Best Albums Of 2012
Metalheads get offended when there is no metal on people's lists. This is MY list. I am not sorry rrrrrif you don't like it. I won't go into too much detail with each album but I'll try and say rrrsomething rrfor each. |
| 50 |  | Moonface
With Siinai: Heartbreaking Bravery |
| 49 |  | Currensy
The Stoned Immaculate |
| 48 |  | Purity Ring
Shrines |
| 47 |  | Santigold
Master Of My Make-Believe |
| 46 | | De La Soul's Plug 1 and Plug 2
First Serve |
| 45 |  | Ty Segall and White Fence
Hair |
| 44 |  | Eight and A Half
Eight and A Half
Reminds me of my city. I can't explain why. I can understand why most people didn't like this album. |
| 43 |  | Andrew Bird
Break It Yourself |
| 42 |  | Sean Price
Mic Tyson
Funniest album of the year. Crazy beats too. P! |
| 41 |  | Nas
Life Is Good |
| 40 |  | Ty Segall
Twins |
| 39 |  | Rick Ross
Rich Forever |
| 38 |  | GOOD Music
Cruel Summer
"Clique", "Mercy", "New God Flow", "Cold", "Sin City", "Don't Like". I had those tracks on repeat. It would be unfair for them to
go unmentioned due to some weaker songs on this compilation. |
| 37 |  | Action Bronson
Rare Chandeliers |
| 36 |  | Chairlift
Something |
| 35 |  | Jack White
Blunderbuss |
| 34 |  | Titus Andronicus
Local Business |
| 33 |  | Flying Lotus
Until The Quiet Comes |
| 32 |  | Big Boi
Vicious Lies and Dangerous Rumors |
| 31 | | Melody's Echo Chamber
Melody's Echo Chamber |
| 30 |  | Sharon Van Etten
Tramp
I listened to this album in phases. Aaron Dessner of the National produced this so it's got my stamp of approval. |
| 29 |  | Big K.R.I.T.
Live From The Underground
DIRTY SOUTH REVIVED! K.R.I.T. HAS LOTS AHEAD OF HIM! |
| 28 |  | David Byrne & St. Vincent
Love This Giant
I will regret not seeing David Byrne & St. Vincent when I had the chance. It would of helped me enjoy this album much more I
believe. I still think this is a fantastic album. |
| 27 |  | Dirty Projectors
Swing Lo Magellan
I really want to like this album more. "About To Die" is probably the best highlight from this album, but my personal favorites
are the slower songs. The title track, or "Impregnable Question" make me want to revisit the album more often, but I never get
what I'm expecting afterwards. I wouldn't call the album uneven though. When in the mood this is a really enjoyable record. |
| 26 |  | Dinosaur Jr.
I Bet On Sky
This is my favorite Dinosaur Jr. album since the original lineup reunited. 2007's "Beyond" was cool but 2009's "Farm" didn't have
me too interested. It was too long and lot's of the songs sounded alike. This seems to be the album that recreates their late
1980's recipe. Very solid album. |
| 25 |  | Wild Nothing
Nocturne
About as good as the debut album "Gemini". I wasn't too interested at first. I'm starting to find the heavy reverb stuff is a little
overdone. But I eventually gave in, and liked this album very much. |
| 24 | | Rick Ross
God Forgives, I Don't
I giggle like a child whenever Ross hollers "ROZAY!" at the end of certain punchlines. I do think this is his best album. Most
people preferred the "Rich Forever" mixtape to this album, but the production of "God Forgives, I Don't" is what had me
enjoying this material much more. Rozay get's better with time. |
| 23 | | Godspeed You! Black Emperor
'Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend!
Ok.
The announcement of this album had me, and my entire city, going ecstatic. To most of us in Montreal, Godspeed are STILL
the most important act to our music scene. It's great to have some new material after so long. But in reality, I feel like this
album scored so high for me for nostalgic reasons. I was only 12 years old when "Yanqui U.X.O." dropped, and I was only
beginning to discover good music. So by the time I was into this band, all their material was released. It was nearly decided
that "'Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend!" would make this list.
The more I listened to the album, and heard everyone in the city praise this album I felt like the same crap would happen if
Tupac was never dead. All of a sudden he'd be everyone's favorite rapper again. To me, "We Drift Like Worried Fire" seems
to be the only moment of greatness on this album. Enough so to compliment the other decent piece + 12 minutes of drone.
But the hype involved went overboard. People twice my age, who should of known about this stuff way before I did were
coming to me for information on this "NEW" band (I work in a CD shop, I'm not a musical guru people visit for info).
This album made my list because although I only adore one of the two complete pieces, I'll probably only ever get to do this
again in 2022. But my account on this website will probably, and hopefully have beend, so I can proceed with better
things in life. And hopefully, if neccessary, a better Godspeed You! Black Emperor album. |
| 22 |  | John Talabot
Fin |
| 21 |  | Roc Marciano
Reloaded
A friend of mine couldn't shut up about Roc Marciano. He told me I'd love this guy, and I kept procrastinating. This album (and
artist) is still very fresh to me but I do feel had I heard this sooner it would of only scored higher on this list. Awesome hip hop
album. |
| 20 |  | Ty Segall Band
Slaughterhouse
Best of Ty's releases this year. Lots of fun. |
| 19 |  | ScHoolboy Q
Habits and Contradictions
"There He Go" was my favorite hip hop song of the year. I thought this album was great, but it's obvious that Q (and all of TDE)
have lots of great stuff to come. |
| 18 |  | Hot Chip
In Our Heads
Hot Chip generally meet the standards I give them. "Motion Sickness" is one of the best songs of the year. Possibly the best Hot
Chip song ever. I realized I don't have a favorite Hot Chip album. They're all equal. It's automatic. I'm always pleased. |
| 17 |  | Bat For Lashes
The Haunted Man
I didn't have very fond memories of past Bat For Lashes albums. I found certain songs always stood out more than others. This
album is the contrary. It's really great to listen to in it's entirety. A very dark album too. |
| 16 |  | The Men
Open Your Heart
I didn't abuse of this album when it first came out, nor do I now. It's something that sticks nonetheless. It's memorable. I
usually dislike when artists mess with too many genres, but the Men pulled it off really well on this record. If you haven't heard
it, you should at the very least give it a try. |
| 15 |  | Bobby Womack
The Bravest Man In The Universe
Wow! Wow! Wow! Most underrated album of 2012. Something I can only listen to in it's entirety. This is a beautiful album. |
| 14 |  | Passion Pit
Gossamer
I'm a sucker for good pop music. I love how everything is so upbeat on this record... until you pay attention to the lyrics. I'm
not saying that the lyrics are genius. I just love the clever contrast it creates when it meets the music itself. The first few times
I heard "Gossamer", I liked it right away. That usually is a sign that an album will grow old to me really quick. I was right. But
for some reason it regrew on me. Good for me. Good for "Gossamer". |
| 13 |  | Action Bronson
Blue Chips
I love how people get offended by Bronson. That's what you get when the album is FREE! If you didn't hear it yet, do so.
There's great instrumentals if you're feeling too sensitive. |
| 12 |  | Beach House
Bloom
In my mid-year evaluation I mentioned how Beach House were one of those bands that just keep getting better with time. I no
longer feel like "Bloom" is a better album than "Teen Dream", but this is still a solid album. |
| 11 |  | Divine Fits
A Thing Called Divine Fits
Dan Boeckner will always have a good spot reserved come my end of a year "best of" list. Britt Daniel usually has his spot
reserved as well. As a big Wolf Parade, Handsome Furs and Spoon fan, I did expect a lot from Divine Fits. The only thing I ever
complained about with this album, was the order of the tracks. I found them poorly ordered. Their seems to be a lack of
consistency that was avoidable had certain songs switched place on the tracklist. But they're all good rock songs in the end. I
think Divine Fits showed a sign of great things to come. I'm very eager to hear new stuff already. |
| 10 |  | Tame Impala
Lonerism
I have a strange relationship with this album. I have a hard time getting passed the first track, "Be Above It". Often, I will
start the album, get halfway passed the first track, and decide to put another album on instead of sitting through it. If I do
get passed the first track, I get through the entire album loving it (first track included)! However, come the last track, I
advance it right to the end. In other words, had the opening and closing tracks not existed, I would love this album so much
more. I personally find that opening and closing tracks play such a crucial role in forming an album's greatness. That's
clearly irrelevant in this case. "Lonerism" made my top 10. I'll let them get away with it this time. |
| 9 |  | El-P
Cancer 4 Cure |
| 8 |  | Cloud Nothings
Attack On Memory |
| 7 |  | Twin Shadow
Confess
The soundtrack to my Saturday nights. |
| 6 |  | Grizzly Bear
Shields
I get really excited for new Grizzly Bear material. I do find this album as moody as their previous efforts, which is great. It
allows for a better listening experience when the mood strikes. If the mood doesn't strike it's still obvious that "Sleeping Ute",
"Speak In Rounds", "Yet Again" (which was probably my favorite song of 2012) and "Sun In Your Eyes" display some of Grizzly
Bear's best song-writing till this date. I'd also have to say Grizzly Bear was my favorite concert of 2012. |
| 5 |  | Killer Mike
R.A.P. Music
Every year there's that one album that get's better every time you hear it. "R.A.P. Music" would be mine for 2012. |
| 4 |  | The Shins
Port Of Morrow
I'm starting to believe I'm alone at having so many good things about "Port Of Morrow". I love this album! Reach out to me if
you agree. If you don't, SHAT AHP! |
| 3 |  | Kendrick Lamar
good kid, m.A.A.d city
"good kid, m.A.A.d city" is this decade's "Illmatic". That's it. That's all. |
| 2 |  | Japandroids
Celebration Rock
In my opinion, this was the most "in your face" album of the year. I liked Japandroids' debut album "Post-Nothing" when it was
released, but not as much as the critics told me I should. I didn't expect such sophomore greatness. |
| 1 |  | Frank Ocean
Channel Orange
I wanted to go against all the magazines/websites and NOT make this my album of the year, but I'd be full of shit to do so. I
considered all the other albums in my top 5 to replace this one. This is FIRE! |
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