6: "The '59 Sound" by The Gaslight Anthem (2008). The second release by New Jersey's The Gaslight Anthem has launched them into the mainstream with performances on Conan, Letterman, and a show in London With Bruce Springsteen. Speaking of Bruce, if you like him you will LOVE this album. Of all the albums on this list, this is probably the one I recommend most. Every song is great. Live they're amazing. The band is getting huge. Really no reason not to try them out. They do an amazing job to combine blues, rock, and punk, and on top of that, the songs are all amazingly written. If punk is what you're into, then I'd say check out their older release, "Sink or Swim" as that has more of a punk sound. However, "The '59 Sound) is just amazing with every listen.
Favorite Song: "Great Expectations"
5: "Progress" by the Rx Bandits (2001). The last ska-heavy album by the Rx Bandits is essentially flawless. Every song is filled with emotions; passion, anger, love. Rx does a great job singing their political voices, spreading their message of peace and love. Even though this sound of Rx doesn't exist much these days, "Progress" songs still get their fair share of live play and still are great. A lot of bands don't properly use their music to speak their minds. "Progress" does nothing but that. Songs about war, violence, dependence on technology, downfall of society, drugs...you name it, Rx addresses it. Even if you don't agree with their politics, you can't deny at least thinking about what the band is talking about, especially in the line, "When was the last time you looked up, gazed upon a shopping mall and said 'how beautiful'?"
Favorite Song: "Analog Boy"
4: "Somewhere in the Between" by Streetlight Manifesto (2007). The long awaited second original release by Streetlight was instantly one of my favorite albums. Hell, I loved it when I got two songs of a sampler split with the Voodoo Glow Skulls, and the other 8 tracks soon joined in on being amazing. Tomas once again writes amazing songs with rocking guitars. The horns are great, perfectly fitting on every track. Nothing on this album rubs me the wrong way. I've always defended Streetlight's excellence by saying that they have to write music for eight parts (vocals, guitar, bass, drums, tenor sax, bari sax, trombone, and trumpet) and get them to blend perfectly....for 10 songs in the case....spanning just under 45 minutes. They do that perfectly, all the songs are just great. They're very energetic, and never disappoint.
Favorite Song: "Down, Down, Down To Mephisto's Cafe"
3: "Everything Goes Numb" by Streetlight Manifesto (2003). Yes, I know that there are two Streetlight albums in a row, something that usually would bother my inner OCD. But here is why: the albums are essentially tied in my mind. The reason I rank their debut album higher is because "Everything Goes Numb" has 12 songs, "Somewhere in the Between" only has 10. That's the only reason, there is more to love. Now time to discuss the album itself. Wow. I'm sure back when it was released people we not sure that Streetlight could compare to what Catch 22 had done but boy do they ever. Great, fast, intense songs, amazing from start to finish. I probably love this album (and Streetlight for that matter) because of how well they play fast music. Its hard to understand many of the lyrics, but once you know what they are boy are they something special. Like I said, this album couldn't be closer in my heart to "Somewhere in the Between", so everything I praised that for I also feel for "Everything Went Numb". From the opening saxes to the closing note, this album is just something very special.
Favorite Song: "The Big Sleep"
2: Destruction by Definition" by The Suicide Machines (1996). I don't think a band can release a better debut album than The Suicide Machines did back 96 with "Destruction by Definition". I won't waste any time saying why I love it: It is the perfect mix of punk, hardcore, and ska...which is what TSM did best in their active years. If you claim you don't like ska, maybe this an album for you. Only two tracks use horns, so it plays more to the guitar beats element of ska rather than through the use of horns. Doing this allows the band to transition the three genres mentioned above so easily. Most people actually know a song from this album and might not even know it. "New Girl", track one, was featured in "Tony Hawk's Pro Skater (one)", and that song does a great job of representing the sound featured throughout the whole album. From "New Girl" to the cover of Minor Threat's "I Don't Want to Hear It", there isn't a bad song. There isn't a boring song. There isn't a slow song. There isn't a quiet song. Most importantly, there isn't a band song. Despite sounding so good, you still get the feeling listening to it that it was written by kids (well, in their early 20's), which makes the album feel so much fun. "Destruction by Definition" was been in the #2 CD slot in my car since I've been driving it, and it doesn't look like it'll get bumped from there any time soon.
Favorite Song: "Hey Ska"
i do not know any of these albums so this comment sucks.
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