[Ricky Frankel is a staff reviewer at Punknews.org.]
Hey Punknews! It’s Staff Reviewer “Tricky†Ricky!
2014 was a huge year of change for me. I was brought onto the Punknews.org staff in
late January as a staff reviewer and a podcast panelist, which has been insanely fun and
rewarding. I graduated college in May, which meant that I had to move from the Bay Area
back to Los Angeles to launch my own online business leaving behind awesome friends and
a great punk scene. How big of a change between school and getting into the “real world†is
a completely understated.
This summer I made it my mission to get back into the LA scene now that I’m back for good.
Before I started writing this I counted that I have been to 26 punk shows so far this year.
I’m pretty sure that the LA shows have out numbered the amount of Northern California
shows I have been to by now. I will never forget the shows I saw at 924 Gilman in Berkeley
and The Phoenix Theatre in Petaluma. I will always love NorCal punk!
However, one of the best weekends of my life happened this year from Friday, May 23 to
Sunday, May 25. For a graduation gift (from me to myself), on Friday I saw Night Birds and
Leftover Crack open for The Adicts at The Observatory in Santa Ana and on Saturday and
Sunday I went to both Against Me! shows at The Roxy in Hollywood. I even managed to go
to the signing the band had in Echo Park on Sunday before the show. It was exhausting, but
totally worth it.
2014 was also a really great year for new releases; some of which I had been looking
forward to for at least a year and some caught me completely by surprise. I’m pretty sure
my vinyl collection has doubled in size because this.
Here’s to another great year of releases in 2015!
Albums:

20
Body Count: Man Slaughter
Sumerian Records
For the first Body Count in eight years this was exactly what I was expecting;
over the top lyrics with crunchy guitar chords, fast drums, and wailing guitar solos.
What I wasn't expecting was that their cover of Suicidal Tendencies song
"Institutionalized" was going to be SO GOOD. They updated the lyrics to be more
relevant and I found them to be pretty funny. "OPRAH AIN'T GOT NO MAN!"

19
Stiff Little Fingers: No Going Back
Rigid Digits

18
Masked Intruder: M.I.
Fat Wreck Chords

17
Antarctigo Vespucci: Soulmate Stuff
Really Records

16
Shitty Weekend: Shit Week
Secret Pennies Records

15
The Holy Mess: Comfort in the Discord
i>
Self-Released
Since I heard "Cigarette Reflections" on the Punknews Podcast a few
years back I've always been a fan of this band. This album in particular though is a
milestone for them because you can hear just how much they have matured as musicians in
this one.

14
Swingin' Utters: Fistful of Hollow
Fat Wreck Chords

13
The Menzingers: Rented World
Epitaph Records

12
Various Artists: Red Scare Industries: 10 Years Of Your Dumb Bullshit
Red Scare Industries

11
Rats in the Wall: Dead End
Blacknoise

10
Me First and the Gimme Gimmes: Are We Not Men? We Are Diva!
Fat Wreck Chords

9
Andrew Jackson Jihad: Christmas Island
Side One Dummy

8
The Lawrence Arms: Metropole
Epitaph

7
The Dwarves: The Dwarves Invented Rock 'n' Roll
Recess Records/Greedy Records

6
OFF!: Wasted Years a>
Vice Records

5
The World/Inferno Friendship Society: This Packed Funeral
Alternative Tentacles
Admittedly, I'm a bit late with World/Inferno, I have had to do some catch-
up listening to their earlier material, but I've always liked Addicted to Bad
Ideas and Red-Eyed Soul. But seeing them live this year for the first time and
constantly listening to this album has sealed the deal for me. I have become a devoted
Infernite. Alternative Tentacles is clearly a great home for this band. They have that sort
of weird edge/attitude that Alternative Tentacles embraces. To those who think concept
albums don't work, here is one that is executed masterfully. I absolute love the tracks
"Dolce Far Niente," "American Mercurial" and "Taken Down a
Peg I Help Out the Squatters in the Subway," but the whole album is fantastic. Who
knew the universe spoke Spanish? I'll tell you who -- only Jack Terricloth could have
known that!

4
PUP: PUP
h1>
Side One Dummy
I don't care what Adam White says! Pup's debut album was released
in America in 2014 so it definitely makes my list! Here is another album and band that
caught me by surprise. Admittedly, I didn't know of them when they were called
Topanga, but once I heard the song "Reservoir" later on when they were PUP
I was hooked. This album is so musically dynamic and that's what I love about it.
There's "Guilt Trip," "Reservoir" and "Back Against the
Wall" that just rip, there's "Yukon" which is sort of bluesy, and then
there is "Mabu" which has that indie sound, awesome guitar work, and suddenly
goes into these incredible vocal harmonies towards the end. I saw them play live twice this
year and let me tell you, Pup puts on one hell of show.

3
PEARS: Go To Prison
Self-Released

2
Against Me!: Transgender Dysphoria Blues
Total Treble

1
Morning Glory: War Psalms
Fat Wreck Chords

5
OFF!: Learn to Obey [7- inch]
Vice Records

4
Bad Cop/Bad Cop : Boss Lady EP [7-inch]
Fat Wreck Chords
Usually opening bands don't get my full attention unless I know who they are
beforehand. But when I saw Bad Cop/Bad Cop open for Me First and the Gimme Gimmes in
March they completely blew me away especially with the song "Rodeo." I bought
this 7-inch immediately after the show ended. It's melodic punk done right. Great riffs
and extremely great vocals. Their upcoming full length is one of my top most anticipated
albums of 2015. Can't wait!

3
Against Me!: Laura Jane Grace & Atom
Willard: The Daytrotter Sessions
Total Treble
This was the only (Black Friday) Record Store Day release I really wanted. Only
Daytrotter members can listen to the full EP so I was dying to hear what this sounded
like. I liked the electric version of "500 Years" on this EP more than the original.
There's also a slower, solo rendition of "Pretty Girls" that I found extremely
cool.

2
PUP: Reservoir/My Shadow EP [7-inch]
Side One Dummy

1
Direct Hit!/The Priceduifkes: Split [7-inch]
Red Scare Industries
I've been a fan of Direct Hit! since #4 and #5 were released.
I became an even bigger fan of the band when they did the split with the Mixtapes.
"Werewolf Shame" is still my favorite song of theirs. But after Domesplitter
came out they released a bunch of split EPs like the ones with the Tit Patrol, The Jetty
Boys, etc. and all of them were really good. This split they did with The Priceduifkes though,
is great. Not only did Direct Hit! write another awesome aggressive pop-punk song, but at
the same The Priceduifkes wrote a great song and did a great cover of Direct Hit!'s
song "Boredom Addict."

2
Fugazi: First Demo a>
Dischord Records
