Here are my favorite albums from the past year. Favorite doesn’t always necessarily mean “best” or most well-written based on the opinions of music critics. These are just the ones I particularly liked the most in 2011. These are the albums that will always remind me of this year and where I was and who I was with during it.

1. Fireworks - Gospel

2. I Am the Avalanche - Avalanche United

3. Portugal. The Man - In the Mountain In the Cloud

4. Saves the Day - Daybreak

5. The Vaccines - What Did You Expect from the Vaccines?

6. Funeral Party - Golden Age of Knowhere

7. Girls - Father, Son, Holy Ghost

8. New Found Glory - Radiosurgery

9. The Horrible Crowes - Elsie

10. Grouplove - Never Trust a Happy Song

Punchline - “Coyotes in B Major” from Delightfully Pleased

The Ataris - “I Won’t Spend Another Night Alone” from Blue Skies, Broken Hearts…Next 12 Exits

It was a good year for music, but I have a feeling 2011 is going to be even better. Either way, here are my top 10 favorite albums of 2010.

1. AM Taxi - We Don’t Stand a Chance

2. The Young Veins - Take a Vacation!

3. Hellogoodbye - Would It Kill You?

4. A Great Big Pile of Leaves - Have You Seen My Prefrontal Cortex?

5. Motion City Soundtrack - My Dinosaur Life

6. Four Year Strong - Enemy of the World

7. You, Me, and Everyone We Know - Some Things Don’t Wash Out

8. Valencia - Dancing With a Ghost

9. Foxy Shazam - Foxy Shazam

10. Weezer - Hurley

Foxy Shazam - “Oh Lord” from Foxy Shazam

I can’t believe how good this song is.

Alkaline Trio - “You’ve Got So Far to Go” from Maybe I’ll Catch Fire

Bad Books - “You Wouldn’t Have to Ask” from Bad Books

Fall Out Boy - “(Coffee’s for Closers)” from Folie A Deux

I don’t care what anyone says about Fall Out Boy. This album is still one of my favorites of all time. I can’t believe it’s been two years since it came out.

“I’m a mascot for what you’ve become. I love the mayhem more than the love.”

Alkaline Trio - “Clavicle” from Goddamnit

The Get Up Kids - “Holiday” from Something to Write Home About

Appropriate.

The Ataris - “San Dimas High School Football Rules” from Blue Skies, Broken Hearts…Next 12 Exits

“I swear I’d treat you like a queen.”

Johnny Cash - “God’s Gonna Cut You Down” from American V: A Hundred Highways

This song is in the trailer for True Grit, which was a perfect song choice.

Motion City Soundtrack - “Last Night” from Even If It Kills Me

RX Bandits - “Status” from Progress

The one song I will never skip if it comes up on shuffle. Ever.

Saves the Day - “Bye Bye Baby” from Under the Boards

“I’ll love you from afar, and that is all. You know as well as I we’re both alone.”

One of my all-time favorite Saves the Day songs. Also, one of their most upbeat.