January 2nd, 2015 
Corey From 
This year has been an interesting one for me, as far as music goes. I had an awakening. In one sense, it was weird, because as a late bloomer in the music scene, 2003-2004 were some prime years for me in developing my tastes. So to have artists like Coheed & Cambria, Midtown, blink-182, etc. all have anniversary years/shows/represses this year was cool for nostalgia and remembering my roots. With that being said, upon starting at UTG, my music taste was very far left of a majority of the stuff covered on this website, and I’d still say it’s not quite centered yet, which is OK. Diversity has always been important to me.
But it was impossible for me to ignore my love for all things punk. From seeing Saves the Day play Through Being Cool from start to finish, catching a whiff of everything that PUP dropped on the ground this year, to Forever Came Calling punching my face in with their infectious and energetic and beautiful rendition of pop-punk and even the return of Amber Pacific in my life, all made me realize that I couldn’t escape it. So I indulged in it, and I’d like to think my list reflects that. I’m excited that I got to do this and I spent a great deal of time reflecting on the things that I fell in lust with over the year and writing about it. Hope you enjoy.
10. Ought – More Than Any Other Day
This album was a huge sleeper pick for me this year. I had been meaning to listen to it for months, and when I finally got around to it, I wanted to punch myself in the face for having delayed it for so long. It’s a perfect mix of dirty indie rock combined with the narcissistic lyricism that has gone missing from Modest Mouse for over a decade. The frantic and biting vocal lines from lead singer Tim Beeler is so rare and exciting and fresh. If you were like me, go listen to this band now.
9. Puig Destroyer – Puig Destroyer
It’s been hard to be a Royals fan for years, watching them self-destruct every few seasons when competing for post-season play. This year, with them hitting Game 7 in the World Series and then losing, the letdown was huge, but I realized that my love for baseball had diminished over the years since quitting in high school and not playing slow-pitch softball in the summer anymore. So it’s completely fitting that Puig Destroyer, during the off-season, especially with losing the World Series to the goddamned Giants (still love you, Lion), would help fill the gap. Because no one cares about your fantasy team.
8. Ty Segall – Manipulator
This guy continues to make jams every year. His nearly patented fuzz rock continues to see playtime year after year and I’m always pleased. He continually proves to be one of the most innovative and active entertainers that never lets down his fans.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Una2_QKzkw
7. Such Gold – The New Sidewalk
I’m always a sucker for some good pop-punk. But this really stretches what we know about pop-punk. The coalesce of hardcore and punk is so perfectly done in this album. It was kind of the turn around album that made me realize that no matter how far left I go and try to be obscure with my music choices, punk will always be the cornerstone to my church of music.
6. Modern Baseball – You’re Gonna Miss It All
Thank god for Modern Baseball. This album had such a lasting effect on me throughout the whole year. Whether it be the tongue-in-cheek lyrics, the fun play-on words, or the bad-ass composition of every song, something about every song was valuable. And deservedly, the band has seen its effects. Their live show is fantastic and fun, and everyone needs to see them play. Also they’re killer, funny guys and I wish we were still best friends.
5. Angels and Airwaves – The Dream Walker
Cue the moans, groans and shitfits. Yes. I loved this album. And no, it has nothing to do with the fact that I’m a self-proclaimed (well, maybe not so much self-proclaimed) blink-182 fanboy. Sure, being Tom Delonge’s other band, that helps. But as someone who hasn’t always been in love with AVA, this album was enough to make me go back and realize that it is something that I enjoy listening to. A lot. Musically, Ilan Rubin takes AVA to a whole other level and Tom continues to prove that he has the ability to stand out in the crowd vocally, whether you like it or not.
4. Prawn – Kingfisher
When it comes to making a top 10 list, sustainability of an album really helps me. And Prawn, like Modern Baseball, has been on rotation all year. My biggest regret of this year is not going to see this band play at a tiny venue in Lawrence with Into It. Over It. Every song on this album tugs at my heart strings, and is really, really freaking good; melodic emo done perfectly. My favorite line from any song all year is from “First As Tragedy, Second As Farce”: “If the gods are fair, then I am fucked. I am my father’s son.” I’ll let you sleep on that one.
3. Run the Jewels – Run the Jewels 2
These two rappers deserve every ounce of love they have gotten this year. They have written some of the most controversial political hip-hop of the last couple of years. Not only that, but they have brought in killer cameos without going over the top, such as Travis Barker, Big Boi and Zack de la Rocha, just to name a few. Every track is a banger and you’ll find yourself laughing at how smart these rhymes can get. Beware, rap game, Run the Jewels have shook up the world.
2. Moose Blood – I’ll Keep You In Mind, From Time to Time
I almost skipped over this album entirely. But I never skip over a No Sleep release. And neither should you. My bro Matt Leimkhueler made a good point when comparing them to Brand New. But as he shrugged them off, I embraced the comparison, and thought that if someone can make an album that reminds consumers of Your Favorite Weapon/”Sic Transit Gloria”/”Guernica”-esque Brand New, then goddammit they did something right. But where Matt and I disagree, is that to me, the comparison stops there. The feel is it. The band does something that Brand New didn’t do. They can keep my attention through the whole album. I’ll go down as a martyr for this next statement, but Your Favorite Weapon has more than one song that if I’m not totally in the mood for it, I will skip.
1. From Indian Lakes – Absent Sounds
I had no issue making this album #1. It encompasses everything about music that I love. Such warming, in-your-face, atmospheric sounds, mixed with soothing vocals, but with direct and touching lyrics. This band does it in a way that pulls you in with the first song and doesn’t let go until way after the record is over. The lasting effect for me was huge. For about two weeks straight I didn’t listen to any other album. If you read my review of it from earlier this year, you know that I can’t say enough good things about this album. It also came as the soundtrack to my year, where reflections and self-realization were all but omnipresent over the satisfaction and the welcoming of a new phase of life. A lot of people are giving this album the “underrated” title for the year, and while I agree to an extent as far as the population and community goes, I know that underrated is impossible to be when you make an essentially perfect album. Let me be a tween girl and say “The feels are too much.”
“Have I become the man that I hated once, or have my thoughts become clouded by things I used to fear the most?”
Honestly though, there are still a ton of albums that deserve to have your ears for an hour or so.
Honorable Mentions:
How To Dress Well – What Is This Heart?
Aphex Twin – Syro
New Found Glory – Resurrection
Major League – There’s Nothing Wrong With Me
Liars – Mess
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