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2013: Year End Review by Lanny Bolger
ThePunkSite.com’s Best Of 2013
Once again all of us here at ThePunkSite.com have taken the holidays to sit back and revisit all of our favourite albums of the year. Narrowing them down into easy-to-consume list forms – here’s what the people behind the website you’re currently browsing thought of this year’s music output.
Bobby Gorman | Cole Faulkner | Steven Farkas | Emily Thompson | Dustin Blumhagen | José Da Costa | Cardo Solis | Lanny Bolger
2013: Year End Review by Lanny Bolger
I’m bloated, hungover,swollen glands, and my ass hurts (from snowboarding out west I swear) the Christmas holidaze must be over, which means it’s time to compile a best of 2013 list for ThePunkSIte.com. Honestly I feel like 2013 wasn’t the greatest year for music punk or not but there were some stand out that are worth mentioning. This list is not numerically sequential just some releases I listed to in the ear goggles. Here it is!
Top Albums Of The Year
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The Sadies: Internal sounds : Yep Rock
Simply put badass consistency makes these guys one of my favorite bands live or on wax. |
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Run The Jewels: Run The Jewels: Fool’s Gold Records To emphasize that albums are worthless these days this Killer Mike and El-P collaboration was free to download and it’s the best hip hop album of the year. Listen to these bangers on real speakers or awesome headphones. |
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Alkaline Trio: My Shame is True : Epitaph Records They seemed to drop the Cureish gothic poppy sound and stripped things down and went back to writing music I really identified with. Like a more grown up mature “From Here To Infirmary.”
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Frank Turner & the Sleeping Souls: Tape Deck Heart : Interscope Records Just another group of amazing songs from this guy. |
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Ghostface Killah: 12 Reasons to Die : Soul Temple Records Tenth Album and still killing it!
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Neko Case: The Worse Things Get, The Harder I Fight, The More I Love You : Anti- Records This was by far one of the “strangest” Neko Case releases I have ever heard but I really liked it. It’s got balls but it also has soft smooth songs we’ve all come to love over her career. |
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Raekwon: Lost Jewlry : Ice H20 Another amazing release from one of hip hop’s most talented lyricist. This was also a free release. You have no excuse! |
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Bronx: IV : ATO Recods Some more punk and roll from one of my favorite bands. |
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They just keep doing it and doing it. Rose Tattoo may be one of my favorite songs. Dropkick Murphys: Signed and Sealed in Blood: Born and Bred Records |
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Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds: Push The Sky Away : Bad Seeds Ltd. Just another classic Bad Seeds release with aggressive, atmospheric, soft, and dreamy music laced with Nick Cave’s intensely descriptive lyrics. Just can’t miss with these legends. |
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Swingin’ Utters: Pourly Formed : Fat Wreck Chords Filled with classic Utter’s introspective and insightful lyrics but a more upbeat uptempo guitar driven sound. I really felt the Jack Dalrymple/One Man Army influence on this release. |
Favorite Live Performances of 2012
Bad Religion Live at The Horseshoe Tavern
It was such an honor to witness one of my favorite bands that I’ve only ever seen at big concert halls or arenas play a 450 capacity venue like the Horseshoe Tavern. I may never go to another BR show because nothing they will ever do will be able to top that experience.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds Live at Massey Hall
After this concert I walked out of Massey Hall and updated my facebook status to “If you haven’t seen Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds well you haven’t seen shit”. I still stand by this status update.
Run The Jewels Live at the Hoxton
This concert was Killer Mike and El P collaboration’s first show ever. Killer Mike did a solo set as did ElP. They returned each wearing 36” chains and destroyed it!
Flag Live at The Opera House
This show was just fucking sick. I am a long time Black Flag fan and hearing some live bangers in a sweet venue is all I’ve ever wanted. Greg Ginn tried sucking all the fun out of this live project and looked like a total dickweed in the process. I knew who and what I was going to see. I knew it was Black Flag karaoke with original members and that’s all I fucking wanted. These old dudes absolutely killed it live. Their rendition of “My War” was as punk rock as it gets. They ripped the roof off The Opera House. This was a very special concert.
Wu Tang Clan Live at The Kool Haus
This was a 20th anniversary tour and my first time seeing all the members of Wu Tang on one stage. Actually not all embers. Boo to the RZA and The Masta Killa for not repp’n but the other killer bees carried their wait and tore it up. Such a fun concert.
Larry & His Flask w/ Frank Turner Live at Lee’s Palace
It’s no doubt that a bill showcasing these two acts was nothing short of amazing. I’ll never forget this show. A hot July night and the AC was non functional at Lee’s Palace. It was so hot and sweaty and both bands left everything they had on stage. It was a spiritual experience in a non religious way.
Old Crow Medicine Show Live at The Danforth Music Hall
An incredible band that needs to be experienced live and that’s all I’m saying.
Lanny Bolger is a Photographer and Interviewer for ThePunksite.com
