"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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