Honorable Mention
Artist: Tigers on Trains
Album: Grandfather
I couldn't find it in my heart to leave these guys off of my list but also couldn't justify moving this album above any of the other 15. So, they get an honorable mention. Tigers on Trains has been compared to an acoustic Brand New. One of the things that draws me to them most is their unorthodox lyrics. If you like folky goodness, superb acoustic guitar work, and lyrical innovation, check out Grandfather. Recommended tracks: Sea Weed, The Silk Road, A Year in the Garden Shed
15
Artist: Oh, Sleeper
Album: Son of the Morning
For whatever reason, I've always had a soft spot for Christian metal bands. Maybe it's because the first time that I saw Underoath, the gave a shout out to Jesus right in the middle of us moshing and it was completely unexpected. I don't know if Oh, Sleeper claims to be a Christian band but their music definitely has heavy religious undertones. Son of the Morning is a concept album that describes the age-old battle between God and Satan and leads up to the climax of a final showdown. There is plenty of dialogue throughout and it is an interesting way of looking at the relationship between the two. The final songs ends with God screaming in triumph, "They will sing to a world reborn. They will sing as I cut off your horns!" Recommended tracks: Son of the Morning, The New Breed, The Finisher
14
Artist: Anberlin
Album: Cities
Anberlin is a band that I've seen four or five times but it has never been intentional as they've always been supporting headlining bands that I've paid to see. I'm not complaining, though. Lead singer Stephen Christian has one of the silkiest voices in the scene and is clearly the focus and highlight of the band. Cities is an album that reminds me of summers and working on the golf course, some of the happiest times of my life. The album is cohesive and can be listened through without being tempted to skip ahead to other tracks. Recommended tracks: Adelaide, Hello Alone, Alexithymia
13
Artist: SOJA
Album: Born in Babylon
If there is one album that doesn't really fit in with the rest on this list, it's SOJA's Born in Babylon. I got into a reggae phase for a while at the suggestion of a good buddy and SOJA is the artist that stuck out the most. I understand that reggae isn't for everyone but you can't really go wrong with the good vibes that this album puts off. Recommended tracks: Losing My Mind, You and Me, Gentleman
12
Artist: Brand New
Album: Deja Entendu
I had a hard time choosing between this album and The Devil and God are Raging Inside Me. Deja Entendu, to me, is the more consistent release throughout. Frontman Jesse Lacey isn't the most talented singer in the world but his lyrical prowess more than makes up for it. This album is full of catchy, poppy choruses that will have you singing along if by some chance you haven't been listening to Brand New already. Recommended tracks: Sic Transit Gloria... Glory Fades, The Quiet Things That No One Ever Knows, The Boy Who Blocked His Own Shot
11
Artist: Taking Back Sunday
Album: Where You Want To Be
This is one of the most played albums in my entire collection and for good reason. Taking Back Sunday knows how to write a catchy, angst-laden song better than almost anyone else that I can think of. The songwriting is much less deep and mature than most of the bands on this list but it is arguably the most fun to sing along to. Unfortunately, one of only two good albums released by Taking Back Sunday. Recommended tracks: Set Phasers to Stun, This Photograph is Proof, I Am Fred Astaire
10
Artist: Protest the Hero
Album: Kezia
I don't know how to describe this album without being a little bit lengthy. And there's no way that I can explain the concept behind the album better than frontman Rody Walker himself. He says, "There are two ways to explain the concept behind "Kezia": the literal meaning of it and the deeper meaning behind it. The simple explanation is that you have three characters on the album who all describe a certain situation from their point of view, which is the execution of a woman. We chose a priest, a prison guard who's also the executioner and the woman in question, Kezia. They all have three songs to tell their story. In the first song they paint a general picture, the second track explains how the character feels connected to Kezia and the third one is their view on the shooting of Kezia. The last song on the album brings us as a band into the picture, although the lyrics are written in the form of Kezia's last words. The deeper meaning of the concept is the gradual downfall of our society. We tried to make the lyrics timeless, so the story could be situated in any time period. There are also political and social critical messages in it. Not that we bluntly say that we hate Tony Blair or George Bush, but more in general comments on the fact that religion and power are getting more intwined every day. The album is also about the responsibility that everyone has as a member of our society. It's your civil duty to act when you need to." This album has outstanding depth both lyrically and musically. I also find singer Rody Walker to be one of the most versatile voices in the industry. Recommended tracks: Heretics & Killers, Blindfolds Aside, She Who Mars the Skin of Gods
9
Artist: Emery
Album: The Question
I don't think that Emery has released an album that I didn't enjoy to this date but The Question is by far their strongest release. Emery is at their best with layered dual vocals and that is on display throughout this entire album. It's another album that can be listened to without any lowlights or temptation of skipping through a song or two. The Question is a great album because you don't have to be in any one mood to listen to it, it works in almost any situation. Recommended tracks: Studying Politics, The Weakest, Miss Behavin'
8
Artist: Periphery
Album: Periphery
I haven't been acquainted with Periphery for more than a couple of years but I've worked feverishly to make up for lost time. When I first heard their self-titles album, I was blown away. I don't think that I've ever fallen in love with an album as quickly as I did this one. Periphery has plenty of detractors and some people call their self-proclaimed "djent" style gimmicky. I vehemently disagree. All musical aspects of this band are extremely talented, especially the drumming. Recommended tracks: Icarus Lives, The Walk, Buttersnips
7
Artist: Finch
Album: What it is to Burn
Regardless of how I feel about their releases after What it is to Burn, Finch will always be one of my favorite bands. They were introduced to me by a friend right after I moved from Arizona to Utah and I felt like I could relate to a lot of the message. They, along with Thursday and Thrice, were the gateway to the post-hardcore scene. While much of my love for this album is nostalgia, it is still a very strong, consistent release. Big poppy choruses are found throughout the album. The song "What it is to Burn" is still one of my favorite songs of all time. Recommended tracks: What it is to Burn, Letters to You, Awake
6
Artist: The Fall of Troy
Album: Doppelganger
Listening to The Fall of Troy, you'd have no idea that they were just a three-piece outfit with the amount of sound that they project. Full of random, quirky riffs and fills, Doppelganger was one of my first experiences with progressive music. Thomas Erak's harsh vocals have always been some of my favorite. The fact that he does as well as he does vocally WHILE doing what he does on the guitar has earned my respect. I was torn up when these guys called it quits a few years ago. Recommended tracks: F.C.P.R.E.M.I.X., Mouths Like Sidewinder Missles, The Hol[]y Tape
5
Artist: Circa Survive
Album: Blue Sky Noise
I spent a summer in Houston, Texas selling door to door during which I spent upwards of two hours a day commuting. I remember completely abusing Blue Sky Noise the entire summer without ever getting sick of it. Vocalist Anthony Green is one of the most talented singers the scene has produced and the rest of the band is far from shabby. Every Circa Survive release has been extremely strong but I feel like the is the most mature and it's the one I relate to most easily. Recommended tracks: Strange Terrain, I Felt Free, The Longest Mile
4
Artist: The Dear Hunter
Album(s): The Color Spectrum
I'll say it, The Dear Hunter frontman Casey Crescenzo is a genius. The Color Spectrum is one of the most ambitious albums that I can think of and he pulls it off flawlessly. This album of 36 songs is splits up into nine different four song EP's, each of which represents a different color of the spectrum. From the aggressive and industrial sound of the black album to the folky and earthy green album to the harmonious white album, The Color Spectrum has a little something for everyone. Or, if you're anything like me, you'll devour the entire thing. Recommended tracks: Never Forgive Never Forget, But There's Wolves?, Lillian, Home
3
Artist: The Mars Volta
Album: De-Loused in the Comatorium
I have a hard time recommending The Mars Volta to people because I have no idea how to describe them and even less of an idea how it'll be received. From Wikipedia, "De-Loused is a unified work of speculative fiction telling the first-person story of someone in a drug-induced coma, battling the evil side of his mind. Though lyrically obscure, The Mars Volta stated in interviews that the album's protagonist is based on their late friend Julio Venegas, or "Cerpin Taxt", an El Paso poet and artist who went into a coma for several years after a deliberate drug overdose, recovered and later committed suicide." Heavy stuff, huh? The lyrics, as mentioned before, are ridiculously obscure but are well worth the effort spent deciphering. This album is latin and jazz infused proggy goodness. Recommended tracks: Roulette Dares (The Haunt Of), Drunkship of Lanterns, Televators
2
Artist: Between the Buried and Me
Album: Colors
Pick a genre of music, any genre, and Between the Buried and Me probably cover it at some point. One of the most versatile, eccentric and electrifying bands that I've ever listened to because they do such a great job of fitting so many different styles together. BTBAM is also home to my favorite drummer, Blake Richardson, who is an absolute monster on the kit. Colors is their most critically acclaimed album because it completed their maturation from an extremely talented death metal band to the progressive wonder kids that we know today. Stoked out of my mind to see these guys later this week with the band who is number one on my list. Recommended tracks: Sun of Nothing, Ants of the Sky, White Walls
1
Artist: Coheed and Cambria
Album: In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3
Anyone who knows my musical taste at all could have pretty easily told you what band would be on the top of my list. After over ten years of writing, producing and touring, Coheed and Cambria have yet to produce an album that I find anything less than exceptional. With this in mind, it was extremely difficult for me to choose just a single album of theirs. Within this past week, Coheed released the second half of a double album that is every bit as strong as their early releases. Frontman Claudio Sanchez has developed an alternate world, Heaven's Fence, that each of these albums somehow tie into. Aside from music, he has also produced comics, novels and will eventually have a full length film (Produced by Mark Wahlburg) as part of his Amory Wars saga. The man is insanely talented. In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3 is an amazing album that deserves to be listened to all the way through. Recommended tracks (if you won't listen to the whole thing): In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3, The Crowing, Backend of Forever, A Favor House Atlantic, The Light & The Glass.
I understand that these album descriptions are short, vague and in no way do any of these albums justice. Music is a big part of my life and these albums are instrumental (no pun intended) in shaping my music taste over the years. Music, to me, is much more than just entertainment. Much more than just a catchy line that gets stuck in your head or something to sing along to with friends. It should be an experience and a journey. It should be personal. It should make you think of things that you'd have no chance of coming up with on your own. Music should be a representation of the good times and the bad, uncertainty, anger, peace, chaos, envy, elation, love, and every other emotion that we, as people, feel. It should be the soundtrack to your life. That's what these albums are to me. Thanks for reading and listening.
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