Top 10

10. LAWRENCE ARMS
Oh! Calcutta!
This is easily the best musical recommendation I have received from my brother. He likes a lot of music, but this is definitely a band that he turned me on to. Lawrence Arms have a more hardcore punk feel to them but it's mostly the vocals that make it that way. They're accompanied by a sweet musical set, so feel free to check it out; it's worth the time.

9. DUB TRIO
New Heavy
This might be the only band on the list that I should limit the listeners I recommend this too. It's is definitely one of the more acquired tastes on my list; there are no lyrics and it bounces back and forth between punk and dub. It's clear there is some Sublime influence, but also other members of the dub community, I was very happy to have stumbled onto these guys.

8. SMALL ARMS DEALER
Single Unifying Theory
This is another album like Latterman because they come from the Deep Elm record label. If there's one thing I was really turned on to this year, it was Deep Elm. I must have heard almost every new band coming through the pipe with them, and just about every one was good. This is a solid label that will have good things to come if they keep heading in this direction.

7. LATTERMAN
Turn Up The Punk, We'll Be Singing
Well, I think I already did this song-and-dance before, but the fact that they made my top ten list twice is no coincidence. These album are both amazing and I can't believe that I was able to get two of them in the same year. These guys are busy.

6. THE LEGENDARY SHACK SHAKERS
Pandelerium
These guys are all over the place -- it's like another version of The Aquabats but this time they have a bit of influence from Primus. I love what they are doing and I hope that it's recognized enough that they don't fade away because they rock and they have some original stuff coming down the pipe. This music excites me.

5. POLYSICS
Now Is The Time!
I have to be honest: when I first heard Polysics I wasn't expecting to have them in my top ten. I think it mostly had to do with the fact that they speak Japanese in almost every song and English in only, like, two. But that only hurts my sing-along ability, so at the end of the day I don't really care. I think that's why I put them in the top five, even; it's sicke electronic punk and it has a feel like The Aquabats, who are an acquired taste but it's one I have.

4. LES CLAYPOOL
Of Whales And Woe
One thing that Les Claypool does that people can't take away from him is that he makes interesting music. The bass is always the instrument that defines the song that Les Claypool is playing for you. His solo stuff has a bit more freedom than his Primus days, but to be honest I think that really adds to the overall good that you receive with a Les Claypool album. His ultra-weird vibes are amazing.

3. RHYMEFEST
Blue Collar
One thing that I learned this year is that I have really started to turn the corner with my love for hip hop. That being said, I didn't find too much of it to be super good this year. However I did get Rhymefest, and Rhymefest is fucking fantastic. With a range of hip hop styles and the hook ups with Kanye West, this man had a pretty good chance of making it big.

2. LATTERMAN
... We Are Still Alive
If Left Alone didn't come out of nowhere, Latterman would have been crowned album king of the year -- they have two albums in my top ten list, so how can I talk bad about them? Almost everything these guys do in punk music have been good so far. I want everyone to get ahold of a copy of Latterman so they can understand what I'm talking about.

1. LEFT ALONE
Dead American Radio
On the Hellcat record label -- which is one of my kryptonites -- this combination of Rancid style punk with a Spanish twist has had me hooked since day one. This is easily the album I have listened to the most this year and I probably have only had it for about three months. The punk delivered is high in energy and pace. They have potential that I hope grows.