Tell Us About 2012 Releases

[SmellyBath]

I listened to a few songs from the Ben Gibbard solo release and was not impressed...he's never going to be able to escape the weight or sound of his main project no matter how much he strips away.

I've been so hung up on the new Tame Impala it's a outta control. Sun Airway's new joint Soft Fall is also a very good listen.

[IceyHotshot]

So, yeah. 3 months later and Deepchord Presents Echospace - Silent World OST is still my album of the year. I love every sound these guys make, and this release really takes the best of their first two albums and turns it into something greater than the sum of their parts. Really amazing dub techno, can't recommend it enough.

[cutterbutter]

Twins from Ty Segall is wonderfully noisy in all the right places and has a real big groove to it. Have not enjoyed a release from him this much since Goodbye Bread.

[Gribbz]

Twins from Ty Segall is wonderfully noisy in all the right places and has a real big groove to it. Have not enjoyed a release from him this much since Goodbye Bread.

I feel the same way. Might end up being my favorite release from him.

[TallGuyCM]

Finally got around to listening to the Daphni album. What a fantastic record from start to finish.

[Drinkey McDrinkerstein]

The new Emeralds is really good. it seems much faster paced and more deliberate than the last one, and really features Mark McGuire's guitar work front and center throughout the whole thing. There are some fuckin' jams on this thing! I'm going to be listening to this a lot.

[Down Rodeo]

I kind of disagree on the new Emeralds. It's the first album of theirs that has left me cold on first listen, although it does finish pretty strongly. McGuire's guitar work felt more wankery this time around too. This could all very well change once I listen a few more times.

[Drinkey McDrinkerstein]

I listened to it twice today and it really clicked with me, but immediately I could see the guitar stuff really turning people off. it seems extremely similar to the type of stuff he was doing on Inner Tube, which probably isn't appropriate for an Emeralds release, but i like it.

[wmgaretjax]

I don't care for the Emeralds either. It's like they took all of the things I disliked about their last album (and Hauschildt's last one) and built on it in all the wrong ways. Can't stand the guitar (production or playing) and the synths feel unintentionally sterile. I need to listen again, but it bummed me out.

[IceyHotshot]

I liked it a lot.

[lt.roast.a.botch]

After a couple of listens, I really like Mac Demarco's 2. Laidback and some good guitar play. Much more folky then his release earlier this year. Helped with folding a couple loads of laundry.

[Gribbz]

The new Bat For Lashes is really growing on me.

[guedita]

The new Bat For Lashes is really growing on me.

I was not even aware there was a new Bat For Lashes. Yes!!

[Gribbz]

Yep! It's in the group.

[bmack86]

So what's Pitchfork gonna give it next week? 8.8's my guess.

[Drinkey McDrinkerstein]

It's an absolutely spectacular album. It will be very high on my list for the year.

[TallGuyCM]

Maybe not as high as you think...here's a little excerpt that I found interesting from the "Premature Evaluation" article of the album on Stereogum:

Here’s a weird and indefensible but completely genuine reaction that much-anticipated new albums sometimes provoke: I wish it was better. It’s one thing if a band you like suddenly shits the bed on a new album; God knows, that happens enough. But when someone follows up a record that hit a chord deep within you with an album that’s merely good, or even vaguely great, the reaction doesn’t make as much sense. That’s when you start judging it by the yardstick that only ever existed inside your brain. It’s a shitty reaction because it involves judging the album based on what you wish it was, rather than what it was. But it’s a reaction that’s been happening more and more often lately — one that’s collectively rippled around just about every big, important non-Frank Ocean album of 2012.

I wish I didn't agree with this, but I pretty much do (not pertaining to the BFL album, but with big anticipated albums from this year in general). All of my favorite albums from this year are either debuts or ones that I didn't see coming that caught me off guard. Most all of the big follow-ups from '09, maybe with the exception of Grizzly Bear, have left me feeling rather lukewarm and indifferent.

[Sushov23]

That's been the case as far back as I can remember with Indie rock in the 2000's though.

[bmack86]

I thought Modest Mouse followed up The Moon and Antarctica quite well, and Cat Power really slugged it out of the park after Moon Pix. Deerhunter has been, for me, on an upward trend since Cryptograms. Generally I'd agree that's the case though.

[TallGuyCM]

Halcyon Digest > Microcastle?

[Sushov23]

Halcyon Digest > Microcastle?

Yup. Halcyon Digest is their best effort. I'm sure many board members will chime in on this now. Go! I wish it was the rule, and not the rare exception Bryan. Another example I can think of is the National(although I imagine some of you will disagree with me).

[TallGuyCM]

I love Halcyon Digest to pieces, but not as much as the two that came before it. Same goes for the new Grizzly Bear, which I've seen multiple articles touting as the band's best album to date.

[icedKeg]

TallGuy, I think you'll enjoy looking back at this exchange from the very end of 2011

So. 2012. Grizzly Bear, Animal Collective, Dirty Projectors. The heavy hitters from '09 make their return. So let's play a game. Exceeds expectations, meets expectations, doesn't meet expectations. Make your prediction (if you care) and apply one term to each band's upcoming album.

GB: Exceeds
AC: Meets
DP: Doesn't meet

additions if I may:
the xx: Doesn't meet
Phoenix: Meets

My thoughts exactly, although I can kinda imagine GB just holding serve and AC really knocking it out of the park.

I have extremely high expectations for Grizzly Bear. With Dirty projectors, i guess it just depends on what kind of album they do...I tend to like their really experimental stuff the most, so if they veer more toward The Getty Address kind of thing I'd be extremely happy...but they're so variant from release to release, which is something i love about them.

I still haven't really gotten into Animal Collective for some reason.

The Knife: Exceeds
Dan Deacon: Meets
MGMT: Doesn't Meet

If Grizzly Bear and Animal Collective exceed my expectations, it'd be pretty ridiculous. I'm expecting a lot out of both (especially Animal Collective after that Coachella set.)

Don't hold your breath.

GB = meets
DPs = doesn't meet (a key voice won't be on this one)
BiH = exceeds
Yeasayer = meets
Garbage = doesn't meet
Heartless Bastards = exceeds

The Dirty Projectors album more than exceeded my expectations so I was way wrong on that one.

[sonofhal]

So what's Pitchfork gonna give it next week? 8.8's my guess.

I assume they won't get Laura Snapes to review it, considering one of the songs is about her (no points for guessing which one).

[bmack86]

I love Halcyon Digest to pieces, but not as much as the two that came before it. Same goes for the new Grizzly Bear, which I've seen multiple articles touting as the band's best album to date.

Yeah, we discussed this recently. I love Coronado, despite your lack of ability to enjoy fun.

[GeezrRckr]

Bat for Lashes = doesn't meet (Laura is a good track, but that is it...bummed)

[ods..]

Yeah the BfL hasn't clicked with me yet.

[unknown]

I'm not feeling it either and don't see it being much of a grower. I do like Laura and Winter Fields is ok. I'll have to try the last 4 songs again - it's a really hard one for me to listen through completely. And that Horses of the Sun song.... ugh.

[send me ctrpllrs]

Listening to Halcyon Digest for the first time in a while. Forgot how good it is, I would agree they've gotten better. Cryptograms is probably my favorite and I've listened to Microcastle the most, but they really have grown a lot. Isn't it about time for some new Deerhunter?

As for Grizzly Bear, still too soon to tell, but Shields might end up at the top. I like Yellow House more than Veckatimest though.

Not familiar enough with their early stuff to speak on if they've continuously improved, but last year's Deerhoof album was awesome. I'm liking Breakup Song even more.

[bmack86]

For me Deerhoof peaked with The Runners Four->Friend Opportunity. Reveille and Apple O' are both golden as well. I wasn't a huge fan of the past few to be honest, although people seem to be really digging this new one.