So it's 2025 now. It's crazy that we are now halfway through the 2020s. Remember when we thought 2020 would never end? In commemoration of this half-milestone, I thought it would be fun to look back at my favorite albums of the decade so far. To keep it simple, I just went with the albums I've played the most over the past five years. So some of the 2024 entries are still catching up. And yes, I know that a new decade didn't really begin until 2021. Nonetheless, we're talking about the '20s! Sorry if this list causes you to have to spend more money.
20. Brad Marino - Looking for Trouble (2021)
Chuck Berry, Joey Ramone, and Keith Richards walk into a bar and play Rockpile on the jukebox.
Chuck Berry, Joey Ramone, and Keith Richards walk into a bar and play Rockpile on the jukebox.
19. The Melmacs - Good Advice (2022)
Super-underrated power pop punk from Germany with anthemic hooks and thoughtful lyrics.
Super-underrated power pop punk from Germany with anthemic hooks and thoughtful lyrics.
17. Rich Ragany - You Can Get Dark with Me (2024)
One of our greatest present-day songwriters at the top of his game.
One of our greatest present-day songwriters at the top of his game.
16. Hayley and the Crushers - Vintage Millennial (2020)
This was the album that made me a Crushers super-fan. Poolside glitter trash defined!
This was the album that made me a Crushers super-fan. Poolside glitter trash defined!
15. The Exbats - Kicks, Hits, and Fits (2020)
The first of three entries from this band. How perfect of a song is "I Got the Hots for Charlie Watts"?
The first of three entries from this band. How perfect of a song is "I Got the Hots for Charlie Watts"?
14. The Cheap Cassettes - They’'ll Never Forgive You For Pop (2024)
On their third long player, The Cheap Cassettes give us some great power pop and a whole lot more. Their magnum opus!
On their third long player, The Cheap Cassettes give us some great power pop and a whole lot more. Their magnum opus!
13. The Shang Hi Los - Aces Eights & Heartbreaks (2023)
Many bands would wish for a lifetime retrospective as hit-packed as this one!
Many bands would wish for a lifetime retrospective as hit-packed as this one!
12. Kurt Baker - After Party (2020)
Following Brand New Beat (2012) and Play It Cool (2015), this was the third in the trilogy of power pop albums that Baker co-wrote with Wyatt Funderburk. All three records rule, but After Party is arguably the finest of the three.
Following Brand New Beat (2012) and Play It Cool (2015), this was the third in the trilogy of power pop albums that Baker co-wrote with Wyatt Funderburk. All three records rule, but After Party is arguably the finest of the three.
11. Autogramm - Music That Humans Can Play (2023)
The title of this album is all the more poignant at a time when A.I. is starting to intrude into the sacred realm of music. More broadly, it's a reminder that synthesizers in rock music are nothing without the people who program them. While Music That Humans Can Play is clearly inspired by the late '70s/early '80s heyday of new wave and synth-pop, at its core it's a great pop record that I keep going back to.
The title of this album is all the more poignant at a time when A.I. is starting to intrude into the sacred realm of music. More broadly, it's a reminder that synthesizers in rock music are nothing without the people who program them. While Music That Humans Can Play is clearly inspired by the late '70s/early '80s heyday of new wave and synth-pop, at its core it's a great pop record that I keep going back to.
10. Beach Patrol - Festivus (2022)
Domenic Marcantonio is about a decade younger than me, but I feel like I gain wisdom and a more profound understanding of the world from him every time I listen to his songs. "Jung-er Than Yesterday" and "Thanks Coach" from Festivus are two of his most remarkable creations, and who doesn't love a song about The Jerk?
Domenic Marcantonio is about a decade younger than me, but I feel like I gain wisdom and a more profound understanding of the world from him every time I listen to his songs. "Jung-er Than Yesterday" and "Thanks Coach" from Festivus are two of his most remarkable creations, and who doesn't love a song about The Jerk?
9. The Exbats - Now Where Were We (2021)
Still fresh off their delightful album 2020 album Kicks, Hits, and Fits, Inez and Kenny McClain took things to a whole other level with this COVID -era garage pop masterpiece, with songs tackling everything from climate change to pandemic life to record stores to Scooby Doo. This is the first of three albums in my top ten that are the fruit of a creative partnership between a father and daughter (one of them is another Exbats album). Clearly there's something about multi-generational family bands that hits me the right way.
Still fresh off their delightful album 2020 album Kicks, Hits, and Fits, Inez and Kenny McClain took things to a whole other level with this COVID -era garage pop masterpiece, with songs tackling everything from climate change to pandemic life to record stores to Scooby Doo. This is the first of three albums in my top ten that are the fruit of a creative partnership between a father and daughter (one of them is another Exbats album). Clearly there's something about multi-generational family bands that hits me the right way.
8. Norcos Y Horchata - Forever Disheveled (2022)
Detroit's finest street punk rock 'n' roll band's debut album is chock full of anthemic, sing-along bangers. "...Out for Smokes" remains the most on-point song yet written about the dystopian shitshow we are currently living through.
Detroit's finest street punk rock 'n' roll band's debut album is chock full of anthemic, sing-along bangers. "...Out for Smokes" remains the most on-point song yet written about the dystopian shitshow we are currently living through.
7. Juniper - She Steals Candy (2023)
Working with her dad, Michael Shelley, and a whole slew of talented songwriters and musical guest stars from the indie pop universe, Juniper brought a much-needed ray of sunshine to the world when she released her delightful debut album in 2020 at the age of 15. The follow-up, She Steals Candy, was even better — and it remains one of my go-tos whenever I'm craving retro-pop with modern influences (or is it the other way around?).
Working with her dad, Michael Shelley, and a whole slew of talented songwriters and musical guest stars from the indie pop universe, Juniper brought a much-needed ray of sunshine to the world when she released her delightful debut album in 2020 at the age of 15. The follow-up, She Steals Candy, was even better — and it remains one of my go-tos whenever I'm craving retro-pop with modern influences (or is it the other way around?).
6. The Airport 77s - We Realize You Have a Choice (2022)
From Silver Spring, Maryland, The Airport 77s essentially released one of the best late '70s/early '80s power pop albums in 2022.
From Silver Spring, Maryland, The Airport 77s essentially released one of the best late '70s/early '80s power pop albums in 2022.
5. Beach Patrol - Making Waves (2020)
Listening to this album always makes me think of when I first started listening to this album — in the car every afternoon back in January 2020. I can still feel the chilly air and the thrill of experiencing these songs for the very first time. Domenic Marcantonio is one of my favorite songwriters, and on this record he went with a totally raw, home-recorded style of production. With zero polish, the songs speak for themselves. And what songs they are! "Battlestar Galactica," "Struggle," "Thunder of the Mouth," and the title track are some of the finest songs of his career and some of the finest songs written by anyone in the early 2020s.
Listening to this album always makes me think of when I first started listening to this album — in the car every afternoon back in January 2020. I can still feel the chilly air and the thrill of experiencing these songs for the very first time. Domenic Marcantonio is one of my favorite songwriters, and on this record he went with a totally raw, home-recorded style of production. With zero polish, the songs speak for themselves. And what songs they are! "Battlestar Galactica," "Struggle," "Thunder of the Mouth," and the title track are some of the finest songs of his career and some of the finest songs written by anyone in the early 2020s.
4. Miss Georgia Peach - Aloha from Kentucky (2022)
Miss Georgia Peach and Travis Ramin got together with some pals from Nine Pound Hammer & Nashville Pussy and made an old school country record. Aloha from Kentucky demonstrates that making great records isn't just about writing songs. Most of the songs on this album are covers of country classics from the '60s and '70s. But MGP and friends make these songs their own through amazing singing and musicianship — filling them with raw energy and an infectious spirit that oozes fun. Class Out the Ass, the sequel to this album, will be out on Valentine's Day on Rum Bar Records.
Miss Georgia Peach and Travis Ramin got together with some pals from Nine Pound Hammer & Nashville Pussy and made an old school country record. Aloha from Kentucky demonstrates that making great records isn't just about writing songs. Most of the songs on this album are covers of country classics from the '60s and '70s. But MGP and friends make these songs their own through amazing singing and musicianship — filling them with raw energy and an infectious spirit that oozes fun. Class Out the Ass, the sequel to this album, will be out on Valentine's Day on Rum Bar Records.
3. Hayley and the Crushers - Modern Adult Kicks (2022)
I've always believed that great punk rock bands can mature without losing the attitude and edge that made them great punk rock bands in the first place. Modern Adult Kicks practically writes the manual on how to do that. The quintessential post-pandemic punk-pop record.
I've always believed that great punk rock bands can mature without losing the attitude and edge that made them great punk rock bands in the first place. Modern Adult Kicks practically writes the manual on how to do that. The quintessential post-pandemic punk-pop record.
2. The Speedways - Radio Sounds (2020)
Without a doubt, I would rank this as one of the ten greatest power pop albums ever made.
Without a doubt, I would rank this as one of the ten greatest power pop albums ever made.
1. The Exbats - Song Machine (2023)
This album fully lives up to its title. Timeless bubblegum pop songs with a modern punk rock attitude for music lovers of any age. If you said this was the best band in the world, I would not disagree.
This album fully lives up to its title. Timeless bubblegum pop songs with a modern punk rock attitude for music lovers of any age. If you said this was the best band in the world, I would not disagree.
Honorable Mentions:
Juniper - self-titled (2020)
Indonesian Junk - Living in a Nightmare (2021)
The Sleeveens - self-titled (2024)
Kurt Baker - Rock N Roll Club (2023)
Rich Ragany & The Digressions - What We Do (To Not Let Go) (2023)
The Speedways - Talk of the Town (2022)
The Sleeveens - self-titled (2024)
Kurt Baker - Rock N Roll Club (2023)
Rich Ragany & The Digressions - What We Do (To Not Let Go) (2023)
The Speedways - Talk of the Town (2022)
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