Life lessons learned the hard way: Easycore is a dopey genre category that should forever be dead and buried, but we still encourage you to keep using such weak-ass verbiage if it means a lot to you. Ocala, Florida’s A Day to Remember formed in the sticky sweaty Southeastern meth-sponsored state in 2003, eventually became the Godfathers of the aforementioned poorly named style above, and fast forward to 2023, literally twenty years later, managed to become one of the biggest acts in the “scene” world. You can say whatever you want about ADTR, and you freaking clowns probably will, but it is impossible to disprove the band’s large impact on the rock lexicon. Anyway, A Day to Remember have seven studio albums thus far, and we objectively/subjectively/happily/perfectly ranked each record from worst to best. We got this:
7. And Their Name Was Treason (2005)
Sound the alarm: “And Their Name Was Treason,” A Day to Remember’s debut studio album which was recorded by producer/songwriter Andrew Wade in his bedroom, and sounds like it in a non-endearing way, was released via Valdosta, Georgia’s Indianola Records in 2005. The record is a solid intro to the band before they blew up, but is easily their worst LP. Basically, if looks could kill, this record wouldn’t. Heartless? Maybe. At least the band used the word “Their” properly in this album title! Anyway, the re-issued and re-recorded version of “And Their Name Was Treason” known as “Old Record,” which came out on Chicago’s legendary to some and vilified to others label Victory Records in 2008, is a slightly better representation of the band, but that’s about it, folks. A second glance would sadly maintain the same position and a third will inspire and perspire rebellion.
Play it again: “Heartless”
Skip it: “If Looks Could Kill”
6. You’re Welcome (2021)
We’re sorry that 2021’s “You’re Welcome,” ADTR’s universally panned effort by all except for your deceptively fuck-you-money wealthy yet morbidly obese great aunt with Foie gras breath in Boca Raton, isn’t listed last on this list, but it truly isn’t half as bad as everyone makes it out to be. This piece of wax and plastic came out five years after its predecessor “Bad Vibrations,” and eventually got permanently plastered on the average Warped Tour kid’s “meh” list. Still, there are some bangers here, especially in the one-two punch start of tracks one and two, but is overall quite disjointed and flows like red wine which isn’t fine. Hopefully their next full-length is less than five years away from now, and becomes everything we need for a re-entry to a more happy and productive existence.
Play it again: “Mindreader”
Skip it: “Viva La Mexico”
5. Common Courtesy (2013)
“Lawsuits and Hand Grenades” could be the name of a Green Day B-Side that never comes to fruition due to its conflict of interest title argument with another “21st Century Breakdown” track, but it’s definitely a solid four-word document metaphor for where the band A Day to Remember were at ten-plus years ago when they started work on album #5, “Common Courtesy,” which coincidentally or not-so-coincidentally is listed fifth here; give us five. While we won’t go into its courteous yet gory details that inspired an east fall of more than enough violence to shake a skaff at, we can safely say that 2013’s “Common Courtesy” is without question the first LP to be listed that is completely solid front-to-back. You’re utterly shelnutts if you disagree, but we know that you wiser-than-none jerkoffs will even disagree with something you agree with. You know deep down that our resentment is justified.
Play it again: “End Of Me”
Skip it: “I Surrender”
4. Bad Vibrations (2016)
First of all: Few vocalists can pull off sweet sweetness and gruff grufferson like ADTR frontman Jeremy McKinnon, and it needed to be said SOMEWHERE. Second of all: This is the band’s best post-2010 LP despite the low-quality gyrations that its album title suggests, and features just as much sugar as it does Limburger cheese. Also, this entry debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200 Chart, which is quite an astonishing feat for even the neckiest of neckbeards. There are so many good songs on this album, and as evidenced in our “play it again” section below, but “Paranoia” is one that should be further highlighted like the color of the sun, as it will likely permeate every single A Day to Remember setlist moving forward.
Play it again: “Paranoia”
Skip it: “Turn Off The Radio”
3. For Those Who Have Heart (2007)
Here’s to the past: For the remaining three entries here there are no “skip it” tracks. None. Now we’re going to show YOU the ropes: Basically, not only is 2007’s “For Those Who Have Heart” a now-classic in the rock world, but it is the band’s first non-mid record, which may sound like we have cold hearts, but it is actually a sincere compliment! To quote Olympic gold medalist with a broken freakin’ neck and former WWE Champion Kurt Angle, “It’s true!” FYI: The band’s fun “Since U Been Gone” Adam Lambert cover, which was featured on both the re-released version of this LP and on 2010’s “Attack of the Killer B-Sides” EP likely exposed many to this band, especially given the fact that it seemed to be literally sponsored by Fuse in the late-aughts. Anyway, A Day to Remember managed to make their next two albums rock even harder!
Play it again: “Monument”
Skip it: N/A
2. What Separates Me from You (2010)
2nd doesn’t suck: 2010’s “What Separates Me From You” is a short, succinct, and powerful ten-song aggressive LP statement containing one of A Day to Remember’s most loved and infectious as hell singles “All I Want,” and a beautiful album cover that would make J. Paul Getty smile. While that particular tune is good with a capital “G,” there are several other tracks here that are even better with a capital “B”! To put it “B” for bluntly, this is ADTR’s most consistently catchy album, which doesn’t always equate to good, but it does here, and has replay value thirteen years later, showcasing the band’s love for Bar/Bat Mitzvahs. Speaking of Stars of David, this record went gold, a huge accomplishment, and that’s no four-letter lie in the post-Napster era. We love said color, as evidenced by this section and the one referencing the Percocet King of kings.
Play it again: “Better Off This Way”
Skip it: (Intentionally left blank)
1. Homesick (2009)
Along with departing smiley and tatted upper region guitarist with a heart of GOLD Tom Denney, A Day to Remember’s perfect LP “Homesick” ended the aughts in style, despite everyone’s goofy-as-sin graphic t-shirts at the time. Still, we believe that 2009’s “Homesick” is when A Day to Remember truly arrived and they took zero prisoners from track one through twelve. As we hysterically displayed at the top of this section, there are few albums with better openers than “The Downfall of Us All,” and Gucci gang vocals make everything better, unless they don’t. Don’t disrespect your surroundings, as that is not considerate, but please post happy comments on our socials letting us know that we’re right about this winning slot. You already know what you are, but we’d love your ardent positivity to permeate the airwaves and internet like it always does! !
Play it again: “Have Faith In Me”
Skip it: Does not apply.