This year without question changed my life forever. The music I listened to had to reflect that. It had to fight like hell with me. I think that one of the things we love most about music is that it travels with us; it is our one true everlasting companion. This music traveled with me to places I never expected to go; to weddings, births and to far too many funerals. It traveled to new opportunities and gut-wrenching defeats. It traveled by car, by train and by foot. Some days it did not travel at all. Thankfully a lot of beautiful music came out this year and I think this is a wonderfully awkward collection of that. Cheers!

 1. BON IVER – Bon Iver (Jagjaguwar)

Sometimes I sit alone in my room with all the lights off drinking wine while I watch all those hallucinogenic videos that Bon Iver released to go along with each song on this record. I stare at all the colors; I ain’t ashamed!

Lyric: “…and at once I knew I was not magnificent.”

More after the jump…

2. POLAR BEAR CLUB – Clash Battle Guilt Pride (Bridge Nine)

Believe the hype. That’s all I can say. I would like this band to move into my living room and play every single night to an adoring crowd of one. I will pay them in frozen vegetables and killer dance moves.

Lyric: “I’ll take my one-man army to the streets for this week’s story.”

3. FRANK TURNER – England Keep My Bones (Epitaph)

One of my good friends posted a lyric to “I am Disappeared” off this record and said that this song has virtually kept him from losing his sanity. Me fucking too, man.

Lyric: “I keep having dreams of pioneers and pirate ships and Bob Dylan. Of people wrapped up tight in the things that’ll kill them”

4. TOUCHE AMORE – Parting the Sea Between Brightness and Me (Deathwish)

Every morning for the past few weeks, I walk into the office alone, turn on my computer, furiously lap away at my coffee and listen to this record. It is brilliant.

Lyric: “Have you ever wonder why I always drive alone? Same reason why I never pick up my phone.”

5. KEVIN DEVINE – Between the Concrete and The Clouds (Razor & Tie)

My first internship back in high school was with Immigrant Sun Records. Kevin played in MIRACLE OF ’86 back then. When will that reunion be?! Anyway, I have followed him since then and this is his most mature, honest and unpretentious collection of songs. It has gone the distance with me this year.

Lyric: “Now every single time you open your mouth, give yourself a breath while you’re working it out.”

6. DEFEATER – Empty Days and Sleepless Nights (Bridge Nine)

Seeing this band open for BANE a couple months ago just blew me away. I keep saying it and will continue to do so, but this is the best band in hardcore right now.

Lyric: “The longer you sit at the ocean; you lose more time than you think”

7. MANCHESTER ORCHESTRA – Simple Math (Favorite Gentlemen)

Surprised this hasn’t gotten more attention. It is sloppy bitch good. This record is a concept about a man who is questioning God and his failing marriage while coming to grips with his own personal failures and insecurities. It’s human. It’s gripping.

Lyric: “I am the greatest man that never lived and now I never sleep.”

8. RISE AGAINST – Endgame (DGC)

It’s kind of amazing to watch a band grow up so much without ever losing an ounce of integrity. One of my favorite bands of all time, right from The Unraveling.

Lyric: “Once upon a time I could take anything, anything.”

9. MACHINE HEAD – Unto The Locust (Roadrunner)

Robb Flynn is one of the most down-to-earth people I have had the pleasure of meeting. Knowing the integrity and the dedication that went into making this record, and then hearing the record and loving every second of it is truly special. Metal horns!

Lyric: “See how they dance upon the winds that beget our pestilence…”

10. IRON AND WINE – Kiss Each Other Clean (Warner)

I found myself holding my breath. Again and again Iron and Wine delivers delicate and profound folk music but this one is something different. This is a treasure.

Lyric: “whisper, want me like time…want me like time…”

Honorable Mentions

RYAN ADAMS – Ashes & Fire (Capitol)

THE JOY FORMIDABLE – The Big Roar (Atlantic)

DAWES – Nothing is Wrong (ATO)

TRAPPED UNDER ICE – Big Kiss Goodnight (Good Fight)