Year-End Extra: Best Show Pictures of 2010

This year was a huge year for music, and an even bigger year for concerts, at least for me. I went to more concerts this year than I had in all other years combined, and after looking back at the tours that took place this year, its easy to see why. With new up-and-coming acts headlining over legends, a few breakout artists from 2010 sharing the stage, to quite a few quality-assured sets from the veterans all meshed together to become what was the best year of concerts I've ever been a part of. To recap everything, I put together a "slide show" of sorts showing off all of the places I was this year by displaying the best pictures I managed from all these shows when I wasn't screaming the lyrics to my favorite songs by my favorite bands this year.

Show Recap: Four Year Strong at Starlight Ballroom (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)

Coming off of a wildly successful summer on the Vans Warped Tour, Four Year Strong set out to continue that momentum into the fall, and did the best thing they could be embarking on the "Tonight We Feel Alive! Tour", inspired by their kick-ass music video for "Tonight We Feel Alive (On a Saturday)."  While a killer, mosh-heavy set is expected from FYS at this point in the band's already strong career, it was the sets turned in before the bearded Bostonians even took to the stage in Philadelphia’s Starlight Ballroom (not to be confused with Starland Ballroom in New Jersey).

After arriving late and missing American Fangs, we arrived just in time for a band that I've heard so much about over the last six months or so, The Wonder Years. Aside from taking their name from one of my favorite TV shows, I had recently listened to the re-release of their debut album The Upsides, and had developed a bit of interest in seeing the band. The album is very reminiscent of fellow Philadelphians The Starting Line (think Say It Like You Mean It), but I wasn’t able to connect to the album as much as I had expected to. Thankfully, whatever I was looking for in The Upsides was found in seeing TWY play live. The band took advantage of the hometown crowd, and appeared to be excited to be home, as they mentioned numerous times how alive and well the New Jersey/Philadelphia pop-punk scene is. Thing is, The Wonder Years are the band leading the charge. Throughout a set with more crowd participation than even the band could have expected, The Wonder Years warmed up those members of the crowd who came in late on the chilly October evening.

With a career that withstood the first decade of the new millennium, it’s hard to believe Comeback Kid agreed to take a support slot on this tour. It’s also a little strange that they were placed on a tour that featured pop-punk acts, but CBK actually ended up bringing a nice breath of fresh air to the Starlight Ballroom crowd. To my surprise, the band’s fans traveled well, and some ferocious pits were opened up throughout what seemed to be an extended set. CBK did their job perfectly, as they pumped up Four Year Strong’s fans for the headliner’s set, but they pumped up the band themselves, as Dan O’ Connor and Alan Day were seen backstage getting ready for their set by rocking out to Comeback Kid’s. What seemed to me to be an out-of-place booking turned out to be one of the better sets I’ve seen this year from a band I hadn’t heard before, and I’ll be giving the band’s new album Symptoms and Cures a listen very soon.

While Comeback Kid and The Wonder Years each provided a worthwhile show, it was very evident who the crowd traveled to the Starlight Ballroom when Four Year Strong walked onstage. Kicking into “What the Hell is a Gigawatt?” and cutting right into “Tonight We Feel Alive (On a Saturday),” the band set the tone early with a set that spanned many of the songs from their two gems of albums, Rise or Die Trying and Enemy of the World. This was a big night for the band, as they were making up for lost time from a show at the First Unitarian Church, in which a fire alarm was pulled. While the band’s cover album Explains it All was ignored in the set, there were little holes left in the set, and the band pulled out all the stops to give the fans an epic show. The Starlight Ballroom’s intimate setting allowed crowd surfers to take the stage with the band (for a few seconds, until the band’s stage manager pushed them back into the crowd), and the band was not only okay with that, they were inviting it by the end of the set.

As Four Year Strong’s first set ended with “Wasting Time (Eternal Summer),” it was time for the obligatory “One more song!” chant from the crowd, which was one of the loudest and longest I’ve ever heard. Rather than coming out and playing a full band set, Dan O’ Connor and Alan Day each brought out acoustic guitars, and played a perfect rendition of “One Step at a Time” as the rest of the band trickled back onto the stage to finish out the rare sighting of a mellowed-out FYS. The acoustic rendering of the song was thanks to the deluxe edition of Enemy of the World, which was released especially for the band’s run on Warped Tour. After the acoustic guitars were set aside, the band got down to business by playing their customary set closer “Heroes Get Remembered, Legends Never Die,” which produced the most crowd surfers I’ve seen this year. The already rambunctious crowd was thrown into a frenzy, and the set was ended with a blaze, as many fans were allowed to stay onstage for the gang chants and the remainder of the song. The crowd let out a mighty roar as the band walked offstage, bringing to an end a great night that not only produced two new bands for me to check out, but furthered my love for a band that is quickly becoming one of my favorites.

You want more pictures? YOU GOT MORE PICTURES! Enjoy.

 Comeback Kid screamer Andrew Neufeld

The Wonder Years vocalist Dan Campbell

 Four Year Strong screamer/keyboardist Josh Lyford

Four Year Strong's Alan Day (left) and Dan O' Connor (right)

Fall 2010 Concert Forecast

On Tuesday, a great deal of change was initiated in both my world and the world as everyone else sees it. While I began my segue into teaching America's youth for the rest of my life, the Autumnal equinox was upon us, and Fall had officially started. Over the years, the fall has stood for the beginning of school, football season, and the early Christmas for little kids, Halloween. Now, however, it means the start of Fantasy Football season, the MLB playoffs, and this year, the beginning of the best series of concerts there has been in the Philly/New Jersey area in years. No big paragraph needed here, let's get to the shows you'll find me at this fall. I'll see you there.

Valencia @ School of Rock East, South Hackensack New Jersey, October 1st
With support from Automatic Loveletter and Jersey darlings Jet Lag Jemini, Valencia will mosey into New Jersey with what is likely to be their stellar follow-up to the incredible We All Need a Reason to Believe, just days away from release. And while new gems from Dancing With a Ghost are sure to show up, it's pretty much set in stone that favorites like "The Space Between" and "Safe to Say" will line a setlist that will help to prove Valencia's underrated earnesty and determination to their craft, which is the best pop-punk we've seen since The Starting Line.

Four Year Strong @ Starlight Ballroom, Philadelphia Pennsylvania, October 3rd
Touring with hardcore legends Comeback Kid and promising newcomers The Wonder Years, Four Year Strong's "Tonight We Feel Alive! Tour" is shaping up to be a colossal night full of moshing, with Four Year Strong asserting themselves as one of the best live bands out there. The bearded Bostonians will be out in full force, as they will be making up for a show in Philadelphia earlier in the year that was cancelled due to a fire alarm going off in the venue. Their set should make up for lost time, while spinning the wonderfully-crafted Enemy of the World's standout tracks (and there are quite a few of them) to thank the fans who were shafted in the previous show.

You, Me, and Everyone We Know @ Maxwell's Bar, Hoboken NJ, October 12th
I will plug this band until they're on every iPod in the world. The blend of pop-rock they put out is honest, endearing, and catchy as you can imagine. Now, with debut full-length Some Things Don't Wash Out due out at the end of the month, You, Me, and Everyone We Know are embarking on a headlining tour to take their hard-earned shot at the spotlight to the masses. The New Jersey crowd will be raucous for the band, as the band has stated on numerous occasions that New Jersey is the place they enjoy playing the most. The night is sure to be a light-hearted affair, but has the potential to be one of the shows you'll remember going to for a very long time.

Circa Survive @ The Stone Pony, Asbury Park NJ, October 16th
Coming off a tour supporting prog-emo juggernauts Coheed and Cambria to showcase their stellar new album Blue Sky Noise, Circa Survive are finally bringing the Noise to New Jersey with a headlining tour, and what better venue than the intimate Stone Pony to display the intricate, beautiful sounds of one of the year's best albums. This is one of those tours where the support doesn't make too big a difference for me, but I'm excited to see Dredg, who could come out of nowhere and win the crowd over. Nevertheless, the show promises to provide a great time for Circa fans new and old, and not a better time will be had this year (at least by me).

A Day to Remember/Underoath @ Asbury Convention Hall, Asbury Park NJ, November 5th
Rounding out an incredible Fall concert schedule for me is the tour that has quite possibly my two most anticipated albums for the remainder of the year. Underoath will be mere days away from the release of Disambiguation, their first release without Aaron Gillespie, while A Day To Remember will release What Separates Me from You on the 16th of November. It's shocking to me that Underoath would take a spot supporting A Day to Remember rather than taking out a few of their Solid State labelmates, but the fan will ultimately benefit from this, as they get to witness a metalcore legend opening for pop-punk/hardcore legends in the making. Bring your moshing shoes, kids; it's going to be a wild night in Asbury.

Recommendation for the Week, 9/12-9/18

On September 11, 2001, I woke up in the morning (feeling like P. Diddy) as I had for any other school day. I did my work like I did on any other school day. I got on the bus to go home and sat with my brother, like I did on any other school day. I went to bed knowing that the world would never be the same.

I was in fifth grade then. I remember everything from the time I got home from school to the time I laid my head down to rest for the night. I don't remember anything that happened on September 12, or even September 10 for that matter. I remember when I knew something was really wrong: my dad's truck was parked at the bus stop, waiting impatiently to pick my brother and I up. This was odd, because my dad never misses a day of work and that my house is literally less than fifty feet from where the bus dropped me off. I came home, where my mom was speechless, staring at the television. I saw fire, I saw smoke, and for the first time in my primarily innocent life, I saw death, and I saw chaos.

No matter what country you hail from, what religion you follow, what your views on this country or its people is, the fact of the matter is that the 9/11 attacks changed the course of history forever. It sparked the ongoing War on Terror, caused the death of thousands of people, and brought terrorism to forefront of the American way of life. However, the phoenix that rose from the ashes of Ground Zero burned brighter than ever before: American flags lined the streets, help came to those in need, and the friends and family of those who were lost found some solace after getting that devastating news. This was when I truly discovered what it is to be American, and it also the first time I discovered the healing power of music. It was when I began to broaden my horizon and understanding of music, where I found a meaning and a feeling I had never known existed.

So long as there is happiness in the world, there will seemingly always be tragedy. The unexpected always has a way of catching us all off guard at some point, and sending us on our ass for a while. Thankfully, there will always be music to pull us from the wreckage, so we can continue our pursuit to constantly burn out brighter:

P.O.D. "Alive"- As the United States attempted to pull through the pain of those lost during the 9/11 attacks, there was no solace offered from mainstream pop music (hot artists at the time included Britney Spears before she went insane, *NSYNC, and the Backstreet Boys). And then everyone was introduced to P.O.D. in a big way: the powerful opening line of "Alive" is an attention-grabber ("Every day is a new day, I'm thankful for every breath I take"), and the song provided and uplifting chorus that resonated with those suffering. What's so interesting about the success of the song is how unaccessible P.O.D. seemed at the time: four tattooed guys, two with dreadlocks, they looked more like a gang than a band who wrote one of the most unlikely hit songs of the decade, and we're all the more thankful for it.

Zac Brown Band: "Chicken Fried"- There's always been something about country music that just makes you say "This is America."The Zac Brown Band may be the best new artist that can carry that flag (both literally and figuratively) and show people what it truly means to be American. The simplistic, nostalgic feel to "Chicken Fried" is the strongest testament to capture the band's signature sound, and should be an instant addition to any party mix, even if its only purpose is to throw back a cold one and reminisce about the "good old days" for a little while.

My Chemical Romance: "Welcome to the Black Parade" and "Famous Last Words"- No matter what happens in a person's life, the death of a loved one will always end up affecting their lives. It can come at any instant, and My Chemical Romance seemed to have found that out. The album The Black Parade is one of best mainstream rock releases in nearly a decade, and "Black Parade" and "Famous Last Words" help to add to the album's overall theme of accepting death. While the songs give a similar message of carrying on with the memory of your loved ones giving you strength, My Chemical Romance find a way to make each song unique and inspirational without it feeling forced or overdone. There's a reason My Chem is still touring off of The Black Parade (originally released in February of 2007), and these two choice cuts are the living, breathing reasons that they are.

Four Year Strong- "One Step at a Time"- Losing a band member, someone you spend the majority of your touring time with, must be tough. Take it from FYS: they lost original keyboardist Dominic Mallory, but found the strength to carry on in his name. Knowing how many others are going through a similar situation as theirs, the band put all their emotion from the loss into one of the best tracks off of their sophomore full-length Enemy of the World. Though it seems simple, the band show us all that there's really only one way to cope with an emotional time: get through it, one step at a time. It's almost insultingly simple, yes, but it's also some of the best advice I've ever taken.

Motion City Soundtrack: "Everything is Alright"- I will always remember Motion City Soundtrack as one of the bands I loved thanks to a fateful two-hour browsing session at the FYE in my local mall. I loved the nerdy feel of Commit This to Memory, but I especially enjoyed the upbeat attitude of "Everything is Alright." As it turns out, it's now the only song I go to when I',m feeling down, and I get the idea that there are a lot more kids doing the same. The truth is, no matter how hurt you are, sometimes all it takes is the comfort of someone saying "everything's going to be okay" to pull you out of  funk, and thanks to Motion City Soundtrack, we'll have a song to do just that for a very, very long time.

There's something revealing about tragedy: it reminds us how short, fleeting, and unpredictable life is, and how important it is to make use of the time we've all been given. Am I saying the 9/11 attacks were necessary for Americans to learn that? Of course not. No amount of condolences or sympathy cards can replace the holes left by those lost in the attacks, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't still do all we can to help them. Thankfully, humans were given the ability to make music, and with the selections given above, here's hoping those suffering find the strength to carry on. If you've lost anyone to any kind of terrorist attack, disease, or any other tragic way, I offer my deepest sympathy and condolences. If you have any additions to make, please leave them, I'd love to hear them.

Show Recap: Vans Warped Tour at Monmouth Raceway Park

Sixteen sweet years ago, a man named Kevin Lyman created the Vans Warped Tour, and changed punk music forever. Since its inception, Warped has been a proving ground for up-and-coming acts in the pop-punk/hardcore/emo scene, while giving the proven vets a chance to appeal to a younger crowd. This year's edition of the tour brought more than a few good acts, and more than a little heat was brought upon the wide-eyed youths that took the Garden State Parkway to the Monmouth Park Raceway on July 18th. That being said, here's a chronological recap of the day:

1:00 PM- We arrive to catch the majority of I See Stars' set. While they fall into this God awful "crunk-core" genre, I always thought that they were a band that had potential for at least a glimmer of creativity. However, the talent the young band (most of its members graduated from high school last year) displayed on its debut album 3D was squandered by a sub-par performance, which included a mediocre at best cover of The Outfield's "Your Love."

 2:15- Four Year Strong (Acoustic Set)

After studying the day's schedule, I made my way over to the Keep-A-Breast merch tent to catch Dan and Alan of Four Year Strong play a quick four-song acoustic set. All of the songs were re-done for their Enemy of the World: Special Edition, a Warped Tour exclusive, and all of the songs played sounded as crisp and energetic as the full-band versions of the songs. Both vocalists were on-point, and showed a great deal of emotion throughout the set.

2:45- Bring Me the Horizon- Making my way over to the main stage for the first time, I was able to catch British hardcore behemoths Bring Me the Horizon. The band have made a killing with scene girls in their short career, and their crowd consisted of said girls for the most part. However, in the sea of hairspray and neon shirts, there seemed to be a decently sized pit that remained large throughout the band's entire set. The band has never been my cup of tea, and their set did not win me over; all of the songs seemed to run together, and screamer Oli Sykes seemed out of breath and unable to fully articulate his lyrics amidst the hear. However, the band did produce a pretty cool moment, when Sykes brought his father out for the band's final song, and the father and son went into the crowd together.

3:50- Emarosa-

The Ernie Ball Battle of the Bands Stage was easily the smallest stage on the tour, and how up-and-coming scene stars Emarosa ended up there is still a mystery to me. However, the band didn't seem to mind at all, putting together an energetic set led by the unmistakable Jonny Craig. The former Dance Gavin Dance vocalist has arguably the best voice around, and he set out to prove that during "Heads or Tails? Real or Not," which was one of the best songs I heard all day.While the band sounded phenomenal, it would have been nice to see them play more songs from their recently-released self-titled full-length, as the band's set was  dominated by songs from it's debut release Relativity. Nevertheless, the band put together a great set in what felt like the peak of the day's humidity.

5:35- Motion City Soundtrack

After a long break between bands, Motion City Soundtrack took the stage for the last time on Warped. The band shocked the crowd early on in their set, playing the usual set-ender "The Future Freaks Me Out" after opener "Attractive Today." However, the band's setlist flowed nicely, spanning the band's illustrious career while still plugging their newest material, the stellar My Dinosaur Life, "Disappear" and "L.G. FUAD" were highlights of the set, though the band sounded great on each and every song they played. The band have also taken the initiative to help the world around them, plugging their "Give a Little Help" program during their set. Motion City have always been a band known for their stellar live show, and their closing set on Warped Tour 2010 certainly added to that reputation.

6:15- Set Your Goals-  After Motion City's set had ended, I made my way over to the Altec Lansing Stage (new to the tour in 2010) to catch up-and-coming pop-punk superstars Set Your Goals. After hearing "Gaia Bleeds (Make Way for Man)" on Madden NFL 2010, I was excited to see them bring the house down. However, I left their set feeling a little disppointed, as the band seemed lethargic and unmotivated onstage. Whether the heat had gotten to them or my expectations were set too high, the band failed to do it for me.

6:35- Every Time I Die

I left Set Your Goals' set early in order to catch the band who have become legends in hardcore, the Bufflo-based Every Time I Die, tear the stage a new one. I was drawn into the band by their blistering 2009 release New Junk Aesthetic, and was blown away by the band's performance. There was no band that played Warped this year that put on a more entertaining show that ETID. Whether it was frontman Keith Buckley's antics, his brother Jordan recklessly throwing his guitar across his body and his body across the stage, or Andy Williams's facial hair, the band won me over completely with their set. In a scene were breakdowns come a dime a dozen and deep v-necks and skinny jeans are considered standard protocol or a uniform, ETID let their music to the talking, or better yet, the shouting. It has dawned upon me as I write this that this is what Warped Tour is really about: the legends of the scene showing the new guys how big of shoes they have to fill, and knowing that they won't be filled. If you haven't heard Every Time I Die's blend of hardcore and metal, you may be missing out on hardcore's most beloved outlaws.

7:15- Four Year Strong (Full Band)

As I made my way back to the Altec Lansing Stage, I could hear the crowd screaming the chorus of "It Must Really Suck to be Four Year Strong Right Now" from a hundred yards away. With that, the day was ready to be ended on an epic note. Dan and Alan were now with the rest of their bearded bandmates this time, and the band brought the pain in an inspired, intense set. Focusing mostly on playing songs off Enemy of the World, the band still found time to fit in classics like "Bada Bing! Wit a Pipe!" and "Heroes Get Remembered,  Legends Never Die" as well. "Wasting Time (Eternal Summer)" was screamed back at the band like no other song I'd seen played all day, and "One Step at a Time" brought out the band's sensitive side while still giving the (many) moshers something to dance to. Four Year Strong have emerged as the leaders in the new pop-punk scene, and the way they brought the day to a close is yet another testament to that.

Though this year's Warped lineup was under a vast amount of scrutiny for having "fad bands" littered throughout the lineup (Breathe Carolina, Attack Attack! and Nevershoutnever! to name a few), it is still easy to tell that the tour is still the premiere event for music in the summer. There is simply no other tour that can combine so many different styles of music for so many different kinds of people to listen to, and so long as the bands who do it right (Every Time I Die, Motion City Soundtrack, and Four Year Strong, among others) are on the card, I'll be going until I feel too old (which may be in a year anyway).

Here's some more photos:

More from Four Year Strong's acoustic set.

Will Sowers, Emarosa

Jonny Craig, Emarosa, showing off the golden pipes.

Motion City Soundtrack frontman (and mad scientist) Justin Pierre

The Brothers Buckley (Jordan, left and Keith, right), Every Time I Die

Every Time I Die guitarist (and mustache enthusiast) Andy Williams

Every Time I Die's Keith Buckley using his mic for anything but singing.

Jordan Buckley, Every Time I Die, about to drop the hammer.

Dan O' Connor, Four Year Strong, saying hello to the fans.

Mid-Year 2010: The Top Albums, Songs, and more

As the calendar made its way from June to July a couple of weeks ago, it marked the midway point of what is shaping up to be a monumental year for music. And while the script is only half-written, 2010 has graced us with return-to-form records,  monumental debuts, unexpected breakthroughs, and above all, some damn good music. Though it's far too early in the year to create a "Best Of" list yet, there are certainly some prime candidates to become key factors (and a few top contenders) come December. In no order, here is my soundtrack to the year (so far):

Coheed and Cambria-Year of the Black Rainbow: At long last, the saga of Coheed and Cambria has seen it's triumphant end. The band has become a staple of the prog-emo world, riveting comic book-loving fans with their sci-fi take on music. Claudio Sanchez's story has seen its final chapter (which, oddly enough, is the first part chronologically), and when all good things come to an end, it calls for celebration. And that's what Black Rainbow is, pure and simple. The songs are bigger, the production is crisp, and the saga's ending serves to be a powerful one. This is arguably Coheed's catchiest release, but they haven't lost a step musically, as seen in "Guns of Summer" and single "The Broken." There will never be another band like Coheed and Cambria, and their latest effort is both a celebration of the band's previous ventures and a preview of ones to come.

Four Year Strong- Enemy of the World: Pop-punk has taken its share of black eyes and bruises over the years. Fads have come and gone, and it seems that there is a sort of Renaissance going on, bringing back the honesty and camaraderie that drove kids to the pop-punk scene in the first place. Four Year Strong is poised to be the poster boys for this movement. With songs like "One Step at a Time" and "Tonight We Feel Alive (On a Saturday)" bringing the emotional sides of the band out, and singles "Wasting Time (Eternal Summer)" and "It Must Really Suck to be Four Year Strong Right Now" begging to be screamed by crowds, there's something for everyone here, and surely FYS will be bringing the pain at their shows for years to come thanks to this release.

Motion City Soundtrack- My Dinosaur Life: After their last release Even if it Kills Me created a line in the sand for fans, MCS decided (maybe not intentionally) to go back to their old days, and have written what could be their best album to date. Justin Pierre once again gives fans front-row seats to the battle he continues to fight with his demons, providing some of his most personal lyrics (as seen on "Disappear"), while the band continues to push its musical boundaries as well. My Dinosaur Life takes a turn for the dark side, which may be too great a change of pace for some fans still stuck on songs like "LG FUAD," but any fan that is willing to take the ride through this album, its highs, lows, and everything in between, will be all the better for it, and will be introduced to one of the best albums of the year.

The Audition- Great Danger: After their raucous Controversy Loves Company, The Audition have been struggling to create an album that lived up to the promise they showed on their debut. They may have surpassed anything they've ever done on Great Danger. It's the perfect soundtrack to heartbreak, yet it still keeps with the band's knack to write the catchiest hooks this side of the Mississippi. Though many will dismiss The Audition as a regular old pop/rock band (see: me), the effort and emotion put forth on this album (prime examples being "Honest Mistake" and "The Art of Living") to make anyone jump onto The Audition's bandwagon.

Minus the Bear- Omni: It seems that every year, a band I don't typically listen to releases an album that I love and it makes me wonder why I never gave the band a chance sooner. This year, Omni is that record. It's a funky, sexy good time, and you don't ever want it to stop. Opener "My Time" is a great track to play with the windows down, while "Secret Country" is among many others that show the precise and creative musicianship MTB have always had. This isn't like their earlier releases, but Omni proves that change doesn't always have to be for the worse.

Emarosa-Emarosa: When Johnny Craig released a full-length solo album and the Isles and Glaciers EP before he even hinted at writing (or having any interest in) the next Emarosa, fans of the band were certainly on edge. However, with the band's self-titled effort, it's clear that Craig saved his best creative juices for the band who salvaged his career after he was booted from Dance Gavin Dance. This album may contain the best bookend songs of the year: "A Toast to Future Kids!" builds up from a slow start to explode, which makes it more than a fitting opener, while the somber, emotional "We Are Life" adds the exclamation point to an album that could push Emarosa to the next level, while possibly cementing Craig as the scene's best frontman.

Circa Survive- Blue Sky Noise: I'll never be one to deny my allegiance to Circa Survive. They are simply one of the bands that I can not get enough of. And given how many times I've played On Letting Go, I had my doubts that the follow-up to quite possibly my favorite album of all time would be an improvement. And, as usual, I was wrong. Blue Sky Noise is Circa's assertion that though he's still a key ingredient, Anthony Green is not the entire band. I can name you a part in every song that at least one member of the band other than Green simply takes over the track, and takes Circa's lyrics and vocals to a whole new stratosphere. There are simply not enough words I can currently come up with to describe this record's brilliance, but this is a good start: I'm naming Blue Sky Noise as my Album of the Year. Right now. It simply will not be topped, and if it is, then it will be something that I'll hold near and dear to my heart, right along with this one. 

(Writer's Note: to ensure accuracy in the mid-year mark, albums released after July 1st were not considered for this article.)

Now that that's over with, let's look at some other aspects, starting with some of the best songs to come out this  year:

Of Mice & Men- "Second & Sebring": Say what you want about Austin Carlile being the reason Attack Attack! is on the map (it's true, after all), but it seems that he found his writing niche with Of Mice, and this song is proof. It's very powerful, and Carlile holds it dear to his heart, so much in fact that when he was replaced by former Sky Eats Airplane frontman Jerry Rousch he wrote a lengthy blog requesting Rousch respect the lyrics and vocals because of how much they mean to him. Though that drama still continues, you can find solace in simply enjoying Carlile's crown jewel, which could be the best metalcore track of the year.

You, Me, and Everyone We Know- "Build Me Up, Buttercup (Cover)": Cover songs are tricky nowadays. The Punk Goes... series and metalcore covers of every Top 40 hit this year have cheapened the art substiantially, but YMAEWK have certainly broken the mold with their cover of the doo-wop hit from The Foundations. They took a song that may or may not influence the way they write, and left most of the things that made it great intact, while tweaking it enough to make it a signature track from the band. While covers are rarely done right, this is one of those cases, and a must-listen for any covers fan.

Neon Trees- "Animal"- Though mainstream pop music has gone to the kids (like Miley Cyrus or Justin Beiber, whoever she is), sometimes you hear a song on the radio that gives you some little glimmer of hope. This year's best chance at giving the mainstream a taste of real music is from a group hailing from, oddly enough, Utah. It's catchy, has an indie feel to it, but can really come in handy at your next party. And though they share a label with Ms. Beiber, you can tell there's a sense of sincerity in the Trees.

Chiodos- "Thermacare (Unreleased Demo)"- Likely the last song Chiodos recorded with Craig Owens as their lead vocalist, "Thermacare" may also be the best song the band has ever written. The chorus is as stinging as it is catchy, Owens's vocals are as strong as you'd expect them to be, and the breakdown can easily cause some damage in the pits. However, the song is a bittersweet listen, because while it is a vintage Chiodos track, it also makes the listener think that if this was the direction was going for their next album with Owens, the decision to kick him out of the band was dumber than originally thought.

Moving right along, let's take a look at what's next this year. In no order, here is the most anticipated albums for the rest of the year:

You, Me, and Everyone We Know- Some Things Don't Wash Out (Release Date: August 31): The heir apparents to the pop-punk throne release their debut full-length, celebrating their first release on Doghouse Records as well. 

Valencia (Release Date: Unknown): The band opted not to tour Japan or play the Bamboozle Festival to record their follow-up to the beautiful We All Need a Reason to Believe. If their next release is anything like Believe, Valencia could become the leaders of the pop-punk revival.

Underoath (Release Date: October): The band's first album without Aaron Gillespie will surely be different, but let's face it: this has been Spencer Chamberlain's band since Define the Great Line, and their two releases with "Spee" as their main songwriter have been incredible. 

My, what a year it's been. And with the list of bands who could possibly release an album before year's end including Manchester Orchestra, the revamped Chiodos and Craig Owens's new project, Senses Fail, and Hellogoodbye, I have a feeling it's only going to get better, making the construction of my Top 10 Albums list all the more difficult. But hey, that's what this is all about.