Justin is the social media editor at Punknews.org - ed.
Intro
Does anyone really care what I write here? Or do you just wonder where White Crosses ended up? After the "twitter fight" that ensued between @Punknews and @TommyGabel (is it really a fight when one person just goes nuts and posts random slurs at the others?) I've realized how strange being an "internet music journalist" can be. I mean–who am I to write about music like I know what I'm talking about? And who are they to complain when someone makes their opinions about their music known?Have a good one folks. Hold those you love tight.
LPs
10
Katy Perry: Teenage Dream
Capitol
Good, fun, ridiculous pop tunes. There's an artistry to the amount of kitsch that Ms. Perry exudes. It's artfully manipulated and intentionally plays off of millions of pop culture references. Plus it's fun and you can dance to it.
9
Adam Haworth Stephens: We Live On Cliffs
Saddle Creek
We may never get another Two Gallants album, but this helps to dull the pain. I can't imagine seeing this played in a backyard in San Francisco (memories) but I can imagine playing this day in and day out for years.
8
Vampire Weekend: Contra
XL
Still a good band. This time it sounds like like Peter Gabriel and Paul Simon playing a cover album of latter-day Clash tracks. It's nothing serious but it's damned fun.
7
Best Coast: Crazy For You
Mexican Summer
It's like Neko Case fronting a garage band playing in Phil Spector's abandoned old studio. I'm not sure what else really needs to be said. It's fairly simple, straightforward and you can hear it in any indie boutique clothing store you want! RIYL: reverb. Lots of it.
6
RVIVR: RVIVR
Rumbletowne
This is everything that #2 isn't. It's raw, it's punk as fuck and it makes no excuses–all while making sure to take some mellow breaks so you don't get worn out on ex-Latterman punk rock. "Cut the Cord" is the jam of the internet. Listen to it. Learn it. Love it.
5
Iron Chic: Not Like This
Dead Broke / 86'd
I'm pretty sure this has the best anthems of 2010 on it. Nothing that is 100% groundbreaking but it's 100% enjoyable. Iron Chic has cemented themselves as the Bouncing Souls of a new generation.
4
Ted Leo and the Pharmacists : The Brutalist Bricks
Matador
I'll be honest and say that Mr. Leo is a grower for me. It often takes me months to get into his albums. The Brutalist Bricks somehow grabbed me faster than his other works, though. It's quick, simple and to the point. It's off-kilter with his ever-odd voice grounding the melody over old-man pop-punk instrumentation. It's a Ted Leo album and that is good enough for me.
3
Fake Problems: Real Ghosts Caught on Tape
Side One Dummy
Toned-down instrumentation. Less ramblings about god and religion. More melody and whimsical songwriting. It's just plain better than what they've done before. It's bouncy when it needs to be, melancholic when it has to be and overall it sounds like Mr. Farren is aping less and innovating more in his delivery. It's a shame that they didn't get more exposure with this release.
2
Against Me!: White Crosses
Sire
This is everything that New Wave should have been. It's totally 100% over the top in every manner. While Tom will probably never pen "Walking Is Still Honest," why should he? We don't expect any other iconic songwriter to revisit the past. Once you're over this band's past you can embrace the total poppy goodness of an album like this. It's a 16-year-old's guide to punk rock politics and the lost soundtrack to an unmade John Hughes movie all in one. Why think about it any harder than that?
1
The Menzingers: Chamberlain Waits
Red Scare
Some albums feel like a culmination (The Greatest Story Ever Told, for example) and others feel like a beginning (The Bouncing Souls) and a very select few manage to balance these two feelings. Chamberlain Waits is one of the few that balance it and do it well. There is a sweet transitional feeling that sweeps over this whole album. It's not so mature as to make us bored, but not so juvenile as to have us rolling our eyes. Mr. Barnett and Mr. May carry their influences on their sleeves while managing to mash up Billy Bragg, Lucero, the Clash and a lot of dance rock drum beats (courtesy of Mr. Godino) into their own fully realized sound. Everything on this album clicks into place to position the band at a place where they can (hopefully) choose to go in any direction they want.
EPs
4
John K. Samson: Provincial Road 222
Anti-
In lieu of a new Weakerthans record I'll take this. It's basically a Weakerthans 7". Delicious
3
Bridge and Tunnel: Indoor Voices
No Idea
I love, love, love, love, love the sound of Pat Schramm's drums on this EP. I love the increased noodle in the guitars. Everything on this EP rules. They're taking a year off or so–hoping for an LP next year. Perhaps later in the year?
2
Restorations: Of Trees / Rosetta split / Strange Behavior
Evil Weevil / Cavity / Paper + Plastick
The trick to enjoying this band is to turn it up loud. Now louder. Now just a little more. Now double it. There you have it. A semblance of what it sounds like to get your head soundfucked when you're seeing them live. Three releases this year and more to come next year. They are incredibly bad at touring, though, so catch them when you can!
