Top 10 Countdown: December 29, 2018

10. Hawthorne Heights - Crimson Sand
Last week: NEW!


9. Waterparks - Peach (Lobotomy)
Last week: 5.


8. Seaway - Blur
Last week: 9.


7. Real Friends - Me First
Last week: NEW!


6. Good Charlotte - Self-Help
Last week: 8.


5. Sleep On It - Disconnected
Last week: 6.


4. The Story So Far - Upside Down
Last week: 4.


3. Roam - The Rich Life Of A Poor Man
Last week: 3.


2. Panic! At The Disco - High Hopes
Last week: 1.


1. Neck Deep - Torn
Last week: 2.

Special: Top 10 Boxing Day Songs

So yeah, Boxing Day fell on Wednesday this year! So obviously I needed to count down the top 10 Boxing Day songs (spoiler alert: there isn't many). For our American friends that don't know what Boxing Day is. It's December 26th, it's a major shopping holiday in most countries where you blow through all the Christmas money/gift cards you were given and stores have a bunch of sales (think of it like Black Friday without the death toll). Anyways on to the list!

10. Car Seat Headrest - Boxing Day


9. Frightened Rabbit - Boxing Night


8. Courtney Barnett - Boxing Day Blues


7. SonReal - Shit's Epic Part 2


6. Elvis Costello - TKO (Boxing Day)


5. Frank Turner & Jon Snodgrass - Happy New Year


4. Reel Big Fish - Whatever U Celebrate


3. blink-182 - Boxing Day


2. Good Riddance - Boxing Day


1. Relient K - Boxing Day

Top 10 Countdown: December 22, 2018

10. Reel Big Fish - You Can't Have All Of Me
Last week: 10.


9. Seaway - Blur
Last week: NEW!


8. Good Charlotte - Self-Help
Last week: 9.


7. Seaway - Just What I Needed
Last week: 7.


6. Sleep On It - Disconnected
Last week: 8.


5. Waterparks - Peach (Lobotomy)
Last week: 1.


4. The Story So Far - Upside Down
Last week: 5.


3. Roam - The Rich Life Of A Poor Man
Last week: 4.


2. Neck Deep - Torn
Last week: 3.


1. Panic! At The Disco - High Hopes
Last week: 2.

Special: 2018 Christmas CD GREATEST HITS!

What's up everyone, it's almost Christmas which means it's time for another installment of my Christmas CD series called "What's A Partridge? What's A Pear Tree?" Last year saw the 10th volume get released which means it makes perfect sense to make the 2018 compilation a Greatest Hits CD. Me and my future wife Tawnya each picked one song from all 10 releases to go on this compilation, my picks are in blue and hers are in pink. If you need a reminder of all past releases then you're in luck click HERE to see past years tracklisting and download links. Anyways here's the yearly: I do not claim any ownership to any of the music listed below.

What's A Partridge? What's A Pear Tree? Greatest Hits Volume 1

1. Anberlin - Baby Please Come Home
2. From The Top - Hot Chocolate Stains And Candy Canes
3. All Time Low - Fool's Holiday
4. A Change Of Pace - Christmas On The Coast
5. Plain White T's - Christmas Won't Be The Same Without You
6. Sunrise Skater Kids - 12 Days Of A Pop Punk Christmas
7. These Kids Wear Crowns Ft. Vital - You're My Mrs. Claus
8. Artist Vs. Poet - Airplanes And Candy Canes
9. Man Overboard - Decemberism
10. Unwritten Law Ft. Sum 41 - Unwritten Christmas
11. The Matches - December Is For Cynics
12. Relient K - Santa Claus Is Thumbing To Town
13. Divided By Friday - All I Want For Christmas Is You
14. The Summer Set - Love By Our Side
15. Bayside - Angels We Have Heard On High
16. Suckerpunch - This December
17. fun. - Sleigh Ride
18. All These Lights - Christmas Wish
19. Hawk Nelson - Up On The Housetop
20. Good Charlotte - Last Christmas

LINK

Top 10 Countdown: December 15, 2018

10. Reel Big Fish - You Can't Have All Of Me
Last week: NEW!


9. Good Charlotte - Self-Help
Last week: NEW!


8. Sleep On It - Disconnected
Last week: 9.


7. Seaway - Just What I Needed
Last week: 8.


6. Against The Current - Voices
Last week: 6.


5. The Story So Far - Upside Down
Last week: 5.


4. Roam - The Rich Life Of A Poor Man
Last week: 4.


3. Neck Deep - Torn
Last week: 3.


2. Panic! At The Disco - High Hopes
Last week: 2.


1. Waterparks - Peach (Lobotomy)
Last week: 1.

Special: Top 10 2018 Christmas Themed Funko POP's

Hey everybody a few years ago I counted down the top 10 Christmas Themed Funko POP's (which you can find HERE). This year Funko has released so many Christmas Funko POP's I figured it deserved a list of it's own so here it goes based solely on my opinion.

10. Betty Boop & Pudgey

Kicking off the list is one of a few 12 Days of Christmas items from the Funko Shop. This one is actually still available if you're liking it. I almost didn't include it on this list, only because I was concerned it wasn't "Christmassy" enough since a lot of the items part of this promotion weren't but unlike Batman, Betty actually appears to be wearing elf attire instead of just being red.

9. Mr. Hankey

Yeah yeah I know. It's a piece of poo with a Santa hat, a mouth and eyes. But GD Mr. Hankey is a Christmas legend at this point and he deserves a place on this list.

8. Merry Marauder

This angry gingerbread man from a pretty popular game, as I understand it, called Fortnite is yet another common that you can grab and last time I checked gingerbread is very Christmassy.

7. Spongebob Squarepants

This is a better design than the original Spongebob POP however it's not perfect... I just think he's likely a character that just will never look amazing in POP form. However his Santa hat AND present is enough to get him on this list.

6. C-3PO

This is basically the normal mold wearing a Santa suit except he's actually holding the beard! Nice touch Funko and well played.

5. Buddy The Elf with Raccoon

Another 12 Days of Christmas special, this one is actually still on the Funko Shop so you can still grab it! I'm an Elf fan so this is a must have for me, will hopefully grab it later on when I have some money to spend on it since it's the iconic moment when Buddy asks if the raccoon needs a hug just for it to lunge angrily at his throat.

4. Spider-Man

Ugly Christmas sweaters are all the rage... Even Spidey is jumping on the trend. As you've seen and will continue to see I don't mind the laziness of slapping a sweater on a different mold as long as it's cool and the detail on this sweater definitely fits that description.

3. Christmas Wishes Bear

Top 3 time! I realize this is mostly a repaint but the added stocking adds a lot nevermind the hat and scarf. This is totally deserving of a top 3 spot.

2. Chewbacca

I know this seems pretty lazy for number two but c'mon Chewbacca is so angry that he's tied up in lights... He's even pulling them away. A lot more work went into this sculpt than a quick glance and I for once love it.

1. Patrick Star

This wins out for just being such a better sculpt than the original Patrick and also adding the winter flare of the scarf and candy cane.

Top 10 Countdown: December 8, 2018

10. You Me At Six - Back Again
Last week: 10.


9. Sleep On It - Disconnected
Last week: NEW!


8. Seaway - Just What I Needed
Last week: 9.


7. New Found Glory - Barbed Wire
Last week: 1.


6. Against The Current - Voices
Last week: 7.


5. The Story So Far - Upside Down
Last week: 6.


4. Roam - The Rich Life Of A Poor Man
Last week: 5.


3. Neck Deep - Torn
Last week: 4.


2. Panic! At The Disco - High Hopes
Last week: 3.


1. Waterparks - Peach (Lobotomy)
Last week: 2.

Top 10 Countdown: December 1, 2018

10. You Me At Six - Back Again
Last week: NEW!


9. Seaway - Just What I Needed
Last week: 10.


8. With Confidence - Moving Boxes
Last week: 2.


7. Against The Current - Voices
Last week: 9.


6. The Story So Far - Upside Down
Last week: 8.


5. Roam - The Rich Life Of A Poor Man
Last week: 7.


4. Neck Deep - Torn
Last week: 5.


3. Panic! At The Disco - High Hopes
Last week: 4.


2. Waterparks - Peach (Lobotomy)
Last week: 3.


1. New Found Glory - Barbed Wire
Last week: 1.

Special: 2019 Baseball Hall of Fame

It's time for the baseball hall of fame ballots to go out so I've decided to share with you my ballot... Well my ballot if I actually got one. First off some background. To be on you need to have spent 10 years in the major leagues and have been retired for at least the last 5. Once your name is included on the ballot you need to keep at least 5% of the vote to continue on the next year up to a total of 10 years before you drop off.

So in saying that there are 35 players on the ballot this year, the vast majority will drop off after their first year so lets weed those out right away as they are not worth talking about in this context. Fine careers all of them but just not hall of fame worthy:

Rick Ankiel
Jason Bay
Freddy Garcia
Jon Garland
Travis Hafner
Ted Lilly
Derek Lowe
Darren Oliver
Juan Pierre
Placido Polanco
Vernon Wells
Kevin Youkilis

Other first year candidates:

Lance Berkman
Roy Halladay
Todd Helton
Roy Oswalt
Andy Pettitte
Mariano Rivera
Miguel Tejada
Michael Young

So in this 2nd grouping we see some definite hall of famers. Rivera deserves to be there but a few years ago we saw Trevor Hoffman be left off 1st year ballots because some voters felt "he wasn't a first ballot HOFer" which is ludicrous but I don't expect that to Rivera. He'll get in. Outside of him it's a big question mark though. Halladay and Pettitte will probably get in eventually but on the first ballot? Not likely for Pettitte, it's possible with the late great Halladay departing this world the sympathy will get him in first ballot, which he deserves. Oswalt is the only other pitcher on this list, I think he has a HOF case but it'll likely be a slow build.

How about the franchise cornerstones of Young and Helton? I think there is a possibility Young falls off right away but I think enough people will have a soft spot for him in Texas to keep him on at least 1 year. Helton has a legit HOF shot but as we'll see later people who spent their career in Colorado don't get the respect they deserve and he's also likely looking at an uphill 10 year battle on the ballot. Berkman is another cornerstone, although he did bounce out of Houston at the end of his career. I don't personally think he belongs in the HOF but I wouldn't argue against it. He's close. But with guys like Fred McGriff struggling to get traction I can see Berkman following suit. The last guy is Miguel Tejada. I wanted to highlight him since his offence numbers certainly appear hall worthy but he has steroids hanging over his head and if guys with better numbers can't get in it's likely Tejada falls off after this year.

Now onto the returnees, years on the ballot in parentheses:

Andruw Jones (2)
Scott Rolen (2)
Omar Vizquel (2)
Manny Ramirez (3)
Billy Wagner (4)
Gary Sheffield (5)
Jeff Kent (6)
Mike Mussina (6)
Sammy Sosa (7)
Curt Schilling (7)
Barry Bonds (7)
Roger Clemens (7)
Larry Walker (9)
Fred McGriff (10)
Edgar Martinez (10)

Let's tackle the steroid issue right off the bat. Bonds and Clemons were 2 of the best to ever play the game of baseball. Yes it's obvious they both used roids later on in their careers. But you can make the argument that both had already had HOF worthy careers when their heads grew 10 sizes. The same probably can not be said for other known steroid users Sheffield, Ramirez and Sosa. Until Bonds and Clemons get in (which will happen eventually) the other 3 don't have a chance. There's an argument that the hall should've just given the voters guidelines to follow when it comes to steroid users but once some break through I think that opens up the possibility of other standouts to get through.

Both McGriff and Martinez are looking at their last years on the ballot. Martinez is a slam dunk for election but unfortunately for the Crime Dog, he'll have to hope for better luck from the Vet's committee in the coming years as he'll no doubt fall short. On his penultimate year on the ballot Walker is looking to move up like Martinez did last year setting up a final year election but as mentioned earlier playing in Colorado did him no favours even though he no doubt deserves to be in the hall. That leaves one other position player on the ballot for 3+ years with Jeff Kent. He was one of the best hitting, if not the best, for a decade at the 2nd base position unfortunately his voting seems stalled but he can always hope for a surge in his last few years like Martinez and Walker got.

Only 3 first-timers from last year didn't get elected and got over 5% to move on. All 3 are known for their defense primarily, however surprisingly, the worst hitter among them has the best shot to get in with SS Vizquel, detractors will point to his sub .700 OPS but others point to his longevity and considered one of the best at the hardest position in baseball as reasons to vote him in. I believe all 3 of these guys have HOF resumes but I believe Rolen's speaks the loudest especially compared to other 3B that are already in the hall. He ranks mere percentage points behind Ron Santo in War and ahead of many other hall 3B even if most played in the dead ball era. Jones is a hard one to peg, he really only had 8 great, full seasons... However he was among the top 5 baseball players during those seasons. I think he can get in, but he'll have to campaign and it'll be a long drag out several years.

That leaves us with only a handful of pitchers to look at. I'm a Billy Wagner believer, unfortunately he was no Hoffman or Rivera so he doesn't get the attention they did but he was one of 5 guys to get 400 career saves. Sure Franco and Smith should be in but we are just now starting to realize the importance of elite relievers and I believe both will get their due eventually so why not give Wagner his while we can? How Mussina isn't in already is crazy to me but I think he'll get in, if not this year then certainly next year. That leaves us with Schilling. Look at the numbers, he belongs in the HOF, but he's also a racist asshole and there's no need for that kind of attention in the hall.

Having said all this this is how my ballot would look:

Roy Halladay
Todd Helton
Jeff Kent
Edgar Martinez
Mike Mussina
Mariano Rivera
Scott Rolen
Omar Vizquel
Billy Wagner
Larry Walker

The big decisions was to leave off  Bonds, Clemons, Pettitte and Jones. Leaving Jones and Pettitte was strictly because they have lots of years left on the ballot. Bonds and Clemons deserve to be in the hall but there just wasn't any room on my ballot for them this year and if someones gonna go it's going to be the steroid users. Rivera and Martinez are slam dunks to get in this year and with only Derek Jeter looking like a likely 1st year vote next year it's very possible they'd both make it on next year, especially if Mussina or Halladay can join this years hall of fame class.

Top 10 Countdown: November 24, 2018

10. Seaway - Just What I Needed
Last week: NEW!


9. Against The Current - Voices
Last week: 10.


8. The Story So Far - Upside Down
Last week: 9.


7. Roam - The Rich Life Of A Poor Man
Last week: 8.


6. Set It Off - Killer In The Mirror
Last week: 2.


5. Neck Deep - Torn
Last week: 7.


4. Panic! At The Disco - High Hopes
Last week: 5.


3. Waterparks - Peach (Lobotomy)
Last week: 4.


2. With Confidence - Moving Boxes
Last week: 1.


1. New Found Glory - Barbed Wire
Last week: 3.

Special: Ranking the Gen 1 Pokemon

That's right kids. We're going strictly based on looks alone so just like in high school it's time to judge a book by it's cover.

151. Weezing

150. Gloom

149. Muk

148. Golbat

147. Pinsir

146. Exeggutor

145. Gyarados

144. Victreebell

143. Machoke

142. Arbok

141. Beedrill

140. Omastar

139. Graveler

138. Seaking

137. Voltorb

136. Fearrow

135. Alakazam

134. Nidoking

133. Kakuna

132. Tentacruel

131. Cloyster

130. Onix

129. Starmie

128. Staryu

127. Kabutops

126. Kingler

125. Dodrio

124. Rhyhorn

123. Ekans

122. Nidorino

121. Parasect

120. Golduck

119. Golem

118. Venomoth

117. Drowzee

116. Tentacool

115. Execute

114. Jynx

113. Seadra

112. Hitmonlee

111. Zapdos

110. Machamp

109. Kadabra

108. Magneton

107. Magnemite

106. Krabby

105. Rhydon

104. Rapidash

103. Poliwrath

102. Kabuto

101. Haunter

100. Moltres

99. Mewtwo

98. Electabuzz

97. Magikarp

96.  Tauros

95. Metapod

94. Venusaur

93. Raticate

92. Nidorina

91. Zubat

90. Weepingbell

89. Likitung

88. Scyther

87. Aerodactyl

86. Geodude

85. Venonat

84. Clefable

83. Magmar

82. Kangaskhan

81. Primape

80. Porygon

79. Spearow

78. Charizard

77. Pidgeot

76. Dragonaire

75. Rattata

74. Goldeen

73. Hypno

72. Wartortle

71. Gastly

70. Flareon

69. Dewgong

68. Koffing

67. Psyduck

66. Vileplume

65. Persian

64. Poliwhirl

63. Charmeleon

62. Pidgey

61. Weedle

60. Nidoqueen

59. Ivysaur

58. Hitmonchan

57. Marowak

56. Articuno

55. Electrode

54. Dragonite

53. Paras

52. Grimer

51. Poliwag

50. Abra

49. Sandslash

48. Pidgeotto

47. Butterfree

46. Blastoise

45. Gengar

44. Nidoran ♂

43. Slowbro

42. Slowpoke

41. Doduo

40. Seel

39. Jolteon

38. Tangela

37. Ditto

36. Chansey

35. Dratini

34. Ninetails

33. Raichu

32. Wigglytuff

31. Farfetch'd

30. Nidoran ♀

29. Arcanine

28. Omanyte

27. Ponyta

26. Caterpie

25. Diglett

24. Dugtrio

23. Lapras

22. Mankey

21. Snorlax

20. Clefairy

19. Vaporeon

18. Bellsprout

17. Machop

16. Shellder

15. Jigglypuff

14. Oddish

13. Mr. Mime

12. Horsea

11. Mew

10. Vulpix

9. Bulbasaur

8. Pikachu

7. Charmander

6. Cubone

5. Sandshrew

4. Meowth

3. Eevee

2. Growlith

1. Squirtle

Top 10 Countdown: November 17, 2018

10. Against The Current - Voices
Last week: NEW!


9. The Story So Far - Upside Down
Last week: 10.


8. Roam - The Rich Life Of A Poor Man
Last week: 9.


7. Neck Deep - Torn
Last week: 8.


6. Anti-Flag - Trouble Follows Me
Last week: 4.


5. Panic! At The Disco - High Hopes
Last week: 6.


4. Waterparks - Peach (Lobotomy)
Last week: 5.


3. New Found Glory - Barbed Wire
Last week: 3.


2. Set It Off - Killer In The Mirror
Last week: 2.


1. With Confidence - Moving Boxes
Last week: 1.

Top 10 Countdown: November 10, 2018

10. The Story So Far - Upside Down
Last week: NEW!


9. Roam - The Rich Life Of A Poor Man
Last week: NEW!


8. Neck Deep - Torn
Last week: 9.


7. Sleep On It - A New Way Home
Last week: 5.


6. Panic! At The Disco - High Hopes
Last week: 7.


5. Waterparks - Peach (Lobotomy)
Last week: 6.


4. Anti-Flag - Trouble Follows Me
Last week: 1.


3. New Found Glory - Barbed Wire
Last week: 4.


2. Set It Off - Killer In The Mirror
Last week: 3.


1. With Confidence - Moving Boxes
Last week: 2.

Top 10 Countdown: November 3, 2018

10. Good Charlotte - Prayers
Last week: 10.


9. Neck Deep - Torn
Last week: NEW!


8. Eat Your Heart Out - Better Late Than Never
Last week: 8.


7. Panic! At The Disco - High Hopes
Last week: 9.


6. Waterparks - Peach (Lobotomy)
Last week: 7.


5. Sleep On It - A New Way Home
Last week: 1.


4. New Found Glory - Barbed Wire
Last week: 5.


3. Set It Off - Killer In The Mirror
Last week: 4.


2. With Confidence - Moving Boxes
Last week: 3.


1. Anti-Flag - Trouble Follows Me
Last week: 2.

Top 10 Countdown: October 27, 2018

10. Good Charlotte - Prayers
Last week: NEW!


9. Panic! At The Disco - High Hopes
Last week: 10.


8. Eat Your Heart Out - Better Late Than Never
Last week: 9.


7. Waterparks - Peach (Lobotomy)
Last week: 8.


6. Panic! At The Disco - Hey Look Ma, I Made It
Last week: 2.


5. New Found Glory - Barbed Wire
Last week: 6.


4. Set It Off - Killer In The Mirror
Last week: 5.


3. With Confidence - Moving Boxes
Last week: 4.


2. Anti-Flag - Trouble Follows Me
Last week: 3.


1. Sleep On It - A New Way Home
Last week: 1.

Top 10 Countdown: October 20, 2018

10. Panic! At The Disco - High Hopes
Last week: NEW!


9. Eat Your Heart Out - Better Late Than Never
Last week: 10.


8. Waterparks - Peach (Lobotomy)
Last week: 9.


7. Knuckle Puck - Want Me Around
Last week: 3.


6. New Found Glory - Barbed Wire
Last week: 7.


5. Set It Off - Killer In The Mirror
Last week: 6.


4. With Confidence - Moving Boxes
Last week: 5.


3. Anti-Flag - Trouble Follows Me
Last week: 4.


2. Panic! At The Disco - Hey Look Ma, I Made It
Last week: 1.


1. Sleep On It - A New Way Home
Last week: 2.

Special: Top 10 Scene Halloween Themed Music Videos

10. Waterparks - We Need To Talk


Zombie Awsten Knight... What more can we say? Zombie is a pretty common occurrence on this list though.

9. blink-182 - I Miss You


It's creepy, it's haunting, it's everyone's favourite pop-punkers not pop-punking. But seriously Tom needs to easy up on his verse. Yeesh.

8. Gob - I Hear You Calling


Don't you hate it when a model is kidnapped by zombies and the only thing that can save her is a Canadian pop-punk trio beating the zombies at soccer?... What? This really happens doesn't it?

7. The Early November - Decoration

I mean, this video is pretty low budget, yes but you can't get more Halloween than this.

6. Linkin Park - Papercut

R.I.P. Chester Bennington but seriously, this video gave 12 year old me nightmares! It's pretty freakin' creepy.

5. New Found Glory - Don't Let Her Pull You Down

Even if we put aside the making fun of Twilight in the opening, this would've still made the list. This was during New Found Glory's "Pop Punk's Not Dead" phase so naturally they included the undead... Yep. More zombies!

4. Fall Out Boy - A Little Less Sixteen Candles, A Little More Touch Me

We interrupt this zombie list to bring you dapper dressed vampires in a video that turned a less than 3 minute song into an almost 7 minute epic!

3. Panic! At The Disco - Emperor's New Clothes

I was really tempted to go with "Don't Threaten Me With A Good Time" here but I gotta give the nod to this one, after all Brendon Urie slowly turning into the devil is pretty intense.

2. All Time Low - Something's Gotta Give

This all seems pretty normal, until you start seeing people getting eaten alive in the second half of the video. This concludes our "Zombies" list... Hey maybe next year we'll do one excluding zombie videos.

1. Real Friends - Mess

The perfect Halloween video with a great message about mental health in the background this couldn't be any better. I get excited every time I hear the "What if you were the monster..." intro.

Top 10 Countdown: October 13, 2018

10. Eat Your Heart Out - Better Late Than Never
Last week: NEW!


9. Waterparks - Peach (Lobotomy)
Last week: NEW!


8. With Confidence - Jaded
Last week: 3.


7. New Found Glory - Barbed Wire
Last week: 8.


6. Set It Off - Killer In The Mirror
Last week: 7.


5. With Confidence - Moving Boxes
Last week: 6.


4. Anti-Flag - Trouble Follows Me
Last week: 5.


3. Knuckle Puck - Want Me Around
Last week: 1.


2. Sleep On It - A New Way Home
Last week: 4.


1. Panic! At The Disco - Hey Look Ma, I Made It
Last week: 2.

Special: Venom, The Nun and The House With A Clock In Its Walls Mini-Reviews

Venom:

Synopsis: Investigative journalist Eddie Brock attempts a comeback following a scandal, but accidentally becomes the host of an alien symbiote that gives him a violent super alter-ego: Venom. Soon, he must rely on his newfound powers to protect the world from a shadowy organisation looking for a symbiote of their own.

My thoughts: So this film got a critical drubbing. But the fans seem to like it. Me? I'm more-so with the fans. I enjoyed it quite a bit, but that's not to say it was a perfect film. There were some real cringy moments, and when I say cringy I mean C-R-I-N-G-Y! The acting was good, apart from the aforementioned cringe which mostly landed on Tom's shoulders, sorry Tom. The CGI was heavy, as you'd expect but it almost seemed too much at times.

Final verdict: 4 Symbiotes out of 5.

The Nun:

Synopsis: When a young nun at a cloistered abbey in Romania takes her own life, a priest with a haunted past and a novitiate on the threshold of her final vows are sent by the Vatican to investigate. Together they uncover the order's unholy secret. Risking not only their lives but their faith and their very souls, they confront a malevolent force in the form of the same demonic nun that first terrorized audiences in "The Conjuring 2," as the abbey becomes a horrific battleground between the living and the damned.

My thoughts: This was certainly scarier than the Annabelle and Conjuring films in my opinion. Though it certainly was not better, especially to the later franchise, but it's still a worthy enough entry. The acting (all 3 of them) was fine but the script could've used some fine-tuning to help with this films obvious pacing issues.

Final verdict: 3 expanded universes out of 5.

The House With A Clock In Its Walls:

Synopsis: In the tradition of Amblin classics where fantastical events occur in the most unexpected places, Jack Black and two-time Academy Award (R) winner Cate Blanchett star in THE HOUSE WITH A CLOCK IN ITS WALLS, from Amblin Entertainment. The magical adventure tells the spine-tingling tale of 10-year-old Lewis (Owen Vaccaro) who goes to live with his uncle in a creaky old house with a mysterious tick-tocking heart. But his new town's sleepy façade jolts to life with a secret world of warlocks and witches when Lewis accidentally awakens the dead.

My thoughts: Children's Halloween movies are hard to pull off. You need to strike the perfect balance between scary and funny. Too scary and you have kids crying in the theatres (Monster House) too funny and you alienate the older viewers (The Haunted Mansion). Happy to report this film hits the bullseye on that balance. It's hard to find any faults with this movie so I'm just not going to try. Go see it this Halloween.

Final verdict: 5 witches and warlocks out of 5.

Top 10 Countdown: October 6, 2018

10. You Me At Six - 3 AM
Last week: 10.


9. Hands Like Houses - Overthinking
Last week: 9.


8. New Found Glory - Barbed Wire
Last week: NEW!


7. Set It Off - Killer In The Mirror
Last week: 8.


6. With Confidence - Moving Boxes
Last week: 7.


5. Anti-Flag - Trouble Follows Me
Last week: 5.


4. Sleep On It - A New Way Home
Last week: 4.


3. With Confidence - Jaded
Last week: 3.


2. Panic! At The Disco - Hey Look Ma, I Made It
Last week: 2.


1. Knuckle Puck - Want Me Around
Last week: 1.

Special: Looking Back: Best Songs of 2012

All right so we're gonna look back at my Top 100 Singles of 2012 in groups and get my reaction as to how these have aged... This should be fun?



100. The Hives - Wait A Minute

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vz8raXtWlg

099. 3OH!3 - You're Gonna Love This

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3o53tjxiNQ

098. Cancer Bats - Road Sick

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Riyx2N5scYU

097. Transit - Cutting Corners

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tgQCwIKMgY

096. Faber Drive - Do It In Hollywood

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7PeQrHIoFk

095. You Me At Six - No One Does It Better

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXrlPZYBvcQ

094. Set It Off - Swan Song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzSoICQLf-Q

093. Green Day - X-Kid

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdLYCjTACpQ

092. Sum 41 - Blood In My Eyes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dqujrkYnDE

091. Into It. Over It. - No Good Before Noon

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahRdI36DsS8



Alright so it's hard to judge just knowing the bottom 10, I mean none of these songs truly stand out but I enjoy all these bands even just a little. The most surprising is probably 3Oh!3 since I'm not a fan of that particular song but I'm sure it was just a token song so they can make the list. The best song on this list is probably Cutting Corners but I honestly have not listened to it all that recently. Set It Off is probably the band I listen to most often but Swan Song was from their pre-Duality breakthrough so they hadn't gotten really good yet.



090. Silverstein - SOS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1jTZwu0RtY

089. The Rocket Summer - Run And Don't Stop

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ch7ggvJBwpU

088. MxPx - Aces Up

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1_R02MCLqY

087. Me Vs. Hero - My Warren Sense Is Tingling

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hH0BsHCn0hc

086. Senses Fail - War Paint

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=texk2VjIDk8

085. The Cab - Endlessly

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WoWXANu5Rts

084. Mother Mother - Bit By Bit

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIkYgTRnrO8

083. Arkells - Where U Goin'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNKHyBwnRkA

082. Man Overboard - Something's Weird

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TA4MWULuzRU

081. The Used - Put Me Out

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQ0JYLJvLO4



I'll be honest, I don't even remember that Me Vs. Hero song by name, I'm sure it's a banger though. I went through a weird Mother Mother phase as well and don't really listen to them anymore so that would also get cut. I love Man Overboard but Something's Weird was one of the worst tracks on the self-titled so I don't know why they made it a single but hey it still made it on. SOS was from Silverstein's Short Songs album which I don't really go back to even though I love the band. Best song here is probably Run Don't Stop though so I'm surprised it's on the back half.



080. Marianas Trench - Stutter

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxtfsX722Yk

079. Down With Webster - Royalty

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-DmR7OrmNc

078. Lostprophets - Bring 'Em Down

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-P-QpZcOu-A

077. The Hives - Go Right Ahead

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngiSiPAtlzY

076. Silverstein - Brookfield

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-hvThxHoFo

075. Save Your Breath - Maps

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzGNzJMBXbI

074. Green Day - Oh Love

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWwMqa-_210

073. Mest - Almost

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UDIdSsQNQ4

072. Into It. Over It. - P R O P E R

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwEqgBLjmtY

071. Anti-Flag - This Is The New Sound

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjqBoxcwmYU



Wow, this is the new sound should be much higher me thinks so should Maps probably, I've fallen off the Lostprophets support train (that happens when you find out the lead singer molests kids). Everything else seems about right. I like Stutter as well but I feel there are probably better Marianas Trench songs ranked higher since this was their best era. If not though it should definitely be higher. Quick note on Down With Webster this was like the only song of theirs I enjoyed and I always forget the title since their other songs are so much more popular.



070. City Lights - What It Takes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEO-8nCALqU

069. Shiny Toy Gunes - Somewhere To Hide

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_MHWc44yxY

068. Cancer Bats - Bricks & Mortar

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8M4L8VnlkA

067. Transit - Asleep At The Wheel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=na699gno920

066. The Johnstones - Jennifer's Jacket

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4AXEGaiapI

065. The Maine - Misery

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50J1qwE1h7M

064. Tonight Alive - Listening

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zo5aZYdSqxI

063. Madina Lake - Across 5 Oceans

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JALDxTCyJM

062. Simple Plan - This Song Saved My Life

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1__N77CLoEc

061. Hedley - Kiss You Inside Out

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksrFRkA8J4w



Oh man. Maybe I've been lying when I said things should be higher this is a really good list and it's not even top 60, my only complaint here would be Madina Lake, I was super into them for a bit but it faded quickly and that song would not be up this high now.



060. Yellowcard - Awakening

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAvHrZfYszM

059. All Time Low - For Baltimore

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-n3laz3b8Y

058. Comeback Kid - Do Yourself A Favor

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQIgVoaW9eI

057. Sparks The Rescue - Disaster

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZU94xtBvCPg

056. The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus - Am I The Enemy?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDTpnsHyNnY

055. Breathe Carolina - Hit And Run

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70VO92o7bYE

054. Set It Off - Horrible Kids

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOV_eLR8KK8

053. Ten Second Epic - Better Off

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSmJGZmU5JE

052. Such Gold - Two Year Plan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlZunWCg7ls

051. Eve 6 - Victoria

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsE56PvCOJI



Yeah another list of bangers for the most part, I'd probably rank some of the other songs in the previous grouping ahead of Am I The Enemy? and For Baltimore... Same probably goes for Two Year Plan and maybe even Disaster... New Eve 6 was pretty good, too bad they went back to touring off their self titled from 20 years ago. Speaking of too bad... Breathe Carolina... Am I right?



050. The Swellers - Hands

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVtH2Mo_66I

049. Marianas Trench - Fallout

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHyYzezYWe0

048. The Offspring - Cruising California (Bumpin' In My Trunk)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAlZyajmcIM

047. Faber Drive Ft. Ish - Candy Store

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZr7DEKdCPA

046. The Snips - Microscope

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFijT-ydDC4

045. Brighter, Brightest - Right For Me

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dSt5_PMrkc

044. Shane Henderson & The Future Project - Wasting Time

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Enmjk6J8jY

043. We Are The In Crowd Ft. Alex Gaskarth - Kiss Me Again

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BM3Rv2RO1Do

042. The Early November - In Currents

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKpcxWG7asA

041. We The Kings - Party, Fun, Love & Radio

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuEXlkH8a5Q



I was probably just so excited to have The Early November back because In Currents isn't this good. Meanwhile I feel like I undervalued The Swellers and Brighter, Brightest. That Faber Drive song didn't really age well and I still listen to Kiss Me Again quite a bit but I'm sure Rumour Mill is near the top of this list so I won't argue it too much.



040. Take Me To The Pilot - What About The Time?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tixIzVIJbI

039. Transit - Skipping Stone

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gczA9RBIkpY

038. July - What We Signed Up For

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5CLV2pEb1E

037. Taylor Swift - We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WA4iX5D9Z64

036. Hit The Lights - Earthquake

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32vjobReZfI

035. These Kids Wear Crowns - This Party Never Stops

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZMd_qwZt9Y

034. Lambs Become Lions - Someone Else's Dream

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqCpBvCAK2U

033. The Summer Set - Fuck U Over

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gd7m1xpGwE

032. Pierce The Veil - Hell Above

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wq0mbynj4_k

031. Yellowcard Ft. Tay Jardine - Here I Am Alive

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jkVphnx2cE



I'm not sure what to say? These are all great songs. I probably listen to TKWC the least now but I'm sure if I went back to that album I'd have a blast. What We Signed Up for is amazing but this was the original recording pretty sure the reissue topped my list or close to it the following year. 



030. Eve 6 - Curtain

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnDZBZBYEeg

029. Ten Second Epic - Runaway

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbliTz3_pmk

028. Boys Like Girls - Be Your Everything

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOD_HFqxmkM

027. Mayday Parade - Stay

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAfNjdcgp4E

026. Patent Pending - I Already Know (She Don't Give A Shit About Me)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EKfmhxnsls

025. New Found Glory - Summer Fling (Don't Mean A Thing)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98lJRvJoMUA

024. Matchbox 20 - She's So Mean

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8WLa6umgdw

023. Forever The Sickest Kids - Shut The Door (Too Young For This)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=naNh6wnzFwk

022. Marianas Trench - Desperate Measures

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTiIAW7qmGU

021. Go Radio - Go To Hell

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcslYzqwdjg



She's So Mean was great but I don't really listen to it anymore so I guess it aged the worse out of these. I also don't listen to Stay too often but I still like it... Just probably not top 30. Everything else seems about right but that Patent Pending song should probably be up in the top 20.



020. A Loss For Words - Pirouette

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWQZLGHfhkc

019. Polar Bear Club - Screams In Caves

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Mg1VHYDO_w

018. Hit The Lights - Float Through Me

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlFl5Aa74xI

017. The New Cities - Mugshot

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqWEyLYeZTE

016. A Rocket To The Moon - Whole Lotta You

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQri68MsGOc

015. The Artist Life - Impossible

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLO_EZsKNW0

014. We Are The In Crowd - Exits And Entrances

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LfRRb81suI

013. I Call Fives - Late Nights

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whdQSeyptMU

012. Lostprophets - Jesus Walks

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vApHVSwL2ug

011. Silverstein - Forget Your Heart

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afYHiMwBSQA



Loved Jesus Walks but again. I can not support LostProphets anymore so it has to go all the way to the top. Screams In Cave I enjoyed but I don't think it'd be a Top 20 song anymore, same goes for Whole Lotta You. Mugshot and Late Nights I go back to the most so I'd think they should be Top 10.



010. Jack's Mannequin - Release Me

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTgd3HBCPyc

009. Hit The Lights - Gravity

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-LMjnyOUGo

008. Pierce The Veil Ft. Kellin Quinn - King For A Day

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icXUkIfZxyg

007. A Loss For Words - Raining Excuses

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBmd3DxJQjs

006. Man Overboard - Dead End Dreams

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36GMZwocKp4

005. Yellowcard - Always Summer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIeDk7NptVo

004. The Story So Far - Roam

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_iHep06jqk

003. A Day To Remember - 2nd Sucks

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6T9olarH-U

002. You Me At Six - Reckless

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmrmencS8GM

001. City Lights - Trophy Room

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8E1cl-ibTns



I can't really argue with the top 6, might reorder them but I feel that's still about right. Gravity and Raining Excuses would probably get bumped as would Release Me. Actually this is fun. I'm just going to rerank them...



100. Lostprophets - Bring 'Em Down (78)

99. Lostprophets - Jesus Walks (12)

98. Me Vs. Hero - My Warren Sense Is Tingling (87)

97. Mother Mother - Bit By Bit (84)

96. 3OH!3 - You're Gonna Love This (99)

95. Faber Drive - Do It In Hollywood (96)

94. In It. Over It. - No Good Before Noon (91)

93. Green Day - X-Kid (93)

92. The Hives - Wait A Minute (100)

91. Cancer Bats - Road Sick (98)

90. You Me At Six - No One Does It Better (95)

89. Down With Webster - Royalty (79)

88. Set It Off - Swan Song (94)

87. Sum 41 - Blood In My Eyes (92)

86. Madina Lake - Across 5 Oceans (63)

85. The Cab - Endlessly (85)

84. Silverstein - SOS (90)

83. Transit - Cutting Corners (97)

82. MxPx - Aces Up (88)

81. Arkells - Where U Goin' (83)

80. The Rocket Summer - Run And Don't Stop (89)

79. Man Overboard - Something's Weird (82)

78. Green Day - Oh Love (74)

77. Shiny Toy Guns - Somewhere To Hide (69)

76. The Used - Put Me Out (81)

75. Cancer Bats - Bricks & Motar (68)

74. Senses Fail - War Paint (86)

73. The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus - Am I The Enemy? (56)

72. Into It. Over it. - P R O P E R (72)

71. Mest - Almost (73)

70. All Time Low - For Baltimore (59)

69. The Offspring - Cruising California (Bumpin' In My Trunk) (48)

68. Silverstein - Brookfield (76)

67. Transit - Asleep At The Wheel (67)

66. Shane Henderson & The Future Project - Wasting Time (44)

65. The Johnstones - Jennifer's Jacket (66)

64. Such Gold - Two Year Plan (52)

63. Faber Drive Ft, Ish - Candy Store (47)

62. The Hives - Go Right Ahead (77)

61. Marianas Trench - Stutter (80)

60. Sparks The Rescue - Disaster (57)

59. The Early November - In Currents (42)

58. The Snips - Microscope (46)

57. Eve 6 - Victoria (51)

56. Simple Plan - This Song Saved My Life (62)

55. Breathe Carolina - Hit And Run (55)

54. Save Your Breath - Maps (75)

53. Comeback Kid - Do Yourself A Favour (58)

52. The Maine - Misery (65)

51. Hedley - Kiss You Inside Out

50. Anti-Flag - This Is The New Sound (71)

49. Transit - Skipping Stone (39)

48. Yellowcard - Awakening (60)

47. Set It Off - Horrible Kids (54)

46. These Kids Wear Crowns - This Party Never Stops (35)

45. Eve 6 - Curtain (30)

44. Marianas Trench - Fallout (49)

43. Hit The Lights - Earthquake (36)

42. Ten Second Epic - Runaway (29)

41. We The Kings - Party, Fun, Love & Radio (41)

40. Take Me To The Pilot - What About The Time? (40)

39. A Rocket To The Moon - Whole Lotta You (16)

38. City Lights - What It Takes (70)

37. Mayday Parade - Stay (27)

36. Matchbox 20 - She's So Mean (24)

35. Pierce The Veil - Hell Above (32)

34. We Are The In Crowd Ft. Alex Gaskarth - Kiss Me Again (43)

33. Polar Bear Club - Screams In Caves (19)

32. Tonight Alive - Listening (64)

31. Forever The Sickest Kids - Shut The Door (Too Young For This) (23)

30. Lambs Become Lions - Someone Else's Dream (34)

29. Go Radio - Go To Hell (21)

28. Ten Second Epic - Better Off (53)

27. The Artist Life - Impossible (15)

26. Taylor Swift - We Are Never Getting Back Together (37)

25. New Found Glory - Summer Fling (Don't Mean A Thing) (25)

24. Boys Like Girls - Be Your Everything (28)

23. The Swellers - Hands (50)

22. Yellowcard Ft. Tay Jardine - Here I Am Alive (31)

21. Hit The Lights - Gravity (9)

20. A Loss For Words - Pirouette (20)

19. Marianas Trench - Desperate Measures (22)

18. Jack's Mannequin - Release Me (10)

17. Patent Pending - I Already Know (She Don't Give A Shit About Me) (26)

16. Brighter, Brightest - Right For Me (45)

15. Hit The Lights - Float Through Me (18)

14. A Loss For Words - Raining Excuses (7)

13. The Summer Set - Fuck U Over (33)

12. We Are The In Crowd - Exits And Entrances (14)

11. Silverstein - Forget Your Heart (11)

10. I Call Fives - Late Nights (13)

9. The New Cities - Mugshot (17)

8. Pierce The Veil Ft. Kellin Quinn - King For A Day (8)

7. You Me At Six - Reckless (2)

6. Yellowcard - Always Summer (5)

5. Man Overboard - Dead End Dreams (6)

4. A Day To Remember - 2nd Sucks (3)

3. The Story So Far - Roam (4)

2. July - What We Signed Up For (38)

1. City Lights - Trophy Room (1)



So there you have it. I might come back to this for a future special. Maybe I'll rerank them after listening to them again since this is basically just off memory. Fun times. Anyways thanks for wasting time with me.