"This will be a better year."

It's obligimatory list time. Best of's and what not. So, because no one demanded it, the ten albums you should have listened to this year and some EP's as well, since they're cheap (half of them are free to download). Half of these bands are probably unheard of and the other half I've probably already covered, but you'll find that out for yourself as I start with #10 and work my way up.

#10) Brand New - Daisy

Excessively loud rock that is surprisingly contagious and accessible. Not their best effort ever, but still better than a lot of what was released this year.

#09) Aimee Allen - A Little Happiness

Melodic and mellow change of pace for this singer/songwriter. A great voice & just enough touch keeps every track sounding unique, but slightly similar.



#08) Eyedea & Abilities - By the Throat

Not a thing like what was expected from them. Such a great and bold decision by a group who knows what making music should be about.



#07) Killing Jazz - 12 is Enough (Free)

This band no longer exists, but they delivered one hell of a going away gift. This is a really fun jazz/blues album that you'd really should of had to pay for.



#06) The Patinettes - The Patinettes (Free)

A fantastic mixture of surf rock and folk, this is an album to remind you of summer. These Spaniards really nailed an oft-forgotten part of our music.



#05) Chewing on Tinfoil - Get Rich or Try Dyin' (Free)

Ska is being revived again and this is the band leading the charge. A wonderful debut album with a nice bouncing sing-along quality to it.


#04) The Gasoline Brothers - Tsk! (Free)

Indie rock that's all of great and unpretentious. This combination being a nice, strange, and incredibly welcome change of pace to the genre.



#03) Ike Reilly - Hard Luck Stories

Good ol' fashioned rock and roll mixed with a little country. Some of the best musicianship and song writing out there today all on one album.



#02) The Taxpayers - A Rhythm in the Cages (Free)

Punk mixed with folk, a lead singer/screamer that's both melodic and raspy. Everything you could want in an album mixed together perfectly.



#01) Cheap Girls - My Roaring 20's

I figure this should be number one since I've listened to it everyday for two months now. Fuzzy, catchy and beautiful, listen to this and I seriously doubt you won't want to sing along.


EP's (Alphabetical order, clickable = downloadable)

Farewell Continental - Farewell Continental, Hard Girls - Hello, I Fight Dragons - Cool Is Just a Number, The Lawrence Arms - Buttsweat and Tears, The Micah Walk Band - Goodbye, Austin, Oh NO Its POk - Oh NO It's SHITE, Plugs - Rock 'n' Roll Zombie

Here's to 2011.

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Now playing: Harlem Shakes - Strictly Game

via FoxyTunes

"Oh, the North country winters keep a gettin' me now."

For me, hell, or as I like to call it, everyday life, has finally frozen over. I started a Twitter account and, God help me, I'll try to use it in a proper sort of way. I know this is probably a lost cause already, but if you want the chance to read and hear some crazy, off the wall shit, well then add the feed. It won't cost you anything, except your self respect, but if you're reading this then you probably didn't have much to begin with.

Welcome, equal.

Since you are me and I am you and we is us, I'm going to go out on a limb and say you (I?) should listen to this free EP; It's called Rock 'n' Roll Zombie and it's by the French band Plugs.

Free Download

This is pretty straightforward. Four songs. Fourteen minutes. No frills punk rock. It seems like the French are becoming much better at this then us Americans. Don't believe me? Well, download this, and everything Louis Lingg and the Bombs have to offer and get back to me. I won't even wait for you 'cause I already know you'll learn just how right I am.

This is a full-frontal musical assault in the best way possible. Loud, melodic, and I can't understand a word of what the singer is saying (mostly because it's sung in French). Easily the title track is the standout one here, if only for one of the most kick-ass endings to a song to come out in a long while. This, my friends, is what rock 'n' roll should be.

Download it. It's free and it'll only take fifteen minutes of your life, which, if you're anything like me (and we've already established that you are), are fifteen minutes more than well spent.

Speaking of Kick-Ass: A new trailer for the movie, which is based on the comic by Mark Millar, has been posted online. This one features Nicolas Cage shooting a little girl. Movie of the year voting has now been officially closed. Check it out below.

I haven't seen you in forever and this whole meeting was brought upon us by a beautiful failure in communication. So, yes. What you heard was true, I meant every word and my only regret is forgetting to tell you how thankful I was that you didn't hang up on me right then and there. Thank you. Thank you for putting the beautiful into my failure.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Now playing: Old Crow Medicine Show - Wagon Wheel
via FoxyTunes