Best of 2012

Best of 2012: Chris Moran's picksChris Moran's picks (2012)
staff picks

Reviewer Rating: 5

Contributed by: JeloneChris
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Published on December 25th 2012[Chris Moran is the Video Editor/King Punk of RVA.] I made a list of records I enjoyed this year. If you don't care, don't read it. 10 Propagandhi: Failed States Epitaph Records Never been their biggest fan, but this record found its way into my weekly rotatio.

[Chris Moran is the Video Editor/King Punk of RVA.]

I made a list of records I enjoyed this year. If you don't care, don't read it.

10

Propagandhi: Failed States

Epitaph Records

Never been their biggest fan, but this record found its way into my weekly rotation quite often. More structured, less snarky.

9

No Trigger: Tycoon

No Sleep

Yes, we all like Canyoneer more, but this is a solid record from a great melodic hardcore band.

8

Teenage Bottlerocket: Freak Out!

Fat Wreck Chords

Much like the band's history in cover art selections, their latest offering is much of the same, with a little bit of a twist - not a bad thing at all.

7

Nas: Life Is Good

Def Jam

N.Y.'s finest MC returns to his roots to deliver the best hip-hop record of 2012.

6

Tim Barry: 40 Miler

Chunksaah

Lyrically honest and stripped down, and arguably Barry's best solo effort to date.

5

Masked Intruder: Masked Intruder

Red Scare

Gimmick or not, these guys write some great pop-punk tunes, and released the best pop-punk record of 2012.

4

Bouncing Souls: Comet

Rise Records

It's the Bouncing Souls; they'd have to pull a H2O Go to not make my year-end list.

3

The Menzingers: On the Impossible Past

Epitaph Records

Their third full-length and first for indie-juggernaut Epitaph, Dunder Mifflen's favorite sons deliver a stellar record to solidify their place as one of the most exciting young bands around.

2

Hot Water Music: Exister

Rise Records

Everything I could have hoped for and more from one of my favorite bands of all time. There's not much I can say about HWM that hasn't been said before; if you like HWM you probably own this record. If you don't like HWM, your loss.

1

The Gaslight Anthem: Handwritten

Mercury

The jump to a major label and a legendary producer had no negative impact on the best record of the year. The title track alone makes this album worth the purchase, and the rest is far from filler.

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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.

655321 (December 26, 2012)

I don't understand the love for this Gaslight release - its so boring! Failed States is the best release this year.

killtaker (December 26, 2012)

I get the impression from the podcast that Chris is pretty tight with TGA so he is probably more than a little biased.

killtaker (December 26, 2012)

Exitflagger: your comment is ridiculous.

misterspike (December 26, 2012)

With the exception of Propagandhi (never got the fanboy hype and dedication those dudes receive), this list speaks to me.

ak3punk (December 26, 2012)

Best list so far. Really thought more people would be jamming Propagandhi as #1.

exitflagger (December 25, 2012)

That comment about HWM is asinine, since Exister does not even remotely sound like their No Idea material. If anything, it sounds like a gruffer Gaslight Anthem mixed in with Blink 182.

exitenglish1208 (December 25, 2012)

good list, and finally no trigger appears! great record

telegraphrocks (December 25, 2012)

My favorite list.
High-five!