2106 gave us a ton of great music and when I was asked to pick my five favorite albums I really had to put some thought into it. With that said, here they are:
My fifth favorite album this year was Green Day’s new album Revolution Radio, and it’s not because I’m a huge Green Day fan boy. I’ll admit, I wasn’t big on it when this album came out but it has grown on me. I was looking for more songs like 'Bang Bang' and the title track 'Revolution Radio,' but honestly the album is really good. I think Green Day gets a lot of flack for not fitting the model of what most people consider punk, but they just keep being them and producing solid punk rock that is likable to more than our ‘exclusive’ punk rock club. My favorite song off the album is Youngblood, it’s honestly just a classic Green Day tune and underrated, for sure,
Coming in at number 4 is are our friends Behind Deadlines. Their new album Status Quo has been playing in my ears at least once a day in entirety since it came out. It’s catchy, fun, and easy to sing along/identify with. Ska Punk is not dead so long as these guys are around. My favorite song is 'Sink or Swim,' because it’s a good motivational song, and might be the inspiration of a tattoo I’m working on designing. If you haven’t heard the album, go take a listen here and read up on what went into Status Quo.
Third on the list goes to… NOFX. NOFX came out with a great new album, First Ditch Effort, that much like Green Day’s took some additional listens to fall in love with. This album is overall an emotional one and reminds us that it’s okay to admit you have some problems you’re working through. For that reason, my favorite track is 'I Don’t Like Me Anymore' because I could feel the pain in Fat Mike’s lyrics and it gave me something to connect with. 'Generation Z' and 'Oxymoronic' were close to stealing my favorite song but in fairness I liked most of the album a lot.
Honorable mentions: I have an honorable mention, and it goes out to the boys in Mickey Rickshaw. I got to see these lads in Allston when they opened for The Interrupters and they brought the crowd to life. I liked their album Behind the Eight Ball a fair amount, and in particular 'Rats in Allston'. That song is high power and I was instantly adding it to playlists as it rocks and has a highly political message. Make sure to give these boys a listen, they put on a hell of a show.
Alright, these next two are a bit of a toss up, I loved both these albums as soon as they hit the shelf. PUP dropped their new album, The Dream Is Over, back in May but I did not forget it. The album works its way into my rotation of music almost daily and it honestly is one of the most unique albums I’ve ever heard. My favorite song off the album is DVP because it’s so thrashy and fast it kicks me into overdrive. This album is a masterpiece, plain and simple.
And finally, we reach number one. This year the album I love the most is Say It Out Loud by The Interrupters. It’s the best album across the entirety of music to come out this year, I don’t care how much "Lemonade" you drink (fight me Rolling Stone). This album is flawless, absolutely flawless. This makes the list of albums in which I love every single song, and that list isn’t very long. Since I had to pick a favorite, it’s going to have to be 'On A Turntable,' because it’s another anthem song for those who are struggling day to day: it’s a good reminder to not give up, and you can conquer anything life throws at you.
Albums that would have made Top Ten include: Sum 41 - 13 voices, Direct Hit! - Was It The Acid?, Pulley - No Change In The Weather, Face To Face - Protection, Descendents - Hypercaffium Spazzinate