Robyn's Top Ten Albums of 2020

There is no doubt that this has been a difficult year, filled with uncertainty, frustration, trauma, and a strange sense of unreality. But what it has also shown is the vitally important role that art plays in our lives. It was the film and television producers, the writers, the content creators, and the musicians who kept us company, provided escape, gave us something to share in, and buoyed our spirits when we couldn’t see friends or family and felt increasingly frustrated by everything happening on the news. So it feels even more fitting to take the time to pay tribute to the albums that I really enjoyed this year.

10. Folklore by Taylor Swift

I’m sure that this is going to be a controversial choice for my top ten, but I truly love this album and it simply had to make my list. While I don’t regularly listen to a lot of music that falls outside of punk or its subgenres, I follow a lot of popular artists and I’m generally interested in keeping up with what’s happening in other genres. So when Taylor Swift dropped a surprise new album that sees her collaborating with The National’s Aaron Dessner, I was immediately interested. What I found is a beautifully-crafted storybook of an album, brimming with wistful imagery and outstanding lyricism. As a literary student who essentially reads for a living, it’s perhaps unsurprising that I am drawn to the exceptional storytelling on Folklore; but I also love its indie sound. The album is stripped-down, giving a sense of intimacy and increased emotion, but also layered and well-produced. My favourite track is “Epiphany”, which compares Taylor’s grandfather’s act of service in WWII to the frontline healthcare workers serving during the pandemic. It compares the sense of loss and daily trauma encompassed by these events, simultaneously honouring those who place themselves at risk (both physically and mentally) in helping others and mourning an international tragedy. This album captures so much of the mood of this year, and it’s certainly deserving of being named one of 2020’s best releases.

9. Sad In The City by Broadway Calls

I’ve never met a Broadway Calls album I didn’t like, so it’s unsurprising that I’ve really enjoyed the band’s latest offering. The opening line asking “if my country collapses, can I crash on your couch?” captures the dystopian energy of the last year (or four in America), and sets the scene for some joyful catharsis. So even while you sing along, chanting “everyone’s sad in the city”, you can’t help but have a huge smile on your face. These are high-quality pop-punk bangers, and would seriously have scored higher on my list if it weren’t for the other exceptional albums released this year.

8. Death In Venice Beach by The Bombpops

The Bombpops are a band I’ve always liked but never fully committed to. But after just one listen to the new album, I was totally hooked. Death In Venice Beach delivers a stream of ultra-catchy pop punk jams with clever lyrics and great production. There is also a hidden seriousness to this album, since it details Poli van Dam’s battle with addiction. A song like “13 Stories Down” is really fun and upbeat, even as it describes the lowest points of alcoholism. This personal side of the album and the light it shines on the problem of addiction give the songs a little more heft, and the quality of the songwriting shines through the entire album. This is some of the best music The Bombpops have put out and certainly some the best music produced this year.

7. Wonderful Hell by War On Women

War On Women’s call to “raise some wonderful, beautiful hell” is the perfect rallying cry for a year that saw a major resurgence in the Black Lives Matter movement and where the pandemic exacerbated pre-existing social inequities. I enjoyed War On Women’s previous release, Capture the Flag, but this album just hit differently in the current moment and I think the band’s songwriting is just getting better with each release. The album is full of heavy guitar riffs, big melodies, and Shawna’s unmistakable vocals. A triumphant combination of righteous anger and defiant positivity.

6. 20/20 Vision by Anti-Flag

Back in March, South Africa went into a hard 3-week lockdown (which of course ended up being extended). We weren’t allowed to leave our property, not even for short walk around the block, and just one family member could make the weekly trip to the grocery store to stock up on essentials. I had a large stack of marking to get through and many student concerns to deal with, and the new Anti-Flag album became my refuge. This is the band’s answer to Trump’s America: the hate it fostered and the deep divisions it widened. It’s full of the anthemic choruses you would expect from Anti-Flag, providing high-energy social commentary and calling for sustained resistance. The quality does not lag across the 11 tracks, which are full of great hooks and catchy lyrics. It’s an excellent addition to an already impressive music catalogue of a band who have been playing together for almost thirty years.

5. Revolution Spring by The Suicide Machines

It’s been a very long time since we’ve had a new Suicide Machines album, but hot damn it was worth the wait. The incredible bass tone on this album alone would be enough to make it a contender for my top ten, but it also delivers a delicious mix of punk and ska, with a few hardcore elements thrown in for some added flavour. Actual conversations Brett and I have had about this album include simply saying “it’s so good”, “yeah, right?!” to each other over and over again. A bop from start to finish.

4. Seamless by Pardon Us

Less than a year after their first album, Pardon Us dropped a new release absolutely packed with fun melodic-punk tunes. There are so many things I love about this album: the gruff lead vocals, the background harmonies, the incredibly catchy melodies, the thoughtful lyrics, and the sheer danceability of these songs. The band have really built upon their previous success and delivered a tight and polished sophomore album.

3. Life, Death And Everything In Between by Stöj Snak

The latest album from Danish folk punks Stöj Snak opens with an intense and haunting call to life that hit me like a physical force the first time I put this album on. Niels Højgaard Sørensen’s vocals are unlike any other singer out there: powerful, textured, and highly emotive; and the music brings together a brash punk energy with more soulful and folksy elements. The album really has ‘everything’: want to dance even while the world’s burning? Put on “Trees”; want the most perfect singalong about sticking it out even when life gets hard? “Bliss Point” has got you covered. It closes with a ballad about identity, change, and the journey of life that is beautifully expressed and incredibly moving. Just perfection.

2. You or Someone You Know by Worriers

Worriers’ previous album, Survival Pop, made my top ten list in 2017; but for some reason the first couple of times I listened to You Or Someone You Know I just didn’t connect with it. Then one afternoon, it finally all made sense and I marvelled once again at Lauren Denitzio’s fantastic songwriting and vocal skills. Despite the first track dealing with living through what often appears to be the “End Of The World” and many of the songs tackling difficult personal issues, the mood of the album is self-assertive and uplifting. And between the big melodies, deep grooves, and gorgeous guitar flourishes, the lyrics are direct and honest. A fantastic new release from Worriers that I’ve come to love more and more.

1. Brave Faces Everyone by Spanish Love Songs

Little did we know back in February when this came out that “Brave Faces Everyone” would become the perfect slogan for this year. I already knew then that this would take the number one spot on my list, and no matter how much I have listened to the other albums on this list, I have still listened to this one more. This is an album about facing up to daily fears and struggles, and choosing to try. This is something that I think everyone can relate to, whether that’s dealing with the drudgery of your job, mental health issues, or major life changes. Although the previous releases from Spanish Love Songs have been excellent, I think this is their best album to date. With its soaring choruses, flawless vocals, and a sound so big that it feels wrapped around me, it may possibly be one of my favourite albums of all time.

* Entries 3 and 4 on this list came to me via endorsements from Emma. This is not the first time I owe Emma thanks for an excellent recommendation, and I’m sure it won’t be the last (but thanks once again!)

This top ten was written by Robyn Pierce.

Emma’s Top Ten Albums of 2020

2020 has been overwhelming rubbish, hasn’t it? It’s been a weird ol’ year for new music although there hasn’t exactly been a lack of it. I started the year – pre-COVID but also through the beginning of lockdown and working from home (when I could listen to whatever I wanted as I worked) – being excited to discover new artists. According to my ‘Spotify Wrapped’ this year, I discovered over 600 new artists which is pretty good going, especially without going to gigs. Of course, I was also looking forward to hearing new albums from many of my existing favourite artists this year.

Unfortunately, it got to a point over the summer and beyond where I just wasn’t that enthused about listening to music in general – new or otherwise. (I listened to a lot of podcasts instead.) I also went through a period of not really feeling inspired to write reviews, even if I was enjoying an album, so I hope to rectify that somewhat with my end of year list (and honourable mentions). It’s worth pointing out that I still have albums that came out this year on my metaphorical ‘need to listen to properly list’ but I guess there’s always going to be more albums to listen to in a year and I will check them out when I can.

I’m afraid I haven’t been organised enough this year to put together a top ten EPs list as I have done in previous years. I do, however, want to give a little shout out to some of my favourites:

Ghosts, Guilt & Grandparents by Toodles & The Hectic Pity
Lobotany by Cheerbleederz
Whichever, Whatever by Expert Timing
The Bin Collection by Mitch, Please
Proper Confessions by Brightview

There are also some great albums that didn’t quite make my top ten but are certainly worth a mention here:

5 Years Behind by THICK
Cause A Stir by Charmpit
Punisher by Phoebe Bridgers
Jump Rope Gazers by The Beths
Dream Nails by Dream Nails

Now onto the really good stuff… without further ado, here are my top ten albums of 2020:

10. The Spaces In Between by Arterials

Perhaps it’s due to my increasing frustration at the state of the world, from people’s selfish panic buying to littering of single-use face masks and my overwhelming climate anxiety, but I’ve really enjoyed listening to somewhat heavier and angrier music this year than I previously would have. It’s a real good stress reliever. The Spaces In Between by Hamburg, Germany’s Arterials is certainly on the more singalong fists-in-the-air side of melodic hardcore but, whatever you want to label it, it sure packs a punch. With subject matter ranging from friendship, politics and climate change, there’s a lot of food for thought on The Space In Between and I think, particularly in 2020, having songs that really make you think and feel something are important now more than ever. I’m also gutted to have not been able to hear these songs played live at Booze Cruise Festival in the summer, maybe next year…

Favourite song: Pump The Brakes

9. Me, Myself And Something Else by Call Me Malcolm

Despite the ongoing pandemic, this year has been a big one for Kent DIY ska punks Call Me Malcolm. They returned with their third album, Me, Myself And Something Else in May – the follow-up to 2018’s CPRW favourite I Was Broken When You Got Here. It was self-released here in UK but was also released in the US through the amazing Wiretap Records. Understandably, they’ve been getting increasingly popular across the pond and I’m sure they’d have a tour booked and announced for 2021 (perhaps with Kill Lincoln) had this year gone a little differently. As for the album itself, it picks off where Broken left off with deep, hard-hitting lyrics tackling anxiety and depression that are accompanied by some of the catchiest horn lines and riffs in ska punk. I want nothing more than to dance like crazy and sing along to these new songs at our beloved New Cross Inn as Malcolm are a band best served live. Like many things, I’ll just have to wait and settle for bopping around my living room.

Favourite song: Also, Spiders

8. Untenable by Bad Moves

Bad Moves, from Washington, D.C., were a new discovery for me this year. I was intrigued to check out Untenable, which was released on Don Giovanni Records in June, when I saw several people raving about it on Twitter. The folks at Specialist Subject Records also talked about it on their podcast, Flick Through, and Erica’s love for the band was more than enough encouragement for me to give the album a listen. Untenable is twelve infectiously catchy, upbeat and feel-good – for the most part – tunes that I guess could be best described as indie punk or power pop. The vocals come from all four members of the band throughout the album and bring so much energy and enthusiasm to the table. It truly feels like a bunch of best friends just having the most fun making music together and all while managing to deliver a slick and intricate piece of musicianship.

Favourite song: Working For Free

7. The Distance Between by Arms & Hearts

This is probably the album that was most fresh in my mind when it came to deciding on this list. Arms & Hearts has been a firm favourite of mine for a number of years and their debut album was at least one thing I was looking forward to in 2020. Released in November, I knew that The Distance Between by the Manchester-based acoustic punk troubadour was certain to make an appearance here from the first time I listened to it – it was just that good. It is clearly a leap forward from their previous releases – which were by no means bad – and for a band that was essentially a solo project, the album has very full sound. At times, it feels like a melodic punk band rather than one man and an acoustic guitar. The Distance Between has some pretty dark and emotional subject matter but it’s a hugely cathartic listening experience from start to finish.

Favourite song: Kerouac On A Minimum Wage

6. Get Your Retaliation In First by 3dBs Down

What a surprise gem of an album this was! Colin and I know 3dBs Down as being Paul BeSharp’s favourite band of all time and we’ve had the pleasure of seeing them live a few times in recent years, despite not knowing them ‘back in the day’. Get Your Retaliation In First is the band’s first new music for 15 years (!) and I don’t doubt for a second that it was well worth the wait for long-time fans. I first heard this album when Colin was listening to an advanced copy in preparation for writing his review of it and I remember turning to him after just a couple of tracks and saying ‘This is really good’. It’s so distinctly unlike anything else that I’m not even sure how I would describe this album. There’s a bit of ska in there but this is not really a ska punk album, there are some super catchy melodies, singalong moments and incredibly earwormy harmonies threaded throughout but it’s not quite pop punk. I suppose it’s just a brilliant album and needs no further defining.

Favourite song: Idiot Ignorant Evil

5. Seamless by Pardon Us

Congratulations to Pardon Us for being the first band to appear on my end of year albums list for two years running! 2019’s Wait, which was also the band’s debut full-length, was a really great album and I think they may have surpassed it with the follow-up, Seamless, which was released in August this year on the always excellent Everything Sucks Music. The Liverpudlian three-piece play blisteringly fast paced pop punk music – there are twelve songs on Seamless and all of them are under three minutes long – with a strong political and humanitarian message. To paraphrase from my full review of the album, Seamless is a top notch album packed with catchy melodies and intelligent, thoughtful lyrical content that is hugely relevant to the world we live in. Basically, it has something for everyone.

Favourite song: Still Needs Singing

4. Show Me The Blueprints. by Days N Daze

I’ve always been a fan of punk music of the folk variety and one of my very favourite ‘folk punk’ albums of 2020 comes from Houston, Texas’ long-running band Days N Daze. Show Me The Blueprints. was released in May and it is the band’s eighth full-length as well as their debut release with the legendary Fat Wreck Chords. I’m not sure if it’s the label’s influence specifically but I would say that this album is perhaps more accessible to punk fans that are not necessarily likely to listen to a band with instruments such as a banjo in their ensemble. It’s still got the raw heart and soul of their previous material but is perhaps a little more well-crafted. Both Jesse Sendejas and Whitney Flynn’s vocals are brilliant throughout – often providing backing harmonies for one another – as they each sing of their own experiences dealing with addiction and their struggles with mental health. Of course, the melodies and instrumentation throughout the album are excellent but it’s the lyrics that really pulled me into this album and earned it this spot high up in my list.

Favourite song: Saboteurs

3. You Or Someone You Know by Worriers

When You Or Someone You Know by Worriers was released at the beginning of March, I didn’t know that my two (or was it three?) opportunities to see them live for the first time would soon be washed away when 2020’s hopes and dreams went down the drain. I also didn’t know that this album would come to be about so much more than just, ahem, the end of the world – or at least the climate changing, political meltdown end of the world as opposed to the global health crisis end of the world that 2020 has become. This is not a heavy, or even the most typically punk sounding, album but it has such a huge sound with hooky guitar melodies, dreamy keys and just the most incredible vocals and lyrics. Lauren Denitzio has one of my favourite voices in punk rock and their delivery is always so powerful regardless of the volume in which they are projecting. The album is on the one hand melancholic and on the other optimistic, either way it gives me a warm fuzzy feeling to listen to again and again.

Favourite song: What Comes Next?

2. Brave Faces Everyone by Spanish Love Songs

It would be a pretty fair observation to describe my adoration of emotional punk rockers Spanish Love Songs over the past few years as something close to an obsession. I was obviously excited for Brave Faces Everyone, which was released way back in February, although I was also fairly apprehensive. It couldn’t possibly live up to 2018’s Schmaltz. Could it? Well, now having listening to it an awful lot this year, I can honestly say that I think this is even better than Schmaltz. Similar to You Or Someone You Know by Worriers, this is an album that has taken on a new meaning as this year progressed – ‘“It won’t be this bleak forever.” Yeah right. “It won’t be this bleak forever.” I hope you’re right.’ Brave Faces Everyone has undoubtedly made the seemingly never ending dystopia of 2020 that bit more bearable. It’s heart-wrenchingly emotive from start to finish, not least because it’s relatable for any twenty or thirty something with a conscience, but also makes you want to throw your fist in the air and scream your lungs out. It’s an album to be listened to front to back and then all over again. And if that doesn’t make for a great album then I don’t know what does.

Favourite song: Optimism (As A Radical Life Choice)

1. Life, Death And Everything In Between by Stöj Snak

No surprises here! If you happened to read my essay of a review of Life, Death And Everything In Between by Danish folk punks Stöj Snak just a few months ago then I’m sure you saw this coming, such was my outpouring of passion for these twelve songs. Earlier this year I thought it was going to be tough for anything to top Spanish Love Songs but then Stöj Snak returned in October. Life, Death And Everything In Between is the band’s second full-length album that I’ve been waiting four long years for – to be honest, I wasn’t really sure it would actually be released this year. From the acapella opening track Reasons To Smile, through to raucous yet melodic fast-paced numbers such as Trees, This Condition and and Fire and not one, not two, but three tracks of epic proportions – Bliss Point, Songs About Beliefs and album closer and title track, Life, Death And Everything In Between – this album delivers on so many levels. Niels Højgaard Sørensen’s lyricism is so captivating that I find listening to his songs as enticing as a really, really good book. There are so many intricate touches interwoven throughout this album, it’s clear that the process of writing and recording it was not at all rushed. Everything has been considered and, I said it in my original review and I’ll say it again here, I consider this album to be a masterpiece. I can’t recommend it highly enough. Please, if you haven’t already, go away and listen to Life, Death And Everything In Between. If you have listened to it before, just listen to it again!

Favourite song: Songs About Beliefs

Thank you to all the bands mentioned above for making this year a hell of a lot more enjoyable. 2021 should hopefully be better than 2020 in many ways but it’s still going to be tough to beat some of the very best albums that this year has brought us.

This top ten was written by Emma Prew.

Marcus' Top Ten Albums of 2020

2020. What a time to barely be alive. It’s okay to say that this year sucked, while also recognizing that some good things still happened. Trump’s on his way out of the White House, I’ve managed to teach a classroom of six-year-olds (and a few online kids) to become better readers, and, against all odds, some great humans put out some kick ass records.

Before getting into some of my favorites of the year, I want to shout out Bandcamp who have worked better than most large platforms to support independent artists. Showing off your Spotify Wrapped is a cool way to hype your favorite bands (I posted mine on Twitter as well), but if the music is good, pay the artist. In a year when touring came to a screeching halt, supporting the artists you love should be a priority if you have the means.

Alright, let’s get to ’em.

10. Envier les vivants by Intenable 

(May 29th, Guerilla Asso)

I used to be one of those people who had to “know what the lyrics were” to be able to enjoy a song. My mind has since become enlightened, and though I may have ranked it higher if it was in English or Spanish, the indie-punk greatness of Envier les vivants by Intenable is obvious to me. I haven’t looked up any of the translations for their song titles, so in my head, I’m usually like “oh, this is that loud crashing song” or “this is that fists in the air banger” or “this is that fast song with the great riff”. Antho’s résumé (the guy who drums on the record, but is a multi-instrumentalist) is impressive, having played in Guerilla Poubelle, Quitters, Mauvise Pioche, and even Arms Aloft when they’ve toured Europe. Très bien if you ask me.

Tracks to check out: “Nuéesardentes”, “L’aube des vaincus”, and “Votre couleur, le noir.”

9. You or Someone You Know by Worriers

(March 6th, 6131 Records) 

After previewing the summery, power pop sound of “Big Feelings”, I knew I had to add this release to my watchlist. However, what stands out on You or Someone You Know aren’t just the occasional driving-with-the-windows-down vibes, but Lauren Denitzio’s introspective and personal lyrics, ranging from climate change to toxic relationships to LGBT issues. They’re not all happy sounds, however, as Worriers definitely live up to their name. The “worrying” expressed on the record isn’t the paralyzing, helpless kind, but the kind that recognizes the issues and fights like hell to fix them. It’s a blend of hope and worry that would be hard for any band to balance on one record, but they pull it off. The catchiest, most accessible songs on the record are the first three, although repeat listens have shown me that the back half of the record is just as great.

Tracks to check out: “End Of The World”, “PWR CPLE”, and “What Comes Next?”

8. Eruptions by The Special Bombs

(March 20th, SBÄM Records) 

Do you like The Bouncing Souls? Well, The Special Bombs love the Souls. If someone told me that Eruptions was the product of a Back To The Future-style process wherein four guys from Lower Bavaria used a DeLorean to travel back in time to snatch a demo tape of songs from New Jersey and used them to make a record of their own to release in 2020, I might be convinced that time travel was in fact possible. There’d be some plot holes, of course; namely, WHY DID THEY CHOOSE TO COME BACK TO 2020? But the rest would be somewhat plausible.

Tracks to check out: “Still Dreaming”, “Nothing In The World”, and “United”

7. Majorly – Don’t Boldly Go

(July 24th, Broken Camera Records)

What subgenre of punk is Majorly? Man, hell if I know. Majorly is mostly one dude (Chris Kaya, who, according to the bandcamp page, did the guitars, bass, drum programming, pianos, synths, melodica, omnichord, digital horn, and trombone on the record) that makes a bunch of noise. The noise is good, usually melodic, but doesn’t stick specifically to one sound. If there is a common thread with most of the songs, it’s that they’re all self-deprecating and easy (for me) to relate to. If you’re okay with your punk getting a little weird (I workshopped the phrase “weird bedroom punk”, but it didn’t test well), it’s well worth it to stretch just a little outside your comfort zone.

Tracks to check out: “Fairgrounds”, “The Midnight Sitcoms”, and “Mary Banilow”

6. Teenage Halloween by Teenage Halloween

(September 18th, Don Giovanni Records)

It came out in September, but I didn’t really give it a chance until it got closer to Halloween, which I blame on my subconscious not allowing me to recognize anything Halloween-related until the middle of October. Anyways, what Teenage Halloween do so well is 1) showcase lead singer Luke Henderiks’ vocals (not gravelly by any stretch, but more like a fine sandpaper), b) keep every song interesting, changing up tempos and instruments so that nothing sounds too samey, and thirdly, have lyrics that mix angst with awkwardness. And really, doesn’t that sound like a teenage Halloween? Despite being decades removed from my teenage years and months past Halloween, I’ve still spent a ton of time jamming to Teenage Halloween.

Tracks to check out: “Holes”, “Clarity”, “Racehorse”

5. Colapso Tropical by Mondo Beta

(March 13th, self-released)

I am a huge fan of everything that John Reis has ever been involved in (Rocket from the Crypt, Hot Snakes, The Night Marchers, etc.), and Mondo Beta are on record saying that their goal is to sound as much like Hot Snakes as possible. While I’m all for bands putting their own personal signature on a genre, I can also appreciate Mondo Beta’s hero worship here, because it just rips, and if you’re gonna blatantly rip off a band, I think they chose wisely. Hot Snakes were supposed to release a record in 2020, but it seems that plans changed due to COVID. These eleven tracks of post-hardcore enespañol are more than enough to hold me over until then.

Tracks to check out: “No me caes bien”, “Que alguien me pare”, and “Colapso tropical”

4. I was almost an astronaut once by Dabblin’

(March 7th, Bus Stop Press) 

The Internet has failed me. If there was any justice in the world I’d know way more about Dabblin’, this amazing French band that I randomly found on a Bandcamp comp. But they’re not on Spotify, Apple Music, or any of the social media platforms. Whoever these mystery men and women are, they put out a great record of folky, poppy punk that just feels like it needs to be experienced live (sigh). I was able to order the cassette from Bus Stop Press, well worth the postage from across the Atlantic. Anyways, I know not all of the bands on this list are geared towards the CPRW demographic per se, but I think y’all would really like Dabblin’.

Tracks to check out: “All of the small things (Not a Blink 182 cover)”, “Two truths and a lie”, and “Building furniture from the boards protecting the windows of banks”

3. In Transit by Quaker Wedding

(June 19th, Salinas Records)

One of the songs I listened to the most this summer was “Jilted Lover”, the lead single off of In Transit. You know how sometimes you listen to a song too much and get burnt out on it? Well, it never happened with that song, because it is just so damn good. Like most bands on this list, Quaker Wedding dropped a banger of a debut in 2020, and In Transit is great start to finish. A mix of Jawbreaker and Face to Face, Quaker Wedding know what it’s like to fuck things up and feel like shit about it. I’m not sure what drives a listener (like myself) to listen to music that expresses those ideas, but I guess it’s cheaper than therapy?

Tracks to check out: “Jilted Lover”, “Sinking Ship”, and “Aching”

2. Made To Rust by Dumb Luck

(October 14th, Secret Pennies Records) 

This was a late-ish entry to the running list that I kept during the year, and it feels weird to place it this high, when most of the others I’ve been able to sit with for a lot longer. But man, Made to Rust is really good. The production quality makes it seem a bit like a live recording, which is of lesser fidelity, but… I don’t know, like a good live recording? I feel like Dumb Luck have got a few songs that could’ve been from Sink Or Swim-era The Gaslight Anthem, but nobody is singing about girls named Maria. Probably less references to the radio as well. Anyways, they’re from Corvalis, Oregon, but there’s definitely some Midwest punk influences in Made To Rust.

Tracks to check out: “Over It”, “Lazarus”, and “Salinas”

1. Skeleton Coast by The Lawrence Arms

(July 17th, Epitaph Chords)

As referenced earlier, the majority of the records on this list were debut albums (seven out of the ten, to be precise). However, the number one spot belongs to a band that was formed in 1999, a few years before I even graduated from high school. The Lawrence Arms just do what they do, and I love it. After more than two decades, they churned out 14 songs that are right up there with Oh! Calcutta! as their best stuff. Dueling vocals, soaring choruses, gritty howls, etc. Shoot it all into my veins, this record was my comfort food this year.

Tracks to check out: “Pigeons And Spies”, “Don’t Look At Me”, and “Under Paris”

If you’ve made it this far, thanks for reading and checking out CPRW. In the words of the immortal Joe Strummer, “Without people, you’re nothing.” I’ve loved writing, podcasting, and messaging with this great group of humans this year, and I’m looking forward to better times, great tunes, and the return of live music in 2021.

This top ten was written by Marcus Pond.

Album Review: You Or Someone You Know by Worriers (by Marcus Pond)

Worriers is a four piece group from Brooklyn, fronted by Lauren Denitzio, formerly of the band The Measure (SA). With three other full lengths already under their belt, they released You Or Someone You Know on 6131 Records on March 6, 2020.

Their second album, Imaginary Life, was produced by Laura Jane Grace of Against Me!, and showcased an angst and snarl similar to AM!’s releases. While Denitzio doesn’t have the same raw, gritty delivery as AM!, their lyrics provide plenty of bite. This go-around, John Agnello (who also produced records for Dinosaur Jr., The Hold Steady, and Jawbox, among many, many others) was behind the glass, and has helped them create a loud, in-the-front-row feel to the recording.

The record opens up with “End Of The World”, an upbeat track about trying to focus on love despite the perils of climate change. With a background of soaring power chords, Denitzio wonders “What can I possibly say / Is it me or the end of the world? / Cover your eyes and ears and hope I don’t notice and nothing hurts”. Realizing that some problems may take a while to fix, they eventually ask “Could you just hold on to me for now?”

Worriers continues to walk the line between ominous and optimistic on “What Comes Next?”, which spends its verses brooding about “Getting the sense that the game has been thrown” amidst a moody bassline and a palm muted guitar. In the chorus, Denitzio declares triumphantly “I have all the luck I need”.

Throughout the record, Worriers stay true to their moniker, balancing preoccupations with things like equality, natural disasters, loneliness (“Relentless Noise”) and difficult relationships (“Enough”) with empowerment and a call to action. Rather than being paralyzed with fear, they generate a sense of hope, of moving forward despite any perceived setbacks.

The balance is perfectly encapsulated in the closer (aptly named “Grand Closing”), in which Denitzio spends the first few minutes cooing over a few reverbed chords. At the two minute mark, the same lyrics they almost whispered before, have now swelled into an anthem: “So this is how it goes / This is how I walk now”.

Between the power pop of “PWR CPLE”, the killer riff of “Big Feelings”, or the sweet, slow lament of “Terrible Boyfriend”, there’s a mood, emotion, or sound that will appeal to a variety of listeners. With the slight exception of “Chicago Style Pizza Is Terrible” (the title of which I happen to vehemently disagree with), every song hit my ears incredibly well.

Since devouring You Or Someone You Know, I’ve dug back into the Worriers back-catalogue and have especially enjoyed Survival Pop (2018), but where Yourself Or Someone You Know has them all beat is the Denitzio’s introspection and storytelling. Regardless of the listener’s background, I think it’d be difficult to not think of yourself or someone you know during every song. I’m not sure if that’s the point of record title, but I’d certainly recommend Worriers to everybody I know.

RIYL: Against Me!, Foxhall Stacks, Ted Leo, Signals Midwest, New York style pizza

Stream and download You Or Someone You Know on Bandcamp here.

Like Worriers on Facebook here.

This review was written by Marcus Pond.