My Top 12 Albums of 2011 Because I Can’t Choose Just 10
(IN ABSOLUTELY NO ORDER, FUCK THAT)
Alkaline Trio - Damnesia
Some of the songs on this record should have been recorded acoustic in the first place. And many more bands need to do something like this, it almost always fills the gap when I feel like I have no idea what I want to listen to.
Listen to: Every Thug Needs A Lady
Laura Stevenson & The Cans - Sit Resist
Beautiful album. I loved The Healthy One from the second I heard it but have to admit the rest of the record was a bit of a grower. As soon as I saw them live I was officially hooked. Listen to at least a couple of songs from this every single day.
Listen to: Barnacles
Into It. Over It. - Proper
If this isn’t on your list you need to seriously reconsider your life choices. I stopped listening to Chuck Ragan because I couldn’t take this off repeat. Like, for weeks. Good music made by a good dude.
Listen to: Where Your Nights Often End
Dave Hause - Resolutions
Sometimes the lyrics are pretty weak, but it doesn’t matter because the songs just made me incredibly happy. I adore his voice, and he sings my name in one of my favourite songs. Score.
Listen to: Rankers & Rotters
I Am The Avalanche - Avalanche United
Makes me want to run around and drink and hang out with friends and dance. Basically.
Listen to: Holy Fuck
Young Statues - S/T
I personally enjoy this record the most when I’m making my way into the early hours of the morning. I don’t know why. It’s stunning, it’s very different to any of the other records on this list and also very different to how I expected them to sound. It’s fantastic.
Listen to: Pretty Girls Make Raves
The Horrible Crowes - Elsie
There’s a couple of songs that I still skip, which disappoints me because it’s the only songs I can think of on this entire list that I skip. However, as a whole, Brian and Ian created an incredible album. Fallon can do no wrong in my eyes.
Listen to: Go Tell Everybody
Chuck Ragan - Covering Ground
UH-DUHHH. Took me a few listens and it’s no Gold Country but it’s Chuck Ragan and that, for me, will always be enough.
Listen to: Come Around
Polar Bear Club - Clash, Battle, Guilt, Pride
I fell in love with this album very quickly. I got into it pretty late in the year so I felt I had some catching up to do, and I listened to it on repeat for about a week straight. It’s actually the reason I stopped watching as much TV, it just took up valuable PBC time.
Listen to: I’ll Never Leave New York
The Swellers - Good For Me
Similar to the IATA record, it just makes me want to drink and hang out with friends and be happy. Perfect pop punk but instead of your normal whiny pop punk vocalist you’ve got Nick’s manly man voice.
Listen to: Runaways
Save Your Breath - Vices
The more I listen to this album the more it completely blows me away. So catchy, great lyrics, I just love it. So proud of them.
Listen to: You’re A Rebel, Alright
Rise Against - Endgame
I’ll be honest, some of it is still growing, but I think I love Satellite enough on it’s own to let this qualify for my list.
Listen to: Satellite
Basically how Nick and I are feeling this week.
Into It. Over It. ft Kate Grube - Proper
I just realised this man is back two weeks today. December 2nd at the Garage, supporting The Swellers. There are literally zero excuses I will accept for you not attending this.
We’re super stoked to announce that our good friends in Broadway Calls and Into it. Over it. will be joining us on tour in the UK and Europe this winter! Our new album, Good For Me, will see its European release on November 21st, and will feature an exclusive bonus track called, “Never Greener.”
Both Broadway Calls and Into it. Over it. also just put out awesome new records as well, so make sure you check those out. We can’t wait to get back overseas and see you all!
Here are the dates and ticket links!
11.29 - Nottingham, UK at Rock City Basement - TICKETS
11.30 - Leeds, UK at Cockpit - TICKETS
12.01 - Glasgow, UK at King Tuts - TICKETS
12.02 - Newcastle, UK at Academy 2 - TICKETS
12.03 - Sheffield, UK at Corporation - TICKETS
12.04 - Manchester, UK at Academy 3 - TICKETS
12.05 - Birmingham, UK at Academy 3 - TICKETS
12.06 - Cardiff, UK at Clwb Ifor Bach - TICKETS
12.07 - London, UK at Borderline - TICKETS
12.09 - Den Bosch, HOL at W2 - TICKETS
12.10 - Cologne, GER at Blue Shell - TICKETS
12.11 - Hamburg, GER at HafenKlang - TICKETS
12.12 - Berlin, GER at Comet - TICKETS
12.13 - Munich, GER at 59 To 1 - TICKETS
12.14 - Vienna, AUS at Arena - TICKETS
12.15 - Zurich, SWI at Dynamo - TICKETS
12.16 - Kontich, BEL at Klinker Club - TICKETS
12.17 - Kingston, UK at The Peel - TICKETS
I’M SO EXCITED.
(Source: theswellers, via jonathandiener)
The Swellers will be heading overseas to the UK this November and December to support their new record, Good For Me. Support for the tour has yet to be announced. Check out the dates below by clicking “Read More”.
YES. So much yes. I love December.
Pick 10 artists that you love before reading the questions.
1. The Gaslight Anthem
2. Make Do And Mend
3. Fake Problems
4. The Swellers
5. Fireworks
6. The Flatliners
7. Bright Eyes
8. Rise Against
9. Alkaline Trio
10. The King Blues
What was the first song you ever heard by 6? - ‘This Respirator’. To this day my favourite one.
What is your favorite song of 8? - It changes all the time, but overall Give It All will always, always give me goosebumps.
What kind of impact has 1 left on your life? - A pretty big one. The first time I heard them was in August 2008, by chance. I was looking at the Lock Up stage lineup and wanted to get to know a few more bands before I went to Leeds. It was late at night, in my living room in Irvine, and they had The 59 Sound in full streaming on their MySpace. I listened to it until the early hours, I knew I’d just discovered a band that would mean a lot to me, and for a long time. And yeah, when I saw them in Leeds and I saw his smile and bewilderment at the huge crowd they’d pulled when they thought no one had heard of them over here, I may have shed a tear.
I heard them around the same time I saw Into The Wild and it triggered this desire to move back to America, or to travel anywhere at all. They also inspired me a lot photographically, I saw all of their songs as movies that I wanted to put into photographs.
What are your favorite lyrics of 5? - “I still take bad advice from my best friends
Rather take bad advice from my best friends
And guide a sinking ship to the bottom with them”
How many times have you seen 4 live? - Four, I think?
What is your favorite song by 7? - Falling Out Of Love At This Volume. First I ever heard, it’s shocking how nostalgic it makes me.
Is there any song by 3 that makes you sad? - You know what, no. There’s really not. I could listen to them when I’m sad, but none of their songs actually make me sad.
What is your favorite song by 9? - Oh god. This Could Be Love, Mercy Me, You’re Dead, Fatally Yours…
When did you first get into 2? - Sometime this year. A lot of my friends were talking about them and I knew they were coming to Glasgow soon, so I trusted their judgement and wanted to give them a listen before their show, so as not to regret not going to it. Which I would’ve, because it turns out they were as awesome as my friends were saying.
How did you get into 3? - (EDIT: just noticed that I still had Sophie’s answer about Bon Iver here). How DID I get into 3? I can’t remember. It was shortly before I went to America last year, I think they’d done a tour with The Flatliners or another band I like, plus they’re on SideOneDummy which is always a winner. I think I just kept seeing their name about so decided to check them out.
What is your favorite song by 4? - Bottles
How many times have you seen 9 live? - I want to say 4, but I have a feeling I’m forgetting one. 4 or 5.
What is a good memory concerning 10? - Oh for godsake, you’re kidding right? All of my King Blues memories are good ones. But one of the top memories is from one of our London trips. Me, Gillian, Laura and Emma kicking about in Camden, going to their show on the boat in Camden Lock, nearly dying in the heat but there was cold, free beer on the boat. Then cooling off in the hotel before their show at Dingwalls, which was the first time we’d ever heard What If Punk Never Happened. Any memories with those boys are really, really great ones.
Is there a song by 8 that makes you sad? - Not really. Well, Swing Life Away and Hero Of War at times. And The Approaching Curve makes me pretty uneasy but in an awesome way.
What is your favorite song of 1? - I’da Called You Woody, Joe. And about 8 others, but no, I will only pick one.
Gin & lemonade before The Swellers. If anyone sees me with a tequila shot in my hand tonight, take it off me and send me home.
Edit: immediately regret saying that. Please don’t. Leave me to it, I accept my own fate.
We had some friends from America stay with us last week. They knew how much we love red cups, and decided to bring us some, because they’re awesome.
Photo from my birthday. The girliest birthday I have had in many years. Was going to wear a nice dress but opted for my new Swellers tshirt instead.
Part Two of “Les Incorruptibles,” our feature film / tour update shot during our recent tour with Anti-Flag and Pulled Apart By Horses
Please enjoy my AMAZING fight scene in this part of the movie. Karate chops, spin kicks, amazing acting and clean language… Spread the word! This movie is hilarious!
If there’s anything you do in your life, make it keeping up with this series.
(Source: theswellers)
