My laptop is the best looking.
Good haul today.
Vales debut EP, “Clarity”-2nd pressing-200 / Clear with Blue & Grey Splatter
Prawn, “Ships”- 1st pressing- 200/Beige
The Saddest Landscape, 7-inch ‘Redefining Loneliness’- 1st Press w/ screen printed B-sides 500/ Clear
Dad Punchers, S/T, 1st pressing 500/ Brown
Picked all these up from Ignite Record Store in Birmingham, Rich had saved me Prawn, The Saddest Landscape and Dad Punchers and I’ve been meaning to buy the Vales EP for a while.
Its that moment you have all been waiting for, yes thats right Hannah’s top 10 favourite records of 2012!
In no particular order
10. The Saddest Landscape- After The Lights
7 songs of gut wrenching emo, its dark, powerful and exhausting and I really like it.
9. Hot Water Music- Exister
I admit it, I was very late on the boat with HWM, I don’t know why but I had never properly listened to them before but better late then never right?! This record is just bloody good punk rock.
8. MewithoutYou- 10 Stories
Now this was one of my highly anticpated records of 2012 and it didn’t dissapoint. I love Mewithoutyou, I love this record. They are probably the only band that can get away about singing about vegetables and the guest vocals from Hayley Williams are pretty perfect.
7. The Front Bottoms- S/T
Crazy name aside this record is bloody brilliant. Its completely different to anything else, there is not a bad song on there.
6. Departures- Teenage Haze
This is melodic hardcore done well, those Scottish boys did good.
5. Troubled Coast- Awake and Empty
I have a friend, his name is Rich, he owns Ignite Record Store in Birmingham, he recommended this album and he was so right. Imagine the bastard child of Balance and Composure, Touche Amore, La Dispute and Former Theives.
4. The Tidal Sleep- S/T
This band came highly recommended by a cool German guy named Michael and this EP is all kinds of awesome.
3. Daytrader- Twelve Years
This record just clicked with me straight away and its a shame they have broken up.
2. Basement- Colourmeinkindness
Basement sure know how to go out with a bang, their final record is just pure perfection and I’m gutted I never got to see these guys live.
1. The Menzingers- On The Impossible Past
As soon as I heard this record I knew it would be number one, this has definitely been my favourite record of 2012. The cd didn’t leave my car for months and for a good reason its just too bloody good!
Honourable mentions to
Title Fight- Floral Green
Make Do And Mend- Everything You Ever Loved
Joyce Manor- Of All Things I Will Soon Grow Tired
ETID- Ex Lives
Picked these up today.
Somehow ended up by the Royal Albert Hall! Off to see Thrice soon.
Moving Mountains- Foreword
Grey /200
This arrived today, I know its sad but getting post that isn’t bank statements or some other crap makes me happy.
So these are all record store day exclusives that I picked up today.
Refused- The Shape of Punk to Come Straylight Run- Straylight Run Tegan and Sara- Get Along The Horrible Crowes- The Record Store Day 7” The Saddest Landscape- Cover Your Heart 7”
Pretty good haul, I also picked up a couple more records and came home to a delivery from Topshelf Records which I’ll post later.
All in all bloody great day!
It finally came!
So here are my top ten albums and EPs of 2011 not really in any particular order.
1. The Lack Long After- Pianos Become The Teeth
I pre-ordered this from Topshelf Records and the wait was worth it, from the first listen I was hooked. Its so emotionally draining listening to it but in a good way and the last track ‘I’ll Get By’ is so heartfelt it gets me every time.
2. Parting The Sea Between Brightness and Me- Touche Amore
20 minutes of pure awesome. The lyrics are something I really connect with on the record it’s like Jeremy has seen into my soul and is singing about all the things I’m thinking about that I could never put into words! (How emo is that!?)
3. Free- Twin Atlantic
This record was on repeat for a couple of weeks, its got some really good catchy songs and its gloriously Scottish! Now that Biffy have gone all safe Twin Atlantic are my new favourite Scottish band.
4. Empty Days and Sleepness Nights- Defeater
Another record that got a serious amount of plays this year, in fact its the most played album of the year according to Last fm which comes as no surprise. So very, very good. Its so well thought out with the story behind it and the 4 acoustic tracks are the cherry on top. This is melodic hardcore and its best.
5. Separation- Balance and Composure
This was a recommendation from the guy who runs the record store in Birmingham and I’m so glad he did. It reminds me a lot of bands I love but still sounds original. Its sounds huge and I just love his voice.
6. Major/Minor- Thrice
As much as I liked Beggars it was slightly too mellow this on the other hand it a nod back to the heavier Thrice days and its amazing. There isn’t a bad song on the album I’m just gutted that this is most likely the last Thrice record there will ever be.
7. Bon Iver - Bon Iver
One of my most highly anticipated releases of 2011 and I wasn’t disappointed. Its a beautiful album and I even like Beth/Rest now!
8. Part and Parcel EP- Make Do And Mend
Great EP and the Touche Amore cover is brilliant.
9. Wildlife- La Dispute
Another highly anticpated release and again no disapointment here! La Dispute have such an original sound and Jordan’s vocal delivery is so intense. I still need to spend more time listening to this record which is a good sign.
10. Dead Ends- Heights
Its the simplicity of this record that made me fall in love with it. Its dark, heavy and bloody great.
Notable mentions go to
Polar Bear Club- Clash, Battle, Guilt, Pride
Fucked Up- David Comes to Life
Between The Buried and Me- The Parallax: Hypersleep Dialogues
City and Colour- Little Hell
Thomas Giles- Pulse
Thursday- No Devolucion
Title Fight- Shed
