10. Man Man - On Oni Pond
To be perfectly honest this album was a bit of a disappointment for me and only makes it into the top ten because it's fuckin' Man Man! I love this band a lot, and it is because of this that I am tough on them. When 'On Oni Pond' didn't live up to the greatness that was 'Life Fantastic' I was a bit bummed. They seem to be reigning in their madness a little with each new album they release, but regardless it's still a pretty fun album. And it's got some serious bangers like 'Born Tight', and 'Head On'. Man Man continues to break down barriers and keep the labels off their backs while continually reinventing themselves. I couldn't even label them with a genre if I tried, you're just going to have to listen for yourself.
9. Jungbluth - Partache
8. Wavves - Afraid of Heights
I have never been a huge fan of Wavves before, but when I saw this album on a list I decided to check it out. I didn't hate the album they released before this, it had some really great tracks, but it also had a lot of songs I skipped through. So coming into the listen of 'Afraid of Heights' with no high hopes was probably why I ended up being so pleasantly surprised. The album opens with the ripper, 'Sail to the Sun' and rarely lets up after that. It's surfy garage rock laced with a summer vibe that has got the treble cranked and more catchy chorus' than should be legal on one album.
7. Diarrhea Planet - I'm Rich Beyond Your Wildest Dreams
Some people might think this band has a really shitty name, but others might agree that you won't forget a name like that. I only got into Diarrhea Planet this year thanks to a tip from a friend at a show one night. After going home and looking them up I ended up listening to one of the greatest songs I could ever imagine hearing called 'Ghost With A Boner'. I sang it for months afterwards, then Diarrhea Planet released a new album and it was also kick ass. There are some cheesy moments that make me cringe, but the good songs that are good are really good. Me write good.
6. Hunters - s/t
I used to think this band was from New York because I read somewhere they were from Brooklyn. As it turns out they are from Brooklyn, but Brooklyn PA, not Brooklyn NY. I don't know if they should be allowed to have another Brooklyn so close to that Brooklyn, it's very confusing. My friend told me there is also a Brooklyn in Ontario, but she made it sound like a little butt fuck town that you would never want to visit. Anyway, Hunters are a female fronted grunge band from Brooklyn and they rip. The singer wails and her boyfriend the guitarist backs her up nicely. They do a lot of back and forth singing in songs that host the usual highs and lows that have become accustomed to grunge music thanks to Nirvana.
5. Fuzz - Fuzz
What the shit is this?!? Some serious groove rock n roll, that's what! Calling your band Fuzz leaves you with a tall order to fill, but this band is up for the task! With moments reminiscent of a 70's jam band that just as easily evolve into garage rock n roll or stoner rock from this decade. Usually found behind a guitar Ty Segall is no slouch on the drums and he takes care of most of the vocal duties on this great album. A fat, I repeat FAT, groove is laid down from beginning to end. This is music to smoke your shitty little hash to.
4. FIDLAR - FIDLAR
Fuck It Dog Life's A Risk. I think I always avoided listening to this band because of their name. For some strange reason I always thought there'd be a fiddle present. But on a hot evening at a house party in Edmonton my ears were finally introduced to them, and while I was too drunk for it to become love at first listen, I would go on to check them out live when I got home and be completely blown away. Just like the three bands that precedes them on this list I only got into this band this year. Nice to know there's still some great new music coming out in this world. I will never tire of songs, 'White on White', 'Wait For The Man' or '9 to 5'. This is booze fuelled party rock n roll made for slackers by slackers.
3. Baptists - Bushcraft
Just when you thought the list was not heavy enough I present to you what I thought was the most punishing hardcore album of the year. From beginning to end this album is a full blast heavy assault of riffs and sheer angst. If you wear a wig you better staple the fuckin' thing to your scalp before pressing play on this one because Bushcraft will blow that hairy mess right off your head. While the band is a little bit one dimensional it just doesn't matter because what they do they do really fuckin' well.
2. The Lovely Bad Things - The Late Great Whatever
The most surprising part of my list is that this isn't number one! 'The Late Great Whatever' was one of my most highly anticipated albums of the year, and it didn't let me down. This album is the destroyer of bad moods. Good times all the time. No album was played more this summer than this one, and I'd be surprised if there was one that was played more next summer which I'm already salivating for. While their singer has some serious chops she shares the vocal duties with the rest of the band and it makes for some great and beautiful moments. The Lovely Bad Things seamlessly bounce from a crazy fast punk song to a slower groovy rock jam without so much as a hitch on 'The Late Great Whatever'. Not a bad song in the bunch from an album that boasts style for miles. Is it punk, is it indie rock, is it surf rock, is it garage rock? Who cares, all you need to know is that it's a really really good album.
1. King Khan and the Shrines - Idle No More
I wasn't sold on this album during my first listen, but it proved to be a grower rather than a shower. Hmmm, that says shower, I meant for it to say show-er. Easily the funkiest album on the list the Shrines never disappoint. They've even incorporated some strings into some songs to give it a darker feel or in the case of the track 'Thorn in her Pride' it just adds extra groove to a chorus that already had it all! Another stand out track for me was, 'So Wild', King Khan's tribute to his late friend and fellow rocker Jay Reatard. There really isn't a bad song amongst them all as long as you can handle the slower tunes, but I've always been a sucker for a slow jam. The last song of the album 'Of Madness I Dream' is one of my favs. So I award King Khan and the Shrines the top spot as they add some more excellence to an already excellent catalogue of music.
