10. Fall Out Boy's Take This To Your Grave
Fall Out Boy's debut full length is easily the best to date. They made three other albums
after this, and they were all complete shit. Take This To Your Grave isn't like any of their other albums because it is full of emotion, soul, and good song writing. This cd is pop punk at it's finest. Just broke up with your boyfriend or girlfriend? This cd is for you.
Some key tracks are Saturday, Grand Theft Autumn, and Calm Before the Storm.
9. Kevin Devine's Put Your Ghost To Rest
A ginger with a cool beard and a sweet voice. How can you not love it? His songs are heartfelt and touching. Many of his songs deal with his drug addictions, and just life in general. It's an awesome record. Key tracks: Brooklyn Boy, Like Cursing Kids, A Billion Bees, Go Haunt Someone Else.
8. Dream Theater's Train Of Thought
Mike Portnoy's drum intro for track Honor Thy Father. Oh. My. Goodness.
Key tracks: Honor Thy Father, The Mirror, Endless Sacrifice
7. The Roots' The Tipping Point
This cd made me what I am today... drumming wise. Amir "?uestlove" Thompson's drumming is soo fluent and tasty and awesome. It's simple, and excellent. For a month straight, for my drum lessons, my teacher made me play along to this, and now my style has reached it's own tipping point. Key Tracks: Star, Duck Down, Don't Say Nuthin, The Mic
6. Taking Back Sunday's Tell All Your Friends
sighhhhhhhhhh. Taking Back Sunday's debut album. This cd makes me wish I listened to good music back in 2001. And, in my honest opinion, this was their best. John Nolan's songwriting was great, and I can relate to a few of the songs. Key Tracks: Cute Without The 'E' (Cut From The Team), You're So Last Summer, There's No 'I' In Team
5. Reggie and the Full Effect's Promotional Copy
James Dewees, former member of The Get Up Kids, wrote every song on this cd, and wrote the shit out of them. Not only did he record all the synth parts, but he did every guitar, bass, and drum track for every song. This cd is ballin'. Key Tracks: From Me 2 U, Something I'm Not, Good Times Good Tunes Good Bud, Meghan 2k, Thanx For Stayin'
4. Manchester Orchestra's I'm Like A Virgin Losing A Child AND Mean Everything To Nothing.
Ok, so I cheated with the 10 album limit, but, Manchester Orchestra is the Shiznit. The songs are simple and excellent, yet are very layered and polished. The music is mind blowing. Andy Hull's vocals draw you in, and then the music hits, and you're automatically hooked into these indie rockers. Mean Everything to Nothing leaked last week (official release date is April 21st), and I know for a fact, this will be one of my most favorite albums ever. ILAVLAC Key Tracks: Wolves At Night, Where Have You Been?, I Can barely Breathe, Colly Strings. METN Key Tracks: The Only One, Shake It Out, I've Got Friends, Pride, I Can Feel A Hot One
3. Say Anything's ...Is A Real Boy / ...Was A Real Boy
Singer/Songwriter Max Bemis is crazy. Literally. This cd was written between mental institution visits for Bemis, due to his drug abuse and bipolar disorder. This cd is one of my most favs. Key Tracks: Alive With the Glory of Love, The Futile, Every Man Has A Molly, Wow I Can Get Sexual Too, It's A Metaphor Fool
2. The Smiths' The Very Best Of
Morose comes to mind. So does witty and comical. So does awesome. Morrissey's flamboyant vocals and depressing songwriting, paired with Johnny Marr's jangly, yet intricate, guitar playing, are the 80's best one-two punch. The Smiths, to me, were the best thing to come out of England. Dare I say better than those four limey bastards two decades earlier? This compilation cd makes me want to be living in the 80's, so I can rock Moz's flat top hair cut, the thick rimmed glasses, and the bouquet of flowers out of my back pocket. God, this band was amazing. Key Tracks: ... well, almost every song on this is a key track. I can't pick out the few. But if you had to Ask Morrissey, which Heaven Knows He's Miserable Now, This Charming Man would probably ask you "How Soon Is Now". Oh, but, William, It Was Really Nothing. But for me, I'd say Hand in Glove, or There Is A Light That Never Goes Out.
1. Brand New's Your Favorite Weapon, Deja Entendu, The Devil and God are Raging Inside Me
Brand New has made me what I am today. Almost every track on each cd can some way relate to my life. Crazy, right!? Your Favorite Weapon was written while Vin Accardi, guitar, was 17. This cd is pop punk excellence and immaturity. Key Tracks: Mix Tape, Jude Law and the Semester Aboard, The No Seatbelt Song, 70x7, Soco Amoretto Lime.
Deja Entendu is YFW's older, more mature brother. You still get glimpses of pop punk, but more of a post punk feel. This is hands down, one the best cds ever recorded. Key Tracks: Sic Transit Gloria... Glory Fades, It's Ok I Believe You But My Tommygun Don't, Me vs. Maradona vs. Elvis, Play Crack The Sky.
The Devil and God is miles and miles ahead of Deja Entendu, which, if equated correctly, is light years ahead of Your Favorite Weapon. This cd is my most favorite cd ever. It's sonically brilliant. Jesse Lacey's songwriting and singing is just...oh my goodness. I can never get enough of this cd. If there is one cd you must listen to before you die, it's this. Every song on the cd is a key track, but here are some of the ones that really shine: Jesus Christ, Limousine, Luca, Welcome to Bangkok, You Wont Know, 'Untitled', Handcuffs... actually just listen to the whole cd. It's amazing.
