Your Favorite Records of 2009

Posted by aubin on Friday, January 1, 2010 at 5:00 PM (EST)

We've tallied up the votes you've cast over the past twelve months and assembled the definitive list of your favourite records of 2009. Also, new this year, we've got a separate list of your top ten EPs. As with previous years, there are some expected and unexpected records on this list, but Propagandhi's Supporting Caste took top honours in albums and A Wilhelm Scream again appeared on a year end list with their self-titled EP.

Your Favorite Albums

1

Propagandhi: Supporting Caste

Smallman Records

2

Dear Landlord: Dream Homes

No Idea Records

3

Bomb the Music Industry!: Scrambles

Asian Man Records

4

Fake Problems: It's Great to Be Alive

Side One Dummy Records

5

Banner Pilot: Collapser

Fat Wreck Chords

6

Chuck Ragan: Gold Country

Side One Dummy Records

7

NOFX: Coaster

Fat Wreck Chords

8

Teenage Bottlerocket: They Came from the Shadows

Fat Wreck Chords

9

Strike Anywhere: Iron Front

Bridge Nine Records

10

Shook Ones: The Unquotable A.M.H.

Paper and Plastick

11

Cobra Skulls: American Rubicon

Red Scare

12

Rancid: Let the Dominoes Fall

Hellcat Records

13

Nothington: Roads, Bridges and Ruins

BYO Records

14

Paramore: brand new eyes

Fueled By Ramen

15

Polar Bear Club: Chasing Hamburg

Bridge Nine Records

16

Lucero: 1372 Overton Park

Universal Music Group

17

Brand New: Daisy

Universal Music Group

18

P.O.S.: Never Better

Doomtree

19

Strung Out: Agents of the Underground

Fat Wreck Chords

20

Dead to Me: African Elephants

Fat Wreck Chords

Your Favorite EPs and 7-inches

1

The Lawrence Arms: Buttsweat and Tears [7 inch]

Fat Wreck Chords

2

The Menzingers: Hold on Dodge [7 inch]

Red Scare

3

A Wilhelm Scream: A Wilhelm Scream [12 inch]

Paper and Plastick

4

Paint It Black: Surrender [7 inch]

Fat Wreck Chords

5

Paint It Black: Amnesia [7 inch]

Bridge Nine Records

6

Strike Anywhere: Iron Front [7 inch]

Bridge Nine Records

7

Polar Bear Club: The Summer of George [7 inch]

Bridge Nine Records

8

The Flatliners: Cynics [7 inch]

Fat Wreck Chords

9

Cheap Girls: My Roaring 20's [12 inch]

Paper and Plastick

10

Small Brown Bike: Composite, Volume One [7 inch]

No Idea Records

News (350 comments)

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

ffwoodycooks (January 1, 2010)

http://www.punknews.org/review/8408
this didnt crack the top 20? look at the score for fucks sake!

the readers let me down.

alpod4 (January 1, 2010)

i checked out this album because of you. i didnt like it but this girl i was seeing did... i think you got me laid...

i_rock_hard (January 1, 2010)

The avenged sevenfold drummer died

kaibosworth (January 1, 2010)

probably because only 6 people rated it

ffwoodycooks (January 1, 2010)

im pretty sure more people just rated without commenting.
but, what confuses me is that paramore made the list with a 3 star average. granted, yes, more people voted for that most likely yet, it seems like there are just as many people who liked it as there were those who hated it. yet, it still made the list while an album that was met with universal acclaim from those who rated it doesnt even crack the list. im not 100% on how the math was done to calculate this but, it seems like FOTL should have made it.
oh well, bummer.

victim (January 1, 2010)

I would've voted it up in solidarity, but then it would appear in my Top Albums. But if I'd known it would get snubbed I would've even though I didn't personally care for it.

aubin (January 2, 2010)

The way it works is based on overall positive review share. This part is important because we have to balance a combination of review /volume/ (i.e. how many people review something) and what those reviews turn out to be. So it's not enough to have a small number of very positive reviews. Take it like this:

If 100 people give Paramore a 5 star review and 100 people give it a 1 star review, it will have an average score of 3.
If 50 people give Future of the Left a 5 star review and 50 people give it a 3 star review, it will have an average score of 4.

Which one had the better overall? That's where weighted volumes become very important and that's why averages won't always reflect the albums. We have to normalize review scores over review volumes to come up with these ratings.

ffwoodycooks (January 3, 2010)

alright, thanks for clearing that up.

IamtheAvatar (January 1, 2010)

I didn't get to hear it until about a week ago so I didn't vote. But yeah, it's pretty great.

Also, the appearance of that Paramore album is slightly suspect.

xxsplurgexx (January 2, 2010)

while the mighty ducks sequel was overrated by far, i think the carlito's way 'prequel,' was infact a movie with all of the qualities one searches for in a film...

TheNightMan (January 1, 2010)

much better than the other list

14theroad (January 1, 2010)

Agreed. This is a list I can get behind for the most part. Fucking Paramore though.

chadreligion (January 1, 2010)

The new Del was so much better than POS, which of course, is the only hip-hop record on there

ffwoodycooks (January 1, 2010)

which new del? i heard funk man and thought it was mediocre.
i feel Dalek had the best hip hop alum this year.

noah (January 1, 2010)

Oh, you didn't hear Cuban Linx 2?

ffwoodycooks (January 1, 2010)

actually, no i didnt

noah (January 1, 2010)

check it out!

sleepwalker (January 1, 2010)

Cuban Linx II is very good, but Never Better and Us are superior.

cut_the_mullet (January 1, 2010)

I know this is a very white person thing to say, but Mos Def's new album is definitely one of the top hip hop albums to come out this year

ZachLeg (January 1, 2010)

Mos Def is always consistent with his work. I definitely love the Black Star stuff

IamtheAvatar (January 1, 2010)

Del's fucking boring.

drHankMcCoy (January 2, 2010)

you're dumb. big ups to OBFCLII.

Dante3000 (rich) (January 2, 2010)

I can only assume your mean the commercial he did for G4. It was okay.

Dante3000 (rich) (January 2, 2010)

Also, no one reviewed the new record for the site. If you have such an epic hard on for it, review it and maybe it will crack the top 20. Otherwise, you might as well complain that the new KISS album didn't make the top list. If it isn't reviewed it can't possibly be a favorite

chadreligion (January 2, 2010)

I don't get THAT much free time these days, but I just might have to do that

Dante3000 (rich) (January 3, 2010)

Have you seen some of the reviews around here? I think you should be able to keep par with some of those. For godsakes MikexDude is even staff, have you seen what he writes?

24hourpriapism (January 1, 2010)

thanks gimper for throwing off the curve and sending BTMI! into the top 5, and preventing cobra skulls from cracking the top ten at all.

jacknife737 (January 1, 2010)

I always love these: the .org consensus is really good at recommending new music. I'll be checking out the albums/eps listed here that i have yet to hear.

And now for the inevitable personal list: no particular order. No surprises here, i'm afraid.

Top Ten
-Nothington - Roads Bridges, and Ruins
-Mighty Mighty Bosstones - Pint Points and Gin Joints
-Frank Turner - Poetry of the Deed
-Banner Pilot - Collapser
-Dear Landlord - Dream Homes
-Nofx - Coaster
-Teenage Bottlerocket - They Came from the Shadows
-Tegan and Sara - Sainthood
-Broadway Calls - Good Views, Bad News
-Dead To Me - African Elephants

Favorite Ep's
-Nofx - Cokie the Clown
-A Wilhelm Scream - S/t
-Larry Arms - Buttsweat and Tears

Worth a mention
-American Steel - Dear Friends and Gentle Hearts
-Lily Allen - Alright Still (pop music at it's finest)
-Andrew Jackson Jihad - Can't Maintain
-Big D and the Kids Table - Fluent in Stroll
-Matt and Kim - Grand
-New Found Glory - Not Without a Fight
-Rancid - Let the Dominoes Fall (fun summer record, enjoyed it more than i thought i would)

nikko (January 1, 2010)

good looks on the American Steel they deserve a mention at least. I honestly enjoyed Dead to Me's new album as well, although the other vocalist was a big part of the group. Nofx coaster doesnt deserve anything though. Nofx is really dissapointing...I guess all they really want to do is put out punk albums with the same exact sound and formulas. This album would've been good if it came out in the early 90s i think.

jacknife737 (January 1, 2010)

I've been spinning the new Dead to Me constantly the past couple days. I really hope the other vocalist comes back for the next album, but i'm really pleased with what they put out with African Elephants.

As for Coaster, to each their own i suppose. I think Orphan Year alone is one of the best songs they've written.

mattramone (January 1, 2010)

That Propagandhi album is not gonna stand the test of time. How often do you guys actually listen to it?

dev (January 1, 2010)

"You can storm the edit suiiiiiiiiiiiiiiite, move to block it's theatrical release" etc etc is my cell phone ring.

Deadpan (January 1, 2010)

I put it on a lot when I have to do the dishes, and that happens quite a lot. It still gets me as pumped now as when it first came out.

AllAgesPete (January 1, 2010)

i like it a lot, but its definetly no number one. Nothington gets that place on my list. I listen to it maybe once a week or once every other week and i dig it a lot.
What was your favorite album?

mattramone (January 1, 2010)

It's Great to Be Alive, with a bullet.

It didn't hurt that I found Chris Farren shirtless on my couch. (based on a true story)

14theroad (January 1, 2010)

This makes your opinion null and void.

MN_DrNick (January 1, 2010)

I've actually listened to it a lot since it came out. I thought for sure it was not going to be #1 because of Dinosaur Jr., Chuck Ragan, Lucero, and Frank Turner. But they all came up short.

mattramone (January 1, 2010)

Chuck and Luceor may not have brought their A game, and that Turner record grinds to a halt 2/3 of the way through, but honestly I think Farm is the best record Dino Jr.'s done since You're Living All Over Me, if not actually their best record ever.

14theroad (January 1, 2010)

Lucero was fucking great this year. I don't know what you're talking about.

ElVaquero (January 2, 2010)

well i'll agree with you on Dino Jr

diver (January 1, 2010)

I listened to it non-stop when I first got it, now I kinda just pick and choose songs every once in a while.

jacknife737 (January 1, 2010)

Agreed.

It's not a bad album, but i just get kind of a "meh" feeling after i listen to it.

ElVaquero (January 1, 2010)

Dude. "The Bangers Embrace"

mattramone (January 1, 2010)

Dude. One song.

theproblemwithfire (January 1, 2010)

You've posted that a couple time about this album. What does the even mean, exactly? How would this stand or not stand the test of time compared to their albums and why would it really matter? Is that how you judge music when you buy or listen to it, by how well you think it will stand the "test of time"? I don't get it.

I really enjoyed this album. Best thing they've done since Today's Empires, and easily one of their best records, in my opinion. The only reason I haven't listened to it lately is because I played the shit out of it at first and had to give some other stuff some attention, which isn't unusual for me when I really love an album. I just listened to this recently and still felt the same way about it.

mattramone (January 1, 2010)

I thought it was awesome the first time I heard it, and now I have to think really hard to remember even one particular thing about it. It's way forgettable. Also the lyrics made me think of being stuck at a basement show next to That Guy who decides to tell you all about his personal belief system. (Yeah, I know I bought the record and blah blah blah, but that didn't make it any less reactionary and annoying. Also, no download card? Up the posers.)

The songs all bled together in a really bad way, and you know it's a bad sign when you find yourself trying to force yourself to get into an album. It wasn't bad in the way, say, a T-Pain album is bad, but it's still to me ultimately disposable and certainly not worthy of inclusions on any kind of "best of" lists. I'll still be listening to American Rubicon in ten years. I dunno if I'll even remember owning Supporting Ban Pun in five.

theproblemwithfire (January 1, 2010)

Hmm. I don't think the songs blend together nor do I find anything other than two of Todd's songs forgettable. I like the flow and pace of the album and I think it's got some of their best material on it, both song and lyric-wise (supporting caste, coaches corner, banger's embrace, last will, etc). As far as the lyrics go, it's nothing out of the ordinary for them. If you've ever heard them before you know what you're in for. From what I remember, you were never really a fan of their lyrics in the first place so I don't know why you're taking issue with them at this point. In fact I actually think there's more personal and less in-your-face lyrics out of any of their previous stuff (without love, banger's embrace). Oh well. I guess we just disagree.

American Rubicon? Man, I love the Cobra Skulls but save for a couple songs I was really let down by it. It's such a step down from Sitting Army. Nowhere near as cohesive and too much filler. Still need to hear that 7" though because I remember lost in campaigns being good.

ElVaquero (January 2, 2010)

hey, the last T-Pain album was pretty good actually

JerryCola (January 1, 2010)

Propagandhi > MattRamone

mattramone (January 1, 2010)

I assure you I serve better food.

Cheesetits (January 1, 2010)

A lot.

telegraphrocks (January 1, 2010)

I simply can NOT listen to it at all anymore...

It's definitely their worst album, by far, and 10 months after that I fact I would only say 2 songs have reply value now.

Supporting Caste is definitely one of the most overrated albums of the year.

victim (January 1, 2010)

I keep thinking that eventually I'll like a Propagandhi album.

RAMBUNCTOID (January 1, 2010)

I loved it for the first month or so, but the more I listen to it the more it seems like they put out Supporting Caste just to put an album out. I tried listening to it yesterday and got maybe halfway through.

iconoclast (January 1, 2010)

i've listened to it consistently since it came out. their music has so much more re-play value than 99% of the bands out there.

greg0rb (January 2, 2010)

LESS TALK MORE ROCK 4 EVAH! Seriously, they will never top it. Still love that album... they need John K Samson back to soften their hard tendencies and pop em up a bit. Too hardcore/metalcore/whateveryoukidscallit for my aging eardrums.

theproblemwithfire (January 2, 2010)

NO. John and Propagandhi are best apart from each other. LTMR is a great album but not because of John.

greg0rb (January 2, 2010)

Back in the day I always thought John's songs were the weakest and I think they still kinda are the weak tracks on those first 2 albums. And I love Weakerthans, I'm not saying break them up. But I think he probably had an effect on Chris' songs and the overall band's sound as is evident when listening to the difference between LTMR and TETA. Their 'new' bass player, whatever his name is, just made them sound like Good Riddance (or something, I dont know melodic hardcore or whatever) and his bass sound was too rough/clangy. Anyway, just my opinion. Also, they were funnier when John was in the band.

returnofdebs (January 2, 2010)

it's solid from beginning to end.

for all the people who are consistently saying "it won't stand the test of time" what the hell is so great about anything they put out before this that needs to be replicated time after time? i have been into these guys since htce, but at some point you realize that is the record that you pick and choose from.

breakthechains (January 2, 2010)

In terms of musicianship, Supporting Caste is the best album on the list. By far. It's basically what they were trying to do and came up short with Potemkin. It's all about the Beave! How can you listen to the one-two hit of the first two songs and not be just blown away? Every time I listen to this album, still, I get a big stupid grin on my face because it blows me away how fucking good it is.

Make_Way (January 1, 2010)

I guess it was a halfway decent year, music-wise.

Deadpan (January 1, 2010)

Oh man. As much as people like to make a noise about dudes with gruff voices and beards, Paramore still makes it into the top 20. You have to laugh.

Unless Hayley Williams has undergone a massive stylistic overhaul, that is, in which case, I'm still going to laugh, because hey, it's a girl with a beard.

ahopeagainsthope (January 1, 2010)

I'd do her.

Deadpan (January 1, 2010)

Even with a beard

ahopeagainsthope (January 1, 2010)

Especially with a beard.

chadreligion (January 2, 2010)

she's looks pretty doable here
http://paramorefans.com/img/NME-Coversmall.jpg

mattramone (January 1, 2010)

Dude, hadn't you heard? She's been listening to super hardcore shit like Simple Plan and H2O lately.

thus_spoke_Sean (January 1, 2010)

"she doesn't know it's a band, she just really likes water" is my all time favorite LOL moment from the 'org.

greg0rb (January 2, 2010)

Where is that from? Link it duder.

thus_spoke_Sean (January 2, 2010)

i have forgotten how to link directly to the comment in question, but it's not too far down:

http://www.punknews.org/article/28354

suburbanshack (January 1, 2010)

soooo much better than the other list.

these pretty much were all my favorites. way to end the lists with the best one. good on ya punknews

ahopeagainsthope (January 1, 2010)

I just can't get into Supporting Caste for the life of me. It's not bad, but nothing grabs me about it.

Collapser's better than every record on this list. You disagree? Fuck you.

MN_DrNick (January 1, 2010)

DIsagree.

14theroad (January 1, 2010)

I'd say yes if I didn't like Dear Landlord so much.

i_rock_hard (January 1, 2010)

dear landlord is TERRIBLE.

ahopeagainsthope (January 1, 2010)

Well isn't that an edgy statement.

14theroad (January 1, 2010)

You know what's terrible? The fact that somewhere out there is an abortion doctor didn't get $800 from your mom.

i_rock_hard (January 2, 2010)

You know what's also terrible? Your grammar

iorek (January 3, 2010)

I think you mean grammer

ElVaquero (January 2, 2010)

so i'm not the only one who thinks this...

MN_DrNick (January 1, 2010)

It was a toss up between Dear Landlord and Banner Pilot for me on who had the better album this year. The coin said Banner Pilot.

14theroad (January 1, 2010)

It was that close for me too. But I felt the lyrics on Dream Homes was more relatable to me.

Big_Guy (January 1, 2010)

Collapser is amazing, but Propagandhi still beats it out slightly

mattramone (January 1, 2010)

Collapser is top 3 at least.

High fives on Propagandhi.

ahopeagainsthope (January 1, 2010)

High fives for low lives?

ffwoodycooks (January 1, 2010)

collapser is kind of boring. 4 good songs and the rest blend together.

fuck me, i guess.

agreed about supporting caste. (i feel that way about propagandhi in general)

ahopeagainsthope (January 1, 2010)

Yep, fuck you.

I gotta say, I am mildly disturbed about the lack of Future of the Left. I haven't listened to the new one enough to place it in my top-ten, but Paramore? Really?

eran_zombis (January 1, 2010)

as the spokesman for the collective org, i would say that Andrew Jackson Jihad would be a more likely candidate to replace paramore than future of the left. too british, ya know?

ffwoodycooks (January 1, 2010)

i agree. while i like the future of the left album more, i was more surprised by the absence of AJJ.

14theroad (January 1, 2010)

I thought that was a shoe-in with all the collective loads dispersed.

cant_hurrdly_what (January 1, 2010)

Welsh, fucker.

ffwoodycooks (January 1, 2010)

well, Falco is actually british so, i let it slide

eran_zombis (January 2, 2010)

I'm too American to know the difference.

ElVaquero (January 2, 2010)

wales is in britain, idiot

wonton (January 1, 2010)

I'll agree with woodycooks on this one. Collapser has a few songs that i absolutely fucking adore, but the sounds blends too much.

ZachLeg (January 1, 2010)

I've always liked Pass The Poison more than Collapser.

ffwoodycooks (January 1, 2010)

i thought the staff list was better. not too much different but, it had more in common with my top 20.

MN_DrNick (January 1, 2010)

This list did not need Paramore or Brand New. Agree with Woody on Future of the Left. And the new Dead To Me... I'm sorry. Really disappointing! Shouldn't have pressed on without Jack. Surprised how high the new Rancid is. I mean it's good, but it didn't make my Top 30.

MN_DrNick (January 1, 2010)

Also, FUCK COASTER!!

sleepwalker (January 1, 2010)

Agreed 100%. If not for Nofx, this list would be perfect.

14theroad (January 1, 2010)

You had me until Future of the Left.

kaibosworth (January 1, 2010)

why did the cheap girls lp get counted on the short list?

MN_DrNick (January 1, 2010)

Yeah. That's on my list of full lengths of the year.

thepopeofchili-town (January 1, 2010)

Same here.

sbit (January 1, 2010)

My top records looks like:

1) Fake Problems - It's Great to be Alive!
2) Lucero - 1372 Overton Park
3) Dear Landlord - Dream Homes
4) Bomb the Music Industry! - Scrambles
5) Future of the Left - Travels With Myself and Another

6-10) Chuck Ragan, The Sidekicks, Andrew Jackson Jihad, Kepi Ghoulie, The Aggrolites.

The Thermals and P.O.S. were great too. An awesome year for music! Good job, everyone!

Ohnodisaster (January 1, 2010)

This guy has a damn good list.

MN_DrNick (January 1, 2010)

Wait a god damn mintue! No Andrew Jackson Jihad?!?!?! WTF!!!

hey_ska (January 2, 2010)

I know! Can't Maintain was by far my number one this year.

thepopeofchili-town (January 1, 2010)

The top 3 don't even belong in the top 20. Fake Problems should be number 1, and Daisy should be way higher. Also, My Roaring 20's is not an EP. Staff List > This list. And to me, I'm right.

thepopeofchili-town (January 1, 2010)

The EP list is pretty solid though.

Misanthropee (January 1, 2010)

Hey look, it's exactly the same as every list. Resistance is futile.

Doctormistersir (January 1, 2010)

Up tha punx

voodooskull (January 1, 2010)

Did anybody listen to Riverboat Gamblers _ Underneath the Owl. The whole album sucks you in as soon as it starts playing. How did everyone overlook this Plastic perfection

suburbanshack (January 1, 2010)

i have no idea! saw them in june and ever since ive been loving their music.

i dont think anyone even mentioned it in a previous list.... shame

punk_sk (January 1, 2010)

They were sold out when I saw them during the spring

bryne (January 2, 2010)

It's on my list, silly.

http://www.punknews.org/review/8919

Thegimper (January 1, 2010)

More Scrambles love!

Glad to see Rancid and NoFX both made the list.

suburbanshack (January 1, 2010)

i liked the new rancid more than most people. i actually enjoyed it more than the 2000 self titled, life wont wait, and indestructable.

coaster was also pretty good

nick_s (January 2, 2010)

Nofx just release consistently good albums, there's nothing outstanding about any of them but they're always good.

I agree that the new Rancid album is better than indestructable, but 2000 and life wont wait? not a chance.

Regulartrite (January 1, 2010)

Is Paramore an org band?

dev (January 1, 2010)

That's a good question, it really seems like it lately doesn't it?

fullblownattack (January 1, 2010)

A pretty healthy list. I was expecting to see Swellers high up though. Good too see POS in there too.

Just a question for the staff/editors/writers...how do you feel putting the Sidekicks and The Pains of Being Pure (or whatever the fuck they're called) so high up on the end of 09 list, but without a chance in the voters one?

As you can guess, I think both aforementioned acts are pretty substandard to say the least.

Brad.

victim (January 1, 2010)

I didn't get Weight of Air. I admit to not giving it much of a chance, but I thought they sounded like the Copyrights or something. But I don't really listen to them, so I just chalked it up to that and moved on.

ZachLeg (January 1, 2010)

I thought they had a great sound on So Long, Soggy Dog. I listened to it constantly when it first came out. I was sad when they changed their sound, but I guess all bands do it eventually.

fuzzy (justin) (January 2, 2010)

Speaking only for myself - I'm totally fine with it. It's a good reminder that the Org is not some unified "We love X Y and X band" and "Hate A B and C band" kind of place. Even in the comments here you can see a wide spread of opinions on the various albums. Diversity of opinion is always a good thing.

-Justin

ps: In 5 years all your favorite bands' albums will sound like "The Weight of Air."

bigp (January 1, 2010)

No offense, punknews, but this list is way better than the list you released.

johnnydanger (January 1, 2010)

Agreed but I'm okay with offense

14theroad (January 1, 2010)

That's because we're the heart and soul of this godless website.

greg0rb (January 2, 2010)

I forgive your harsh words.
Yours in Christ,
Greg0rb

victim (January 1, 2010)

Glad it came last though, because its clearly the most predictable list with the exception of Paramore and a surprising exclusion here and there. But I think those are likely to be artifacts of a fluky system of tabulating the list which probably regresses everything to the mean.

fuzzy (justin) (January 1, 2010)

It's also the most important one.

We're just 6-10 people. You folks are the ones who send in the news, read the news, write the reviews and read them. You rate the albums and let us know by ratings, comments and submissions what we should post. And the staff are all avid readers of the website - and have been for years.

-Justin

TheMike (January 1, 2010)

So I've been listening to a decent bit of Hot Water Music lately, and find The New What Next to be my favourite. I'm not a big hardcore fan, so I guess that would explain it.

johnnydanger (January 1, 2010)

Well that record is probably the worst, so you are an asshole.

TheMike (January 1, 2010)

"you are an asshole."

Thanks, I get that a lot.

14theroad (January 1, 2010)

It's not the worst. How many times do you listen to Finding the Rhythms? Personally I like Forever and Counting the least. But NWN is not bad by any means.

yousurewearpantsalot (January 2, 2010)

I listen to finding the rhythms all the fucking time. my personal fave after push for coin

returnofdebs (January 2, 2010)

without a doubt it's their best.

ElVaquero (January 2, 2010)

"Well that record is probably the worst, so you are an asshole."

I think this the prototype for all discussion on the internet

ahopeagainsthope (January 1, 2010)

It's a good record. Not my favorite, but it hits all the right spots sometimes.

I'm assuming you're a big fan of the Draft, then?

TheMike (January 1, 2010)

I like In A Million Pieces, but it feels really front loaded. I found some of the songs in the latter half to be a little unimpressive, but I figured it would be a little uneven since it was the first album without one of the primary songwriters.

fullblownattack (January 1, 2010)

Their best album I forgot the name but it has "Lo Zee Rose" on it...

dev (January 1, 2010)

There Are Already Roses is in my top 3 HWM songs.

diver (January 1, 2010)

I fucking love that album. So much.

Big_Guy (January 1, 2010)

cobra skulls suck

/controversial opinion

mattramone (January 1, 2010)

http://c2.api.ning.com/files/9OGnwofs-1I35rFwsuFwD6HATsZjzTW*EbC A1673Ilq6bwo0lzsLfcIAvwncXop9leD0nMA0Rf9Mh3-IGiIUMu6OQbIxIfXm/gtf o4.jpg

ahopeagainsthope (January 1, 2010)

cobra skulls suck

/dumb opinion

Yep, I fell for the bait.

Cheesetits (January 1, 2010)

I'm indifferent.

14theroad (January 1, 2010)

I don't agree. But I have only listened to American Rubicon twice since it came out.

ElVaquero (January 2, 2010)

me too, did not grab me. even "back to the youth"

laserguidedbygod (January 1, 2010)

I feel the same way. It's like I'm taking crazy pills every time I visit BSC or the Org.

Big_Guy (January 1, 2010)

lemme rephrase this.

Cobra Skulls play really annoying music that I find uninteresting.

they are obviously competent musicians

victim (January 1, 2010)

yeah, I totally feel the same. Overall I'm indifferent since I just don't listen to them

bradc930 (January 1, 2010)

I approve of this list.

Cheesetits (January 1, 2010)

I guess it's an alright list. Although seriously get the fuck out with Fake Problems, ugh.

14theroad (January 1, 2010)

I'm glad someone that wasn't me said it. Because everything I say sucks get written off. A tip of the cap to you sir. They truly are a bore.

ffwoodycooks (January 1, 2010)

i wouldnt say a bore. i did like them but, there was just a turning point a couple listens into the new album. now i cant stand them, they annoy the shit out of me.

that_band_changed_my_life (January 2, 2010)

cheers to you getting into the 2010 release then!

TheMike (January 1, 2010)

I'm not a fan either, but to each their own.

victim (January 1, 2010)

I know, I don't get them either

brangelina (Chris Farren of Fake Problems) (January 1, 2010)

Worst. Band. Ever.

ZachLeg (January 1, 2010)

They seem like one big gimmick. Almost like they're trying to hard. I've seen them live a few times and I still feel the same

nick_s (January 2, 2010)

Fake Problems I can deal with, I was glad to see that pretentious collection of posers The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart didn't creep on to this list.

Big_Guy (January 2, 2010)

yeah, it's decent stuff, but overrated as shit.

I guess you could say that about any band though

MilesqtoasT (January 2, 2010)

precisely what I said a year ago, met with nothing but derision. told ya'll.

shrapnel (January 1, 2010)

1. Lucero - 1372 Overton Park
2. Chuck Ragan - Gold Country
3. Tech N9ne - K.O.D.
4. P.O.S. - Never Better
5. Eyedea & Abilities - By The Throat
6. Bouncing Souls - 20th Anniversary Series (yes, I'm counting it)
7. Aggrolites - IV
8. Nothington - Roads, Bridges and Ruins
9. Rancid - Let The Dominoes Fall
10. Dinosaur Jr. - Farm

laserguidedbygod (January 1, 2010)

I forget who said it on here about the "album cycle" dying and bands like the Souls were realizing this and releasing more frequently, but I don't think I've ever given less of a fuck about a new Souls record as I do now. It probably would've made my list. And to give you an idea, I was like brimming with anticipation for the Gold Record and Anchors Aweigh when they were coming around.

shrapnel (January 1, 2010)

I would have preferred a full album release at once, rather than the month-by-month thing, but I got into the mind frame of just putting it together as a whole when all of the songs were released, and it's a great album

ffwoodycooks (January 1, 2010)

heres where i pretend you give a shit

1. Future of the Left - Travels with Myself and Another
2. Lightning Bolt - Earthly Delights
3. Dear Landlord - Dream Homes
4. Andrew Jackson Jihad - Can't Maintain
5. Built to Spill - There is No Enemy
6. Fever Sleeves - Soft Pipes, Play On
7. Johnny Foreigner - Grace and the Bigger Picture
8. Marked Men - Ghosts
9. The Sidekicks - Weight of Air
10. Dead to me - African Elephants
11. Cobra Skulls - American Rubicon
12. American Steel - Dear Friends
13. Valina - A Tempo! A Tempo!
14. Bomb the Music Industry - Scrambles
15. Neko Case - Middle Cyclone
16. Nothington - Roads. Bridges and Ruins
17. Jay Reatard - Watch Me Fall
18. Kylesa - Static Tensions
19. Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca
20. Dalek - Gutter Tactics

ahopeagainsthope (January 1, 2010)

Guess what? I give a shit.

But I couldn't care less about the lives they choose to live.

mattramone (January 1, 2010)

It's gotta be boring in Connecticut.

14theroad (January 1, 2010)

No way. There's plenty of spinkicks and floorpunches to go around.

ffwoodycooks (January 1, 2010)

im not defending ct in any whatsoever but............what?

ffwoodycooks (January 1, 2010)

in any way whatsoever, that is

14theroad (January 1, 2010)

You guys have a lot of hardcore bands.

ffwoodycooks (January 1, 2010)

we did a while ago but, not any more than anywhere else on the east coast.

but, to answer matt, yes, it is boring in CT.

14theroad (January 1, 2010)

I can't think of a CT band that isn't one.

noah (January 1, 2010)

make do and mend
my heart to joy

14theroad (January 1, 2010)

I don't know who that is.

noah (January 1, 2010)

two bands from connecticut
that aren't hardcore, that I think people outside of CT know

LeightonESmith (January 1, 2010)

This is what Australia voted was the best 40 punk/hardcore albums of 2009:

SHORT.FAST.LOUD. Listeners Top 40 of 2009

1 A Day To Remember Homesick
2 Break Even The Bright Side
3 Propagandhi Supporting Caste
4 Alexisonfire Old Crows/Young Cardinals
5 Every Time I Die New Junk Aesthetic
6 Polar Bear Club Chasing Hamburg
7 Set Your Goals This Will Be The Death Of Us
8 Gallows Grey Britain
9 NOFX Coaster
10 Confession Cancer

11 New Found Glory Not Without A Fight
12 A Death In The Family Small Town Stories
13 Thursday Common Existance
14 Converge Axe To Fall
15 Brand New Daisy
16 Strike Anywhere Iron Front
17 Silverstein A Shipwreck In The Sand
18 The Devil Wears Prada With Roots Above...
19 AFI Crash Love
20 Hopeless Dear World

21 Rancid Let The Dominoes Fall
22 Thrice Beggars
23 Evergreen Terrace Almost Home
24 Raised Fist Veil Of Ignorance
25 Taking Back Sunday New Again
26 Architects Hollow Crown
27 Trapped Under Ice Secrets Of The World
28 Fireworks All I Have To Offer Is My Own Confusion
29 A Wilhelm Scream A Wilhelm Scream
30 50 Lions Where Life Expires

31 All Time Low Nothing Personal
32 August Burns Red Constellations
33 Strung Out Agents Of The Underground
34 Four Year Strong Explains It All
35 Say Anything Say Anything
36 Frank Turner Poetry Of The Deed
37 In Trenches Relive And Regret
38 I Exist Three Nails And A Book Of Flaws
39 Title Fight The Last Thing You Forget
40 Pour Habit Suiticide

iorek (January 1, 2010)

I'm so conflicted by this list. It has Title Fight but has A Day To Remember at the top.

itsAgiftANDaCURSE (January 1, 2010)

Thank god Strung Out made the list!

telegraphrocks (January 1, 2010)

Hey, long-haired goon, that album (just like their last 5) fucking blows.

theproblemwithfire (January 1, 2010)

thank you.

iconoclast (January 1, 2010)

yes, thank you.

14theroad (January 1, 2010)

Yea, get a haircut hippie!

ElVaquero (January 2, 2010)

That Strung Out album is always a pleasant surprise. It's damn good, but completely forgettable.

youretooclose (January 1, 2010)

I'm surprised Sights & Sounds . Monolith didn't get a mention on ANY of the lists. Bummer.

nick_s (January 2, 2010)

I thought Monolith was really good, but not one of the best this year.

telegraphrocks (January 1, 2010)

Overrated in 2009: Propagandhi, Brand New, Dear Landlord, Sidekicks, Strike Anywhere, Banner Pilot, Bomb The Music Industry!, Chuck Ragan, Nothington, Paramore, Polar Bear Club, Lucero, P.O.S., Strung Out.

Basically, fuck everything that's not: Cobra Skulls, Hellmouth, Bosstones, Bouncing Souls.

telegraphrocks (January 1, 2010)

P.S.

Fuck you too.

14theroad (January 1, 2010)

Don't you hate pants?

Cheesetits (January 2, 2010)

I hear you also hate chocolate and summer and puppies.

returnofdebs (January 2, 2010)

every comment you make from here on out i will have to disregard as having any substance now that you included the bosstones.

telegraphrocks (January 2, 2010)

Coming from someone who submitted news about Pete Wentz.... ha.

chadreligion (January 2, 2010)

overrated? How about everything off of Red Scare

victim (January 3, 2010)

Except for the Falcon, I think I agree

victim (January 1, 2010)

Nothington not cracking the top 10 kinda surprises me. So many people seemed to have it at #1.

TheMike (January 1, 2010)

It's going to sound better in the spring / summer. They never struck me as a fall / winter band, but I don't know if that has anything to do with its overall ranking. Probably not.

It's the only real "orgcore" album to make my top ten this year.

cbsrocksteady (January 1, 2010)

Am I the only one that can't stand paramore? Besides that, great list

TheMike (January 1, 2010)

I don't hate or like them.

14theroad (January 1, 2010)

I think you're far from the only person.

redscare (January 1, 2010)

Nice to see Nothington and Cobra Skulls. The people have spoken!

mattramone (January 1, 2010)

holy fuck im stoned high chrono trigger is the best sean sucks man nads

14theroad (January 1, 2010)

Wolfman has nards!

sloanedaley (January 1, 2010)

NOFX and Rancid albums were hell of mediocre. Strike Anywhere and Chuck Regan were pretty meh. Dead To Me, Nothington , TBR, Brand New and Cheap Girls were all varying degrees of disappointing as their last records were all better. Fake Problems, Lucero, and Banner Pilot were really good albums. Propagandhi haven't released more than a handful of songs past Today's Empires that has had any staying power. Bomb The Music Industry, and Strung Out downright puzzle me as to why anyone would include them. Paramore I don't listen to. P.O.S. would be on my exclusively hip hop list but there were better hip hop albums this year. Cobra Skulls are good live?

victim (January 1, 2010)

To me Bomb The Music Industry only proves that DIY can be overdone. It feels like hes trying to strike a balance where for every great song he serves up some utter shit to remind you how "DIY" he is by annoying the hell out of you

Goodbye Cool World was easily the best BTMI album to me

sloanedaley (January 1, 2010)

yeah they are a band I chalk up to "not getting", it isn't the worst shit I've ever heard or anything and I respect how they do what they do but aside from a song hear or there it just doesn't come off as very enjoyable to me. Maybe I'll give them another chance.

telegraphrocks (January 2, 2010)

"To me Bomb The Music Industry only proves that DIY can be overdone. It feels like hes trying to strike a balance where for every great song he serves up some utter shit to remind you how "DIY" he is by annoying the hell out of you"

Perfectly said!

thegreatestmanalive (January 2, 2010)

I love BTMI! so im curious as to why you say "annoying the hell out of you" how? Also yeah Goodbye cool world i insanely good, as is album minus band.

victim (January 2, 2010)

Well, I haven't listened to much BTMI this year, but the Tom Waits cover leaps to mind

thegreatestmanalive (January 2, 2010)

Very true that cover is awful, but i kinda dont like tom waites that much either besides i dont wanna grow up. Fair enough but still, it ceases to be whining if your shitting blood is one of the best songs ever

victim (January 2, 2010)

Incidentally, I wasn't downing BTMI, I think the stuff he puts out is ok mostly (but not Get Warmer, which was kinda terrible). I just don't think we need to be making it out like hes some iconoclast of punk music. Hes a guy who writes songs about (almost exclusively) his shitty life. The songs are all over the place and some of them come out sounding like a mess. Its to be expected, but I for one don't care to put it on a pedestal out of some phony "punk ethic" bravado

phelansegur (January 2, 2010)

Don't say a word about Chuck until you can write his name correctly .. Great album, greater performer, greatest artist ever!

sloanedaley (January 2, 2010)

Ragan I know how it is spelled, smellface.

iconoclast (January 1, 2010)

propagandhi, right where they should be!

victim (January 1, 2010)

You must've thought the list was in ascending order

iconoclast (January 1, 2010)

you fools love to hate the best band around.

victim (January 1, 2010)

I have more snarky answers to "right where they should be" if you just need to vent

the_other_scott (January 1, 2010)

bummed that Obits isn't here. More orgers should be down with anything involving Reis or Froberg.

laserguidedbygod (January 2, 2010)

Usually I am a total Froberg fanboy but Obits I just couldn't get into.

branden (January 3, 2010)

obits was a grower but i love it. i concur about reis and froberg, those dudes are heroic.

baldsteve (January 1, 2010)

It's the first, I'll play along: Top 10 releases
1. American Steel - (love it start to finish)
2. Nothington (different than the first but I know it's a record that will stay with me for years)
3. Red Collar - Pilgrim (used guitars is one of my favorite songs ever)
4. Fake Problems - (catchy as hell, hasn't let go)
5. Cheap Girls (huge surprise, love it)
6. Neko Case (still has one of my favorite voices)
7. Riverboat Gamblers (no idea how this is looked over so much)
8. Lawrence Arms (one perfect track that will be a friend forever = instant inclusion)
9. Banner Pilot (see answer above, Skeleton Key, I goddamn love you)
10. Menzingers (same as the two above, good release, but sunday morning is unforgettable)

random bits: no idea why there is so much coaster hate. Coaster = NOFX. If you like nofx at all in the past and don't like The Quitter, Suits and Ladders or My Orphan Year, you are lying to yourself.
Paramore - great voice, bad lyrics...I don't get it.
Scrambles was a good record, finally came around, its in my top 20.

sloanedaley (January 1, 2010)

no Parasites?

baldsteve (January 1, 2010)

It is top 20 not top 10. When I reach for a Parasites record, it's going to be Pair or Punch Lines. When I'm in the mood for an American Steel record I'm just as likely to reach for the new one as an older one.

I liked it a lot though. I need to order that Jetty Boyz record, have you heard it?

victim (January 1, 2010)

What I heard of Jetty Boys had a real Green Day-ish vibe to it, probably closest to Insomniac

LinoleumMagazine (January 2, 2010)

Yes! Thank you Steve for mentioning that Riverboat record. Top ten fo sho!

I really need to check out that Red Collar album since you guys won't stop jizzing about it.

likeaparasite (January 2, 2010)

I can't imagine what you people see in "Supporting Caste". I've been a Propagandhi fan for many, many years and I thought it was a colossal disappointment, and with every album they get worse. I own their first two albums, which are great from start to finish, and without fail there have been fewer and fewer good songs with every successive album. They just keep getting more and more boring. Fewer hooks, less memorable melodies, and less inspired lyrics.

They used to rock non-stop from start to finish (with only the occasional wacky detour like "Hallie Selassie...", or the public service announcements), but now they're so obviously just trying to cram as much of their political views into every song instead of making songs that actually work melodically and sound naturally like songs rather than essays crammed into 2-3 minutes. Also, the brilliant humour and joy of their convictions that made their first few albums so enthralling has been replaced by boring pseudo-metal riffs.

I can't begin to understand why people call "Dear Coach's Corner" a highlight, when it starts off with some promising riffage that makes me think it's going to be cool, and then SLOWS DOWN HORRIBLY to suck. This occurs more than once, but the songs are so forgettable, it's hard to pick the next best example. I don't know if Fat Wreck didn't put this album out due to animosity from the previous release, but if they'd actually heard this album and just decided it wasn't up to the quality of Propagandhi's previous work, I wouldn't blame them.

I can listen to "How to Clean Everything" and "Less Talk, More Rock" from start to finish and have a blast. On "Today's Empires, Tomorrow's Ashes" and "Potemkin City Limits", at least half of the album is enjoyable. I listened to "Supporting Caste" over and over again and had to reach the horrifying conclusion that there is only ONE fucking song on the whole album that has the joy, wit, eloquence, and catchiness of classic Propagandhi - The Bangers Embrace. That's it. The rest of the album is a way too noisy, incoherent, dull slog. Allmusic hit the nail on the head in its review (aside from calling them 'emo', I don't know what the hell that was all about) asking how far Propagandhi can go on like this without befuddling their early fans. I am the quintessential befuddled early fan, and I don't understand why so few here seem to feel the way I do.

On the other hand, I second the love for "Scrambles". I love Bomb the Music Industry! for being everything Propagandhi used to be. Creative, original, unpredictable, and wonderfully articulate and insightful lyrically. When I heard "Sorry Brooklyn..." on one of their previous albums, it reminded me of the first time I heard "Anti-Manifesto" and I thought of Bomb the Music Industry as the heir to the throne of Propagandhi's position as the most simultaneously clever and intelligent indie/punk band, with the most wicked sense of humour and the most killer mastery of melody. And they've improved with every album. I was blown away by "Goodbye Cool World" and "Get Warmer". Every time they put out an album, I am 100% sure that there is no way they can top its awesomeness, and then the next one comes out, and they do.

So in conclusion...
(1) Kudos to you Punknews readers for giving "Scrambles" the love it deserves. In a smarter world, BTMI! would be the most famous and respected band in America, instead of all the hollow, pretentious crap that mainstream music journalists praise, and (2) Supporting Caste, #1? WTF?

iconoclast (January 2, 2010)

you're wrong.

Will_StrungOut (January 2, 2010)

Pseudo-metal? I swear most of the punknews population fails to realise that all four current members of Propagandhi grew up playing speed and thrash metal, and probably view most punk loved on this site as a bunch of shit. I don't like to put bands on pedestals, but there ya go.

telegraphrocks (January 2, 2010)

Though I completely LOVE Today's Empires, Tomorrow's Ashes, I was cheering you on like a madman... up until your praise for BTMI!.
You totally got my exact feelings (minus your TETA opinion) on Propagandhi, but completely vomited all over them with your BTMI! masturbation party.

Tsk.

ZachLeg (January 2, 2010)

Agreed on the BTMI! part. I finally decided to check them out this year. Extremely disappointed. It was a bunch of cluttered mess mixed with lyrics that seemed forced and crammed into parts where they didnt fit.

pricey123 (January 2, 2010)

i didn't enjoy it much either. my favourite part is the 'humane meat', 'potemkin' and 'funeral procession' chunk of the album. bangers embrace is pretty good too.

i didn't dislike it, but by the end, i remember none of it, it just seems forgettable, and the songs seem too long now (even though iteration from PCL fuckin rules at 5 minutes length)

Cheesetits (January 2, 2010)

Am I the only one who hasn't posted a list?

iorek (January 2, 2010)

I haven't. Asides from the fact that I just don't post here a lot, I can't really think of anything to post

truebeliever (January 2, 2010)

The fact that the Souls songs didn't get a proper review as a collective album of songs screwed them out of having any chances to even qualify.

sloanedaley (January 2, 2010)

it doesn't come out as a collective album until the 12th of this year, besides it wasn't that great. Gold Record was way better.

Blackjaw_ (January 2, 2010)

Yeah I really didn't like the songs at all. And I love How I Spent, Anchors Aweigh and Gold Record with all my heart.

telegraphrocks (January 2, 2010)

If I actually put my Top Albums Of The Year in order, Ghosts On The Boardwalk would currently be at #4.
But, these things flip-flop with each other over time, so I just made a collective list, which does include the lovely Bouncing Souls and their beautiful collection of songs from 2009.

kylewagoner (January 2, 2010)

I guess since that is just about the exact list I'd have made, I'm a true orgcore-er. That's kind of scary, but those were all some DAMN fine records. African Elephants woulda been higher on my list. Supporting Caste was my number 1, though.

anti-stev (January 2, 2010)

I'm glad to say that I'm not embarrassed that this website has been my homepage for nearly a decade now and the best record of the year is Propagandhi; I guess I'll continue to read this bullshit. Thanks for all the entertainment Punknews!

hey_ska (January 2, 2010)

good to know I'm not alone in the homepage department.

nick_s (January 2, 2010)

Decent list, needs more Let Me Run.

CrazyCarl (January 2, 2010)

Still has no idea why Thrice's Beggars is nowhere on these lists.. and don't be a smartass and say because it's shit. It was a rock solid comeback from their Alchemy Index and has definitely been my most played album this year by a huge margin.

jephso (January 2, 2010)

Pulley's EP, Time Insensitive Materials should be on the EP list too, especially taking into account those guys are well-liked on this site.

victim (January 2, 2010)

yeah, that is surprising. Can't say I'm a big fan personally though

diver (January 2, 2010)

Word. That album is amazing and if I were important enough to have a list, it'd definitely be in at least the top 3.

telegraphrocks (January 2, 2010)

From someone who bought around 500 albums this year, Beggars proved to be the biggest waste of my money.

I'm a smartass... it was shit.

greg0rb (January 2, 2010)

I am

TALKING

2myself

iorek (January 2, 2010)

Aaaaahaha

pitchforkwriter (January 2, 2010)

The uncanny resemblance that the dude from Propagandhi in the G.I. shirt bears to Dane Cook is really starting to annoy me. I can't help but be forced to remember that shitty movie "Employee of the month" that was on Comedy Central a few weeks ago every single time I hit refresh on here.

http://uniter.ca/images/articles/63-19-Arts-H-Propagandh i2-Malazdrewich.jpg

http://www.zmag.org/images/groupspics/40.j pg

and now, his doppelganger:
http://www.wanderinggoblin.com/wp-content/uploads/ 2009/11/Dane-Cook.jpg

Damn. Fuck that unfunny "zany" hack.

pitchforkwriter (January 2, 2010)

I guess it's cause the dude in the picture above is being "zany" also.

Does he throw up the super finger when he is ranting at his shows?

Yossarian (January 2, 2010)

Am I the only one that thought Chris Wollard put out one of the best records this year?

telegraphrocks (January 2, 2010)

You're apparently the only one that hasn't been reading any lists submitted over the last 6 weeks.

Yossarian (January 3, 2010)

That is probably correct.

drugmoney (January 2, 2010)

Great to seee that Fat is still releasing solid records. Still no AJJ? I think it was the best record I bought all year, but who really cares

greg0rb (January 2, 2010)

WOOD

JAH

blowme

(I don't know why this is so fun... that blowhard guy is onto something... nah... I'm done now)

victim (January 2, 2010)

just because hes named blowhard, doesn't mean he'll to blow you .. or does it?

boggy (January 2, 2010)

hey, that's not three lines...

crashtester (January 2, 2010)

A quick top 5

1.Set Your Goals - This will be the death of us
2.Swellers - Up's and downsizing
3.Strung Out - Agents of the Underground
4.This is a Standoff - Be Dissapointed
5.Strike Anywhere - Iron Front

Top E.P's

A Wilhelm Scream - S/T
Lipona - Pigeonhold ( I think it was early 09' but cant remember)

Set Your Goals is not getting enough praise, a classic skate/pop punk record that only has one bad song on it (summer jam)

telegraphrocks (January 2, 2010)

Set Your Goals suffers from what I like to call "New Found Glory Syndrome".

What is that? Really good music coupled with a horrendous voice, thus making the music un-listenable.

ahopeagainsthope (January 2, 2010)

Two horrendous voices in the case of SYG.

I could actually stomach it until Haley Williams popped up and started rapping. Credibility of that album flew out the window and never returned when that happened.

hashbrowns (January 3, 2010)

"Whoa whoa hey guys mind if I get in on this?"
"Hell yea!"
"Go for it!"

Always makes think a threesome is going to follow.

LeightonESmith (January 2, 2010)

amyone who can't get on board with this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GALmUe-jPHo
can fuck right off right now

RAMBUNCTOID (January 2, 2010)

Hey, ORG. Are you interested in hearing really abrasive punk music? if so, have my bands new EP. Undark and the Radium Girls, 'Too Bright to See': http://www.mediafire.com/?vittzyahetu

victim (January 2, 2010)

I know it smacks of the cliched "nothing good came out this year" whine but I can really only think of 4 or maybe 6 full lengths that I will be listening to long term from this year. Last year I actually had a full Top 10. But there were quite a few awesome EPs this year, so I guess it evens out somewhat.

It also feels like with so much list saturation this year, that there isn't much out there left to discover, but thats probably BS. Probably by next year I'll have 2 or 3 albums I haven't heard yet on my retroactive 09 list.

victim (January 2, 2010)

Since I'm a huge dork who likes to crunch numbers, I started checking the user ratings for different records while I was watching TV. I ended up making a spreadsheet.

You can get a numerical rating by clicking on an albums review and then hovering over the little stars where it says user rating.

The top 20 that I found, which isn't exhaustive since you have to manually go to each review page:

1. Lucero 4.7/5
2. Red Collar 4.6
2. Cobra Skulls 4.6
2. Propagandhi 4.6
5. Castevet 4.5
5. Nothington 4.5
5. Pulling Teeth 4.5
5. Cheap Girls 4.5
5. Dear Landlord 4.5
5. Bomb The Music Industry 4.5

11. Andrew Jackson Jihad 4.4
11 POS
11 Future of the Left
11 Fake Problems
11 Chris Wollard
11 Gallows
11 Shook Ones

18 Strike Anywhere 4.3
18 Teenage Bottlerocket
18 Chuck Ragan
18 Marked Men

At 4.2 were Sidekicks, Thermals, O Pioneers!, Banner Pilot and Dinosaur Jr

For comparison
NOFX 3.8
Rancid 3.3
Paramore 3.1

Methinks the rating system is engineered to get the more high profile albums on the list

If anyone notices anymore albums rated 4.3 or higher, I'd appreciate if you'd let me know. Of course these numbers can change over time, so I guess that has to be kept in mind, along with the fact that I don't have any access to raw vote totals (so some of the albums above could only have 5 votes or something)

chrisss (January 2, 2010)

I too am distressed that the anonymous ratings system on punknews.org seems to be neither perfect nor, dare I say, scientifically sound. Through the combination of mathematics and sheer, decisive will, we can finally root out the cause of this inherently biased evil and determine once and for all what collection of punk rock songs was the most bestest of 2009 and bring a triumphant end to this vicious tyranny!!

victim (January 2, 2010)

I'm going to just pretend that wasn't sarcasm

chrisss (January 2, 2010)

That's probably for the best.

Cheesetits (January 2, 2010)

Gross, Lucero should never be number one.

14theroad (January 2, 2010)

You're a madman.

shrapnel (January 2, 2010)

Awesome, Lucero should be number one.

aubin (January 2, 2010)

Methinks the rating system is engineered to get the more high profile albums on the list

I addressed this earlier, but I want to make it clear that we are using review volumes to decide things. The /amount/ of ratings is important in determining the popularity of records as well as the ratings themselves. If you didn't do this, you'd give too much important to a small number of positive ratings when it should be based on the highest number of high ratings.

In that sense, it's logical that high profile albums will have more ratings, since more people rate them. It's not engineered that way, it's the only way to make things fair.

chrisss (January 3, 2010)

...but he made a spreadsheet.

victim (January 3, 2010)

I made it sound too much like a plot on your part. What I meant by "engineered" was that by weighting review volume as heavily as it appears you have, higher profile albums get a big boost. By this metric I'm really shocked Green Day didn't make the list. I also think it makes the list end up reflecting what was "buzz worthy" moreso than what was the most popular. I do get that the big albums probably get more negative stars while most albums are only rated by fans..so that throws a kink into things as well

shrapnel (January 2, 2010)

I didn't even think about this until now...but I am so glad that 21st Century Breakdown is nowhere to be seen on this list

iconoclast (January 3, 2010)

good call!

MilesqtoasT (January 2, 2010)

what is it about places like the sprint store or even those cell phone places like in booths at the mall that attracts black and hispanic people like chicken and beans respectively?

"that's racist"

"I SAID respectively!"

I should write for the office.

but seriously, wtf?

victim (January 2, 2010)

I thought the office was supposed to be a comedy

MilesqtoasT (January 2, 2010)

stop being so outspoken

also why is it so long from side to side?

and THAT IS WHAT SHE SAID

and check and mate.

Cheesetits (January 2, 2010)

Alright fine I give in. To everyone's indifference, here is my probably similar and cliche Top 10 of 09 list.

1. Propagandhi-Supporting Caste
2. Converge-Axe to Fall
3. Dead Landlord-Dream Homes
4. Strike Anywhere-Iron Front
5. So Many Dynamos-The Loud Wars
6. Teenage Bottlerocket-They Came From the Shadows
7. Alexisonfire-Old Crows/Young Cardinals
8. Poison the Well-The Tropic Rot
9. Mos Def-The Ecstatic
10. Revocation-Existence is Futile

sloanedaley (January 2, 2010)

is So Many Dynamos a ska band?

Cheesetits (January 2, 2010)

Not at all.

MilesqtoasT (January 2, 2010)

that teenage bottlerocket album was pretty good. Is poison the well still around? are they a holdover from your florida days?

MilesqtoasT (January 2, 2010)

oh well you do like heavy stuff. That's not meant to be a dis I just remember them being pretty big amongst people in "the know" right before I went into my music blackout of '02-'08 and then I come back and no one mentions them anymore.

Cheesetits (January 3, 2010)

It is a holdover, I was big into them when I moved to FL right after high school and Opposite of December came out. But I like their new sound a lot.

dev (January 2, 2010)

Oh man (and I'm not trying to be an ass here) I honestly think they should change their name to Dead Landlord. That's awesome.

MilesqtoasT (January 2, 2010)

fuck yes good catch.

Cheesetits (January 3, 2010)

Ha, yeah I never noticed that.

MilesqtoasT (January 2, 2010)

there's no away out
cuz w/out a doubt
you will always want to
be w/me

MilesqtoasT (January 2, 2010)

this guy knows what I'm talking about

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34651456/ns/world_news-europ e/?GT1=43001

skankinfrank (January 2, 2010)

I watched Ken Casey get in a fight and score a goal in a hockey game today.

MilesqtoasT (January 2, 2010)

skankinfrank, you are the living end.

MilesqtoasT (January 2, 2010)

what did you guys think of Synecdoche, New York?

shrapnel (January 2, 2010)

what up son

MilesqtoasT (January 2, 2010)

what is up is the need for a victory manana.

shrapnel (January 2, 2010)

I'm feeling good about it

MilesqtoasT (January 2, 2010)

me too. as a minnesotan, that is what worries me.

shrapnel (January 2, 2010)

Minnesota Vikings: Breaking Hearts Since '61.

victim (January 2, 2010)

Favre's rookie year

Misanthropee (January 2, 2010)

Incredibly pretentious, but I thought it was great. Kaufman doesn't seem so adept at directing, though.

MilesqtoasT (January 2, 2010)

that's exactly what I thought. Very self-serving and completely mirthless but I'm glad I saw it and it made me think/feel in a way no movie ever has.

Misanthropee (January 2, 2010)

He's definitely at his best sticking to more-traditional narratives at this point. The film has this unfortunate, ironic real-life contingent in that he probably screwed up a lot of future opportunities by baking one of modern film's biggest and most narcissistic turkeys. A lot of people really hated that shit and it didn't make a dime, which sucks, because I'd love to see a more solidly ambitious Kaufman script with a giant fucking budget.

LinoleumMagazine (January 3, 2010)

I haven't seen it yet but Roger Ebert listed it as his favorite film of the decade, so I'm definitely curious.

http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/2009/12/the_best_film s_of_the_decade.html

RobbyKills (January 3, 2010)

ooo most of these are pretty good choices

jacknife737 (January 3, 2010)

It had some really, really interesting and fantastic moments and the performances were outstanding.

Overall, however, it was a bit of a mess.

damnitsderek (January 2, 2010)

Glad to see that we're mostly stereotypes here.

MilesqtoasT (January 2, 2010)

am I the only one who didn't know wanda sykes was gay?

victim (January 2, 2010)

She reminds me so much of an ex-flame

eazyd2 (January 2, 2010)

victim (January 3, 2010)

you have no idea

diver (January 2, 2010)

This is the first I've ever heard of this haha.
So uh...no?

Cheesetits (January 3, 2010)

I think she came out only recently.

suburbanshack (January 3, 2010)

NOPE. i did not know that. the only movie i liked her in was clerks 2.

PORCH MONKEY 4 LIFE!

greg0rb (January 3, 2010)

I didnt know this either!! She was great in Curb Your Enthusiasm. 'You have a racist dog!' Or something. She's pretty good in Old Christine.

suburbanshack (January 3, 2010)

wonton (January 3, 2010)

scarysmurf (January 3, 2010)

ZachLeg (January 3, 2010)

mike_b (January 3, 2010)

American Steel?

mychoice (January 3, 2010)

I need to just tell her she is fucking beautiful.

ZachLeg (January 3, 2010)

┌─┐
┴─┴
ಠ_ರ&#3 267; rather good ol chap

TheChemist (January 3, 2010)

Well it's your choice...

Scruffy (January 3, 2010)

Come to Ian's Party today, all you Chicago areans!

dev (January 3, 2010)

How was everyone's New Years Eve? I got hammered with my new girlfriend and a few of our friends and we all stayed up til about 4am. I think my hangover just finally completely wore off today.

JRNJPMA (January 3, 2010)

I don't get it

This will surely sound stupid to some, because obviously alot of pn.orgers love these bands, but I do not hear the difference between, The Menzingers, the sidekicks, Broadway Calls, Teenage Bottlerocket, the Swellers and a couple others. Still I hear about them constantly. Don't get me wrong, I like pop punk and melodic hardcore, but to me, none of these bands pop out. My favs (list keeps changing slightly.

1. The Paper Chase: Someday this could all be yours
2. Astrounautalis: Pomegranate
3. POS: Never Better
4. Bomb the Music Industry: Scrambles
5. Frank Turner: poetry of the deed.
6. Matt and Kim: Grand
7. Nobunny: Love Visions
8: The Dutchess and the Duke-album
9. Neko Case: Middle Cyclone
10: Asher Roth: Asleep in the bread aisle.

jabso (January 4, 2010)

Chris Hannah will you gay man marry me for the health insurance?

itsAgiftANDaCURSE (January 5, 2010)

10. Bruce Springsteen-Working on a Dream
9. TAT-SoHo Lights
8. NOFX-Coaster
7. Tegan and Sara-Sainthood
6. Damone-Roll the Dice
5. Rancid-Let the Dominoes Fall
4. Teenage Bottlerocket-They Came from the shadows
3. IQ-Frequency
2. Strung Out-Agents of the Underground
1. Dream Theater-Black Clouds and Silver Linings