It’s hard to believe I’ve been at the org for almost a year now. It’s even cooler that I get to make a list of my top 20 albums because usually this list sits in my documents unseen to the world. 2015 was an awesome year for music. A lot of up and coming bands dropped their full length to the world and some bands just released another astonishing album. So here are my favorite records from this past year.

20. Rocky Votolato: Hospital Handshakes

No Sleep Records

I'll be honest, I had never heard of Rocky Votolato until he signed to No Sleep Records and released this album. I've known about Waxwing for a while but never listened to them or did my research. Votolato has a tri fold on this record that blends folk, indie, and punk into heartfelt songs that are both catchy and sometimes uplifting. "White Knuckle" is the perfect example of this mix. I feel like this record got overlooked with Votolato's signing to No Sleep. Either way, this record is awesome with a cup of coffee or tea for the summer, winter, and fall.

19. Kendrick Lamar: To Pimp a Butterfly

Top Dawg/Aftermath/Interscope

One of the strongest rappers out there right now, Lamar returned with his third studio album with a different structure and a new concept. This album breaks a lot of hip-hop molds and I really enjoy Lamar's philosophy on the issues he's lived through. Kamasi Washington provided killer saxophone to this album, which suits the album well with a jazzier vibe.

18. Blistered: The Poison of Self Confinement

6131 Records

Hardcore isn't my favorite genre. I revel in it and usually listen to the bands with the more melodic and punk sides to them. But sometimes the heavier stuff grabs my ears and intrigues me. Blistered has such a diverse sound in the hardcore genre. Its like Stick To Your Guns and Dillinger Escape Plan formed and created a hardcore band out of their chaos. This band is blowing up, and with good reason.

17. Anti-Flag: American Spring

Spinefarm Records

After 20 years as a band, it's hard to believe Anti-Flag is still doing what they've been doing. American Spring has some of the best punk rock songs this year could offer and many of them are full of new approaches by the band. This album came out of left field for me since it's been a while since an Anti-Flag album has held my attention.

16. Pet Symmetry: Pet Hounds

Asian Man Records

I've never been a huge Into It. Over It. fan but have always loved Evan Weiss' side projects. This was the last record I discovered for this list and the raw feelings that come out of Pet Hounds are just too good. It took a while for them to make a full length but this band is awesome!

15. Superheaven: Ours Is Chrome

Side One Dummy Records

Formerly Daylight, Superheaven's first release under their new name is quite impressive and definitely creates a mood while listening. I've seen Superheaven a couple times, but rarely would listen to them outside of that. What really sticks out to me on this record is the lyrical content. Taylor Madison just pours his heart out in the simplest way that recites tragedy. From "Room" to "From The Chest Down" this album hits home.

14. Defeater: Abandoned

Epitaph Records

Defeater are the kings of 21st century concept albums. They get a lot of flack for being similar to Modern Life is War but the band definitely are their own entity. Abandoned follows a priest, but the lyrics are universal to match all emotions across the board. Singer Derek Archambault needed a hip replacement and after all of that subsided and worked out, the band released some of their best, most consistent material this year.

13. Take One Car: Everyone You Know is Here Right Now

Broken World Media

A fellow Punknews.org reviewer showed me this band and I got hooked on their last full length. I got really giddy because the band was releasing their first album in three years. Take One Car is nothing short of post-hardcore and progressive genius. While the record runs short with tracks, it's the quality over the quantity that makes this record. Get to know this band.

12. Sorority Noise: Joy, Departed

Topshelf Records

While the follow up to Forgettable is a little less poppy than I was anticipating, Sorority Noise delivered some super deep tracks that take the listener on an emotional rollercoaster inside the head and the heart of singer, Cam Boucher. Boucher spills it all on this album and its an inciteful listening experience that varies from track to track.

11. The Front Bottoms: Back On Top

Fueled By Ramen Records

Jersey boys The Front Bottoms are back and bigger than ever. After signing to Fueled By Ramen in June, a lot of fans had some concerns that the band was gonna turn into a Twenty One Pilots of some sort. While The Front Bottoms sound has evolved no doubt, the band delivers some of their catchiest songs that are easy to sing along to. I particularly like the more electric sound the band went for on this record, which seems to be an unpopular opinion. The songs sound great live and fit in perfectly with the band's set. While it falls a bit short from Talon of The Hawk, this album definitely made me a bigger TFB fan.

10. Four Year Strong: Four Year Strong

Pure Noise Records

I'll be the first to admit, I wasn't stoked to see Four Year Strong return to form. It seemed forced after the slump of their previous album. Four Year Strong shred hard on this album and truly go back to their roots while still keeping it fresh. There are so many catchy songs on this album that it makes it feel like Four Year Strong never left the easycore genre.

9. The World is a Beautiful Place and I Am No Longer Afraid to Die: Harmlessness

Epitaph Records

I've never been a huge The World Is fan but I caught them this summer and immediately checked them out. This album happened to come out around that time and I got really into the band's complexity and songwriting style. The many members of the band create an awesome rhythm section on this album and offers up some of their best songs to date.

8. Dogs On Acid: Dogs On Acid

Jade Tree Records

This album is super catchy! Each song is filled with pop melodies and indie vibes that are just awesome to listen to. Coming from somewhat of a Philadelphia super-group, Dogs On Acid have created one of the most feel good records of the summer.

7. mewithoutYou: Pale Horses

Run For Cover Records

What can you even say about mewithoutYou that hasn't been said? The band is a master craft of post-hardcore among other elements. Pale Horses combines all of the elements of the band's former work and presents it in a brand new way. The album is innovative and has so many great songs that just make you tap your feet and forget about what's around you. I recently got the deluxe edition of this record and the songs from the Appendix are fantastic as well.

6. Runaway Brother: Mother

Tiny Engines

Runaway Brother is a fun band. Their energy and enthusiasm is outstanding and shines through the whole duration of Mother. These guys are so infectious and have molded their own sound ontop of bands like Motion City Soundtrack, Say Anything, and The Front Bottoms. The result is a wild pop rollercoaster that's so intriguing, its hard not to listen to the whole thing.

5. Citizen: Everybody Is Going To Heaven

Run For Cover Records

              

4. Turnstile: Nonstop Feeling

Reaper Records

Ah, my first review here at Punknews. Turnstile's incredible groove hardcore is catchy as it is energetic. The songs are like Rage Against The Machine meets Helmet and totally changed the hardcore game at the beginning of this year. Turnstile did a great job incorporating all of their elements from their previous EPs. I really like the softer side the band threw in as well. This is definitely a hardcore game changer for me.

3. Foxing: Dealer

Triple Crown Records

Dealer was a lot more tranquil than I expected. The follow up to the band's debut album, The Albatross and the band went into a different direction with a little more somberness. The album still kicks though and every song is a solid composition of great musicianship done by some great guys. The drums sound like they're underwater half the time and it still manages to take charge of the vibe of almost every song. Foxing honestly can do no wrong and Dealer expands that philosophy.

2. Beach Slang: The Things We Do To Find People Who Feel Like Us

Polyvinyl Records

If music were a body, Beach Slang would be the heart. The band's debut has been highly anticipated and needless to say, the band nailed it. Continuing off of their first two EPs, Beach Slang rip through ten punk rock songs that have heart and soul through and through. I'm such a huge fan of James Alex and his poetic writing, in and out of the band's songs. There's no exception to Beach Slang's first full length. Its honest as hell and each track is embodied with the band's signature sound.

1. Turnover: Peripheral Vision

Run For Cover Records

I can't even begin with this album. I feel like the two of us have been through so much already. But really, Turnover's change in sound was just what the band needed to be refreshing and create something that is all their own. Every damn song on this album touches me differently and it's honestly just a masterpiece in my eyes. It's the record I didn't know I was waiting for. I've gotten to see this band five times since the release of this album and I still find myself dancing to "Humming" or singing along somberly to "I Would Hate You If I Could" like it was the first time I've heard them. There's not much else to say, this record is perfect.