Here it is, folks, the one and only, definitive Punks in Vegas Top 10 Albums of 2013 list. Be sure to check out our individual lists from monday, tuesday, wednesday and thursday before moving on (spoilers!) and after you’re done reading, tell us what we missed out on and what you agreed with in the comments!
1. A Wilhelm Scream – Partycrasher (No Idea)
Five years removed from Career Suicide, an album that redefined the band itself, AWS returns with another great album showing off their musical prowess and ability to make compelling melodic hardcore music. Also listen to if you enjoy the feeling of regret. (mainly concerning my choice to ever learn an instrument”) (Rory Child)
A Wilhelm Scream on Facebook | Purchase Partycrasher
2. The Wonder Years – The Greatest Generation (Hopeless)
At this point, any album The Wonder Years put out will make it to the top of my list. I remember sitting in class the day it was released, itching to listen to it when I got home. The opening track, “There, There” is such a fitting opener to the album, with the trademark confessional lyrics that Dan “Soupy” Campbell writes so elegantly and gracefully. The whole album is heartfelt and personal. The dynamics, flow,and just overall musicality exceeds anything they’ve ever done. The Wonder Years are one of the most important pop punk bands of our generation, and this album contends to that statement very well. (Cameron Beck)
The Wonder Years on Facebook | Purchase The Greatest Generation
3. Caravels – Lacuna (Topshelf)
Just thirty-four minutes of greatness. The local heroes outdid themselves on this project, which shows considerable growth not only musically but also lyrically. They’ve always been dark, but they get more introspective than ever on Lacuna. I would say they stayed away from getting too heavy and focused more on melodies and powerful hooks, and it worked to perfection. “Tangled” and “Hanging Off” are both incredible, but its the finale, “Dog Days,” that will be in my head forever, probably. (Felipe Garcia)
Caravels on Facebook | Purchase Lacuna
4. The Flatliners – Dead Language (Fat Wreck)
The follow up to 2010′s Cavalcade starts off somber building into an album that pushes the band forward musically and conceptually. Songs highlighting the affects of death, love, loss, and waywardness are all packed tightly into 13 tracks that show that The Flatliners have grown immensely from the days of Destroy to Create and will continue to do so moving forward (Rory Child)
The Flatiners on Facebook | Purchase Dead Language
5. Red City Radio – Titles (Paper + Plastick)
Big hooks. Gruff vocals. Sophmore album. These words can describe about 50% of my list this year. So what sets Red City Radio’s Titles apart from their like-minded brethren? Hands down it’s the lyrics. Most notably on standout track “Joy Comes With The Morning,” which sees the guys slow down the tempo for a dreamlike slice of nostalgia. When Garrett Dale sings “I tell you I dreamed you danced so gracefully you were like Dorothy Dandridge, and I was dressed like Gene Autry and you wore red so well you were my Ginger Rogers, and I was your Fred Astaire” it’s like watching a film by one of the great cinematographers of times past, only with the added bonus of knowing when you hear it live you’re probably going to be deep into a circle pit by the time the next songs starts. (Emily Matview)
Red City Radio on Facebook | Purchase Titles
6. Nails – Abandon All Life (Southern Lord)
Todd Jones is one pissed dude, and his musical assault on life continues with this relentless record. Positive hardcore, this is not. As the band name and album title implies, this is angry, bleak hardcore that is fast, heavy, and metallic. (Lance Wells)
Nails on Facebook | Purchase Abandon All Life
7. Iron Chic – The Constant One (Bridge Nine)
Out of all the bands to rise phoenix-like from the ashes of Latterman, Phil Douglas’ Iron Chic comes off as the most direct successor, continuing with Latterman’s trademark huge sing-alongs and ability to twist the most angst-ridden moments of everyday life into cathartic anthems for the 30-something crowd. Douglas sings with such earnest urgency in his vocals, and even though much of the lyrics are bittersweet, when he gets to a line like “We’re here right now, that’s all that counts, so it goes” I can’t help but smile and know that everything is going to be alright. Also, this record has two songs named after classic DC books and one after the Bill and Ted sequel, so you know it’s going to be great. (Emily Matview)
Iron Chic on Facebook | Purchase The Constant One
8. Direct Hit! – Brainless God (Red Scare)
The apocalyptic pop-punk sneer that forms the foundation of this concept album is almost too perfect. (Seth Spicer)
Direct Hit! on Facebook | Purchase Brainless God
9. Bad Religion – True North (Epitaph)
“Return to form” or just a better punk record? Whatever the case, this album heralded in 2013 and is probably Bad Religion’s strongest release since The Empire Strikes First. (Seth Spicer)
Bad Religion on Facebook | Purchase True North
10. Citizen – Youth (Run For Cover)
I was quite excited to listen to this and see what Citizen had to offer this time around. I really enjoyed Young States and their split with Turnover. Youth is a stellar album front to back, creating a unique blend of 90s emo and punk. Mat’s resonating vocals can go from smooth to harsh, sweet guitar melodies and the rock solid rhythm section create a phenomenal debut LP. (Cameron Beck)
Citizen on Facebook | Purchase Youth
That’s all for 2013! See you next year.
PIV “Favorite Music” banner by Adam Blasco of broken arrow collective.
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