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1. The Virgins - Strike Gently
The first album from Donald, 2007's self-titled, was absolutely great in a boozed-up, drug-addled, sort of pop infused effort. Where the self-titled was ambitious and at times wreckless, Strike Gently is focused and far more sure of itself. Six years between albums and replacing every member of the band can have that effect, I suppose. Here, Donald goes for a more Dire Straits vibe that really compliments his vocal style and songwriting capacity.
<IFRAME height=315 src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Yn_g_rqNqb4" frameBorder=0 width=560 allowfullscreen></IFRAME>
2. Nightmares For A Week - Civilian War
This New York three piece came from out relatively nowhere two years ago with their debut Don't Die. The follow up shows a band that doesn't rely as much on its more obvious influences such as Jawbreaker, Pennywise, and to a lesser extent Dropkick Murphy's. I think one listen to their single "The Destroyers" shows a band that has clearly carved it's own niche in this respective genre. Some NSFW lyrics in the adjoining video.
<IFRAME height=315 src="//www.youtube.com/embed/QKppz25fWc8" frameBorder=0 width=560 allowfullscreen></IFRAME>
3. Red City Radio - Titles
Much the same way that the aforementioned NFAW came from obscurity, as did Red City Radio. Oklahoma City's finest punk band has given every nerd at The Fest another reason to flip their collective **** once again. This album is really just an extension of previous albums for them, but that is actually not a bad thing. My only wish for this band would be for them to ditch the dueling vocals.
<IFRAME height=315 src="//www.youtube.com/embed/QzT1idNIlpU" frameBorder=0 width=560 allowfullscreen></IFRAME>
4. Los Campesinos - No Blues
They promised an album that I didn't think they were actually capable of making and totally delivered. Maybe the hardest working group out there with a ceaseless touring schedule and averaging an album about every 18 months, they promised a more upbeat record than their previous effort Hello Sadness. This album works because while I think the music is clearly brighter, the themes certainly are not. While the back half of this record doesn't really compliment the former, it's still probably a 7 out of 10, or so.
<IFRAME height=315 src="//www.youtube.com/embed/4-M_m1I1uKU" frameBorder=0 width=560 allowfullscreen></IFRAME>
5. Balance & Composure - The Things We Think We're Missing
Clearly influenced by bands ranging from Brand New to Deftones to Archers of Loaf to Crime in Stereo, this is their best and most accessible effort to date. Employing a three guitarist wall of sound, they have begun to master heavy with a touch of melody without coming off as trying too hard. There are several songs on this album that will wear out the back button on your ipod as a result of you wanting to immediately hear it again.
<IFRAME height=315 src="//www.youtube.com/embed/E5s1j0XfFjc" frameBorder=0 width=560 allowfullscreen></IFRAME>
6. Coasta - Sunzal
The only reason this isn't the first on this list is because it's only 5 songs. The younger brother of Jesse Lacy of Brand New, serves as the fronman and principle songwriter on what is a really great debut. There are times when you can tell he tries to avoid having his band sound too much like his more accomplished brother, and unfortunately that's sometimes unavoidable. But this EP can stand up to any own its own merits. Certain spots have an island/indie rock vibe without coming across as hokey. I think one listen to the ambitious "Young Blood" sold me on this whole EP. It definitely left me hoping they put together a full length in the very near future.
<IFRAME height=315 src="//www.youtube.com/embed/yEU_RuyS940" frameBorder=0 width=420 allowfullscreen></IFRAME>
7. Frank Turner - Tape Deck Heart
Frank is becoming a bit of a guilty pleasure honestly, as he has shed the gritty stripped-down acoustic folk/punk persona for a more full band feel. I'm ok with this as a whole (especially because he's still one of the best lyricists around), but I do hope that at some point he will revert to his early work at some point, even if just for one album.
<IFRAME height=315 src="//www.youtube.com/embed/F1L5zJ2afLs" frameBorder=0 width=560 allowfullscreen></IFRAME>
8. Pearl Jam - Lightning Bolt
I've kind of laid out my thoughts on this album in the thread Insidejob started for it. It's my favorite thing they've released in quite a while. If you don't know where to find Pearl Jam videos, then shame on you.
9. The 1975 - The 1975
Britpop is guilty pleasure of mine. Always has been and always will be. From Morrissey to the Kooks, I'm a sucker for it. And while this album is almost cringeworthy at times on the saccharine side, it does deliver big time on hooks. This is a quintessential Summer album. I will not apologize for liking it.
<IFRAME height=315 src="//www.youtube.com/embed/UuihJInaeN4" frameBorder=0 width=560 allowfullscreen></IFRAME>
10. Jake Bugg - Jake Bugg
This kid wants to be freaking Bob Dylan so bad. While I'm not really a Dylan fan, I can appreciate this effort to shamelessly tribute him. Technically this was released in late 2012, but as with most records from Britain, it takes about 4 months before word of mouth makes it's way to the states. I look forward to seeing him spread his wings a bit in the future as he's only 19 years old, and has a brand new Rick Rubin produced album coming out soon.
<IFRAME height=315 src="//www.youtube.com/embed/J9XwFecNXyU" frameBorder=0 width=560 allowfullscreen></IFRAME>
Two EP's on bandcamp that I really loved this year were:
1. Westchester United Football Club - Fever
Despite having the worst band name in the history of music, this is really interesting 2 song EP. It's heavy on the Gaslight Anthem influence, while not ignoring that they have a superior singer, but an inferior songwriter. Still very good.
Westchester United Football Club
2. Royal Headache - Stand & Stare/Give It All To Me
A throwback punk band from Perth, Australia. This is complimentary to bands like Velvet Underground and Television. My favorite four minutes of music over the last month.
Royal Headache
That's all I can type right now, so I'll sit back and hope that Severum comes in here and shames my list with a far more impressive one.
The first album from Donald, 2007's self-titled, was absolutely great in a boozed-up, drug-addled, sort of pop infused effort. Where the self-titled was ambitious and at times wreckless, Strike Gently is focused and far more sure of itself. Six years between albums and replacing every member of the band can have that effect, I suppose. Here, Donald goes for a more Dire Straits vibe that really compliments his vocal style and songwriting capacity.
<IFRAME height=315 src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Yn_g_rqNqb4" frameBorder=0 width=560 allowfullscreen></IFRAME>
2. Nightmares For A Week - Civilian War
This New York three piece came from out relatively nowhere two years ago with their debut Don't Die. The follow up shows a band that doesn't rely as much on its more obvious influences such as Jawbreaker, Pennywise, and to a lesser extent Dropkick Murphy's. I think one listen to their single "The Destroyers" shows a band that has clearly carved it's own niche in this respective genre. Some NSFW lyrics in the adjoining video.
<IFRAME height=315 src="//www.youtube.com/embed/QKppz25fWc8" frameBorder=0 width=560 allowfullscreen></IFRAME>
3. Red City Radio - Titles
Much the same way that the aforementioned NFAW came from obscurity, as did Red City Radio. Oklahoma City's finest punk band has given every nerd at The Fest another reason to flip their collective **** once again. This album is really just an extension of previous albums for them, but that is actually not a bad thing. My only wish for this band would be for them to ditch the dueling vocals.
<IFRAME height=315 src="//www.youtube.com/embed/QzT1idNIlpU" frameBorder=0 width=560 allowfullscreen></IFRAME>
4. Los Campesinos - No Blues
They promised an album that I didn't think they were actually capable of making and totally delivered. Maybe the hardest working group out there with a ceaseless touring schedule and averaging an album about every 18 months, they promised a more upbeat record than their previous effort Hello Sadness. This album works because while I think the music is clearly brighter, the themes certainly are not. While the back half of this record doesn't really compliment the former, it's still probably a 7 out of 10, or so.
<IFRAME height=315 src="//www.youtube.com/embed/4-M_m1I1uKU" frameBorder=0 width=560 allowfullscreen></IFRAME>
5. Balance & Composure - The Things We Think We're Missing
Clearly influenced by bands ranging from Brand New to Deftones to Archers of Loaf to Crime in Stereo, this is their best and most accessible effort to date. Employing a three guitarist wall of sound, they have begun to master heavy with a touch of melody without coming off as trying too hard. There are several songs on this album that will wear out the back button on your ipod as a result of you wanting to immediately hear it again.
<IFRAME height=315 src="//www.youtube.com/embed/E5s1j0XfFjc" frameBorder=0 width=560 allowfullscreen></IFRAME>
6. Coasta - Sunzal
The only reason this isn't the first on this list is because it's only 5 songs. The younger brother of Jesse Lacy of Brand New, serves as the fronman and principle songwriter on what is a really great debut. There are times when you can tell he tries to avoid having his band sound too much like his more accomplished brother, and unfortunately that's sometimes unavoidable. But this EP can stand up to any own its own merits. Certain spots have an island/indie rock vibe without coming across as hokey. I think one listen to the ambitious "Young Blood" sold me on this whole EP. It definitely left me hoping they put together a full length in the very near future.
<IFRAME height=315 src="//www.youtube.com/embed/yEU_RuyS940" frameBorder=0 width=420 allowfullscreen></IFRAME>
7. Frank Turner - Tape Deck Heart
Frank is becoming a bit of a guilty pleasure honestly, as he has shed the gritty stripped-down acoustic folk/punk persona for a more full band feel. I'm ok with this as a whole (especially because he's still one of the best lyricists around), but I do hope that at some point he will revert to his early work at some point, even if just for one album.
<IFRAME height=315 src="//www.youtube.com/embed/F1L5zJ2afLs" frameBorder=0 width=560 allowfullscreen></IFRAME>
8. Pearl Jam - Lightning Bolt
I've kind of laid out my thoughts on this album in the thread Insidejob started for it. It's my favorite thing they've released in quite a while. If you don't know where to find Pearl Jam videos, then shame on you.
9. The 1975 - The 1975
Britpop is guilty pleasure of mine. Always has been and always will be. From Morrissey to the Kooks, I'm a sucker for it. And while this album is almost cringeworthy at times on the saccharine side, it does deliver big time on hooks. This is a quintessential Summer album. I will not apologize for liking it.
<IFRAME height=315 src="//www.youtube.com/embed/UuihJInaeN4" frameBorder=0 width=560 allowfullscreen></IFRAME>
10. Jake Bugg - Jake Bugg
This kid wants to be freaking Bob Dylan so bad. While I'm not really a Dylan fan, I can appreciate this effort to shamelessly tribute him. Technically this was released in late 2012, but as with most records from Britain, it takes about 4 months before word of mouth makes it's way to the states. I look forward to seeing him spread his wings a bit in the future as he's only 19 years old, and has a brand new Rick Rubin produced album coming out soon.
<IFRAME height=315 src="//www.youtube.com/embed/J9XwFecNXyU" frameBorder=0 width=560 allowfullscreen></IFRAME>
Two EP's on bandcamp that I really loved this year were:
1. Westchester United Football Club - Fever
Despite having the worst band name in the history of music, this is really interesting 2 song EP. It's heavy on the Gaslight Anthem influence, while not ignoring that they have a superior singer, but an inferior songwriter. Still very good.
Westchester United Football Club
2. Royal Headache - Stand & Stare/Give It All To Me
A throwback punk band from Perth, Australia. This is complimentary to bands like Velvet Underground and Television. My favorite four minutes of music over the last month.
Royal Headache
That's all I can type right now, so I'll sit back and hope that Severum comes in here and shames my list with a far more impressive one.
)
