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musicandpointlessthings · 8 years

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My “Top Albums of 2016″

Wow, what the hell was 2016 in the world of music? You had your great releases, the shitty ones, and the other ones that were just thrown into a pile known as; “Somewhere in the Middle”. This right here is a ranking and album review of some of the bands that I enjoy the pleasure of listening to, who (with my luck) decided to release an album all in the span of last year. This is totally late, I know. I started this back in November but like with anything else I choose to do I put it off until I can’t stop thinking about how late whatever it is will be. You wouldn’t think that doing something like this would be as difficult as it turned out to be for me. SO enjoy this if you read this or at least try to because I tried. Show it to others and hopefully I’ve made them mad enough for liking a band that I “should’ve stopped liking back in high school”.

7. Green Day – Revolution Radio

Ah, these guys are at it again releasing something “out of this world”; Revolution Radio.

Billie Joe Armstrong seems to be following again and again the same format of “revolution” and politics in his song writing ever since American idiot. I remember when I really wanted the RSD release of “Demolicious” and once it got online and I heard a few tracks, it was over for me and not worth it after that. They just made “demos” (compressed and distorted their “best” songs) from Uno, Dos, Tre. Those three are way better than RR even though they forced those records in one year down everyone’s throat, but I am not here to review them.. There were a few hook parts that I did enjoy on Revolution Radio, but I couldn’t give you a favorite track off this. Some songs still held that basic “Green Day” melody. Not punk or wild at all, lyrically they did almost the same thing Blink-182 did but not as bad. Its just not the way these bands who are trying to “come back from the dead” should go about it. They were just corny for a huge part of it. It seems that Green Day did not try as much on this record, and neither could my patients so that is why this is at the tenth spot on my list. I love you green day I probably always will, but why was your last actually good release all the way back in 2009?

6. Lamb of God – The Duke

I put Lamb of God at #6 because I couldn’t call this a favorite of the year at all. And I want to say that these guys absolutely killed it, but then again this was just a random EP consisting of five songs, two of which are new and then three live tracks. I like the idea that these guys had because you rarely see an EP from them. The two new ones titled “The Duke” and “Culling” separately give a new sound and then they bring back their original sound. The Duke is a very interesting song all together especially because (this hurts me to say this) it really sounds like a Disturbed song. That statement shouldn’t be taken as an insult because I think Disturbed isn’t a horrible band at all like a lot of people see them as. The whole intro is so Disturbed-esque. The song is just different as a whole. They went a completely different route with the song and I’m proud of that decision because they put it out and they obviously felt strong with their direction they chose. I will say though that I’m just not into the Randy Blythe “singing” thing, the lyrics rhymed too much for my taste because it was literally almost every line he was rhyming. Seriously. Look them up.

“Culling” brought back their original sound and oh my god guys you killed it. I really liked this song. It was powerful and the lyrics were smart. They really surprised me with this one ESPECIALLY THAT DRUM SOLO TOWARDS THE END. It was so unordinary but really interesting. I honestly have nothing bad to say about this, it was just so different from The Duke. Completely different vibes from both. I guess you could check this EP out if you would like, it wouldn’t hurt if you did. It just wasn’t anything special. I’ll just leave it at that.

5. Joyce Manor - Cody

Sometimes I feel like you have to be a big fan of an artist to really enjoy all of their songs on their albums. Or like at least one of theirs. I don’t know, that sounded good in my head. But I think you get the point of where I’m going with this..

Joyce Manor’s new album “Cody” is at my number five spot. I couldn’t put it last, but I would never put it at the top. Simply because, in my opinion, ONLY HALF OF IT WAS ACTUALLY GOOD. I see it as the first half being that weird “Joyce Manor” sound being off time or just odd lyrics, and the second half (excluding one) appeals to me more. Not too sure what it is but it just sounds catchy to my ear drums. The lyrics on tracks from 6-10, specifically ‘Stairs’, are NOT amazing. Can I see myself being emotionally attached to them? God no. Did I vibe with them well enough to listen to them on repeat to sing my heart out because the catchiness was SO eminent on the other half of this album? Yes. I really enjoyed those tracks. The one I excluded though was ‘Reversing Machine’ because the opening line and how he sang it was just flat out annoying. Sure there was a melody there in this minute and twenty-nine second song, but this was one of their short songs that I COULDN’T do. I honestly wasn’t feeling it. My personal favorite? ‘Make Me Dumb’. Currently listening to it as I type this. The chorus just felt right to me when I first heard this album, kind of like a shoe perfectly fitting but more in the sense of the melody of it, and vocally the flow was so even and he sang it really well. ‘Stairs’ was good too with it being totally indie genre-fied, especially the way the end of the song transitions from its chorus & bridge “rock” vibe. The lyrics are a bit weird and kiiinnndd ooffff paaatthhettiiicccc? I don’t think he feels the way he does being 26 and still living with his parents, not able to do the laundry, etc. Those lines are just corny than anything else, that’s the only word I could find that fits the lyrics’ description. I know I know, this was “ his old bands song blah blah blah…” I don’t care. Sure it’s cool he resurrected it and made it different from the original, but just the lyrics are just really “meh”.

4. Blink-182 - California

YES! YES! 90’S “”””””PUNK””””” REVIVAL!!!! WOO!!

One of what like 50 older bands trying to make a comeback and touch the hearts of a newer generation that I’m now not considered a part of? Blink-182 made a comeback in 2016 and they did it very well. Their new album “California” made it to the top of the charts at the #1 spot which surprised me because there were a lot of people who absolutely HATED this album. I have a few reasons why people really disliked it. Well for one it made people super butt-hurt that Tom was not in the band nor on the tracks singing with his “accent”. Sure, I was in that large group of people but I got over it. I have respect for Matt Skiba filling such a large void and basically being the safety net or ‘superglue’ for Blink-182. When I first heard this album I thought it was absolutely weird not hearing Tom, and just being ultimately confused on what in the world I was hearing. It didn’t sound like Blink’s last three releases, but people grow and things change and I learned to accept that and I feel that more people have come back around and feel the same way about this. It was interesting to hear the first time, so I put it on repeat for hours trying to comprehend everything that I was hearing. Unfortunately these guys were another band, like Green Day, with those “too youthful” type of lyrics but they were NOWHERE near as band as Green Day’s. Though that IS what bugged me on this album, because these dudes are about forty now I would say? And they’re writing lyrics of “partying” and going out at night and having fun with friends and it’s just very weird coming from dudes at that age and happily writing about these kinds of things but I feel that they’re just trying to reach the newer generation with those tracks that have those lyrics. Like the song ‘Sober’; “Fell onto the table as the neighbors just stared – We laughed out loud and smashed their lights – Digging with our hands in the dirt outside”. What is this? I can’t picture Mark writing such lines. He even stated in an interview they wanted this album to be catchy like ‘Blink has always “been”’, sure their older songs were catchy but these new ones rhymed at almost every end of the line. It’s cool though. I don’t have any other complaints other than lyrics like that. The only other thing I could say was that this album sounded way over produced even though they worked with John Feldman who has recorded so many hits and #1 albums that it was inevitable that this would happen on their album. Oh and well whatever the heck they did with the song “Los Angeles” … But it’s at my number 4 spot because it WAS catchy after I repeated the album a lot and in the end I loved it. Uh, my favorite track? I can’t pick a favorite one but I’ll give two; “Cynical” & “She’s Out Of Her Mind”.

3. A Day To Remember – Bad Vibrations

I was extremely hesitant on listening to this. “Bad Vibrations” is at my number three spot and I don’t have direct and specific reasons as to why. Okay. Do I like it? After a while of listening to it and warming up to it, sure. It’s not their best even though they claim it to be; not even close. But It’s good enough because that “A Day To Remember” sound is still heavily there. They did what any other band does after five albums, THEY TWEAK THEIR SOUND, and I didn’t like that at all. An album that decided to go in a different direction of writing, specifically the lyrics, and that direction was a weird reversal move on their part. Their lyrics now are about being “paranoid” and it felt like they unintentionally decided to write how they probably should have wrote when they were starting out but now they have all of these fans that no matter what they do now people will love them because throughout their fan base there’s a line, a whole song, or even an album that fits everyone’s tastes. “Naivety” though having that “Decedents” rhythm throughout the verses, they bring it back around with their pop-punk sound they are oh so good at doing. The lyrics on this track distract me a bit by Jeremy’s choice of words; “What I hate about getting older”, “Wonder when I’m gonna get taller”, “Wonder what it’s like not being sober”. They’re weird. They’re weird for A Day To Remember to be writing about things like that and it doesn’t make me comfortable, but that chorus is so good that I can sing along to it and it’s beyond catchy. Songs that I heavily dislike on this album (there’s a few, hold on to your seats); “Bullfight” – though they went a different route with the introduction/verse, I can’t get into it. That breakdown though? YES. I like. Especially that hammer and anvil ‘ding’ during it is a great added touch. “We Got This” is horrible. I listened to it once and I’ve never gone back. It’s so bad. “Turn Off the Radio” was ‘ok’ at one point but now it’s something that does NOT soothe my ears. I listened to the “deluxe edition” so I can hear the bonus tracks and to be honest I listened to them once and (again) never went back. I really never payed attention because they just didn’t excite me.

Now that I think about this while listening to the album again, I do have a reason why this album is at my number 3 spot. Easily because there are enough songs on here that outweigh and make up for the really crappy ones. Something that did excite me on this was the song “Justified” even though the intro was different and odd, they broke right into the verse with their pop-punk styling and as I first heard it, it was like they said ‘PLOT TWIST’ and went all heavy and I was never expecting that whatsoever. Favorites on this album; “Paranoia” because it’s the first single released and it’s literally good ol’ A Day To Remember right there. It’s their sound. You would know it’s them. “Same About You” is another one that reminds me of something that could have been on “What Separates Me From You” and I love that album. “Exposed” because it reminds me of “Violence (Enough Is Enough)” and it’s just a heavy hitter that it makes up for songs like “We Got This”. Last one: “Reassemble” because the intro really intrigued me and it really drew me to liking this song. The intro is so triumphant to me and makes me think of soldiers being face-to-face with their enemies before they battle. Corny to say that but it just makes me have that feeling. idk.

2. Every Time I Die – Low Teens

AT NUMBER 2 IT’S THE HOMETOWN BOYS

EVERY TIME I DIE

“LOW TEENS”

Another crushing album that had me excited for its release, as I’m sure it did for all of their other fans. Strange to think that the older these guys get; the music gets heavier on each release. “Low Teens” definitely exceeded my expectations with songs like “Petal” that was only heard live until the full release of the album, and songs like “Map Change” that was a constant build-up to a triumphant chorus. Every Time I Die did a really great job on this album for those songs and how their structures had been tweaked ever so slightly but had better preparations especially with Keith Buckley’s lyrics. Though I can’t say this album was ‘absolute “gold”’. There were some of problems of course. “Two Summers” was a big hit in the face and my ears did not enjoy whatever the heck they were feeling for that song. Did anyone notice that the opening riffs for this track sound exactly the same to some parts in their song “Wanderlust”? I don’t know I guess that just bugs me because it sticks out so much. I did not “dig” this song. I will skip over this when I want to listen to this album front to back. There are people who listen to the music and the instrumentation of songs, there are those that listen to strictly the lyrics, or those who enjoy both. I on the other hand listen to more instrumentation than the actual lyrics. So naturally with listening to this album that’s what I listened to because I know Keith’s lyrics though are poetic I kind of just hum about until I can kind of grasp what he’s saying on a line here or there. So lyrically on this album nothing pokes out to me, but whatever I hear and what I’ve read isn’t even half of the embarrassment some of these other bands in this review/rank I’m writing.

Favorites on this would be “Petal” particularity because of the crushing riff and line that Keith seems to put his all into; “I’d better warm up my gun” and god that gives me chills. Another favorite “Map Change” for its sweet and everlasting but interestingly enough build-up structure. And “The Coin Has a Say” because WHY WOULDN’T YOU LIKE IT. Oh that’s right people are leaning towards “It Remembers” because it features Brendan Urie and Its completely different from their typical sound blah blah blah I KNOW. That one is good too, I’m not hating on it. Just not fav I guess?

1. Moose Blood - Blush

Now to the number 1 spot here.

“Blush”

I fully believe, with every bit of my being that THIS album right here is perfect. After I got used to it I wanted more, I wanted more of everything. The songs on this are structured beautifully with the exception of some odd timings on parts and I just FEEEL that this album and this group needs to be heard. Or at least more than they already are. All of these 10 tracks on Blush are phenomenal in my opinion and of course you can disagree with that or tell me that this band sounds like every other band out there or the singers voice is weird but I really don’t care about what you think particularly on this album especially when comments like those are so negatively put.

It took me a couple listens just like with any other album to really soak everything in and try to get used to this entirely new music you are hearing, but in the end I really enjoyed the work they did with this.

My favorite song on this would be “Freckle”, the last track listed because the vibe and melody of the song all around makes me happy. Others included in my top ones would probably be “Sway” because it’s slightly different from their usual work and the bridge section to the ending is great with its great build-up back to its mellow chorus. And probably “Honey” which brings in that different sound but still keeping it “Moose Blood”

There hasn’t been an album like this for me in a long time where I’ve enjoyed every bit of it and this will definitely hold a special place in my heart. Definitely check it out.

BONUS REVIEW

50. Upon A Burning Body – Straight From The Barrio

I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking “why in the world are you reviewing this album, aren’t they irrelevant?” Well to answer your question, yes it seems that way. But at one point they were actually really good. And I want to say the “what’s up” with their latest release. Why at number 50? Because this album was so bad that I couldn’t even put it in a top ten.

Upon A Burning Body seems to me that they have found a lack of desire to do more on their newest full length Straight From The Barrio. Why do I say this? Well simply because the main issue once again is their lyrics; they are NOT good. And I mean this because It seems that the attitude in their writing has turn more into the styling of fronz from Attila by the way Danny talks about how much of “the shit” he really is and how many “fucks” he really doesn’t give towards the people who crap on them. Songs like “B.M.F.”, “Fake Plastic Smile”, and “D.T.A (Don’t Trust Anyone) are perfect examples to my thoughts on his lyrics. I feel like ever since their little “promotional” stunt they pulled when releasing The World Is My Enemy Now really got to them… I will say this though. Musically, this album isn’t as bad as I expected it to be. I did get bored halfway through the album because some of the songs kept opening up with the same drum fills and “fuck you” lyrics. The riffs, however, didn’t bore me too much. Some sounded the same, but others still excited me and I can tell they tried to at least try to change up their go-to style and bring some new things to the table. UABB included some acoustic/classical guitars in some of these tracks on SFTB, and even some instruments that would never make it on a traditional metal/djent(?) record. The last track on this record, “My Distorted Reflection”, was a change from the things they have put out in the past. This track was a straight forward “I’m not perfect” acoustic ballad with triumphant drums half way through was a much better added touch. I find this song to be very repetitive and his voice to be coarse well throughout.

#Green Day #Joyce Manor #Lamb of God #Every Time I Die #A Day To Remember #Moose Blood #Blink-182 #Upon A Burning Body

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