Special: 2018 In Review: Best Songs of 2018: 40 - 31

PREVIOUS

40. Hawthorne Heights - Crimson Sand


39. Against The Current - Voices


38. As It Is - The Wounded World


37. Andrew McMahon In The Wilderness - Paper Rain


36. You Me At Six - 3AM


35. The Gospel Youth - Bloodlines//Love Stopped Me Coming Home


34. Our Last Night - Soul Speak


33. Panic! At The Disco - High Hopes


32. We Were Sharks - Hotel Beds


31. Neck Deep - Torn


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Special: 2018 In Review: Best Songs of 2018: 100 - 91

100. Good Charlotte - Actual Pain


99. Dashboard Confessional Ft. Chrissy Costanza - Just What To Say


98. Millencolin - SOS


97. Andrew McMahon In The Wilderness - Teenage Rockstars


96. Saves The Day - Side By Side


95. Courage My Love - Remission


94. The Menzingers - The Freaks


93. William Ryan Key - Old Friends


92. As It Is Ft. Aaron Gillespie - The Reaper


91. The Story So Far - Take Me As You Please


NEXT

Top 10 Countdown: January 12, 2019

10. Andrew McMahon In The Wilderness - Paper Rain
Last week: NEW!


9. Grayscale - Fever Dream
Last week: 10.


8. Hawthorne Heights - Crimson Sand
Last week: 9.


7. Fever 333 - Burn It
Last week: NEW!


6. Neck Deep - Torn
Last week: 1.


5. Seaway - Blur
Last week: 7.


4. Real Friends - Me First
Last week: 5.


3. Good Charlotte - Self-Help
Last week: 4.


2. Sleep On It - Disconnected
Last week: 3.


1. Roam - The Rich Life Of A Poor Man
Last week: 2.

Special: 2017 In Review: 100 Best Songs of 2017 Part 2 (90 - 81)

PREVIOUS

90. Hedley - Better Days


89. AFI - Hidden Knives


88. Pierce The Veil - Today I Saw The Whole World


87. I Prevail - Already Dead


86. Arkells - Knocking At The Door


85. Good Charlotte - War


84. Andrew McMahon In The Wilderness - So Close


83. Our Last Night - Broken Lives


82. Anti-Flag - American Attraction


81. All Time Low - Nice2KnoU


NEXT

Special: 2016 In Review: 100 Best Songs of 2016 Part 5 (60 - 51)

PREVIOUS

60. Against The Current - Running With The Wild Things


59. Rarity - Inhale


58. Sum 41 - War


57. Set It Off - Uncontainable


56. The Summer Set - The Night Is Young


55. Hands Like Houses - Colourblind


54. Silverstein - Toronto (Unabridged)


53. Four Year Strong - Who Cares?


52. Andrew McMahon In The Wilderness - Fire Escape


51. A Day To Remember - Paranoia


NEXT

Top 10 Countdown: December 3, 2016

10. Silverstein - Ghost
Last week: NEW!


9. Knuckle Puck - Evergreen
Last week: NEW!


8. Andrew McMahon In The Wilderness - Fire Escape
Last week: 8.


7. With Confidence - Voldermort
Last week: 4.


6. The Story So Far - Nerve
Last week: 7.


5. As It Is - Pretty Little Distance
Last week: 6.


4. Good Charlotte - Life Changes
Last week: 5.


3. Hedley - Can't Slow Down
Last week: 1.


2. A Day To Remember - Naivety
Last week: 3.


1. Against The Current - Young & Relentless
Last week: 2.

Top 10 Countdown: November 26, 2016

10. Sum 41 - God Save Us All (Death To Pop)
Last week: NEW!


9. Taking Back Sunday - You Can't Look Back
Last week: 5.


8. Andrew McMahon In The Wilderness - Fire Escape
Last week: 9.


7. The Story So Far - Nerve
Last week: 8.


6. As It Is - Pretty Little Distance
Last week: NEW!


5. Good Charlotte - Life Changes
Last week: 7.


4. With Confidence - Voldemort
Last week: 1.


3. A Day To Remember - Naivety
Last week: 4.


2. Against The Current - Young & Relentless
Last week: 3.


1. Hedley - Can't Slow Down
Last week: 2.

Top 10 Countdown: November 19, 2016

10. Green Day - Bang Bang
Last week: 10.


9. Andrew McMahon In The Wilderness - Fire Escape
Last week: NEW!


8. The Story So Far - Nerve
Last week: NEW!


7. Good Charlotte - Life Changes
Last week: 8.


6. Pierce The Veil - Circles
Last week: 3.


5. Taking Back Sunday - You Can't Look Back
Last week: 5.


4. A Day To Remember - Naievety
Last week: 7.


3. Against The Current - Young And Relentless
Last week: 4.


2. Hedley - Can't Slow Down
Last week: 2.


1. With Confidence - Voldemort
Last week: 1.

Top 10 Countdown: January 23, 2016

10. Neck Deep - Smooth Seas Don't Make Good Sailors
Last week: NEW!


9. One Direction - Perfect
Last week: 3.


8. Andrew McMahon In The Wilderness - High Dive
Last week: 8.


7. Broadside - Come & Go
Last week: 9.


6. Set It Off - Duality
Last week: 7.


5. Set It Off - The Haunting
Last week: 6.


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


3. Good Charlotte - Makeshift Love
Last week: 4.


2. As It Is - Speak Soft
Last week: 2.


1. Seaway - Best Mistake
Last week: 1.

Top 10 Countdown: January 16, 2016

10. As It Is - Sorry
Last week: 5.


9. Broadside - Come & Go
Last week: 10.


8. Andrew McMahon And The Wilderness - High Dive
Last week: 9.


7. Set It Off - Duality
Last week: NEW!


6. Set It Off - The Haunting
Last week: 8.


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


4. Good Charlotte - Makeshift Love
Last week: 4.


3. One Direction - Perfect
Last week: 3.


2. As It Is - Speak Soft
Last week: 2.


1. Seaway - Best Mistake
Last week: 1.

Top 10 Countdown: January 9, 2016

10. Broadside - Come & Go
Last week: NEW!


9. Andrew McMahon In The Wilderness - High Dive
Last week: 10.


8. Set It Off - The Haunting
Last week: 9.


7. Marianas Trench - One Love
Last week: 7.


6. Panic! At The Disco - Victorious
Last week: 8.


5. As It Is - Sorry
Last week: 1.


4. Good Charlotte - Makeshift Love
Last week: 5.


3. One Direction - Perfect
Last week: 4.


2. As It Is - Speak Soft
Last week: 3.


1. Seaway - Best Mistake
Last week: 2.

Top 10 Countdown: January 2, 2016

10. Andrew McMahon In The Wilderness - High Dive
Last week: NEW!


9. Set It Off - The Haunting
Last week: 10.


8. Panic! At The Disco - Victorious
Last week: NEW!


7. Marianas Trench - One Love
Last week: 9.


6. Arkells - 11:11
Last week: 3.


5. Good Charlotte - Makeshift Love
Last week: 7.


4. One Direction - Perfect
Last week: 5.


3. As It Is - Speak Soft
Last week: 4.


2. Seaway - Best Mistake
Last week: 2.


1. As It Is - Sorry
Last week: 1.

Top 10 Countdown: February 21, 2015

10. Real Friends - Summer
Last week: NEW!

9. The Ready Set - Freakin' Me Out
Last week: 5.

8. As It Is - Dial Tones
Last week: 9.

7. Silverstein - A Midwestern State Of Emergency
Last week: 8.

6. Andrew McMahon In The Wilderness - Cecilia And The Satellite 

Last week: 6.

 

5. All Time Low - Something's Gotta Give

Last week: 7.

4. Crystalyne - 6 In The Morning

Last week: 2.

3. Arkells - Leather Jacket

Last week: 4.

: 4.

2. New Found Glory - Stubborn

Last week: 3.

1. Aaron West And The Roaring Twenties - Our Apartment

Last week: 1.

Top 10 Countdown: February 14, 2015

10. Fall Out Boy - American Beauty/American Psycho
Last week: 10.

9. As It Is - Dial Tones
Last week: NEW!

8. Silverstein - A Midwestern State Of Emergency
Last week: 9.

7. All Time Low - Something's Gotta Give
Last week: 8.

6. Andrew McMahon In The Wilderness - Cecilia And The Satellite
Last week: 7.

5. The Ready Set - Freakin' Me Out
Last week: 2.

4. Arkells - Leather Jacket
Last week: 5.

3. New Found Glory - Stubborn
Last week: 4.

2. Crystalyne - 6 In The Morning
Last week: 1.

1. Aaron West And The Roaring Twenties - Our Apartment
Last week: 3.

Top 10 Countdown: February 7, 2015

10. Fall Out Boy - American Beauty/American Psycho
Last week: NEW!

9. Silverstein - A Midwestern State Of Emergency
Last week: 10.

8. All Time Low - Something's Gotta Give
Last week: 8.

7. Andrew McMahon In The Wilderness - Cecilia And The Satellite
Last week: 7.

6. Seaway - Your Best Friend
Last week: 2.

5. Arkells - Leather Jacket
Last week: 6.

4. New Found Glory - Stubborn
Last week: 5.

3. Aaron West And The Roaring Twenties - Our Apartment
Last week: 4.

2. The Ready Set - Freakin' Me Out
Last week: 1.

1. Crystalyne - 6 In The Morning
Last week: 3.

Top 10 Countdown: January 31, 2015

10. Silverstein - A Midwestern State Of Emergency
Last week: NEW!

9. Patent Pending - Hey Mario
Last week: 3.

8. All Time Low - Something's Gotta Give
Last week: 9.

7. Andrew McMahon In The Wilderness - Cecilia And The Satellite
Last week: 8.

6, Arkells - Leather Jacket
Last week: 7.

5. New Found Glory - Stubborn
Last week: 6.

4. Aaron West And The Roaring Twenties - Our Apartment
Last week: 5.

3. Crystalyne - 6 In The Morning
Last week: 4.

2. Seaway - Your Best Friend
Last week: 1.

1. The Ready Set - Freakin' Me Out
Last week: 2.

New Top 10 Countdown: January 24, 2015

10. Set It Off - Why Worry
Last week: 3.

9. All Time Low - Something's Gotta Give
Last week: NEW!

8. Andrew McMahon In The Wilderness - Cecilia And The Satellite
Last week: 9.

7. Arkells - Leather Jacket
Last week: 8.

6. New Found Glory - Stubborn
Last week: 7.

5. Aaron West And The Roaring Twenties - Our Apartment
Last week: 6.

4. Crystalyne - 6 In The Morning
Last week: 5.

3. Patent Pending - Hey Mario
Last week: 2.

2. The Ready Set - Freakin' Me Out
Last week: 4.

1. Seaway - Your Best Friend
Last week: 1.

Special: 2014 In Review: Best Albums of 2014

Compared to years past 2014 was a much weaker year for albums in general but without further ado I present to you my top 10 albums of 2014.

10. Anberlin - Lowborn

Anberlin has progressed beautifully from it's jagged pop-punk roots of Never Take Friendship Personal to the darker and more poetic Cities to the heavy guitared New Surrender. Earlier this year however Anberlin decided they'd release one final album and call it quits. Lowborn is a fairly strong record on a song-for-song basis, and the added emotional heft of it being a swansong helps to elevate it above the weaker entries in the band’s catalog, even despite its numerous issues.

9. Taylor Swift - 1989

This is not the Taylor Swift we heard in Fearless or Speak Now, hell she's even grown from her previous, and quite exceptional, album Red. But whether you are a Swiftie or not, this album can not be denied of your attention as Taylor finally made the full fledged leap into pop music, leaving her country roots behind. There's evolution with purpose in every fibre of 1989, and far from jettisoning her integrity in this drastic lunge, she's proved in her bold, risky decision that she's got courage in her convictions to pull it off and faith in her fans to accept the new direction.

8. Chiodos - Devil

Devil is more than just Chiodos' first album in seven years to feature Craig Owens behind the mic again, it's a "prove it" album. It seems kind of weird that the future of the band that has sold hundreds of thousands of records could be determined by this album, but here we are - Devil is the band's renewed opportunity at the scene domination they left behind in 2009. Devil is assuredly the most daring, exhilarating, and personal work of Chiodos' career, reigniting the band to continue on. So even though this isn't peak Chiodos (yet), Devil has the band on the right path to reclaiming the the top spot of the scene food chain sooner rather than later.

7. Yellowcard - Lift A Sail

Last year, frontman Ryan Key’s wife was paralyzed from the waist down, and that devastating event informs every song on this record. The result is an album that is simultaneously heartbreaking and hopeful. There are moments of despair, but on the whole, Lift a Sail rings as an uplifting testament to love and human resilience. From track one to track 13, those themes swirl and churn until they infect you completely. There are no singles, at least not with the immediacy of “Ocean Avenue” or “Always Summer.” But while Lift a Sail probably has none of Yellowcard’s best songs, it is arguably the band’s most accomplished front-to-back album.

6. Fireworks - Oh, Common Life

Part of what makes Oh, Common Life so gripping is the way Fireworks have pushed their songwriting into a place that sounds wholly theirs, fusing their pop-punk influences with power-pop smarts and a host of ’90s alt-rock flourishes. There’s so much depth to absorb here, yet it’s also instantly rewarding, and it happens time and again on Oh, Common Life; as adventurous as the album is, there’s nary a misstep to be found.

5. Andrew McMahon In The Wilderness - Self-Titled

The result of the Everything in Transit phenomenon—aside from the fact that the record skyrocketed quickly into all-time top fives for fans everywhere—was that it made sure no one would ever again have rational expectations about what Andrew McMahon could accomplish as a songwriter. Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness is the sound of an artist who is completely happy and completely comfortable in his life, and that’s a beautiful thing. It’s not a perfect album, but the core sentiment of always cherishing the people you love resonates to me, and the songs are catchy and effortless enough for me to fall more and more in love with them every time I press play.

4. Four Year Strong - Go Down In History EP

Woah, woah, woah! How does an EP get up this high on a top albums of the year list? Well simply put, the EP is five songs of huge, intricate, explosive guitar work, thumping drums that refuse to take a rest, Day and O'Connor's signature call-and-return vocals, the occasional necessary breakdown and gang vocal portion, and the catchiest choruses FYS has ever penned. You'll be hard pressed to be bored for a single minute while spinning this EP, that's a guarantee.

3. Forever Came Calling - What Matters Most

I ran into Forever Came Calling just before summer 2014. I was coming off an incredible pop-punk high, singing along and riding the wave of pop-punk revival staples such as Handguns, State Champs, The Story So Far, and The Wonder Years. What hit me was honest, and unappologetic heart on your sleeve lyrics and this fall's What Matters Most is no different. Unapologetically energetic, unabashedly honest and unwaveringly consistent, Forever Came Calling prove they've got what it takes to become the next household name in Pop-Punk.

2. Aaron West And The Roaring Twenties - We Don't Have Each Other

Like a great novel, it’s hard to imagine that the fictitious characters who populate We Don’t Have Each Other, the debut full-length by Dan “Soupy” Campbell’s solo project Aaron West And The Roaring Twenties, don’t actually exist in the real world. Campbell, who normally fronts pop-punk kingpins the Wonder Years, has built his enviable career on an uncanny knack for lyrical storytelling, and with this new release, he’s shown he can weave a soul-churning fictional yarn too, with all the surging emotion and subtle nuance of his first-person and non-fictional narratives. As usual, Campbell makes it seem effortless.

1. New Found Glory - Resurrection

Speaking of pop-punk kingpins... Bouncing back from their first lineup change since 1997, New Found Glory return with Resurrection, an album of triumphant pop-punk that finds the band returning with a new found (heh) sense of focus and confidence. Written after the band's tumultuous relationship with guitarist Steve Klein led to his ejection from the group, New Found Glory sound like anything but a band recovering from a tragic loss. Revitalized and refocused, New Found Glory tackle the ugly business of parting ways with pop-punk aplomb, pouring their energy into creating the quintessential break-up record, that just so happens to also be my favourite record of 2014.

Honourable mentions:

Bayside - Cult
Taking Back Sunday - Happiness Is...
Seaway - All In My Head EP
Handguns - Life Lessons
We Are The In Crowd - Weird Kids
Real Friends - Maybe This Place Is The Same And We're Just Changing
Transit - Joyride

Top 10 Countdown: January 17, 2015

10. Man Overboard - For Vince
Last week: 10.

9. Andrew McMahon In The Wilderness - Cecilia And The Satellite
Last week: NEW!

8. Arkells - Leather Jacket
Last week: 9.

7. New Found Glory - Stubborn
Last week: 8.

6. Aaron West And The Roaring Twenties - Our Apartment
Last week: 6.

5. Crystalyne - 6 In The Morning
Last week: 5.

4. The Ready Set - Freakin' Me Out
Last week: 4.

3. Set It Off - Why Worry
Last week: 3.

2. Patent Pending - Hey Mario
Last week: 1.

1. Seaway - Your Best Friend
Last week: 2.