My Top 40 Albums Released In 2012
Yet another 2012 albums list. There are lots of records released this year that I haven't listened to yet, I know. Feel free to recommend anything related and unrelated to the ones featured. I understand Sputnik will loathe some of the records on my list, but it's my list, I don't care. |
| 1 |  | Greenleaf
Nest Of Vipers
Without realizing, this is the album I listened to most and I could listen to anytime. The songs are simply crafted, but are really strong and diverse. |
| 2 |  | Deftones
Koi No Yokan
Another strong effort by Deftones, Koi No Yokan works better as a whole. The tracks are usually more layered than before and Chino and Stephen have never worked better together. |
| 3 |  | The Mars Volta
Noctourniquet
A divisive record for the fan base, but great nevertheless. I love the electronic elements, too bad these guys decided to go on a hiatus. |
| 4 |  | Buckethead
Electric Sea
A lovely, soothing record that strays from Buckethead's usual affair. It's better and more relaxing than Electric Tears. |
| 5 |  | Hammock
Departure Songs
A beautiful, mammoth of an album, that expands over 2 CDs, but really rewarding. |
| 6 |  | Rush
Clockwork Angels
Even though I haven't listened to their entire back catalog yet, this album is really strong. |
| 7 |  | Swans
The Seer
A really moody monster, that requires a lot of patience. However, it gets under your skin. |
| 8 |  | Black Light Burns
The Moment You Realize You're Going To Fall
A diverse record, where Borland lets his imagination loose and shows how much potential he has. |
| 9 |  | Zac Brown Band
Uncaged
A lovely country/southern rock album that has some really great and memorable tracks. |
| 10 |  | Wo Fat
The Black Code
The best Wo Fat record so far, it has no filler and doesn't stretch out for too long. |
| 11 |  | Golden Void
Golden Void
Really cool retro stoner/psychedelic from Earthless' Isaiah Mitchell. Shady Grove is such an addictive tune |
| 12 |  | The Brian Jonestown Massacre
Aufheben
Anton makes a fun album that's less exotic than My Bloody Underground, but offers a lot of thrills. |
| 13 |  | Dot Hacker
Inhibition
Josh Klinghoffer always showed a lot of potential and here (unlike RHCP's I'm With You, where he sounds restrained) has a lot of space to expand his ideas. |
| 14 |  | Mark Lanegan
Blues Funeral
Sadness incorporated. Another great Lanegan record. |
| 15 |  | Soulsavers
The Light The Dead See
Dave Gahan's voice really suits the somber atmosphere of the record. In some ways, this is be the follow-up to Depeche Mode's Ultra. |
| 16 |  | John 5
God Told Me To
His best and most diverse effort yet. |
| 17 |  | Foxy Shazam
The Church Of Rock And Roll
Even if it's not the band's best record out there, it's fun and has a lot of great songs. |
| 18 |  | Om
Advaitic Songs
I wasn't too fond of this record after a first listen, but it has grown on me a lot ever since. |
| 19 |  | Tame Impala
Lonerism
A strong album that has some really memorable songs (I love Feels Like We Only Go Backwards). |
| 20 |  | The Sword
Apocryphon
Another solid Sword record, this one sounds best when listened to as a whole. I feel the tracks lose momentum when listened to separately. |
| 21 |  | Spiritualized
Sweet Heart Sweet Light
The album is good, but it's a bit too tame. |
| 22 |  | Torche
Harmonicraft
Really fun and to-the-point stoner rock. Also, I dig the singer's voice, sometimes it's similar to Dave Grohl's. |
| 23 |  | Soundgarden
King Animal
I haven't listened to Soundgarden that much, but the album is great. |
| 24 |  | The Offspring
Days Go By
Aside from the two or three songs that never should've seen the light of day, only plaguing the record, it is actually a mostly nice listen that brings some of the band's earlier punch back. It's better than Green Day's trilogy anyway. |
| 25 |  | Green Day
iTRE!
Blame me for fanboy-ism, I don't care. Objectively, these should be at the bottom of the top since they are Green Day at their most indulgent. |
| 26 |  | Green Day
iDOS!
However, half of the songs are fun, so I'll just ignore the rest. |
| 27 | | Green Day
ĦUNO!
The trilogy is still better than 21st Century Breakdown IMO. |
| 28 |  | Orange Goblin
A Eulogy For The Damned
This record has lots of cojones. It's one of Orange Goblin's few records that I listen to as a whole. |
| 29 |  | ZZ Top
La Futura
A solid return after a 9 year gap. These guys are still going strong after 43 years, it's amazing. |
| 30 |  | The Dandy Warhols
This Machine
A more collaborative effort this time, but also a really unfocused one. Some songs are great, some are lacking (Courtney's tracks are still the best IMO) |
| 31 |  | Marilyn Manson
Born Villain
Manson is back on track with Born Villain, but still needs more power and, sometimes, catchier hooks. |
| 32 |  | How To Destroy Angels
An Omen
This EP only makes me more curious regarding the full length scheduled to be released next year. Also, Reznor's wife is hot. |
| 33 |  | John Frusciante
PBX Funicular Intaglio Zone
Frusciante's new sound is interesting and the album does have some great songs. However, I liked him a lot more when he released guitar-centered albums and the songs sounded more personal. |
| 34 |  | Seven That Spells
Superautobahn
Insanity caught on tape. |
| 35 | | Maserati
VII
A solid record, pushing towards a more techno sound. Still, it's slightly less rewarding than Pyramid Of The Sun. |
| 36 |  | Nightstalker
Dead Rock Commandos
Cool and to the point, this old-school stoner rock album is strong at first listens. Unfortunately, it gets a bit boring earlier than it should. |
| 37 |  | Texas Hippie Coalition
Peacemaker
Outlaw metal and a band that does a proper job. Still, some songs are generic and predictable. |
| 38 |  | Delerium
Music Box Opera
Not one of Delerium's best releases, being more of a Chimera Pt. 2. It has some great songs, but half the album is unmemorable. Also, there are a few wrong choices of vocalists. |
| 39 |  | Front Line Assembly
AirMech
A cool soundtrack, influenced by Leeb's other project Delerium and more reminiscent to Front Line Assembly's Civilization. Still, a proper new release would be a lot more rewarding. |
| 40 |  | The Flaming Lips
The Flaming Lips And Heady Fwends
Some interesting jams here, but overall the effort is kinda hit or miss. The track that features Kesha is surprisingly solid. |
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