Yes it's one of those "end of the year" list threads, but I love reading them because so often there's some good album I haven't heard yet and find out about it because someone recommended it on a thread like this.

 

Do a top-10, top-20 or whatever you want. Post youtube links, opinions... etc. I want to find those gems I've yet to hear this year. I'll have to think about my own list for a moment or two, but I figured I'd start the thread now.

Best for me was Cloud Nothings 'Attack on memory'.

Here's a few I liked this year, there's only four because most of the music that was new to me this year has been around for quite a while.

 

1. Brian Jonestown Massacre - Aufheben

 

I love the BJM. This is probably my favourite song from the album even though it kind of sounds half-finished.

 

 

2. Dr John - Locked Down

 

I've actually been listening to his older albums more than this one, but this is new so I can include it here :)

 

 

3. El-P - Cancer for Cure

 

Probably not everybody's cup of tea..

 

 

4. Ty Segall and White Fence - Hair

 

I'd love to see Ty Segall perform live.

 

 

 

 

This is my favourite - and I thank G4 Squared for introducing me to it

 

This is my favourite - and I thank G4 Squared for introducing me to it

 

 

I have to take this opportunity to thank you, Moi. I believe it was you who mentioned Father John Misty in another thread a while ago and I became a bit curious about him, so I got hold of one of his albums - the one you posted here actually - and loved it. Been listening to it over and over again.

Since I'm cheap I'm trying to find more of his albums "in a less legal way", but haven't had much luck. Won't give up though. Need more of Father John Misty (or J. Tillman).

I won't put these in any particular order other the order that they pop into my mind.

 

• Jimmy Cliff - Rebirth  - Not a great album by his own standards, but still some decent tunes, Jimmy sounds great and the production is nicely on the retro side without sounding like a pastiche. Good cover version picks, especially "Guns of Brixton". The whole meta aspect of Jimmy/Ivan singing a song that references Ivan/Harder They Come. 

 

• Andrew Bird - Break it Yourself - Not as solid as his earlier solo records, but I like the laid back feeling of the record and how it sounds so effortless.

http://vimeo.com/37533876

 

• Andrew Bird - Hands of Glory - Terrible name for an EP, but I'll have to mention this companion piece to "Break it Yourself" because it has a song ("Three White Horses") so good it should've been on the album and it would still have been one of the highlights there.

 

• Aino Venna - Marlene - Saw the band live last summer and I didn't know a thing about them before that gig, but I really like the old time feel and the voice of the singer. Some fillers on the album, but the overall feeling is good.

https://soundcloud.com/aino-venna/10-war-song

 

• Jason Lytle - The Dept. of Disappearance - The songs aren't as strong on this one compared to Lytle's earlier work (I'm including Grandaddy here), but I just love the whole bleepy lo-fi thing he's got going, and he's got some good lyrics. One for those melancholic late evenings.

 

---

 

Hmmm... Reading back those blurbs, I get the feeling I've forgotten quite a few. I must come back and post them when I remember them.

Here's what I've listened to the most this year, no order:

 

Frank Ocean  Channel Orange
Reptar  Body Faucet
Tanlines  Mixed Emotions
Dan Deacon  America
Jack White  Blunderbuss
Father John Misty  Fear Fun
Beach House  Bloom
Hot Chip  In Our Heads

Divine Fits  A Thing Called Divine Fits

Tame Impala Lonerism

Kendrick Lamar Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City

Flying Lotus  Until the Quiet Comes

Grimes  Visions

 

Honorable mention to some hip-hop albums that I didn't get enough chances to listen to but still enjoyed: EL-P  Cancer for Cure, Killer Mike  R.A.P. Music, Childish Gambino  Royalty (Mixtape), Action Bronson  Blue Chips.

 

 

I'm making my top songs of the year list for a facebook group I belong to, I'll post a version of that in here soon.  

Edited December 14, 201213 yr by ace

Calvin Harris - 18 months is decent!

Calvin Harris - 18 months is decent!

 

 

Is this thread for decent albums? No, it's for best albums of the year!!

 

This was difficult, but here’s ten albums I play a lot could easily add another ten

 

Bat For Lashes                    The Haunted Man

Julia Holter                          Ekstasis

2:54                                     2:54

Exitmusic                            Passage

Rachel Zeffira                     The Deserters

Andrew Bird                       Break It Yourself

Calexico                               Algiers

Cold speck                           I Predict a Graceful Expulsion

Polica                                   Give You The Ghost

Susanne Sundførs              Silicone Veil

 

Special mention for the Savages EP - I Am Here – Album coming next year

Is this thread for decent albums? No, it's for best albums of the year!!

 

Ok then, the best one this year then! haha

Well, here's one I forgot to mention:

 

• Pää Kii - Pää Kii - They definitely haven't invented anything new here, but the songs are just so catchy and infectious, I'd be willing to say it's the best "punk"(I can't think of a better term for it) album I've heard since Black Lips' "Arabia Mountain". Interesting coincidence, because they both share that fondness for bad taste, but in a way that's not off putting. The album starts off with an introduction by John Waters, which sets the mood perfectly for what's in store during the next 30 minutes (or so). Political correctness is not a theme here. Here's the first song from the album, which includes the John Waters introduction, which is in English, although the album lyrics are in Finnish. Well, anyway... Here we go:

http://youtu.be/nutVEr-xJfQ

First Aid Kit, Tame Impala, Black Keys, Django Django

The Killers - Battle Born I thought was a fantastic album

Frank Ocean - Channel Orange

Grizzly Bear - Shields

Americana - Neil Young

Overall I thought 2012 was a pretty poor year for music after the last few years.

 

If i had to pick one, i'd go for Lex Hives by The Hives

 

Evolution of Man by Example was also a pretty good album

My favourite album of 2012 is a compilation -  Psychemagic presents Magik Cyrkles.

 

Seriously cool music but a bit off the beaten track and not to everyones taste.

The xx - coexist.

I must be getting old I have never heard of any of the above apart form Jack White, anyway my two stand outs from 2012 :

 

Leaving Eden - Carolina Chocolate Drops

 

Tempest - Bob Dylan

Krizz Kaliko - Kickin' and Screamin'.
 

Non mainstream experimental Rap & Hip-Hop. If you like these genres you should listen to it.