My top 10 "keep you wonderful" albums.

I recently said goodbye to a friend, as she is traveling down south to stay for a while. I'd told her of a million bands she'd like over the years, and so I burned all the albums for her. They consisted entirely of pop-punk/melodic hardcore, and the intention for them to all be upbeat, energetic and happy.

I'd noticed that they were pretty much the happiest and most uplifting music I own, so I figured I should recommend them to anybody in need of a bit of the warm fuzzies. Check out the standout tracks, and happy listening!

10: No Use For A Name, Keep Them Confused
A reasonably generic pop-punk album. It has a few stand-out tracks and one or two great ones, but give it the odd mindless listen and the warm fuzzies are inevitable. Standout track: "Part Two"

09: Set Your Goals, This Will Be the Death of Us
This album was pretty much a filler, to accompany Mutiny. A reasonably solid album, but as with previously, only really good for a mindless listen with a couple of great tracks. Standout track: "This Will Be the Death of Us"

08: Polar Bear Club, Sometimes Things Just Disappear
I apologize for all the fillers, but if you're gonna put 2 PBC albums in a list you may as well add the 3rd for their complete discography. By no means a bad listen, but sub-par to their other releases. Standout track: "Burned Out in a Jar"

07: This Time Next Year, Road Maps and Heart Attacks
Pretty much your average mainstream pop-punk band, minus the mainstream and excessive pop. Reasonably drivel-free and enough grit to allow them the title of a punk band. Standout track: "Rise & Fall, Curtain Call"

06: Good 4 Nothing, Kiss the World
A very solid and diverse album for a pop-punk band. Ranging from the lightning-fast "In the Mosh Pit" (clocking in at 0:56) to the pop rock anthem "Cause You're Alive", and everything in between. Standout track: "Opportunity All Around"

05: Polar Bear Club, The Redder, The Better EP
The best debut release from any band I've ever heard, each song is a gem. The fact that there's only 5 however, holds this release back. It's just too short to be considered a full-fledged album, however amazing it is. Standout track: "Election Day"

04: Ellegarden, Eleven Fire Crackers
Just like G4N's Kiss the World, this album is one of the most top-quality pop-punk albums to come out of Japan. Though not as diverse, Ellegarden have a certain flair that so many artists lack. A kind of unique ingenuity that I'm yet to see any other band pull off. Standout track: "Marie"

03: Polar Bear Club, Chasing Hamburg
Having gone up and down with the last two releases, this most recent album from PBC showcases a successful blend of indie/melodic hardcore, never diving too deep into either end, and remaining a diligently solid album throughout. Standout track: "Living Saints"

02: Set Your Goals, Mutiny!
Possibly one of the most passionate and soul-filled pop-punk/hardcore albums I've ever heard. With this release, SYG managed to prove their can be substance in a genre dominated by the bland and generic. Of all the albums listed here, this needs to be played the loudest. Standout track: "This Song is Definitely NOT About a Girl"

01: No Harm Done, Escape
Of all the albums here, this one probably verges more on the angrier melodic hardcore side of the spectrum. It may not necessarily impress upon first listen, but it grows on you, believe me. What begun as one of these frequent mindless-listening albums grew into a powerful release, diving into the angry, the heartfelt, the depressed and the energetic, never ceasing in force. After a listen to Escape, not only will you have the warm fuzzies, you will feel on top of the world. Standout track: "Festivus Yes, Bagels No"