Top 10 Albums of 2010

Christ, the end of the year is upon us again. I swear to God it feels like it was only a couple of months ago I was writing my year end list for 2009 (bonus points for two blasphemes in two sentences). Where have the months gone? (the answer is: at the bottom of every bottle of whiskey, beer and wine - that's where). Regardless of the seemingly short year that 2010 was, CFRE has once again asked me to compile my favourite albums of the year. Probably because I am an invaluable asset to their radio station. I know my show is called 'Punk Rock at Nine O'Clock', so you might be wondering why a couple of non-punk albums made it in to the Top 10, and to this I say 'because they were great fucking albums, dickwad'. Here it is:

10. None More Black - Icons

I would be lying if I said I didn't rock a half-chub for a couple hours when I heard that None More Black was recording a new album. And I would also be lying if I said that half-chub wasn't a full one when I finally got to listen to this album. Why so much enthusiasm for this album? Because None More Black is a lot like one of my roommates; sometimes we don't see him for a couple days in a row, even though he's in the house. None More Black is kind of like that; except instead of hiding in the basement, they just kind take time off between albums (four years to be exact... but hey, who's counting) even though they're still technically a band. So how does this album fare? In terms of previous NMB albums, not so well. It still has the anger and aggression of previous NMB albums, but lacks the catchy, pop-ish songs that they can double-play so well. So why is this album on the list? Because even in mediocrity, None More Black is far superior than most of the other musical drivel that came out this year. 

Dave's Pick: Track 9 - Backpedal

9. Shad - TSOL 

If Drake was more like Shad, I might actually listen to his music. But he's not, and I think his lyrics are forced and his overuse of similes (sometimes just for the hell of it) is one of the most annoying things to ever happen to Hip-Hop. But I mean, I'm just a punk rock kid; what do I know. Shad, on the other hand, is humble, clever, and lyrically gifted. Why am I even comparing the two? Because they're both Canadian talent (in one case, the use of 'talent' is a bit stretched). I'm not going to further this Shad/Drake comparison because it's not really fair to Shad, his music should be able to speak for itself. One of the many highlights from his album TSOL is the song 'Keep Shining', a song about not only how women are portrayed in Hip-Hop, but also the lack of women in Hip-Hop. He ends the song with a verse dedicated to the women in his life that have helped him along the way. Shad is a sweetheart; Drake is an asshole.
Dave's Pick: Track 12 - We, Myself and I

8. Greg MacPherson - Mr. Invitation

Man, I really loved this album. Folk-rock singer/songwriter Greg MacPherson completely amazed me with Mr. Invitation. The opening track 'First Class' kicks off with MacPherson's incredible storytelling and lyricism, and remains consistent throughout the album. He makes getting robbed by a sneaky European wench on a train from Brussels sound like the most poetic thing in the world. His verses read like prose, and his choruses hook like claws. There are one or two sleeper songs on Mr. Invitation, but the strength of songs like 'Outside Edge', 'Back Flow' and 'Broken Dreams' more than make up for them. Did I mention he's Canadian? You all know my soft spot for incredible Canadian talent, and that's exactly the category MacPherson falls under.
Dave's Pick: Track 6 - Back Flow

7. Motion City Soundtrack - My Dinosaur Life

Holy shit, Dave listens to Motion City Sountrack? Fuck yeah I do. Not only do I love their music, I'm also batshit crazy in love with singer Justin Pierre's lyrics. They're as riddled with pop-culture references as a street-walking prostitute is riddled with, well... any kind of venereal disease. I'll admit that first off I didn't completely love this album, but in time this album grew on me; kind of like venereal disease on a street-walking prostitute. Upbeat and catchy songs like 'Pulp Fiction' and 'Skin and Bones' are only some of the highlights for this album; the single 'Disappear' likens back to MCS' old days (I Am The Movie-era), and 'A Life Less Ordinary' and 'Her Words Destroyed My Planet' continue the hopeless romantic themes that have become MCS' trademark. And any album that includes a reference to the Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is quite alright in my books.
Dave's Pick: Track 8 - Pulp Fiction

6. The Flatliners - Cavalcade

They started out as a ska band, but nowadays Toronto's own Flatliner's could hardly be described as such; only one of the tracks off Cavalcade even remotely resembles ska. And that's actually much better for them, because I hate ska. Hate it. With a passion. Hate it so much. Now they sound much more like Fat Wreck labelmates Dillinger Four or None More Black. And it's working for them; 'Count Your Bruises' could very well be the song of the year (try listening to it and not singing along). This band has matured so much since 2005's Destroy to Create, I can't wait for them to release another album to see how far they can take this progression. In the meantime, I'll be content by continuing to listen to the fantastic album that is Cavalcade.
Dave's Pick: Track 11 - Count Your Bruises

5. Ted Leo and the Pharmacists - The Brutalist Bricks

Earlier in the year, Ted Leo sent the indie punk community into a frenzy when his comments about retirement were misinterpreted. As if to prove his plans for retiring from the music business were still a ways down the road, Leo released his best album to date; The Brutalist Bricks. With killer songs like 'Last Days', 'The Mighty Sparrow' and 'Bottled Up in Cork', Leo is seemingly telling everyone out there to 'fuck off'; he's not retiring anytime soon. And that's great news for his fans because his music just keeps getting steadily better. He even showed he had a sense of humor by poking fun at Green Day and their ridiculous Broadway musical 'American Idiot' in his music video for 'Bottled Up in Cork'. YouTube that shit, because it is pretty goddamn funny. And I hate Green Day.
Dave's Pick: Track 1 - The Mighty Sparrow

4. Fake Problems - Real Ghosts Caught On Tape

I first caught wind of Fake Problems through their 2009 release It's Great To Be Alive, and even then I was thoroughly impressed. What's even more impressing, however, is that their most recent album, Real Ghosts Caught On Tape is even more incredible than their last. For the most part, Fake Problems have slowed down their sound, and I think it really suits their music. Their music almost varies genre from song to song: '5678' is a danceable track in vein of early Against Me!, while 'Grand Finale' sounds like it could have been a track from The Gaslight Anthem's '59 Sound, so what consistently stands out about this album is the inconsistency (in this case, it's a good thing). While so many bands can become stagnant over time, Fake Problems continue to take their sound in new directions (I didn't mean to use the name of the glee club from Glee - it just happened. I mean... I think that's the name of it... I don't watch Glee, what are you talking about...)
Dave's Pick: Track 1 - ADT

3. The Gaslight Anthem - American Slang

Is it any surprise that the Gaslight Anthem is making another appearance on my year end list? No, it shouldn't be; they're on everyone's list this year. They gained mainstream attention with The '59 Sound, and ever since then Jersey's Little Springsteens have been breaking hearts all over the world. How does American Slang measure up to The '59 Sound? If the two albums were schoolyard bullies, American Slang would literally beat the shit out of The '59 Sound (in this case I actually mean literally - not figuratively, literal shit). This band keeps getting better, and they deserve every bit of mainstream attention they're getting. I was trying to come up with a negative for this album. I really tried. But I can't find anything. If you haven't listened to this album yet, by God, you suck really hard at being cool. But you can totally redeem yourself if you do listen to it.
Dave's Pick: Track 4 - The Diamond Church Street Choir

2. The Tallest Man On Earth - The Wild Hunt

He's not actually the tallest man on Earth, but Kristian Matsson might as well be; even though he's not a giant, he can still crush any contemporary folk singer/songwriter out there. If he were a Transformer, he'd be Devastator, and he would be the shit out of any piece of shit Autobot. The entire album (save one song, which features a piano instead of an acoustic guitar) consists of Matsson's guitar and his voice only. But his guitar-playing and gravelly voice compliment each other so well it's almost hypnotic. Matsson receives many comparisons to Bob Dylan because of his style, but really, Dylan was a dick. The only weak spot on the album might be the song 'You're Going Back', but only because the production sounds a bit muddy. I really can't tell you how much I loved this album, so I just hope you'll listen to it and love it as much as me. If you're ever in the mood for acoustic music, this should always be what you're in the mood for. The Tallest Man On Earth will change your life; there, I said it.
Dave's Picks: The Wild Hunt, Burden of Tomorrow, Troubles Will Be Gone, The Drying of the Lawns, King of Spain, Love is All, Thousand Ways, A Lion's Heart, Kids On The Run

1. The Menzingers - Chamberlain Waits

If you don't know who the Menzingers are, then you've either been living in a punk-rock vacuum, or you're a woman. There is no other explanation. The most promising punk band out there, the Menzingers' Chamberlain Waits is my number one album of the year. Why? Shit man, why fucking not. Have you listened to it? Probably not. If you did, you would agree with me. Duel-vocalists, incredible vocal harmonies, fast-tempos and great singalong songs. What else is there to ask for in a punk rock album. From start to end, this album is perfect. The Menzinger's 2009 EP Hold On, Dodge was so incredible I didn't think they could ever produce a full-length that lived up to the potential on Hold On, Dodge. But they did. And I love them for it. There is a reason Bad Religion and Alkaline Trio aren't on my year end list; because newer, younger bands like the Menzingers are just doing it better. If the Menzingers played baseball, they would have one hell of a bonus at the end of this year, because they're batting 1.000. Cheesy baseball analogies aside, this album kicks ass. Get it. From anywhere you can.
Dave's Pick: THE ENTIRE ALBUM. Not even kidding when I say this. Pick one song randomly and tell me it doesn't blow you away. And if you do, you're a lying asshole that hates puppies.

That's the end. I'm all written out. Here are some honourable mentions that didn't quite make the list, but would have if I had made it a top 15 or whatever list.

Off With Their Heads - In Desolation
The National - High Violet
Vampire Weekend - Contra
We Are The Union - Great Leaps Forward
Smoke or Fire - The Speakeasy

Tune in to CFRE in January, when Punk Rock At Nine O'Clock once again conquers the airwaves.
Later bitches.