#10- Converge- All We
Love We Leave Behind
The Music-
This album has continued to climb this list right up to the
last day of 2012. In fact, I have to wonder where it would have ended up had I
allowed myself to do any more revisions past the end of the year. It’s just
that damn good. Converge have always been a band that I have struggled to
understand, especially when it comes to the material from Jane Doe on. I’ve always thought they were creative and innovative
in their sound, but I had more or less come to the conclusion that I needed a
musician’s ability to count measures and discern what I heard as audio chaos to
really “get” them. It was with that frame of mind that I was told a couple of
years ago to listen to Axe to Fall. The recommendation came from a good friend
whose taste I tend to agree with, and so I grudgingly told him I would give it
a shot. I played the album 3 times over a couple of days, and pretty soon it
was absolutely dominating my iPod. Why had the other albums not clicked for me
like this? Certainly the sound had been tweaked a bit, but the same elements I
had heard on albums like No Heroes
and Jane Doe were still in play. The
sound had changed just enough to enter the realm of accessibility for me.
So, Axe to Fall
was just accessible enough for my ears to catch on, and All We Love We Leave Behind continues on that same path to an even
greater degree. One of the things that impresses me so much about the album is
the level of diversity displayed in the sound. The super fast, technical
intensity that has become Converge’s trademark is still there in spades, but
they have managed to balance the record out with slower, more experimental moments
like on “Coral Blue” and “Glacial Pace,” showcasing that their musical literacy
goes well beyond metallic hardcore. Another tactic that works incredibly well
on AWLWLB is the diversity in vocal
patterns used by Bannon, alternating between his usual abrasive growling (or
wounded pterodactyl screeching- thanks Matt!) and something more akin to actual
singing. The dynamic is wonderful, and he knows just when to use them to the
fullest effect (“Aimless Arrow”). Lyrically, this record stands head and
shoulders above most hardcore records in its ability to be as literate as it is
heartfelt. Although the individual songs on this record can stand easily on
their own, I truly believe that this album was meant to be heard as a whole.
The alternating intensity and brilliant songwriting shine through best that
way. Converge fans already know how good this is, but believe me when I say
that those that were not fans prior to this need to give it a shot. This record
just might surprise you.
The Vinyl-
If you love this album and have a turntable, there is really
no excuse for not picking this up. It sounds excellent, is a fairly priced
double LP through Deathwish or Epitaph at $20, and the vinyl has three extra
tracks from the On My Shield Ep that
the CD does not have. I ordered from Deathwish and ended up with a red copy,
which I’m assuming is the least rare variant since I preordered so late. It has
a gatefold jacket, printed lyric insert, and heavier than standard weight
vinyl. The preorder was delayed for FOR-EV-ER because of pressing plant delays
associated with the Beatles vinyl boxset released last year, but it should be
readily available for retail sale by now. Get this, and be stoked you did.
#9- Hot Water Music- Exister
The Music-
Those of you who know me well know that I’m kind of a
fanatic for this band. I’m willing to fly wherever I need to in the western
United States to see them, and they are one of only a handful of bands whose
entire discography I own on vinyl. So, needless to say, I was a bit excited and
nervous for this release. Hot Water hadn’t released a proper album in 8 years
when Exister came out, but every band
member had certainly been prolific on their own during that timeframe. Chuck
had managed to build an amazing career in a short time as a solo acoustic
artist. Chris had released several albums, including The Draft with the rest of
the Hot Water guys minus Chuck, and more recently Chris Wollard and the Ship
Thieves. Jason has been playing in Senses Fail and George played in Against Me!
for an album. So, with all of these different influences coalescing in what
would be a new Hot Water Music album, I wondered what it would sound like.
The resulting album is by far the most polished and diverse
sounding record of Hot Water Music’s career. Some may take that statement as a
very negative appraisal, but I mean it in the most praiseworthy way possible.
The influences of the Ship Thieves 90’s-era alt rock are present, and so is the
bluegrass and country-tinged songwriting of Chuck’s recent work. Yet, beyond
these new influences, the album still sounds like Hot Water Music. It’s
rollicking, heartfelt, and full of big choruses meant to be screamed along to. There
are a couple of duds on this album, but for the most part the band have lost
none of the intensity that makes them special while still growing as
songwriters. Don’t get me wrong, I loved the old albums, but I don’t want to
hear them rewritten. Hot Water Music are moving forward, and we should all do
the same. Oh yeah, and they have a new video out. If this song doesn’t make you
a convert, you are lost forever.-
The Vinyl-
This album sounds pretty good. The packaging is really nice,
but I don’t feel that the vinyl sounds as good as the digital copy I have of
this. It’s not terrible by any means, it’s just not as loud or with the range
that I feel like it should have. Rise Records released this, and in my
experience they do a good job with their vinyl packages, but are sometimes a
little overpriced. I got the milky clear with swamp green limited to 500, and I
believe that was the Interpunk exclusive color. I can’t speak for what the
other colors may sound like, but I have heard from others that they didn’t feel
the record sounded as good as it should either.
#8- Stick To Your Guns- Diamond
The Music-
I’m a sucker for positive hardcore. There’s something about
the intensity and heaviness of hardcore combined with uplifting lyrical themes
that really does it for me, and this album perfectly exemplifies what I love
about that style of music. The last time that I saw the band live, the opening
band made the statement that Stick To Your Guns were “the real deal…a fully-functioning
intellectual hardcore band.” I think that description describes the band, and
this album, perfectly. Diamond takes
the listener on a journey through sometimes painful, but always enlightening
self-actualization. The lyrics drive home the realization that one’s actions
and feelings are solely under their own control (“my only enemy is me…” from
‘Such Pain’) and they encourage the recognition of one’s own self-worth (“I am
forever more than just surviving, this is my life and this life is my diamond…”
from ‘D (I AM) OND’). In all honesty, this was the hardcore album I needed at
the age of 16 when I was struggling to understand the weight of my own actions
and just learning to trust my own judgment. Musically, there are a couple of
slight shifts in sound that may turn off some fans of hardcore. Stick To Your
Guns have always have a certain melodic element that they have weaved into some
of their songs. Clean vocal melodies and catchy pop nuances creep to the
forefront even more on this album, but I think that helps to keep their sound
fresh. Sometimes after 3 or 4 albums, a hardcore band can begin to sound stale
doing the same old thing. There is one song that is absolutely a straight-up
pop punk tune in the vein of New Found Glory or Four Year Strong, but they
execute it so well that it is hard to find any fault with it’s inclusion on the
album. It such a weird thing to say about a hardcore album, but I think if I
was a parent I would buy this album for my teenager (but maybe not let them
know I approved of it!). It’s a worthwhile and empowering exercise in
existentialism.
The Vinyl-
This record was not cheap. I think I paid somewhere near $22
dollars for it. That’s kind of absurd when considering that it is a single LP.
I loved the album, so to me it was worth owning on vinyl. The vinyl itself
sounds good, but there are no extra packaging flourishes or special touches
that would drive the price up. It’s a gatefold package with a lyric sheet
inside. Clear vinyl. Nice package, but spendy.
#7- Gojira- L’Enfant Sauvage
The Music-
This French metal band has been around for a bit, but for
some reason hasn’t really caught on in the U.S. the way they have in the rest
of the world. The United States ignores good music from other countries??!! What
the hell??! Shocker, I know. Anyway, this is another one of those bands that
has more or less gotten better with each release, and although I’m not quite
sure this one quite lives up to the monster that is From Mars to Sirius, it is definitely my favorite metal album of
the year overall. Gojira play a style of metal akin to bands like Lamb of God,
Meshuggah or Mastodon in their heavier moments, utilizing insanely fast double
bass drums and death metal influenced riffing. What makes Gojira stand out
among extreme metal bands is their ability to craft songs that are heavy yet
insanely melodic, with experimental moments sprinkled throughout. Lyrically
they stand apart as well, choosing to focus on subjects such as ecology and
self-improvement. The result is something truly beautiful and original.
Although they will probably never be played on the radio, they have ensured
with this album that they will continue to have a loyal fanbase. Who knows,
they may even gain some more American notoriety in the process.
The Vinyl-
Another import record. I paid about $32 to get this, and it
was worth it because I love the album so much. Its got a gatefold jacket,
lyrics on 2 full-color inner sleeves, and 2 gorgeous-sounding 180 gram slabs of
wax. Awesome package.
#6- Joyce Manor- Of
All Things I Will Soon Grow Tired
The Music-
I have read reviews where people refuse to include this on
their end of the year lists because they claim it is not a full-length LP.
Quite honestly, those nerds are absolutely right. This “album” is 13 minutes
long. Granted, there are 9 songs, but most of them don’t even come close to
hitting 2 minutes. Despite this obvious flaw, I’ve found a way to look past
that and include it as my 6th favorite album of the year. How do I
accomplish this? I listen to this extremely short, incredibly catchy and
inventive pop-punk album twice each time I put it on the turntable. Yeah, it’s
pretty much cheating, but well-worth listening to twice. These guys sound like
the descendants of Jawbreaker, with a little Pavement and 90’s Sub-Pop thrown
in the mix. The recording is rough and the songs are as catchy as it gets. It’s
an album well worth cheating for.
The Vinyl-
Asian Man records had a good year. This is another quality
release by them, priced cheaply and sounding as it should. I ended up with blue
vinyl, which was limited to 500 copies. Not by far the rarest variant, but I
dig it. Pick this up and support a fantastic label.
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