How Many TImes Do I Do?

I think it's about time to look at what songs I liked best from this second half of the year, as I did for the first half of 2013. I realize the year isn't over, but I don't think I'm gonna be getting any new music this month. There's nothing at this point that I'm looking forward to. So...

10. The Universe: A Very Special Moment. This band is related to Architecture in Helsinki somehow. I'm not sure how. This song is pretty cool though I think. I think it lives up to the band's name; the entire EP feels like it's on a grand scale when I listen to it.

9. Sombear: Loose Ship. I got this album because another band I like, Lonely Forest, were talking it up, and I got the idea in my head that this was a side project. It was not. This is a very different kind of music. It's very relaxing. Someone called it "trance," but I'm not sure if that's what it is; maybe just mellow synth pop.

8. Jimmy Eat World: Damage. When this album first came out earlier this year, I didn't really feel too excited by listening to it, I suppose. Then I gave it another chance, and I realized that I really like most of it. This song will always remind me of sitting with Dodie on her front porch the night of the 4th of July...

7. A Wilhelm Scream: Ice Man Left a Trail. I'm not precisely sure on the placement of this song. I used to like this band an awful lot because of one album. Then I heard their next album and it kinda sounded the same... Then this year I decided to get the newest, and I had a lot of fun again listening to it. The guitars on this one go all "weedly weedly weedly!" JAM.

6. Nine Inch Nails: Everything. The NIN song that the internet said was "too happy." For some reason. People are dumb. Find new and creative ways to not like something. I think this song is pretty awesome, and I decided initially that this song was going to be my favorite off the album out of spite. (Another song was for a little while, but now I associate it strongly with my break up, so...)

5. The Uncluded: Delicate Cycle. This came out in the first half of the year, but I didn't decide to buy it until last month. It's a pretty awesome song and project, featuring Aesop Rock and that chick who does folk music (is she from the Moldy Peaches? I dunno.) It's unusual.

4. Reggie and the Full Effect: Who Needs Another Drank Feat Floppy Disk 0. Reggie and the Full Effect has finally come out with a new album after 5 years, and it's the first album since Under the Tray in 2003 that wasn't influenced by a messy divorce or going through rehab, so it's actually all fun music! This song made me laugh when I first heard it. I was like "WTF?"

3. Five Iron Frenzy: Zen and the Art of Xenophobia

This year marks the triumphant return of one of my favorite bands, FIF, with their newest album in 10 years. It features a lot more maturity, and feels darker to me. There's only one silly song on the album. This is not it, even though the video might suggest otherwise. Features Reese Roper's trademark biting social commentary, about the US in particular.

2. Larry and His Flask: The Battle for Clear Sight

It was a toss up for me between this one and another song off the album called Gone From You. Ultimately I picked the happier tune, even though sometimes slow, sad tunes are just as powerful (or more so.) This is a large departure from what I first heard this band doing. They used to be much more punk influenced. Not that I will complain that much.

1. Gwar: Madness at the Core of Time

Is this really my favorite of this second half of the year? Probably! Just listen to it; it's unstoppable. It's come to rock, and kick your ass, and then do questionable things and then not call you back ever again! This song rocks. Period.

That is it. Maybe I will combine the two lists at some point to say what my top 20 for the year are at some point. I do think there is at least one change to my previous list, however; "I'm In Love" has gotta switch out for "R.E.S.P.E.C.T.," due to associations... Whatever emotions I had attached to that song now feel like a lie.