Lets get to the music.
Albums 15 - 1.
15. Fucked Up “Couple Tracks”
I listened to Fucked Up’s The Chemistry of Modern Life a lot at the beginning of this year and when I found out that they released a collection of rare tracks from 7” and 12” vinyl from 2002 to 2009 I knew picking this album up was a great way to get to know the bands earlier works. This is fantastic album for new and old fans of Fucked Up. Year of the Ox EP is also a great album that came out this September.
14. Acid Tiger “Self Titled”
Another one of the bands found off Deathwise Inc., Acid Tiger, is a hardcore super group of sorts featuring members of United Nations (among other accolades). They’ve been described as a progressive rock/punk hybrid, which is true, but they are completely unique in the same breath. The seven track album has powerful and expedient rock/punk/hardcore songs but with track like Big Beat and Feel it stretch the bands progressive range while the diamond on this record is easily the nine-ish minute political and environmentally relevant Death Wave. I hope to hear more from this mash-up of talent.
13. Murder by Death “Good Morning, Magpie”
Murder by Death’s Red of Tooth and Claw ruled the roost last year when it came to a non metal or hardcore album that I played the most. Saying I was excited for their follow up would be an understatement. I’m definitely not disappointed with Good Morning Magpie but it isn’t the bands strongest effort, but it doesn’t really need to be. A solid album and even if I could skip a few tracks there is still about half the album that I love.
12. United Nations “Never Mind the Bombing, Here’s Your Six Figures”
This is the album that started my love affair with Deathwish Inc. I’ve been a huge fan of United Nations since their self titled release back in 2008 and once I found out the band was releasing a four song vinyl EP I had to find it, which led to me finding Deathwish Inc. and about six other new bands. United Nations’ Never Mind the Bombing, Here’s Your Six Figures is a gigantic work in a small package. Four powerful songs that demand to be listed to multiple times, but that’s okay. There are only four songs and worth every listen.
11. Johnny Cash “America VI: Ain’t No Grave”
Being raised on Johnny Cash his passing was a dark day in my family. Picking up some of the American recordings at the beginning of this year was a sad moment knowing I was completing the last of the work from the man in black. Then when Valentines Day came and my awesome girlfriend preordered America VI for me it was a very bitter sweet moment. A fantastic moment of new Cash but the final blow of knowing that this album was truly Johnny Cash’s last new work. A haunting album that is hard to listen to because of the lingering weight of his passing yet equally poetic and magical. Country Album of the Year.
10. High on Fire “Snakes of the Divine”
Three years after Death is This Communion the fiery three-piece from Oakland California create an album that can transport you to the early days of metal and still trample new ground. In the times of what ever trending genre mash-up it’s nice to see a real metal band kick as much ass as these guys.
09. The Roots “How I Got Over”
The greatest band in late night returns to form with a hip-hop masterpiece. Critically hailed as the groups best work too date How I Got Over feels like the closing of one chapter and a new chapter beginning for The Roots. To me Things Fall Apart is still the greatest Roots album but How I Got Over is right on it’s tail. Hip-Hop Album of the Year.
08. End of a Year “You are Beneath Me”
Once again a band off Deathwish Inc. enters the countdown. End of a Year is one of those amazing bands that break every mold and label. Being able to blend in with punk and hardcore and still stand out like a flashlight in a dark room End of a Year are truly a monster of their own creation. Just listen to them. Any more descriptions by me will ruin their good name more than I’ve already done.
07. Coliseum “House with a Curse”
If High on Fire brings thrash, doom and stoner metal to an era not representing those styles then the same can be said for what Coliseum does for puck and hardcore. The raw feeling of recording an album live and with art and breath has been lost on this age of Pro Tools. It’s great to still hear a band plug in and lay down raw aggressive yet polished work that will sound just as good live as it does in your car.
06. The Chariot “Long Live”
We call them The Chariot. The Chariot bring a flavor and an experience all their own to their work and to the stage. From the cover art to the liner notes and even taking the CD out the images of The Chariot live feel like and experience of not-so organized chaos yet there is a beauty to the madness. Long Live is the album that all future Chariot albums will be judge against.
05. The Dillinger Escape Plan “Option Paralysis”
The Dillinger Escape Plan has always amazed me how they could switch from machine gun fire guitar assaults to ambient and melodic moments of grace. From the opening of the album with Farewell, Mona Lisa’s punishing the listeners as well as the band and then Widower growing the range of this unique hardcore juggernaut. Their best work to date. Album art of the year. Special die cut flaps overlapping take you on a journey to the album just like the album itself. One of the many reason physical art is still better than digital media…at least to me. Album art of the Year.
04. Daughters “Daughters”
The best way to describe Daughters is: manic and melody. It is rare a band can make something sounds so frantic on the surface and hid melody beneath it. Sound as if everyone is playing something different yet blending together perfectly. It’s like a great chef tasting a dish as a whole and still being able to pick out the ingredients. Daughter is still a young band releasing only their third full length album and with some lineup changes I hope they come back soon.
03. The Black Keys “Brothers”
It’s been six years since discovering The Black Keys one night trolling the onDemand music video selection. Six years since watching 10 A.M. Automatic off the Rubber Factory album. Brothers feels much like a collection of tracks (well, that’s obviously what an album is) and less like an album going into one direction, sound or idea. It is safe to say that a long time fan of the Black Keys will find portions of this album that sound similar to their previous works plus new sounds that the two piece have yet to previously make. It’s a bit bitter sweet knowing that this is the album that thrust the Black Keys into mainstream stardom and knowing that some uptight yuppie can add some cherry picked collection of Keys tracks to their 2010 jams mix. But, what ever. Brothers is a fantastic album and should be enjoyed by old and new fans alike.
02. Norma Jean “Meridional”
Winning the album of the year award (from me) in 2008 Norma Jeans vs. the Anti Mother was an epic effort from the band while redefining the bands sound without losing anything that makes Norma Jean the aggressive band of a generation. I was excited for their follow-up Meridional but a bit worried that it would fall flat for some reason. I was proven completely wrong. Meridional takes what was laid down with vs. the Anti Mother and pushes further. Leaving behind the guest appearances that were prominent (although fantastic) on Anti Mother Norma Jean is the focus of this album and again create a long lasting piece of art and their next greatest album. Metal Album of the Year.
01. Deftones “Diamond Eyes”
It’s no lie that the Deftones is my favorite band so it might be easy to assume that I would naturally give them the number one spot automatically. If you think that; you’re wrong. The Deftones self titled fourth album and the follow-up Saturday Night Wrist were slouch albums by no means but they definitely showed a band lost between the old and a new direction. Turning into a band where each member would record their own parts to the puzzle without any real cohesion the Deftones probably wouldn’t have lasted too much longer. Then with the tragic accident of bass player Chi the likelihood of the band seems even bleaker. Yet the band persevered and shelved their completed sixed album Eros in respect for their friend, band mate and brother Chi and recorded a completely new album. I don’t know if it was the shared tragedy of Chi bringing the band back together and tighter than ever or just the natural progression of their style but Diamond Eyes is the bands best work since Around the Fur. Diamond Eyes has a way of transporting the old fans back to the era of Adrenaline and Around the Fur and also to new unexplored areas. The band hasn’t been this tight and energetic in years and I hope they keep it up and Chi recovers soon. Seeing these guys perform live in Grand Rapids at the Orbit Room and sharing that moment with my lovely fiancée, who got us the tickets, was easily one of my greatest concert experiences. Album of the Year.
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