2015 is done, and it was pretty damn good. But there's already some things looming on the horizon for 2016 to get really excited about.

The Coffin Daggers

Why not start with the one we'll likely see soonest? Coming in February, The Coffin Daggers have their next LP Aggravatin' Rhythms (above) ready for preorder with by far their silliest album art to date. Loved everything they've done so far, so I'm in line.

The Reigning Monarchs are a really interesting case.

Let's start off by just saying that they're very good. Their LP "Black Sweater Massacre" was fun and energetic from start to finish, and full of variety and creativity. They talk a lot about melding surf with ska, reggae, punk - which I hear, but I hear them as a surf-influenced band first and foremost.