Bleed American

Another record that was long overdue picking up. The first Jimmy Eat World record I got in touch with back when it came out. The Middle was playing every time in the local indie disco (like in any other indie disco around the world most likely). I can still enjoy this LP after all these years.

Top Of The Pops 2016

2016 has been another really good year for new music. People always tell me that there are fewer and fewer new bands and records that get them excited, but in my opinion that's just a lame excuse for being lazy and just another way of saying "everything was better way back when". I get the sentiment of having the feeling one has heard that breakdown or that riff before, but maybe those aren't exactly the same and people simply have to keep an open mind. There are some old bands that had great releases in 2016 and there are some new bands that got me really excited with their records or demos. I can't wait for 2017 to come and bring me more good new music.

Record Of The Year 2016

Dangers - The Bend In The Break

7" Of The Year

Spirit Crusher - The Absolute

Demo Of The Year

Tie between Free and Lowest Priority

Discovery Of The Year

Rvivr and Erica Freas

Best Split 7"(s), Band With The Most Output and Most Loveable Band

Spirits

Honorable Mention (because it was played to me only once and I don't own the record)

Fury - Paramount

Integrity Blues

A few weeks ago my wife and I went to see Jimmy Eat World. I'd never seen them live before and it was one of the best shows I've seen in years. The band played all the hits from the early albums plus a bunch of new songs. Great set. A few weeks prior to the show I'd ordered Jimmy Eat World's latest LP Integrity Blues. It's the first Jimmy Eat World LP I seeked out since Futures. I'd been out of step with Jimmy Eat World for quite some time. I still listened to the songs I liked from way back when on a semi-regular basis, but somehow I never felt the urge to check out their new material. With the show coming closer and closer this changed, however. Integrity Blues is a little quieter than the early albums, but the songs on this record are really good. I've been spinning the LP quite a lot lately and it might end up quite highly on my 2016 list.