2013: Year End Review by Emily Thompson

The Flatliners – Dead Language – Fat Wreck

As far as I’m concerned, Resuscitation of the Year served as a metaphor for Punk music this year, and whilst I haven’t been able to definitively rank my favourite albums of the past year in numerical order, The Flatliners’ fourth full-length effort seems like a good place to start. Everything about Dead Language, dare I say, is near-perfect. It’s fast-paced, well written and above all, it showcases The Flatliners for what they are, a band that can only get better over time. Whilst I feel compelled to suggest a few songs for “essential listening,” and would go with Casket’s Full, Birds of England and Young Professionals, you really need to listen to the whole thing. 10/10

Off With Their Heads – Home – Epitaph

Tying in with the whole “near-perfect Punk Rock records of the year” thing, Home fits nicely here. I absolutely love Off With Their Heads anyway, I can’t fault them lyrically or musically on anything they’ve put out so far, and Home is no exception. Check out Seek Advice Elsewhere, Shirts and, of course, the re-recorded version of Janie.

I’m really excited about this album for two reasons: firstly, it’s Polar Bear Club. Enough said. Secondly, I’d actually reserved a spot for Death Chorus a month or so before it was released, I was THAT hopeful it would be a great record, and I wasn’t disappointed. Sure, the majority of this album isn’t the same Polar Bear Club sound we’re so used to, but once you get over that, Death Chorus is actually pretty fucking good. I dare you to deny the catchiness of Graph Paper Glory Days.

Bleached’s sunny, Californian Garage Rock has made for great listening this year. Boasting vocals and lyrics about love and heartbreak that could have been lifted straight out of the B-52’s back catalogue, siblings Jennifer and Jessica Clavin have got the sound that so many new bands are trying to drag back from the 70s and 80s absolutely spot on. Bleached’s debut was a perfect summer record, and I’m struggling to pick just a few songs that would really sell it to you, so I’m going to go with the record’s singles – Dead in Your Head and Love Spells.

Radiator Hospital – Something Wild – Salinas Records

Something Wild is a really late addition to my list, and actually wound up replacing Alkaline Trio’s My Shame Is True. There was just something about Radiator Hospital’s rattling guitar riffs and Neutral Milk Hotel-esque vocals that had me hooked straight away. Sorry Alkaline Trio, I love you, but the energy behind Something Wild is incomparable.

The Swellers – The Light Under Closed Doors – No Sleep Records

The Swellers just seem to go from strength to strength, and with The Light Under Closed Doors, they’re showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon. There isn’t a filler track to be found on this album, and it’s been one of the most enjoyable to listen to out of every LP I’ve written about this year.

Arctic Monkeys – AM – Domino

It’s almost impossible to think that this is the same group of lads whose songs boasted about having a few beers and getting into bother back in 2005. Now, here we are at the end of 2013, the year that marks the release of one of Britain’s biggest bands’ fifth full-length effort. Admittedly, Arctic Monkeys aren’t my usual cup of tea, but Alex Turner’s mature, sleazy lyricism coupled stadium-worthy guitar riffs, bone rattling bass lines and Matt Helders’ perfectly executed drumming makes AM near-perfect. It’s worth checking out I Want It All, Why’d You Only Call Me When You’re High?, One For The Road, and of course, opening track Do I Wanna Know?

Sidenote: If I haven’t totally sold you on this album yet, it’s worth mentioning that Queens of the Stone Age’s Josh Homme features on Knee Socks, and it’s incredible.

Red City Radio – Titles – Paper and Plastick

It must be hard for Red City Radio to try and follow The Dangers of Standing Still with a record as equally blisteringly raw, and whilst Titles falls just short, it’s still one hell of an album.  That said, I still want to pull people’s faces from their skulls whilst I listen to the likes of Purple Heart Paperweight, so they’re definitely doing something right.

Plow United – Marching Band – Jump Start Records

As a general rule, bands that reform after ridiculously long hiatuses suck and should only be allowed to do one reunion tour before fucking off again, unless you’re Plow United. Marching Band has its weaknesses, and if you’re the kind of person that decides whether or not they’re going to listen to an entire album based on the opening track, then maybe bypass Human 2000 entirely and start at Act Like It.

The Front Bottoms – Talon of the Hawk – Bar/None Records

The Front Bottoms’ folk-punk tales of self-deprecation, love, heartache and how much life generally sucks are exactly what I love so much about this band. Talon of the Hawk is such a perfect compilation of everything I love about The Front Bottoms and is delivered with so much sincerity that I can’t help playing the entire album over and over again.