1. The Bronx – IV
What might it sound like if an L.A. hardcore band defected to the hard rock camp? The Bronx outdid themselves this year and released an amazing album chock full of hooks and great melodies. Heavy as hell but catchy as well.
2. Hey! Hello!
The end result of Ginger Wildheart’s second Pledgemusic campaign is this wonderful collaboration with singer Victoria Liedtke. Hard rock that veers towards eighties new wave at times but still very recognizable as the work of Ginger.
A pop punk band from Sweden that sounds like Superchunk (see below) circa 1993. This is their second album, great stuff.
5. Wyldlife – The Time Has Come To Rock & Roll
The sophomore album from these NYC rockers certainly lives up to the potential I saw in their debut. Sadly we didn’t get any new music from The Biters in 2013 but Wyldlife filled the void quite well.
This is the third consecutive year that these Canadian pop punkers have made my top ten list, this being their third release. They always serve up a great seventies-eighties-nineties punk stew.
One of my favorite bands from the nineties continue their comeback. Bad album title, good songs. I like this one more than 2010’s Majesty Shredding but Shy Mirrors are beating them at their own game.
Pretty decent power pop put out by Merge Records, Superchunk’s (see above) label.
9. Reckless Love – Spirit
These pretty boys from Finland released one of my favorite records of 2010 but I was beyond disappointed by their sophomore album, Animal Attraction. Thankfully they’ve redeemed themselves with this sticky slab of hard rock.
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/spirit/id686268019
This Italian band is doing a great job of recreating European seventies glam rock. It’s a lot of fun. Thanks to Fistful of Dave for finding these guys.
Honorable mentions:
Big Eyes – Almost Famous
https://bigeyes.bandcamp.com/releases
Black Diamonds – Perfect Sin
https://www.cdbaby.com/cd/blackdiamonds1
Stone Orange – The Dreamcatcher
https://www.cdbaby.com/cd/stoneorange
Screamer – Phoenix
https://www.amazon.com/Phoenix-Screamer/dp/B00BFD8M8S/ref=tmm_other_meta_binding_title_0
Dregen – Dregen
https://www.amazon.com/Dregen/dp/B00ENZUUPI
You can hear snippets of songs from all of these albums and more on my own podcast:
https://rockandorrollpodcast.blogspot.com/2013/12/rock-andor-roll-026-2013_5.html
