TOP 5
Seaway - Vacation
Record Label: Pure Noise Records
Choice Cuts: Car Seat Magazine, Something Wonderful, Day Player, Neurotic
Why: Effortlessly melodic and marked by a shiny, '90s alt-rock aesthetic, Seaway's third full-length album, is a confidently executed production; the kind that grabs your attention from the start and never lets you turn away. To achieve this vibrant sound they hooked up with producer Mike Green (All Time Low, 5 Seconds of Summer). and together, they've crafted an uber-enthusiastic pop-punk vision, building upon the best aspects of their previous albums.
Neck Deep - The Peace And The Panic
Record Label: Hopeless Records
Choice Cuts: Motion Sickness, Where Do We Go When We Go, The Grand Delusion, Parachute
Why: I would not have pegged Neck Deep for existential pop punk, but the hook from the excellent closer summarizes the album’s mindset quite well: “I just wanna get one up on life before it kills me.” For the band, the answer comes with living a life with purpose. Neck Deep haven’t become philosophers overnight, but their ability to wrestle with the frustrations of life lends some very welcome gravity to this fun record.
The Maine - Lovely Little Lonely
Record Label: 8123 Records
Choice Cuts: Bad Behavior, Don't Come Down, Do You Remember? (The Other Half Of 23), Black Butterflies And Deja Vu
Why: Lovely, Little, Lonely amalgamates external influences with the band’s own music, past and present, with precision, depth and an obviously loving craftsmanship. The result is an album that feels timeless, even on first impact. It’s the Maine's best batch of songs since Pioneer, their catchiest material since Can’t Stop Won’t Stop and their most cohesive work to date. This is generation-spanning and generationally great pop rock.
Silverstein - Dead Reflection
Record Label: Rise Records
Choice Cuts: Whiplash, The Afterglow, Last Looks, Ghost
Why: When a band has released as many albums as Silverstein, choosing a favorite as a fan isn’t an easy task. Silverstein have managed evolve and grow with each release, making the process even harder, but emotionally, Dead Reflection is easily one of their best releases to date. These songs are raw, powerful, and hard-hitting, something that the band is known for, and sonically, they still manage to surprise fans nearly two decades later.
The Gospel Youth - Always Lose
Record Label: Rise Records
Choice Cuts: Kids, Wildfire, Moods Like English Weather, I Will Deliver You To The Fireflies
Why: Always Lose is a statement and it doesn’t adhere to any rules. When listening you will escape into a world of poignancy and emotional twists. Your heart will take a weight, your optimism may crack, but the thrill will set you apart. Yes, it may be a depressing, dark, venture into territory marked by bloodied hands and shards of misery. This music is a crystal clear inspection of youth and its expectation. At the end of the day they’ve truly delivered a record which matters and inspires.
Just Missed
New Found Glory - Makes Me Sick
Choice Cuts: Party On Apocalypse, Barbed Wire, Say It Don't Spray It
All Time Low - Last Young Renegade
Choice Cuts: Last Young Renegade, Good Times, Nice2KnoU
The Menzingers - After The Party
Choice Cuts: Lookers, After The Party, Thick As Thieves
Grayscale - Adornment
Choice Cuts: Come Undone, Let It Rain, Atlantic
Broadside - Paradise
Choice Cuts: Paradise, Disconnect, Hidden Colours
I Prevail - Lifelines
Choice Cuts: Stuck In Your Head, Lifelines, Come And Get It
Andrew McMahon In The Wilderness - Zombies On Broadway
Choice Cuts: Fire Escape, Don't Speak For Me, Brooklyn, You're Killing Me
As It Is - Okay.
Choice Cuts: Hey Rachel, Pretty Little Distance, Okay
Prophets Of Rage - Self-Titled
Choice Cuts: Unfuck The World, Who Owns Who, Strength In Numbers
Roam - Great Heights And Nosedives
Choice Cuts: Alive, Playing Fiction, Open Water
Anti-Flag - American Fall
Choice Cuts: When The Wall Falls, Racists, Digital Blackout
Knuckle Puck - Shapeshifter
Choice Cuts: Gone, Everyone Lies To Me, Double Helix
2nd Tier Classics
Courage My Love - Synesthesia
Choice Cuts: Tough Love, Need Someone
Carousel Kings - Charm City
Choice Cuts: Grey Goose, Glory Daze
Less Than Jake - Sound The Alarm
Choice Cuts: Whatever The Weather, Bomb Drop
Four Year Strong - Some Of You Will Like This, Some Of You Won't
Choice Cuts: Let Me Down Again, Your Ego Is Writing Checks Your Body Can't Cash
The Flatliners - Inviting Light
Choice Cuts: Hang My Head, Nicotine Lips
AFI - AFI (The Blood Album)
Choice Cuts: Get Hurt, Hidden Knives
Our Last Night - Selective Hearing
Choice Cuts: Caught In The Storm, Broken Lives
Pvris - All We Know Of Heaven, All We Need Of Hell
Choice Cuts: Same Soul, What's Wrong
The Wonder Years - Burst And Decay
Choice Cuts: Cardinals, Coffee Eyes
Story Of The Year - Wolves
Choice Cuts: How Can We Go On, Give Up My Heart
Sleeping With Sirens - Gossip
Choice Cuts: Empire To Ashes, Gossip
Paramore - After Laughter
Choice Cuts: Grudges, Fake Happy
Foo Fighters - Concrete And Gold
Choice Cuts: Run, Make It Right
For The Win - Heavy Thoughts
Choice Cuts: Us Versus Them, How Can I
Other Favourites:
Goldfinger - The Knife
Jule Vera - Waiting On The Sun
I The Mighty - Where The Mind Wants To Go/Where You Let It Go
Sainte - Smile And Wave
Propogandhi - Victory Lap
Rise Against - Wolves
The Used - Canyon
Relient K - Truly Madly Deeply
Comeback Kid - Ousider
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