Brian Gorsegner / Shawna Potter / Nick Woods

Brian Gorsegner / Shawna Potter / Nick Woods
by Best of The Year

And our annual tradition of top 10 lists begin! As per our sacred creed, all this week, we will be posting guest top lists by musicians, labels, producers and other cool people! Today, we kick off the series with Brian Gorsegner of Night Birds, Shawna Potter of War on Women, and Nick Woods of Direct Hit! At the same time, we're also kicking off the annual tradition of sharing adorable holiday pet photos, because, well, why not? Here's the ever-festive Mr. Shea, wishing you well this holiday season.

Night Birds

Brian Gorsegner

Brian is the fantastic lead singer of Night Birds. They released Mutiny at Muscle Beach

this year. We also spoke to Brian about the record.

10. Red Dons: The Dead Hand of Tradition

Taken By Surprise/Deranged

      

      

      

        

9. The Stops: Nameless Faces

Dirt Cult Records

      

      

      


8. Flying Faders: No Sweat

Wallride Records

      

      

      


7. Radioactivity: Silent Kill

Dirtnap Records

      

      

      


6. Vacation: Non-Person

Don Giovanni Records

      

      

      


5. Terrible Feelings: Tremors

Deranged Records

      

      

      


4. toyGuitar: In This Mess

Fat Wreck Chords

      

      

      


3. Violent Reaction: Marching On

Revelation Records

      

      

      


2. Royal Headache: High

What's Your Rupture?

      

      

      


1. Tenement: Predatory Headlights

Don Giovanni Records

War On Women

Shawna Potter

Shawna is the kick-ass lead singer of War on Women. They released War On Women this year. We talked to Shawna about Danzig and Dolly Parton.

10. Modern Pain: Peace Delusions

Bridge Nine Records

Label mates!

      

      


9. Tulalah: The Flood

Equinox Recordings

I don't know why these horns sooth my savage beast, but they do

      

      


8. TT the Artist: Art Royalty

Zoo on Mars

A fellow Baltimorean badass! I'd really love to collaborate with her in the future

      

      


7. Cloud Rat: Qliphoth

Dead Tank Records

      

      


6. The Velvet Teen: All Is Ilusory

Topshelf Records

      

      


5. Chelsea Wolfe: Abyss

Sargent House

      

      

      


4. Refused: Freedom

Epitaph Records

we got the chance to open for them a few times this year and seeing these new songs live, well, they fit right in with their older stuff! It was awesome!

      

      


3. Coliseum: Anxiety's Kiss

Deathwish Inc.

they recorded at Magpie Cage, the same studio where we've recorded all our records and in the same building where Brooks and I work

      

      


2. Marriages: Salome

Sargent House

      

      


1. G.L.O.S.S.: Demo

Self Released

Why aren't our two bands on tour together playing women's centers at every goddamn campus in this goddamn country?!

      

      

Direct Hit!

Nick Woods

Nick Woods is the main man of Direct Hit! The released More of the Same (Satanic Singles: 2010-2014) this year.

Tenement: Predatory Headlights

Don Giovanni Records

I probably don't "get it" the way I'm supposed to, but these dudes are from the Fox Valley, there are some fuckin not-by-numbers jams here, and all the creepy soundtrack-sounding instrumental and weirdo shit in between is excellent to listen to on long drives and while stoned, so whatever.


G.L.O.S.S.: Demo

Self Released

Not much to say that hasn't been said about this one. Game-changing hardcore. The end.

      

      


Desaparecidos: Payola

Epitaph Records

The Conor Oberst I listen to when not trying to appear sensitive.

      


Titus Andronicus: The Most Lamentable Tragedy

Merge Records

Pretty dank comeback after what I thought was kind of a dud second LP. Really pretentious, but in a fun kinda way, like I felt The Monitor was. My pick for "Best Return to Form of 2015."

      


Dr. Dre: Compton

Aftermath

Only the third LP from a living rap legend after more than a decade of nothing. Duh.

      


Juiceboxxx: Heartland 99

Thunder Zone

Dude gets better and better with every record. Boggles the mind that he doesn't have some kind of contract yet, and has to scrimp by out in Brooklyn or wherever the cool part of New York is these days. One of the few musicians I've gotten to watch transform into something else, and cooler, over the years.

      


Ajax: Ajax

Katorga Works

Brutal shit. Metal enough to be heavy, and 'core enough to keep me from feeling like I'm wearing corpse paint and a costume while listening. Pretty fucking pumped for the day these dudes put out an LP.

      


Midnight Reruns: Force of Nurture

Dusty Medical Records

Pals from Milwaukee put out this record this year with more tension than release on it, which I dig a lot. Tommy Stinson produced it. If you're involved with music in my town at all, this one definitely touches on some stuff that feels uncomfortably close to home.

      


CHVRCHES: Every Open Eye

Glassnote

The sonic equivalent of having a 50/50 mix of sugar and molly dumped in your mouth. I'm embarrassed by how giddy and talkative this record makes me. Totally my pick for best overproduced pop record of 2015.

      


Courtney Barnett: Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit

Milk & Cookies Records

I didn't get down with this album all at once, but somehow all these tunes kept creeping into my life somehow or other… Caught her set on TV once, heard a couple snippets on NPR, and finally just listened to the whole thing and got blown away. Good job PR machine. Super-cool guitar rock.