Joshua Lory’s Top 20 Albums of 2012

posted in: Articles, January 2013 | 0
  1. Forgetters – S/T. Ex-Jawbreaker/Jets To Brazil singer/songwriter and lyricist extraordinaire Blake Schwartzenbach really made the right album for me this year, dark, brooding, and beautiful. Having J.Robbins produce and play bass doesn’t hurt either.
  2. Gasoline Heart – Thanks for Everything. I wrote a longer review for this Raw and emotional, great lyrics.
  3. Bill Mallonee – Amber Waves. It’s a Mallonee album, it’s perfect, nuff said!
  4. The Brian Jonestown Massacre – Aufheben! – A return to the sound that made me fall for this band with still some of the newer vibe going on. Garage/Folk/Psychedelic/Pop. Matt Hollywood rejoins the fold and it’s obvious. This is one of my all time favorite bands.
  5. Jack White – Blunderbuss. First solo release, as good as any White Stripes album, but with more layers.
  6. The Choir – The Loudest Sound Ever Heard. Is it me or does this band get better with time? The past 3 albums (not counting De-plumed) are my favorites from the band.
  7. Hot Water Music – Exister. Great comeback album! Chuck Ragan’s voice sounds better than ever. They are the best at what they do!
  8. The Menzingers – On the Impossible Past. Great melodies, catchy hooks, excellent lyrics. All the songs go together to tell a story of loss, love, friendship, and memories, car crashes and Rock n’ Roll.
  9. Green Day – (tie) !Uno!, !Dos!, !Tre! Three new great albums, all with their own vibe. Out of all 3 albums only a couple of songs didn’t do it for me. I’ve been a fan since 1991! Oh, and my old buddy Chris Dugan recorded these.
  10. Corin Tucker Band – Kill My Blues. Ex- Sleater-Kinney Corin Tucker came out of nowhere with this amazing album! If you liked S-K you’ll love this!
  11. Joyce Manor – Of All Things I Will Soon Grow Tired. This band is the future of awesome Punk Rock. I’m keeping my eye on this band, they’ve got the lyrics and the chords, total package.
  12. Say Anything – Anarchy, My Dear. One has to listen to Say Anything to get it, it can’t be describes. Mad genius, frantic, desperate, irate, a whirlwind of passion.
  13. The Gaslight Anthem – Handwritten. Mix Social Distortion, Springsteen, and the Cure, that’s sort of the vibe of Gaslight Anthem. One great album after another. Something about them reminds me of a modern non-Christian version of the Altar Boys.
  14. The Wedding Present – Valentina. If you haven’t heard the Wedding Present, maybe it’s time, you won’t regret it!
  15. Chris Wollard and the Ship Thieves – Canyons. Great Americana/ Folk Rock album from Hot Water Music’s lead guitarist/singer. I still like Chuck’s solo outings better, but Wollard kicked it up a notch on this one.
  16. Tenacious D – Rize of the Fenix! A return to glory!
  17. Smashing Pumpkins – Oceana. Best release since Melancholy and the Infinite Sadness. Jeff Schroder from Cush/Violet Burning fame plays on it.
  18. Jimmy Cliff – Rebirth. Rancid’s Tim Armstrong produced this perfect roots reggae album from the legend himself, Jimmy Cliff! This is one of the best Ska/Reggae albums you will ever hear!
  19. The Cult – Choice of Weapon. This band is great at reinventing itself, album after album. A reminder of how great guitarist’s used to be, Billy Duffy is still one of the best, a master at his craft!
  20. The Wallflowers – Glad All Over. Sounds nothing like they used to, but incredible none the less! Think when the Clash went Sandinista and Combat Rock. Jack Irons (Pearl Jam/Red Hot Chili Peppers/Joe Strummer) joins on drums. Mick Jones of Clash/Big Audio Dynamite fame plays on a couple tracks.

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