Originally I was going to do a top ten albums of the year
but there was just too many good albums released this year so I decided to do a
top twenty (bit of a copout I know). Here are albums 20 to 11.
20. Red City Radio by
Red City Radio
Oklahoma's Red City Radio are a band that keep going from
strength to strength. In 2015 they released their third full-length album on
Staple Records and it continued on from the excellent second album Titles. The
album's first single Two Out Of Three Ain't Rad is the best song of the year.
19. Better Whenever
by Elway
Elway are a band that have become known over the years for
producing some of the best sing-along punk rock music in the world. This year
they released Better Whenever, an album which showed a more mature side to the
Colorado four-piece. They slowed the pace down and showed off some absolutely
fantastic song writing ability.
18. Make The Noise by
Rehasher
Whenever Roger from Less Than Jake finds the time to release
music under the Rehasher moniker it's a very exciting time. This third Rehasher
album did not disappoint. This album isn't quite as aggressive as Rehasher's
previous efforts but features some brilliant fast-paced pop punk. I wish
Rehasher would be more active, and find a way to play some UK shows.
17. Back To The
Drawing Room by Smokey Bastard
Smokey Bastard are one of the top folk punk bands in the
country. Late in the year, after a very successful Pledge Music campaign, they
released the excellent Back To The Drawing Room. Sometimes folk punk can be
kind of samey but this is certainly not the case here; it's a varied album that
sees Smokey Bastard play all types of folk punk and play them all very, very
well.
16. Paper Bones by
Science Made Us Robots
Science Made Us Robots released a pop punk album in a style
like I have never heard before. Titled Paper Bones, musically it's fast, fun three-chord
punk rock at its best but the vocals deliver a fantastic Celtic tone. There is
so much energy and passion displayed throughout the fifteen songs on the album that
it’s a must listen.
15. Pocket Universe
by Don Blake
Don Blake are another band that released a pop punk album
with a more mature sound. Pocket Universe was put out by Round Dog Records and
features such topics as dealing with insecurities, dealing with the effects of
suicide and learning from your mistakes. I love this record because it shows
that great pop punk doesn't just have to be played at a rapid pace and just be
about girls.
14. Apologies/Apathy
by Dynamite Dynamite
With Apologies/Apathy Dynamite Dynamite really stepped up
their game. Utilising two different vocalists with two unique styles these
Scunthorpe boys really came into their own with this album. It combines fast
skate punk with some excellent melodic punk and features some of the best
harmonies heard on any album this year.
13. To The Moon by
Popes Of Chillitown
I always love when a band can transfer their live
performance to record without losing any of the energy in the recording. This
was definitely the case on To The Moon by London's Popes Of Chilltown.
Combining rapid fire vocals, big choruses, an excellent horn section and a fine
back beat it won't be long until the Popes are the biggest ska band in the
scene.
12. Lifestyle Brand
by Imperial Leisure
I wasn't the biggest fan of Imperial Leisure's second album
Death To The One Trick Pony so when Lifestyle Brand was released I did approach
it with a bit of caution. There was absolutely no need for that at all as
Imperial Leisure seemed reinvigorated when this album was released early in the
year. If you want a good time, party album this is it, from the ultimate good
time party band. Probably the only album this year to feature a song about the
vajazzle as well.
11. Tales From
Wyoming by Teenage Bottlerocket
Teenage Bottlerocket's Tales From Wyoming was a very special
album before the tragic passing of drummer Brandon Carlisle in early November.
It cemented my belief that Teenage Bottlerocket are the best pop punk band on
earth and is a very fitting album for what sadly turned out to be Brandon's
last. Teenage Bottlerocket have always had an ability to write insanely catchy
songs but on Tales From Wyoming they managed to add a lot of heart to go along
with the humour in the songs.
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