Completely forgot about Cancer Bats probably due to that record not being available on Rdio, but I remember it being a pretty good album overall. Birds in Row really put out an awesome effort too.

Originally Posted by cubsml34

Completely forgot about Cancer Bats probably due to that record not being available on Rdio, but I remember it being a pretty good album overall. Birds in Row really put out an awesome effort too.

Glad you agree! What other albums did you dig? I found it to be a pretty dry year, honestly...

Everything in the compiled staff list was completely predictable and are overall overrated.

I can see that the users have been expanding their genre habits but a lot of the staff seems a bit more obstinate than them.

Oh, and yeah every album on this list is good except I haven't heard Cancer Bats and have mixed feelings about Nas' and COK's new albums.

Originally Posted by Dre Okorley

Glad you agree! What other albums did you dig? I found it to be a pretty dry year, honestly...

In addition to the ones I mentioned, from your list I really enjoyed Title Fight, No Trigger and Propagandhi's releases. I really didn't like Floral Green as much when it came out since the song structures were so much longer and more developed than She,d and I missed those short bursts of raw energy from Shed. However after a few listens I grew increasingly appreciative in the step up songwriting wise, and although I still prefer Shed Floral Green is damn close.

Tycoon is just a really fun album and Propagandhi threw me back to my days of listening to 80's thrash with some of the solos they pull off. My first time listening to Failed States was my first time listening to Propagandhi and I was blown away really.

Menzingers had my top spot, Enter Shikari, Sharks, Caspian, ETID, The Chariot, Silversun Pickups, Silverstein, Caspian, Daytrader rounding out the top of my list. I think 2011 was a bit better for me personally, since the albums I listened to then had a lot of importance in getting me to listen to new styles of music, and those bands with the exception of Title Fight aren't releasing albums until 2013, so that's what I'm really looking forward to.

Originally Posted by Archael

Everything in the compiled staff list was completely predictable and are overall overrated.

I can see that the users have been expanding their genre habits but a lot of the staff seems a bit more obstinate than them.

Oh, and yeah every album on this list is good except I haven't heard Cancer Bats and have mixed feelings about Nas' and COK's new albums.

You know, I agree. Nas' effort wasn't the best he's ever done, it was simply alright. But compared to the rest of the stuff I've heard this year, I thought it deserved a spot.

Also, you really thought this year's list was predictable? What do you think about what another user's comments about bands like MCS not making the list and therefore that may represent a shift in staff tastes?

Originally Posted by Dre Okorley

You know, I agree. Nas' effort wasn't the best he's ever done, it was simply alright. But compared to the rest of the stuff I've heard this year, I thought it deserved a spot.

Also, you really thought this year's list was predictable? What do you think about what another user's comments about bands like MCS not making the list and therefore that may represent a shift in staff tastes?

Wait what's MCS?

I've visited a bunch of other music sites and they all say rather similar things. ap.net being quite predictable. Everything there have had tons of buzz here, there and everywhere.

The ones that weren't predictable:
30 . Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - The Heist (Self-released)
20. No Trigger - Tycoon (No Sleep)
19. The Tower and The Fool - How Long (Run For Cover)

Originally Posted by Archael

Wait what's MCS?

I've visited a bunch of other music sites and they all say rather similar things. ap.net being quite predictable. Everything there have had tons of buzz here, there and everywhere.

The ones that weren't predictable:
30 . Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - The Heist (Self-released)
20. No Trigger - Tycoon (No Sleep)
19. The Tower and The Fool - How Long (Run For Cover)

Motion City Soundtrack. And I'm surprised you expected to see Propagandhi on it. I didn't, haha.

I'll check out your playlist sometime this week. I haven't really heard any of the non-hip hop stuff, so I suppose I need to branch out. I've really only heard a few of the albums on other staff members' lists and the compiled list, to be honest.

love it. i didnt know who code orange kids/birds in a row were but i checked them out on your spotify playlists and well... HOLY FUCK. thanks for this haha. also congrats on your bachelors and hope you have an awesome 2013!

Originally Posted by Dre Okorley

Motion City Soundtrack. And I'm surprised you expected to see Propagandhi on it. I didn't, haha.

I personally thought that MCS' new album was incredibly generic and just plain bad. I guess that sentiment was shared here as well. I thought Propagandhi was collectively one of the highest rated punk albums of this year. I knew that the Menzingers would end up on this list but at #1 seemed quite surprising.

However, albums I was surprised didn't make the list would include:
1. Even moar pop punx bands
2. Converge
3. Godspeed You!
4. The Chariot (got a good amount of buzz elsewhere, expect that buzz to also be here)
5. I honestly thought a few more hip-hop albums would make the list.

I like this list. I'm sure you're so surprised. ;)

My still unfinished and probably forever unfinished top 10:

1. Kendrick Lamar - good kid, m.A.A.d city
2. How To Dress Well - Total Loss
3. Nas - Life Is Good
4. Xiu Xiu - Always
5. Ab-Soul - Control System
6. Death Grips - The Money Store
7. Yuna - Yuna
8. Japandroids - Celebration Rock
9. Frank Ocean - Channel Orange
10. R. Kelly - Write Me Back

Originally Posted by Dustin Harkins

My still unfinished and probably forever unfinished top 10:

1. Kendrick Lamar - good kid, m.A.A.d city
2. How To Dress Well - Total Loss
3. Nas - Life Is Good
4. Xiu Xiu - Always
5. Ab-Soul - Control System
6. Death Grips - The Money Store
7. Yuna - Yuna
8. Japandroids - Celebration Rock
9. Frank Ocean - Channel Orange
10. R. Kelly - Write Me Back

Good looks on Yuna, that's a pretty great album.

Originally Posted by Dustin Harkins

My still unfinished and probably forever unfinished top 10:

1. Kendrick Lamar - good kid, m.A.A.d city
2. How To Dress Well - Total Loss
3. Nas - Life Is Good
4. Xiu Xiu - Always
5. Ab-Soul - Control System
6. Death Grips - The Money Store
7. Yuna - Yuna
8. Japandroids - Celebration Rock
9. Frank Ocean - Channel Orange
10. R. Kelly - Write Me Back

Nice. And thanks to everyone for checking mine out. Too bad I had to rush, otherwise there'd actually be a top 30!