The 20 Best Albums of 2017

Ah, yes, it’s that time of year. The smell of gingerbread is in the air, snow is (occasionally) on the ground and all the best records of the year to come out have already come out.

For whatever reason, there was a somewhat common theme for the music of the year. It went like this:
Step 1: Excited for upcoming album because I loved the previous one
Step 2: Listen to the album once, has a different sound, decide it’s disappointing and then step away from the album for awhile, come back to it a month or so later and find out it’s great.
Step 3: It ends up on the best of list.

This year I tried more than usual to break out of the circle of music I standardly listen to and give everything a shot. Through this I got a chance to hear a lot of great singles and branch out to artists I normally wouldn’t have. Now, with doing any best-of list you always need to take into consideration what the ranker even listened to, this way if your favourite record didn’t make the list, maybe they just didn’t hear it? I’ve included at the very bottom a list every 2017 LP & EP I listened to from beginning to end(that I can remember) so you can peruse this list to see how bad I messed up. Artists I was already familiar with more often than not got repeated listens and more of a chance to grow on me, but hey, that’s just how things roll sometimes, eh?

So, without any further ado, here is a list of my 20 favourite albums of 2017

#20. The Flatliners — Inviting Light

This album was… disappointing. I’m very surprised that it made it to my top 20, but after several listens I think it deserves it. The band supposedly wanted to go in a new direction for this album and I have no problem with that, in fact the song-writing on this album is still strong. Where there is an issue is production. I don’t know what they were thinking with how this ended up being mixed. The best way to describe it, it’s like listening to music when your ears are plugged, but they just never get unplugged. The album starts with a weird sludge over the instruments, then the vocals come in with the same effect. For the first 30–60 seconds you think it will eventually change to how it should sound, but no, it just continues like this through the whole album. Luckily, your ears get used to it after awhile, but as soon as you switch to something that was properly produced, you’ll once again realize how muffled this album is. So why 20? Again, this album has really strong songs on it, quality melodies with strong vocals on top — it just takes several listens to discover it. Let’s all pray that one day this album gets remastered so it can be fully enjoyed.

Tracks to check out: Nicotine Lips, Sympathy Vote, and Human Party Trick

#19. WATERS — Something More!

This is somewhat of a guilty pleasure album for me and definitely the poppiest and most upbeat album on this list. Overall, this album is best summed up by saying it’s fun. From the very start of the album, it puts you in a good mood and makes it nye impossible to not bob your head at least a bit to the music. My criticisms of this album are that the lyrics are kind of simple, some of the songs are just too bubblegum pop to really be able to mindlessly enjoy, it starts far stronger than it ends, and when they attempt ballads it does not sound good. Ultimately, if you just want to shut off your mind and listen to an enjoyable album — put this one on, smile, and enjoy the rest of your day.

Tracks to check out: Hiccups, Hypocritical, and Molly Is A Babe

#18. Rainer Maria — S/T

This release was a complete surprise for me. I had never heard of the band before even though they’ve been around for over 20 years, but the songs immediately struck me, equal parts heavy and soft with a beautiful flow throughout the 9 tracks. The guitar tone is somewhat reminiscent of Jack White’s when he goes for a heavier sound, but the music transports me back to the female-led bands of the 90s (think Hole or Blondie) which makes sense as that was their formative years. I haven’t gotten around to checking out their previous material so I don’t know how it stacks up to that, but for their first release in 9 years I would say they seem to certainly know how to still construct a well-laid song.

Tracks to check out: Lower Worlds, Forest Mattress, and Blackbird

#17. Iron Chic — You Can’t Stay Here

If you liked the last Iron Chic album, I’m not sure how you could be disappointed by this one. It took everything that was good about the last album and made it a little better. You could almost describe it as ‘working-class’ punk music. There’s nothing flashy here and there doesn’t need to be. Ernest lyrics spread throughout, but it’s mostly the signature gang vocals that run the duration of the album that make it stand out. Also, it feels like the perfect length, just as you start thinking the album has been going for awhile it ends. There’s a couple tracks that are a bit filler, but nothing feels forced and when the songs are on, they sound perfect. Iron Chic doesn’t invent anything new, but they’re great at what they do.

Tracks to check out: A Headache With Pictures, My Best Friend (Is a Nihilist), and Planes, Chest Pains, and Automobiles

#16. Shredders — Dangerous Jumps

Shredders is a new project from rappers P.O.S. and Sims who are probably my 2 favourite members of Doomtree (P.O.S. being my favourite rapper overall). This album kind of came out of nowhere (or it seemed like it), but I’m so glad it did as P.O.S.’s solo album (released earlier this year) was a slight disappointment. Musically, it sounds much more like Sims’ solo material which is probably the weakest part of it as none of the beats are extremely interesting and there’s a noticeable lack of real instrumentation. Luckily, the whole album has a nice flow, not really a bad song to be found. I would’ve loved to hear what they could do if Lazerbeak was more involved with the beats. If you like hiphop at all, I would really recommending giving the record a try, you’ll know if you like it by the first couple songs.

Tracks to check out: Tuf Tiddy, Flipping Cars, and Holy Moses

#15. Wavves — You’re Welcome

Wavves have kind of etched a little niche for themselves creating a type of Beach Boys-esque pop-punk. Their last album was great and this follows right in its footsteps. None of the songs seem to take themselves too seriously which fits perfectly with the summer-like sounding guitar tones and squeaky teenage-sounding vocals. The production does a great job of forcing a separation between chorus and verse where the chorus often blasts you with a wave (get it?) of sound (in the best way possible) and really give that punch-in-the-gut energy Wavves is known for. At times the record leans heavily on repetitive hooks that never seem to wear out their welcome, but the real heart of the record is the signature oohs n’ awws, the guitar tones that jump around and the little extras like randomly using a drum machine, multi-vocal harmonies, or a heavily distorted driving guitar that goes nowhere and yet follows a natural structure as well. If a less experienced band had released this record, I think it would feel extremely disjointed, but instead here it just feels unique while continuing to keep a great rhythm. There’s a driving teenage wonderment that seems to consistently prevail underneath the lo-fi guitar and 50s vocal harmonies.

Tracks to check out: Daisy, You’re Welcome, and Dreams of Grandeur

#14. Western Addiction — Tremulous

After only 12 years, Western Addiction decided to release their second full-length. Their first is one my favourites. Short (less than 2min), simple, fast songs in the vein of Black Flag made up the majority of this first release. This time around the songs are longer (only 2 are shorter than 2min), more complex, and the vocals are slightly more restrained, at times almost calm. If you were worried that the aggression from the first album was gone, the band makes it clear that that isn’t the case within the first notes of the first song. That said, as great as this album is, it still pales a bit to the original release where attempts at variation from the original aggressive 80s hardcore usually end with being the weaker songs on the album. To go along with this, the shorter format they previously used seems to work slightly better for their style where the songs get in and out without ever having a chance of getting stale, keeping the listener thirsty for more. Regardless of this album not being quite up to par with their debut, it’s still an amazing record and if you miss the hardcore punk days of the 80s, you’ll definitely appreciate this.

Tracks to check out: Masscult, Vulgarians, and Entitlement, Clatter and Hiss, and Taedium

#13. Worriers — Survival Pop

This was one of my most anticipated releases of the year and if I’m being honest, I was actually quite disappointed by it at first. It was only a month or 2 ago that I started to appreciate it and I can’t say what it was that was holding it back before, but the album is excellent. Worriers is the brainchild of Lauren Denitzio and she’s an expert at blending the fears and concerns of relationships with catchy rock-style hooks. The music is reminiscent at times of The Ergs or maybe more similar to The Gateway District with the emblazoned female led vocals. Lauren is at her best when painfully describing relationships that are crumbling apart or regret for how things ended with loved ones, sometimes adolescent in an inability to understand other’s viewpoints. At the heart of the album, it’s the bare honesty that really holds everything together as every word sung feels as though it was a struggle to get out, allowing the listener to perfectly empathize.

Tracks to check out: The Possibility, My 85th Rodeo, and Best Fear / Worst Fantasy

#12. The Bronx — V

On The Bronx’s 5th album, they continue to serve up what makes this band fantastic, no frills punk/rock. The record hits off immediately, not wasting any time with slow intros or a desire to build something up. The Bronx knows their audience and I feel they put together the perfect record for them. Through 11 tracks they never slow down, letting the dirty-tone guitar chug along at a solid speed. This isn’t to say that the record is only set at one speed, but rather the edgier elements still give way for singer Matt Caughthran to step away from his yell-until-you’re-hoarse singing approach.

Tracks to check out: Fill the Tanks, Night Drop at the Glue Factory, and Two Birds

#11. Hard Girls — Floating Now

A somewhat difficult album to summarize and still come up with something coherent. The Hard Girls seem to use this record to test the different styles of rock that they’ve been working on throughout the years and pay homage to the artists they admire at the same time. Luckily, they seem to be able to hit every medium with either good to great success. One of my only real complaints for this record is with the track list order, as the last half of the record hits quite hard with few moments allowing you to catch your breath while the beginning includes several drowsy, almost hypnotic songs. I can’t help but feel that they would have made the album far more cohesive by rearranging this order. Not a huge complaint, but something minor that I feel could’ve helped.

Tracks to check out: Dulcet Tones, Neurons on the Fritz, and Herd

#10. The Front Bottoms — Going Grey

Full disclosure, I thought this record was terrible the first time I heard it. I thought it lost all of the charm and nuance that made TFB so great. The lyrics seemed tame and the delivery was almost docile all the while the usual catchy hooks couldn’t really be found. Then I gave it more listens and discovered that it’s great (not on par with their last effort, but still). This is probably the slowest record overall of the Front Bottom discography, but it works to the advantage of the songs. The lyrics are again quirky while remaining enigmatic enough to allow you to draw your own conclusions. One of my favourite lines “I miss the hours in the morning and you in the morning hours” showcases a great example of the fun wordplay in place. Much of the subject matter is encountering and coming to terms with the idea that you won’t live forever — which at any age is difficult to fully tackle. Brian’s vocals are as nasally as ever, but without getting exhausting or sounding juvenile. This is a band that has a special formula that works great for them and here’s hoping they don’t ever change it up significantly.

Tracks to check out: Vacation Town, Raining, and Far Drive

#9. Authority Zero — Broadcasting to the Nations

I never expected I would still love Authority Zero as much as I do. I first heard them probably 16 years ago and they seemed to simmer out for awhile before coming back with their previous album and then this one — both great works for anyone who really loved the 90s ska-punk sound. Few bands seem to be able to make this music anymore, or at least do it this well and Authority Zero have really crafted their art expertly. You could argue that the songs somewhat blend together or that they’re not doing anything “new”, but that’s partially what makes this record great. They’re adding to an already great catalog of well developed ska-punk records. There isn’t a particular amount of ‘stand-out’ tracks, but instead each is just a very strong song on its own without breaking away from the rhythm of the other songs.

Track to check out: Broadcasting to the Nations, Bayside, and One Way Track Kid

#8. Cloud Nothings — Life Without Sound

I can’t seem to really define what it is about this artist I love, but they certainly seem to have a magical appeal over me. Their songs are ones I would likely miss in passing, but given the chance to sit down and listen, it’s difficult to not become enraptured in them. At times only a throaty whisper comes through while at their height the vocals are screamed over guitars cranked to the highest level of distortion possible. Part of the appeal of this band is that every song seems to take you through a journey of anxiety and brings you just on the cusp of insanity. With each forthcoming lyric you get caught up more-and-more into the apparent breakdown of the singer. The songs are of the type that they really pay off once they get to the chorus, where the verses grab your breath and the chorus lets you catch it again. This is also a record that seems to have put a lot of thought into tracklist order, starting with a soft piano and ending in a destructive wall of sound. I could see lot of people put this record down as their favourite of the year and that would be completely understandable.

Tracks to check out: Internal World, Modern Act, and Things Are Right With You

#7. The Lillingtons — Stella Sapiente

If you’re familiar with The Lillingtons, then you know they’re one of the best bands to do Ramones-esque pop-punk music that there is. They’ve been quiet for quite awhile, having this be their first album in 11 years (singer Cody has been busy with Teenage Bottlerocket). When this record got announced, the core group of fans were understandably excited, but I don’t think anyone was expecting this album to turn out like it did. While the sound is still definitely The Lillingtons, they decided to go with a space-y, flanged out, 80s sci-fi sound forseveral of their songs. How did it turn out? To some, they were disappointed with a change in product, but I think most were pleasantly surprised, seeing how great this concept album turned out. Most of the songs paint a picture of a 1930s science fiction radio broadcast with plenty of conspiracies abound, but it’s the advanced song structures (3-part harmonies, layered guitars) that really stand-out and advance this album from being a solid pop-punk record to the best of the year (and my now favourite Lillingtons record).

Tracks to check out: Night Visions, They Live, and Golden Dawn/Knights Templar

#6. Propagandhi — Victory Lap

First of all, this album is excellent. Second of all, this is a disappointing Propagandhi record. How can it be both? Well, I’m of the group that thinks the band has got better with each preceding release (this is their 7th), but this time I have to say that ‘Victory Lap’ doesn’t exceed the quality of the last 2. Usually when Propagandhi releases a record it becomes my favourite of the year (they release an album about every 4–5years). Pros: production is still excellent and it has that heavy metal-punk sound that Propagandhi has uniquely created, lyrics are superb, the first 2 singles have no flaws, difficult/technical riffs and Jordy still makes some of the best drum fills there are. Cons: besides the first 2 singles, the rest of the songs often feel like multiple songs put together as the rhythm keeps changing (sometimes this works great) and it makes for a distorted listen, Todd’s songs are almost non-existent and they’re sorely missed.

Tracks to check out: Victory Lap, Failed Imagineer, and Letters to a Young Anus

#5. Portugal. The Man — Woodstock

Evil Friends, the album before this, is one I love. This album came out and it didn’t sound the same so early on I marked it as one of the biggest disappointments of the year even though each of PTM’s albums sound different from each other. That said, this album is a grower. All of the things I originally didn’t care for (the guest vocals, reliance on various effects to carry the melody, slower tempo and less obvious rhythm) are all things I now love. This is a layered album that really gets everything out of every little sound added, which in-turn can’t really be appreciated until you give it several listens. Feel It Still became a huge international sensation and even after countless listens I still enjoy that song as much as ever. At 10 songs, there’s doesn’t feel like there’s any filler, it creeps in slowly with the first track and gets out on a high note. Most bands couldn’t pull away from rock and to pop as seamlessly, but I’m glad PTM did as they’ve pulled it off expertly. Throughout the year, whenever I wasn’t sure what I wanted to listen to, this would often become the go-to album with each listen making me enjoy it more.

Tracks to check out: Feel It Still, Rich Friends, and Easy Tiger

#4. Sorority Noise — You’re Not As _____ As You Think

I loved Sorority Noise’s last album Joy, Departed (well, I loved certain songs on it. It’s a very hit-or-miss album with some songs being amazing and others just getting skipped, about 50/50). This album exceeds the last, without question. There’s no filler and it features the strongest songs the band has written to date. Do you want an album that will bring out positive vibes? This is not it. This album is about as dark and sincere as it gets with almost every song about a friend or friends dying, about wanting to take their place instead, and about not being sure how to continue living with depression. Sorority Noise follows a simple, but amazing approach for several songs — start off soft and go as heavy as possible during the chorus, throw in every sound you can and scream your head off. You would think the method would get old, but it doesn’t, it just exceeds so excellently at making the listener feel the pain the singer is projecting. There’s some slow songs in-between the greatness which luckily come-and-go quickly enough that they compliment the best songs rather than bring the album down. The album is, at times, almost empowering, but then delves quickly back into the destructive nature one’s mind goes through when they’re struggling to find a reason to live. If you’ve had any close friends pass away lately this record might be a tough listen or, then again, it might be cathartic.

Tracks to check out: Disappeared, No Halo, and A Portrait Of

#3. Run The Jewels — RTJ3

Putting this on a best of 2017 list is almost cheating as the record was digitally released in 2016, but it was officially released this year. RTJ have essentially solidified their status as one of the best hiphop groups with only their 3rd album (and countless singles or other songs they’re featured on). Maybe it’s because I had all year to listen to this record, but this release definitely got more spins in 2017 than anything else. What is it that makes this record so worthy of repeated listens? It’s got to be a mixture of El-P’s killer and unique beats in addition to the clever and insanely fun lyrics, or it might just be about how great Killer Mike and El-P are able to bounce off each other. If you’re a fan of hiphop, particularly the 90s heydays, I’m not sure how you won’t get addicted to this (if you’re not already).

Tracks to check out: Talk To Me, 2100, and Stay Gold

#2. The Menzingers — After The Party

This record hit particularly hard for me and I can’t say that I’m happy with how much I identify with the lyrics. Its lack of subtly through that goes along with each line just punches it through that much more. The first song starts off with the spot-on lyrics of “Oh yeah, oh yeah, everything is terrible” and follows it up with a chorus of “Where are we going to go now that our 20s are over”. I don’t know if I would call it a concept record, but the entire feel of the album is around questioning your life decisions and looking back to see you’re no longer young — embracing the anxiety that occurs around a society that finds age as something to fear and despise. Of all the records on this list, this is probably the best one to listen while you drink a few beers as it might help you cope with the general message. Besides the soberingly honest/depressing lyrics, the songs are also in top shape with this release. Previous albums from The Menzingers have usually followed the format of half the songs turn into my all-time favourites and the other half is filler. This record doesn’t have filler, each track is worthy on its own (but also no songs really stand out as much as the best songs on previous efforts).

Tracks to check out: Tellin’ Lies, Charlie’s Army, and After the Party

#1. Frenzal Rhomb — Hi Vis High Tea

I love Frenzal Rhomb. I will always love Frenzal Rhomb and I’m so happy that they keep releasing the records they do because no other band can really compare with Frenzal Rhomb’s style of extremely wacky Australian lyrics, amazingly technical musicianship and general songwriting skills. This band encapsulates so much of why I love the punk genre. It’s unabashedly fun and never seems concerned about appealing to a certain audience, rather they focus on writing the songs that, I feel, make them laugh (with an occasional personal track thrown in there now and then). The songs, like most of their records, are rather short and tend to be under 2 minutes. Despite being a band for over 20 years, Jay’s singing is as snotty and spiteful as ever while never taking himself too seriously. The band’s ability to just jump around from scorching speed to a sudden stop and then to a completely different time signature is what really makes them great.

Tracks to check out: Cunt Act, Messed Up, and Digging a Hole for Myself

What to look forward to in 2018?

Officially announced: Screaming Females, Dwarves, and They Might Be Giants

Hopefully new music from: Strung Out, Dead To Me, Bigwig, Mad Caddies, The Interrupters, Direct Hit!, PUP, Modest Mouse, Bad Religion, The Vandals, The Aquabats, Antarctigo Vespucci, Banner Pilot, and Re-Volts.

2017 Albums & EPs I remember listening to:

*Bold albums were great, but didn’t quite make the top 20

88 Fingers Louie — Thank You For Being a Friend
A Giant Dog — Toy
Abuse of Power — When Then Becomes Now EP
Adult Mom — Soft Spots
Aesop Rock & Homeboy Sandman — Trip Fat Lice EP
AFI — AFI (The Blood Album)
AJJ — Back in the Coffin EP
Algiers — The Underside of Power
alt-J — RELAXER
Alvvays — Antisocialites
Amy O — Elastic
Animal Collective — The Painters EP
Anti-Flag — American Fall
Arcade Fire — Everything Now
Art School Jocks — S/T
At The Drive-In — Diamante
At The Drive-In — in-ter a-li-a
Authority Zero — Broadcasting to the Nations
Beach Fossils — Somersault
Beatsteaks — YOURS
Beck — Colors
Benjamin Booker — Witness
Big Boi — BOOMIVERSE
Big Thief — Capacity
Black Lips — Satan’s Graffiti or God’s Art?
Bleached — Can You Deal? EP
Bleachers — Gone Now
Blink 182 — California (Deluxe Edition)
Body Count — Bloodlust
Bodyjar — Terra Firma EP
Brand New — Science Fiction
Broken Social Scene — Hug of Thunder
Brother Ali — All the Beauty in This Whole Life
Bully — Losing
Cayetana — New Kind of Normal
Charly Bliss — Guppy
Cigarettes After Sex — S/T
Citizen — As You Please
Cloud Nothings — Life Without Sound
Conor Oberst — Salutations
Craig Finn — We All Want the Same Things
Crumb — Locket EP
Crystal Fairy — S/T
CunninLynguists — Rose Azura Njano
Dams of the West — Youngish American
Dan Auerbach — Waiting On A Song
Darius Koski — What Was Once is by and Gone
Dave Hause — Bury Me in Philly
Dead Cross — Dead Cross
Death From Above 1979 — Outrage! Is Now
Deerhoof — Mountain Moves
Diet Cig — Swear I’m Good At This
Direct Hit!/Pears — Human Movement (split album)
DREAMCAR — DREAMCAR
Dropkick Murphys — 11 Short Stories of Pain & Glory
Drug Control — Stabbed EP
Dude York — Sincerely
Emperor X — Oversleepers International
Feist — Pleasure
Fits — All Belief is Paradise
Flogging Molly — Life Is Good
Florist — If Blue Could Be Happiness
Foo Fighters — Concrete and Gold
Frenzal Rhomb — Hi Vis High Tea
Gogol Bordello — Seekers and Finders
Goldfinger — The Knife
Good Old War — Part of Me EP
Gorillaz — Humanz
Grandaddy — Last Place
Great Grandpa — Plastic Cough
Greg Graffin — Millport
Grizzly Bear — Painted Ruins
Guerilla Toss — GT Ultra
Guided By Voices — August By Cake
HAIM — Something To Tell You
Hard Girls — Floating Now
Heigh Keech — Mind Moves the Mountain
Hi-Standard — The Gift
Hot Flash Heat Weave — Soaked
Hot Water Music — Light It Up
Hotheads — Promotional Heat EP
Iron Chic — You Can’t Stay Here
Iron Reagan — Crossover Ministry
Japandroids — Near To The Wild Heart of Life
Jay Som — Everybody Works
Josh Ritter — Gathering
Juliana Hatfield — Pussycat
Julie & The Wrong Guys — S/T
Kele Okereke — Fatherland
Kendrick Lamar — DAMN.
Kevin Devine — We Are Who We’ve Always Been
King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard — Flying Microtonal Banana
King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard — Murder of the Universe
King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard — Polygondwanaland
King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard — Sketches of Brunswick East
KRS-One — The World Is MIND
Laura Marling — Semper Femina
LCD Soundsystem — American dream
Less Than Jake — Sound The Alarm EP
Lo Tom — Lo Tom
Loose Tooth — Big Day
Lorde — Melodrama
Los Angeles Police Department — S/T
Los Campesinos! — Sick Scenes
Lucky Boys Confusion — Stormchasers
Manchester Orchestra — A Black Mile To The Surface
Matthew Sweet — Tomorrow Forever
MAYDAY! — Search Party
Meatbodies — Alice
Melkbelly — Nothing Valley
Menace Beach — Lemon Memory
Mister Heavenly — Boxing the Moonlight
Mock Orange — Put the Kid on the Sleepy Horse
Morrissey — Low in High School
Mr. Lif & Akrobatik — Resolution
Murs — Captain California
Museum Mouth — Popcorn Fish Guinea Pig
Nervous Dater — Don’t Be a Stranger
Nine Inch Nails — Add Violence EP
P.O.S. — Chill, Dummy
Pale Honey — Devotion
Partial Traces — Glass Beach
Partner — In Search of Love
Pet Symmetry — Vision
Pile — A Hairshirt of Purpose
Portugal. The Man — Woodstock
Prawn — Run
Primus — The Desaturating Seven
Propagandhi — Victory Lap
Prophets of Rage — Prophets of Rage
Public Enemy — Nothing Is Quick In The Desert
PWR BTTM — Pageant
Queens of the Stone Age — Villains
Radiator Hospital — Play the Songs You Like
Rainer Maria — S/T
Rancid — Trouble Maker
Ratboys — GN
Real Life Buildings — Significant Weather
Rise Against — Wolves
Rogue Wave — Cover Me
Run The Jewels — RTJ3
Save Ferris — Checkered Past EP
Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings — Soul of a Woman
SHREDDERS — Dangerous Jumps
Slaughter Beach, Dog — Birdie
Small Circle — Cyclical
Smidley — S/T
Sondre Lerche — Pleasure
Sonic Boom Six — Cardiac Arrest EP
Sorority Noise — You’re Not As ______ As You Think
St. Vincent — MASSEDUCATION
Street Sects — Rat Jacket EP
Summer Moon — With You Tonight
Swarming Branches — Surreal Number
T.S.O.L. — The Trigger Complex
TECH N9NE COLLABOS — Strange Reign
Teenage Bottlerocket — Stealing the Covers
That Handsome Devil — History Is a Suicide Note EP
The Bronx — V
The Builders and The Butchers — The Spark
The Dirty Nil — Minimum R&B
The Dopamines — Tales of Interest
The Flatliners — Inviting Light
The Front Bottoms — Going Grey
The I.L.Y’s — Bodyguard
The Jesus and Mary Chain — Damage and Joy
The King Blues — The Gospel Truth
The Lemon Twigs — Brothers of Destruction EP
The Lillingtons — Project 313 EP
The Lillingtons — Stella Sapiente
The Menzingers — After the Party
The Menzingers — Covers EP
The Mountain Goats — Goths
The Mountain Goats — Marsh Witch Visions EP
The Movielife — Cities in Search of Love
The National — Sleep Well Beast
The New Pornographers — Whiteout Conditions
The Obsessives — S/T
The Pains of Being Pure At Heart — The Echo of Pleasure
The Real McKenzies — Two Devils Will Talk
The Shins — Heartworms
The Slow Death — Punishers
The Tallest Man On Earth w/ yMusic — S/T EP
The Transplants — Take Cover EP
Thee Oh Sees — Orc
Tim Barry — High on 95
Together PANGEA — Bulls and Roosters
Tracy Bonham — Modern Burdens
Turnover — Good Nature
Turtlenecked — Vulture
Two Inch Astronaut — Can You Please Not Help
Ulrika Spacek — Modern English Decoration
Washer — All Aboard
WATERS — Something More!
Wavves — You’re Welcome
Waxahatchee — Out in the Storm
Weaves — Wide Open
Weezer — Pacific Daydream
Western Addiction — Tremulous
White Reaper — The World’s Best American Band
WHY? — Moh Lhean
Wiki — No Mountains in Manhattan
Wild Pink — S/T
Wire — Silver / Lead
Wolf Parade — Cry Cry Cry
Woods — Love Is Love
Worriers — Survival Pop
Wu-Tang Clan — The Saga Continues