In keeping with festivus tradition, I will list my favorite musical releases of the passing year, say how they have disappointed me, and then crawl back into my cave.
Top LPs of 2015
10. Gallows – Desolation Sounds
In their second effort since changing singers, Gallows mix Siouxsie and the Banshees goth rock with their usual modernized Black Flag, yielding some interesting results. Not as consistent as past efforts, but worth checking out.
9. Worriers – Imaginary Life
If the Cranberries sang melodic finger-pointing punk, this would be it. Produced by Laura Jane Grace, so you know the sound quality is ‘meh’. Perhaps a prelude to Mikey Erg joining Against Me?
8. Turnstile – Nonstop Feeling
A throwback to those 80s HC bands who would beat you up if you smoked cigarettes. Some nice pop songs buried between the breakdowns. Fuck Reagan!
7. Strung Out – Transmission.Alpha.Delta
Still pumping out riffs like the 90s never ended. By next album, this stuff will be back in style.
6. Desaparecidos – Payola
Desaparecidos rise from the dead, and after 13 years of silence build on the ripped paper rock they invented.
5. Teenage Time Killers – Greatest Hits Vol. 1
A super group, who’s singer changes every time. A celebrity Karaoke of sorts. Sometimes it sounds like Megadeth, other times it sounds like the Ramones.
4. The Valveenus – Catalyst
Apparently, the Valveenus have been tinkering away at their first full length for 10 years, making it the ‘Chinese Democracy’ of underground Ontario punk. Looking forward to hearing a follow up in the winter years of my life.
3. Mischief Brew – This Is Not For Children
On their 5th full-length, Mischief Brew finally strike gold; pairing their political-as-personal lyrics with catchy sing-a-longs that stay with you like herpes.
2. Beach Slang – The Things We Do To Find People Who Feel Like Us
After two solid EPs, Beach Slang deliver an album full of Replacements meets Jawbreaker meets Goo Goo Dolls, just in time to catch the momentum they have built.
1. Fidlar – Too
Fidlar adds a shot of tragedy to their usual party nihilism, giving it some added depth and maturity. Between the slurred words, they hit a lot lines that describe the angst of a whole generation.
Top EPs of 2015
10. Ballot Burner – Forward Into Extinction
New band from underground punk veterans of Saskatchewan.
9. Beach Slang – Here, I Made This For You
We can’t seem to get off this band’s dick, even their cover albums make our lists.
8. Shared Arms – Weary, ON
Dude sings like Shevchuk.
7. Wasted Potential / Owen Wilson SPLIT
Two good bands, two good songs each.
6. Serenity Now! – Facsimile
Solid song writing from the electric turns acoustic turns electric punks of Serenity Now.
5. Dead Bars – Emergency b/w Off the Ground
Dead Bars tease us with two new songs before giving us album of the year in 2016.
4. Avenues – Creep Show
Catchy pop-punk in the spirit of Lookout Records-era bands.
3. Total Love – S/T
Candy-coated garage pop laced with meth. If Roy Orbison smoked crack, it would sound like this I suppose…
2. Drakulas – OWOWOWOWOWOWOW
Top shelf pogo-punk from members of Riverboat Gamblers and Rise Against! Weirdness turned to 11!
1. G.L.O.S.S. – Demo
Because it’s 2015. Seriously though, sounds like Discharge.
Now onto the feats of strength!
