TOP 5
Waterparks - Entertainment
Record Label: Equal Vision Records
Choice Cuts: Not Warriors, Blonde, Tantrum, Rare
Why: “I never, ever, wanted to make the same thing twice. I’ve showed friends demos and everyone’s like, ‘This is such a next step.’ There’s a very clear growth.” That quote is from Awsten Knight, lead singer and composer for Waterparks, after listening to Entertainment for more than a few spins, I can tell you that this is an accurate statement. Yes, there are the catchy, upbeat songs that Waterparks has made a career out of (Blonde, 11:11, Rare), but there are also plenty of surprises along the way (We Need to Talk, Crybaby). Entertainment is fun, catchy, and even a little bit unpredictable. Waterparks have pushed forward to become the best version of themselves that they can be, proving that they are here to stay.
State Champs - Living Proof
Record Label: Pure Noise Records
Choice Cuts: Crystal Ball, Something About You, Criminal, Frozen
Why: It stays exciting and unpredictable from beginning to end. Each song is unique from the last, but they’re similar enough to be comfortably tied into an album. I am extraordinarily pleased with the brilliance of ‘Living Proof’ and will be waiting with other State Champs fans for their next release. The pop hooks were catchier, the instrumentation went harder. It's everything you could want in a modern pop-punk release even if there was a misstep or two (*cough* Time Machine *cough*)
Real Friends - Composure
Record Label: Fearless Records
Choice Cuts: Ripcord, From The Outside, Get By, Me First
Why: Real Friends faced many struggles with frontman Dan Lambton's mental health, leading the group to cancel shows and take a brief, but unofficial hiatus. Thankfully, only a few months later, they are back and better than ever with the confident and cathartic Composure. In comparison with Real Friends‘ last two releases, Composure is a far, far better record and shows a sure sense of artistic direction. Upbeat, groove-filled tracks mask the seriousness of the lyrics and themes of mental illness, but in a manner that gets the message across without being overly pessimistic or gloom-ridden. All in all, this is the real Real Friends that we’ve all been waiting for.
With Confidence - Love And Loathing
Record Label: Hopeless Records
Choice Cuts: Moving Boxes, Icarus, That Something, Sing To Me
Why: Following Better Weather, Jayden Seeley (lead vocalist/bassist) had trouble finding inspiration and time for writing, overwhelmed by the band’s busy schedule. However, it would appear that, despite such challenges, the band came together in the end, making Love and Loathing an even stronger collection than their popular debut. Though the formula here is one very familiar to the genre, Love and Loathing shows several faces, all of which are desirable. The album, like the one before it, is a great ride worth taking again and again. With Confidence has held up their end in being named a top band to watch, so take notice if you haven’t already.
Good Charlotte - Generation Rx
Record Label: MDDN/BMG
Choice Cuts: Self-Help, Prayers, Shadowboxer, California (The Way I Say I Love You)
Why: Not the first band to put their emotions on full display, Good Charlotte has made Generation Rx full of feeling and poignant lyrics, backed by their always-impressive instrumentals. This is the band’s hardest-hitting album in a long time, both musically and lyrically. They aren’t pulling any punches. In nine tracks, GC finds a way to connect with some intense pain and deep-seeded fears, so much so that every listener will find themselves inevitably drawn in.
Just Missed
Senses Fail - If There Is Light, It Will Find You
Choice Cuts: Gold Jacket Green Jacket, New Jersey Makes The World Takes, Double Cross
We Were Sharks - Lost Touch
Choice Cuts: Beyond Repair, Hotel Beds, Stay
The Wonder Years - Sister Cities
Choice Cuts: We Look Like Lightning, Sister Cities, Pyramids Of Salt
Hawthorne Heights - Bad Frequencies
Choice Cuts: Just Another Ghost, Crimson Sand, Pink Hearts
Frank Turner - Be More Kind
Choice Cuts: Blackout, Be More Kind, Little Changes
Panic! At The Disco - Pray For The Wicked
Choice Cuts: Hey Look Ma I Made It, High Hopes, Say Amen (Saturday Night)
Mayday Parade - Sunnyland
Choice Cuts: Piece Of My Heart, Is Nowhere, Looks Red Tastes Blue
Against The Current - Past Lives
Choice Cuts: Strangers Again, The Fuss, Voices
As It Is - The Great Depression
Choice Cuts: The Handwritten Letter, The Wounded World, The Stigma (Boys Don't Cry)
The Story So Far - Proper Dose
Choice Cuts: Out Of It, Upside Down, Proper Dose
Andrew McMahon In The Wilderness - Upside Down Flowers
Choice Cuts: Goodnight Rock And Roll, Paper Rain, Ohio
Anti-Flag - American Reckoning
Choice Cuts: American Attraction, For What It's Worth, Trouble Follows Me
2nd Tier Classics
The Fever 333 - Made An America
Choice Cuts: Walking In My Shoes, Made An America
Fall Out Boy - Mania
Choice Cuts: Wilson (Expensive Mistakes), Champion
Blessthefall - Hard Feelings
Choice Cuts: Melodramatic, Find Yourself
Story Untold - Waves
Choice Cuts: In Or Out, All The Same (Once A Liar, Always A Liar)
Homesafe - Run
Choice Cuts: Vanilla-Scented Laser Beams, Run
You Me At Six - VI
Choice Cuts: Back Again, 3 AM
Hands Like Houses - Anon.
Choice Cuts: Black, Overthinking
5 Seconds Of Summer - Youngblood
Choice Cuts: Want You Back, Youngblood
WSTR - Identity Crisis
Choice Cuts: Bad To The Bone, Silly Me
Boston Manor - Welcome To The Neighborhood
Choice Cuts: Funeral Party, Halo
Like Pacific - In Spite Of Me
Choice Cuts: Sedatives, In Spite Of Me
Beartooth - Disease
Choice Cuts: Fire, Afterall
MxPx - Self-Titled
Choice Cuts: Best Life, The Way We Do
Arkells - Rally Cry
Choice Cuts: Hand Me Downs, Relentless
Other Favourites
William Ryan Key - Virtue EP
Atreyu - In Our Wake
Saves The Day - 9
I Don't Know How But They Found Me - 1981 EP
Bayside - Acoustic Volume 2
William Ryan Key - Thirteen
Dashboard Confessional - Crooked Shadows
Alkaline Trio - Is This Thing Cursed?
Tonight Alive - Underworld
