2006-01-05 - 2:17 p.m.
as most of you know, i'm a music addict, so i decided to compile my top 10 records of 2005. but then i ran into a little snag. i only bought and heard 7 cds that were actually put out last year. so i give you...
brett's top 7 cds of 2005
7. Big D and the Kids Table - Salem Girls
-this was a limited edition ep by one of the best ska bands out there. only 2000 copies of this were printed so naturally i pre-ordered it right away because this is one of my favorite bands. the boys took a different route on this one, sort of an experiment. the release doubled as a special halloween cd and kind of a sneak peak at the direction of their next album which will be completely dub style (slower reggae-ish stuff). i must say it wasn't as good as their other releases, which is why it's at number 7 on my list and not higher. it's a very chill record, which is very opposite of their other cds. however, the song "salem girls" is pretty awesome. it sounds like a song straight out of a tim burton claymation movie.
6. Reel Big Fish - We're Not Happy 'Til You're Not Happy
-another great ska band. i almost feel bad for this band in a way. they put out 2 incredible ska records in the 90's that are considered 2 of the best ska records of all time, so they always have their work cut out for them to living up to that. i don't think their newest is as good as those 2, but it is definately better than their last attempt. in my opinion, the best song on the cd is their cover of morrissey's "we hate it when our friends become successful". reel big fish has always been very good at cover songs. the extra track is a lot of fun to play for all your friends.
5. Various Artists - Protect: A Benefit for the National Association to Protect Children
-this is one of the best comps to come out in a looooooong time. of course, like all comps, it has some not-so-great songs, but it has a lot more great songs. the comp features unreleased material from great bands and artists such as against me!, matt skiba, mxpx, anti-flag, joey cape, and nofx and other songs by other great bands such as teenage bottlerocket, the soviettes, the falcon, and others. in my eyes, the greatest achievement of this comp is that it introduced me to 2 new bands (which is actually kinda hard to do), dead to me (featuring jack from one man army) and the ergs. you should definately check those bands out.
4. The Soviettes - LP III
-slightly manic old school style pop punk rock. yes. actually, i must confess i fell asleep the first two times i listened to it, but give me a break. both listens were during a 6 hour car ride back from cleveland. but once i listened to it while i was fully awake, i fell in love with it, and i love it more and more everytime i listen to it. plus, i'm a sucker for girl punk singers. this band has 3 (and 1 guy).
3. The Aquabats - Charge!!
-the aquabats are the only (former) ska band that can drop the horns, get a synth, and still sound just as good, if not better. holy crap this is a fun record. i heard someone describe this album as devo meets danzig-era misfits. i don't know if i totally agree with that, but i can see where they got that. you'll laugh. you'll dance. this record is a good time for all.
2. Bullets to Broadway - Drink Positive
-this one was actually a surprise to me. a pleasant surprise. i think i first heard of this band somewhere on myspace. they had some bad quality demos up and i wasn't impressed too much, but i added them to my friends list because they have 3 members of a former great punk called teen idols. i love teen idols. months later i went back to their myspace on a whim (or probably i was just bored). they had a new song up called "happily ever after" and i thought it was amazing. i ordered the cd off interpunk as soon as it came out. this is one of the best new punk bands to come out in a long time. also, going back to me being a sucker for girl singers, they have a girl bassist with a great voice who sings back up and some lead. you need to check out this band.
1. Teenage Bottlerocket - Total
-another great new punk band with a member of a former great punk band (kody from the lillingtons is in this band). this was another one that i found on myspace and i really liked their stuff. then i found out they were playing up in huntington with the groovie ghoulies and a band called teenage harlets back in july. it was one of the best shows i have ever been to, hands down. i wanted to buy their cd right then, but i only had enough money to get into the show. finally, i ordered it directly from their site this past fall. yesss. catchy ramones-core at its best.
there you have it. i can almost guarentee that if i had bought the new cds from alkaline trio and against me! and the debut ep from the loved ones, they would be on this list too, but alas, i did not. i actually did get a lot of cds tho...
Against Me! - As the Eternal Cowboy (2003)
NOFX - Punk in Drublic (1994)
Rancid - Indestructible (2003)
MXPX - Slowly Going the Way of the Buffalo (1998)
Reel Big Fish - Why Do They Rock So Hard? (1998)
The Dollyrots - Eat My Heart Out (2004)
The Mighty Mighty Bosstones - Pay Attention (2000)
The Mighty Mighty Bosstones - Question the Answers (1994)
The Cryptkeeper Five - Trenton Makes the Cryptkeeper Five (2002)
The Cryptkeeper Five - Pomade... Switchblades... & Their God-Damn Rock & Roll (i don't know when this came out)
General Rudie - Take Your Place (2004)
Calabrese - 13 Halloweens (2004)
Rise Against - Siren Song of the Counter Culture (2004)
Big D and the Kids Table/ Drexel - Shot by Lammi (split) (1998)
Buck-O-Nine - Twenty-Eight Teeth (1997)
Less Than Jake - Anthem (2003)
The Dingees - Sundown to Midnight (1999)
all of them are great and should be bought by you.
i know this was probably boring to a lot of you and i apologize. there will be a real entry here soon i swear. don't hit me.
song of the day(1): one reason - "the end never mattered"
song of the day(2): the sounds - "reggie"
song of the day(3): common rider - "walk down the river"
this is goodbye.