| Best New Releases: |
| 1 |
 |
William Shatner - Has Been [Shout!]
HmmI think you know.
Buy This Album |
| 2 |
 |
The Reigning Sound - Too Much Guitar [In
the Red]
A fine piece of work. Greg
Cartwright is one of the best songwriters performing today. He has an
extensive list of works from which I have never been disappointed. Formerly
of the Oblivians, he still keeps in the habit of churning out
Nashville-tinged rock n roll. Beautiful.
Buy This Album |
| 3 |
 |
Wilco - A Ghost Is Born [Nonesuch]
Jeff Tweedy is still
keeping the ball rolling forward. This album is another leap further down
the jagged road he has carved out for himself. Just as unpredictable as the
last and just as interesting. Incorporates huge Neil Young & Crazy Horse
style guitar leads along side extensive kraut rock jams. Haunting melodies
and lyrics as well!
Buy This Album |
| 4 |
 |
Hot Snakes
- Audit in Progress [Swami]
Rock and Roll. Thank you
again. I saw these guys perform live, and it was incredible three minute
bursts of raw emotion and power shoved through guitars running only through
amps, No pedals here folks, just pure rock.
Buy This Album |
| 5 |
 |
Descendents - Cool to Be You [Fat
Wreck Chords]
They rise from the ashes
after what? Seven years? And they put out another album even better than
some of their earlier ones. Great, catchy pop punk we have come to love with
wonderfully catchy choruses and good
Milo lyrics. Just the right amount of politics involved too.
Smart and wry.
Buy This Album |
| 6 |
 |
Paul Westerberg - Folker [Vagrant]
Well, given that it is
Paul Westerberg, this has to automatically make my list. Even if it
might come across as a rushed piece to supposedly slide off of the Vagrant
label to greener pastures, its still solid. His lyrics are always great,
and his guitar playing is always interesting. You cannot go wrong with
anything this guy has ever released. Period. Yes. (Great title too.)
Buy This Album |
| 7 |
 |
Gwar
- War Party [Slavepit]
Ah yes, my hometown heroes.
Its a given. I didnt really get into them until after I left home,
though. This album is more great, fun, metally goodness thats nothing short
of pleasing. A must-have for this wonderfully crazy year. Great anthems.
Buy This Album |
| 8 |
 |
Knockout Pills -
1 + 1 = Ate [Estrus]
Fun, 77-style punk rock.
Just the right amount of catchy and power melody. I was very happy to
stumble across this album, which is a nice breath of fresh air. Already
seems like a classic. Definitely worth checking out.
Buy This Album |
| 9 |
 |
Mr. Airplane Man -
C'Mon DJ
[Sympathy for the Record Industry]
Garage super-duo from
Boston. Apparently Mark Sandman found these talented girls banging away on
the streets of the city and set their career in motion. Garagey, soulful,
seductive, extremely bluesy this is a must if you havent checked them out
already. They just came off a heart-melting tour with Miss Holly Golightly.
Buy This Album |
| 10 |
 |
Observers - So What's Left Now [Vinyl
Warning]
Just
thought Id toss this one in for something new. I just got the record a
couple weeks ago, but Ive already fallen in love with it. Great emotion and
energy thrown into fun, loud, swaggery punk rock. If you want something new
and worth our support, track this record down.
Buy This Album |
|
Honorable Mentions: |
|
 |
Dwarves
- The Dwarves Must Die [Sympathy]
Raunch n roll at her finest.
Buy This Album |
|
 |
Nathaniel Mayer
- I Just Want to Be Held [Fat Possum]
Authentic soulful blues, and even a bit doo-woppy.
Buy This Album |
|
 |
Black Keys
- Rubber Factory [Fat Possum]
Another emotion-filled blues garage record; keep it up.
Buy This Album |
|
 |
The Orphans
- Everybody Loves You When You're Dead [Union Squad]
Ramones-esque, female-fronted, three-chord punk rock.
Buy This Album |
|
 |
The HorrorPops
- Hell Yeah [Hellcat]
Seductive, Swedish Pyschobilly, complete with go-go dancers.
Buy This Album |
|
 |
Mystery Girls
- Something in the Water
[In the Red]
Stones-fried troublemakin rock n roll and great harmonica.
Buy This Album |
|
 |
Comets on Fire
- Blue Cathedral [Sub Pop]
Psychedelic
noise rock.
Buy This Album |
|
 |
Melvins/Lustmord - Pigs of the Roman Empire
[Ipecac]
Good. Melvins.
Buy This Album |
|
 |
Medications
- Medications [Dischord]
Forever a great label, Dischord brings us this great, new EP
with Faraquet members.
Buy This Album |
| Best Album Title: |
|
Black Lips - We Did Not Know That the Forest Spirit Made the Flowers Grow [
Bomp] |
| Best Live Shows: |
|
Gwar
- Ogden Theater, Denver, CO |
|
Avail
- Alley Katz, Richmond |
| |
Reigning Sounds/The Hives - Ogden Theater, Denver, CO |
| |
Deadly Snakes
- Larimer Lounge, Denver, CO |
| |
Mr. Airplane Man/Holly
Golighty
- Larimer Lounge, Denver, CO |
| |
Zeke -
Larimer Lounge, Denver, CO |
| |
Lars Frederickson & The Bastards/The Horrorpops -
Aggie Theater, Fort Collins, CO |
| |
Dirtbombs/Dead Moon/Ponys
- Larimer Lounge, Denver, CO |
| Best
Reissues: |
|
The Gun
Club - Miami / Death
Party / Las Vegas Story
[Sympathy for the Record Industry] |
|
Jawbreaker - Dear You
[Blackball] |
| |
Pavement - Crooked Rain,
Crooked Rain [Matador] |
| |
Operation Ivy - Energy (Picture Vinyl)
[Rancid] |
| |
Rancid - Rancid / Let's Go /
...And out Come the Wolves / Live Won't Wait (Picture Vinyl) [Rancid] |
| |
Green
Day - 1,039 Smoothed Out Slappy Hours [Lookout] |
| |
The Clash - London Calling
[Epic/Legacy] |
| |
Thrills - N.A.F.I.T.C.
[Bacchus] |
| Best
Box/Compilation: |
|
Left of the Dial: Dispatches
from the 80's Underground [Rhino] |
|
Not the Same Old Blues Crap
[Fat Possum] |
| |
Rockabilly Riot [Sanctuary] |
| |
Nirvana - With the Lights Out
[DGC] |
| Best Internet
Radio: |
|
www.grunnenrocks.nl
- Kick-ass
garage punk info site run out of the Netherlands. This guy does all the
research that youll ever need
for you. |
|
www.maximumrocknroll.com - Their weekly radio show. Tons of old shows
archived to mp3. |
| |
www.radio1190.org -
The local college radio station. |
