2014: Year End Review by Cole Faulkner

20) Homeless Gospel Choir – I Used To Be So Young – A-F Records

With Andrew Jackson Jihad shifting their focus, it’s nice to see like minded bands like the Derek Zanetti’s solo project, Homeless Gospel Choir, continue existing on the skeletal outline of a man with his microphone and a couple of acoustic guitars.   Production is minimal but expertly handled by Chris #2 (Anti-Flag), making this Homeless Gospel Choir’ breakout moment.

19) Jason Cruz & Howl – Poor Man’s Ruin – Echotone Records

Strung Out frontman Jason Cruz threw us all a curveball.  In quoting myself, Cruz offers up a “unique blend of dark parlour rock meets dusty road Americana.”  It’s nothing like you’d expect, and really wins listeners over for precisely that reason.

18) Divided Heaven – Youngblood – Say-10 Records

Jeff Berman (The Boils, Protagonist, The Rites, and The Statiks) is a classic act and a nice guy to boot.  His acoustic solo project, Divided Heaven, is a labour of love and the time and care injected into each note is a rare treat.  Youngblood is one of those albums in which heart and soul meld with thoughtful production to sound exactly as the artist intended.  

17) Manchester Orchestra – Hope – Favourite Gentleman

I had been secretly hoping – begging really – for Manchester Orchestra to return to their roots and give up another post-punk masterpiece in the style of some of their earlier, quieter work for quite some time.  Their latest full length, Cope, was yet another step NOT in that direction.  It was a great album, but furthered their advancement into rock territory.  To add salt to the wound, the band released a breathtaking acoustic version of the single “Top Notch” shortly after Cope dropped, and I was so angry that the entire album was not in that style.  Mere months later though, the band released Hope, a purely acoustic companion album that answered my prayers.  Cope is great, but Hope is the album that fans have been yearning for.

16) Ducking Punches – Dance Before You Sleep – NO PANIC! Records

Mostly solo artist Dan Allen completely blew me away when Dance Before You Sleep first graced my ears.  This singer/songwriter knows the ins and outs of contemporary acoustic folk punk much in the same vein of Frank Turner.  If you haven’t already checked out Ducking Punches, it’s about time you remedied that misstep.

15) Bob Wayne – Back To The Camper – People Like You Records

After a rather disappointing prior effort, highwayman Bob Wayne rebounded with his best work to date.  Some of the tracks are dark and moody, others are loud and rowdy.  They’re anything but ordinary, and highly entertaining without degrading to the one dimensional level that plagued the last one.  The number of narratives is up, which with Wayne is always a sign of good things to come.

14) Mad Caddies – Dirty Rice – Fat Wreck Chords

I really only got into Mad Caddies when they released Keep It Going back in 2007.  I declared myself a fan and waited in anticipation for their followup.  I kept waiting, and waiting, and waiting for seven years, but the time has finally come, and Dirty Rice is everything a reggae-punk album should be.  Good work boys.  Now don’t make me wait another seven years.

13) Dikembe – Mediumship – Tiny Engines Records

I’m really growing to love Tiny Engines Records these days, and bands like Dikembe make it so.  For anyone that still looks back fondly to Deja Entendu era Brand New, you need to pick this one up.

12) Twin Forks – Self Titled – Dine Alone Music

Let’s get one thing out of the way: yes, this band features Chris Carrabba, and yes, he’s the guy from Dashboard Confessional that young girls once sat barricaded in their room crying to acoustic breakup song after acoustic breakup song.  Twin Forks shows just how much more Carrabba has become since those days.  This folk side project is ripe for the airwaves, featuring sing along singles and feel good melodies.  Don’t judge.  Just love.

11) The Dirty Mugs – Wildfire – East Grand Record Co.

I’m not sure how it took so long for me and The Dirty Mugs to cross paths, but it finally happened and I can’t get enough.  The Dreadnoughts meets Gogol Bordello meets Dropkick Murphys mentality is pulled off with such fist pumping knowhow that you’d be hard pressed to not sing along to the many gang-bolstered choruses that define Wildfire.

10) Gnarwolves – Self Titled – Pure Noise Records

I was so happy to see Pure Noise Records sign a band like Gnarwolves.  The kids love Pure Noise Records these days, and while they’re a top notch home for up and coming pop-punk, I really hope that the inclusion of Gnarwolves helps introduce the younger generation to this type of high energy, no holds barred hybrid.

9) Cigarette Crossfire – Self Titled – Self Released

My list this year tends to be pretty tame with regards to really gritty punk, but Cigarette Crossfire are a well deserving the exception.  These Finnish punks are an adrenaline pumping reminder as to what drew me to punk music in the first place.  To all of those critics hailing PEARS as the second coming of punk, please direct your attention to Cigarette Crossfire.  (note: I starting to get into PEARS, but right now I’ve really connected with Cigarette Crossfire)  

8) Junior Battles – Rally – Paper + Plastick Records

Rally is one of those super solid albums that you can’t quite put your finger on what makes it so great, but it just comes together as you’d want a great album to sound.  It’s lyrically interesting, thematically bound, and instrumentally tight for a pop-punk album.  Well worth checking out.

7) Lagwagon – Hang! – Fat Wreck Chords

At long last we have twelve new songs from 90’s punk legends Lagwagon!  It’s one of those albums you anticipate while trying to not get your hopes up too high, and then realize that you had nothing to worry about.  This is Lagwagon as you (or your old brother) remember them.

6) Chuck Ragan – Till Midnight – SideOneDummy Records

Chuck Ragan sings rustic folk songs in the key of gravel.  He can do no wrong.

5) Jesse LeBourdais – Long Winter – Self Released

Here is a singer/songwriter that knows how to connect with listeners on both an inspirational and personal level.  I had no prior knowledge of this Vancouverite before Bobby sent this record my way, so don’t let this one pass you by simply due to lack of familiarity!  There is a career worth of variety on here, so be sure to check out Jesse LeBourdais from this point out.

4) The Skinny – Presents The Skinny Pill – STOMP Records

Montreal’s The Skinny Pill burst on to the scene and deliver one of the best ska/reggae albums of the year.  Just as perfect for sunny summer driving as warming your thoughts in the chilly winter months, The Skinny are modern masters of this sparsely occupied genre.

3) Arkells – High Noon – Dine Alone Music

Come on people!  Why isn’t Arkells an international household name yet!  You couldn’t get a catchier album filled with radio worthy singles that maintain the integrity of the band in question.  High Noon is one of the most listenable albums of the year.

2) Andrew Jackson Jihad – Christmas Island – SideOneDummy Records

It’s always great when a band makes changes to a formula that you didn’t even know needed changes.  Christmas Island is a pretty big departure for AJJ, and the result succeeds in every way imaginable, earning the status as the only album on my list with a perfect score.

1) The Lawrence Arms – Metropole – Epitaph Records

One of the few albums on this list that I actually didn’t review, this relative “comeback” from what has slowly become one of my favourite punk rock trios of all time lived in my car for the entirety of the year (yes, I’m old and still use my CD deck).  While the punk community had plenty to say during the long road to Metropole (has it been too long since the Larry Arms got back together?  What will signing to Epitaph mean? blah blah blah), Brendan Kelly and Chris McCaughan had been pumping out winning solo projects for the past few years – it’s not like they were out of practice at being awesome.  Kelly handily took my top spot last year with The Wandering Birds, so is it really any surprise that Metropole completely rocked my world?

1) Great Albatross – Roots EP – Count Your Lucky Stars Records

This disc is one of those great indie outings with a welcome likeness to Death Cab For Cutie, The Weakerthans and Matt Pond PA.  It’s that type of fragile and breezy music that doesn’t aspire to be more than what it should be.

2) Beach Slang – Cheap Thrills On A Dead End Street EP – Tiny Engines Records

Here is a band with likenesses aplenty but a distinct sound all to itself.  Goo Goo Dolls, Superchunk, Sunshine State and Leatherface all come to mind, but in a very contemporary fashion.  With two EPs of steadily progressing quality, one can only anticipate what Beach Slang will be capable once they tackle their inevitable full length.

Portugal The Man – Evil Friends – Atlantic Recordings

I never got around to picking this up last year and I included it on my “albums I still want to hear from 2013” last year, and I can now confirm that it probably deserved a spot somewhere there last year.  The band provides just enough variance from past albums without stepping too far from their core.

Red Scare Industries – 10 Years Of Your Dumb Bullshit

When a label releases a compilation that sounds just like your own personal greatest hits list from the last ten years but with 100% new content, you know the planets must be in alignment.  Did you ever think you were going to hear another new track from The Lillingtons?  Who knows what else Toby Jeg is hoarding away in his Red Scare Industries vault.  I guess it’s time to get in touch with Masked Intruder and plan a Chicago office heist…