Special: 2020 In Review: Top 100 Singles Of 2020: 30 - 21

PREVIOUS

30. New Found Glory - Stay Awhile

29. Seaway - Mrs. David

28. Run The Jewels Ft. 2 Chainz - Out Of Sight

27. Broadside - Heavenly

26. Issues - Rain

25. Machine Gun Kelly - Concert For Aliens

24. Knuckle Puck Ft. Derek Sanders - Breathe

23. The Used Ft. Mark Hoppus - The Lighthouse

22. Four Year Strong - Talking Myself In Circles

21. Bowling For Soup - Alexa Bliss

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Top 10 Countdown: May 9, 2020

10. Issues - Rain
Last week: NEW!


9. Anti-Flag - 20/20 Vision
Last week: NEW!


8. Four Year Strong - Get Out Of My Head
Last week: 9.


7. Hot Mulligan - *Equip Sunglasses*
Last week: 8.


6. Neverkept - Complicated
Last week: 2.


5. Neck Deep - Lowlife
Last week: 7.


4. All Time Low - Sleeping In
Last week: 5.


3. Sleep On It - Falling Further Faster
Last week: 4.


2. Four Year Strong - Learn To Love The Lie
Last week: 3.


1. New Found Glory - Greatest Of All Time
Last week: 1.

Special: A Decade In Review: Best Songs of the 2010's: 40 - 31

PREVIOUS

40. Good Charlotte ft. Kellin Quinn (Sleeping With Sirens) - Keep Swingin'


39. Set Your Goals ft. John Gula (Turmoil) - Gaia Bleeds (Make Way For Man)


38. Real Friends - Mess


37. Courage My Love - Kerosene


36. Patent Pending - Hey Mario


35. Run The Jewels - ...Legend Has It


34. Seaway - London


33. Issues - Never Lose Your Flames


32. Set It Off - Why Worry?


31. Pierce The Veil Ft. Kellin Quinn (Sleeping With Sirens) - King For A Day


NEXT

Special: 2019 In Review: Best Songs of 2019: 50 - 41

PREVIOUS

50. Seaway - Pleasures


49. Issues - Tapping Out


48. Eat Your Heart Out - Carousel


47. Sum 41 - Out For Blood


46. Panic! At The Disco - Dancing's Not A Crime


45. A Day To Remember - Resentment


44. The Early November - Ave Maria


43. Senses Fail - Elevator To The Gallows


42. Carousel Kings - Lock Meowt


41. WhoHurtYou - Wish We Never Met


NEXT

Special: 2019 In Review: Best Albums of 2019

Top 5

blink-182 - Nine

Record Label: Columbia Records

Choice Cuts: On Some Emo Shit, Darkside, I Really Wish I Hated You, The First Time

Why? Definitely reminiscent of the untitled blink record. This album has dark themes throughout based upon the state of the world as well as the state of yourself and well-being. That being said you couldn't really tell if you didn't pay attention to the lyrics as this album is still bouncy and may just end up being my favourite since that untitled record, perhaps even surpassing it. blink makes it clear they don't need Tom or joke songs to put out a compelling record.

Waterparks - Fandom

Record Label: Hopeless Records

Choice Cuts: Easy To Hate, Watch What Happens Next, Cherry Red, War Crimes

Why? At this point it's obvious Waterparks will always be trying something new and FANDOM is riddled with new toys and tricks for the band to use. Awsten Knight went as far as to say that he almost scrapped a song (Telephone) because it was originally just a plain pop punk song but instead evolved it into something sonically different. There's still dashes of songs you can imagine being on their previous releases but layered in such a way that they also would seem out of place.

Sleep On It - Pride & Disaster

Record Label: Equal Vision Records

Choice Cuts: After Tonight, Babe Ruth, Under The Moment, Hold Your Breath

Why? Sleep On It's 2nd album is cut from a similar clothe although the evolution isn't as drastic, it works. Pride & Disaster fires on all cylinders as the album is full of hit after hit. Zech's voice is the highlight just above the improved harmonies and musicianship. If Overexposed was the gold standard, this might be the platinum standard.

Grayscale - Nella Vita

Record Label: Fearless Records

Choice Cuts: Desert Queen, Painkiller Weather, IN Violet, Twilight (My Heaven)

Why? Grayscale definitely went poppier on this record and that's not a bad thing though they definitely buried the lead with the two lead singles even if they had pop twinges to them. If I wasn't for lead singer Colin Walsh's distinct voice I might think this was a The 1975 record (again not a sleight) but even if you're not into that there s still a few pop punk bangers like Twilight and Desert Queen along with the previously alluded to Painkiller Weather and In Violet.

Set It Off - Midnight

Record Label: Fearless Records

Choice Cuts: Criminal Minds, Killer In The Mirror, For You Forever, Midnight Thoughts

Why? This album is so strong I couldn't keep it out of the top 5 but the hold backs are there is a quite a few filler tracks that could've been cut from the 15 song tracklisting and still let you feel okay about the album length, that said when the songs are on they are on, mixing styles, catchy corus' and lead singer Cody Carson's strong vocals make Midnight a treat for SIO fans and non-fans alike.

Just Missed

Fever 333 - Strength In Numb333rs

Choice Cuts: Burn It, One Of Us, The Innocent

Roam - Smile Wide

Choice Cuts: I Don't Think I Live There Anymore, Hand Grenade, Play Dumb

The Maine - You Are OK

Choice Cuts: Slip The Noose, Forevermore, My Best Habit

Sleeping With Sirens - How It Feels To Be Lost

Choice Cuts: Break Me Down, How It Feels To Be Lost, Never Enough

Bayside - Interrobang

Choice Cuts: Bury Me, Interrobang, Prayers

Jimmy Eat World - Surviving

Choice Cuts: All The Way (Stay), Criminal Energy, Surviving

The Menzingers - Hello Exile

Choice Cuts: Strangers Forever, America (You're Freaking Me Out), Anna

Locket - All Out

Choice Cuts: Hunnie, Out Of Sight, All Out

Issues - Beautiful Oblivion

Choice Cuts: Tapping Out, Your Sake, Drink About It

New Found Glory - From Your Screen To Your Stereo 3

Choice Cuts: This Is Me, The Power Of Love, Accidentally In Love

I Prevail - Trauma

Choice Cuts: Gasoline, Hurricane, Bow Down

Sum 41 - Order In Decline

Choice Cuts: 45 (A Matter Of Time), Out For Blood, Heads Will Roll

2nd Tier Classics

Aaron West And The Roaring Twenties - Routine Maintenance

Choice Cuts: Lead Paint & Salt Air, Runnin' Towards The Light

Pup - Morbid Stuff

Choice Cuts: Kids, See You At Your Funeral

The Early November - Lilac

Choice Cuts: Ave Maria, Fame

Silverstein - Redux - The First 10 Years

Choice Cuts: Bleeds No More, Still Dreaming

All Time Low - It's Still Nothing Personal: A Ten Year Tribute

Choice Cuts: Weightless, A Party Song (The Walk Of Shame)

Weezer - The Teal Album

Choice Cuts: Africa, No Scrubs

Marianas Trench - Phantoms

Choice Cuts: I Knew You When, Wish You Were Here

Senses Fail - From The Depths Of Dreams EP (Reissue)

Choice Cuts: Bastard Son, Bloody Romance

Simple Creatures - Strange Love EP

Choice Cuts: Adrenaline, Lucy

Simple Creatures - Everything Opposite EP

Choice Cuts: One Little Lie, Thanks I Hate It

Seaway - Fresh Produce

Choice Cuts: Closer, Blur

Eat Your Heart Out - Florescence

Choice Cuts: Carousel, Closer To The Sun

Carousel Kings - Plus Ultra

Choice Cuts: Lock Meowt, Monarch

Taylor Swift - Lover

Choice Cuts: Death By A Thousand Cuts, I Think He Knows

Other Favourites

As It Is - The Great Depression: Reimagined (All 4 EP's)

Weezer - The Black Album

Silverstein - When Broken Is Easily Fixed Live

The Damned Things - High Crimes

Our Last Night - Let Light Overcome

Our Last Night - Overcome The Darkness

Hawthorne Heights - Lost Frequencies

Rarity - The Longest Lonesome

Too Close To Touch - I'm Hard To Love, But So Are You EP (All 3 Volumes)

Special: First Listen Thoughts: Waterparks "FANDOM", Issues "Beautiful Oblivion" and Sleep On It "Pride & Disaster"

Waterparks - FANDOM

Label: Hopeless Records

Press Release: FANDOM, the third full-length from Waterparks (and first on Hopeless Records), and produced by Zakk Cervini (Good Charlotte, Beartooth), is an eclectic and enigmatic collection of songs that include the aforementioned “Watch What Happens Next” and the frenetic, tornado-like, “Turbulent” that was released in late May.

My thoughts: At this point it's obvious Waterparks will always be trying something new and FANDOM is riddled with new toys and tricks for the band to use. Awsten Knight went as far as to say that he almost scrapped a song (Telephone) because it was originally just a plain pop punk song but instead evolved it into something sonically different. There's still dashes of songs you can imagine being on their previous releases but layered in such a way that they also would seem out of place. Overall it listens very well the first time through, it'll be interesting if it can stand up to the other 2 full lengths over time however.

Issues - Beautiful Oblivion

Label: Rise Records

Press Release: Issues will release a new album, "Beautiful Oblivion", on October 4 via Rise Records. The disc takes the band's signature cocktail of metallic groove, hip-hop aplomb, alternative echoes, and edgy pop appeal a step further. The Atlanta band has delivered an instantly irresistible collection of anthems where singer Tyler Carter's nimble delivery seamlessly slips from R&B swagger into hard-hitting heaviness.

My thoughts: I don't think there is a better way to describe this record then "Heavy Pop". A lot was made of Issues kicking out screamer Michael Bohn before this 3rd record was recorded and although the 2 first singles were undeniably heavy, the album as a whole has a heavy pop influence even in some of the songs that have the heavy guitar riffs, Tyler Carter's soulful voice layers on top of it beautifully giving us some of Issues best work but only time will tell if their fanbase will get on board with this new sound.

Sleep On It - Pride & Disaster

Label: Equal Vision Records

Press Release: Pride & Disaster is the follow-up to 2017’s Overexposed, and features production by Mike Green and Kyle Black. With Pride & Disaster, Sleep On It harnesses the strength and vulnerability of the human spirit. Over the course of ten songs, they makes a case for enjoying life, even when times are tough, and never shying away from your truth. The positivity found throughout Pride & Disaster adds a silver lining to an album that is also unafraid to address the problems that many, including the band, face with mental health.

My thoughts: My last installment of this series praised all 3 bands for evolving their sound while still harking back to their earlier works. Sleep On It's 2nd album is cut from a similar clothe although the evolution isn't as drastic, it works. Pride & Disaster fires on all cylinders as the album is full of hit after hit and is a contender for Album of the Year after only one listen. Zech's voice is the highlight just above the improved harmonies and musicianship. If Overexposed was the gold standard, this might be the platinum standard.

Top 10 Countdown: August 24, 2019

10. Issues - Tapping Out
Last week: NEW!


9. Sleeping With Sirens - Leave It All Behind
Last week: 9.


8. The Story So Far - If I Fall
Last week: NEW!


7. Neck Deep - She's A God
Last week: NEW!


6. Marshmello Ft. A Day To Remember - Rescue Me
Last week: 8.


5. Mayday Parade - Looks Red, Tastes Blue
Last week: 5.


4. State Champs - Frozen
Last week: 4.


3. Courage My Love - Teenagers
Last week: 7.


2. Hawthorne Heights - Starlighter (Echo, Utah)
Last week: 2.


1. Grayscale - Painkiller Weather
Last week: 1.

Special: Christmas CD

Howdy folks! With every holiday season that comes you get treated to a new volume of the hit Christmas compilation, which I make every year, "What's A Partridge? What's A Pear Tree?". We're at volume 8 this year and the information for download and tracklist is below, but before we get into that, here is the link to last year's post which has last year's CD (volume 7) and a direct link to the previous years article which has volumes one through six. (LINK IS HERE) And now here's the obligatory "I own none of the music listed here or in previous articles" quote.

What's A Partridge? What's A Pear Tree? Volume 8

http://www.mediafire.com/download/qj8hn5hcu3ucla9/What%27s_A_Partridge_What%27s_A_Pear_Tree_Volume_7.zip

1. Relient K - Angels We Have Heard On High
2. Seasons Change - Holidays
3. Count Your Blessings - Round Up The Christmas Tree
4. Jason Lancaster - All I Can Give You
5. Issues - Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays
6. It's Only A Story - I'm Coming Home
7. Amely - Christmas Time Again
8. William Beckett - Do You Hear What I Hear?
9. State Faults - Mookie's Last Christmas
10. Automatic Habit - Merry Christmas, Don't Come Home
11. Divide & Conquer - I Sat On Santa's Lap And All I Got Was This Restraining Order
12. Metro Station - Last Christmas
13. This Wild Life - Sleigh Ride
14. MxPx - 2005
15. Sunrise Skater Kids - 12 Days Of A Pop Punk Christmas
16. Sherri Dupree & Max Bemis - White Christmas
17. Hawk Nelson - Up On The Housetop
18. illScarlett - Christmas Vacation
19. Daisyhead - Silent Night
20. A Rocket To The Moon - Santa Claus Is Coming To Town