Mark is married to Jo and is a 23 year old youth and schools worker based in South Cave (near Hull). Mark spent 4 years as a youth worker in Peterborough whilst studying for a degree in youth work & ministry with Oasis.
As the year nears a close and the battle for the Christmas number one ends tomorrow I thought I’d blog my top 6 albums of 2009. I always buy a lot of music and 2009 has been a good year for music so here is my favourites! (in no particular order)
1 – Bowling for Soup – Sorry For Partyin’ - This was the follow-up for ‘A hangover you don’t deserve’ the band never had, fantastic album full of Bowling for Soup fun – Read my full review here
2. Relient K – Forget & Not Slow Down - One drummer change later and Relient K release what is now my favourite of their career with a fantastic mix of beautiful sounding piano and pop-punk energy – Read my full review here
3. Newton Faulkner – Rebuilt By Humans - The follow-up to his fantastic ‘Handbuild By Robots’ is possibly even better…Newton Faulker does it again…not much more to say on this album…BUY IT!
4. New Found Glory – Not Without A Fight - I had anticipated and looked forward to this album ever since hearing that Mark Hoppus of Blink 182 fame was producing it and I was so right to do so…cracking pop punk album that takes the band back to their ‘Sticks and Stones’ days – Read my full review here
5. Mat Kearney – City of Black and White - I only discovered Mat Kearney this year and liked him so much I ordered both his albums at once. Mat Kearney has a fantastic voice and his music is nice and chilled yet uptempo at the same time…well worth a listen.
6. Lily Allen – It’s Not Me It’s You - I can’t stand her first album but I love this one…I never wanted to though! It’s got a good mix of catchy pop tunes with some interesting lyrics which make you very glad that you’ve never slept with Lily Allen! – Read more of my thoughts on her here
Overall 2009 has been a good year for music but there hasn’t been masses of it released in the pop-punk arena…I’m looking forward to a new Blink 182 album next year, a new Angels and Airwaves album plus a new Sum 41 album! Bring on 2010 music!
