January 9, 2018

A Top 10 List cuz 5's are for Fighting.



This was going to be a Top 5 List only but after just having watched a preview of an upcoming Letterman special on Netflix, I was inspired to add the 2nd half of it, just like all those Late Show Top 10 Lists we all grew to love so much.

I breezed over a handful of solid releases from 2017 in the previous post, which more or less re-emphasized everybody else's favourite releases of the year. But it has taken me 10 days into the new year of reflecting on all of what I've been listening to this past year and true story: a lot of it isn't stuff that was released in 2017. Hell, a lot of it was released in 1997! Or 2004 or 2016 or 1991 sometimes, too. And a lot of that I am only learning about now for the first time. Case in point: Thought Riot.

That said...

I am going to go ahead and say that 2017 was more or less a wash for Favourite Albums 6 through 10, with none being all too overly outstanding than the other. Beyond these 5, I would consider giving honourable mentions to Dave Hause,  Hot Water Music, Authority Zero, and Badcop/ Badcop, with none being all much more outstanding than the other.  If I must choose, I would say that my Top 10 List would have to look something like this.

10) Jesse LeBourdais. The guy from Cambridge knows how to write songs.
9) LIGHTS. I like catchy pop music with pretty female leads. She plays a Rancid cover.
8) The Bombpops. I like catchy pop punk with pretty female leads. >Badcop/Badcop frshur.
7) Comeback Kid - Outsider. I like Canadian hardcore with stinky old guys.
6) The Bronx - V. I like American hardcore. Not sure if they are quite as stinky.



here     
          are
  some
1997       
   releases...



5) The Menzingers - After the Party.  Mostly for the songs writing, but a great (1st) live show might have influenced that. Not sure who the lead singer is though! Which one's Tom?! #nobodycares


4) Worst Days Down - Elsewhere. We all have our favourite local/regional bands that continue to release new music. WDD is one of Edmonton's best. Can't wait to see where these guys go next!


3) Propagandhi - Victory Lap. Great Propagandhi record. It just so happens that it's not my favourite of theirs, and not my favourite of 2017. Love it though!


2) Frenzal Rhomb - Hi Vis High Tea. Super fun record that got more play this year than most other records released in 2017 frshur. Love every track.


1) 88 Fingers Louie - Thank You For Being A Friend. This much anticipated record was such received by ALL with so much love and admiration -- maybe because it was 17 or 18 years since their previous release. Oh. And their 2015 Punk Rock Bowling performance proved to me that they can do a rad job live too.


The Others:
As per my previous post,. I haven't listened to the new Flag On Fire, Dearly Divided, or Strike Twelve albums nearly enough, and I have only been listening to Iron Chic since December, and Nothington since last year. What I've heard I really like though! Straightline, Allout Helter, and Mobina Galore are the 3 bands that I will be looking forward to listening to more.  Apparently F.O.D. , Bear, and SLED, are neat bands with new records I should probably check out some time, too. Maybe after I finish a podcast -- or better yet -- a book!