Colin's Top Ten EPs, Albums and Live Sets of 2019

Every year, doing an end of year list gives me a bigger and bigger headache. I love finding more and more new bands and discovering more great music. It gives me a great amount of joy uncovering a gem that nobody I know has heard of and being able to share it with anyone who will listen. Because of my unending urge to continue to discover more new bands each year, as well as remaining a fan of older bands, narrowing down a top ten albums and EPs each year becomes harder and harder. The punk rock world seems to be growing and growing with more and more top quality bands popping up everywhere. It's absolutely incredible to see and warms my heart but gosh it makes these end of year lists stressful.

This year I have decided to share my top ten albums, EPs and live sets of 2019. I am by no means saying that my choices are the right choice or the very best overall, I'm sure plenty of other people will have different favourites that they think are better than my choices. Music is subjective after all and I love to hear different opinions on what other folk enjoyed and connected with the most.

Top Ten EPs 2019

10. Kill The Boy Band EP by She/Her/Hers

From the moment I heard the song Kill The Boy Band by Michigan's She/Her/Hers I needed to hear more. Playing wonderfully creative yet sad pop punk, not only do She/Her/Hers write brilliantly hooky songs but they do an amazing job in making you think about things. Not afraid to throw out the genre rule book, the band do things their own way and this really makes them stand out from the pack. I'm hoping a UK tour is in the works for the band as I'd love to hear these songs live.

9. Hexed by The Hallingtons

I've been a fan of Norwegian Ramonescore band The Hallingtons since hearing their previous effort, 1-2-3-4 Songs, in 2017. At the end of August the three piece released a new EP titled Hexed and I knew, as I saw it was six songs in just eleven minutes, that I was going to enjoy it. I love this form of no thrills, fast pop punk. It fills me with energy and never fails to make me smile. What's not to love about that? Covering topics such as religion, girls, witches, girls, relationships and girls, The Hallingtons are kings of writing a catchy track that you'll be humming along with and tapping your toes to immediately.

8. Punxsutawney by The Jawnstowne Standard

The Jawnstowne Standard are a very new discovery. So new that I hadn't ever heard of them a week before it was time to write this list. I discovered them on a Bandcamp discovery binge and quickly fell in love with their orgcore pop punk sound. This is a sound that I adore at the moment. Catchy songs, big choruses and massive fist in the air shout along moments. Punxsutawney features four songs that drew me in from the start. If I had heard this EP sooner, there's a good chance that it would be even higher up this list.

7. Crucial Moments by The Bouncing Souls

I always have a bit of trepidation when one of my all-time favourite bands releases something new. When The Bouncing Souls released the EP Crucial Moments, it took me a little while to gather the courage to listen to it incase it didn't hit the high standards that I expect from the legendary band. I was other the moon when I listened to it and heard everything I love about the Souls. It shows off all sides of the band – anthemic songs, sweet love songs and hard hitting, ferocious punk rock with a sense of humour. Releases like this show why The Bouncing Souls have had such a long and distinguished career

6. Divide And Conga by King Punch

It's no secret about our love for the Be Sharp Promo/New Cross Inn ska punk scene. One band who have been at the forefront of that scene over the past few years is King Punch. Known as much for their energetic live performances as for their ska/punk/swing bangers, King Punch are one of those bands that never fail to entertain. Divide And Conga features three original songs and one ridiculous cover, all of which destroy the troupe that all ska punk sounds the same and will all get you dancing. The band also released the best music video of the year for the opening track Sit Still which can be viewed here.

5. Vacation To Helheim by The Palatines

The first of two bands on my list of favourite EPs from 2019 that were on my top album list of 2018, Texan pop punks The Palatines are one of the best new pop punk bands in the world and if you’re a fan of bands like Teenage Bottlerocket or The Copyrights then they really need to be on your radar. Super fast buzzing guitars and pounding drums get you amped up immediately. The real strength in The Palatines, for me at least, is the variation in the vocals. Excelling at rough and rowdy shouts or more melodic and sweet vocals, they give the band something that many of the other bands in the genre don't have – a fresh feeling allows them to not sound stale.

4. Community Backwash by Flangipanis

Australia's Flangipanis were also included in my top albums of 2018 for their Always The Bridesmaid release. In September, the skate punks released a new seven track EP named Community Backwash. A band that love to party and don't take themselves too seriously, these aren't songs that are going to change the world and maybe you shouldn't play them in front of your in-laws but this is the kind of crass and juvenile punk rock that we all grew up on and that's why I love it. It's a throwback and reminds me of simpler times when life was less complicated. It's one of those releases that offers that wonderful form of escapism that is important every now and then.

3. Everything Trouble Meant by Katie MF

The fact that Everything Trouble Meant by Katie MF isn't number one on this list says just how good numbers one and two are. I've been championing Katie MF to anyone who would listen all year, I think that highly of them not just as musicians but as people. Everything Trouble Meant was released in May but we were fortunate enough to get a sneak preview and Emma and myself were completely blown away by it. Opening with the emotional Do Without before picking up on songs such as Leather Jacket and Praying For Rain, this is emotional punk rock infused folk music that will have you welling up (more on that later) and singing along passionately to every word.

2. Glow by Triple Sundae

We've been fans of Triple Sundae for a long while now and it's been the biggest pleasure seeing them develop as a band over the past few years. It seems that with every release the band go from strength to strength. On Glow, the band pick up from where they left us on the previous release, Peace Of Mind, with six more melodic sad boy pop punk songs about dealing with mental health issues. Hassan has one of the best voices in the UK scene in my opinion and is backed brilliantly by drummer Zandro. Lyrically the band are one of the best around at the moment, articulating their messages perfectly and really allowing the listener to relate. As the band continue to go from strength to strength, I'm really looking forward to whatever comes next from Triple Sundae.

1. Murmur by Modern Shakes

Ian Crook has been in and around the London punk scene for years now, with either his old band Janowski or his acoustic act Wayfairer. In 2018, he formed a new band named Modern Shakes. I had the pleasure of seeing them play one of their first shows together and was instantly impressed. Playing that melodic sing-along pop punk that I enjoy so much, I was eager to hear more from them. When they released Murmur in July, I knew that nothing was going to top this EP for me. All four songs spoke to me, as Modern Shakes talk about adventuring into your thirties and the choices and conundrums that come with that. Each song is packed with that infectious energy that I really look for in the music I'm listening – if anything sparks that reaction in me then I'm a big fan. Modern Shakes are perhaps one of the best bands around at the moment that you perhaps haven't heard of yet. If I were you then I would remedy that.

Top Ten Albums 2019

Honourable mentions: In Motion by The Run Up, Aced Out by The Overjoyed, Yes I Can't by Devon Kay & The Solutions, Encore by The Specials, Optimal Lifestyles by Pkew Pkew Pkew, Get Lost! by Radio Buzzkills, Grow Up Trash by Problem Daughter, Live Free by Get It Together, Regulars by Dead Bars, This Could Be Okay by Cold Wrecks, Hard Pop by Telethon, Defcon 1-2-3-4 by Covert Flops, Dancing Wrestling Burning Wood by Wham Bam Bodyslam, Escape From Everything by Codename Colin, Ambivalence by The Prozacs, Syphilis Totalus by Flabbercasters, Hans Gruber And The Die Hards 2 by Hans Gruber And The Die Hards, Fires To Find Our Friends by Lead Shot Hazard, Confessions Of A Justified Cynic by The Kimberly Steaks, Get It Together by MakeWar.

10. Missing Parts by Nightmarathons

I'd heard of Nightmarathons before 2019 but never really gave them much of a listen. Their album Missing Parts was released at the end of March and it took me a while to really listen to it properly. I did put in a playlist of 2019 releases and whenever songs from it came on I always thought "oooh, what's this?" This made me really properly listen to it and I discovered an album full of sing-along melodic pop punk with great vocals, harmonies and gang parts. I love how distinctive the different vocals are in the harmonies and gang parts. It gives Nightmarathons something slightly different to many of the other fantastic bands in their genre.

9. Chosen Family by Burn Burn Burn

I first discovered Seattle's Burn Burn Burn on a split they did with ...Whatever That Means and I thought they were a really good band. In February, they released Chosen Family and I discovered they had become a really great band. Something I really loved about Chosen Family was the variety on display. At heart, this is another melodic gruff punk album but it's also so much more. The album is teaming with energy, intensity, melody, sing-alongs, hooks, emotion, relatable lyrics and thought-provoking moments. I'm looking forward to one day seeing these songs played live, as I imagine it'll take them up another level.

8. Parched by Thirsty Guys

As the ska punk super fan at CPRW, it's probably no surprise that there's four ska punk albums in my top ten. The first is Parched by Thirsty Guys. I discovered Thirsty Guys purely because another band on this list released an album on the same label (Bad Time Records) that Parched was released on. Parched certainly isn't your typical ska punk album, for one thing it only features some brass on one song. There's a raw and chaotic feel to the whole album which I found incredibly endearing. It's a little rough around the edges and I love that. There's so much going on throughout the entire album, every time I listen to it I hear a little extra thing that I had missed on the previous listen. This gives Parched a great amount of longevity and means I keep going back to it.

7. Night Shifts by Überyou

I think it's fair to say that no band had a bigger impact on Emma and I in 2019 that Switzerland's Überyou. Emma fell in love as soon as she heard Night Shifts but it took me until I got to see them live to fully appreciate just how good it is. It reminds me a bit of Red City Radio in that Überyou write songs that empower and inspire. However, whereas I've often found Red City Radio to be a bit of a singles kind of band, Überyou have written a whole album of bangers that not only have you wanting to throw your fists in the air and scream along but also make you feel strong.

6. Deals, Deals, Deals! by Ramona

I was looking back through the Red Scare Industries back catalogue and the Chicago based label have never released a bad record. 2019's best from the label was Deals, Deals, Deals! by Ramona. From the opening of the first song, Jet Fuel Can't Melt Steel Hearts, I knew I would enjoy this record as I loved Abby's voice. Then on the second song, Not Your Token, Diego vocal took the lead and I fell in love with that as well. Then, later on the album, they combine their voices and I'm in musical heaven – two fantastic and distinct vocals coming together and sounding the best. On the album, Ramona tackle a number of different subjects including relationships and mental health and do it in a way that will be so cathartic for so many people listening.

5. No Faith by Omnigone

The second pick in my top ten to come from Bad Time Records is No Faith by Omnigone. Formed by former Link 80 member Adam Davis, No Faith includes a fantastic mixture of hardcore, punk and ska. Another album I connected with immediately, I remember the first time that I sat down to listen to it and just feeling something I can't describe. It just made me want to move, to dance, to sing, to smash down barriers – just do something. It's been some time since any album has really done that to me. The album is only 21 minutes long and manages to do so much during that time. Honestly, I loved this album it could've been number one. It's only number five, that really shows how much I thought of the next four albums.

4. Maximum Effort by Just Say Nay

When I heard that London's Just Say Nay were working on a their first full length I was expecting big things. As one of my favourite live bands of the past couple of years, I'd already seen that they can put together some impressive music. Maximum Effort was a long time in the making but when it was finally released in October I don't think that even the people with the highest of expectations imagined it would be this good. The nine piece (yup, nine) have written an album that contains ska, punk, pop, rap, gypsy, yodelling and even an eight minute (yup, eight) long song that is potentially my song of the year. Something I find most impressive about Maximum Effort is that JSN have managed to find a way to fit all of their different instruments in to the album, making them all feel vital and not have it seem like overkill. Without a doubt the UK ska punk album of the year.

3. Save Us All by Be Like Max

According to Spotify, I have listened to Save Us All by Be Like Max more than any other album in the entire four years I've had a premium account. That stat alone should show you how much I've enjoyed this album. The entire album is like injecting caffeine straight into your bloodstream, it's a non-stop high energy party from start to finish. Thankfully it's only twenty minutes long – I don't have the stamina to lose my stuff continuously for much longer than that. It's a relentless wonderful time. Lyrically, there is a lot going on – tackling topics such as politics, the #metoo movement, working for the man and the media, all the while giving you something to believe in and hold on to whilst you're doing your very best dance moves. The thing that just edged out Maximum Effort to being by favourite ska album of 2019 is the fact that I can't pick a favourite song on Save Us All. All eleven songs are brilliant and get me so hyped up whenever I hear them be in a playlist on shuffle or listening the album from start to finish. If I were one of those people who enjoyed a workout this would be my album of choice.

2. Never Better by Burnt Tapes

Picking between my number one and two albums is definitely the hardest choice I've had to make this year and if you ask me tomorrow I might have changed my mind. Much like their great friends in Triple Sundae, being able to watch the Burnt Tapes develop into one of the best bands in the UK over the past four years has been the biggest pleasure. I loved everything the band put out before Never Better was released in February and I had a strong feeling that it would be a contender for album of the year just based on the singles Yuzi and Don't Make Be Play Bocelli. Then I was lucky enough to get an early preview of the album and I was taken aback by just how good it was. The progression these guys have made is staggering. The amount of thought and care that has gone into the creation of Never Better is incredible. There are so many little nuances and easter eggs littered throughout that connect things together in a way that feels completely natural. The dual vocals of Phil and Pan both shine throughout, complimenting each other perfectly. The Tapes have tried some new things on the album as well, including some slower songs and some guest vocals making a more rounded sound for the band. And proving they are a band who are wanting to grow and have plenty of ambition. I haven't heard a better punk album from a band based in the UK in years – also Dirt Roads is the best song of 2019.

1. What An Awful Life by Captain Asshole

If you've spoken to me about music in any way this year, I imagine I have recommended What An Awful Life by Munich's Captain Asshole and you're probably in no way surprised that it's my album of the year. I have to admit when I was first sent an album by a band named Captain Asshole I was pretty apprehensive about it – what band worth their salt would give themselves such a bad name? I gave it a listen though and found myself getting almost as excited about an album as when I heard Holy Shit by Davey Dynamite in 2016 (that album has become by favourite album ever) and I get pretty excitable when I start talking about new bands that I like. Everything I love about pop punk erupts out of What An Awful Life. My three favourite things in music are featured massively throughout – harmonies, gang vocals and an infectious energy. If any song features those three things then they're an instant winner in my book, What An Awful Life has twelve songs that feature those things. It's not a case of every song sounding the same though, far from it. Each song has their own little differences keeping things varied but you also know full well you're listening to a Captain Asshole song. Each song is full of great hooks that will have you singing along quickly and will quickly add to your enjoyment of the tracks. These are songs that are designed for you to be involved with them and, for me, that's a big part of why I love punk rock – I like to feel involved. Much like Save Us All, I just can't pick a favourite song from What An Awful Life – basically whichever song I'm currently listening to is my favourite. The thing that really tipped the scales for What An Awful Life being my favourite album of 2019 is that when I was working on this list the opening track, Where The Fuck Is Kyoto came on and, literally when the first chords were played, I was so unbelievably excited to get to listen to the album again. That's a sign of a fucking good album.

Top Ten Live Sets 2019

For me, the ultimate test of how good a band is is by how good they are live. This doesn't have to be because they are technically brilliant and hit every note or chord perfectly. For me, it's about how they connect with the crowd. You can be the most musically proficient band in the world but if you don't make me feel anything then I won't want to see you live. Nothing gives me a bigger high than seeing my favourite bands absolutely kill it live. (Though the mighty Crystal Palace haven't won the league yet, I suspect that would top it). Here's my top ten live sets of 2019:

10. Burnt Tapes at Urban Bar, London (5/4/19)

It felt super fitting that the Burnt Tapes would return to Urban Bar, the setting for the release party of their previous release Alterations, for the launch for their debut LP Never Better. What was even better was that this time they sold it out. This is a great example of how far these lads have come and how they continue to pick up new fans along the way. It was absolutely wonderful to see so many people turn out to not just support but to squeeze down the front and sing along to every word. Never Better had come out a month earlier which meant that the whole room was able to sing along with the band. This was also the only time I've seen them play Dirt Road live, a song I hope they play more next year.

9. Just Say Nay at Level Up Festival, New Cross Inn, London (21/7/19)

When it was announced that Just Say Nay would be playing an acoustic set in the tiny Stock's Bar in the basement of the New Cross Inn for Level Up Festival I don't think that anyone imagined all nine members would be participating. It turned out we were wrong, very wrong, as the band proved just what a "logistical nightmare" they could be. The bar was really cramped for what was the highlight of the entire weekend. Watching the band play through rarely seen acoustic songs of so many favourites was something to behold and the volume of the sing-alongs was incredible.

8. Just Say Nay at New Cross Inn, London (11/10/19)

Yes, Just Say Nay at the New Cross Inn again. This time for the launch party of their album, Maximum Effort. The band have always been excellent live but this set was just something special. Playing through the album from start to finish, the room was full of smiles, dancing and singing along when possible (the album was released on the same day as the show). This was one of those special sets where you get to see a band at the very top of their game, with all nine members of the band on top form. Highlights of the set included trombone player Mikey T getting crowd surfed during With A Twist Of Lemon, Leo taking DIY punk to a new level and playing most of the set balanced on stool on the side of the stage, Low Blow – not many songs get better reactions at New Cross – and a complete play through of the epic Kuromouri. This was Just Say Nay stepping away from being the best kept secret in the UK ska scene and really staking a claim for being the most exciting band in the country.

7. Überyou on MS Tonne, Booze Cruise Festival, Hamburg (9/6/19)

Booze Cruise Festival in Hamburg was a massive highlight of my entire year, it's a wonderful festival that everyone should go to. Part of the festival takes place on a boat that goes around Hamburg harbour, docking between bands so people could get on and off. Emma and I decided to stay on for the duration to see The Muttnicks, Arterials, The Run Up, Bong Mountain and Überyou. Überyou undoubtedly stole the show with a terrific performance. Having seen them the previous night in a more traditional setting and seeing just how good they were live, I knew this set was going to be something special. I've not seen many bands connect with a crowd like Überyou do and when they are floor level with the crowd this connection just goes up another notch. There were so many fists in the air and crowd surfs, it was easy to forget that we were on a moving boat. To add to the wild party atmosphere they had already created, they finished their set with covers of Against Me!'s Sink, Florida Sink and Journey's Don't Stop Believing.

6. Chewing On Tinfoil at New Cross Inn, London (2/2/19)

I'm not sure there's a band more universally loved at the New Cross Inn than Chewing On Tinfoil. When they were announced to be playing Be Sharp Promotion's Paul's birthday show, tickets went very quickly. Friends from all over the UK and pals from Belgium made the trip to South London for what was a very special night. Not many bands illicit such powerful and emotive sing-alongs like Chewing On Tinfoil do. It was just one big party from start to finish and as they played through so many favourites during their set the crowd got more and more joyously raucous. It wasn't long into the set before the stage dives and crowd surfing began, including a couple of first timers who the band encouraged the crowd to look after. This was one of those magical sets where you come away with goose bumps and you're just at a loss for words for how good it was. I can't wait to see them again at Manchester Punk Festival next April.

5. Call Me Malcolm at Gorilla, Manchester Punk Festival (19/4/19)

When Call Me Malcolm were announced for MPF 19 I figured they would play in the tiny zombie shack to what I thought would be a handful of ska punk fans at the festival. Gosh I was wrong. They played in the massive Gorilla venue to a packed crowd and blew the roof off of the place. Call Me Malcolm must be the band I've seen the most over the past couple of years and they have always been a big highlight every time. I don't think the band could have ever imagined the incredible reception they received at the festival, with it seeming like the entire room was enthusiastically dancing and singing along. There was a collective sense of pride from the New Cross Inn gang who were in the crowd, seeing one of our own completely smash their set. The massive sing-along at the end of, the always crowd pleasing, All My Nameless Friends was a true goosebump moment – I'm not sure there was a bigger sing-along to any song throughout the entire weekend.

4. The Run Up at Molotow Club Sky Bar, Booze Cruise Festival, Hamburg (8/6/19)

This was one of those "holy moly" moments. I was watching Überyou in one part of Hamburg and then I dashed across the city to go and watch my friends in The Run Up. I was shocked when I got there and the room was absolutely jam packed, I had to squeeze into the side of the room. I was shocked because I've gotten so used to seeing the band play to fairly small crowds in London – it turns out that The Run Up are megastars in Hamburg and it was so pleasing to see. One of the friendliest and hardest working bands I know getting the kind of reception that I feel they truly deserve. The band had this wonderful connection with the crowd where it felt as if they'd made friends with every person in the room during their set. The final song of their set, The Upside Of Being Down, really became a special moment as the folk at the front of the stage took lead singer Larry into the crowd to carry him around the room all while he kept singing. It felt like a big show of respect for the band from the Booze Cruise crowd.

3. Katie MF at Black Heart, London (9/5/19)

Katie made me cry during this set. This was the launch night for Katie MF's EP Everything Trouble Meant and it was by far the most emotional set of the year. Katie MF are a band that are great recorded but live they just take it to a whole new level. I'm confident that neither Katie, Ben and Tobias had played a set this good before. Splitting the set into three parts – full band, acoustic and then back to full band – the hour long set flew by. It was during the acoustic part of the set where I really began to get emotional as Katie’s sad and moving tales of heartbreak resonated around the room. Since randomly discovering them on Bandcamp and becoming friends with Katie, I've been championing them to anyone who will listen to me and the sense of pride I felt seeing the band be, at that moment, the best band in the UK was really wonderful. This set had it all – it was moving, it was powerful, it was emotional but, most of all, it was a lot of fun. If you haven't checked out Katie MF yet then crack on with it.

2. Lightyear at Signature Brew, London (19/11/19)

During their November tour with Reel Big Fish and [Spunge], UK ska punk legends and the best band ever, Lightyear, decided to put on a secret headline gig on one of their days off. Taking place at Signature Brew in Haggerston, London, under the guise of Weasel Clan, as soon as I found out about it I knew this was not to be missed and I knew it was going to be one of my highlights of the year. Having seen the band supporting Reel Big Fish the day before with a thirty minute set that was a bit silly but not the true amount of silly you would expect from the band, this headline show was a great excuse to really showcase the Lightyear we all know and love. The stage at Signature Brew was tiny which resulted in Chas and Pook spending the majority of the time on the floor. This really helped add to the chaos that would ensue during the next hour. As I said in my review of the Reel Big Fish gig (here), Lightyear were mostly a collection of stand-ins but if you hadn't have known then you would never have guessed. The whole set was chaos, despite being towards the end of a long tour the energy and enthusiasm the band had for this show was nothing short of amazing. The utter madness that was happening didn't seem to affect the quality of the songs either. Even when Chas decided to go to the bar during the introduction of Blindside, Pook and the crowd just took over vocal duties and it all came together seamlessly. Lightyear when they are in this mood don't play gigs, they put on the best party in town and ensure everyone in the room has the very best time. I can't wait to see them back in New Cross for Do It Together 2020. I wonder if they'll be able to get the drum kit on the bar at the New Cross Inn?

1. Goodbye Blue Monday at Conroy’s Basement, Book Yer Ane Fest XIII, Dundee (1/12/19)

They say save the best for last, well my top set of 2019 came from my last gig of the year. Scottish misery-punk heroes Goodbye Blue Monday playing a raucous set in Dundee's Conroy's Basement on the third day of Book Yer Ane Fest XIII. The previous day the Glaswegians had been in Hamburg for Frosty Booze Cruise. Obviously they stayed up all night partying like rock stars, had their 6am flight delayed and arrived in Dundee in time to play. It's safe to say they weren't feeling their best. However, the BYAF crowd were super excited to see them and their energy seemingly carried the band through their set. Opening with one of their newest songs, Trigger Alert, and from then on there were endless crowd surfers and huge sing-alongs. Something I'm sure Graham really appreciated due to having a rather rough feeling voice. This all added to my overall enjoyment of the set – seeing crowd and band coming together as one, like a DIY punk show should be. This was my fourth time seeing Goodbye Blue Monday in 2019 but my first ever time seeing them play in Scotland and it was extremely special. There's something about seeing a band play in front of their home crowd that seems to give them that something extra. This was probably the first time I've seen them play to a crowd where the whole room knew who they were and sang along to every word. For the first time at any punk gig this year, I found myself in the midst of pit, passionately screaming along to every word whilst trying my best to help out crowd surfers. It was a joyous time, that thirty or so minutes of just releasing everything along with some like minded strangers and feeling truly happy and at home. That's the power of punk rock and a experience I felt during this set.

This end of year list was written by Colin Clark.