I was thinking about my top ten records list for 2024 and the fact that I chose The Massive Wagons record, Earth to Grace as the best record of the year. Did I make the right choice? Watershed and American Jetset rounded out my top three, and both could have snagged that top spot, but I’m pretty happy with my choice. The bigger question is, what about the last few years worth of number ones? The more time that passes, the more likely that I may feel differently now. In fact, I think it is probable that I would change many of my choices for top record of the year. So, I decided to go back through my top tens from 2019 to 2023 to see whether I made any major misjudgments along the way.
2024 - Massive Wagons – Earth to Grace
As I noted above, I’m still fine with this one. It’s a great record. No need to say much more now.
2023 - The Damned – Darkadelic
The only 2023 record that came close to this killer was WTFORTYFIVE? by Girlschool. I could argue this one is a toss-up, but who cares? I still think my top two are the top two records of the year, so I did fine. Let’s move on.
2022 – Soraia – Bloom
I chose this record over efforts by American Jetset, Tuk Smith & the Restless Hearts, and The Godfathers. I am confident that I would not change those as the top four, but I would definitely change the order. My choice for best record from 2022 at this point would definitely be Alpha Beta Gamma Delta by The Godfathers. That would jump it up from fourth, so I’ve definitely had a change of heart. Number two would be Ballad of a Misspent Youth by Tuk Smith & the Restless Hearts. Soraia would be third and Jetset would be fourth. So, my theory that as time moves on my opinion would change is starting to trend that way.
2021 – The Pretty Reckless – Death by Rock and Roll
I got this one 100% right. I love this record and nothing else was better in 2021. Actually, my exact words at the time were: “This is easily my favorite record of 2021. It was not close.” I said it then and I will say it again now. Brilliant effort. The Professionals and Steve Whiteman of Kix both made good records. Cheap Trick made a good record. But The Pretty Reckless was the cream of the crop.
2020 - Fake Names
In 2020 I declared my favorite record to be the self-titled debut by punk rock supergroup Fake Names. If I had it to do over again, I might have declared a dead heat tie between that record and Bish Bash Bosh by 999. Watershed released Extended Player too, which was an EP, but it was equally spectacular, and Palaye Royale released their best record, called The Bastards. Wyldlife did Year of the Snake and X surprised everyone with Alphabetland. Wow. 2020 was a spectacular year for music, COVID and all. I could seriously consider at least the top four as deserving of the number one spot. Nevertheless, my theory is crumbling. I have not changed my thinking very much, even as we go back further in time.
2019 – The Neighborhoods – Last Known Address
After waiting for years and years… and years, The Neighborhoods finally released a new record. And they knocked it out of the park, they truly did. This was the best release of 2019. I thought so then and I still think so now. But I do have to say, my number two for the year was Cactusville by The Hangmen, and that was an equally stunning record from a band that like The ‘Hoods, has been making some killer records for a long time. I could almost argue that they were co-number ones for 2019. But I had them at number two, and I’m still good with that.
I thought at least half of my record of the year choices would have changed given some time, but in the end only one, Soraia in 2022, looks like clearly the wrong choice in hindsight. Enjoy some videos from my favorites of the last six years. The Neighborhoods is audio only. No videos were made from that record and the band called it quits not long after its release. That is heartbreaking.
Massive Wagons - “Missing on TV”
The Damned – “Beware of the Clown”
The Godfathers – “I’m Not Your Slave”
Pretty Reckless – “Witches Burn” (Live)
Fake Names – “All for Sale”
The Neighborhoods – “Don’t Look Down”