Best of 2005

Sickboi's picks (2005)
Punknews.org

Reviewer Rating:

Contributed by: Chris
(others by this writer | submit your own)
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.

EP of the Year

The Loved Ones - The Loved Ones

Jade Tree

Rock, but punk-influenced. 2005 was their introduction, 2006 will be their coming out party.

Best Reissue

Inquisition – I Think It’s Called Inspiration

Best Collections

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

MixTape

Side A

Snuff – “Martin”
Comeback Kid – “Wake the Dead”
Lagwagon – “Virus”
The Aquabats – “Fashion Zombies”
The Loved Ones – “Chicken”
Against Me! – “From Her Lips to God’s Ears”
Stretch Arm Strong – “Hearts on Fire”
The Lawrence Arms – “Quincentuple Your Money”
Teenage Bottlerocket – “Bloodbath at Burger King”
Paint it Black – “The Pharmacist”

Side B

Shook Ones – “Please Read”
Smoke or Fire – “Loving, Self-Loathing”
Street Dogs – “You Alone”
Bane – “Pot Committed”
7 Seconds – “Still On It”
Modern Life is War – “D.E.A.D.R.A.M.O.N.E.S.”
Western Addiction – “Charged Words”
The Unseen – “Scream Out”
Propagandhi – “Rock For Sustainable Capitalism”
Kill Your Idols – “Only Dicks Don’t Like Black Flag”

Future Jams of 2006

None More Black
Bigwig
Sick Of It All
The Draft
The Loved Ones
Shook Ones
Giving Chase

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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.

treos (August 10, 2006)

Can i get a AMEN for Strike ANywhere

Anonymous (January 7, 2006)

So what we're saying is that Punknews needs new staff members????

Anonymous (January 7, 2006)

Haha, sickboi, man, did you get beat up in elementary school or what?

(my first thought upon reading your last name).

Anonymous (January 4, 2006)

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.

...evildeadalive

oh yeah, best list by far, as I expected...

Anonymous (January 3, 2006)

Good list, but you forgot Best New Single of the Year: "Whoa Dave, Can you hear me?"

Sick_Nick (January 2, 2006)

Good call on The Unseen album, and the Lawrence Arms B-Sides and Rarities.

lushj (January 2, 2006)

Okay, here's my top 4 Punk News Best of List:

1. Sickboi
2. Adam
3. Justin
4. Brian

Anonymous (January 2, 2006)

Sorry dude. I meant sickboi.

Anonymous (January 2, 2006)

Couldn't agree more Sick Boi. Street Dogs, Unseen, Suicide Machines and Against Me. Definitely some of my favorites this year.
Mr. Keznington

TahoeJeff (January 2, 2006)

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.

Anonymous (January 1, 2006)

Wow I actually have eight of those albums in my top 30. Normally I don't agree with any of the lists on here.

You can read my top 30 at myspace.com/kpy85

stevejonestherealbones (January 1, 2006)

i only own that many (as seen in score pussies)

- jones the bones

- stevejones8770@yahoo.com

- myspace.com/jonesthebones

stevejonestherealbones (January 1, 2006)

what the fuck is with all the punk on this list?

where have all the frills gone?

- jones the bones

- stevejones8770@yahoo.com

dazed (January 1, 2006)

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.

branden (January 1, 2006)

good list

the inclusion of snuff didnt hurt either

Anonymous (January 1, 2006)

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

Cos (January 1, 2006)

But really, sickboi, you should give DFA 79 another chance, especially the second half of the CD. Holy shit its awesome.

--Cos

Cos (January 1, 2006)

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.

Smoke or Fire is now on top of my shopping list. Thanks.

--Cos

Anonymous (January 1, 2006)

"This will definately make my top 10 for the year.
-sickboi"
^comment about Bane's cd, The Note
http://www.punknews.org/reviews.php?op=albumreview&id=4010

So much for that

boba_fett (December 31, 2005)

yeah, this is the best list in my opinion.

Godfather (December 31, 2005)

i think this is the best list

score is for sickboi being one of only two staff members with lagwagon in the top 3

Anonymous (December 31, 2005)

This list sucks like Sickbois momma

Xine (December 31, 2005)

Yay!
Good list, sir.

Anonymous (December 31, 2005)

"I still say “CVA” was better. "

FINALLY. People are deaf if they think Paradise is a better disc than CVA. CVA's song topics will NEVER become dated. I wish I could say the same for Paradise.

Anonymous (December 31, 2005)

Wow. I just lot a lot of respect for you.

OC

Anonymous (December 31, 2005)

Smoke or Fire, from what I've heard, sounds like a second-rate FIYA.

swingline (December 31, 2005)

ra ra ra look at me i'm sickboi i'm tuff i sum shit up in single sentences. NUFF' SAID.

blinkrules (December 31, 2005)

good to see some Aquabats love. I love the lyrics for "Fashion Zombies." Nerd Alert is pretty damn good too.

TheOneTrueBill (December 31, 2005)

Even though there are two or three I could throw out righ toff the bat, you have the best list of them all, easily.

Anonymous (December 31, 2005)

One of the best lists this year. Glad to see the Street Dogs get some love.

Anonymous (December 31, 2005)

Your list should beat up the rest of the lists cause they suck and yours is good.

Anonymous (December 31, 2005)

7Seconds = love.

-opivy

Crookedsuperhero (December 31, 2005)

Wow, you managed to pick just about every overrated shitty album that came out this year.

Oh well.

AlmostPunkEnough (December 31, 2005)

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.

psychoos231 (December 31, 2005)

MVP of the year award goes to Mr. Sickboi, solid list sir.
Man i have yet to listen to Shook Ones I'm slacking this year

thirtyseconds (December 31, 2005)

Easily my favourite list. Nice one

mcgregor107 (December 31, 2005)

top ten i wouldn't of changed any of the bands.. good times

Anonymous (December 31, 2005)

wow sickboi, thanks for reminding us how punk you are.

colin (December 31, 2005)

there we go

you can always rely on sickboi to have the best taste.

props for putting smoke or fire at 1, that surprised me.

ryanbolger (December 31, 2005)

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.

theundergroundscene (December 31, 2005)

solid list, but i enjoy your 10-20 more than your 1-10

high five though

Dante3000 (December 31, 2005)

Good list, nothing suprising but solid picks. I think I approve. you may live for another year.
-Dante

Anonymous (December 31, 2005)

I don't agree with everything here, but this is the list that would probably be closest to mine.

skankin_in_the_pit (December 31, 2005)

Good list. It would probably be the closest to mine.

gladimnotemo (December 31, 2005)

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...

p-fresh (December 31, 2005)

I’ve been a casual Lagwagon fan at best since I first heard them in the mid-90’s. This record changed that

I feel the same way about this record. Cheers, Sickboi!

Medley (December 31, 2005)

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.

k-dubs (December 31, 2005)

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?

siropsycho (December 31, 2005)

i like your list, good stuff

SoupIsGoodFood (December 31, 2005)

You actually liked the new 7 Seconds?

maverick (December 31, 2005)

"Just because you can’t perform floor punches and windmills to every song, it doesn’t make it bad."

Haha, so true, Sickboi. Kinda thought AWS woulda ended up higher on your list, though...

-Scott