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.

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.

Dear Tonight - We're Not Men

Dear Tonight - We're Not Men

Dear Tonight were a punk/hardcore band from NY who existed from 2001-08. They sounded a lot like Drive Like Jehu, Angel Hair and Ink And Dagger. Lead singer Ryan Duffy used to write for Vice magazine back then as well and was one rad dude (just check out his segment for vbs.tv on donkey fucking) he was most recently seen on the MTV show the Vice Guide To Everything. This band never really toured behind this, as they called it quits immediately after it's release, which is too bad because I think they could have gone far behind it. If you like End Of A Year and Brainworms you will totally dig this album.

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.

Forming

Forming - S/T

I don't know fuck all about this band except that they're young and they play totally rad throwback 90's punk rock. If you dig Samiam, Jawbreaker and Seaweed you're gonna love what these dudes are doing.

Lemuria

Lemuria - The First Collection 2005-2006

Lemuria - Get Better

Lemuria - Pebble

Lemuria are a female fronted pop-punk band from Buffalo New York. They have released albums/singles on Art Of The Underground, No Idea and Asian Man Records and are now signed to Bridge Nine Records. Their early material sounds like Alkaline Trio and Jawbreaker mixed with Jimmy Eat World, which no doubt led to them being at the front of the pop punk pack. They've matured a bit on their new one, Pebble, taking a more sophisticated songwriting approach (and I can hear a definite Nada Surf influence going on). The album was produced by J. Robbins (Braid, The Promise Ring, Jets To Brazil) and it is definitely their best sounding stuff. If their is any justice in the world then this band will blow up in 2011.

Monument - Goes Canoeing

Monument - Goes Canoeing

Debut full-length from this Washington D.C. group. Great 90's emo influenced punk rock. Goes Canoeing was just released this month on the Tiny Engines record label and if you dig their label mates Everyone Everywhere, Look Mexico and Castevet then you'll dig Monument. Take the spastic energy of Brainworms and the pop hooks of The Get Up Kids and you've just nailed their sound. I've been waiting to hear a full length from these dudes since I heard their 3 song 7" (which has been in constant rotation around my spot for over a year). In fact here is that seven inch, and their equally as rad demo:

Monument - 3 song 7"

Monument - Monujamz demo

Surf City - Kudos

Surf City - Kudos

Surf City are a band out of New Zealand who took all the best parts of Spaceman 3, Pavement and The Zombies and created one of the best debut albums of the year. Kudos has great harmonies, guitar parts that are both droning and spacey, and heaps of primal rock energy. If you've dug the recent output of Surfer Blood, Crocodiles, No Age and Jaill then you'll flip your shit over this. The band used to be known as Kill Surf City (after the Jesus And Mary Chain tune) but changed their name to avoid confusion with a shitty band from England with the same name.

Abe Vigoda

Abe Vigoda - Skeleton

Abe Vigoda - Reviver EP

Abe Vigoda - Crush

Abe Vigoda were born out of the noisy punk scene of L.A.'s The Smell (where Health, No Age, Mika Miko got their start) and played tropical/world infused punk music. But in the two years since Skeleton was released the band has evolved into so much more. By adding dark synths and Ian Curtis influenced vocals to their noisy punk sound they have created one of 2010's best albums in Crush. Everything is upped on Crush, the melodies, the songwriting and especially the execution. If you like No Age, Joy Division, Cold Cave and The Cure then you're going to love Abe Vigoda's new direction.