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Interpol
Turn on the Bright Lights (10 Anniversary Edition)
Matador Records
Turn on the Bright Lights (10 Anniversary Edition)
Matador Records
This is truthfully still my favorite Interpol album, hands down. Not that I don't like some of their other material; it just didn't hit me the same way. 28 tracks on the anniversary disc and a bonus DVD.
One of my favorite songs to play on Rock Band.
Jawbreaker
Bivouac (20th Anniversary)
Blackball Records
20th Anniversary of Bivouac. This was the first Jawbreaker cd I ever bought back in the day, and it was all because a girl I like fucking adored them. I was all NOFX-ed the fuck out at the time, and this was a nice change of pace. Like every other Jawbreaker album, this is just song after song of musical greatness, backed my Blake's enchanting (goddamn right I said "enchanting") lyrics that make you feel like the songs were written about you. Bivouac; a phenomenally timeless album.
Jawbreaker- Bivouac
The Jealous Sound
A Gentle Reminder
Militia Group
The Jealous Sound- This is Where it Starts
Just Like Vinyl
Black Mass
Superball Records
Just Like Vinyl- Pressure/Release
Make Do And Mend
Everything You Ever Loved
Rise Records
Make Do and Mend- St. Anne
Minus the Bear
Infinity Overhead
Dangerbird
Minus the Bear- Diamond Lightning
Mission Of Burma
Unsound
Fire Records
The Jealous Sound
A Gentle Reminder
Militia Group
These dudes have been around for a while. Originally, kind of an indie rock supergroup of sorts. Fronted by Blair Shehan of Knapsack. Previous albums still sort of had a Knapsack likeness to them. This one is a bit different, but equally as good.
Just Like Vinyl
Black Mass
Superball Records
I miss the shit out of The Fall of Troy. I guess most fans choose Doppleganger as their favorite album. I'm more of a Manipulator guy. That album is from a different fucking planet. So damn diverse and ambitious. Frontman Thomas Erak went on to Just Like Vinyl. The first material was good, but lacked the punch of The Fall of Troy, if you ask me. Black Mass does not. Erak rips on guitar, and his vocals just get better and better.
Make Do And Mend
Everything You Ever Loved
Rise Records
"I think this year I've lost more than I've found." Fucking love that line. Even though my year wasn't too bad, that shit hit me like a freight train. Great album.
Minus the Bear
Infinity Overhead
Dangerbird
Sharks Keep Moving and Botch are two of my all time favorite bands. So members of both groups in one band is a bonus. Minus is a completely different group, though, especially in terms of mathcore genius Botch. Still, each Minus the Bear release holds its own, if you ask me. Kinda chilled, kinda upbeat, kinda mathy indie rock.
Mission Of Burma
Unsound
Fire Records
Fucking legendary post punk band, responsible for inspiring an uncountable amount of groups (Pearl Jam and Sonic Youth, to name two), both from the indie and mainstream circuits. For a group that originally formed in the late 70s, it's really something special to say that they've still fucking got it.
Municipal Waste
The Fatal Feast
Nuclear Blast America
This is another great album I had forgotten about later in the year, due to an onslaught of other shit coming out. Special thanks to Tromeric again. Fucking party thrash!
Municipal Waste- The Fatal Feast
Nada Surf- Waiting For Something
Office of Future Plans
Office of Future Plans
Dischord
Office of Future Plans- Salamander
Orange Goblin
A Eulogy For the Damned
Candlelight
Orange Goblin- Save Me From Myself
Pelican
Ataraxia/Taraxis
Southern Lord
Pelican- Lathe Biosas
Pinback
Information Retrieved
Temporary Residence
Pinback- Glide
Propagandhi
Failed States
Epitaph
Propagandhi- Failed States
Samiam
Complete Control Sessions
Side One Dummy
Samiam- El Dorado
The Sea and Cake
Runner
Thrill Jockey
The Sea and Cake- New Patterns
Silversun Pickups
Neck of the Woods
Dangerbird
Silversun Pickups- Bloody Mary (Never Endings)
Smashing Pumpkins
Oceania
Martha's Music
Nada Surf
The Stars Are Indifferent To Astronomy
Barsuk Records
What the shit? Nada Surf still exists? Goddamn right they do. Honestly, the best thing to happen to this band was being dropped from a major label. Every album afterward has been consistently fucking awesome, and this is no exception.
Office of Future Plans
Office of Future Plans
Dischord
Another band fronted by genius sound engineer and musician, J Robbins. Chances are that if you like Jawbox, Burning Airlines, and Channels, you will like this too.
Orange Goblin
A Eulogy For the Damned
Candlelight
UK metal band that has damn near 20 years under their belt. This albums rips me a new asshole, again, and again, and again. Recommended to fans of stoner metal.
Pelican
Ataraxia/Taraxis
Southern Lord
It's only a 4 song EP, and the first track isn't really much to write home about, but the 2nd and 3rd tracks kill, and the 4th is beautiful. Can't wait to hear another full length from these heavy instrumental giants.
Pinback
Information Retrieved
Temporary Residence
I caught onto Pinback late in the game. Fantastic guitar melodies, and just really cool shit to chill to.
Propagandhi
Failed States
Epitaph
Don't get me wrong; I love the old more pop punky Propagandhi, but the more aggressive Propagandhi rips that shit in half. This is the second album as a 4 piece, and it fucking kills. THRASH.
Samiam
Complete Control Sessions
Side One Dummy
Complete Control is a radio show ran by the co owner of side one dummy records. Another Samiam release is definitely cool with me, even if I have heard the songs.
The Sea and Cake
Runner
Thrill Jockey
I first heard The Sea and Cake in the late 90s, from a friend enthralled with writing jazzy off time signature guitar stuff. I was pretty blown away. Their album Oui is one of the coolest shits I've ever heard. This new one, Runner, is freaking awesome, too. They mange to still sound like good ol' The Sea and Cake, while at the same time expanding their mellow musical talents. Love it.
Silversun Pickups
Neck of the Woods
Dangerbird
Although Pikul is still my all time favorite Silversun material, I am a fan of all their music. I just kinda miss that more straight forward indie rock sound. But dammit, this album is infectiously catchy, the vocals are beautiful, and holy shit so is the bassist. I'd probably drink her bath water, but that's irrelevant.
Smashing Pumpkins
Oceania
Martha's Music
I'm usually not too keen on a group keeping the same name when said group consists of all new members save for the frontman, even if the said frontman is largely known as the major backbone of the group. Helmet is a perfect example. I love Page Hamilton, but keeping the name Helmet with all new members is a fucking money grubbing poser ass thing to do, in the case of that band. Get over it dude, you will never create something as awesome as Betty, especially while trying to live in the past. With that being said, new Smashing Pumpkins is fucking awesome and different, yet the same if that makes sense. In fact, it's my favorite Pumpkins material since Mellon Collie & the Infinite Sadness. The album also contains the best bass playing work for the band fucking ever, as far as I'm concerned. I'm not gonna say I wish he'd just change the band name; I'm just sayin' I would enjoy this shit just as much even minus the band name. Thanks to Justin Coffrin for turning me on to it.
Soulfly
Enslaved
Roadrunner
I had a rocky relationship with Soulfly for the first three albums. I'm sorry, there's only a scant few bands to successfully mix rock and rap, and they certainly weren't one of them, imo. After those first three albums, they I guess came to their senses, and went to a straight up more heavy as fuck approach, ala Max-era Sepultura. That's more like it, Max! This album fucking kicks. P.S.- I still think the band name is corny as shit.
Soulfly- World Scum
Soundgarden
King Animal
A & M
Holy shit, I'm glad these guys are back. It's no Louder Than Love or Badmotorfinger, but one HUGE step up from Down on the Upside. Kim Thayil is killin it on guitar, Matt Cameron is beating the shit out of the skins, Ben Shepherd is hitting that bass with a vengeance, and Cornell's vocals are just as fucking amazing as ever. Great album.
The Sword
Apocryphon
Razor & Tie
If I had to choose one single favorite album of 2012, it would be The Sword's Apocryphon. I can't even count how many times I've jammed this shit from start to finish and found something new to love every damn time. It takes me back to the days of Kyuss, and I can't think of a bigger bonus than that.
Title Fight
Floral Green
Side One Dummy
Title Fight is one of the bands that takes me back to the late 90s sounding indie./punk/whattheshitever. A band that seemingly plays what and how they want, instead of cookie cutter bullshit. Love it. For fans of Small Brown Bike.
Torche
Harmonicraft
Volcom
I loved the band Floor. I love Torche even more. The Floor sound is still within the guitars of this band, but a bit cleaner sounding. Usually coined Sludgy or stoner. That is there but I think of poppy metal when I jam to it, and I jammed to this album a whole shit ton this year.
Other stuff worth mentioning:
16- Deep Cuts From Dark Clouds
Battles- Dross Glop
Bouncing Souls- Comet
Corrosion of Conformity- S/T
The Cribs- In the Belly of the Brazen Bull
Dead Swans- Anxiety and Everything Else
Down- IV
Down By Law- Champions At Heart
fiREHOSE- lowFLOWs: The Columbia Anthology
Fucked Up- Year of the Tiger
Gallows- S/T
Joyce Manor- Collections/ Of All Things I Will Soon Grow Tired
Kowloon Walled City- Container Ships
Kreator- Phantom Antichrist
Kylesa- From the Vaults Vol 1
Maserati- Maserati VII
The Menzingers- On the Impossible Past
Neurosis- Honor Found in Decay
Spraynard- Exton Square
Such Gold- Misadventures
Troubled Coast- Awake and Empty
Touche Amore/Casket Lottery split
Witchcraft- Legend
