We're Making a List
But we're not checking it twice...why bother? It's not like we're not going to remember whats on it...what do you take us for? A bunch of pot smoking music journalists for a college paper? Well lemme' put down this bong and tell you a little something:
It's December, and the year has its toe snuggly pressed up against the trigger of a new years shot gun pointed straight at 2005's head.* It's that time of year that we come to expect things: presents, A fat guy in a red suit, a whole lotta Jesus, and lists of albums that tickled the fancy of writers whose opinion is mariginal but still feel the need to unleash these opinions unto the public. Since we at The Volume are as susceptable to peer presure as a 13-year-old, how about some of the top albums of the past year as chosen by us. And awwwway we go.....
Grady's Picks:
1. Everytime I Die - "Gutter Phenomenon": This high energy album has reassured me that blistering guitar riffs still have a place in rock and roll. No filler tracks on this beauty
2. Meshuggah - "Catch 33": A 45 minute plunge into insane lyrical paradoxes and the most pulse pounding blend of rhythms I have ever heard
3. Beck - "Guero": For those times when you just have to lay back and light up. The soundtrack of a chillin' Sunday, also known as the soundtrack to my life.
4. System of a Down - "Mezmerize": What can I say, System is still keepin' it original while managing to keep the craft of songwriting an artform. Gotta pick up Hypnotize for good measure!
5. Queens of the Stone Age - "Lullabies to Paralyze": A totally unique and fresh take on Rock music. While this album may not be as ballbreaking as its predecessor "Songs For The Deaf", when its listened to with an open mind you can really hear artistic creativity shining through each of the 14 cuts.
Marie Fence's Picks:
1. The Ladies and Gentlemen - Small Sins — Boompa Records
2. The Constantines — Tournament of Hearts — Sub Pop
3. Cuff the Duke — Cuff the Duke — Hardwood / Universal
4. Death Cab for Cutie — Plans — Atlantic
5. Bloc Party — Silent Alarms - Vice
Darcy Ibson's Picks:
1. Behemoth - Demigod An innovative, intense and punishing album that marks the beginning of a new era for these Polish death metal lords.
2. Korpiklaani - Voice of Wilderness Folk-metal mastery, if medieval Finnish villagers were given guitars, they would write this album.
3. Nevermore - This Godless Endeavour Nevermore takes the fundamental elements of heavy metal, takes them to the greatest possible extreme, and performs flawlessly... again!
4. Equilibrium - Turis Fratyr A simply epic album from start to finish, somewhere between the soundtrack to a mythic battle and a drinking contest.
5. Dark Tranquillity - Character The fat has been trimmed away from the melodic death metal scene and Dark Tranquillity remains, better than ever.
Travis' Picks:
1. Kanye West - Late Registration
2. 50 Cent - The Massacre
3. Blackalicious - The Craft
4. Steven Page - The Vanity Project
5. Josh Marteniz - Midriff Music
Enemyspy Picks:
1. Common - Be
2. The Herbalizer - Take Back London
3. Guerilla Warefare LP
4. Kanye West - Late Registration
5. Exhile - Broken Language Remi
Colin's Picks:
1. System of A Down - Mesmerize While not moving too far away from the sound of the previous albums, System Of A Down have once again created something so quirky, technical, catchy, unique, chaotic, and wonderful that you couldn't have possibly heard anything better this year!
2. Bright Eyes - I'm Wade Awake, It's Morning This lovely collection of country tinged folk-rock songs may have just proved all the raving music critics of the world right, Conor Oberst is our generations Bob Dylan.
3. Weezer - Make Believe Despite the Volume's head honcho Cam Chisholm's complete objections, I feel Weezer's latest disc was one of the most enjoyable listens of the year, where we find the band combining the raw emotion of their early work with the big sound of their later albums.
4. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah! — ST The best indie rock record was indeed “indie” in every sense of the word. This irresistibly catchy slab of guitar and synth driven pop was completely self released and distributed by the band themselves.
5. Kayne West - Late Registration Cockiness and arrogance are never really good personal traits, but I guess when you've released the definitive hip-hop album of year, you're allowed to be.
Cam's Picks:
1. Common - BE
2. Supersystem - Always Never Again
3. Bloc Party - Silent Alarm
4. Cuff The Duke - ST
5. Run The Road volume 1 - Various
Essential Grime compilation, showcasing the stars of this emerging genre from the Uk that fuses Drum n Bass, Hip Hop, and lots of creativity.
It's December, and the year has its toe snuggly pressed up against the trigger of a new years shot gun pointed straight at 2005's head.* It's that time of year that we come to expect things: presents, A fat guy in a red suit, a whole lotta Jesus, and lists of albums that tickled the fancy of writers whose opinion is mariginal but still feel the need to unleash these opinions unto the public. Since we at The Volume are as susceptable to peer presure as a 13-year-old, how about some of the top albums of the past year as chosen by us. And awwwway we go.....
Grady's Picks:
1. Everytime I Die - "Gutter Phenomenon": This high energy album has reassured me that blistering guitar riffs still have a place in rock and roll. No filler tracks on this beauty
2. Meshuggah - "Catch 33": A 45 minute plunge into insane lyrical paradoxes and the most pulse pounding blend of rhythms I have ever heard
3. Beck - "Guero": For those times when you just have to lay back and light up. The soundtrack of a chillin' Sunday, also known as the soundtrack to my life.
4. System of a Down - "Mezmerize": What can I say, System is still keepin' it original while managing to keep the craft of songwriting an artform. Gotta pick up Hypnotize for good measure!
5. Queens of the Stone Age - "Lullabies to Paralyze": A totally unique and fresh take on Rock music. While this album may not be as ballbreaking as its predecessor "Songs For The Deaf", when its listened to with an open mind you can really hear artistic creativity shining through each of the 14 cuts.
Marie Fence's Picks:
1. The Ladies and Gentlemen - Small Sins — Boompa Records
2. The Constantines — Tournament of Hearts — Sub Pop
3. Cuff the Duke — Cuff the Duke — Hardwood / Universal
4. Death Cab for Cutie — Plans — Atlantic
5. Bloc Party — Silent Alarms - Vice
Darcy Ibson's Picks:
1. Behemoth - Demigod An innovative, intense and punishing album that marks the beginning of a new era for these Polish death metal lords.
2. Korpiklaani - Voice of Wilderness Folk-metal mastery, if medieval Finnish villagers were given guitars, they would write this album.
3. Nevermore - This Godless Endeavour Nevermore takes the fundamental elements of heavy metal, takes them to the greatest possible extreme, and performs flawlessly... again!
4. Equilibrium - Turis Fratyr A simply epic album from start to finish, somewhere between the soundtrack to a mythic battle and a drinking contest.
5. Dark Tranquillity - Character The fat has been trimmed away from the melodic death metal scene and Dark Tranquillity remains, better than ever.
Travis' Picks:
1. Kanye West - Late Registration
2. 50 Cent - The Massacre
3. Blackalicious - The Craft
4. Steven Page - The Vanity Project
5. Josh Marteniz - Midriff Music
Enemyspy Picks:
1. Common - Be
2. The Herbalizer - Take Back London
3. Guerilla Warefare LP
4. Kanye West - Late Registration
5. Exhile - Broken Language Remi
Colin's Picks:
1. System of A Down - Mesmerize While not moving too far away from the sound of the previous albums, System Of A Down have once again created something so quirky, technical, catchy, unique, chaotic, and wonderful that you couldn't have possibly heard anything better this year!
2. Bright Eyes - I'm Wade Awake, It's Morning This lovely collection of country tinged folk-rock songs may have just proved all the raving music critics of the world right, Conor Oberst is our generations Bob Dylan.
3. Weezer - Make Believe Despite the Volume's head honcho Cam Chisholm's complete objections, I feel Weezer's latest disc was one of the most enjoyable listens of the year, where we find the band combining the raw emotion of their early work with the big sound of their later albums.
4. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah! — ST The best indie rock record was indeed “indie” in every sense of the word. This irresistibly catchy slab of guitar and synth driven pop was completely self released and distributed by the band themselves.
5. Kayne West - Late Registration Cockiness and arrogance are never really good personal traits, but I guess when you've released the definitive hip-hop album of year, you're allowed to be.
Cam's Picks:
1. Common - BE
2. Supersystem - Always Never Again
3. Bloc Party - Silent Alarm
4. Cuff The Duke - ST
5. Run The Road volume 1 - Various
Essential Grime compilation, showcasing the stars of this emerging genre from the Uk that fuses Drum n Bass, Hip Hop, and lots of creativity.
