A sophisticated sense of melodic trajectory is one of the many song-writing tools Bridge and Tunnel effectively utilize to build one of the best post-punk albums in recent memory. Insistent, crashing drum beats lay a fierce foundation for consistently potent interweaving guitar lines, vocals that rapidly switch between throat-shredding yelps and powerfully sung group harmonies, with steadily driving bass lines to anchor the involved arrangements. Minor washes of guitar affects gurgle and slither in at the beginnings and endings of some songs, but most of Rebuilding Year's sonic density comes from thoughtful interval choices that create eerie, stirring harmonics. There aren't any easily identifiable weak moments among these ten structurally adventurous songs; it's the kind of album where every track seems like the best moment while it's playing. Slow burners like the near-ballad "Hands" and six-minute opener "Synchronized Swimming" get a lot of mileage out of dramatic builds and surprisingly beautiful melodies that soar over mounting instrumental intensity. With the invigorating intensity of complex rockers like "Drill Instructor" and "Griflocked," which feel delightfully whimsical in spots due to idiosyncratic guitar phrases, comfortably coexisting with the passionate and serious mid-tempo wrecking ball weight of "Cooked Books" and "Harder Pill to Swallow," this mixed-gender foursome have created an album with an excellent balance of sonically expressed emotions and concise compositional ingenuity, sure to make Rebuilding Year a reference point in the genesis of post-punk for future generations.
Scott A. Gray
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Posted by Nameless Poseur On 2011-12-05 09:39:13Off! came out in 2010. Just sayin'
Posted by Nameless Poseur On 2011-12-06 10:35:41Well being released on December 14 leaves it alittle late to be on 2010 hit lists. Its acceptable.
Posted by Nameless Poseur On 2011-12-06 11:20:10Drunk Nor Dead was released Oct 25th 2011. Just sayin.
Posted by Nameless Poseur On 2011-12-06 13:05:05The Brains "Drunk not Dead" gets my vote... such an awesome album...
Posted by Nameless Poseur On 2011-12-06 14:34:13Where's the Omegas LP!?!
Posted by Nameless Poseur On 2011-12-07 14:02:24Crusades!
Posted by Nameless Poseur On 2011-12-08 05:46:37My top 14 punk albums:
1. Vacation- BTMI
2. Suburbia- The Wonder Years
3. Joyce Manor- Joyce Manor
4. Shed- Title Fight
5. The Dangers Of Standing Still- Red City Radio
6. North Sentinel Island- The Copy Rights
7. Delusions- Elway
8. Heart Beats Pacific- Banner Pilot
9. Knife Man- Andrew Jackson Jihad
10. Funtitled- Spraynard
11. House Parts- Two Hand Fools
12. Idle Ages- Junior Battles
13. Hieroglyphic Transmissions- Why I Hate
14. DOMESPLITTER- Direct Hit!
Posted by Scott On 2011-12-08 10:37:31Nazca Lines - Hyperventilation is a great album, but was widely overlooked. What the heck happened to Le Butcherettes - Sin sin sin though? That was easily my favourite punk album of the year.
Posted by Bjorn On 2011-12-12 04:27:30I'd just like to recommend Sex Church's GROWING OVER to everyone reading this. It got my #1 vote.
Posted by Nameless Poseur On 2011-12-15 20:34:13How did Holy Shit by living with lions not make this list??
Posted by Nameless Poseur On 2011-12-19 16:52:43This just exposes just how little "punk" anyone involved with this sad list has heard in 2011. And get off Fucked Up's jock already, it's embarrassing and that record is far from being worthy of the praise it gets around here.
Posted by Nameless Poseur On 2011-12-22 01:20:04Whoever wrote this has brilliant music taste!!!
1. Vacation- BTMI
2. Suburbia- The Wonder Years
3. Joyce Manor- Joyce Manor
4. Shed- Title Fight
5. The Dangers Of Standing Still- Red City Radio
6. North Sentinel Island- The Copy Rights
7. Delusions- Elway
8. Heart Beats Pacific- Banner Pilot
9. Knife Man- Andrew Jackson Jihad
10. Funtitled- Spraynard
11. House Parts- Two Hand Fools
12. Idle Ages- Junior Battles
13. Hieroglyphic Transmissions- Why I Hate
14. DOMESPLITTER- Direct Hit!
Posted by Nameless Poseur On 2012-01-03 11:26:46If you actually think that Fucked Up doesn't deserve praise, you're probably the kind of moron that puts Direct Hit! in their top 10 list. That band has to be the most unoriginal, unthinking amalgamation of "whoas" and "yeahs" I've ever heard.
Posted by Nameless Poseur On 2012-02-08 11:38:55fuck this list, and fuck poler bear club
Year In Review 
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