10. John Nolan – Height

Technically this album was released late in 2009, but considering he then later went back and recorded the album entirely acoustic to give away with the vinyl pre-order, which wasn’t out until 2010, I’m going to count it.

Personally I feel that the Straylight releases always trumped the later Taking Back Sunday releases, I was always on ‘team John’. When Straylight announced their end John Nolan took a brave step by releasing a solo album. Clearly he is capable of doing this, but moving from a band, or even an alias, to your own name as a performer takes courage. The album got semi-decent reviews, but personal connection to an artist has always been the most important factor for me. There are a limited number of artists whom I would probably stand behind anything they release. John Nolan is one of them.

9. River City Extension – The Unmistakable Man

River City Extension has finally begun to make an impact on the NJ scene, and it seems to be quickly expanding. They signed with the artist development label Anchor and Hope and it has really been a huge jumping point for them.
The album itself is phenomenal, a lot of albums are phenomenal, and it’s just a matter of getting them out there. River City has always been an entertaining band to watch, and you may catch them performing with anywhere from 1-10 members. They’ve become a staple in our Asbury Park alternative scene, and I don’t see that changing any time soon.

8. Broken Bells – Broken Bells

This was an incredible collaboration between Shins’ front man James Mercer and producer Danger Mouse. Obviously the album was highly anticipated and hyped, but I think it did a decent job living up to it. Danger Mouse was a unique producer (there’s tons of copycats now) and I had been waiting for something new from the Shins or James Mercer. I expect this album to be on a lot of year-end lists.

7. Tigers Jaw – Two Worlds

Only recently starting getting into this band, but the anticipation of this release got me listening to some back catalog stuff and I love it all. I think I’m still going to have to rank their self-titled above this album, but this band may be one of my favorite new discoveries.

6. Circa Survive – Blue Sky Noise

Anthony Green has always been a remarkable icon for his vocal style within this genre. This is another release that really revived the entire Circa catalog for me. Blue Sky Noise even made an impact on the billboard charts, and after seeing them perform some late night shows I went and picked it up. I don’t know what it was that strayed me away from the band in the first place, but I found my old copies of Juturna and On Letting Go and they have all been back in rotation thanks to this album.

5. Jonsi – Go

Jonsi singing his signature Sigur Ros style in English. This album feels like a breakthrough and I love it. Doing this solo album has really created an entirely new respect I have for Jonsi. Sigur Ros has always been a huge influence on me and when Jonsi wrote this album and even attempted an in-store tour it shined a new light on his reputation, he became accessible. I realize that the tour didn’t work out, and agreeably that atmosphere for him was all wrong, but he took that enormous Sigur Ros sound and broke it down and made it seem reachable. For me this album is a huge inspiration.

4. Last Lungs – Look At That Old Grizzly Bear

I feel like I’ve been waiting for this album for so long, and I was only introduced to Last Lungs this year. I’m a huge post-rock fan and this is hands down the best post-rock album of the year. If you bought a really expensive stereo, this would be the only album you need to justify it.
Last Lungs is an up and coming UK band, and I’m interested to see how far this album will take them. I hope at the very least it will take them stateside so I can finally get out to a show and stand there in awe. Great Job.

3. I Can Make A Mess Like Nobody’s Business – The World We Know

Ace Enders has been so busy since the end of The Early November, releasing tons of great music. This year he released not just this full-length record under his I Can Make A Mess alias but also an acoustic record, and a Christmas EP. I mentioned before how a new album can resurrect back catalog, and with Ace there’s so much back catalog. Since The Early November he has released three records under I Can Make a Mess, and two records and an EP under Ace Enders and a Million Different People.
From his many releases, to his live performances, and his genuine connection and relationship with his fans I have never lost an admiration for him. He’s a musician that this industry needs and we could all learn a lot from him. In a recent interview he has come forward expressing his concern and struggle in the industry with lack of album sales and huge illegal downloading. Ace has released a lot of his repertoire by himself, he needs our support, and we can’t afford to lose his influence.

2. Jarrod Gorbel – The Devil’s Made a New Friend

Similar to what I said about the John Nolan album, Jarrod is also one of those guys who I will always love. The Honorary Title is probably my favorite band of all time, and with that name or not I will always follow his music. Luckily that wasn’t a huge struggle for me, this album is great. There are a few tracks on this album that are just unbelievably good. Even the tracks that I didn’t immediately relate to, I found myself singing them over and over again in my head. The hooks are infectious. 

1. The Graduate – Only Every Time

In most of the music communities I follow, this album was highly anticipated, and I shared that anticipation. Anhedonia was one of my favorite albums when it was released and this album picks up right where that left off. I’m not sure if there aren’t other bands like the Graduate or I just haven’t found them, but they have an awesome way of making pop-punk their own. This album is easily comparable to a Jimmy Eat World release, just add some delay and you have Only Every Time, and I mean that in the most respectful of ways.
Even upon first listen I felt like I already new this album and it was a nostalgic listen of one of my all time favorite records. I’m curious as to whether the industry will be continually receptive of this band. The album creates a unique take on what I would consider ‘radio potential rock’.