2016 has been weird, Bowie’s dead and Trump’s president. A lot of my favourite bands disappointed me, other bands I thought were just ok, surprised me. Here’s this year’s picks for best music:

Top 10 LPs of 2016

10. Joyce Manor – Cody

Another album of their trademark viral contagious pop-punk. Nothing groundbreaking, but solid.

Cody by Joyce Manor

9. Hobo Lord – Sweaty Already

Hobo Lord’s new album reminds me of NoMeansNo’s ‘All Roads Lead to Ausfahrt’, good stuff.

Sweaty Already by HOBO LORD

8. Dogjaw – S/T

I compared their last album to Pinkerton, this one is more like Maladroit. Here we have having metal riffs sprinkled on top of thickly layered power chords and feelings. They also released demos of the tracks before the album release (just like Maladroit). Not quite as good as last time (for me), but not to be missed.

AIR-032 – Dogjaw by Dogjaw

7. Pseudo – Renovations

We got to play a show with these guys this year. Nice guys, great album; reminds me of Flatliners or the Gamits.

Renovations by Pseudo

6. Get Dead – Honesty Lives Elsewhere

This band is like if Swinging’ Utters only played acoustic (or I guess like Filthy Thieving Bastards). This is their best album, start here.

Honesty Lives Elsewhere by GET DEAD

5. Pure Disgust – S/T

A bunch of teenagers from DC making some hardcore, sound familiar? The guy’s voice sounds like more years of cigarettes and pain than he’s been alive to suffer.

Pure Disgust by Pure Disgust

4. Martha – Blisters In The Pit Of My Heart

Martha delivers another dose of their infectious but dignified pop-punk.

Blisters In The Pit Of My Heart by Martha

3. Jeff Rosenstock – Worry

There’s been a lot of hype behind this one, but I think in this case it’s well deserved. I was never really into Bomb the Music Industry, but this album has no filler and kinda reminds me of the Front Bottoms.

WORRY. by Jeff Rosenstock

2. The Murderburgers – The 12 Habits Of Highly Defective People

Murderburgers started out being the Scottish version of Teenage Bottlerocket. In 2012 they perfected this formula with ‘How To Ruin Your Life’. Through a process of growing and experimenting, they found out how to sound like themselves. If Jawbreaker is a thinking man’s Greenday, Murderburgers are a recovering man’s Greenday. Gimmick free 90s punk with brutally honest lyrics.

The 12 Habits Of Highly Defective People by The Murderburgers

1. White Lung – Paradise

With the last 3 albums it would seem White Lung had explored all the territory they had charted, boxing them in. Au contraire! In lieu of relentlesss d-beats and screamin’ of their past efforts, their pedal magic guitar work advances into some kind of punk-techno fusion. Tracks like ‘Dead Weight’ and ‘Narcoleptic’ channel their past album’s frenetic energy, ‘Hungry’ and ‘Below’ slow it down to the Smiths. White Lung reinvent themselves without severing the link to the past, and win 2016.

Paradise by WHITE LUNG

Top 10 EPs of 2016

10. Guttermouth – New Car Smell

After 10 years of nothing, pop-punk legends, Guttermouth put out 2 new EPs. This is the better of the two

New Car Smell by Guttermouth

9. Prince – S/T

Different from the recently deceased artist formerly known, this Texas fuzz-pop tastes like Toys That Kill at their best.

PRINCE by PRINCE

8. Dragged In – EP 2

Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger than EP 1.

EP 2 by Dragged In

7. G.L.O.S.S. – Trans Day of Revenge

Starts out ripping with ‘Give Violence a Chance’ and ‘Out From The Desk’, but doesn’t quite live up to the memorability of last year’s demo. They called it quits this year, glad I got to catch their show a few times.

TRANS DAY OF REVENGE by G.L.O.S.S.

6. Youth Avoiders – Spare Parts

Youth Avoiders are back with their brand of catchy fuzzy hardcore. They do a good job keeping the songs distinct enough to stand out, but never making them pretentious, unenergetic, or boring.

Spare Parts E.P. by Youth Avoiders

5. NOi!SE – Dull the Pain

One of the more promising Oi! band in the last few years. Their songs have unique sense of simplicity that never lacks depth and passion. They also put out an album this year, but I think EPs work better with this band.

4. Sheer Mag – III

A strange combo of SHIBGBs style basement punk mixed with unashamed pop, the pickles and peanut butter of music I suppose.

III 7″ by SHEER MAG

3. The Brokedowns / Direct Hit – Making a Midwestern

The Brokedowns are the reason this makes the list for me (no offence Direct Hit). They deliver 2 of their best songs to date + 1 Toys That Kill cover! Can’t wait for another album.

2. The Holy Mess – Trash Age

The last ever release from Alkaline Trio on Prozac. 2 Great songs, 1 ok song. I’m gonna miss this band.

TRASH AGE by THE HOLY MESS

1. Dead To Me – I Wanna Die in Los Angeles

Best living punk band returns with their old singer. First two songs are classic DTM, the last song is a structureless masterpiece on par with Bohemian Rhapsody.

I Wanna Die In Los Angeles by Dead To Me

2017 is looking good (musically, shitty politically) with releases coming from Capital Youth, Vultures United, and (maybe) Propagandhi. Also, we’re gonna put out a new album early next year! more info coming soon…

To new beginnings!