Song of the Year
The Gaslight Anthem- "45": The first single from the best album of one of the best bands of the new milennium, "45" had a lot riding on it. After Gaslight fans were somehow disappointed by the band's effort on American Slang, there was a hint of doubt in the band's career. To answer any and all criticism, however, Brian Fallon came back roaring (literally) with one of the band's most blistering tracks, and the biggest rock anthem of the year.
Runners-Up: fun.- "Some Nights"; Anberlin- "Self-Starter"
Non-Music Related Music Story of the Year
Laura Jane Grace: When Tom Gabel of Against Me! Chose to announce his intentions of undergoing a sex change to Rolling Stone magazine, the world was introduced to a rock star in the middle of an identity crisis. Gabel emerged from this media firestorm as Laura Jane Grace, her new female identity. While the news was starting and shocking to most fans of the band, the reception to Grace's decision could not have been any warmer, and the jolt of humanity into the music industry was a breath of fresh air that raised the anticipation for Against Me!'s new album to a fever pitch. Keep Calm continues to wish Laura the best of luck in her journey towards her true identity.
Runner Up: Mitch Lucker's fatal motorcycle accident (Rest in Peace, Mitch.)
Cover Song of the Year
Bayside- "Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)", originally recorded by Billy Joel: Caught in-between full-lengths (and labels), Bayside found themselves in a unique situation that allowed them to do something unique and creative, on their own terms. What they came up with was Covers, Vol. 1, a five-song effort that surpasses any of the last five Punk Goes releases. Their rendition of "Movin' Out" stays true to the original while still maintaining that classic Bayside sound, and leaves fans hoping for a few more volumes of this series.
Runners-Up: Mayday Parade- "Somebody That I Used to Know (feat. Vic Fuentes)", originally recorded by Gotye feat. Kimbra; The Maine- "Girls Just Want to Have Fun (feat. Adam Lazarra)", originally recorded by Cindi Lauper
EP of the Year
Sparks the Rescue- Sparks the Rescue: The result of a Kickstarter campaign, this seven song effort from the boys of Summer from Maine provides an excellent bounce-back that should reignite the career of Sparks the Rescue. From the impeccible guitar work of Mike Naran to Alex Roy's always infectious melodies, Sparks the Rescue helps the band return to the form that made them one of the best up-and-coming pop-rock acts of a few years ago.
Runner-Up: You, Me, and Everyone We Know- A Great Big Hole
Music Video of the Year
Transit- "Skipping Stone": One of the most interesting decisions of the year was made by the Boston, MA emo revivalists to give the heartfelt acoustic standout on Listen and Forgive the electric feel, but after hearing the song, and seeing the creative and nostalgic music video, it's clear to see why Transit decided to create the alternate version of "Skipping Stone."
Runners-Up: The Gaslight Anthem- "Handwritten," "Here Comes My Man"; Title Fight- "Secret Society"
Guilty Pleasure of the Year
Like Moths to Flames: They're not that innovative of a band, but somehow, there's something about this band that I can't help but love. They're angry, angtsy, and aggressive, and Chris Roetter can sing and scream quite well. Whether you were banging your head to any of the songs on their re-release of their debut full-length When We Don't Exist or their cringe-inducing cover of fun.'s "Some Nights," if you let LMTF into your ears in 2012, chances are you wouldn't be able to get them out of your head.
Runner-Up: 2 Chainz
Tour of the Year
Taking Back Sunday's #TAYF10: Celebrating the release of a landmark album of your genre is a difficult task. But if any album deserved the front-to-back tour treatment, it's Taking Back Sunday's Tell All Your Friends. While watching the band play their game-changing album was worth the price of admission alone, it was the opening acts that made #TAYF10 so special. TBS enlisted fellow Long Islanders Bayside to support the entire tour, while keeping a rotating opening act that consisted of young upcomers like Man Overboard and Transit to get some of their spotlight. What's more, the band played an eight-song "greatest hits" set before breaking into the album, and closed out the night with the album's two b-sides. Kudos to TBS for putting themselves into Band of the Year consideration, in a year that they didn't release any new material.
Runner-Up: The Glamour Kills Tour (The Wonder Years, Polar Bear Club, Transit, The Story So Far, A Loss for Words, Into It. Over It.)
Vocalist of the Year
Ace Enders, The Early November: Always known as a man who likes to keep busy, Ace Enders has been perfecting his voice since before some of his fans were even born.Whether you were listening to In Currents this summer or watching The Early November on their tour with Cartel this fall, one thing was very clear: Enders's vocals have never sounded more heartfelt, emotional, or better.
Runner-up: Nate Ruess, fun.
Guitarist(s) of the Year
Alex Rosamilia, The Gaslight Anthem: One of most underrated parts of Handwritten's greatness is the increased and improved role Rosamilia's guitar work took on in The Gaslight Anthem's songwriting. Rosamilia's solos (in "Biloxi Parish" and "Mulholland Drive") and swift riffs (in "45" and "Howl") set the tone for the entire album, and if his talents were overlooked before, they sure won't be again.
Runners-up: Tim Landers/Brad Wiseman, Misser
Drummer of the Year
Nate Young, Anberlin: Young won this award within the first 20 seconds of "Self-Starter," and the rest of his work on that song and the entirety of Vital is essentially just him showing off. While you can't really see him in the picture above, you can certainly hear him loud and clear on Vital, arguably Anberlin's best album, and what you're hearing is the sound of one of the most passionate drummers in modern rock.
Runner-Up: Steve Clifford, Circa Survive
Bassist of the Year
Nick Beard, Circa Survive: With Circa Survive's Violent Waves focusing more on instrumentals than Anthony Green's signature vocals, it was Beard who emerged as the benefactor of the album's more groove-oriented styles. Beard's background vocals also compliment Green's throughout the album, and his powering basslines keep the album moving, as best experienced on the album's epic opener "Birth of the Economic Hit Man"
Runner-up: Ned Russin, Title Fight
Songwriter of the Year
Brian Fallon, The Gaslight Anthem: While it took a monumental effort from The Gaslight Anthem as a band to achieve what they did on Handwritten, everything the band releases will inevitably be examined for Fallon's songwriting. What was discovered when the album was examined this time was Fallon's best work, featuring the same arena-ready choruses with a little more of the punk soul that seemed absent from American Slang, and even more of Fallon's heart on his sleeves.
Runners-up: Greg Barnett and Tom May, The Menzingers
Guest Feature of the Year
Jason Vena, on All Time Low's "Outlines": Providing the vocals that were supposed to be delivered by Patrick Stump are tough shoes to fill (just ask Tay Jardine, who filled in for Stump on Yellowcard's "Here I Am Alive"). But who better to replace one signature voice than a man with a signature voice in his own right? To do this, All Time Low enlisted Jason Vena, formerly of Acceptance (check them out if you haven't yet). The result is the best song on what may be the band's best album, Don't Panic, and another assertion that sometimes it's best to get by with a little help from your friends.
Runner-up: Geoff Rickly, on Circa Survive's "The Lottery"
Performance of the Year (all instruments)
Sean Mackin (Violinist), Yellowcard: To create a great Yellowcard album, you need to have Mackin at the top of his game. On Southern Air, Mackin's never sounded better. The solo provided on "Always Summer" is his best since "Ocean Avenue," and his work to provide summery atmospheres never ceases to amaze. Oh, and on top of all of that, the dude beat cancer, and was still able to bring it onstage while the band headlined Warped Tour and a fall headlining tour with The Wonder Years and We Are the In Crowd this year. Congratulations, Sean, and may your good health continue.
Band of the Year
fun.: In a year that so many indie artists were able to break into the mainstream, no act made a bigger splash than fun. Propelled by the shocking success of "We Are Young," the band also enjoyed success with "Some Nights" and "Carry On," and Some Nights was declared gold by the RIAA. The band headlined nearly every major festival this summer, scored big-time performances at many different award shows and late-night appearances, and lead all Grammy nominees with 6 nominations. 2012 was an odd year, but it was also the year of fun., and there's nowhere to go but up for the band that just might be the next big thing.
Runner-up: The Gaslight Anthem
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