DS Staff Picks – 10 best albums of 2010 (Connor)

Well, another year is drawing to a close. People are gearing up for the holidays and it’s almost time to start creating our New Year’s resolution lists. But before we begin looking to the future, let’s employ a different kind of list to help us appreciate the past. You know what I’m talking about. Yep, a Top Ten list! Each day I’m going to publish a different person’s Top 10 albums of 2010 list for you to praise, completely disagree with, or just outright ignore.

Today’s list comes from Dying Scene album reviewer and news writer, Connor (aka The Fenian).  Check out his picks for the 10 Best Albums of 2010 right here.

2010 was overall a decent year for punk and its sub-genres, with exciting new releases in ska punk, folk punk, celtic punk, and, well, just punk. On this list are the best of the best in my opinion; some written by well-known legends (say, Bad Religion), others by merely fledgling artists (Joey Briggs). Anyway, without further ado, here’s my list:

Honorable Mentions:
“You By Me Volume 1”- Toh Kay and Dan Pohtthast split
“Black Thorn” – Flatfoot 56
“Germs of Perfection: A Tribute to Bad Religion”- Cobra Skulls, Frank Turner, Tegan and Sarah, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, and more.

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10. “White Crosses” – Against Me!

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So, yes, the stories are true: Against Me! has sold out, so to speak, and this album proves it. That being said, it’s still got some great tracks on it that I find myself listening to frequently.

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9. “Live At The Greek Theatre”- Flogging Molly

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While this album yielded no new material, it still stands as a good reminder that Flogging Molly are masters of their own genre and can perform live like no other.

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8. “Street Dogs” – Street Dogs

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This self-titled album shows the punkier side of the Street Dogs, with some very catchy sing-along-anthems.

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7. “Politics, Touring, and Self-Loathing” – Joey Briggs

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When a punk frontman releases a solo acoustic album, it’s generally hit or miss. This is a great example of a hit.

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6. “The Dissent of Man” – Bad Religion

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The fifteenth album from these old punks proves that they are what we thought they were: legends.

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5. “The Brutalist Bricks” – Ted Leo and the Pharmacists

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I’ve never been one for this sort of mod-indie-rock, but this album was refreshingly well-written, warranting it a spot on my list.

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4. “Rock And Roll” – Frank Turner

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Yet another incredible collection of songs released by this English country-punk.

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3. “Polka’s Not Dead” – The Dreadnoughts

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I didn’t know to much about this band before this album, but after a listen or two, I was encouraged to go out and find their entire discography.
If you are into any sort of folk music, check it out, and you won’t be disappointed.

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2. “99 Songs of Revolution Volume 1” – Streetlight Manifesto

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Yeah, yeah, yeah. It’s a cover album. But, it’s a good one, anyways.  Out of eleven, there’s only one track on here that I skip. Other than that, it’s full of some great renditions from some great artists.

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1. “Trans-Continental Hustle” – Gogol Bordello

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I don’t think there will ever be a day that these gypsy punks will cease to amaze me with their music. This album was my favorite anyway, but seeing it performed live in October was quite the experience. Five stars, no doubt.