15 Albums

Some weeks ago I posted a top 15 albums list on Facebook. The "meme" asked to post the 15 albums you've heard that will always stick with you. Sadly many of these bands latest efforts have been subpar. Comments are greatly welcomed! Here is my list with some commentary:

1. Kevin Devine- Make the Clocks Move (Fourteen beautifully crafted folk songs featuring favorite "Ballgame.")

2. La Dispute- Somewhere at the Bottom of the River Between Vega and Altair (The best touching post-hardcore band out there pushes the lyrical extremes with this themed album about fear and love.)

3. MewithoutYou- A to B Life (Intensely gripping post-hardcore with themes of love sung in poetic fashion by one Aaron Weiss)

4. Alice in Chains- Dirt (This album touches on many emotionally heavy topics like depression and death, contains five singles, and features, well, of course, the one and only Layne Staley.)

5. Life of Agony- Ugly (This album hits home for me right now with its lyrical theme about being lost at 22. Keith Caputo is a brilliant vocalist and lyricist.)

6. Neutral Milk Hotel- In An Aeroplane Over the Sea (Neutral Milk Hotel has possibly released the best '90s lo-fi folk album. "In An Aeroplane Over the Sea," "Holland, 1945" and "Oh, Comely" are some of my favorite songs ever.)

7. Otep- Sevas Tra (This is Otep's prime album. The album helped me out when I was in high school. This is art-metal at its finest. Otep is a master lyricist.)

8. Thursday- Full Collapse (These Jersey guys mesh emotionality with post-hardcore sensibility brilliantly together. Geoff Rickley is moving.)

9. Bane-Give Blood (Awesome hardcore album. Love it, love it.)

10. The Sleeping- Questions and Answers (As some who's always seeking answers and loves getting asked and asking questions, this album clearly radiates with me. The album is honest, heartfelt, and heartbreaking but not necessarily in a terrible way.)

11. Manchester Orchestra- I'm Like A Virgin Losing a Child (Something about this album gets me. I can listen to it from top to bottom.)

12. Goo Goo Dolls- Dizzy Up the Girl (This was the first tape I got. Great '90s pop rock. John Rzeznik! All the songs are great to listen to.)

13. Fuel- Sunburn (Underrated '90s album, but so good.)

14. Screaming Females- Power Move (One of my favorite New Jersey bands out now. This album is everything I could ask for in rock 'n roll. This power trio power moves through a wonderful 10 song album that make me sing and shake along.)

15. Bayside- Sirens and Condolences (This album did a lot for me in my early college years, which is funny to say, as it was only a few years ago. But "Masterpieces" is the quintessential friendship mix tape song. It's a reminder of my youth.)