Anyone who knows me knows I love lists, but with things I'm truly into, I have a tough time creating actual rankings. During the course of 2022, I've listened to and reviewed lots of releases that I like a lot. Most are in the general categories of Ramonescore or Ramones-adjacent pop punk, though I continue to find my way to other stuff from time-to-time. In any case, rather than ranking a list arbitrarily, I made a ridiculous set of “Favorite” categories that allows me to simply go through a bunch of fantastic albums from the year. I'd probably say any album below is my favorite from the year while I'm listening to it. So without further ado (and this was frankly too much ado), here's some absurdity.
Favorite Album from an Italian Band
The Manges – Book of Hate for Good People
Italy's The Manges managed to pull it off. They just keep getting better with age it seems, one-upping 2020's Punk Rock Addio and even the outta-this-world Go Down. Book of Hate is hook-laden Ramones-indebted pop punk that's easy to love. Favorite songs include “Jesus Is My Homeboy”, “I Shot Cyrus”, “Lucky Tiger”, and “I'm Not A Sissy”.
Favorite “pop-rock-in-a-Buddy-Holly-sort-of-way” Album
Trevor Blendour – Falling in Love
Iowan Trevor Blendour has made all sorts of great music, some under this name and some with bands including The Blendours and Surf Zombies. But Falling in Love is my absolute favorite so far. It's the best pure distillation of pop rock goodness I've heard in some long time and I can't get enough of it. As I mentioned when I reviewed the album: slot these songs in next to Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens numbers on a playlist and it'll fit right in. It's that simple and good. Favorite songs include “Carly Please”, “Falling in Love”, “Lost the Girl”, and “Don't Mean Maybe”.
Favorite Fictional Amusement Park Theme Songs Album
Whimsyland – Whimsyland
This one completely surprised me. I had no prior knowledge of the album or the project in general, but Whimsyland, a project of Chadd Derkins, absolutely delighted me. It's an innocent collection of songs about a fictional theme park called “Whimsyland” and the songs are catchy and exuberant pop punk numbers, full of all the fun that such a project tries to give off. I can't say enough about how fun this album is. Favorite songs include “Old Town Square”, “Oatmeal Cookies – The Ride”, “The Bunny's House”, and “Turtle Taproom”.
Favorite Album by former members of The Apers
Sweatpants Party – Sweatpants Party
Kevin Apers Sweatpants Party long ago got my attention with the dumb pop punk song “I Hate Pineapple”. But I had kinda come to terms with the idea that I may not hear a bunch else from the band. Then Sweatpants Party hits and blows me away with a mix of snotty and sentimental songs and catchy hooks that won't leave my brain. Favorite songs include “Gimme Gimme Wok Treatment”, “I.K.E.A.”, “Happy Heart”, and “Elevator”
Favorite Pop Punk Collaboration Album
Grim Deeds and the P.O.P.K – Down In Flames
Grim Deeds shows up on my end-of-year round-ups every year it seems, and this time he brings friends (the mysterious P.O.P.K). On Down In Flames, the match-up hits right, with high energy music courtesy of P.O.P.K on re-recordings of 6 great Deeds' songs (with Grim singing) and then 6 other songs offered up with the snarling vocals of Thomas William St. John singing. It's not a split, it's not a band album, but rather a collaboration. Favorite songs include “Breakfast of Champions”, “Ignorance Is Bliss”, “I Never Wanna See Your Face Again”, and “Dumb Things Never Change”
Favorite Riverdales-meets-Green Day Album
Pinoles – Just Wanna
Pinoles came outta nowhere to release Just Wanna. From the Riverdales-aping cover and chord changes to the snotty Billie Joe-style vocals, Pinoles nails a sound that has been around for ages but always sounds good when pulled off right. Sure, it's derivative, but pretty much all of the music I love is. And when the songs are this good, it's okay to just brainlessly sing along. Favorite songs include “Lucille”, “Padded Walls”, “I Don't Love You Anymore”, and “Just Wanna”.
Favorite Birdbrained, Lillingtons-style Album
AVEM – Three Birds Stoned
Canadian band AVEM remind me of one of my favorite bands, Lillingtons. That is clearly a good thing for me and the quick pace, buzzing guitars, and guitar leads land real right with Three Birds Stoned. Then the lyrics start to hit and you wonder why in the world you're singing songs about birds…constantly. But the words are clever, fun, and even thought-provoking. Favorite songs include “Calling Card”, “Mother Nature Really Sucks”, “Nigel”, and “Really Gotta Go”.
Favorite Sci-Fi Album
Manarovs – Manarovs
Manarovs are an interesting beast. On this self-titled debut album, the band hits all sorts of sci-fi goodness while keeping the guitars buzzing and the vocals bouncing back-and-forth between clean croons and scratchy rasps. Song after song hits and leaves a mark. Favorite songs include “Wallbreaker”, “Bad Moon Baby”, “Operation: Lightning Bug”, and “Flying Solo”.
Favorite Album with Mario-themed-art
Lesser Creatures – Issue 2
On Issue 2, Lesser Creatures up the ante with more buzz and speed, making a ravaged and killer punk album that is tough as nails without ever losing the fun singalong element that has me falling for Lesser Creatures music at every turn. Favorite songs include “Talk About It”, “Just A Vacation”, “Nobody's Keeping Score”, and “I Hope You Die”.
Favorite Snotty Pop Punk Album
The Radio Buzzills – Get Even
St. Louis' The Radio Buzzkills are a throwback pop punk band, loaded with all the angsty snot and singalong goodness that I love. Get Even has great songs front-to-back. Some are rotten, bratty blasts, some are almost-sweet love songs, and there's even a song that feels like a 90's grunge classic. Favorite songs include “I Want My Records Back”, “Never Gonna Get My Best”, “I Fell For You”, and “Please Don't Go”.
Favorite “Inspired Me to Watch Something New” Album
Spacenoidz – Colony Drop
I had no prior knowledge of the Gundam world, but Spacenoidz (Patrick McVay of The Putz) aimed to change that. The “Mobile Suit Gundam”-themed Colony Drop follows the storyline of the anime series and hits well for me with no prior knowledge thanks to the great pop punk songs. So much so that I went back and watched some of the source material stuff to make better sense of everything. Favorite songs include “Colony Drop”, “Goodbye Miss Matilda”, “Black Tri-Stars”, and “No Zaku”. ****Check out the cool cover art by TGEFM's very own Jeff!
Favorite International Relations Split Album
Zoanoids / Proton Packs – Split 7”
Two of my favorite bands in recent years teamed up for Split 7”. Michigan's Zoanoids are heavy and fast pop punk that wraps catchy singalongs in b-movie imagery while Italy's Proton Packs have sci-fi lyrics set to hooks and earworm guitar leads. On this 4-song split, the bands compliment each other well and flatly rip. Favorite songs include “The End of Everything” (Proton Packs) and “Abandon All Hope” (Zoanoids).
Favorite Domestic Split Album
The Suck / Johnny Terrien and the Bad Lieutenants – Split
Split merges the fantastic mid-tempo street punk of The Suck and the Ramonescore of Johnny Terrien and the Bad Lieutenants. Each cover a song by the other and offers up an original on this fun continuation of the “Faster and Louder” split series. Favorite songs include “Cult of Fonz” (The Suck) and “Partytown USA” (Johnny Terrien and the Bad Lieutenants).
Favorite Pure Ramonescore Album
Radio Blast – Radio Blast
Blah, blah, blah – Radio Blast does nothing new, I know, I know. But Radio Blast is simply a terrific Ramonescore album – one that aspires to nothing new and is all the better for it. This is foundational punk rock completely wrapped up in creating the bedrock of punk rock – a good song. Thankfully, they hit the mark over and over on the album. Favorite songs include “Latchkey Kids”, “One Track Mind”, Lefty (Doesn't Own a Leather Jacket)”, and “I Can't Stand It”.
Favorite Dumb Street Rock Album
Sack – Ripper!
I'm a sucker for Kody Templeman's stuff. I tend to obsess over Lillingtons in particular and Sack's 2003 release Get Wrecked was just the goofy fun “street rock” album I needed. After 19 years, the follow-up, Ripper!, is more dumb punk goodness. The guitars sound like buzzsaws, the rhythm section pulverizes, and the singalong vocal melodies stick to my brain. Here's to hoping there's not a 19 year wait until the next one. Favorite songs include “I Hate The Beach Boys”, “Wet Banana”, “I Tried Suicide”, and “The Return of Mr. Bong”.
Favorite Evil “outside-my-normal-listening-habits” Album
SpiritWorld – Deathwestern
“Death metal”-meets-”thrash metal”-meets-”hardcore”-meets-”death western” band SpiritWorld is awfully heavy and violent sounding. I feel pulverized when I listen to Deathwestern, but sometimes that's okay. There's no hint of Ramones in this music, it's just sheer cathartic brutality. Favorite songs include “Committee of Buzzards”, “DEATHWESTERN”, “Relic Of Damnation”, and “Crucified Heathen Scum”.
Favorite Commie Punk Rock Album
Black Russians – Communist Dudes
Black Russians lean hard into evil stories and vile Soviet-era retellings on Communist Dudes. The propaganda is both ridiculous and twisted and the music is muscular and pummeling, with traces of Motorhead (in the straight-ahead ferocity) and Iron Maiden (in the guitar leads) mixed with the Ramones-style punk catchiness that lays the foundation. Favorite songs include “Nuke The Moon”, Phantom Cosmonaughts”, “Winter”, and “Black Death”.
Favorite 80's “outside-my-normal-listening-habits” Album
Dresden The Mark – The Tangled EP
Anything Bad Secret does is gold, so I'm willing to try out anything Beau McNamee offers up. Under the name Dresden The Mark, he deep dives into an 80's post-punk thing that reminds me greatly of Closer-era Joy Division and early New Order. I love both of those bands, but usually find current recreations sort of hollow. Not so with The Tangled EP. These 4 songs have an edge and atmosphere that makes each haunting and McNamee's voice sounds fantastic over the proceedings. Favorite song is probably the lead-off, “Taste” or the bare and plaintive title track, but all 4 are great.
ryan is a reviewer and news editor for TGEFM. He's very secretive, he might be an alien.