Best [music] of 2014 - Part 5

Okay. Okay. We're finally at the end. The cream of the crop as the say. These last 30 songs are just damn fantastic. If you don't fall in love with each and every one of these songs I highly suggest getting a brain scan. Then again, maybe you just have a different music taste than me. That's okay too. It's all okay really. Listen to whatever you want.

*Download link at the bottom
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• 1. The Lawrence Arms - Acheron River: I could have picked almost any song from this album, but I chose this song. Even though this song came out almost a year ago it still gets me every time. These guys never fail to bring the absolute best music.
• 2. Andrew Jackson Jihad - Temple Grandin: Incredibly difficult to pick which song from AJJ. It was really a toss-up between 5 songs, but I decided on this opening track. I love this band and I hope they stay around forever.
• 3. Cloud Nothings - I'm Not Part of Me: This band is being found on a lot of end-lists and for good reason. The songs are amazing. This is decidedly probably the best song off the album as agreed by everyone else. Didn't think I would like this band, but I couldn't help myself.
• 4. Antarctigo Vespucci - Come To Brazil: Made of Jeff Rosenstock and Chris Farren, this group came out of nowhere and released 2 EPs this year. I absolutely love this song. It makes me feel like I'm watching The Lion King for whatever reason.
• 5. The Menzingers - The Talk: Definitely in contention for my favorite song of the year. I maybe listened to this song more than any other this year. I don't know what it is about the song (melody/lyrics), but I absolutely can't get enough of it.
• 6. Mayday X Murs - Tabletops: Huge shoutout to Justin for showing me this band. I didn't really care for it at first, but it REALLY grew on me. It's just absolutely fun hiphop.
• 7. Lagwagon - The Cog in the Machine: Hard to pick which song on this one too. I'm so insanely happy that these guys finally released a new full-length. Let's all hope it won't take them another 9 years to release their next album.
• 8. Mad Caddies - Shot in the Dark: Another band that hopefully won't take so long in-between releases (7 years). This album wasn't quite as good as their last two, but it added a piano element and that's neat.
• 9. PUP -Reservoir: This song is SO SO SO good. Please watch the music video too. No song has made me want to go to a concert more than this song has. Can't wait for where they go after this.
• 10. Jack White - Lazaretto: I tried to not like Jack White for so long, but I finally gave in. I mean, it's impossible to not fall in love with those riffs. 
• 11. Banner Pilot - Heat Rash: I have no idea why, but this song is really tough for me to listen to. I reminds me of every bad time I ever had in the midwest. I don't why it does, but it does. This is an insanely good song by a band that I usually refer to as 'meh'. Seriously, I might have a breakdown if I listen to this song too many times.
• 12. The Dø - Keep Your Lips Sealed: This Finnish/French artist has crept into my eardrums and not left since I first listened. Not usually my cup of tea, but I guess I'm expanding. Ew right?
• 13. Modern Baseball - Rock Bottom: Do you want to feel like you're in high school? You do? Then listen to this band. It's uncanny, but they are able to muster up feelings I haven't had for years. Just when I thought I was dead inside these guys come around.
• 14. Weezer - Da Vinci: When Weezer is good... Weezer is great. A great song from a band that is a bit of a gamble these days.
• 15. Atmosphere - Idiot: I didn't care for the full length, but the bonus songs are fantastic! This is one of them. "I'm not the coolest. I'm just a dude - that's got some flows. Attitude. A lot of soul."
• 16. Wizo - Ganz klar gegen Nazis: I was supposed to see this band in Vienna, but it didn't end up happening. I like listening to these guys when I have German/Austrian friends around. This is their first album in 10 years, but it absolutely doesn't sound like it. This is maybe their best record.
• 17. Manchester Orchestra - Every Stone: They decided to turn the amps to 11 on this one. Damn. That voice. Those melodies. I'm officially a fan-boy.
• 18. Tokyo Police Club - Argentina (Parts I, II and III): This is a really long and really good song. It goes all over the place by the end of it and it's a fantastic journey to go on.
• 19. Masked Intruder - Hey Girl: This song. Instant good mood stabilizer. I'm pretty sure I've been caught countless times grinning stupidly to this song.
• 20. The Front Bottoms - Lipstick Covered Magnet: I remember the first song I ever heard by this band. I thought it would be the only song I'd really care for. So glad to see that isn't the way it is. I'm loving what they've been producing.
• 21. Mother Mother - Get Out the Way: I did not expect to like this song as much as I do. Weirdly enough, I can't get enough of it.
• 22. The Brokedowns - Born On the Bayou Too: If you told me that I could only label one band as a punk band, this would probably be it. I don't think any other band sounds more like they would be amazing live then this band does. Fingers-crossed to them touring Europe.
• 23. tUnE-yArDs - Water Fountain: This is a very late edition as I just started listening to this band, but come on... listen to this song. It's SO GOOD.
• 24. Mustard Plug - The All-Nighter: It took these guys 7 years to finally put out a new album too. There really is so few good ska bands anymore, but this is definitely one of them.
• 25. Hard Girls - 996 Tears: Damn. This band came out of nowhere for me. They have such a great sound. Strong bass in the mix. Everything about this song screams FUN!
• 26. Rx Bandits - Future, Buddy: The beginning and end of this song is just damn beautiful. I didn't expect too much from them coming back from a "breaking up", but I'm very glad they did.
• 27. The Dead Weather - Buzzkill(er): Another song with Jack White? I know, I'm really regressing to the mean these days. Who cares. This is a great song.
• 28. Bombay Bicycle Club - It's Alright Now: Hmm? I don't know what to say about this except that I quite enjoy it.
• 29. Heiruspecs - Harriers: "Ghetto blaster over my shoulder. Google that ya'll gonna make me feel older." A song about the silly youth of today (more or less). I got to introduce these guys once at a show and I made up a whole back story about them and they went along with it. Great guys.
• 30. Against Me! - Black Me Out: This is an incredibly powerful song. It gives me chills every time I listen to it. I wish the rest of the album could've been as good, but it was still a good release and also historical in it's lyrical content.

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Review: Lagwagon - Hang

After talks about possibly not releasing full albums again, Lagwagon are back with their first full length album in 9 years, the longest break between albums they've ever done. According to singer Joey Cape, the desire to make another album came from touring around and playing their older albums, essentially causing the creative juices of the first albums to start flowing again.

So after 25 years of being a band and only retaining two of the original members (Joey Cape and guitarist Chris Flippin) what sort of material can this aging band produce? Maybe the acoustic material the Caper has mostly been focused on for the past few years has caused the band to go in a slower paced direction? Maybe the relentless touring Joey does each year has worn him down to wanting to slow jam? Maybe not.

The album begins with a minute long track featuring Mr. Cape and a single acoustic guitar, but as soon as the last note of the song hits the rest of the band joins in at full speed to bring back the all-to-familiar sound that Lagwagon has perfected all these years. Besides a 30 second intro to One More Song the album keeps a steady pace of hard riff-age and impressive drum fills. You wouldn't think that after all these years, they would surprise their audience by releasing their hardest album to date, but they have.

The production seems perfect for the style of songs contained on Hang, more polished than previous album Resolve, but less slick than Blaze. There's a heavy bass flow throughout the entire album and new bassist (but long-time friend of the band) Joe Raposo gets to shine, particular on Obsolete Absolute which features bass guitar intro with an ominous typewriter quietly typing in the background.

The subject matter of the songs on the album follows mostly a dark path, questioning the contemporary world through wizened eyes. This general perspective moves Joey Cape from focusing on the personal issues he has covered on previous records and instead center on the shape of globalized society. He occasionally drifts from the general to the personal on a couple tracks though. The song One More Day describes Cape's desire to hear more music from his friend, the recently deceased songwriter Tony Sly and the track Drag explains Cape's ongoing struggle with quiting smoking.

There's not much to not love on this new album, maybe a track like You Know Me doesn't stand out that much, but it's still a solid track on a solid album. Even the bonus songs (that come with pre-orders) Don't Laugh at Me and (No Use For a Name cover) Exit are strong enough contenders that they could've been included on the album. If there was anything I could really complain about it would be the artwork. I don't what it is about it, but I just think it could have been a lot better. It looks to be the only thing that no real time was spent on, almost a quick photoshop job to get a cover out. But hey, you can see it, what do you think?

Regardless, if you're excited to hear the Lag crew back in action than you won't be disappointed by this album as long you want fast and solid guitar/drum work accompanied by Joey's signature vocal style. Just hearing the anger in Cape's voice during the closing 30 seconds of the record is enough of a reason to pick this album up.

SONG TO CHECK OUT: MADE OF BROKEN PARTS / THE COG IN THE MACHINE / IN                                               YOUR WAKE

RATING: 9/10