Another year gone by and another list that I have enjoyed
making. I noticed that I forgot to do
this last year, but that’s ok, live goes on.
I think I’ll make a 2nd post later adding some other
categories of my favorites in 2013, but we’ll see. There were really not too many albums that I
picked up this year and I regret that a bit. However at least a few of them
that I did pick up this year managed to stay in my stereo for plenty of time as is.
Paramour – S/T
I don’t try to justify Paramore for what they’re not. They
are a pop band with a rock twinge to it. That’s it. Really they are Hayley
Williams with some dudes playing instruments behind her, but that’s a different
point. This album is just fun. Tracks are mostly all pretty up tempo and
move well enough. There are points where
I can only take so much of a sweet tooth for it, but overall it’s a fun album
that I enjoy driving around with in the car for a bit.
Fall Out Boy – Save Rock and Roll
I’ve never been a big Fall Out Boy fan. I’ve enjoyed a number of their songs that
have been on the radio, but that’s about it.
I’m annoyed at everything Pete Wentz does as well as a lot of things
they’ve done in the media. Patrick Stump however is the saving grace of it for
me. He is a fantastic singer and I
greatly enjoy following his works. I really enjoyed his solo music from last
year so when they popped up with a new album this year I figured I’d give it a
listen. Honestly, it’s not like their
previous efforts. It finally feels like they’re not trying to be that hip band
that the kids love anymore, it just feels like a solid pop rock album and I’m
ok with that. Stump’s vocals go all over
the place in all the right ways and the vast majority of it stays pretty up tempo
enough to hold my attention from start to finish. And that says a lot, but I
really can’t sit and listen to their other albums nearly that long.
Jay Jackson – Sketches
I’ve known Jay for only a little over a year now and really
aware of his musical talent for a bit less than that. Jay Jackson is and always has been a
powerhouse vocally and talent wise but its always been behind a band or doing
solo cover work. Now with Jay’s solo
album here I get to see just exactly what he’s made of in all areas and I was
not disappointed. Not only are they
well-crafted songs that just sit smoothly in your brain meats, but you feel
like you’re going through a little journey into the psyche of Mr. Jackson’s
life and recent adventures and trials.
There’s a lot said in these songs both directly and in-between the lines
that give a real glimpse into the mind of what drives him to keep doing what he
does, despite the fact he keeps “retiring” from music every so many months or
so. Yes I sang on one of the songs on
the album, but personally don’t count it as a part of the album since it feels
so out of place there tone wise, but whateves. It’s a great album.
Sick Puppies – Connect
I’ve been waiting on another Sick Puppies album for a long
long time and it’s finally here. I listened to their previous effort Tri Polar
on repeat for the longest time.
Unfortunately for me it suffers the same fate as another album on the
list. I think I’ve just been in a sort
of mood for a certain kind of album this year I dunno, but it doesn’t seem to
rock enough. It’s a bit softer than its
predecessor and that’s ok just not what I was in the mood for when I first
picked it up. It’s the same old Sick
Puppies sound as always, which is fantastic, but it dials it back a little to
make it just a little more personal. There are some very driving tracks on here,
but it just feels like the overall unity of the album shifts midway in. Tri Polar was raw and angry from start to
finish, but Connect sort of evolves as it goes on. Pretty good stuff, just falls a little short
from previous efforts to me.
30 Seconds To Mars – Love
Lust Faith + Dreams
So here comes the long awaited 4th album that
nobody was really waiting on. See,
here’s my conundrum with the Mars gentlemen. I’ve been a fan of theirs since
before their debut album way back in 2002. I loved their first album then after
getting used to the change in style loved their 2nd even more. I got a little tired of the same ole same ole
I kept seeing/hearing from them towards the end of that album’s tenure and just
kind of moved on in musical tastes for the time being. Then here came their third album, which I
hated. Then I saw them perform it live and gave it another chance and I started
to like the first half of the album. The latter half not so much and left it at
that. So now, no expectations whatsoever
and their new album comes out and just yuck. Well, not yuck but not good
either. That is if you’re expecting a
rock album, but why would you expect a rock album from a rock band? Granted the first 3 tracks are high energy
and lots of fun. I love them very much, but only up to that point. From there
it just lowers the bass and settles into some alt/prog rock groove or
something. Its ok sure, but kind of
feels like they blew their load at the beginning and are just trying to keep up
for the rest.
Ryan White – Cry Wolf
I want to come back to this one and give it its own review seeing that its along the same lines as his previous efforts I've listened to. But to be short and brief, its full of heart and emotion just like all of his other works. Its a bit more raw and different from everything else and softer since its a more or less acoustic album. Take that as you will and I'll come back to it later.
Honorable mentions because I barely listened to them at all,
just now got into them, or haven’t listened to them all the way through:
Hotline Miami soundtrack
Anamanaguchi – Endless Fantasy
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