Well, here it is, finally, a proper TOP 25 List. Sorry, but no show with this one. I'll be getting to that sometime next month. It's been hectic here.
Putting together this list was a bit tough, like always, which albums to choose! If I had a #26 and #27, I'd probably give those spots to Deftones and Lacuna Coil. Fantastic albums by those two bands. For real.
Check out the list below. Tell me what you think. Agree? Disagree? Twitter: @ttlmpodcast
I have next year all ready planned out for this podcast as it's going to be the last one. Seven years is quite a bit I think. It'll be a fun for sure with lots more awesome music to share and talk about.
Thanks for listening.
Putting together this list was a bit tough, like always, which albums to choose! If I had a #26 and #27, I'd probably give those spots to Deftones and Lacuna Coil. Fantastic albums by those two bands. For real.
Check out the list below. Tell me what you think. Agree? Disagree? Twitter: @ttlmpodcast
I have next year all ready planned out for this podcast as it's going to be the last one. Seven years is quite a bit I think. It'll be a fun for sure with lots more awesome music to share and talk about.
Thanks for listening.
25. Tsunami Bomb - Trust No One
 | The Trust No One LP features a collection of rare tracks including an early version of Lemonade, tracks from their B-Movie Queens EP, Mayhem on the High Seas, and of course, the entire The Invasion from Within! EP. What's more awesome is the band is continuing on with playing shows featuring original members including Oobliette Sparks, Brian Plink, Dominic Davi, and Gabe Lindeman. New vocalist Kate Jacobi is doing an awesome job as well. This new record showcases bands' humble beginnings and gives fans a chance to have access to these rare recordings. I now have a proper track to Breakaway and don't have to keep watching their Glasshouse set. It's a good record for any Tsunami Bomb fan and a nice introduction for any new comers. |
24. Boy on Guitar - Split
 | I hope this band makes a proper full length soon. The material this four-piece released in 2016 so far is ear candy to the max with its wonderful harmonies and eclectic sounds. The pop-sound simmers down a bit when you get to track 2 and 3. The guitars turn heavy and it rocks out for a bit. I kept it to just Boy on Guitar honestly, so let me know what side-2 sounds like. |
23. Show Me Island - Ring Around & Run
 | Three years later and this band releases another banger. Their self-titled album was a jam, but Ring Around & Run is heavy on the grooves with lots of horns and more of an upbeat vibe. But it's Lauren Hoyt's vocals that is on point. It sounds like she'd be fit for a jazz band, but she brings in those wonderful harmonies perfect for rocksteady and ska. She ain't a force to be messed with (just listen to the title track). Excellent reggae and rocksteady from this band. Keep that ska-train moving and grooving. |
22. Ascend/Descend - Murdock Street
 | Excellent hardcore from Boston. It's currently a three-way with labels, War Fever Recordings, Dead Tank Records, Tor Johnson Records for hard copies. Murdock Street is seven tracks of fast punk rock and hardcore. The songs rarely slow down, keeping up an aggressive front that cease to break for air. This fire will stay bright for a while. |
21. Gasoline Kills - Burn the Bridge
 | Gasoline Kills spew out hooks covered with fire on its newest album, Burn the Bridge. It's a nice follow up to 2013's Give Up Chorus, all though it does feature several revised tracks from that album as well. The track Working Man is sped up and the Burn the Bridge closes with Memo #1 (it originally opened Give Up Chorus). The album is laced with punk rock anthems and honest rock n' roll to boot. Don't miss out on this, might be the last material they release in a while. |
20. Failed Orbit Records - Compilation Vol.2
 | The music scene in Hawaii is alive and well and always growing. This compilation is proof of that. Failed Orbit is a collective of people maintaining the arts scene with music releases and shows and all sorts of activities. The compilation itself is as diverse as the arts scene, with a long playlist of indie-pop, punk and rock and a bit of hardcore. Thankfully every artist on this compilation is currently active (to the best of my knowledge), so it's just a matter of time when I get to see them play. I'm looking forward to catching Earl Grey and The Bougies in the future. Brah, check dis comp out. Shootz. |
19. Codename: Rocky - Reboot
 | This album was a long time in the making. The last album from this ska outfit was Infinity back in 2002. And when a reunion was announced, we were presented with a single track, back in 2012, Mile Markers, which was redone and now currently opens the bands' latest album, Reboot. And it is a reboot of sorts, the album is 14 stellar tracks of ska-punk, reminiscent of the bands' first two albums. The horns are plentiful, the hooks are catchy and the melodies are rich with skankin' vibes. This album was worth the wait. Now its time to dance. |
18. MxPx - Life in General
 | This was available from the band as a download for one day only, a re-recording of one of its best, if not the best album of the band's entire catalog. It's a polished recording, and you'll notice little differences in the songs which make the whole batch fresh. One difference – it features less vocal harmonies, but Mike Herrera's vocals are pristine either way. If you missed out on downloading it, don't worry, the album is on YouTube in its entirety. |
17. These Streets - Out of Time
 | This album is heavy as fuck and it only has six tracks. Proceed with caution when attending one of their shows. Like for real. Coming out of Modesto, California, this five-piece are on point with their breakdowns and riffs. The vocals pack a punch and their tunes deliver blows. Someone please tell THESE STREETS to chill, they might hurt someone. |
16. The Please & Thank Yous - Split
 | I'm so happy this band is still active. And I'm so happy that they're still producing poppy tunes that capture the best parts of mid to late 90's indie-rock and punk. The album was recorded live and I feel showcase the tightness of the band's musicianship. What you hear here, you'll get at a live show. But it'll be more exciting. And just to clarify, the album is titled, Split, it's not a split with anyone. |
15. Hospital Job - Never Get Cold
 | Hospital Job released one hell of a record. Complete with a plethora of sing-along tunes, riffs played one way (downward), and a consistent punk-rock approach to anything, Never Get Cold is punk-rock done awesome. In the vein of Ramones type melodies and The Copyrights, this album deserves a spin if you love that style. In fact, keep this record spinning until the next Copyrights release (which is...I don't know when). |
14. Great Deceivers - Ask me about your Strong Suits
 | The Great Deceivers' EP, Ask Me About Your Strong Suits, is four songs of really tight progressive tunes that reflect wonderfully the sounds of original indie-rock. The tracks are very syncopated and can often change tempos mid song and between proceeding tracks. If given the opportunity to release a full album of original material, minds would be blown. Take care when listening. |
13. Victims - Sirens
 | Damn. This album is heavy. But it's more thrashy than heavy. And I love thrash. This four-piece from Sweden keep it simple, their tracks straightforward but tight. The vibes are dark and aggressive, kept at a quick tempo. Not to mention, this is the bands' sixth album (released through Tankcrimes). They ain't going to slow down. |
12. Mannequin Pussy - Romantic
 | Best. Band. Name. Ever. Or at least one of the best (Mr. Orange Undercover is too good). Anyway, the music reflects this name, you know, you're kind of caught off guard trying to figure out what this name might mean, and then you press play to the opening track of Romantic, which is, Kiss. The track's aggressiveness kicks you in the ear and once the sound settles, we get a soft clean verse in the second track, which is the title track of the album. This album is a mixture of sounds, both distorted (mostly distorted) and clean, that seeks to balance itself out, and it does so in such a creative way. A majority of the tracks don't exceed two minutes, you're pretty much in and out on this one. But what a ride. A. Very. Enjoyable. Ride. |
11. Mortality Rate - Sleep Deprivation
 | This album has one of my favorite opening tracks of the year. It's the title track, Sleep Deprivation, and it consists of just vocals and drums. It simply builds up all the aggression that's peppered on the proceeding track, Sandman. And the same intensity flows through the rest of the album. Give this album a listen. It'll keep you up for days. |
10. Protest the Hero - Pacific Myth
 | If you didn't know, Protest the Hero created a subscription series last year which featured a newly written song a month for six months along with a video documentary series on the making of the band's previous album, Volition. These tracks are now made up of the band's newest EP, Pacific Myth. Art work was also produced for each individual track, including one final cover art the the EP. Very unique pieces of work. This was definitely an interesting approach to their usual production of song writing and recording. They had to work fast and within a time frame to have a new song prepped and ready for release each month. The band also took into account suggestions and ideas from fellow subscribers which they did indeed consider and write into their tracks. What came out were six beautifully written songs, epic in sound and length, and with a full set of tight guitar riffs and technicality. Protest the Hero are always evolving as musicians and creatively so. Don't stop writing music. Please. |
09. Rolo Tomassi - The BBC Sessions
 | Rolo Tomassi are a lot of things, musically of course, from mathcore to hardcore and punk, stretching it as far to the borders of experimental. Sometimes I wonder how bands craft songs like these into existence. On this album, it features two different sessions Rolo Tomassi had done. And they just sound magnificent. The musicianship is top notch and the compositions are out of this world. It's not always considered noise when there's a definite beginning and end. Thank You Holy Roar for releasing this. |
08. Earl Grey - Bissextile
 | Featuring members of Siblings, Earl Grey keep it heavy, but with a little less chaos. The tunes are aggressive, but more melodic with its punk and hardcore roots. The album, Bissextile, features 12 tracks of original material, punk rock with a familiar sound of 90's emo styles. Dual vocals are a must on this album, it's a lot more heartfelt and emo. And I say “emo,” in a good way. |
07. Pity Sex - White Hot Moon
 | White Hot Moon is all sorts of sweet with its lo-fi sound and indie-pop goodness. The dual vocals of Britty Drake and Brennan Greaves going back and forth on the album made the songs all the more wonderful. Too bad the band went on hiatus. This album is all sorts of amazing. |
06. Rival Choir - I Believe, Help my Unbelief
 | Formerly known as Mouth of the South, the band changed their name to Rival Choir, and then unleashed I Believe, Help My Unbelief, unto the world. Easily one of my favorite albums from Facedown Records to come out this year, it has a good mix of breakdowns, pounding riffs and gang vocals. And they keep it fast and intense throughout the tracks. It's an album that shouldn't go unnoticed – that's how powerful and moving it is. But really, I'm just a sucker for Facedown bands. |
05. Hangnail - Live (2002)
 | Hangnail disbanded around 2003, I believe before Transparent was even released. The band's self-titled record was all sorts of technical, skate-punk and rock, an instant favorite. And Facing Changes turned out more progressive – it featured a lot more wicked solos and rock based tunes. For Transparent, it was a mixture of the two. As for the live album, it's awesome to hear these songs again, in a live setting, especially for fans who never got the chance to see them live (myself included). The set was recorded back in 2002. It's a tight recording that showcased this talented four-piece. It features a nice mix of rock and punk tunes. The bands' set opens strong and closes with an equally tight track. Everything in between is a treat. |
04. Vow - Kind Eyes
 | Vow are a three-piece indie-pop band based in Los Angeles. Their album, Kind Eyes, holds 10 luscious tracks of amazing synth-pop backed by dreamy vocals and rocking rhythmm section. You can get lost listening to Julia Blake's vocals, one of the best things about Kind Eyes, but it also has such a wonderful mix of sounds. Lots of reverb action going around with fuzzy basslines complimenting the guitar riffs. Kind Eyes is an addictive album, well deserving of a thousand spins and more. |
03. The Bloodtypes - Pull the Plug
 | The Bloodtypes are a four-piece punk band from Portland, Oregon. Their music is synth based, with sounds leaning towards The Epoxies (and the Rebound ;) ). But this album, Pull the Plug, is like an expansion of their previous effort, Just Your Type, with more synth sounds layered on power chords and thick basslines with spacey vocals by the lively Schneck. Among the twelve songs are a couple ballad-esque type tracks featuring solos and nice keyboard melodies taking the lead from time to time. A really nice mesh of sounds from this northwest quartet. |
02. blink-182 - California
 | blink-182's newest album is definitely their 2nd best album ever (Dude Ranch is the best). It presents all the best poppy and rock parts of their self-titled and Neighborhoods combined layered on top the humor of Cheshire Cat and Dude Ranch (not as dirty though), granted the humor is small, but it's still funny when it comes up. And now that Tom Delonge is not present, Mark Hoppus does a majority of the vocals. With Matt Skiba on 2nd vocals and guitar, California is still very much an enjoyable album. The tracks are catchy, it's very punk rock and fast, and Travis does a wonderful job on drums. If you don't like this album, you were never a blink-182 (just kidding. But for real though, it's good). |
01. The Sun Days - Album
 | I have KEXP Song of the Day to thank for introducing me to this band. The track, Don't Need to be Them, was instant favorite, and I knew I had to seek them out. The Sun Days are a five-piece from Sweden, and they play excellent indie-pop and rock. Everything about this band is awesome. Their album, simply titled, Album, is a wonderful set of songs from start to finish. They keep it clean, with regard to sounds – the guitars are laced with smooth riffs and dreamy harmonies and the vocals are pristine as can be. The Sun Days are your new favorite band. They are definitely my favorite band right now. |
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