Office by Alex Penny
I am who I am, and I am nothing more.
The life and thoughts of a music obsessed, nerdy teenager who should have lived during the 1950's.
I’ll be the first to admit that I am great at procrastinating. As can be expected, I did not begin writing this list until about two days ago and it was at that moment that I realised that I’ve sort of fallen off bandwagon (I don’t even know if that’s the right word but it was the first thing that popped into my head) when it comes to music, even the stuff by bands/artists I really like. I had no idea when most albums were being released, who had released new music and so on. Needless to say, it proved rather difficult to actually work up the enthusiasm it required to listen (and re-listen) and mentally critique a decent number of albums so that my list wouldn’t appear so sparse. So here is my list that, for the first time in existence, is listed in order of preference!
Top Ten Albums of 2011:
Honourable Mentions (albums I liked but not enough to make my list, EPs and otherwise):
*I would like to point out that somehow I did not get around to listening to albums by the following artists (or I just forgot they released an album and it was too late to listen to all of them): Blink 182 (I don’t know how that happened, I even downloaded the leak), Madina Lake, Mayday Parade, Bright Eyes, Every Avenue, Sum 41, Yellowcard (again, I’m lazy but I did listen to the acoustic version and it was heavenly), Eisley, The Kills, The Maine (I sort of lost interest in their music), Cobra Starship (I was too scared it was going to suck so I decided to save myself the disappointment by not listening to it all) and You Me At Six (the guest vocalists kind of put me off so I didn’t listen to it for the same reason as Cobra).
So I thought it might be fun for me to list the all the albums I buy this year, just to keep track of them (which I really should have done last year) Before you ask, yes, I did make my title rhyme intentionally. So here begins my list of Album I Buy in 2009!!! Enjoy!!
Album no.1 We The Kings -We The Kings
(technically I bought this album last year, but it didn’t arrive until the very first day of mail delivery this year. After hearing Check Yes Juliet last year, I fell in love.)
Album no.2 Folie A Deux - Fall Out Boy
(again, I bought this last year, but it didn’t arrive until this year - it’s also the American copy. I won’t even bother telling you just how much I love this album because it is honestly immeasurable.)
Album no.3 The All-American Rejects - The All-American Rejects
(I know I’ve liked them for years, but I was never able to find this album earlier. This is a really amazing album by only two band members.)
Album no. 4 iViva La Cobra! - Cobra Starship
(I also bought this last year, yet it never arrived so I ended up waiting to find a store that stocked it instead. Cobra Starship = LOVE.)
Album no. 5 When The World Comes Down - The All-American Rejects
(this is obviously their newest album, which I couldn’t buy until after I relocated. The first half is amazing, though I find it a little hard to get into the second half of this album to be honest.)
Album no. 6 Move Along - The All-American Rejects
(the album that caused me to fall in love with AAR so many years ago. You wouldn’t believe how hard it is to find a store that stocks it though)
Album no. 7 Underdog Alma Mater - Forever The Sickest Kids
(I’ve been attempting to buy this since last year, but had to wait until after my relocation. Very much in love with this album.)
Album no. 8 New Surrender - Anberlin
(Anberlin’s newest album. Usually I get all my Anberlin from Jacinda, but I couldn’t wait with this one. Breaking is the most beautifully addictive song I’ve heard in a while.)
Album no. 9 All We Know Is Falling - Paramore
(so sometimes I buy the newer album first - most of the time because it’s easier to find, that was the case with Paramore, which I bought on Valentine’s Day. Very different to Riot! but definitely in a good way.)
Album no. 10 City, Meet Hurricane - Girl vs. Ghost
(I know this is a single, but I bought a physical copy so I figured this should count. One of the nicest bands I’ve ever had the pleasure of chatting with.)
Album no. 11 Put Up Or Shut Up - All Time Low
(expect this list to grow rapidly over the next few weeks, cause I’ve started listening to some awesome artists much like All Time Low - I actually got my sister to buy this for me because I had to go to work.)
Album no. 12 One Of The Boys - Katy Perry
(I couldn’t contain or deny my love for Katy Perry for any longer, and I’m glad I bought this because I LOVE it.
Album no. 13 So Wrong, It’s Right - All Time Low
(This album is purely awesome and you’d have to be insane to deny it. Dear Maria, Count Me In never gets old.)
Album no. 14 Sticks and Stones - New Found Glory
(This is definitely an album I’ve been wanting for a while, and I was a little disappointed that I couldn’t buy their other albums as well.)
Album no. 15 Princess - Short Stack
(As always, I am aware that this is just a single, but they don’t have a full album yet so just deal with it.)
Album no. 16 Louder Now - Taking Back Sunday
(I can’t believe it took me this long to actually listen to TBS because they are honestly one of the best artists I’ve ever heard.)
Album no. 17 What To Do When You Are Dead - Armor For Sleep
(Although I heard about these guys a while back, I’ve only just started listening to them. This album is insane, especially the free booklet I must post pictures of later on.)
Album no. 18 Boys Like Girls - Boys Like Girls
(the last two albums I posted before this were all bought in one go with this album. I went on a bit of a splurge. This album is definitely awesome.)
Album no. 19 Other Voices, Other Rooms - The Getaway Plan
(It definitely took me a while to find this album in stores, but I found it in Sanity this Easter break and it came with a bonus Live DVD. WIN.)
Album no. 20 Hymns For The Nonbeliever - Kisschasy
(For some reason I’ve never bought a Kisschasy album, yet they were the first band I ever saw live in concert. They were, and still are, amazing.)
Album no. 21 Fragile Future - Hawthorne Heights
(I spent half an hour in JB Hi-Fi arguing with myself about whether or not to buy this album this soon, I must have looked insane. Definitely glad I ended up buying it.)
Album no. 22 That’s What She Said - The Friday Night Boys
(I actually downloaded a few of these track from FBR when it first came out, but I officially have a physical copy of the excellent EP.)
Album no. 23 VersaEmerge - VersaEmerge
(I first heard ‘Past Praying For’ from a friend this year, and really enjoyed it. After hearing the rest of this EP, I now realise the other tracks are just as good or even better in some cases. ‘Moments Between Sleep’ is one of my favourite songs of all time.)
Album no. 24 Where You Want To Be - Taking Back Sunday
(The inner debate was very heated on whether I should buy this or Senses Fail. Although I most likely will end up owning both of the albums at some point, I’m glad I bought this one because its a CD/DVD combo.)
Album no. 25 The Silence In Black And White - Hawthorne Heights
(I’ve had some track from this for a while from friends, although I finally bought a physical copy. Words could not express how much I love this CD/DVD, especially with what this band has had to go through and come out of it so well.)
Album no. 26 Still Searching - Senses Fail
(I’ve actually contemplated buying this album for a while now, but always chosen something else instead. I listened to this on iTunes over the weekend and realised the next time I went to JB Hi-Fi I HAD to buy it. It is amazing.)
Album no. 27 Skip School, Start Fights - Hit The Lights
(I’ve always thought about listening to Hit The Lights because they had an extremely catchy album title. Seriously though, I’m very glad I decided to add this album to my Glamour Kills order because it’s an instant favourite of mine.)
Album no. 28 New Again - Taking Back Sunday
(One of my most anticipated albums of the year, and although there’s quite a few people who didn’t enjoy it compared to their previous albums, I found it absolutely breath-taking. Definitely worth the wait.)
Album no. 29 The Same Old Blood Rush With A New Touch - Cute Is What We Aim For
(Quite some time ago my sister bought Rotation and during that time I really got into CIWWAF. Soon after I heard ‘The Curse Of Curves’ for the first time and fell in love entirely. )
Album no. 30 21st Century Breakdown - Green Day
(Lucky album no. 30 is none other than Green Day’s newest record. {well technically it’s not the 30th album I’ve bought this year because I haven’t counted pre-orders} It’s hard to believe it’s been 5 years since American Idiot, first released when I was back in primary school. To be honest, I only bought this album because my dad wasn’t going to like he usually does. Now he wants a copy of it. Figures, though I can’t blame him, it is pretty epic.)
Album no. 31 Off The Deep End - The Friday Night Boys
(I actually pre-ordered this album a while ago when it was first announced and I am very glad I did because it’s become an instant favourite. All the tracks are very well-written and have a nice feel-good vibe to them. I also got signed band photo from them because I was in the first 500 people to order so that’s even cooler.)
Album no. 32 Narrow Stairs - Death Cab For Cutie
(So if you know me very well you’d know I’ve had a fleeting interest in DCFC for the past few years after I saw the music video for ‘I Will Follow You Into The Dark’ very early one morning on Rage. Well during my first day of work experience at Sanity, Joe decided to put on an album. It was this one and I instantly fell back in love DCFC.)
Album no. 33 Everything In Transit - Jack’s Mannequin
(Over the past few weeks I’d been hearing a lot about Jack’s Mannequin and thanks to Idobi Radio - an online alternative radio station - a lot of the music.)
Album no. 34 In Defense Of The Genre - Say Anything
(So when I went shopping during this Winter break, the last thing I expected to see in JB Hi-Fi was a Say Anything album, let alone any album I would be interested in buying that I don’t own already. {Seriously, I think I’ve bought all their good albums out of stock} This is a two-disc album that cost under $10 yet is worth so much more. A lot of epic bonus vocals too.)
Album no. 35 Life Is Not A Waiting Room - Senses Fail
(My love and hope in JB Hi-Fi has been restored after tonight. Could not believe they managed to re-stock this because in all honesty it’s probably some of Senses Fail’s best work so far.
Album no. 36 Come Around - Sing It Loud
(Probably the last album I expected to see in JB Hi-Fi tonight, especially since I was going to buy this from eBay just last week and have been thinking about it ever since. Definitely great listening with some excellent guest vocals.)
Album no. 37 Nothing Personal - All Time Low
(One of my most anticipated albums of the year. ‘Nothing Personal’ did not disappoint, unlike some people who severely disliked it because it somehow didn’t live up to their expectations. Stella is most definitely my favourite track. The only let down on the entire album is the painfully repeatitive track ‘Too Much’ which personally I felt could have had some real potential given the lyrics. It just ended up sucking. But hey, nothing personal right? ;P )
Album no. 38 Rise Or Die Trying - Four Year Strong
(Absolutely adore this album and it’s a surprise I’ve never though about buying it off the internet before. I would say lately I’ve gotten even more into these guys because of their covers {JB Hi-Fi actually had the covers album there but I figured I’d get this first} but since I’ve gotten out of buying albums on the internet I was almost speechless when I saw the new Four Year Strong section in JB Hi-Fi.)
Album no. 39 The Glass Passenger - Jack’s Mannequin
(Like all Jack’s Mannequin/Andrew McMahon’s work, this is a beautiful {and sensitive} album. I was planning on waiting for this album to actually go on sale but I realised I couldn’t live without this record for much longer.)
Album no. 40 Where The Heart Stops EP - Burning Brooklyn
(This is a completely free EP from a local Brisbane band who are yet to actually be signed. I love these boys and their work so far.)
Album no. 41 What Happens In Vegas… EP - The Cab
(So I’ve actually had this for a while but my parcel from Galit arrived the other day!! It’s be an understatement to say I was excited haha.)
Album no. 42 Greetings From… EP - A Rocket To The Moon
(I’ve had the track Dakota since this EP was released and I fell in love with it so effortlessly. I absolutely adore ARTTM/Nick Santino yet I didn’t own this EP until August of 2009. Why? Everytime I try to buy it with my other FBR stuff it just so happens to be out of stock. Yeah.)
Album no. 43 Stack Is The New Black - Short Stack
(I know what you’re thinking, more ~local bands right? Well I love Short Stack and I also love this album. You should all buy it haha.)
Album no. 44 Hot Mess - Cobra Starship
(HIGHLY anticipated. You would not believe how long I’ve been waiting/wanting this album. And now I own it, and also LOVE it so much. Yes, I did just list five albums at once - I actually got the last four on the same day haha.)
Album no. 45 Oh! And About Last Night…EP - Love, She Wrote
(So, in all honesty I’d never planned to buy this EP but after hearing the 30 second previews, I made my first ever album purchase from iTunes. Absolutely in love with this.)
so that’s my list for 2009 so far. Be sure to check back regularly to see if I’ve added any albums to my list, and believe me, with the amount of artists I’ve started listening to in these past years that are releasing albums this year, expect this to grow rapidly. Thnks for reading,
-Kirsty.XO.
(And today was a day just like any other)
I’m on the verge, I’m on the verge
Unraveling with every word
With every word you say, make me believe
That I won’t feel your tires on the street
As I’m finding the words… you’re getting away
I come undone, oh yes, I do
Just think of all the thoughts wasted on you
And every word you say, say something sweet
Cause all I taste is blood between my teeth
As I’m finding the words… you’re getting away
Well I’m ready, I’m ready to drop
Oh, I’m ready, I’m ready so don’t stop
I’m ready so don’t stop, Keep pushing
I’m ready to fall, oh, I’m ready
I’m ready so don’t call, I’m ready so don’t call
I am aware, I’ve been misled
I disconnect my heart, my head
Don’t wanna recognize when things go bad
The things that you’ll accept
Except that I am finding the words… to say
I’m ready, I’m ready to drop
Oh oh oh oh oh, I’m ready
I’m ready so don’t stop
I’m ready so don’t stop
(I wake up to find it’s another
Four aspirin morning, and I dive in
I put on the same clothes I wore yesterday.
When did society decide that we had to change
And wash a tee shirt after every individual use:
If it’s not dirty, I’m gonna wear it.
I take the stairs to the car
And there’s fog on the windows.
(And I’m Fighting the words…)
I need caffeine in my blood stream,
I take caffeine in the blood stream.
I grip the wheel and all at once I realize:
(And you’re getting away…)
My life has become a boring pop song
And everyone’s singing along.)
Well, I’m ready, to drop, well, I’m ready
I’m ready so don’t stop, oh
Well, keep pushing, I’m ready to fall
Well, I’m ready, I’m ready so don’t call
I’m ready so don’t call, oh… oh… oh…
One of my favourite songs by one of my favourite artists. This song is definitely a pick-me-up song, at least for my personally and it never fails to put me in a good mood no matter the situation. I’d like to thank Idobi radio, Alterative Press and finally Mr Jack Bassam Barakat for getting me into Jack’s Mannequin. I’ve never regretted it.
-Kirsty.XO.
