Tuesday, December 20, 2011 at 2:14AM

We here at the Double Noggin Knocker are pretty fortunate to have some friends who are pro wrestlers. Those friends also happen to listen to some pretty rad music. So you can imagine how pumped we were when they agreed to do a Best of 2011 list for us. We’ll be posting a full list all this week including Pat & Tim’s. Starting off the week is former WWE Tough Enough contestant, independent wrestler extraordinare, world traveler and punk rocker – “MDogg” Matt Cross. We hope you enjoy and stay tuned for more! Without further Apu, here’s Matt’s list.

Top Albums of 2011

Though mostly known for my accomplishments inside the squared circle, I first heard Sound System by Operation Ivy in ’95 (or was that ’96??) and it quite literally changed my life. At that moment, all music I’d ever heard before died. I saw the Ramones in 1996 (at Lollapalooza) and the Sex Pistols that same year and the deal was sealed. I was absolutely hooked and I’ve been an avid supporter of punk rock since that first spin of Op Ivy. In no particular order, here are my top albums of 2011. I hope you’ve enjoyed this musical year as much as I have and I’d love to hear your thoughts!  www.twitter.com/mdoggmattcross

Andrew Jackson Jihad -Knife Man

Andrew Jackson Jihad is a band that has really captured my attention and imagination over the past 4-5 years. They present a duality that really resonates with me. Equal parts hopeful and suicidally negative, their sound is a contradiction of sorts. Often, uptempo cheery sounding songs are balanced out with cripplingly violent or depressing lyrics. This counterintuitive combination has had me coming back for years and though based in Cleveland, Ohio I’ve traveled to Pittsburgh, Detroit, and Chicago to catch them live. Though not necessarily representative of their sound, the song “Back Pack” is hauntingly beautiful. If the opening track’s title, “The Michael Jordan of Drunk Driving” doesn’t make you want to at least give this album a shot, I don’t know what would.

Star Fucking Hipsters -From the Dumpster to the GraveBeing STF’s third album I was very curious what direction the band would take. As a huge fan of Stza’s previous bands Choking Victim, and Leftover Crack, I’ve always been drawn to his patented, “Crack Rocksteady” sound. I felt the second Star Fucking Hipsters album left a little to be desired so I was ecstatic when I was able to instantly, enthusiastically embrace this entire disc. From the intro on, I was hooked. If you’re into any of Stza’s previous bands you won’t be disappointed here. There’s a marked return to a more ska influenced sound and the unique, catchy, contradictory blend that Stza has almost single-handedly created. The title track is just one of the gems on this release.

OFF! – First Four EP’s

This album starts out with an explosion and never loses steam. With 16 songs in just 17 and a half minutes it’s a pretty blistering ride. Recorded with a somewhat vintage sound, fans of old school Black Flag (from which OFF! singer Keith Morris first made his name) will be screaming along in no time. The track, “Darkness” is a must hear.

  Dead to Me- Moscow Penny Ante

I feel as the years go by it becomes increasingly difficult to encounter something unique without the punk rock subculture. All too often, a new band will sound so similar to an already established band that it makes it difficult to get truly enthusiastic about what they’re doing. In a style of music known for 2 minute songs, often comprised of three chords, it’s quite hard to develop your own sound nowadays. With that said, I feel Dead to Me has done a terrific job of carving out their very own piece of the punk rock pie by keeping things interesting, varied, and cautiously experimental. With many, well documented, line-up changes over the years it was tough to know what this third disc would bring to the table and I’m happy to report it rests nicely against their previous body of work. Hard to nail down, they innovate, and yet still tie everything together with a distinct ‘Dead to Me’ sound. I feel like the album’s last track, “The World has Gone Mad” is worth searching out.

Nothington- Borrowed Time

Solid entry from a band that I feel deserves more recognition. Not quite up to par with their stellar debut album (simply because they set the bar so astronomically high), this disc certainly holds its own. Absolute masters of the catchy chorus that begs to be sung along to, surrounded by friends, soaked in sweat, as you lose your voice. I also have a huge soft spot in my heart for Jay’s gruff, desperate vocals.

Nick 13- Self Titled

Making his name in the psychobilly powerhouse that is Tiger Army, Nick 13, in his first solo release, goes all in on a sound only hinted at in previous Tiger Army releases. This album doesn’t quite fit with my other picks (as a pure country/Americana disc), but I have to admit it got a surprising amount of play from me this year. By this point there is no denying that ‘country punk’ is coming into its own with more and more established punk names entering the fold (Mike Herrera of MXPX and Tim Barry formerly of Avail instantly come to mind). Whether it’s a fad, a genuine attempt to capture a stripped down punk ethos (ala early Against Me!), or something else completely different remains to be seen. Fans of Tiger Army tracks, “In the Orchard”, and especially “Outlaw Heart” will have a good idea what to expect here. The tracks, “101″, and “Someday” really stand out to me.