I realize this is a bit late, but here it is. This was actually a tough one. (I guess it always is). I was pretty solid with my top 8, but the last 2 spots were anyone’s game. The list isn’t entirely eclectic, but what can I say? 2012 was kind of a rough year, so there could very well be some kind of underlying purpose to the amount of punk rock I was listening to. I’ve decided to continue with the same format as last year, with having the regular top 10 and then another top 10 honourable mentions. It may seem a bit excessive, but the truth is that all 10 of the honourably mentioned were legitimately all vying for the last 2 spots in the main list. Once again, the idea here is to provide some kind of alternative to many of the other pretentious year end lists with all of the obligatory entries. There is no formula here, except for what I really thought were the best records regardless of genre, scene, or record label. I hope at least one person can take something out of this.
1. The Gaslight Anthem - Handwritten
There is an unfortunate downfall to having a band that you love, and whose established catalog has brought so much joy and fulfillment in your life. That is that everything they put out going forward is doomed to fall under such unfair scrutiny, that nothing they do will ever hold up to past glories. This was my problem when I first listened to the new Gaslight Anthem album. It’s not that I disliked it, but I was helplessly and uncontrollably listening for those graces that have made Sink or Swim, The ’59 Sound and American Slang my favourite albums of the last 15 years. Despite many favourable qualities of this record, I found there was an element of immediacy missing. I wasn’t going to give up that easily though. After about a week of patient absorption, the songs started to settle into my consciousness. The album not only eventually grew on me, but became my favourite of the year.
Song to listen to: "Mae"
2. Pennywise - All or Nothing
Pennywise has been far off my radar for many years. It’s not that I haven’t liked their material, but everything since 1997’s so-so Full Circle has noticeably suffered from sounding tried and formulaic. The music hasn’t been terrible, but really got to sound way too homogeneous and bland. When I heard about Jim being replaced for a new lead singer, I was even less interested in the band. Out of pure morbid curiosity, I listened to the new album and was instantly floored. Not since About Time has the band sounded so dynamic and alive. I can’t explain what the x-factor might be here, as they haven’t really altered their formula. This album just seemed to come out of nowhere with an armed phalanx of fierce hooks, and punchy melodic choruses.
Song to listen to: "Revolution"
3. The Stanfields - Death & Taxes
I have been looking forward to this album since their debut 3 years ago. This glorious feast of gritty East Coast flavoured Celtic rock opens with a melee of feedback, and never lets up until the end. Jon Landry’s narrative style of songwriting blends local folklore with blue-collar punk rock noise.
Song to listen to: "The Boston States"
4. Japandroids - Celebration Rock
Brash and ballsy punk rock amalgam of huge anthemic hooks and jangly, reverb soaked guitar riffs. Not to mention adrenaline fuelled shout-along choruses that are catchy as all Hell. Husker Du trying their hands at arena rock.
Song to listen to: "The House That Heaven Built"
5. Hot Water Music - Exister
This is a bit more of a produced version of Hot Water Music's brand of Southern hard rock influenced punk with post-hardcore undertones. However, the slightly cleaner production takes nothing from the song quality or steadfast resolve. Built upon a foundation of driving power chords and gruff vocals, there are countless layers of sneaky guitar hooks that reveal themselves only slowly with repeated listens. This is a direct result of the clever song structuring the band has become known for. Every time I would listen to this album, I would hear things I don't know how I ever missed before.
Song to listen to: "Take No Prisoners"
6. The Menzingers - On The Impossible Past
This is certainly no novel formula, that is for sure. There is just something about this band's tasteful execution of catchy guitar hooks and earnest songwriting. When I had trouble deciding on what I felt like listening to, this was always my go-to album. The record is front to back packed with poppy songs constructed of honest punk rock purpose and lyrics painted with suburban adolescent nostalgia.
Song to listen to: "Casey"
7. Propagandhi - Failed States
This is an album of such epic and grandiose stature for one built mostly upon scathing punk and fierce metal riffage. The band employs a brilliant spectrum of dynamics that create a bleak vision of the future of humanity. Hardcore rhythms punctuated by crushing metal guitar riffs occasionally interpolated with carefully placed mid-tempo melodies. The slightly conceptual structure to the record only emphasizes the band's visionary statement.
Song to listen to: "Lotus Gait"
8. Matt Mays - Coyote
This might be Mays' most complete work to date. Although this is still the road weary roots rock which he has established his career on, this record exhibits some new depth and maturity. The songs here are more confident than ever, with a harmonious fusion of gritty rock 'n roll with tasteful ambiences and Northern rustic tones.
Song to listen to: "Dull Knife"
9. Bob Mould - Silver Age
This album seems to be a statement of sorts. Yes, he has pretty much made this same album before, and more than once at that. However it seems like he just wanted to further underscore his importance in the melodic alternative rock canon in light of the continuing success of the likes of Foo Fighters and Green Day. The effort is very well stated as this stands among his best outings since the fallout of Husker Du.
Song to listen to: "Angels Rearrange"
10. Green Day - UNO!/DOS!/TRE!
I might be breaking a few rules here. (Not to mention the flak I am dooming myself to by including Green Day in this list). Yes, these were 3 separately released albums. However I personally see these as a single cohesive project. The songs were all written and recorded in the same sessions, and were rather obviously placed on their respective volumes with calculated strategy. I feel it is only fair to judge these albums as a single piece of work. At large, this was not perceived as any kind of conceptual effort. Upon taking a closer look however, lyrical thematic elements do reveal themselves. UNO! celebrates youthful innocence with songs like "Fell For You" and "Sweet 16". DOS! regresses into tales of jaded depravity with songs such as "Makeout Party" and "Fuck Time". TRE! closes the journey with sober retrospect with "Missing You" and "The Forgotten". Aside from the clever structuring, these albums are musically strong with a delicate composite of the band's classic simplicity and more mature songcraft.
Songs to listen to: "Carpe Diem" from UNO!, "Lazy Bones" from DOS!, "X-Kid" from TRE!
Honourable Mentions:
Best Coast - The Only Place
Lucero - Women & Work
Titus Andronicus - Local Business
Metric - Synthetica
Joel Plaskett and The Emergency - Happy Scrappiness
Muse - The 2nd Law
Soundgarden - King Animal
The Deftones - Koi No Yokan
Testament - Dark Roots of The Earth
NOFX - Self-Entitled
