My Top 250 Albums (11-20)

11. SAY ANYTHING – … IS A REAL BOY
(2004 – T13 G13 B11 UB6)

I can’t believe this album isn’t solidly in the top 10 but then the maths and looking at the 10 to come I can’t. 11 is as close as it can anyway. This was Say Anything’s 2nd album, dare I say first proper album, the other being a rough recording of demo standard. I was 18 months late in discovering it but found it at the perfect time. Max Bemis’ fully committed vocals and lyrics and emphatic anthems was just the right pick me up after a split. The album initially was supposed to be a rock opera apparently with narrative and characters talking between songs but the size of the project apparently made Max have a breakdown. I’m glad it wasn’t that as it sounds a bit shite or minimum annoying. The album as it is a glorious thing. “The record begins with a song of rebellion” being the spoken word intro to “Belt”, that sorta show thing can be understood in the lyrics at the end this with is kinda West Side Story “What say you, And all your friends, Step up to my friends, In the alley tonight” which sounds like the Jets and Sharks fight (not that I know anything about musicals as I hate them, but having read about the rock opera thing it makes this make more sense). “Woe” has the most passionate moog and “la da daa” section in a song you’ll ever hear. “Alive With The Glory Of Love” is the most euphoric song you’ll hear about the holocaust, this is an amazing song and I def remember having goose bumps the first times I was hearing it back when I first discovered them. The remaining UBs are reserved for the last 3 tracks but the mid section is still full of banger level material, “The Futile” which I advice you don’t let your granny hear and “An Orgy Of Critics” which is a mess of a song that somehow works. “Chia-Like, I Shall Grow” was my ringtone for a long time and is a fantastic song, with its big final chorus and various sections. “I Want To Know Your Plans” is an acoustic song sung with the passion of a man who isn’t just singing it for the sake of it or musical perfection. “Admit It!!!” is an anthem. It is a near spoken word rant at hipsters, jocks and all kinds of people clans. the climax being his defiant “My car and my guitar……. When I’m dead I’ll rest”. The “You Are A Faker” section and “Proud of my life and the things that I have done, Proud of myself and the loner I’ve become” just hit home every time. This album probably has some of my very top level UBs but the score system cannot show this and so here it is, just outside the top 10. 

None of this also takes into account he great bonus disc which includes the glorious “Wow, I Can Get Sexual Too” and on Spotify “A Walk Through Hell” which was our first dance song at our wedding. It’s a shame that later Say Anything stuff was a very pale shadow of this.

12. ALEXISONFIRE – WATCH OUT!
(2004 – T11 G11 B10 UB6)

Oh we are going next level now, every song but one on this is classed as a banger. This was Alexisonfire’s 2nd release and it a work of glory. The sound and production are just perfect on this. “Crisis” which followed though still great, had a kinda cleaner sound, whereas this has a kinda echoey more atmospheric sound to it. The first half of the album is packed with 5 UB’s starting off with the high action “Accidents” a glorious song which even manages to make “woaah”‘s sound cool. “Control” is all about Dallas Green’s vocals, but the scream vocal does perfectly contrasts it mixes with the rest of the music seamlessly. “It Was Fear Of Myself That Made Me Odd” has an awesome little noodly guitar middle section before the drum lead breakdown. Similarly the guitar on “Hey, It’s Your Funeral Mama” is cock on, the sort of scale riff during the chorus is super nice. “No Transitory” was my introduction song to this album and combines all the best features of the album. The 2nd half has less UBs in but is still top notch stuff, the Godzilla stomping building style riff on “That Girl Possessed” being one of the highlights. “White Devil” doesn’t quite hit banger level for me but “Get Fighted” gets there based on the last 30 seconds along with the “My greatest gift to you, Is a dance floor, Free from insecurity” section. “Happiness By The Killowatt” is a great closing track and def in UB territory. The way the unique drum rythm continues through most of the song with the rest gradually building up to the climax. Top Trumps all round! (That last song also featured on a split with Moneen on which Alexisonfire did an awesome version of Moneen’s “Tonight I Am Going To Wash The Hippy” in case anyones missed that)

13. REUBEN – VERY FAST VERY DANGEROUS
(2005 – T13 G13 B11 UB5)

Reuben, its been a while, since #83 in fact and we have 2 Reuben albums coming up! The first of which is their 2nd album “Very Fast Very Dangerous” which was released just over a year after their debut. heady times indeed! though admittedly though I liked them I didn’t love Reuben as much as I do now. Live they were incredible and def enjoyed that back then. This album is more varied compared to the first and in places a lot more aggressive. There are lots of dirty riffs and full throated screaming and big vocals to be enjoyed. “A Kick In the Mouth” kicks things off with a thick bass line, but “Some Mothers Do Ave Em” takes things up a notch. The second half of that song is glorious stuff, going from slightly unhinged vocals about how much his mum loves him, the big “oooohhhh” vocals at the end. fantastisch. The next highlight comes in the form of “Every Time a Teenager listens to Drum & Bass a Rockstar Dies” This song goes to epic places again in the 2nd half, string sections and big sing along lyrics. “You and me can both go home and rest out bones….” fuckin’ awesome section. “Nobody Loves You” is basically a chilled out near acoustic song and done brilliantly, again more strings! “Blamethrower” is the opposite and could probably commit a crime if handed a knife. The super fast spoken word section is great stuff, then the mentalist gutteral scream vocals and riffs… oooo, its a good album (Partridge style). “Lights Out” is a bit more melodic compared to the rest and a def UB. So far all the UBs have been completely different in feel. The highlight of the album comes in the form of the 7 minute “Return Of The Jedi” about how much money it takes to make records and he still works in a shop, despite being vaguely successful. This song is absolutely incredible and again has a truely epic 2nd half and climax. I miss Reuben. So far lead man Jamie Lenman’s solo stuff has been an odd mix, but the fact he is still going gives hope of a return over 10 years since their last album.

14. JIMMY EAT WORLD – CLARITY
(1999 – T13 G11 B11 UB5)

Jimmy Eat World’s 5th appearance in the list and their highest is at #14. It’s also one of 3 in the past 2 weeks! Of the recent 3 this one is perhaps best listened to as a full album rather than individual tracks. On their own the songs do not stand out as much as say “A Praise Chorus” or “Work” but all together, without wanting to sound poncy, its like a work of delicate art. Released 20 years ago in February this year, its considered a classic of whatever genre you decide to class it as. The album is full of tracks that fit together perfectly yet are a wide range of stuff, from the quiet opening track “Table For Glasses” which has some great vocal layering towards the end, to the palm muted heavier “Your New Asthetic” and the faster punk pop of “Crush”. “Lucky Denver Mint” has a kind of metronomic flow to it and gradually builds as it goes along, ending with some drum programming effects to add to that robotic metronomic feel. “A Sunday” is a great song filled with strings and xylophones tinging. “Crush” is the most immediately impactful song, esp for someone who got into them off the back of “Bleed American” and is probably the closest to that album, yet still sounds quite different. After the ok “12.23.95”, there are 3 magical songs in “Ten”, the 7 minute beauty of “Just Watch The Fireworks” and “For Me This Is Heaven”. These are songs that perhaps took a while to appreciate, but its def my favourite section of the album. “Blister” allows the usually backing vocalist Tom, to have a go on lead vocals, which is something he did more before this album and not since. The title track has a great little riff in it and for me should be the closer. The final track is 16 mins long and while arty, repeating its melody over and over, I rarely ever bother listening to it. The bonus track on the later re-released version is a different version of “Sweetness” which is much better than the “Bleed American” one for me. Just wish this album had included the incredible “The Most Beautiful Things” which would have fit in perfectly.

15. BEN FOLDS FIVE – BEN FOLDS FIVE
(1995 – T12 G11 B9 UB6)

Way back 24 years now to 1995 and Ben Folds Five’s debut self titled album. This is the 5th Ben Folds related album and highest placed. The first Ben Folds Five song I heard was off this album on a Shine compilation in “Underground” but I didn’t hear/get this album until after I’d got 1997’s “Whatever And Ever Amen”. This album compared to that is more on the fun side of things with most songs being more upbeat and nerdy. The piano rock gods begin the album with “Jackson Cannery” which sets the tone with its fuzzy bass sound and slightly off key “aahhhh” backing vocals and sections where the 3 talk mid song as if the whole thing is jammed out on the spot. “Philosophy” is a live favourite complete with backing vocal “My Phil..” which I enjoy. It also has a great piano solo ending which is often extended when done live. “Julianne” is full of trash can smashing sound effects and falsetto vocals and is primarily a bass lead song rather than piano. “Where’s Summer B?” is probably my favourite and definitely the coolest track on the album, inspiring jazz style “ahh niiiiice” voices in my head. The big nerdy single “Underground” is midway with its extended intro and at the time I’d never heard anything like it with the high vocals and backing vocals and little quirks like the “click my heels” *click click click* part. To be honest I probably still haven’t heard anything like it. Its definitely a unique style and a classic. “Sports & Wine” is full of great and funny lyrics and similarly with “Uncle Walter” about the armchair guy who sets the world straight but has never done anything himself. After the also great “Best Imitation Of Myself” the last 3 tracks tail off a bit but this is a classic album and unique sounding in my collection and always a right romp.

16. MOTION CITY SOUNDTRACK – COMMIT THIS TO MEMORY
(2004 – T12 G12 B9 UB5)

Produced by Blink-182’s Mark Hoppus this was MCS’s 2nd album and is their 2nd highest placed on the list. It’s an album primarily about frontman Justin Courtney Pierre’s insecurities and mental medical issues… all delivered in a cheery melodic moog filled way…. the best way. Opener “Attractive Today” sets the tone and a particular highlight is the stop to say “I like you” midway through, sure to work on any lady ;-). Then comes the main single the pop-tastic “Everything Is Alright”, the final third of this is a true UB elevator (surely a term to be adopted by the English language more commonly soon). “When You’re Around” is a bouncy sweary classic. “Make Out Kids” is a pure joy, full of nerdy lines. “Time Turned Fragile” is proper uber good and has the most sweet melodies in the final act over some nice drum rolling action, which always stands out live. Another single in “L.G. FUAD” follows, standing for “Let’s get fucked up and die”, as slower number, but another that is a great sing along live. “Better Open The Door” has a ridiculously catchy chorus, which is probably a danger to public health and the “I’ll swim backwards” bit toward the end is lovely stuff.  The final track “Hold Me Down” is a much sader song in tone and was the final single. 

Rock Sound had this album at 105 in their best albums of the last 20 years saying it’s “brimming with uplifting Moog keys, ridiculously catch hooks and significantly, Justin Pierre’s brilliantly relatable and self depreciating lyrics”. Incidentally Nathan Kane of Whale Bones (a new band that featured earlier in the list) has done an entire cover version of this album with his awesome vocals and its brilliant. 

17. JIMMY EAT WORLD – FUTURES
(2004 – T11 G11 B8 UB5)

Jimmy Eat World’s follow up to the exquisite “Bleed American” and “Clarity” albums and somehow they held up on the quality. 3 bangers of albums in a row! This one continues the more radio friendly sound and production from “Bleed American” but perhaps sprinkles a little touch more of “Clarity” magic on top. The vocals from Jim Adkins are probably the big step up on this one, some moments are just perfect. The title track and opener “Futures” is good but there is much better to come. 3 UB’s and a borderline UB follow in a spectacular run of form. “Just Tonight” has a kind of darker guitar sound to it and whispery-ish vocals to add to that darker sound. “Work” was one of the singles off the album and has a very cheesy emo video including overlayed teenager talking about going to college ‘bluergh!’. Thankfully that is not on the album as this is a blinder of a song, the vocals are immense in parts. “Kill” follows with its smooth acoustic guitar intro and bass line and again Jim hits all the right spots especially in the section before the climax of the song. I’m not a fan other other single “Pain” which begins a slight mid album lull. “Drugs Or Me” has a good message etc, but its just not that interesting. “Polaris” is probably my favourite song on the album and a 5 minute builder of a song, the chorus is just glorious. “Nothing Wrong” then blasts in full of riffs before a sort of modern day “Hey Jude” comes along in the form of “Night Drive” finishing with its ‘na na naa’s as it does, if anything that holds it back from being another UB. The final tack “23” is def a ultimate banger and had a similar effect on me as “A Praise Chorus” in reminding me “If you wait for the right time, What are you hoping for?”, its a 7 minute epic thats the perfect ending to the album. While its highs are not on “Bleed American”s level it has more of them for me. Still “Clarity” tops it.

18. HOT ROD CIRCUIT – SORRY ABOUT TOMORROW
(2002 – T11 G11 B10 UB4)

This is HRC’s 2nd and highest appearance on the chart. This is a very solid album from start to finish. On first listen, all them years ago, it all felt a bit samey (poss a bit like an album near the very peak of this chart), but as the lyrics and intricacies started to sink in this album grew and grew on me. Compared to their other album in the chart “If It’s Cool With You…” this is generally a slower album and the guitar hooks are lower in the mix, but they are still there and overall its a lot tidier. “The Pharmacist” is the opener and kicks it off in a fine way, then come 3 UB’s, “At Nature’s Mercy” flows along and gradually increases in pace before chilling back down. “Radiation Suit” is one of the faster songs on the album and full of those unique sounding guitar hooks which are so like it’s predecessor. “Safely” is just a nice cruise of a song and though it doesn’t really do a lot or change much, I just love it. “Cool For One Night” and “Knees” are great songs and I’m struggling to explain why, but I just love this album. There’s nothing particularly special or different going on, I just love the sound of the album, the slightly dulled drum sound and everything merges a bit, its just really well done and a cool kinda vibe to it. The final UB is “Let’s Go Home” which has some great lyrics sung in a fantastic way. “I can honestly say for the first time, That I’m not alone and you’re all mine”. The final song feels like its an epic 5 minute plus song but somehow they cram it into just over half that time. The last minute of this is glorious stuff. It’s a shame that the material HRC did after this album was never anywhere near this standard before splitting in 2007.

19. UNDEROATH – THEY’RE ONLY CHASING SAFETY
(2004 – T9 G9 B8 UB5)

This is so of the time, everytime I am about to listen to any of this I assume I will probably not like it anymore. Fortunately everytime I hear a song off it I love it. Its very 2004 and very screamo and pretty different to what Underoath did either before or after. We last saw Underoath back in the 200’s with “Define The Great Line”, most fans come down on one side of the fence on whether they like the more metalcore style on that album or the more screamy emo punk style on this album. I obviously prefer the latter and this hits the sweet spot of this type of stuff for me. Its very pop for an album that has a lot of screaming in it. There aren’t many riffs, it’s mainly strummed guitar and the clean vocals are very much a generic emo-punk pop vocal. The unclean vocal is the right side of understandable but still with an edge to them. There’s also a fair bit of production going on there with the occasional sample beat and effects. It’s a mix as I say I would have thought I may have gone off by now, or perhaps not liked in the first place. But, what can I say, I love it. 8 of the 9 tracks (ignoring the 50 second instrumental) get my Banger rating and over half of them are Ultimate Bangers starting with the opener “Young and Aspiring”; the end of this is awesome with the screamed “This is my panic… This is my call to arms”. “A Boy Brushed Red Living In Black And White” has a nice little breakdown bit where some of those clicks and whistles are used, but to good effect. The big track off this album is “Reinventing Your Exit” its emo-pop-core (or whatever) to perfection, even with that very american sounding “yoouuu” being used. “It’s A Dangerous Business Walking Out Your Front Door” is a great track (with a really shite and now cheesy video), this one has a massive chorus and then the 2nd half is filled with a choir section under the screaming vocals. awesome stuff. “Down, Set, Go” has a nice pace and flow to it and a great big ending. “I Don’t Feel Very Receptive Today” is probably the heaviest track on the album and doesn’t have a single clean vocal section and is a def UBer, with some of the simple but effective guitar sections. The final track is a bit of a God-botherer track which lets it down a bit, its the quietest track on the album, still has its moments to at least get the good rating. I’ll continue to enjoy this album till the day finally comes where I suddenly hate it.

20. BIFFY CLYRO – THE VERTIGO OF BLISS
(2003 – T13 G12 B8 UB5)

Now this is the Biffy Clyro I loved. 90 places higher than their next best effort and still their debut to come. This was their second album and at the time I was a full ‘Mon Tha Biffy-er. Since then… less so. Still this is a super sweet album. It was quirkier and more obscure than their debut, with more range, sometimes a little messy but when it hit the spot it smashed it. “The Vertigo Of Bliss” has a naughty little front cover too, a lady presumably pleasuring thine-self, that or removing one of those cotton mouse things. Moving swiftly on… opener “Bodies In Flight” is an odd affair and one of the weaker tracks, good live but not on disc. “Ideal Height” was the first release for the album and was classic Biffy, with odd little guitar squeaks and slides thrown in. “With Aplomb” showed what was a different side to them with a string filled haunting mini epic of a song. Things speed up with the next couple of tracks and includes the gloriously titled “Liberate The Illiterate… A Mong Among Mingers”. Then the album chills for the frankly beautiful “Diary Of Always” with its looped “I just wish we all could betray” sample in the background. “Questions And Answers” was their first top 40 charting song with its catchy chorus and its awesome “Still I feel them passing me by” backing vocal. The 2nd half of the album is great guns with true riffer UBer “Eradicate The Doubt” which goes all kinds of places in its 4.5 mins. “Toys Toys Toys Choke, Toys Toys Toys” is my favourite Biffy song and definitely in my top 10 songs by anyone. The glory of this song was highlighted when I saw them at Godiva Festival in June 2002 a year before this album came out and this song life is incredible, esp the drum clicking on the drum rim and the endless riff changes. Love it. At that same gig I also got the drummer stick when he launched it into the “crowd” (prob 3 lines of people and then open space, then me) and it fell at my feet as if to emphasie how unknown they were back then. (elitist early fan remark… check). “All The Way Down Chapter One” is another beauty of a song, when this album goes UB it goes FULL UB!