Album A Day 01.04.11 Week #22 Best Rock Albums of 2010

Posted by Alistair McGeorge on 01.04.2011

From My Chemical Romance, Frank Turner and The Gaslight Anthem to albums by NEW RIOT, Against Me!, Alkaline Trio and The Hextalls, there was a lot to get excited about last year. Check to see which albums made the list.

Happy New Year, and welcome to Album A Day. I'm going to look at some of the best rock albums from the last year. This will be a bit different to my original, overall Top 10 Albums list, because I've found a few new albums since then.



Let's crack on!

7. The Hextalls – Get Smashed
6. NEW RIOT – RIOT. SLEEP. REPEAT
5. Alkaline Trio – This Addiction
4. Against Me! – White Crosses
3. Frank Turner – Rock & Roll
2. The Gaslight Anthem – American Slang
1. My Chemical Romance – Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys

This year has being surprisingly great for music, although most of the new additions to my collection have been older albums or bands I'm only just discovering (like The Lawrence Arms, Beans On Toast, Mad Caddies and many more). However, I've compiled an Album A Day list of 7 albums that have rocked my socks off this year. From punk to folk via stadium rock, there's a lot on this list to appeal to everyone, including an E.P. that I just had to include.

Week #22

Best Rock Albums of 2010



7. The Hextalls – Get Smashed

I literally only discovered this album a week ago, but it's absolutely brilliant. With acts like The Lawrence Arms and The Flatliners providing the rougher side to punk, we need some great, straight-up pop-punk. I'm not talking the pop-punk with synthesisers and an emo hint (All Time Low and You Me At Six, I'm looking at you). I'm talking proper pop-punk, and that's exactly what The Hextalls provide.

It's inoffensive, catchy and very radio friendly...but the catchiness makes it so great. There's a clear sense of humor on Get Smashed, evident in some of the song titles. "My Dad vs. Shania Twain" and "My Xbox Got The Red Ring of Death" have perhaps the better examples of this, but sometimes the titles seem like a forced gimmick.

This is evident on "Generic Mid-record Power Ballad"...this seems tongue-in-cheek, but it's just another straight-up pop-punk track. It's just a pointless title. I mean, it's a great song, but the title seems stupid and gimmicky.



That said, the albums is a whole is great, albeit generic at times. I know it may seem strange to describe a sound as generic, and then include it in what is essentially my (public) Top 7 Rock Albums list. However, with the cheesy emphasis, and more stadium rock influence, of most pop-punk bands around, The Hextalls are actually a breath of fresh air in their typical sound. It's how pop-punk should sound, and hopefully it's a sign of more bands ignoring autotune and pre-programmed drum beats for personality.



6. NEW RIOT – RIOT.SLEEP.REPEAT

This is a very late entrant into the list, but is one of the best new ska records I heard this year. I'm hugely excited to see these guys support Reel Big Fish in February, and it's off the back of this record I've become a big fan. To quote MC Lars, NEW RIOT are certainly proving that "ska is not dead".

Admittedly, their sound is more Less Than Jake than The Specials, and they are very much rooted in the ‘third wave', but that's the way the ska genre has evolved. Sure, the reggae influence is there at times on songs like "Devil Alive", but NEW RIOT focus on the ‘punk' in ska-punk.

The influence of bands like LTJ and UK ska mainstays [spunge] is clear, but this is a fantastic sound to here coming from the UK. It's fresh, and RIOT.SLEEP.REPEAT is the beginning of NEW RIOT becoming a vital part of the world's third wave ska scene.



They have a clear knack for what makes a great modern ska song, and whilst the prominence of power chords may put some purists off, that's the way the genre is heading. The brass is tight and exciting, though, mixed with some glorious hooks and great guitar parts resulting in a fresh, exciting and loud sound.

At times, they show influences of acts like Big D and the Kids Table, especially on songs like "Punk Radio", which is definitely a good thing. What NEW RIOT go exceptionally well is wearing their influences on their sleeves, but combining all these sounds into their own unique one.

There isn't a weak track on here, with every song proving its worth. It's actually nearly impossible to pick a stand-out track or highlight, because it's an incredibly tight, consistent record. The title track does boast a perfect ska-punk formula, but RIOT.SLEEP.REPEAT supports why this column was started. The art of a great album is still important and respected in today's music climate, and a great album like this can do wonders for a band's career.



5. Alkaline Trio – This Addiction

After a poor effort in 2008, Alkaline Trio returned this year with This Addiction, a true return to form. Reminiscent of songs like "Cooking Wine", "Armageddon" and "Stupid Kid", the album sees Trio go back to their punk-rock roots in spectacular fashion. It's also notable for having some of Matt Skiba's most personal lyrics to date.

The music itself is back to the, admittedly simple, punk style that brought Alkaline Trio to the dance, but it's refreshing. Kicking off with the typical Trio sound, "This Addiction" is relatable and catchy, a perfect way to show the fans that they're back.

It's almost immediately overshadowed, though, by arguably the best track on the album. "Dine, Dine My Darling" is a perfect Alkaline Trio song, a true nod to their earlier records stylistically. The riffs are great, the rhythm section tight and vocals as good as they were ever going to get.



Really, the whole album follows the punk formula, with the odd twist to keep the listener engaged. In particular, "Lead Poisoning" has a nice brass solo that seems to ridiculously out of place, it somehow HAS to work. The occasional keyboards in "Eating Me Alive" had me worried at first, but they fit the mood. Plus, listening to Skiba's Demos, I'm glad they were limited to this! It manages to overcome the cheese of the keyboards to be a surprisingly solid Trio song.

The album seems like a tribute to Alkaline Trio's old sound. I know I've laboured that point a lot, but it's true. However, I should note that whilst tracks like "Dead on the Floor" seem to make less than subtle nods to the "Radio" and "Southern Rock" style tracks, this album is by no means a retread. It's almost moving back to push forward, to give the fans what they want. Some of the tracks here are Alkaline Trio's best work so far, and it shows they can still remain relevant.



4. Against Me! – White Crosses

I've written about this album extensively, and praised it throughout the year. In a complete contrast to This Addiction, White Crosses was a stark change in style for Against Me! That's certainly no bad thing though. On Facebook, my gut reaction was to state that this album would prove to be Against Me!'s American Idiot. It was a similar departure, and whilst the success hasn't been to the same scale, I think it will help their career in the same way.

However, please remember that Against Me! are still one of the best punk bands around today, and this departure of the grassroots style doesn't change that. Their music has matured, but lyrically, the title track and songs like "High Pressure Low" keep some punk ideals alive.

Plus, a great deal of this music IS punk-rock. Punk isn't a set genre, and it doesn't just mean power chords with gritty recording quality. Sure, the music is a huge part of it, which Against Me! recognize on songs like "Rapid Decompression". But really, the older fans that condemn this switch in emphasis should listen to tracks like "Sink, Florida, Sink" again. Really, Against Me! have always had a different edge to their music.



Tom Gabel is exceptional on this record, vocally and lyrically. It seems increasingly personal, which isn't surprising given the band's beginnings as his solo project. I doubt anyone would've expected a blunt tale of a man falling in love with a former lover's mum...at the lover's funeral. It's almost uncomfortable, but manages to be one of the best tracks the band have ever recorded.

White Crosses is a stunning record, and it was almost certain to be my Number One or Two Album of 2010, if it weren't for a couple of late entries.



3. Frank Turner – Rock & Roll

Yep, this is an EP, so maybe it shouldn't be so high up, but I couldn't omit it. Since the demise of Million Dead, Frank Turner has toured extensively, making a name for himself as an exciting, fresh act in a sometimes stagnant contemporary punk scene, with a dash of folk. He has described himself as a folk singer who can't quite bring himself to pull away from a punk scene he grew up listening to, and his music owes its great depth to this.

Through five songs, there isn't a great deal that can be said on a record, but Turner manages it on Rock & Roll. The opening track, and live favorite, "I Still Believe" is a love letter to rock ‘n roll. Indeed, it references such greats as Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis, whilst remaining genuine and relevant. Its call and response near the end lends itself perfectly to the live environment, but works just as well on record.

"Pass It Along" shows a more tender side to Turner, while remaining epic and including some great licks. It builds up to a bold finale, and shows that Turner's sound definitely benefits, at least at times, from the band he's hired.



It's not that his music is bare without them – far from it, as evidenced on "Rock & Roll Romance", a relatable and emotional tale of unrequited love of a friend who doesn't seem to notice. It's stripped down to just Frank and a guitar, and it's simply beautiful. The opening lyrics of "You and I could have a rock and roll romance. We could fuck in our clothes/fall asleep in our pants" may shock some listeners, and actually the EP does seem a bit cleaner (lyrically) than past records, although I doubt this is for any real reason. However, it's this bluntness that make the song so real and emotional.

Similarly emotional, but bolstered by the return of the band is "To Absent Friend", a beautifully written, catchy ode to friends we've lost. Whilst the main hook names Jamie, it's an easily accessible song that remains open to interpretation. At its heart, though, this is just a great rock n' roll track.

The EP closes with a drinking song with a twist. A bluntly honest assessment of the reasons people drink, with suitably downbeat music, it's another example of how revealing Frank Turner is with his music. Indeed, when I interviewed him in December he agreed that music can be extremely therapeutic. "The Next Round" hits the nail on the head, particularly with the line "You always claim every party/was the best time you ever had". It's not the deepest line, but it will certainly resonate with the younger members of Turner's music.

With Rock & Roll, he's crafted the perfect bridge between albums (he's new LP is being recorded in a week or so) that manages to be deep and personal, whilst accessible and relatable, backed by Frank own punk-folk hybrid.



2. The Gaslight Anthem – American Slang

I'm actually even surprised myself that this has been placed this high. I put off buying this initially, as I felt there was no way The Gaslight Anthem would match or exceed the quality on their first two records. As in impulse buy, I decided to get the record one day and at least give it a listen. Well, I was extremely glad to be proven so wrong.

American Slang is a phenomenal record from a band quickly becoming a mainstay in the current rock scene. I ever saw one Youtube commenter suggest that Gaslight and Frank Turner could become the Springsteen and Dylan of their generation. Outlandish, possibly, but if they progress from here with more beautifully crafted rock records, it could become very real.



The vocals haven't lost any of their edge over the years, meshing perfectly with the indie/punk sound The Gaslight Anthem have perfected. It's still clearly New Jersey, paying homage to their influences without stealing from them. American Slang is its own sound, one of the best this year had to offer. Songs like the title track and "Old Haunts" show that the band hasn't disregarded what got them here, and "We Did It When We Were Young" shows that "Here's Looking At You, Kid" wasn't just a fluke ballad.

With American Slang, The Gaslight Anthem somehow managed to excel expectations yet again, producing a phenomenal record. Being only 10 tracks, there's absolutely no filler, and it feels like the perfect record.



1. My Chemical Romance – Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys

Another band returning to attempt to match high expectations was My Chemical Romance. Over their previous three studio albums, their concepts included being on the run from vampires and the story of a terminally ill patient. 2006's The Black Parade showed the band became the gimmick, whilst showcasing maturity and talent people often ignore. Ray Toro in particularly has really come into his own as a stunning lead guitarist, who is frankly hugely underrated.

How, then, do you match expectations to improve on a sound you'd recently perfected? The answer, it seems, is to abandon the scene you were forced into and make something completely unexpected. In this case, MCR rejected the emo label and created an upbeat rock record set in California 2019. It's still got a loose concept, but rather than vampires or gurneys, it's lasers and revolution.



As a result, Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys is pretty much their strongest effort yet. Songs like "Bulletproof Heart" and "S/C/A/R/E/C/R/O/W" are some of the best songs My Chem have written over the last decade, and the diversity of the album makes it impossible to label it.

The classic rock influence has lessened, although the blistering solo on "Bulletproof Heart" is breathtaking. Meanwhile, experimentation with dance on "Planetary (GO!)" and "Party Poison" as enough of a punk edge to keep it raw and still inherently My Chemical Romance.

Lyrically, this album makes little sense at the best of times, although the little touches work perfectly when this album is listened to as a whole. Particularly, "The Kids From Yesterday" is moving, as we've become engrossed in the characters and their revolution.

The character of Dr. Death Defying is a great tool used to occasionally narrate the album (3 of the tracks are just him talking), and whilst a bit cheesy, it still adds something to the record. However, the focus is, and should be, the maturity of MCR's sound. On tracks like "SING!" and "Summertime", it's almost impossible to believe that the same act who wrote "I'm Not Okay (I Promise)" has grown into this. It's a brilliantly consistent record that, if there's any justice, will be remembered well into 2019 and beyond.

7-A-Week

Doctors recommend we eat five portions of fruit and veg every day to stay healthy. Well, now for something completely different. Try the new "Album A Day" approved "7-A-Week" course. Each week, I'll recommend one song from each album for you to sink your teeth into.

7. Get Smashed – "I Don't Wanna Be A New York Ranger"
6. RIOT. SLEEP. REPEAT – "No Blood"
5. This Addiction – "Fine"
4. White Crosses – "White Crosses"
3. Rock & Roll – "Rock & Roll Romance"
2. American Slang – "Stay Lucky"
1. Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys – "Save Yourself, I'll Hold Them Back"

Upcoming Ideas

Here, I'll just add any ideas that have been suggested or thought of for upcoming weeks. I won't put a time frame on each one, but they will get done at some point.

- Soundtracks I (songs written for the film, non-instrumentals)
- Soundtracks II (scores)
- Soundtracks III (compilations)
- Albums released after a hiatus (Chinese Demoracy)
- Final albums (Innuendo, Let It Be, Folie a Deux, Dig Out Your Soul, Bridge Over Troubled Water, On Every Street)

Farewell

Happy New Year, and I hope you enjoyed the list. Disagree with any of my selections? Let me know in the comment section. I'll be back next week with seven of the best bands I discovered in 2010.