Introduction

Like many people, I enjoy listening to music. Similarly, I enjoy ranking things as the year wraps up. Here are 20 records I enjoyed. I don’t really feel like getting all the album art together so this is just a text list.

The List

20. Estee Nack & VDON - BRAP 2

Toma! VDON is a top tier producer, so it was a treat to hear Estee Nack continue to hone his craft over these beats.

19. The Brokedowns - Let’s Tip The Landlord

Ruthlessly catchy, laugh til you cry satirical punk rock.

18. Tunnel Vision - Purrgatory

Awesome, relentless hardcore out of Newfoundland.

17. Mcclusky - The world is still here and so are we

As acidic as ever, the Welsh legends are at the top of their game, 21 years after their previous release.

16. Snocaps - Snocaps

It’s awesome to see someone like Katie Crutchfield surprise drop a record with her sister and MJ Lenderman for a new band that may or may not ever drop another record again. Bonus that the record rules!

15. Pup - Who WIll Look After the Dogs?

In Homer’s The Illiad, Hector is dragged around Troy by Achilles in a show of humiliation. In Pup’s latest record, the narrator describes being mentally dragged on the concrete in between slice of life tales recanting drinking days of yore. I think about Achilles victory laps every time I hear the Pup song. On this record, Pup shows how it can write bangers forever.I look forward to the next record and will be spinning this for a while!

14. Al.divino & BLUEHILLBILL - avematix

Surrealist, psychedelic gangster rap that has some of the most bizarre, yet compelling, displays of lyrical prowess I heard this year.

13. Home Front - Watch It Die

Anthemic post punk that makes you want to get back up after taking notice of the wanton destruction around you.

12. soccer. - Internet

Japanese screamo I admittedly listened to because the album + artist name combo spoke to me. This is top tier scramz, shredded vocal chords over atmospheric, reverby riffs.

11. Pro Dillinger & Futurewave - Dirtwave, Vol. 3

Not the last time Pro, or Big Umbrella, will appear on this list, but this record is really well crafted from beginning to end. Pro put the pain in this music, and it fits fantastically with the production via Futurewave.

10. Mickey Diamond + Big Ghost - Wolf Tickets

Late entry into the list - Diamond Dallas does it again, providing game and S-tier shit talking over Ghost beats.

9. Citrus - Succumb to Scum

Hardcore francais qu'est vicious. Avant tu le sais, tu commenceras le premier chanson encore.

8. Dark Thoughts - Highway to the End

Life affirming Ramones-worship. Rips.

7. Normal Weirds - No Lease on Life

An insane piece of art, cynical to the max. Cannot recommend enough.

6. El Camino & Flames Dot Malik - Up The Block EP

Flames Dot Malik is something special, and I will listen to whatever El Camino puts out. Together, they put out seven songs that I listened to endlessly.

5. Patient Zero - Souvenir Noir

Un fil de post-punk qu’est trop bien. J’ai importé cette cassette de France. C’est cru.

4. Step Brothers - Step Brothers 4

Starlito is probably one of my favorite rappers ever, and every time he links up with Don Trip the chemistry is undeniable

3. The Illiterates - Does Not Compute

Catchy hardcore that beats you over the head in the most deranged, best way possible. WHO KNEW THE WORLD COULD BE SO COLD

2. Gridiron - Poetry from Pain

The platonic ideal of rap x rock x hardcore. Seriously, this is an amazing album and I listen to it every week on the way to league (for Magic). Plus Big Umbrella has a remix on here and the outro features Big Body Bes. Get with it.

1. Deafheaven - Lonely People With Power

Deafheaven continues to make insanely listenable music that awes every. single. time.