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| Best of 2005Sickboi's picks2005 staff picks  Review by: Chris See others by this writer ![[staff]](/images/icons/staffsticker.gif){kind=icon}
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Published on December 31st 2005
Chris "Sickboi" Moran is a video journalist and reviewer here at Punknews.org -ed “The ironing is delicious…”2005 was truly a year that liked to mess with my emotions. Here, have a Kid Dynamite reunion, but now you’re losing Hot Water Music. Lifetime reunites for Hellfest, which I refuse to attend, then Hellfest gets cancelled, and I get to see them 2 nights in a row. Jeebus works in mysterious ways. And hardcore coming back? Yes! 7 Seconds, Kill Your Idols, Bane and many other “real” hardcore bands came back to show the screaming babies and chug-chug steakheads what intense music is really about. But wait, there’s more. Green Day! Green Day! Green Day! I love these guys as much as the next mid-20’s punkrawker, but I please Billie Joe, go away for a little while. The Matt Skiba look doesn’t even look good on Matt Skiba. Speaking of fashion…..ugh. That about sums up fashioncore and dancepunk. While everyone and their white belt was losing a load to Bloc Party, Franz Ferdinand and DFA 1979, I was losing my lunch. I mean, yes, our scene can be fun. But this shit is just goofy. Look at your parents’ photo albums from when they were teens, and wonder what they think now. Style over substance…..sigh. So what else? Video of the Week launched this year. Not to pull my own chord, but I think it was pretty rad we could pull this off. Thanks to the many labels and artists that either agreed to let me film, and/or agreed to allow us to show your stuff on PN. Top 20 of the 0 to tha fizzle
20. Shook Ones – Sixteen
Endwell
Anything that is influenced as heavily by Kid Dynamite is good enough. These guys actually add to it. 
19. With Honor – This is Our Revenge
Victory
I was a little late getting on the bus with these guys but am glad I did. Great melodic hardcore. 
18. Stretch Arm Strong – Free At Last
East/West
Definitely a grower on me. Hated it at first, but slowly found myself listening to it everyday. 
17. Bane – The Note
Equal Vision
Yes, for the millionth time, its no “Give Blood”, but honestly, what is? Regardless, this is still about 99% better than all of the other hardcore out there. 
16. The Unseen – State of Discontent
Hellcat
Call this my “guilty pleasure”. 
15. Kill Your Idols – From Companionship to Competition
Side One Dummy
Just when you think hardcore is a dying bread, leave to some veterans to show you how it’s done. 
14. Propagandhi - Potemkin City Limits
G7 Welcoming Committee / Fat Wreck
Intelligent, aggressive and thought-provoking. 
13. Western Addiction – Cognicide
Fat Wreck
I don’t know what to label these guys, so I won’t. No frills punk rock. 
12. Street Dogs – Back to the World
Brass Tacks
Mike McColgan has finally separated himself from his DKM fame. This sophomore effort walks the thin line between street punk and straight rock n’ roll. And does it well. 
11. The Aquabats – Charge!!
Nitro
I don’t think I’ve had this much fun with a record in a longtime. 
10. Darkest Hour – Undoing Ruin
Victory
I don’t listen to a lot of metal. But I do listen to Darkest Hour. Do the math. 
9. A Wilhelm Scream - Ruiner
Nitro
The guys suffered from the same problem as Bane. And from a lot of “haters”. Don’t believe everything you read, because AWS are one of the best and most innovative & exciting bands to come out in a long time. 
8. Comeback Kid – Wake the Dead
Victory
Time to face facts kids, this album is better than “Turn it Around”. Better lyrics, better music, just better. Just because you can’t perform floor punches and windmills to every song, it doesn’t make it bad. 
7. Teenage Bottlerocket - Total
Red Scare
Pop punk is alive and well. 
6. Against Me! - Searching For A Former Clarity
Fat Wreck
Hate! Hate! Hate! Don’t pay attention to the label, pay attention to the music. AM! Are not the basement band you can feel cool that no one else knows about anymore, get used to it. 
5. The Suicide Machines - War Profiteering Is Killing Us All
Side One Dummy
Ska, Punk and Hardcore have never been played so well together by one single band. 
4. Paint It Black - Paradise
Jade Tree
I still say “CVA” was better.
3. Lagwagon – Resolve
Fat Wreck
I’ve been a casual Lagwagon fan at best since I first heard them in the mid-90’s. This record changed that. Joey Cape is one of the best songwriters of our time. 
2. 7 Seconds – Take It Back, Take It On, Take It Over!
Side One Dummy
This has been my #1 album all year. Positive hardcore, making you want to sing along to every song over and over again. Aggressive feel-good music. 
1. Smoke Or Fire - Above the City
Fat Wreck
I don’t know if a record and a band have ever grown on me so much. When I first hear this album, immediate “meh”. Liked maybe, 2 songs. After a few road trips of playing this album start to end, I started to appreciate it more and more. Until it made an almost daily trip to my car stereo. Honest and sincere post-hardcore, though more aggressive in nature, Smoke or Fire are picking up where Hot Water Music left. 
The Loved Ones - The Loved Ones
Jade Tree
Rock, but punk-influenced. 2005 was their introduction, 2006 will be their coming out party. 
Inquisition – I Think It’s Called Inspiration
AF
The Lawrence Arms – Cocktails and Dreams
Asian Man
Rumbleseat - Is Dead
No Idea
Snuff – Six of One, Half a Dozen of the Other (1986-2002)
Fat Wreck
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Can i get a AMEN for Strike ANywhere So what we're saying is that Punknews needs new staff members???? Haha, sickboi, man, did you get beat up in elementary school or what? I don't think on the best collections anyone put Strike Anywhere... I'm still loving that album almost a year later, even though most of the songs are a few years old... I love the remastered versions. Good list, but you forgot Best New Single of the Year: "Whoa Dave, Can you hear me?" Good call on The Unseen album, and the Lawrence Arms B-Sides and Rarities. Okay, here's my top 4 Punk News Best of List: Couldn't agree more Sick Boi. Street Dogs, Unseen, Suicide Machines and Against Me. Definitely some of my favorites this year. Good picks. I agree with a lot of them. I'll have to check out some of the other stuff though. Its funny though. As I was reading the other lists, I was wondering why the Aquabats weren't on anyone's list....then I clicked yours. That album really is fun. Awesome Forces is so so great. Wow I actually have eight of those albums in my top 30. Normally I don't agree with any of the lists on here. i only own that many (as seen in score pussies) what the fuck is with all the punk on this list? This is my favorite staff list, probably half of your picks and half stuff that Jesse or Will listed would accurately reflect my tastes in this year's releases. good list brilliant....the addition of the street dogs, the unseen, kill your idols, lagwagon, 7 seconds turns me on.....but in a way that would make you easily the best reviewer on this site.....keep it up But really, sickboi, you should give DFA 79 another chance, especially the second half of the CD. Holy shit its awesome. I really like that sickboi's list is all punk. Honestly, my tastes are somewhere closer to Jesse's or Scott's, but I can find opinions on the new Franz or Arcade Fire a million different places on the internet and in print. "This will definately make my top 10 for the year. yeah, this is the best list in my opinion. i think this is the best list This list sucks like Sickbois momma Yay! "I still say “CVA” was better. " Wow. I just lot a lot of respect for you. Smoke or Fire, from what I've heard, sounds like a second-rate FIYA. ra ra ra look at me i'm sickboi i'm tuff i sum shit up in single sentences. NUFF' SAID. good to see some Aquabats love. I love the lyrics for "Fashion Zombies." Nerd Alert is pretty damn good too. Even though there are two or three I could throw out righ toff the bat, you have the best list of them all, easily. One of the best lists this year. Glad to see the Street Dogs get some love. Your list should beat up the rest of the lists cause they suck and yours is good. 7Seconds = love. Wow, you managed to pick just about every overrated shitty album that came out this year. pretty great list, by far the one i agree with most. excellent choice for # 1 as well. too bad you got buried off the main reviews page. MVP of the year award goes to Mr. Sickboi, solid list sir. Easily my favourite list. Nice one top ten i wouldn't of changed any of the bands.. good times wow sickboi, thanks for reminding us how punk you are. there we go you made a number of comments in your reviews (comeback kid, a wilhelm scream, against me!, etc.) that really prove you know what to look for and what to pay attention to in music, unlike 85% of the donkeys who frequent this site. solid list, but i enjoy your 10-20 more than your 1-10 Good list, nothing suprising but solid picks. I think I approve. you may live for another year. I don't agree with everything here, but this is the list that would probably be closest to mine. Good list. It would probably be the closest to mine. Some good stuff on this list, actually, although 7 Seconds is up too high. It was a good album and all, but the replayability is severely limited when you start to notice the drums... I’ve been a casual Lagwagon fan at best since I first heard them in the mid-90’s. This record changed that Okay, so I'm going through these best-of-2005 lists when I come to yours, and realize, "Oh yeah. Where was Propagandhi on the other lists?" More importantly, why isn't it NUMBER ONE on everyone's list? In this case it's not a matter of opinion - it's a scientific fact. And I'm glad to see the Aquabats get some recognition for what is there best, most coherent album ever. i am suprised comeback kid wasnt higher, but i like the list. did you get to record any of the lifetime shows or no video allowed? i like your list, good stuff You actually liked the new 7 Seconds? "Just because you can’t perform floor punches and windmills to every song, it doesn’t make it bad." |
