14 //
Tokyo Police Club Champ
MP3 // Breakneck Speed

13 //
Circa Survive Blue Sky Noise
MP3 // Get Out

12 //
Local Natives Gorilla Manor
MP3 // Who Knows, Who Cares

11 //
Small Black New Chain
MP3 // Search Party

10 //
Tides Of Man Dreamhouse
A surprisingly composed and coherent release, miles ahead of their debut. With Dreamhouse, Tides of Man are poised to skyrocket to ranks currently held by their most obvious influences, i.e Anthony Green & Coheed and Cambria. It may take a few listens to catch on but when it does it doesn’t disappoint. The musicianship is unlike many other releases you will find on the Rise Records roster, and frontman Tilian Pearson is self-aware just enough to take cues from his influences while maintaining a smart and cocksure ability that is all his own.
MP3 // A Faint Illusion

09 //
Bad Books Bad Books
Super groups can be a tricky thing. The clashing of multiple frontmen, and sometimes, multiple ego’s can dumb down the talents of the best if chemistry isn’t right. It’s a good thing Kevin Devine seems to have become such good friends with Manchester Orchestra over the past year. Bad Books is a collection of songs expanding on the best of both worlds from each respective artist. There is nothing forced, just a good all around collection of songs by a good all around collection of dudes.
MP3 // Holding Down The Laughter

08 //
Deerhunter Halcyon Digest
On the heels of their breakout achievement, Deerhunter have returned with Microcastle’s proper follow-up, Halcyon Digest. It may very well be Cox and co’s crowning achievement, showcasing the band’s steady yet articulate pace through a myriad of soundscapes. Whether it be the lucid dreaming of “Sailing”, the hazy pop of “Helicopter” or the epic finale of “He Would Have Laughed,” Halcyon Digest holds wonders for every type of listener.
MP3 // Helicopter

07 //
Underoath Ø (Disambiguation)
I’ll be completely honest. After a handful of listens through Disambiguation, I was left a bit underwhelmed. Over the next few weeks, however, I found myself drawn back, and as the songs began to take shape, the album came together unlike anything I’d heard before from this band. I had my doubts about Spencer Chamberlains ability to fill the void of drummer/co-vocalist Aaron Gillespie, but the kid shines and decimates any preconceptions made about his abilities. The musicianship is aggressive, heavy, and more orchestral than any of the band’s previous efforts. In the absence of Gillespie and his admitted pop tendencies, the new lineup of guys are free to flourish and the edge of their heavier influences makes this their best release since Define The Great Line.
MP3 // My Deteriorating Incline

06 //
Hellogoodbye Would It Kill You?
This one may very well be up for the “Biggest Surprise Of The Year Award”. On their second full-length that took a label change and 4+ years to materialize, Hellogoodbye have made a smart, fun, and undeniably addictive pop record, and are poised to breakout much in the way that fun. took 2009 by storm. It’s an odd record to listen to, considering the bands past which was full of sticky-sweet oversized synth-pop, saccharine enough to make the staunchest dentist’s teeth rot, but Hellogoodbye make their new formula work flawlessly. There is not a second of filler through Would It Kill You’s 36 minute makeup. Instead, the record blooms and shines song after song, and will leave you hitting your replay button time after time.
MP3 // Betrayed By Bones

05 //
Kanye West My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
To think that one would be in the minority, labeled as a “hater” of Kanye West at the end of 2010. It is peculiar, unless you’ve experienced the grandiose orchestral masterpiece that is My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. Aptly titled, Kanye has returned with a voracious concoction of songs that clock in over at just over an hour but feel like half that when listened through. Whether it’s the perfectly chosen cameos featured on “Monster” (wassup Nicki) or the head bobbing production on “Power,” West has finally backed up his polarizing ego.
MP3 // Monster

04 //
Beach House Teen Dream
It’s hard to keep an album off your favorite albums list that you’ve easily listened to more than 80% of anything else in your iTunes library. This album has been coming through my speakers ALL YEAR, and that isn’t an exaggeration. There’s something beautifully simple about these songs. Whether it be the carefree atmosphere created by dusty keys, or the rough croon of Victoria Legrand layered ontop of sprawling guitar, Teen Dream is definitely one of the most complete and lasting records of 2010.
MP3 // Used To Be

03 //
PMtoday In Medias Res
In Medias Res is perhaps the most hauntingly and depressingly nihilistic record I’ve ever heard. If there is one thing that grabs and keeps your attention throughout this album, it is frontman Conner Brogan’s lyrics, which are full of upfront, bareboned confessions of the thoughts that have plagued any person with existential questions or beliefs. All of this is backed by a concoction of jagged post-hardcore that is probably better than anything to come out of Rise Records in probably their whole existence. On album standout “Soma Holiday” Brogan laments “There is nothing waiting, just a man pulling strings.” It’s a hair raising experience. It’s moments like these that make it such a beautifully honest album.
MP3 // Soma Holiday

02 //
Four Year Strong Enemy Of The World
Enemy Of The World is a perfect display of a band taking what they already know and tinkering the formula to near-perfection. At 11 songs, EOTW is an instantly raucous display of carefree adolescence with the volume cranked up well past 10. Not only that, but it is the most immediate, infectious album I’ve heard this year. Nine months after it’s release, I still listen to it as much as I did the day I got it, and it’s staying power hasn’t reduced one bit. In a time where pop-punk is connected more to anorexic men singing bad faux love songs out of their mom’s basement, Enemy Of The World is the soundtrack to Four Year Strong giving the scene it’s balls back.
MP3 // Wasting Time (Eternal Summer)

01 //
Letlive Fake History
In 2002, the modern post-hardcore scene was turned on it’s head when Glassjaw unleashed their masterpiece unto the world with Worship & Tribute. Nearly a decade later, the album is still touted by many purists as the genre’s defining moment. Since it’s release, many bands have tried to recreate the moments captured on W&T, none have come as close as Los Angeles’s Letlive.

Fake History is an immaculate display of what the genre is still capable of when driven by heart, brutal honesty, and outstanding songwriting. Ranging from vicious growls to psychotically insane yelling fits, vocalist Jason Butler commands Fake History from the beginning when he opens “Le Prologue” demanding the listener “Stand Up” with vicious authority.

Meanwhile, the backing music seems to be effortlessly smart, original, and just as ferocious, avoiding fatal mistakes that plague 90% of it’s peer’s releases. I’d be lying if I said I’ve listened to much else since I caught onto this disc. It’s simply the most addictive album I’ve listened to in recent memory. With Fake History, Letlive have proven that no matter where you come from, or how small your voice is, when you put your heart 100% into what you believe, you can change anything. In Letlive’s case, they are changing the landscape of a lost genre, two ears at a time.
MP3 // The Sick Sick 6.8 Billion

It’s that time of the year. Although I’ve yet to complete (or honestly even start) my album of the year list, I thought I’d throw together somethin special before I take off to Vegas for the weekend. There’s been a lot of great music this year, and these songs just skim the top of what has turned into a very good year for music. If you like what you hear, make sure you pick up the record. Support the artist, that’s the only reason any of this exists. I love you all, have a great weekend!

The best 30 songs of 2010
Deerhunter // He Would Have Laughed
Best Coast// I Want To
Chiodos// Those who Slay Together, Stay Together
Letlive. //Day 54
Underoath //My Deteriorating Incline
Tides of Man //A Faint Illusion
The Roots //Right On (Ft. Joanna Newsom)
PMtoday //Soma Holiday
Four Year Strong //This Body Pays The Bill$
The Tallest Man On Earth // Love Is All
Small Black // Light Curse
Sleigh Bells // Rill Rill
The Chariot // David De La Hoz
Lydia // Assailants
Bad Books // You Wouldn’t Have To Ask
Hellogoodbye // You Sleep Alone
You, Me, And Everyone We Know // Bootstraps
Circa Survive // Imaginary Enemy
Beach House // Used To Be
Oceana // Joy
La Dispute // Why It Scares Me
Kanye West // Power
Land of Talk Goaltime Exposure
Miniature Tigers //Gold Skull
Perfume Genius // Mr. Peterson
Yeasayer // Ambling Alp
Tokyo Police Club // Favorite Food
The Black Keys // Everlasting Light
Colour Revolt // 8 Years

Tracklist
angus and julia stone – walk it off
freelance whales – enzymes
summer people – glossy eyed
crystal castles vs CBF – cry babies
letlive. – enemigos/enemies
trophy scars – trazodone
via audio – developing active people
brand new – untitled 08
bad books – holding down the laughter
underoath – driftwood
hellogoodbye – betrayed by bones
kanye west – lost in the world (ft. bon iver)
right away, great captain! – best ever metal band out of denton (mountain goats cover)
coma cinema – her sinking sun
blossom dearie – tout doucement
now, now every children – jesus camp
lupe fiasco – the show goes on

I’ve had my hands on Disambiguation for close to a week now. Underoath has always been a band I’ve followed closely and although time will only tell, it’s hard not to place this record up with the best, if not being the best album put out by this band.

For people who have previously rejected Underoath as just another scene metal-core project, Disambiguation feels like a direct shot back at their detractors. The album easily contains the most melodic, densely fleshed out group of songs penned to date, and if there was any doubt of vocalist Spencer Chamberlains ability to maintain the void left by Gillespie’s departure, those have been put to rest.

“My Deteriorating Incline” is probably the albums most ferocious track, reminiscent of the band’s previous two releases, containing the fist thrusting, bone crushing heaviness that they’ve become so revered for. Don’t just take my word for it. This record is not a one-trick-pony. In fact, it’s probably the most cohesive WHOLE album Underoath has made, so make sure you check out this album and pick it up tomorrow.

MP3 // My Deteriorating Incline

Listen // Illuminator

as always, if you dig the song, support the artist!

the picture is of my brother getting punched in the face. i stole it from my good friend’s expansive collection of photography. his name is trevor christensen , do him a favor, hit him up and show him some love.

download:: best of the decade pt 1 (songs 1-25)
download:: best of the decade pt 2 (songs 26-50)

#50
wild orchid children – ahead of us the secret
from elephant ep (2007) ::purchase

#49
city and colour – as much as i ever could
from bring me your love (2008) ::purchase

#48
blood brothers – trash flavored trash
from crimes (2004) ::purchase

#47
forget cassettes – quiero, quieres
from salt (2006) ::purchase

#46
straylight run – big shot (hands in the sky)
from prepare to be wrong ep (2005)::purchase

#45
the arcade fire – wake up
from funeral (2004)::purchase

#44
arctic monkeys – fluorescent adolescent
from favourite worst nightmare (2007)::purchase

#43
moving mountains – 8105
from pneuma (2008)::purchase

#42
manchester orchestra – i can barely breathe
from i’m like a virgin losing a child (2006)::purchase

#41
underoath – everyone looks so good from here
from define the great line (2006)::purchase

#40
kevin devine – time to burn (another bag of bones)
from brother’s blood (2009)::purchase

#39
parallax – the romance
from mediums and messages(2006) unavailable for purchase

#38
explosions in the sky – greet death
from those who tell the truth shall die, those who tell the truth shall live forever (2001)::purchase

#37
death from above 1979 – romantic rights
from you’re a woman, i’m a machine (2004)::purchase

#36
gym class heroes – everydays forecast
from the papercut chronicles (2005)::purchase

#35
mgmt – time to pretend
from oracular spectacular (2008)::purchase

#34
manchester orchestra – i was a lid
from let my pride be what’s left behind (2008)::purchase

#33
david bazan – cold beer and cigarettes
from fewer moving parts ep (2006)::purchase

#32
evangelicals – midnight vignette
from the evening descends (2008)::purchase

#31
the strokes – you only live once
from first impressions of earth (2006)::purchase

#30
animal collective – the purple bottle
from feels (2005)::purchase

#29
conor oberst – milk thistle
from conor oberst (2008)::purchase

#28
aesop rock – daylight
from labor days (2001)::purchase

#27
the sound of animals fighting – act IV – you don’t need a witness
from tiger & the duke (2005)::purchase

#26
bloc party – positive tension
from silent alarm (2005)::purchase

#25
colour revolt – swamp
from plunder, beg, and curse (2008)::purchase

#24
brand new – untitled 05
from leaked demos (2006) unavailable for purchase

#23
the good life – inmates
from album of the year (2004)::purchase

#22
la dispute – damaged goods
from somewhere at the bottom between vega and altair(2008)::purchase

#21
circle takes the square – kill the switch
from as the roots undo(2003)::purchase

#20
mewithoutYou – four word letter pt. 2
from catch for us the foxes(2004)::purchase

#19
modest mouse – night on the sun
from everywhere and his nasty parlour tricks (2001)::purchase

#18
grizzly bear – ready, able
from veckatimest (2009)::purchase

#17
cursive – staying alive
from the ugly organ (2003)::purchase

#16
glassjaw- two tabs of mescaline
from worship and tribute (2002)::purchase

#15
bright eyes – lets not shit ourselves (to love and to be loved)
from lifted: or the story is in the soil, keep your ear to the ground (2002)::purchase

#14
the strokes – is this it
from is this it (2001)::purchase

#13
bright eyes – hit the switch
from digital ash in a digital urn (2006)::purchase

#12
brand new – limousine (ms rebridge)
from the devil and god are raging inside me (2006)::purchase

#11
manchester orchestra – pride
from mean everything to nothing (2009)::purchase

#10
emily haines – winning
from knives don’t have your back (2006)::purchase

#9
brand new – okay i believe you, but my tommy gun don’t
from deja entendu (2003)::purchase

#8
portugal. the man – telling tellers telling me
from church mouth (2007)::purchase

#7
la dispute – new storms for older lovers
from somewhere at the bottom between vega and altair (2008)::purchase

#6
right away, great captain! – right ahead, young sailor
from the bitter end (2007)::purchase

#5
rx bandits – tainted wheat
from …and the battle begun (2006)::purchase

#4
the sound of animals fighting – this heat
from lover the lord has left us (2006)::purchase

#3
as cities burn – timothy
from come now sleep (2006)::purchase

#2
mewithoutYou – o porcupine
from brother, sister(2006)::purchase

#1
bright eyes – loose leaves
from brother, sister(2006)::purchase

download:: best of the decade pt 1 (songs 1-25)
download:: best of the decade pt 2 (songs 26-50)

“People might associate us with Avenged Sevenfold because they’re pissed republicans and ‘so metal’, but they’re a gimmick, they’re a circus. They can’t play and they can’t write a song. What’s worse is the way they look. If you need to have make-up and crappy names like Synyster Gates to sell records, then you shouldn’t be here. That’s not rock’n’roll to me. Arena rock maybe, but not real rock’n’roll. If you’re basing yourself on how cool you are or how many girls you can trick into thinking your band is cool you can just… take that home. I’m not saying that’s what Avenged Sevenfold do, but they do a lot of crap that makes me think, ‘that’s why you and us will never be the same’. At the same time, we don’t write a really heavy record ‘just to show all those Avenged Sevenfold fans what real metal is like’

Underoath – Too Bright To See Too Loud To Hear

10. The Sound of Animals Fighting – The Ocean and The Sun
The third full-length from prog-rock supergroup saw the band combining the best aspects of their previous two albums to create something that was progressive enough to warp your brain without being completely off the wall and elusive to the listener. This album has something for everyone and reveals something new with each listen.
Myspace :: The Sound of Animals Fighting
Purchase The Ocean and The Sun
MP3 :: The Sound of Animals Fighting - I, The Swan

9. Evangelicals – The Evening Descends
When I first heard this record, I would have laughed at the thought of it appearing on this list, but with time, these guys have proved to me that my first impressions aren’t always right. This gem is full of spacey atmospheric dream rock that has a replayability factor that is through the roof. Not to mention these guys put on an insane live show.
Myspace :: Evangelicals
Purchase :: The Evening Descends
MP3 :: Evangelicals – Midnight Vignette


8. Underoath - Lost In The Sound of Separation
After the initial hype of this album began to die down, it sort of lost it’s luster. While it fails at reaching the intense and heavy peaks that their breakthrough release “Define The Great Line” did, LITSOS is still an album that I’ve enjoyed too much to not put it on this list.
Myspace :: Underoath
Purchase :: Lost In The Sound of Separation
MP3 :: Breathing In A New Mentality

7. Stray From The Path – Villans
This record is a perfect example that some bands still believe in making music with a message. Villans was recorded by this virtually unknown hardcore outfit out of Long Island, New York and mixed and mastered by Converge’s Kurt Ballou. At just 11 songs in length, Villans blisters through its socio-political message in a mere 23 minutes, which never really gives you much time to realize you’ve just been hit by a fucking train.
Myspace :: Stray From The Path
Purchase :: Villans
MP3 :: Stray From The Path – The Art of Reprisal

6. MGMT – Oracular Spectacular

An album that will probably be on a lot of year-end lists, MGMT took the indie mainstream by storm with Oracular Spectacular. An album filled with sexually charged indie-pop gems. It’s really hard to pick out a bad song off this “spectacular” record.
Myspace :: MGMT
Purchase :: Oracular Spectacular
MP3 :: MGMT – The Handshake

5. Conor Oberst – Conor Oberst
Oberst shines on his self titled effort which displays his calm, reposed romanticism and natural songwriting talent in songs like “Lenders in the Temple” and “Sausalito”. The simplicity of the songs on this album like the epic closer “Milk Thistle” all retain their intricacies making this one that will keep finding its way back onto your playlist.
Myspace :: Conor Oberst
Purchase :: Conor Oberst
MP3 :: Conor Oberst – Milk Thistle

4. Lydia – Illuminate
Lydia return with their second full-length that shreds any notion of the so called “sophmore slump”. Illuminate is filled with dualing male/female vocals and big instrumentation that create the perfect backdrop to one of the most stunning efforts of the year. Illuminate proves that this band is capable of very big things.
Myspace :: Lydia
Purchase :: Illuminate
MP3 :: Stay Awake

3. Colour Revolt – Plunder, Beg, and Curse
These guys have a sound wise beyond their years. Upbeat songs like “Naked and Red” “A Siren” and “Swamp” showcase the melodic brutality of their triple guitar assault, backed by one of the most dynamic vocal performances I’ve heard all year. Plunder Beg and Curse is one of the most aggressive, dynamic, thought provoking records of 2008.
Myspace :: Colour Revolt
Purchase :: Plunder, Beg, and Curse
MP3 :: Swamp


Right Away, Great Captain! – The Eventually Home
The Eventually Home paints the bleak, depressing tale of a sailor bent on revenge. RAGC founder and sole member Andy Hull crafts his tale through simplistic layered acoustics and deafening builds of emotion from beginning to end. This album is sure to captivate and engross you in its dark brooding tale.
Myspace :: Right Away, Great Captain!
Purchase :: The Eventually Home
MP3 :: I Was a Cage

1. La Dispute – Somewhere At The Bottom of The River Between Vega and Altair
This little known group of friends out of Grand Rapids, Michigan have released the best record of 2008. SATBOTRBVAA is an album that is relentless in its ferocity and honesty. The music itself can be described as a progressive post-hardcore melding pot of bands such as At The Drive In, Glassjaw, mewithoutYou, and Circle Takes The Square. Dual guitars intertwine to create the jagged musical base for frontman Jordan Dryer’s vocals. At first listen, the comparisons between Dreyer and mewithoutYou vocalist Aaron Weiss are inescapable. Like Weiss, Dreyer is able to wield his words together in a way many wish they were capable of, creating an intensity throughout that is nearly tangible. La Dispute represents the little hope left in today’s music industry, where things like brotherhood, love, and community are the defining factors for their creation.
Myspace :: La Dispute Purchase :: Somewhere At The Bottom of The River Between Vega and Altair
MP3 :: Damaged Goods
MP3 :: The Castle Builders