Special: A Decade In Review: Best Songs of the 2010's: 60 - 51

PREVIOUS

60. Sing It Loud - Sugar Sweet


59. Pvris - Fire


58. Fall Out Boy - The Phoenix


57. Sum 41 - 45 (A Matter Of Time)


56. Hit The Lights - Life On The Bottom


55. I Prevail - Come And Get It


54. .fun - Some Nights


53. The Menzingers - I Don't Wanna Be An Asshole Anymore


52. Simple Creatures - Adrenaline


51. Tonight Alive ft. Benji Madden (Good Charlotte) - Breakdown


NEXT

Top 10 Countdown: January 25, 2020

10. Simple Plan & State Champs Ft. We The Kings - Where I Belong
Last week: NEW!


9. Fall Out Boy - Bob Dylan
Last week: 9.


8. The Used Ft. Jason Aalon Butler (Fever 333) - Blow Me
Last week: 8.


7. A Day To Remember - Resentment
Last week: 7.


6. Anti-Flag - Hate Conquers All
Last week: 6.


5. Simple Creatures - One Little Lie
Last week: 5.


4. Grayscale - Young
Last week: 1.


3. Waterparks - Easy To Hate
Last week: 4.


2. New Found Glory - Accidentally In Love
Last week: 3.


1. State Champs - Real World
Last week: 2.

Top 10 Coundown: January 18, 2020

10. Weezer - Lost In The Woods
Last week: 10.


9. Fall Out Boy - Bob Dylan
Last week: NEW!


8. The Used Ft. Jason Aalon Butler (Fever 333) - Blow Me
Last week: 9.


7. A Day To Remember - Resentment
Last week: 8.


6. Anti-Flag - Hate Conquers All
Last week: 7.


5. Simple Creatures - One Little Lie
Last week: 5.


4. Waterparks - Easy To Hate
Last week: 4.


3. New Found Glory - Accidentally In Love
Last week: 3.


2. State Champs - Real World
Last week: 2.


1. Grayscale - Young
Last week: 1.

Special: 2019 In Review: Best Songs of 2019: 80 - 71

PREVIOUS

80. Simple Creatures - Strange Love


79. Eat Your Heart Out - Closer To The Sun


78. Rarity - Drown Me Out


77. MxPx - San Dimas High School Football Rules


76. Sleeping With Sirens - Agree To Disagree


75. Set It Off - Dancing With The Devil


74. The Damned Things - Cells


73. Too Close To Touch - F.I.N.E.


72. Fall Out Boy - Bob Dylan


71. I Prevail - Bow Down


NEXT

Special: Emo Meme Review #3

Welcome back folks. Not so much of an Emo Meme Review this time as much as it is an Emo Video Review. You might have seen these tier lists going around? Yeah? Good cause there is a couple youtubers that did pop punk/emo ones (hat tip to Nate The Mate and Infinity On Hannah) so I decided to take the bands they used and rank them myself. Check out an example below and then below that I do the full ranking!.

S Tier:

A Day To Remember

I didn't love the latest album but I loved all the others so that's enough for me. Really you should've seen this coming if you read the first Emo Meme Review.

State Champs

The Kings of American Pop Punk. They definitely deserve this spot.

Neck Deep

The Kings of European Pop Punk. They definitely deserve this spot.

Man Overboard

Man Overboard appeared to be in the drivers sear of pop punk at what point but then the scene split to POP punk and emo revival leaving them in the middle without a fan base that went to one of those other sectors.

New Found Glory

The undisputed godfathers of pop punk continue to rip to this day. They are my favourite band of all time so this is a no brainer.

A Tier:

All Time Low

Despite everyone shitting on their last album I didn't mind it. There were some bops but also some misses but they had been incredibly consistent up to that point.

blink-182

It's blink. I get people aren't a fan of the current lineup but I'm fine with it. Only thing keeping it from the S tier is their earlier work and the newer stuff not quite being up to par.

Seaway

Canada's favourite pop-punkers (do we still call them that?) they experimented on their newest record and honestly it's the best thing they've ever released so kudos to Seaway. Hope they keep it up.

Knuckle Puck

If State Champs and Neck Deep are the king of modern pop punk, Knuckle Puck isn't far behind. Their full lengths are great and their ep's may be even better!

The Story So Far

I was shocked to rank them here as I would've thought B but once I started comparing them to other bands here it was obvious they were a step ahead of the B tier bands.

B Tier:

As It Is

They only have 3 full lengths and they've arguably tackled a different genre on each. I don't think they'll ever touch the greatness that their debut was again but I'm fine with their experimentation overall.

Fall Out Boy

I don't hate post-hiatus FOB, I strongly do not like Mania, which probably kept them from joining blink in the A tier.

The Wonder Years

TWY should probably be A tier but the last two albums drug their tier down, sorry kids they're just not as good in my eyes as the original three they released.

Paramore

Another one that should probably be an A but the self titled was a mixed bag and After Laughter was mostly below average.

Green Day

Green Day is held down by their early material and their questionable choices made since American Idiot. Hopefully we see a resurrection soon.

Grayscale

I really tried to be fair with these rankings but Grayscale, even with just one excellent album deserves a B especially after hearing Painkiller Weather.

Mayday Parade

Mayday Parade has been a consistently slightly above average band throughout their career (though I still love A Lesson In Romantics) so B was the obvious tier for them.

Waterparks

I'm slightly nervous was the future of Waterparks will sound like but right now they deserve a B for their first 2 full lengths alone.

C Tier:

Boston Manor

They're a fine band but they haven't done anything to really grab me at this point except for a few great singles. Maybe next album lads.

Trash Boat

See Boston Manor above

Taking Back Sunday

I loved Taking Back Sunday's debut, the 2nd album was great as well but since then it's been very hit or miss (more likely the later) which is holding them back to C status.

Transit

A band that was taken from us far too soon they released 2 solid albums and 1 just a step down which unfortunately keeps them an overall C.

Real Friends

Real Friends just missed out on a B but my overall "meh" feelings of their first 2 full lengths hold it back even if I did love the EP's and Composure.

Modern Baseball

Another band gone too soon but we enjoyed the ride while it lasted though I wasn't as high on this band as others were.

D Tier:

Basement

Sorry Basement fans, I've never listened to them in the last 10 years maybe I'll start eventually but not today.

Trophy Eyes

I have listened to this band, some songs are good, some are not. Not really a band I go out of my way to listen to though.

Citizen

Sorry Citizen fans, I've never listened to them in the last 10 years maybe I'll start eventually but not today.

Joyce Manor

Sorry Joyce Manor fans, I've never listened to them in the last 10 years maybe I'll start eventually but not today.

Balance & Composure

Sorry B&C fans, I've never listened to them in the last 10 years maybe I'll start eventually but not today.

Belmont

Just recently started listening to this band, they're solid but I need to hear more before I can reasonably move them up a tier.

WSTR

WSTR are fine like Belmont above but I haven't heard enough of them to justify a higher spot than this.

Hot Mulligan

This is a newer band, I just haven't given them a listen yell. Feel free to yell at me.

Movements

Oh Movements, I tried really hard to get into you, I just couldn't do it. Some of their early songs on their EP were solid but everything else is just meh. I don't hate them, they just aren't for me.

Title Fight

Sorry Title Fight fans, I've never listened to them in the last 10 years maybe I'll start eventually but not today.

Remo Drive

This is a newer band, I just haven't given them a listen yell. Feel free to yell at me.

Heart Attack Man

This is a newer band, I just haven't given them a listen yell. Feel free to yell at me.

F Tier:

Brand New

I would've added a level for Brand New, I did like their first 3 records and even had a soft spot for their 5th but given how the situation was handled I can't reasonably enjoy them anymore.

Special: Emo Meme Review #1

What's up everybody. For this special I'm doing a new segment inspired by a youtuber that is also a great mate... Nate the mate. On his channel Nate has a segment called "Emo Meme Review" where he discusses various "scene music" memes. Now perhaps in the future we will do a written word version of that but for now I want to discuss one meme in particular that comes to us from @allpunkedup on twitter.

Now this is an interesting exercise as I can't actually off the top of my head decide three bands so I figure if I take this in stages I can figure it out. So firstly I'll remove the bands that I either do not like or have not listened to.

So not much to go over here. My apologies to Stand Atlantic for not giving them a shot to this point I plan on correcting that. I also didn't give Moose Blood much of a shot either though they obviously don't deserve it. Twenty One Pilots and Angels & Airwaves I just can't really get into. They have some good songs but others that miss so they come off here as well. Next up we'll remove the bands I may like but don't love.

Trash Boat and Boston Manor are newer bands with only 2 full lengths but I have not given them as much attention as I'd like to. Weezer is legendary but they are touch and go for me. I wouldn't buy any Weezer records honestly. Against The Current probably wouldn't be here if their new album was better but alas they've fallen a bit in my eyes. Next up we'll remove the bands that I don't like their earlier music.

Blink and Green Day are legendary but they both required an album or two before they hit their stride. I mean realistically even though I like these bands they probably wouldn't be final 3 bands so no harm removing them now. Pierce The Veil is likely a controversial one since their old stuff doesn't sound much different then the big albums that followed but I just can't get into it. Waterparks is well expected. Even the band doesn't like anything prior to the Crave EP and even that one is touch and go. Now we'll remove the bands that have an album/era that I didn't like.

In fairness to these bands they've been around for a very long time. Unfortunately I hated Pretty Odd era P!ATD. I never got into Senses Fail Hardcore era. Sum 41 went downhill after Underclass Hero before bouncing back recently. AAR hasn't been good since When The World Comes Down. Next up we'll take a couple more off that had an album that didn't measure up to their other work.

Yet again punishing bands that have been around a while. Fall Out Boy, Paramore and The Wonder Years newest albums weren't up to snuff compared to their previous releases. Mayday Parade on the other rebounded after a few middling albums, especially Monsters In The Closet. Let's give the vets a break. Let's remove some younger bands that don't have as much material as the others.

Not much explanation is needed here. Sleep On It has 1 full length and an EP. With Confidence and Knuckle Puck have 2 full lengths and a handful of EP's and As It is has 3 full lengths, as do others on the list but they're the lowest on my preference list. Alright one last round of bands that had albums/eras I didn't like to get down to 8.

I feel bad taking The Maine off but I really just couldn't super enjoy the Pioneer/Forever Halloween era's. The Story So Far's EP was not good and the self-titled record doesn't have much staying power for me. Good Charlotte's pre hiatus work wasn't great and Set It Off's pre Duality work wasn't either. And then there were 8 so now let's just eliminate the 4 I like the least.

Honestly I'm shocked Real Friends made it this far. Had you of told me it would be final 8 I would've laughed but here they are. Simple Plan almost got knocked off last round but they squeaked in here so that made them expendable here. I love Seaway but given their "newer band" status it was hard to carry them any other further. All Time Low was the tougher cut but they have some misses in their catalog overall even if I enjoy each album mostly.

So that leaves 4: Neck Deep, A Day To Remember, State Champs and New Found Glory. NFG and State Champs were easy picks for the final but now the question is do we keep Neck Deep and their amazing Life's Not Out To Get You album and the still excellent The Peace And The Panic. Or ADTR's extensive catalog. I tend to lead ADTR especially since I have the pop punk covered with the other 2. So there you go. My pick 3: New Found Glory, State Champs, A Day To Remember.

Special: 2018 In Review: Best Song of 2018: 50 - 41

PREVIOUS

50. Green Day - Youngblood


49. 5 Seconds Of Summer - Want You Back


48. Anti-Flag - Finish What We Started


47. The Wonder Years - Sister Cities


46. blessthefall - Melodramatic


45. Fall Out Boy - Wilson (Expensive Mistakes)


44. Panic! At The Disco - Say Amen (Saturday Night)


43. All Time Low - Afterglow


42. Marianas Trench - I Knew You When


41. Seaway - Blur


NEXT

Special: 2018 In Review: Top 10 Music Videos of 2018

10. With Confidence - Moving Boxes (ASL Video)


Why? This one pretty well speaks for itself. Big ups to With Con for learning American Sign Language and doing a video with the band signing all the lyrics for their hearing impaired fans. Bonus points awarded to drummer Josh's Seaway shirt.

9. Grayscale - Fever Dream


Why? After placing 3rd on this exact list last year, Grayscale is one of two bands to repeat this list on back to back years. Last year was an anthem for self-love, this year it's this creepy flick for the song Fever Dream. Yeah in case you couldn't tell by the thumbnail, it's creepy. The group filmed it in a supposed haunted house and they have a great behind the scenes on YouTube that had them questioning if it was indeed haunted.

8. Weezer - Africa


Why? Okay. So... Weezer has been teasing us with this cover for years and finally in 2018 we got a video for it. So what happens when Weezer caves and finally gives us the cover that fans have been asking for for years? Well they decide to parody their own video (The Sweater Song) and since you're doing a parody you have to get the parody king himself, Weird Al, to play Rivers Cuomo don't you? Most excellent.

7. Real Friends - Me First


Why? Firstly, this is a really emotional song. Real Friends usually keeps meaning ambigious but given lead singer Dan's struggles with mental health issues, to me it's about not putting yourself second, make sure you take care of your own health. So does the video mirror that? Nope not at all. It's about a lady murdering her home staff (the band) after chasing them through the house with an axe. Unlike Grayscale above though, this is done for humour as we see in the final act as the band's decapitated heads finish singing the song on a silver platter. Bonus points for the obvious comic book inspiration.

6. As It Is - The Stigma (Boys Don't Cry)


Why? Yet another emotional song about the nature of toxic masculinity that society currently forces upon us. As It Is are doing their best to put an end to it with this gem of a song and accompanying video that sees a militaristic teacher at a boarding school stripping students of their identities and telling them what they need to be and how they need to act. The band put it best when describing the song "In these increasingly disconnected times, where empathy is seemingly on a decline at many levels of everyday modern life, it is vital to stand up against such outdated tropes".

5. Fall Out Boy - Wilson (Expensive Mistakes)


Why? If you like infomercials, like my fiance does then this is the video for you! Fall Out Boy reference their past eras in the video featuring Patrick's severed hand from the Young Blood Chronicles and the sheep from the Infinity On High cover. Overall it's just a fun, quirky video we don't usually get to see from Fall Out Boy, especially this era of Fall Out Boy.

4. Frank Turner - Little Changes


Why? Honestly, I could've used any of Frank's videos from 2018 on this list but I went with Little Changes for a couple reasons, firstly I like awkward choreography. Secondly it's just good clean fun but also speaks to the times we live in. Oftentimes people get so caught up in what people around them are doing we don't stop to focus on what we're doing and making sure we're enjoying our own lives instead of living it through other peoples lens.

3. Fever 333 - Burn It


Why? Obviously not the most political music video of the year, but certainly the most political of our scene. Fever 333 may be more underground for now but this movement is quickly changing as they've notched a Grammy nomination and are preparing to take over the world and become an important voice in it as we await their debut full length "Strength In Numb333rs" in early 2019.

2. Panic! At The Disco - Say Amen (Saturday Night)


Why? Yet again, like Frank Turner I could've used any of Panic's videos this year as all 3 were masterpieces but I decided to use the first one as I love that the music video has been telling a story over several albums starting with This Is Gospel in 2013 and it's sequel The Emperor's New Clothes in 2015. Say Amen acts as a prequel to both and damn the fight scenes are the best I've even seen in a music video.

1. Childish Gambino - This Is America


Why? Well, come on. There's been enough essays written on this video for me to NEED to give you my two cents so I'll leave it at this. This is the song and the video America needed. It hit on all the right chords at the absolute best time. Just like Legend Has It... last year we applaud the stance Donald Glover has taken and gave people a video to look at things a little differently.

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.

Special: Top 100 Pop Punk Albums Of All Time Re-Ranked!

Hello fine readers. Today I'm re-ranking the Rock Sound list of 100 best Pop Punk Albums as voted by their readers (find that list HERE). I'm solely going based off my opinion of how much I enjoy the albums so I don't want to hear no "Album X wouldn't exist if it wasn't for Album Y!" So anyways on with the list and I've included their Rock Sound ranking as well so you can see how close I am to the popular opinion.

100. The Academy Is... - Almost Here (RS: 48)
99. This Time Next Year - Road Maps And Heart Attacks (RS: 80)
98. Crucial Dudes - 61 Penn (RS: 92)
97. The Get Up Kids - Something To Write Home About (RS: 72)
96. The Academy Is... Fast Times At Barrington High (RS: 81)
95. Trash Boat - Nothing I Write You Can Change What You've Been Through (RS: 70)
94. The Dangerous Summer - Reach For The Sun (RS: 94)
93. Motion City Soundtrack - Commit This To Memory (RS: 75)
92. WSTR - Red, Green Or Inbetween (RS: 69)

91. Green Day - Kerplunk (RS: 39)
90. Major League - Hard Feelings (RS: 100)
89. Me Vs. Hero - Days That Shape Our Lives (RS: 99)
88. NoFX - Punk In Drublic (RS: 33)
87. Hey Monday - Hold On Tight (RS: 82)
86. Roam - Backbone (RS: 84)
85. Neck Deep - Wishful Thinking (RS: 52)
84. Jimmy Eat World - Futures (RS: 86)
83. Like Pacific - In Spite Of Me (RS: 98)
82. Save Your Breath - Vices (RS: 79)
81. Blink-182 - Dude Ranch (RS: 25)
80. Good Charlotte - The Chronicles Of Life And Death (RS: 56)
79. Boston Manor - Be Nothing (RS: 61)
78. Sum 41 - Underclass Hero (RS: 78)
77. We Are The In Crowd - Weird Kids (RS: 63)

76. Say Anything - ...Is A Real Boy (RS: 49)
75. Mayday Parade - Sunnyland (RS: 24)
74. You Me At Six - Take Off Your Colours (RS: 46)
73. The Offspring - Americana (RS: 51)
72. The All-American Rejects - Self-Titled (RS: 83)
71. Bowling For Soup - Drunk Enough To Dance (RS: 23)
70. Real Friends - Maybe This Place Is The Same And We're Just Changing (RS: 74)
69. All Time Low - So Wrong It's Right (RS: 20)
68. Roam - Great Heights And Nosedives (RS: 50)
67. Fireworks - Gospel (RS: 87)

66. Sleep On It - Overexposed (RS: 40)
65. As It Is - Okay (RS: 13)
64. Mayday Parade - Self-Titled (RS: 53)
63. The Offspring - Smash (RS: 43)
62. Like Pacific - Distant Like You Asked (RS: 91)
61. The Story So Far - Self-Titled (RS: 71)
60. Four Year Strong - Rise Or Die Trying (RS: 60)
59. The Movielife - 40 Hour Train Back To Penn (RS: 97)
58. Knuckle Puck - Shapeshifter (RS: 57)
57. Sum 41 - Does This Look Infected? (RS: 41)
56. Blink-182 - Take Off Your Pants And Jacket (RS: 7)
55. Taking Back Sunday - Louder Now (RS: 85)

54. Man Overboard - Real Talk (RS: 90)
53. New Found Glory - Catalyst (RS: 59)
52. State Champs - Living Proof (RS: 28)
51. Paramore - All We Know Is Falling (RS: 93)
50. A Day To Remember - For Those Who Have Heart (RS: 36)
49. Seaway - Vacation (RS: 30)
48. The All-American Rejects - Move Along (RS: 67)
47. Transit - Listen & Forgive (RS: 76)
46. Real Friends - The Home Inside My Head (RS: 55)
45. Simple Plan - Still Not Getting Any (RS: 68)
44. The Story So Far - What You Don't See (RS: 47)
43. A Loss For Words - No Sanctuary (RS: 62)

42. Knuckle Puck - Copacetic (RS: 26)
41. Mayday Parade - Anywhere But Here (RS: 58)
40. Waterparks - Double Dare (RS: 12)
39. The Maine - Can't Stop, Won't Stop (RS: 66)
38. All Time Low - Don't Panic (RS: 17)
37. With Confidence - Better Weather (RS: 37)
36. The Wonder Years - The Greatest Generation (RS: 22)
35. Grayscale - Adornment (RS: 10)
34. Sum 41 - All Killer, No Filler (RS: 34)
33. Jimmy Eat World - Bleed American (RS: 38)
32. Good Charlotte - Self-Titled (RS: 16)
31. Neck Deep - The Peace And The Panic (RS: 19)

30. State Champs - Around The World And Back (RS: 8)
29. As It Is - Never Happy, Ever After (RS: 32)
28. Green Day - Dookie (RS: 2)
27. Seaway - Colour Blind (RS: 54)
26. Fall Out Boy - From Under The Cork Tree (RS: 3)
25. All Time Low - Nothing Personal (RS: 6)
24. Blink-182 - Enema Of The State (RS: 1)
23. Hit The Lights - This Is A Stick Up... Don't Make It Murder (RS: 95)
22. The Wonder Years - The Upsides (RS: 70)
21. Four Year Strong - Enemy Of The World (RS: 89)
20. Simple Plan - No Pads, No Helmets, Just Balls (RS: 31)

19. Man Overboard - Self-Titled (RS: 96)
18. New Found Glory - Sticks & Stones (RS: 29)
17. The Story So Far - Under Soil And Dirt (RS: 35)
16. Set Your Goals - This Will Be The Death Of Us (RS: 73)
15. Mayday Parade - A Lesson In Romantics (RS: 9)
14. Paramore - Riot! (RS: 14)
13. Taking Back Sunday - Tell All Your Friends (RS: 45)
12. Cartel - Chroma (RS: 88)
11. Green Day - American Idiot (RS: 11)
10. The Ataris - So Long, Astoria (RS: 77)
9. Good Charlotte - The Young And The Hopeless (RS: 5)
8. A Day To Remember - Homesick (RS: 21)

7. Neck Deep - Life's Not Out To Get You (RS: 4)
6. State Champs - The Finer Things (RS: 27)
5. Fall Out Boy - Take This To Your Grave (RS: 18)
4. Yellowcard - Ocean Avenue (RS: 15)
3. The Wonder Years - Suburbia, I've Given You All And Now I Am Nothing (RS: 44)
2. The Starting Line - Say It Like You Mean It (RS: 64)
1. New Found Glory - Self-Titled (RS: 42)

Top 10 Countdown: March 10, 2017

10. Fall Out Boy - Wilson (Expensive  Mistakes)
Last week: 10.


9. We Were Sharks - Hotel Beds
Last week: NEW!


8. Neck Deep - Parachute
Last week: 4.


7. Anti-Flag - Finish What We Started
Last week: 8.


6. Senses Fail - Gold Jacket, Green Jacket...
Last week: 7.


5. Taylor Swift Ft. Future & Ed Sheeran - End Game
Last week: 6.


4. Seaway - London
Last week: 5.


3. Boston Manor - Drowned In Gold
Last week: 1.


2. Silverstein - Whiplash
Last week: 3.


1. We Were Sharks - Stay
Last week: 2.

Top 10 Countdown: March 3, 2018

10. Fall Out Boy - Wilson (Expensive Mistakes)
Last week: NEW!


9. Anti-Flag - Digital Blackout
Last week: 2.


8. Anti-Flag - Finish What We Started
Last week: 9.


7. Senses Fail - Gold Jacket, Green Jacket...
Last week: 8.


6. Taylor Swift Ft. Future & Ed Sheeran - End Game
Last week: 7.


5. Seaway - London
Last week: 6.


4. Neck Deep - Parachute
Last week: 1.


3. Silverstein - Whiplash
Last week: 5.


2. We Were Sharks - Stay
Last week: 3.


1. Boston Manor - Drowned In Gold
Last week: 4.

Special: 2017 In Review: 100 Best Songs of 2017 Part 6 (50 - 41)

PREVIOUS

50. The Menzingers - After The Party


49. Our Last Night - Caught In The Storm


48. Fall Out Boy - Champion


47. The Gospel Youth - Tired Eyes And Heavy Hearts


46. As It Is - No Way Out


45. Less Than Jake - Bomb Drop


44. Seaway - Apartment


43. Knuckle Puck - Double Helix


42. Neck Deep - Happy Judgment Day


41. Grayscale - Atlantic


NEXT

Special: 2017 In Review: Top 10 Music Videos of 2017

10. Roam - Playing Fiction


Why? Alright so at first glance I'll admit this video looks like a Furry's Fantasy. But that's not the case. Delve in deeper to the lyrical content and you'll realize the song is about gussying up life so it's like a fairytale... hence the song title "playing fiction". So Roam had a bunch of people dress like storybook characters as they roam (heh) through the city initially being weirded out but eventually coming to terms with it and joining in for the final act.

9. Courage My Love - Need Someone


Why? Sometime simplicity is all you need for a good video. This one almost didn't make the cut as I went back and forth but upon re-watching it months later I realized not only does this deserve a spot, but it's not just sneaking in at spot #10 either. The band acts there way through all the emotions with a song about being Friendzoned but still wanting to look out for that person. It's sad, it's fun, it's heartful and passionate. It's also #9 on this list.

8. Yellowcard - A Place We Set Afire


Why? Yellowcard is so much more than a band to me. The band may have announced their departure with the aptly named Rest In Peace but A Place We Set Afire is the song and video where we officially say goodbye. The video represents fond memories for any of us lucky enough to see Yellowcard live. A fitting goodbye, even though I still wasn't quite ready for it.

7. Ok Go - Obsession


Why? I don't fault anyone for putting this higher on their list, as far as production goes this probably deserves to be #1 on my list. The problem I have is Ok Go does these crazy videos so often that they are more famous for them than they are for their music and with every new video they come up it lags behind their earlier creations. Kudos for them for still entertaining us but this one probably ranks in the bank half of their videography.

6. All Time Low - Good Times


Why? Unfortunately discrimination is still prevalent in our society. Luckily now more than ever people have an outlet for their voice to be heard. Here All Time Low provide the lyrics that'll make you feel better, it's not all bad, one day you'll be able to leave and be appreciated, and when you do, don't forget the Good Times. I can be describing the song or the video here as they go hand in hand. In the video a middle eastern women is bullied and at the end on prom night she celebrates with her friends. It's a good time, and also a new beginning.

5. The Gospel Youth - Tired Eyes And Heavy Hearts


Why? The Gospel Youth released a few music videos this year but Tired Eyes is definitely their best. It's a sequel to their first single "Moods Like English Weather" which features a narrative similar to this with a man going through problems but also a performance piece from the band. Here, they ditched the performance piece and stuck with the narrative which also follows a man going through a tough time. At the end of the video he climbs a water tower, presumably to jump, just like in it's predecessor but when up there he runs into the man from Moods and both give each other strength. It's a look at the difficulties people may face but at the end of the day someone is always there to talk to and listen to you. They also provide the Suicide Hotline so anyone watching knows exactly where they can find an ear.

4. Fall Out Boy - Champion


Why? Fall Out Boy has made some really cool videos in the past, but it's been a while since they really had a good narrative to go along with the visuals. They knocked it out of the park with Champion though. It's a series of people using VR to pretend they are someone else. Some people want to be sexier, the sexy people want to be powerful, the powerful want to be rich and the rich want to be Pete Wentz. It's all connected!! Also ICU Jaden Smith.

3. Grayscale - Love Yourself


Why? So Grayscale is a pretty small band doing a cover of a Justin Bieber song, how the hell can they get ahead of bands like Fall Out Boy, Ok Go and All Time Low with a simple club performance piece? It's the message they get across. Justin was singing about Selina and her vanity. Grayscale took the song subject matter and turned it on it's head. They want everyone to truly love themselves, love their flaws, love their weakness', love their defects. The video was taken down shortly after going up (thanks Justin) but luckily went back up as the video spoke to me and was a joy to watch because of it.

2. The Summer Set - Jean Jacket


Why? I'm a huge movie fan so anything with a killer narrative catches my attention. The Summer Set went big for their last video from their last release (maybe ever?). I say maybe ever since the band is on hiatus so the singer can try out acting, something he should excel at given this video. Essentially the video is boy loves girl, girl gets kidnapped, boy has to save girl. But there are plenty of twists and turns along the way, including a surprise ending. The voiceover work (which usually annoys me in music videos) is surprisingly strong and the cinematography is top notch.

1. Run The Jewels - Legend Has It


Why? What Run The Jewels is doing for hip-hop is near unprecedented. What they are doing for the country IS unprecedented. El-P and Killer Mike make sure their voices are heard regardless of if they are trying to fix the country or smack down the corrupt leader of it. In the Legend Has It video they tackle the police and their racial profiling showing that all because someone acts a certain way doesn't make them criminals, often times it's the puppeteer pulling the strings behind the scenes that is. It's socially significant, it's well executed, it's my #1 video of 2017.

Top 10 Coutndown: September 16, 2017

10. Fall Out Boy - Champion
Last week: NEW!


9. Seaway - Apartment
Last week: 10.


8. The Gospel Youth - Tired Eyes And Heavy Hearts
Last week: 9.


7. Our Last Night - Caught In The Storm
Last week: NEW!


6. Neck Deep - Motion Sickness
Last week: 7.


5. Neck Deep - Happy Judgment Day
Last week: 1.


4. With Confidence - Archers
Last week: 5.


3. Grayscale Ft. Patty Walters (As It Is) - Come Undone
Last week: 4.


2. Broadside - Paradise
Last week: 3.


1. Good Charlotte Ft. Kellin Quinn (Sleeping With Sirens)
Last week: 2.

Special: A Decade Under The Influence: Albums From 2007

Welcome to "A Decade Under The Influence" where we'll look back 1 decade to find the best of whatever category we're focusing on. Today we're looking at all the great albums released 10 years ago in the year 2007.

10. Yellowcard - Paper Walls

Release Date: July 17, 2007

Record Label: Capitol

Choice Tracks: Light Up The Sky, Five Becomes Four and Cut Me, Mick

Review: Paper Walls should be described as a mingling of the band's previous material. The band has re-grouped with just enough One for the Kids (drumming and lyrics), a pinch of the Underdog EP (melodies), a healthy filling of Ocean Avenue (style and feel), and a tiny portion from only the best parts of Lights and Sounds (instrumentation). It was redemption for their former fans however with the pop-punk scene dying this album unfortunately buried Yellowcard for a few years until they made their aspiring comeback only to call it quits this year.

9. Amber Pacific - Truth In Sincerity

Release Date: May 22, 2007

Record Label: Hopeless

Choice Tracks: You're Only Young Once, Summer (In B) and Follow Your Dreams, Forget The Scene

Review: As much as Amber Pacific have similarities with other power pop/skateboard punk bands, their music has sonic wails and tangling coordinates that are truly of their own making. Their music has charisma and strength, exuberance and contrasting textures that give their songs character. Amber Pacific may have left us too soon however their 2 Hopeless releases will keep us reminiscing about the good old days.

8. Fall Out Boy - Infinity On High

Release Date: February 6, 2007

Record Label: Island

Choice Tracks: I'm Like A Lawyer With The Way I'm Always Trying To Get You Off (Me & You), Thnks Fr Th Mmrs and The Take Over, The Breaks Over

Review: How do you follow up such a ground breaking album such as From Under The Cork Tree? You don't play it safe. You continue to thrive and improve and with Jay-Z's blessing that's exactly what FOB does with Infinity. It doesn't come across as well as Cork Tree did, but it's about the closest they've come to it in the last decade plus of albums.

7. A Day To Remember - For Those Who Have Heart

Release Date: January 22, 2007

Record Label: Victory

Choice Tracks: Monument, The Plot To Bomb The Panhandle and Here's To The Past

Review: A Day to Remember have quite the multiple personality. One second they're blasting the most melodic pop-punk this side of NFG, and the next, they're channeling the depths of hell with acerbic growling and heavy breakdowns. And this is all in the same song. Somewhere an As I Lay Dying fan is dating a Fall Out Boy devotee, and they're in desperate need of a compromise album. For Those Who Have Heart could very well fill that void.

6. All Time Low - So Wrong It's Right

Release Date: September 25, 2007

Record Label: Hopeless

Choice Tracks: Six Feet Under The Stars, Holly (Would You Turn Me On)? and Dear Maria, Count Me In.

Review: All Time Low don’t rewrite pop-punk rules by filling their records with dramatic musical innovations or profound personal revelations. But the thing All Time Low does well is write pitch-perfect pop-punk anthems designed for sunny days at the beach/mall and evenings under the stars/influence they do really freaking well.

5. Four Year Strong - Rise Or Die Trying

Release Date: September 18, 2007

Record Label: I Surrender

Choice Tracks: Bada Bing! Wit A Pipe!, Beatdown In The Key Of Happy and Heroes Get Remembered, Legends Never Die

Review: The main theme of this album is that it's all supposed to be a lot of fun, and they have certainly achieved that goal. Some say it's a shame they went away from their uniqueness and went more cookie-cutter on ''Enemy Of The World'' but I disagree. This album had it's share of bangers but I feel FYS has evolved quite well and I would prefer EOTW as well as their EP to this springboard album even though this will always be how many people first heard and fell in love with Four Year Strong.

4. Paramore - Riot!

Release Date: June 12, 2007

Record Label: Fueled By Ramen

Choice Tracks: Misery Business, When It Rains and CrushCrushCrush

Review: I come to the question whose answer I have been mentally debating for the last few days. Is Riot! better than All We Know is Falling? The answer is probably a no. All We Know is Falling just seems much more innocent, emotional and probably better written. Like maybe popularity and money have taken away something Paramore used to have. But Riot is still mega catchy and sugary sweet.

3. Farewell - Isn't This Supposed To Be Fun!?

Release Date: September 25, 2007

Record Label: Epitaph

Choice Tracks: War, First One On The Blog and Eighty-Eights

Review: Some bands want to rock your socks off, while others, like Farewell for example, want to take the place of the rocket pops you used to get from the ice cream man when you were a kid. ISN'T THIS SUPPOSED TO BE FUN, an appropriate title for this candy colored treat of an album, is synth-greased power pop for people who liked the Rentals better than Weezer. Singer Marshall Davis and the tight pop harmonies of the group combine to create bright, breezy tunes that remind the listener of all the fun they've had (and should still be having) while listening to music.

2. Mayday Parade - A Lesson In Romantics

Release Date: July 10, 2007

Record Label: Fearless

Choice Tracks: Champagne's For Celebrating (I'll Have A Martini), Walk On Water Or Drown and If You Wanted A Song Written About You, All You Had To Do Is Ask.

Review: Every song is spectacular on this album and is a potential hit. In fact it was hard to narrow it down to three for the Choice Tracks. And even when I did I was shocked at all the great tracks I left off! The perfect hooks and lyrics just keep coming in this album.

Honourable Mentions:

Chiodos - Bone Pallace Ballet
New Found Glory - From Your Screen To Your Stereo Part 2
Anberlin - Cities
Jimmy Eat World - Chase This Light
Say Anything - In Defense Of The Genre
Relient K - Four Score And Seven Years
Silverstein - Arrivals And Departures
The Starting Line - Direction
Sum 41 - Underclass Hero
Saves The Day - Under The Boards
Good Charlotte - Good Morning Revival
MxPx - Secret Weapon

1. illScarlett - All Day With It

Release Date: July 9, 2007

Record Label: Sony BMG Canada

Choice Tracks: Nothing Special, The Fashion (Do Or Die) and N.T.F.

Review: All Day With It, the full-length debut by Toronto quartet illScarlett, is as gleamingly overwrought and damnably catchy as most of the angsty hard rock for suburbanites with which shoved illScarlett into the spotlight ten years ago.

Top 10 Countdown: June 20, 2015

10. Neck Deep - Can't Kick Up The Roots
Last week: NEW!

9. Fall Out Boy - Uma Thurman
Last week: 9.

8. Transit - The Only One
Last week: 4.

7.  Millencolin - Bring Me Home
Last week: 8.

6. Chunk! No, Captain Chunk! - The Other Line
Last week: 7.

5. Silverstein - Face Of The Earth
Last week: 6.

4. I The Mighty - Playing Catch With .22
Last week: 5.

3. Courage My Love - Kerosene
Last week: 3.

2. Hit The Lights - Life On The Bottom
Last week: 1.

1. As It Is - Cheap Shots & Setbacks
Last week: 2.

Top 10 Countdown: June 13, 2015

10. New Found Glory - One More Round
Last week: 3.

9. Fall Out Boy - Uma Thurman
Last week: 10.

8. Millencolin - Bring Me Home
Last week: NEW!

7. Chunk! No, Captain Chunk! - The Other Line
Last week: 8.

6. Silverstein - Face Of The Earth
Last week: 7.

5. I The Mighty - Playing Catch With .22
Last week: 6.

4. Transit - The Only One
Last week: 5.

3. Courage My Love - Kerosene
Last week: 4.

2. As It Is - Cheap Shots & Setbacks
Last week: 2.

1. Hit The Lights - Life On The Bottom
Last week: 1.

Top 10 Countdown: June 6, 2015

10. Fall Out Boy - Uma Thurman
Last week: NEW!

9. A Day To Remember - City Of Ocala
Last week: 4.

8. Chunk! No, Captain Chunk! - The Other Line
Last week: NEW!

7. Silverstein - Face Of The Earth
Last week: 8.

6. I The Mighty - Playing Catch With .22
Last week: 7.

5. Transit - The Only One
Last week: 6.

4. Courage My Love - Kerosene
Last week: 5.

3. New Found Glory - One More Round
Last week: 1.

2. As It Is - Cheap Shots & Setbacks
Last week: 3.

1. Hit The Lights - Life On The Bottom
Last week: 2.

Top 10 Countdown: April 25, 2015

10. Set It Off - Ancient History
Last week: NEW!

9. Fall Out Boy - Irresistible
Last week: 9.

8. Sleeping With Sirens - Go Go Go
Last week: 4.

7. Walk Off The Earth - Rule The World
Last week: 8.

6. All Time Low - Kids In The Dark
Last week: 7.

5. Hit The Lights - Life On The Bottom
Last week: 6.

4. New Found Glory - One More Round
Last week: 5.

3. Marianas Trench - Here's To The Zeros
Last week: 3.

2. A Day To Remember - City Of Ocala
Last week: 2.

1. State Champs - If I'm Lucky
Last week: 1.