mikexdude

Best of 2009 (2009)

Brian Shultz

Mike French is a staff reviewer at Punknews.org - ed.

Introduction
In 2009, I was added to the Punknews team; I met my favorite band that isn't the Descendents; I recorded two EPs; and I celebrated a one-year anniversary with my girlfriend. There were definitely low points (I discovered I have a paralyzing fear of hospitals, for one), so the year wasn't all sunshine and laughter. Regardless, I made it and 2010 will see the release of my own music and the start of many great opportunities and projects. I want to skip any further rambling and just get right to the music!

Honorable Mentions

NOFX - Coaster; The Arteries - Blood, Sweat and Beer; American Steel - Dear Friends and Gentle Hearts; The Catalyst - Swallow Your Teeth; Coalesce - Ox; Converge - Axe to Fall; Government Warning - Paranoid Mess; Hatred Surge - Deconstruct; The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - The Pains of Being Pure at Heart; Propaghandi - Supporting Caste

Top 20 Full-Lengths/LPs

20
Teenage Bottlerocket: They Came from the Shadows
Fat Wreck Chords
Teenage Bottlerocket has definitely upped the Descendents influence. The most fun record of the year.

19
Outbreak: Outbreak
Think Fast!
Nothing could have been worse for Ryan and the rest of Outbreak, but they really outdid themselves. As stated in my review: Their best record yet.

18
Doomriders: Darkness Comes Alive
Deathwish
I remember seeing this band open for Danzig in 2007 and I had no idea who they were. It also seemed like no one was really into them live, but I looked them up, and sure enough they ripped. Two years later, they release Darkness Comes Alive and really kicked my ass. Remember when metal was catchy? They do.

17
Nothington: Road, Bridges and Ruins
BYO
This replaced Dream Homes as my stereotypical Orgcore choice. There's something in their basic approach that is painfully nostalgic. Also, the band knows exactly when to hit the climax notes in their melodies. Doesn't "Not Looking Down" remind you of the type of song that would be on a Tony Hawk Pro Skater soundtrack?

16
Tegan and Sara: Sainthood
Sire
This album reminds me of Elvis Costello's Armed Forces in the way that there is both a prominant synthetic and organic (or "classic") sound to it -- not to mention "Don't Rush" has a chorus that sounds like it was taken straight off it.

15
AFI: Crash Love
Interscope
AFI almost poured out every last ounce of hardcore in time for Crash Love, but this Morrissey-influenced pop album isn't devoid of heaviness; the drums have a pounding, energetic and assertive punk rock feel that recalls old-school AFI. Good job, Adam.

14
Blacklisted: No One Deserves to Be Here More Than Me
Deathwish
"Mike, it's not that good." "Mike, it's too slow and pretentious." Don't give a fuck; this album rules. It's got influences coming from everywhere and in a world where the "album" is slowly dying, Blacklisted really establishes an atmosphere and mood throughout. You kind of need to listen to the whole album in sequence to "get it."

13
Bomb the Music Industry!: Scrambles
Quote Unquote / Asian Man
Nothing more needs to be said from me. Read my review. As far as I'm concerned, the most ethically "punk" band in the past few years.