My Favorites From 2012
My favorite albums from this last year. I added some extra space in case I want to add some rmore/ decide to do honorable mentions. Let me know what I missed |
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| 38 |  | Waka Flocka Flame
Triple F Life: Friends, Fans, & Family
(honorable mention) POW POW POW POW!!!! WAAAKAAAA!!! Probably waka's best
album start to finish, so what the hell. |
| 37 |  | Yeasayer
Fragrant World
(honorable mention) Almost wish they cut the bad songs out, but then it would just
be an ep |
| 36 |  | Jack White
Blunderbuss
(honorable mention) Dissappointing overall, but a handful of really great tracks gives
it a spot on my list |
| 35 |  | Best Coast
The Only Place
Though at first I didn't like the over production of this one, I have to admit that over all it?s a
pretty good album. At least now Best Coast isnt sunk into the whole lo-fi thing |
| 34 |  | Delay Trees
Doze
Not nearly as good or impactful as their debut, Doze showcases the ability of Delay Trees to
build up ideas slowly. Sadly, some of these ideas arent given the chance to finish and abruptly
just kinda end |
| 33 |  | Muse
The 2nd Law
Not a bad album, but nothing compared to the first 2/3 of the Muse discography. The
songs will sound good live, which is really what Muse is all about |
| 32 |  | The Bouncing Souls
Comet
a good collection of songs, but some of these are pretty forgettable |
| 31 |  | Bloc Party
Four
the best Bloc Party release since their debut, which isnt saying a ton, but this one is
worth the listen |
| 30 |  | Sigur Ros
Valtari
Not much to say about this one. It?s a sigur ros album, and a pretty good one at that |
| 29 |  | The XX
Coexist
Coexist plays better than the XX's release, but lacks the singles that made the first
one so likable |
| 28 |  | Twin Shadow
Confess
Really solid album with a great retro feel to it |
| 27 |  | Of Montreal
Paralytic Stalks
Pretty overlooked album that has a some really great moments hidden between forgettable
tracks |
| 26 |  | Sleigh Bells
Reign of Terror
The half of this album that is great out weighs the half that isn't. Curious how sleigh bells
will follow this one up |
| 25 |  | Alt-J
An Awesome Wave
Really interesting listen that?s strange in all the right ways |
| 24 |  | Mumford and Sons
Babel
Sure its basically part two of their debut, but this is still a solid album |
| 23 |  | The Shins
Port of Morrow
Adds a few great songs to the Shins deep catalog, but this album is lacking overall |
| 22 |  | Jeff the Brotherhood
Hypnotic Nights
Definitely has a little of that Weezer sound it in, but Jeff the Brotherhood's release
stands on its own with a strong output from the two piece group |
| 21 |  | The Gaslight Anthem
Handwritten
Though lacking compared to the rest of their albums, Handwritten is a solid album |
| 20 |  | Two Door Cinema Club
Beacon
Instead of trying to recreate their debut album, Two door Cinema Club decided to refine their
sound to something that will be much more lasting in the long term. Several big highlights on this
one, but lacking that one big pop single |
| 19 |  | Animal Collective
Centipede Hz
Got pretty mixed reviews from the 'MPP is a perfect album' clan. Personally, I thought it was
a better and more coherent album than MPP, but still not as good as their middle catelog |
| 18 |  | Metz
Metz
The rare combination of in your face and great production value |
| 17 |  | Hot Chip
In Our Heads
Hot Chip really stepped up their game on this album. Ive been a fan of their for a while but this really is
new territory for them. |
| 16 |  | Schoolboy Q
Habits and Contradictions
If Schoolboy Q took out the 5 or so filler songs this couldve been a truly memorable
album. As it is, there are enough great tracks to warrant this ranking |
| 15 |  | The Walkmen
Heaven
A few of the songs fall flat, but The Walkmen continue their trend of consistently great
albums |
| 14 |  | Chromatics
Kill for Love
I prefer Night Drive overall, but this album has some truly magnificent moments.
Namely all 8:30+ of 'These Streets Will Never Look the Same' |
| 13 |  | Dirty Projectors
Swing Lo Magellan
Such a well crafted album that grows on me each time I give it a spin |
| 12 |  | Big Boi
Vicious Lies and Dangerous Rumors
Wanted to wait to hear this one before making this list, which was a good call. Some of the best pop rap (by
my standards) songs of the year are on this record, which has a feature from just about everyone imaginable
(UGK, Wavves, ASAP, Phantogram?). That said the album isnt very cohesive, and has a underwhelming
ending |
| 11 |  | Crystal Castles
(III)
Once again Crystal Castles change up their sound, but when you listen to this there is
no doubt who it is. The best CC album easily, though Ill admit at times I still miss that
8 bitish sound |
| 10 |  | Cloud Nothings
Attack on Memory
the first half of the album is a near masterpiece, the last few songs are just about average. Hopefully Cloud
Nothings will be back with what made this album great |
| 9 |  | Beach House
Bloom
Though not quite as pop focused as Teen Dream, Bloom doesn't have a single bad song on it and features
tons of very well layered songs and melodies |
| 8 |  | Killer Mike
R.A.P. Music
One of those few rap releases that make you do a 180 the first time you hear it. unique
production and wild delivery make this entire album a hit |
| 7 |  | Passion Pit
Gossamer
A huge improvement on his debut album, Passion Pit give us a solid album start to finish that fits
perfectly into the 'happy music for sad people' category of pop |
| 6 |  | Japandroids
Celebration Rock
I think I might be in the 'Japandriods is the last true rock band' group. Seriously though- just two
guys, a guitar, and a drum kit create all this energy. This album isn't flawless, but it is really fucking
good. |
| 5 |  | Grizzly Bear
shields
Easily Grizzly Bear's best album, a few great pop songs, a few deeper cuts, but nothing to skip over |
| 4 |  | Kishi Bashi
151a
One of the most underapreciated releases of 2012. Its hard to find anything wrong with this album.
Beautiful melodies, catchy rhythms, and trippy interludes |
| 3 |  | Divine Fits
A Thing Called Divine Fits
As far as straight up guitar based pop goes, this is one of the best. Every song has something to offer |
| 2 |  | Kendrick Lamar
good kid, m.A.A.d city
These last two were very difficult to compare. If I could give two number one spots I would, but ended up going
with Frank's because while Good Kid mAAd City gives you a front row seat to Kendrick's youth, Channel Orange
gives you the full experience of living the events in each song |
| 1 |  | Frank Ocean
Channel Orange
So there it is. My top list for 2012. The biggest difference from last year is that this year there were
two masterpieces (instead of 5 really good albums) that will likely be in similar places at the decade end
list. |
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