Algernon Cadwallader - Parrot Flies

Algernon Cadwallader - Parrot Flies

This is the second album from these PA dudes and it is a total monster. Eleven of the best tracks you'll probably hear all year. Algernon play intense and mathy indie rock that any fan of Cap'n Jazz, By Surprise and Monument will totally dig. I thought their debut was the shit but Parrot Flies is just a total banger and so much better. I've listened to this all night on repeat and I can't get over how totally rad it is. This has already been posted on every blog on earth so if you haven't grabbed it do so because this album will totally own your life. I'll be blasting this shit out my car window all summer long. Jam.

Slow One - The Double Cross

Sloan - The Double Cross

The new one from these Godfathers of CanRock. This sounds like the Beatles, the Kinks and The Cars rolled into one. These dudes are Canadian Rock royalty. Power pop at it's absolute best. This album totally slays.

Big Kids

Big Kids - Hoop Dreams

Big Kids - Don't Be A Baby EP

Big Kids - Phone Home

Big Kids are the fucking shit. Try and remember the first time that you heard Weezer.... That is what hearing these dudes for the first time is like. Big Kids play emotional punk rock that sounds like Small Brown Bike, Bear Vs. Sharks and Hot Rod Circuit mixed together. Every one of these dudes' jams is a total banger that begs repeat listening. I jam this shit on the regular and you should too. Buy whatever these dudes put out and press a beer in their hands when they play your shit town. Life changing punk rock right here.

Tonite BINGO with Archers Of Loaf

Dress Like Yer Idles

BOAT - Dress Like Your Idols

BOAT play really great indie rock that gives a tip of the cap to all your favourite alternative bands from the 80's, 90's and the oughts. Do you dig The Cure, Pavement, The Shins and Built To Spill? Because they've got songs that sound like all those bands. Their last LP, Setting The Paces, was one of my favourites of 2009 and this one ain't half bad either. Even if the music was shit (it isn't) you'd have to admit that that is one fucking cool album cover.

Buy Supplies

By Surprise - Mountain Smashers

I have been listening to this album on the way to and from work everyday for the past couple weeks and I still haven't gotten tired of it. These songs will seriously be stuck in your head for weeks. Great melodies, a tight rhythm section, noodley guitars and fun lyrics have insured that this will be one of the years best albums. If you dig Everyone Everywhere, Algernon Cadwallader, Monument and bands of that ilk then this should be right up your alley. I can't recommend this album enough. Go buy ten copies from Topshelf Records and give them to your friends (assuming you have ten friends, that number may be lower for some of you) this album is that good.

Aüfspring

Self Titled

Baghdad 7"

Ignition

Smash

Yeah I still dig these dudes' first couple of albums. Great west-coast punk that borrowed heavily from Agent Orange, Bad Religion and especially T.S.O.L. Sure their recent output can eat a bag of dicks, but this shit right here is un-fuck-withable. Try and pretend like you didn't drive Smash into the ground by incessantly playing it over and over again. This shit is just plain rad, its been scientifically proven (like in lab tests and shit). Mr. Brett dug them and you should too. Oh yeah and punk legend Thom Wilson produced all of these releases.

Polvo & New Radiant Storm King - ...And Then I'm Gone

Polvo & New Radiant Storm King - ...And Then I'm Gone

Two rad bands each contributing two songs to this split 7". Polvo are one of the pioneers of math-rock, and their 90's output is all fucking killer. I had never heard of New Radiant Storm King before this release and they play totally rad 90's indie rock that any fan of Pavement, Seam and the Pixies will dig.

V/A - Casual Victim Pile: Austin 2010

V/A - Casual Victim Pile: Austin 2010

This album was released by Matador Records at the start of 2010 and it compiles the best and brightest new bands from Austin, TX (with a few ringers from Denton, TX). This was assembled by Matador co-founder Gerard Cosloy who moved to the city a couple years ago and fell in love with the local scene (he's since signed Harlem to Matador). Great songs from Woven Bones, Wild America, Harlem and The Young. "Casual Victim Pile" is an anagram for "live music capital", which is what Austin is. So if you thought Texas was all honky-tonk and Stevie Ray Vaughn worship give this a spin and see how fucking punk the city is.

Jawbreaker - Unfun

Jawbreaker - Unfun

I'm not one of those people who only love the first album by a band and refuse to acknowledge anything afterwards, but fuck, Unfun sure is pretty fucking great and my favourite Jawbreaker album. Don't get me wrong everything the band has done is the tits, but there really is something special here. Some call it pop-punk, some call it emo, I could care less. Unfun is raw and smart and way ahead of its time, a true modern punk classic. Everyone should already have this and if you don't, get on it.