or 3rd favorite band so it's always been kind of HIS band that I've just casually listened to. I've really enjoyed some of their songs in the past, but never got too into any of their full lengths. Well finally, they have won me over with Iron Front. My thought on their albums were much the same of my thoughts on Good Riddance albums. Good songs, not so good album. I felt that this release was just so in your face that it forced you to pay attention to listen to each and every single song. Funny thing is that I know of a few Strike Anywhere fans that completely disagree with me. To each their own, right?Favorite Song: I'm Your Opposite Number
2. Thrice-Beggars
It's hard to start with how long and deep my relationship with Thrice has been. Not once have they released the same album and not once has it been a bad change. But I believe of all the changes, this was the most drastic. The guitars sound so raw and a lot less slick than anything they've done before. Songs seem to be more bass dependent rather than guitar. Dustins voice needs no explanation. He's been hitting any note he desired for a long time now. I told myself when it leaked in July that I would hold out till October to listen to it so I would get the classic "Thrice in the fall" effect and that's exactly what I got. The album flows beautifully and has about a handful of songs that I could understand anyone to label their favorite song.Favorite Song: Circles
1. Propagandhi-Supporting Caste
While I've never been a huge fan, Propagandhi is and has been one of the most important bands in punk rock since the 90's. My history with them is a lot like Strike Anywhere except I never really got a chance to thoroughly listen to their albums. So when I heard they were coming out with a new album, I was just interested rather than out of my mind excited. Well after seeing the org and my friends rave like I've never seen rave about an album, I knew I had to listen to it. I can personally guarantee you that the first two songs of this album will have your jaw dropped the entire time. My jaw was dropped for a number of reasons. Some of it was the low tuned, thrashy, melodic guitars. Some of it was Todd and Chris harmonizing together. But I think what made my jaw drop so much was the fact that the last album of Propagandhi I had listened to was Today's Empires, Tomorrow's Ashes. The difference between the two albums are significantly different and I just didn't see the intensity of Night Letters and Supporting Caste coming at me. They're so pissed! The intensity. The seriousness! Of all the albums I listened to this semester, this was the one that stayed in my rotation the longest. I knew when I listened to it that it would easily be the best thing released this year and I was correct. Nearly every song on the album is just mind blowing and I don't care if fucking Maroon 5 is your favorite band, you need to give this a listen. One of the great things about legendary bands like Propagandhi releasing new work is that you know fans all over the world will be listening to it at the same time as you. And knowing that I got to enjoy this classic along with the millions of their fans all over the world is pretty amazing.Favorite Song: Potemkin City Limits
TOP 10 FULL LENGTHS THAT I JUST LISTENED TO THIS YEAR
1. The Descendents-I Don't Want To Grow Up
2. The Lawrence Arms-The Greatest Story Ever Told
3. Joey Cape-Home
4. The Descendents-Everything Sucks
5. Alkaline Trio-God Dammit
6. The Descendents-Cool To Be You
7. Hot Water Music-Caution
8. Broadway Calls-Broadway Calls
9. The Descendents-Milo Goes To College
10. Rehasher-Off Key Melodies
TOP 15 SONGS RELEASED THIS YEAR
1. Hit The Switch-The Everfading Afterglow
2. The Menzingers-Sunday Morning
3. Thrice-Circles
4. Propagandhi-Potemkin City Limits
4a. A Wilhelm Scream-Skid Rock
5. Thrice-In Exile
6. Polar Bear Club-One Hit Back
7. Heartsounds-Slave To A Heart That Strays
8. Heartsounds-Our Last Hope
9. Hit The Switch-Last Light
10. Thrice-Beggars
11. Propagandhi-Supporting Caste
12. Propagandhi-Night Letters
13. A Wilhelm Scream-Fun Time
14. Strike Anywhere-I'm Your Opposite Number
15. Transit-Stay Home
TOP 15 SONGS RELEASED NOT THIS YEAR:
1. Smoking Popes-Megan
2. The Lawrence Arms-The Ramblin Boys Of Pleasure
3. Descendents-In Love This Way
4. Hot Water Music-You Can Take The Boy Out Of Bradenton
5. Hot Water Music-Wayfarer
6. Joey Cape-Who We've Become
7. Descendents-Silly Girll
8. Smoke Or Fire-Culture As Given
9. The Lawrence Arms-The Revisionist
10. The Lawrence Arms-On With The Show
11. Alkaline Trio-Cringe
12. Rehasher-Sinking
13. Descendents-Suburban Home
14. Descendents-Sick Of Me
15. Broadway Calls-Bad Intentions
This was tough. Most of the list could easily change after #2 or #3. I left out a lot of Strike Anywhere, Propagandhi, Swellers, Lawrences Arms, Broadway Calls. I feel like this list makes it seem as if I don't care about such songs as San Francisco or Back To Oregon, or Chapter 13 etc etc.
Band/Album of the year goes to...
The Descendents-I Don't Want To Grow Up
Christmas 08 was some up and down times for me. I was getting over a disaster of a relationship and stressing about auditioning to schools. But on Christmas, my older brother Roy decided to get me "Everything Sucks" by the Descendents. When I opened it the gift, I just kind of laughed to myself and thought, "Really? Everything Sucks? Thank you for reminding me, life." Everything Sucks is considered to be one of the most important albums of the 90's and I could completely understand why. It's incredible. I had always known the Descendents were a huge influence on the 90's(even still today) but I had never taken the time to listen to them. Seems to be an on-going problem with me, huh? After falling completely in love with Everything Sucks, I knew that I had to explore more of their music. It was around early summer when I got I Don't Want To Grow Up. At first listen, I struggled to enjoy it due to the poor quality. But once I got past it, I saw what all the hype was about. This album is filled with instant classics that will never be forgotten in punk rock. The poor quality of recording makes the emotion of this album come out just so much more. The A side is filled with tons of immature/frustrated songs while the B side is filled with tons of heart breaking love songs and comes off just...amazing. I'm actually finding it quite difficult to explain. You just really need to listen to it. Along with I Don't Want To Grow Up, I listened to Milo Goes To College and Cool To Be You. Leaving just about 2 more of their albums I need to listen to. So obviously, they were in my rotation most of the year. The Descendents are now one of my all time favorite bands and have had an extremely huge impact on my life. They are one of the most legendary bands of all time for punk music and I Don't Want To Grow Up is one of the albums that I think will be looked at as one of the most important albums in all of punk rock.
Favorite Song: In Love This Way, Silly Girl
So with that all that said, it's time to say goodbye to 2009. The first seconds of 2009 was me taking shots with all my best friends and right after, I remember saying to my friends that this year would be different and that there would be some major changes for me. It's been the best year of my life. This picture is actually a pretty sweet representation of how I lived life through 2009 because it kind of looks like there SHOULD be someone to the left of me because there's so much space. But that's what makes it great. I didn't need anybody. I didn't have anyone holding me down anymore. I lived my life how I wanted. From getting over a girl, auditioning/partying in Austin/College Station/Houston, sneaking into Texas Stadium with Julia and running around the most legendary football field of all time, flying to Baltimore, Providence and New York City to audition, getting into 3/4 schools I auditioned to, getting 1st place in the ensemble competition in Brownsville and the intense practices that came along with it, essentially saying "fuck you" to Mr. Hii, playing guitar at the open mic at Starbucks, going up to Austin just to party, the shows I got to see, the albums that were released, partying with Andy and that whole crowd non stop, really just the massive massive massive massive increase in partying was a great time. Then the summer was great with the parties(getting old. I know), filming the short movie, playing the cover show, hanging out with different girls(hadn't done it in years). Finally saying goodbye to Corpus was weird but I completely embraced it. My times in San Francisco are times that can't be replaced. Living on my own, the PARTIES, the new crowd of great friends I made, Teeya, going to a music conservatory, finally being around people that are as passionate about music as me. Then coming back home to an awesome number of loving friends and family was fantastic. It was hard to be upset in 2009. Really, my biggest problem was trying to find a way to get a certain girl to stop wanting to hang out with me. THAT'S IT. I will be spending my last moments of 2009 with the friends that I've loved for so long and it will be absolutely beautiful to once again, for the I don't know how many years it's been now, to bring in the new year with all them. It's going to be hard to top 2009, but I will approach it with the highest hopes that I can top it. So thank you to everyone helped this be the best year of my life. Even if you had no idea you were doing it for me.
-Raziel
