Top Albums of 2012 (picked by labels, artists, & blogs)

[Spooks]

Nice list!

Andy Nelson (Ceremony, Paint it Black) Favorite Records of 2012.
Long:
Blank Realm - Go Easy
Constant Mongrel - Everything Goes Wrong
Daughn Gibson - All Hell
Frank Ocean - channel ORANGE
Julia Holter - Ekstasis
Merchandise - Children Of Desire
Raime - Quarter Turns Over A Living Line
Scott Walker - Bisch Bosh
Shackleton - Music For The Quiet Hour/The Drawbar Organ EPs
Sickoids - self titled

Short:
Burial - Kindred
Daughn Gibson - Lite Me Up
Dawn Of Humans - Blurst Of The Birdfish
Fennesz - Fa 2012
Give - Voodoo Leather
Hoax - 3rd EP
The Ropes - Always Nothing
Savages - Husbands
Scott & Charlene's Wedding/Peak Twins split
Total Control - Scene From A Marriage

The Faint's Top 12 of 2012
Demdike Stare - Elemental
Cut Hands - Black Mamba
Crystal Castles - (III)
Jon Convex - Idoru
Liars -WIXIW
Twin Shadow - Confess
Squarepusher - Ufabulum
Actress - R.I.P.
Trust - Trst
Grimes - Visions
Black Moth Super Rainbow - Cobra Juicy
Icky Blossoms - S/T

Trust's Top 10 Songs of 2012
1. Ashtray Wasp - Burial
2. Loner - Burial
3. Kindred - Burial
4. Say My Name - Destiny's Child (Cyril Hahn Remix)
5. Hour Fortress - Light Asylum
6. I'm Addicted - Madonna
7. Bad Girls - M.I.A.
8. She Is the Wave - Doldrums
9. Silent Visions - Kontravoid
10. Sleepwalking - Casket Girls

[sames44]

Sonic Cathedral's top 20:

A PLACE TO BURY STRANGERS ‘WORSHIP’ (DEAD OCEANS)
JESSICA PRATT ‘JESSICA PRATT’ (BIRTH RECORDS)
TY SEGALL & WHITE FENCE ‘HAIR’ (DRAG CITY)
NATHAN FAKE ‘STEAM DAYS’ (BORDER COMMUNITY)
BILL FAY ‘LIFE IS PEOPLE’ (DEAD OCEANS)
DAN DEACON ‘AMERICA’ (DOMINO)
TAMARYN ‘TENDER NEW SIGNS’ (MEXICAN SUMMER)
WHITE MANNA ‘WHITE MANNA’ (HOLY MOUNTAIN)
ULRICH SCHNAUSS & MARK PETERS ‘UNDERRATED SILENCE’ (BUREAU B)
BRIAN ENO ‘LUX’ (WARP)
BEACHWOOD SPARKS ‘THE TARNISHED GOLD’ (SUB POP)
GRAVENHURST ‘THE GHOST IN DAYLIGHT’ (WARP)
MELODY’S ECHO CHAMBER ‘MELODY’S ECHO CHAMBER’ (WEIRD WORLD)
TY SEGALL ‘TWINS’ (DRAG CITY)
DIIV ‘OSHIN’ (CAPTURED TRACKS)
DISAPPEARS ‘PRE LANGUAGE’ (KRANKY)
LOTUS PLAZA ‘SPOOKY ACTION AT A DISTANCE’ (KRANKY)
LIARS ‘WIXIW’ (MUTE)
FRANKIE ROSE ‘INTERSTELLAR’ (MEMPHIS INDUSTRIES)
LOWER DENS ‘NOOTROPICS’ (RIBBON MUSIC)

http://www.soniccathedral.co.uk/2012...2012-part-one/

[Mr. Fuzz]

A PLACE TO BURY STRANGERS released a new album?

[sames44]

new album (Worship) & new ep (Onwards to the Wall)

[Mr. Fuzz]

Thanks! I'm listening now.

[Spooks]

RJD2's Top 10 Things of 2012

Sauteed/wilted spinach: I have been putting sauteed spinach on damn near everything this year. Sandwiches, pizza, eggs, fish-you name it. A little olive oil and fresh black pepper in a cast iron skillet, maybe 2 minutes stirring VERY frequently-bam!

Todd Terje - It's The Arps: The idea of someone restricting themselves to JUST the classic ARP 2600 synth was intriguing enough for me to listen to (I had explored a similar idea on The Insane Warrior album); fortunately the outcome is great. Great melodic sensibility, and cool grooves make this one of my favorites of the year.


Reddit: I'm a late adopter, but it's now on my shortlist of sites I check. At times enlightening, enraging, boring, or revolting (depending on the content), I think it's almost as useful as Huffington Post for staying informed on our culture.

Driving the streets of Philadelphia: After more than 10 years of living here, I now feel pretty comfortable behind the wheel. Its common for out-of-towners visiting to comment on their sheer terror of driving here. In many ways, its utter lawlessness-you get to know what places some crazy shit has an 80% chance of occurring, where you will NOT get a moving violation (almost anywhere), and what rules you SHOULD break in certain places to increase your safety (Girard Ave west of Brewerytown anyone?). Then, driving becomes very fun, especially in a fun car.

Over easy eggs: its actually pretty hard to get the texture JUST right on an over easy egg; the yolk should be just runny enough, but the white needs consistency. If you do it right, put it on your favorite sandwich. When you slice through the middle of it, the yolk will run, and it moisturizes and luxuries the whole shebang AWWW FUCK ME I GOTTA GO DO THIS RIGHT NOW-

Bob Marley - Natty Dread: I know I know, this record is old, but I realized recently through multiple repeated listens that I think this is his Illmatic. Its so damn solid from top to bottom. This record is close to Kind of Blue for me, in that I can almost listen to it at any time, and it hasn't gotten boring yet.

Richard from Boardwalk Empire: yea, nuff said.

Kendick Lamar - Good Kid, MAAD city: This is probably my favorite rap album of the year so far. the production is awesome, there's only one track that is so-so (don't really need the Mary J tune), the writing is brilliant, and the mixing and mastering sounds like, well, as if Dr. Dre were overseeing it or something. It's not often that an MC makes an album that is topical, smart, funny, and engaging without feeling like he's lecturing you-this is exactly that. Oh, and that "Swimming Pools" beat makes me want to quit making beats forever.

The Cabin In the Woods: I'm a big sci-fi and horror movie fan, and this was a great melding of the two for me. Cleverly written with a great ending, it was a refreshing approach for the contour of a film.

Frank Ocean - Channel Orange: It took me a while to warm to this album, mores than the "Nostalgia Ultra" mixture which i considered an instant classic, but after finding it on vinyl finally, I really got into it. The sound of it gives me a bit more of a colder feeling, and more it sounds more polished, but once I got over that I realized there are some great songs, and he's got an incredible voice. I'd love to be producing for his next album!

[bmack86]

Where the hell did RJ find Channel: Orange on vinyl?

[getbetter]

Lol he is soo full of shit

[bmack86]

Ha, I looked it up. Apparently a bootleg company in Germany has pressed copies, and people say it sounds fine.

[getbetter]

Damn .....how much is it besides the $15ish S&H



Also Artist have to worry about people downloading their music and now if they don't released a vinyl they have to worry about losing sales that way too ...funky.

[rage patton]

That Sonic Cathedral list is, so far, the only list I have seen which includes Dan Deacon's America, and that really surprises me. It is in my top 5 albums of the year and every time I listen to it, it blows me away. How can this album be so widely looked over?

[mmsk123]

NPR Music's 50 Favorite Albums Of 2012

AB-SOUL - CONTROL SYSTEM
ALABAMA SHAKES - BOYS AND GIRLS
ALISA WEILERSTEIN/DANIEL BARENBOIM - ELGAR & CARTER CELLO CONCERTOS
ALT-J - AN AWESOME WAVE
ANDY STOTT - LUXURY PROBLEMS
ASTRO - ASTRO
SIMON RATTLE & THE BERLIN PHILHARMONIC - BACH: ST. MATTHEW PASSION
BOBBY WOMACK - THE BRAVEST MAN IN THE UNIVERSE
BOMBA ESTEREO - ELEGANCIA TROPICAL
BROOKLYN RIDER - SEVEN STEPS
CAFE TACVBA - EL OBJETO ANTES LLMADO DISCO
CARLA MORRISON - DEJENME LLORAR
CAT POWER - SUN
CODY CHESNUTT - LANDING ON A HUNDRED
DAN DEACON - AMERICA
DEATH GRIPS - NO LOVE DEEP WEB
DEBO BAND - DEBO BAND
DIRTY PROJECTORS - SWING LO MAGELLAN
DWIGHT YOAKAM - 3 PEARS
EXITMUSIC - PASSAGE
FIONA APPLE - THE IDLER WHEEL IS WISER THAN THE DRIVER OF THE SCREW AND WHIPPING CORDS WILL SERVE YOU MORE THAN ROPES WILL EVER DO
FLYING LOTUS - UNTIL THE QUIET COMES
FRANK OCEAN - CHANNEL ORANGE
FUN. - SOME NIGHTS
HOMEBOY SANDMAN - FIRST OF A LIVING BREED
IRIS DEMENT - SING THE DELTA
JANKA NABAY & THE BUBU GANG - EN YAY SAH
JAPANDROIDS - CELEBRATION ROCK
KARRIEM RIGGINS - ALONE TOGETHER
KENDRICK LAMAR - GOOD KID, M.A.A.D. CITY
KILLER MIKE - R.A.P. MUSIC
LEILA JOSEFOWICZ - SALONEN: VIOLIN CONCERTO
LEONARD COHEN - OLD IDEAS
MATT ULERY - BY A LITTLE LIGHT
MEEK MILL- DREAMCHASERS 2
MIGUEL - KALEIDOSCOPE DREAM
NENEH CHERRY AND THE THING - THE CHERRY THING
NOW, NOW - THREADS
PALLBEARER - SORROW AND EXTINCTION
PATRICK WATSON - ADVENTURES IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD
P!NK - THE TRUTH ABOUT LOVE
REGINA SPEKTOR - WHAT WE SAW FROM THE CHEAP SEATS
SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY/MICHAEL TILSON THOMAS - ADAMS: HARMONIELEHRE/SHORT RIDE IN A FAST MACHINE
SHARON VAN ETTEN - TRAMP
SWANS - THE SEER
TY SEGALL - TWINS
THE VERY BEST - MTMTMK
VIJAY IYER TRIO - ACCELERANDO
WADADA LEO SMITH - TEN FREEDOM SUMMERS
THE 2 BEARS- BE STRONG

[mmsk123]

Top Ten Albums Of The Year As Selected By Josh Tillman of Father John Misty

10. Prez P. A. U. L. A. C. R. O. N. Y. M. S. 2055
9. Blood Diamond Vague Geometric Shapes
8. Assorted Bears Debts
7. Skyler No and Terror Maze Electric’s Grid
6. Holy Matrimony Retrograde Flux
5. Lil’ Cleopatra $$$ Intro-deucing: Return of The 2nd Queen: Reloaded (Pink Edition)
4. NOVUS ^
3. Girl Camp Beach Cat
2. Tierro and Dempsey CEEEiling FrEEEquencies
1. Groupthink S/T

Guy Maddison’s (of Mudhoney) top ten list

1. Coco Marie Maddison’s first words and steps.
2. Barack Obama’s re-election.
3. Sydney Swans win the Premiership.
4. Mudhoney complete their new album.
5. Aung San Suu Kyi elected to parliament in Myanmar.
6. Bradley Wiggins becomes the first Englishman to win the Tour de France, and perhaps the first Mod to win any sporting event, ever.
7. Convinced 3 other people to join me in eating fermented, icelandic shark.
8. Mudhoney finally played Mogwai’s ATP curatorship.
9. Stoofvlees or Carbonade Flamande recipe perfected.
10. Seattle Cyclocross season 2012, by the way can Seven Cycles give me a “Mudhoney” frame for next season?

Kyle Thomas of King Tuff

1. Audacity- Mellow Cruisers
2. Gap Dream- s/t
3. Chris Weisman- Beatleboro
4. White Fang- High Expectations
5. Natural Child- For The Love Of The Game
6. The Memories- s/t
7. Tame Impala- Lonerism
8. Hector’s Pets
9. Fletcher C. Johnson- Salutations
10. The Babies- Our House On The Hill

Sera Cahoone
1. Breaking Bad season 5
2. Denver Broncos
3. Thee Satisfaction- Awe Natural
4. Kathleen Edwards- Voyageur
5. Toy poodles
6. Music for Marriage Equality
7. Bulliet Rye
8. Father John Misty- Fear Fun
9. Shovels and Ropes- Oh Be Joyful
10. Raquetball resurgence

Benjamin Weikel of The Helio Sequence
1. DIIV – Oshin
2. Menomena – Moms
3. Here We Go Magic – A Different Ship
4. Beach House – Bloom
5. Tame Impala – Lonerism
6. Ultraísta – Ultraísta
7. Lackthereof – Building Personal Strength
8. Pure Bathing Culture – S/T EP
9. Chairlift – Something
10. Opossom – Electric Hawaii

Here are my top 10 songs of 2012:

1. Menomena – “One Horse”
2. DIIV – “How Long Have You Known”
3. Beach House – “New Year”
4. Here We Go Magic – “Alone But Moving”
5. Tame Impala – “Apocalypse Dreams”
6. Mirroring – “Drowning the Call”
7. Ultraísta – “Bad Insect”
8. Lower Dens – “Propagation”
9. ERAAS – “Fang”
10. Lotus Plaza – “Jet Out of the Tundra”

Brandon Summers of The Helio Sequence

Ombre- Believe You Me
Menomena- Moms
Beach House- Bloom
Dirty Projectors- Swing Lo Magellan
Here We Go Magic- A Different Ship
Tame Impala- Lonerism
Tu Fawning- A Monument
Toy- Self Titled
DIIV- Oshin
The XX- Coexist

Ryan of Ruby Suns
ten tubular tunes of 2012:

todd terje – inspector norse
bear in heaven – the reflection of you
el perro del mar – walk on by
ice choir – teletrips
when saints go machine – church and law
opossom – blue meanies
lawrence arabia – early kneecappings
boycrush – everybody all the time
bjork – mutual core
hot chip – don’t deny your heart

Chris Slorach of METZ
In no particular order:

Thee oh Sees – Putrifers II
Moon Duo – Circles
Mrs. Magician – Strange Heaven
Redd Kross – Researching the Blues
Swans – The Seer
Liars – WIXIW
Soupcans – Good Feelings
Teenanger – Frights
- The new song Patrick Flegel sent me he described as “very Butthole surfers”
- Finally putting out our record

[Miroir Noir]

Stereogum:

50 Flying Lotus – Until The Quiet Comes (Warp)
49 Parquet Courts – Light Up Gold (Dull Tools)
48 The Shins – Port Of Morrow (Columbia/Aural Apothecary)
47 Rick Ross – Rich Forever (Maybach Music)
46 Matthew E. White – Big Inner (Spacebomb/Hometapes)
45 The Evens – The Odds (Dischord)
44 Bat For Lashes – The Haunted Man (Capitol)
43 Action Bronson & Party Supplies – Blue Chips (self-released)
42 Sharon Van Etten – Tramp (Jagjaguwar)
41 Sun Kil Moonn – Among The Leaves (Caldo Verde)
40 Converge – All We Love We Leave Behind (Polyvinyl)
39 Jessica Pratt – Jessica Pratt (Birth Records)
38 Mount Eerie – Ocean Roar (P.W. Elverum And Sun)
37 Joey Bada$$ – 1999 (self-released)
36 Chris Cohen – Overgrown Path (Captured Tracks)
35 Swearin’ – Swearin’ (Salinas)
34 Future – Pluto (Epic/A1/Free Bandz)
33 How To Dress Well – Total Loss (Acéphale)
32 Ty Segall – Twins (Drag City)
31 ScHoolboy Q – Habits & Contradictions (Top Dawg Entertainment)
30 Torche – Harmonicraft (Volcom)
29 Purity Ring – Shrines (4AD/Last Gang)
28 Cat Power – Sun (Matador)
27 Beach House – Bloom (Sub Pop)
26 Grimes – Visions (4AD/Arbutus)
25 Nude Beach – II (Other Music Recording Company)
24 Sleigh Bells – Reign Of Terror (Mom + Pop)
23 Killer Mike – R.A.P. Music (Williams Street)
22 DIIV – Ocean (Captured Tracks)
21 Screaming Females – Ugly (Don Giovanni)
20 Spiritualized – Sweet Heart Sweet Light (Fat Possum)
19 Taylor Swift – Red (Big Machine)
18 Baroness – Yellow & Green (Relapse)
17 The Men – Open Your Heart (Sacred Bones)
16 Grizzly Bear – Shields (Warp)
15 El-P – Cancer For Cure (Fat Possum)
14 Chromatics – Kill For Love (Italians Do It Better)
13 Godspeed You! Black Emperor – Allelujah! Don’t Bend! Ascend! (Constellation)
12 Miguel – Kaleidoscope Dream (RCA)
11 Tame Impala – Lonerism (Modular)
10 Dirty Projectors – Swing Lo Magellan (Domino)
09 Chairlift – Something (Columbia)
08 The Walkmen – Heaven (Fat Possum)
07 Japandroids – Celebration Rock (Polyvinyl)
06 Cloud Nothings – Attack On Memory (Carpark)
05 Jessie Ware – Devotion (PMR)
04 Swans – The Seer (Young God)
03 Kendrick Lamar – good kid, m.A.A.d. City (TDE/Interscope)
02 Frank Ocean – Channel Orange (Def Jam)
01 Fiona Apple – The Idler Wheel… (Epic)

[faxman75]

Where the hell did RJ find Channel: Orange on vinyl?

I'm making a go at the German boot. Just ordered it on Discog.

[Alchemy]

Fiona Apple belongs on the #1 spot, I think.

[mmsk123]

Rolling Stone:

01 Bruce Springsteen – Wrecking Ball
02 Frank Ocean – Channel Orange
03 Jack White – Blunderbuss
04 Bob Dylan – Tempest
05 Fiona Apple – The Idler Wheel…
06 Kendrick Lamar – good kid, m.A.A.d city
07 Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros – Here
08 Green Day – !Uno!
09 Japandroids – Celebration Rock
10 Neil Young and Crazy Horse – Psychedelic Pill
11 Mumford & Sons – Babel
12 Jimmy Cliff – Rebirth
13 Leonard Cohen – Old Ideas
14 Best Coast – The Only Place
15 Dr. John – Locked Down
16 Cat Power – Sun
17 John Mayer – Born and Raised
18 Nas – Life is Good
19 Band Of Horses – Mirage Rock
20 Killer Mike – R.A.P. Music
21 Cloud Nothings – Attack on Memory
22 Bonnie Raitt – Slipstream
23 Divine Fits – A Thing Called Divine Fits
24 G.O.O.D. Music – Cruel Summer
25 Donald Fagen – Sunken Condos
26 Django Django – Django Django
27 Gary Clark Jr. – Blak and Blu
28 Beach House – Bloom
29 Dave Matthews Band – Away From the World
30 Azealia Banks – 1991
31 Taylor Swift – Red
32 Hospitality – Hospitality
33 Grimes – Visions
34 Alabama Shakes – Boys & Girls
35 Grizzly Bear – Shields
36 Bobby Womack – The Bravest Man in the Universe
37 Justin Townes Earle – Nothing’s Gonna Change The Way You Feel About Me Now
38 Titus Andronicus – Local Business
39 Passion Pit – Gossamer
40 Escort – Escort
41 The Avett Brothers – The Carpenter
42 Allo Darlin’ – Europe
43 fun. – Some Nights
44 Garbage – Not Your Kind of People
45 Rick Ross – Rich Forever
46 Muse – The 2nd Law
47 Todd Snider – Agnostic Hymns and Stoner Fables
48 The Smashing Pumpkins – Oceania
49 Amadou And Mariam – Folila
50 Dirty Projectors – Swing Lo Magellan

[Spooks]

Top Ten Albums Of The Year As Selected By Josh Tillman of Father John Misty

10. Prez P. A. U. L. A. C. R. O. N. Y. M. S. 2055
9. Blood Diamond Vague Geometric Shapes
8. Assorted Bears Debts
7. Skyler No and Terror Maze Electric’s Grid
6. Holy Matrimony Retrograde Flux
5. Lil’ Cleopatra $$$ Intro-deucing: Return of The 2nd Queen: Reloaded (Pink Edition)
4. NOVUS ^
3. Girl Camp Beach Cat
2. Tierro and Dempsey CEEEiling FrEEEquencies
1. Groupthink S/T

Guy Maddison’s (of Mudhoney) top ten list

1. Coco Marie Maddison’s first words and steps.
2. Barack Obama’s re-election.
3. Sydney Swans win the Premiership.
4. Mudhoney complete their new album.
5. Aung San Suu Kyi elected to parliament in Myanmar.
6. Bradley Wiggins becomes the first Englishman to win the Tour de France, and perhaps the first Mod to win any sporting event, ever.
7. Convinced 3 other people to join me in eating fermented, icelandic shark.
8. Mudhoney finally played Mogwai’s ATP curatorship.
9. Stoofvlees or Carbonade Flamande recipe perfected.
10. Seattle Cyclocross season 2012, by the way can Seven Cycles give me a “Mudhoney” frame for next season?

Kyle Thomas of King Tuff

1. Audacity- Mellow Cruisers
2. Gap Dream- s/t
3. Chris Weisman- Beatleboro
4. White Fang- High Expectations
5. Natural Child- For The Love Of The Game
6. The Memories- s/t
7. Tame Impala- Lonerism
8. Hector’s Pets
9. Fletcher C. Johnson- Salutations
10. The Babies- Our House On The Hill

Sera Cahoone
1. Breaking Bad season 5
2. Denver Broncos
3. Thee Satisfaction- Awe Natural
4. Kathleen Edwards- Voyageur
5. Toy poodles
6. Music for Marriage Equality
7. Bulliet Rye
8. Father John Misty- Fear Fun
9. Shovels and Ropes- Oh Be Joyful
10. Raquetball resurgence

Benjamin Weikel of The Helio Sequence
1. DIIV – Oshin
2. Menomena – Moms
3. Here We Go Magic – A Different Ship
4. Beach House – Bloom
5. Tame Impala – Lonerism
6. Ultraísta – Ultraísta
7. Lackthereof – Building Personal Strength
8. Pure Bathing Culture – S/T EP
9. Chairlift – Something
10. Opossom – Electric Hawaii

Here are my top 10 songs of 2012:

1. Menomena – “One Horse”
2. DIIV – “How Long Have You Known”
3. Beach House – “New Year”
4. Here We Go Magic – “Alone But Moving”
5. Tame Impala – “Apocalypse Dreams”
6. Mirroring – “Drowning the Call”
7. Ultraísta – “Bad Insect”
8. Lower Dens – “Propagation”
9. ERAAS – “Fang”
10. Lotus Plaza – “Jet Out of the Tundra”

Brandon Summers of The Helio Sequence

Ombre- Believe You Me
Menomena- Moms
Beach House- Bloom
Dirty Projectors- Swing Lo Magellan
Here We Go Magic- A Different Ship
Tame Impala- Lonerism
Tu Fawning- A Monument
Toy- Self Titled
DIIV- Oshin
The XX- Coexist

Ryan of Ruby Suns
ten tubular tunes of 2012:

todd terje – inspector norse
bear in heaven – the reflection of you
el perro del mar – walk on by
ice choir – teletrips
when saints go machine – church and law
opossom – blue meanies
lawrence arabia – early kneecappings
boycrush – everybody all the time
bjork – mutual core
hot chip – don’t deny your heart

Chris Slorach of METZ
In no particular order:

Thee oh Sees – Putrifers II
Moon Duo – Circles
Mrs. Magician – Strange Heaven
Redd Kross – Researching the Blues
Swans – The Seer
Liars – WIXIW
Soupcans – Good Feelings
Teenanger – Frights
- The new song Patrick Flegel sent me he described as “very Butthole surfers”
- Finally putting out our record

You didn't include everything from Sub Pop!

STAFF LISTS

Nick Turner
Top-ten (non-Sub Pop) things of 2012, in no particular order:

True Radical Miracle – Termites LP (Iron Lung) and live
Ed Schrader’s Music Beat – Jazz Mind LP (Load)
Cut Hands, Andy Stott live at Decibel Fest’s Modern Love showcase, and Demdike Stare’s live score to Jean Rollin’s La Vampire Nue
Zyanose – Insane Noise Raid LP (Whisper in Darkness)
Merchandise – Children of Desire (Katorga Works) and live with Shoxx at 538 Johnson
Swans – The Seer (Young God) and live at Neumos
Forward – Devil’s Cradle 7â€� (540)
Boston Strangler – Primitive LP (Fun With Smack)
Dream Decay’s various live shows
Daughn Gibson – All Hell (White Denim)

Hardly Art’s Ruben Mendez tries to remember 12 favorite LP/tape purchases of 2012

1. Protomartyr – No Passion/All Technique (Urinal Cake)
2. Tyvek – On Triple Beams (In the Red)
3. Lost Animal – Ex Tropical (Sensory)
4. La Luz – Damp Face EP (self released tape)
5. King Tuff – King Tuff (Sub Pop)
6. Tronics – Love Backed By Force reissue (WYR?)
7. Window Twins- Wish (Volar)
8. Subsonics- In the Black Spot (Slovenly)
9. Evening Meetings – Evening Meetings (Sweet Rot)
10. Cop City/Chill Pillars- Hosed (Florida’s Dying)
11. Liars WIXIW (Mute)
12. Shoppers- Silver Year (Feeble Minds)

Footnotes
-(If I could, I’d say everything and everyone on Hardly Art this year and last year. All are favorites!)
-(Bolded means: I didn’t pay for. Could change out with Thee Oh Sees Putrifiers II (In the Red) and the Public Nuisance LP reissue on Third Man)

Sarah Moody
Various things I became generally obsessed with in the time that was 2012:

20. Amen Dunes – “Bedroom Drum”
19. Swans – The Seer & live at Neumos
18. Metric – Synthetica
17. Cold Showers – Love & Regret
16. Mount Eerie – Clear Moon / Ocean Roar
15. Thee Oh Sees / Total Control – split 12"
14. Royal Headache – s/t
13. Grimes – Visions
12. The Fresh & Onlys – Long Slow Dance
11. Trust – TRST
10. The Babies – Our House on the Hill
09. Bat for Lashes – The Haunted Man
08. Light Asylum – In Tension EP (2011) & live at Neumos
07. Cat Power – Sun
06. Terry Malts – Killing Time
05. Grass Widow – Internal Logic
04. The Men – “Open Your Heart”
03. White Lung – Sorry
02. Perfume Genius – Put Your Back N 2 It & live at the Frye
01. Andy Stott – Luxury Problems & live at Decibel Fest

Cassidy Gonzales

Music:
- Holy Other – Held
- A Place to Bury Strangers – Worship
- Moonface w/Siinai – Heartbreaking Bravery
- Purity Ring – Shrines
- Black Marble – A Different Arrangement
- Godspeed You! Black Emperor – Allelujah! Don’t Bend! Ascend!
- Tim Hecker / Daniel Lopatin – Instrumental Tourist
- Symmetry – Themes For an Imaginary Film (the film score that should have accompanied the movie Drive this year from Johnny Jewel of Chromatics/Glass Candy)
- Death Waltz Records – UK label doing a bunch of horror & sci-fi reissues with original artwork and packaging.
-Mount Analog Records – Crazy awesome record store that opened up this last year in LA that specializes in being rad.

Rest of Life:
- Obama’s re-election and the approval of marriage equality in Washington State and the party in the streets that immediately followed the results.
- Finally breaking down the powers that be and becoming a full-time employee at Sub Pop!
- Releasing Nightmare Fortress’ first EP and then a week later getting to share stages with both Austra and Trust down the coast for some of the best shows I’ve ever been a part of my whole life.
- 4th of July weekend spent hiking and exploring different areas of Snoqualmie-Mt. Baker National forest including Lake-22, Goat Lake and the ice caves.
- Cutting off 14 inches of hair and not ever once regretting the decision in the weeks and months that followed. Phew!

Richard Dick Laing

Daughn Gibson – All Hell
Matthew E White – Big Inner
Swans – The Seer
Goat – World Music
Merchandise – Children of Desire
Godspeed You Black Emporer ‘Allelujah! Don’t Bend! Ascend!
John Talabot Fin
Chromatics Kill for Love
DIIV _ Oshin_
White Manna White Manna

LACEY’S TOP 10 OFF THE TOP OF HER HEAD AT 5 O’CLOCK ON A FRIDAY

MAGIC TRICK Invisible at Midnight (Come on, dumdums—don’t you trust me?)
SHABAZZ PALACES Black Up (Still. I was just listening to this really loud at my desk.)
UV RACE The new one that I haven’t heard, but I know it’s Great (I’m sure it has a real name. See Ruben’s list, probably.)
GIRLS on HBO (Lena Dunham can do no wrong, but I stand by my decision to not follow her on Instagram anymore.)
INSTAGRAM (What would I have to look at on the crapper if not this?)
RUSSEL BRAND’s new talk show on FX (I know, I know, but it’s GOOD, I swear!)
SLEEPWALK WITH ME (I think this film is perfect. People disagree, but fuck ‘em.)
LOUIS CK (I get to see him perform soon and I’m going to scream like he’s The Beatles the ENTIRE time. Sorry, Seattle.)
ZACH GALIFIANAKIS (In general, if not in practice…this year at least.)
GOLD VAN RECORDS (Me ‘n Ruben’s new mobile record shoppe, run out of our new, shitty van!)

Bekah Zietz

Killer Mike R.A.P. Music
Angel Olsen Half Way Home
Daughn Gibson All Hell
Sharon Van Etten Tramp
Lower Dens Nootropics
Matthew E White Big Inner
Deep Time s/t
Devine Fits A Thing Called Divine Fits
Frank Ocean Channel ORANGE
Nu Sensae Sundowning
Carly Rae Jepsen “Call Me Maybe” (Best song of 2012)

Sasha Morgan

Top 10 Music Things:
1. Daughn Gibson – All Hell
This is probably my most favorite album of the year. Also, it has the best jogging jams, except you have to go jogging somewhere slightly creepy for the musical magic to happen.
2. Smashing Pumpkins – Mellon Collie & The Infinite Sadness
I rediscovered this album this year out of nostalgia for my childhood. Smashing Pumpkins blasted very loudly in my car = happiness.
3. Mirel Wagner – Mirel Wagner
4. Chelsea Wolfe – Unknown Rooms: A Collection of Acoustic Songs
5. Karl Blau – Songles
6. La Luz – Damp Face EP
7. Cate Le Bon – Cyrk
8. Hungry Cloud Darkening – Dark Cloud At Water
9. Cat Power – Sun
10. Unknown Music Festival in Anacortes, WA – Lori Goldston’s set, Karl Blau’s set, Mt. Eerie’s set, Shipwreck Day, “Veggie Starts” at Adrift, Causland Park
11. Rose Windows unreleased jams

Top 10 Other Things:
1. Marrying Alex Kostelnik
2. Garrett Kelly’s new fashion blog Sequins in Seattle
3. Caroline Shadood’s fashion blog Broadist
4. Tavi / Rookie Mag
5. Lena Dunham / Girls TV show
6. Flower head bands
7. Estate sales
8. Etsy – did you know that Bradley Fry of Pissed Jeans even has an Etsy store!? Check it out.
9. Reading an advance copy of Steve Arntson’s new book The Wrap-Up List
10. Chichi Coconut

Stuart Fletcher
Top ten music I liked in 2012:

1. Survival Knife
2. Alex Minoff
3. Chris Brokaw
4.
5.
6.
7.
…

Angelina Saez
Not in any specific order:

1. 2012 is over!
2. Obama still in office (THANK GOD)
3. WA state Legalized Mary Jane
4. Office water wars
5. Breaking 100 bowling!!! (that’s right people)
6. LOL on Bravo
7. Knocking myself out needing stitches and having to wear a neck brace
8. Bacon wrapped jalapeños
9. Switching to beer!

Scott Perlewitz

10) Of Monsters And Men My Head Is An Animal: some folks may say it’s Arcade Fire lite, but I love this album and the band is just as engaging live.

9) Japandroids Celebration Rock: a thankful respite from all the earnest singer songwriters.

8) Beach House Bloom: dreamy in all the ways I love dreamy.

6) How To Destroy Angels An Omen: just an EP, but wonderfully dark and beautiful.

6) The XX Coexist: not as song-oriented as the last one, but still a great album.

5) Tame Impala Lonerism: sonically psychedelic pop music just the way I like my psychedelics.

4) Macklemore & Ryan Lewis The Heist: Seattle repping the white-boy rap world with funny and smart lyrics and undeniable beats. Vaguely reminiscent of one Slim Shady.

3) Massive Attack Blue Lines (remastered): I was hoping for a little more in the release of this album, but it’s one of my favorite albums of all time, so it’s an excuse to re-listen.

2) Father John Misty Fear Fun: one of the broadest, smartest and funny records in years.

1) Approval of R74. Screw ‘liberal’ California, we got legal weed AND gay marriage.

Dusty Summers

Cloud Nothings Attack on Memory
JBM Stray Ashes
Killer Mike R.A.P. Music
Woods Bend Beyond
Kendrick Lamar Good Kid, M.A.A.D City
Daughn Gibson All Hell
Ty Segall Slaughterhouse
Felice Brothers Godbless You Amigo
Meek Mill Dreams & Nightmares

Sasha Barr
Top Tenish music things from 2012, new and old. Just some things I listened to more than often in 2012.

Alt-J- An Awesome Wave
The Sword- Apocryphon
Divine Fits- A Thing Called The Divine Fits
Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit- Here We Rest
The Chameleons- Script of The Bridge
Dawnbringer- Into The Lair of The Sun God
David GIlmour- S/T
Maserati- VII
Uncle Acid and The Deadbeats- Blood Lust
Talk Talk- It’s My Life
The Cult- Dreamtime
Shearwater Animal Joy

Jonathan Poneman
Some memorable 2012 listens (in no particular order) that weren’t on Sub Pop or Hardly Art.

1. Marzette Watts and Company (reissue)
2. Redd Kross—- Researching the Blues
3. Swans—- The Seer
4. Kendrick Lamar—- good kid, m A.A.d city
5. Daughn Gibson—- _All Hell
6. Mark Stewart—- Exorcism of Envy
7. Tame Impala—- Lonerism
8. Angel Olsen—- Half Way Home
9. Frank Ocean—- Channel Orange
10. Scott Walker—- Bish Bosch

Frank Nieto

Cloud Nothings — Attack On Memory (Carpark)
Kendrick Lamar — good kid, m.A.A.d city (Interscope)
Nu Sensae — Sundowning (Suicide Squeeze)
Le1f — Dark York (Greedhead / Camp & Streak)
of Montreal — Paralytic Stalks (Polyvinyl)
Japandroids — Celebration Rock (Polyvinyl)
Chromatics — Kill For Love (Italians Do It Better)
Merchandise — Children of Desire (Katorga Works)
Lower Dens — Nootropics (Ribbon Music)
Angel Olsen — Halfway Home (Bathetic)

Garrett Kelly

Top Ten Best Musical Experiences of 2012
1. Flying ‘outsider’ pop artist Jan Terri to Seattle to play a show. Watch here (Start at 10:30 to see her youtube hit, “Losin’ You”)
2. Shaking Lana Del Rey’s hand backstage at Easy Street Records. Never washing my hand.
3. Seeing newish feral heartthrob band Health Problems perform at the Black Lodge: Watch here
4. Lori Goldston & Karl Blau soothing souls at my wedding.
5. Doing that dance where you plug your nose and jump into a pool while listening to Shana Cleveland’s new surf band La Luz at Cafe Racer.
6. Playing the best gig of my life in a ‘Blacklight Bar’ in Salem, Oregon with my band WaMu to 4 people (two friends, and two guys later introduced as Death Metal Dave and his buddy David).
7. Watching Kenneth Piekarski of Slashed Tires play experimental lounge pop / ‘smooth grunge’ at the upscale Triple Door Musiquarium bar on Halloween night.
8. Father & son Eric Ostrowski / Ian Ostrowski putting out equally good & vastly different solo albums on the same day.
Ian’s band
Eric’s band
9. Krudas Cubensi (Cuban queer feminist hip-hop) turning Hollow Earth Radio into a huge dance party.
10. Setting up one of the raddest punk shows ever in the banquet room of the Moon Temple Chinese Food restaurant in Wallingford.

Favorite Local Cassette Releases
1. The Webs / Creakies
“Stay Holy” Split Cassette, self-released – “doom pop cool surf donut garage duh webs seattle the webs Seattle”
2. King Tears Bat Trip – S/T – Hanged Man Recordings – 4 drummers, tenor sax, guitar. “The folksy melodies seem as much like Haitian Vodou music as they do an Albert Ayler spirit song.”

3. La Luz – Damp Face EP, self-released – new “surf pop” band led by Shana Cleveland of the Curious Mystery.

4. Iboga S/T – Hanged Man Recordings – Kinda like Earth on the wrong speed.

5. Stefan Tcherepnin & Christopher DeLaurenti , Bleed the Capacitors: Heavy Analog Electronics Vols. 2 and 3 – Refined noise.

6. Ragana – All’s Lost – Olympia Black Metal

7. Nod & the Hob Goblins – S/T / Lost Sound Tapes – Goblin Doo Wop

8. Rat Riot! – Barbie Apocalypse – MASA Records – Bellingham teen punk.

9. Tiny Knives – Static / Stankhouse Records – Portland post-punk / riot grrrl

10. Black Hat – spectral disorder EP / self-released – Industrial improvised drone dance.

[Spooks]

Jon Philpot of Bear in Heaven's Top 10 LPs:

1. Sensations' Fix - Music Is Painting In The Air
2. Scott Walker - Bish Bosch
3. Grizzly Bear - Shields
4. Frank Ocean - Channel Orange
5. Liars - WIXIW
6. Yeasayer - Fragrant World
7. Daphni - Jiaolong
8. CFCF - Exercises
9. Lonnie Holley - Just Before Music
10. Zomes - Improvisations

[bmack86]

hahaha, Rolling Stone has Green Day in their top 10. Beautiful.

[Spooks]

hahaha, Rolling Stone has Green Day in their top 10. Beautiful.

It's probably groundbreaking music! Green Day joined the ranks of Springsteen and U2 as a band that Rolling Stone will give praise to no matter what garbage they produce!

I mean they have the best fans! I couldn't stop laughing at this video yesterday...

I just stole a car and robbed a bank. Now I'm rich, I can pay off my college financial aid and tomorrow i'm going for a shopping spree. Bite me. I love GREENDAY!

[Miroir Noir]

Spooks, use some editorial discernment with some of these lists you are re-posting.

[SoulDischarge]

And don't stop there.

[GolfWang]

Fact Magazine
http://www.albumoftheyear.org/rating...t-rated/2012/1

[Spooks]

Good job Rolling Stone No bullshit here...

Rolling Stone’s Top 10 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs of All Time

1. “The Message” – Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five

2. “Rapper’s Delight” – Sugarhill Gang

3. “Planet Rock” – Afrika Bambaataa & the Soul Sonic Force

4. “Sucker M.C.’s” – Run-DMC

5. “Mind Playing Tricks on Me” – Geto Boys

6. “Nuthin’ But a ‘G’ Thang” – Dr. Dre feat. Snoop Doggy Dogg

7. “Fight the Power” – Public Enemy

8. “Juicy” – Notorious B.I.G.

9. “Straight Outta Compton” – N.W.A.

10. “Paid in Full” – Erik B. and Rakim

[Boourns]

Blonde Redhead's Best of 2012
- Live Show Attended: The Sun Ra Arkestra June 7th at Nublu
- Live Show Played: Teatro Nacional Sucre, Quito Equador 9/26 and Estudio Estereo, Santiago Chile on 9/28
- Favorite Experience: Performing and attending the "Love Forever at The Whitney Museum Kusama Opening".
- Travel: Istanbul, (Turkey), Quito (Ecuador), Bogota (Colombia)
- Restaurant: Osteria dei Catari Monforte d'Alba Italy (http://www.osteriadeicatari.com) and Donostia Bogota (http://bit.ly/c4W0gP)
- Record: Dirty Projectors - "Swing Lo Magellan"
- Best Memory: Performing with AEIOU in Mexico City for the Bicycle Film Festival and Bringing a Sansho tree home from Japan
- Project: Working with Nosaj Thing and The Creators Project: (http://youtu.be/_woNBiIyOKI)
- Favorite Album: Various Artists - "We Are The Works In Progress" (http://wearetheworksinprogress.tumblr.com/)
- Favorite After Party: Singing with Battles in Tokyo and a few hours later ended up in dive bar, being slapped by Ian... haha

Polica - Top 10 LPs of 2012
Kendrick Lamar - good kid, m.A.A.d city
Frank Ocean - Channel Orange
Grimes - Visions
Beach House - Bloom
Dark Dark Dark - Who Needs Who
Flying Lotus - Until The Quiet Comes
P.O.S. - We DOnt Even Live Here
Lower Dens - Nootropics
Now, Now - Threads
Santigold - Master Of My Make Believe

[icedKeg]

^ first time i've seen Dark Dark Dark on any of these lists

[wmgaretjax]

Wire Magazine Contributor Compilation List

1. Laurel Halo - Quarantine
2. Sun Araw and Geddes - Icon Give Thanks
3. Actress - RIP
4. Jakob Ullmann - Fremde Zeit Addendum
5. Jason Lescalleet - Songs About Nothing
6. CC Hennix - Live at the Grimm Museum Volume 1
7. Bob Dylan - Tempest
8. Julia Holter - Ekstasis
9. Carter Tutti Void - Transverse
10. Ricardo Villalobos - Dependent and Happy
11. Scott Walker - Bish Bosch
12. Josephine Foster - Blood Rushing
13. Fushitsusha - Mabushii Itazura Na Inori
14. Haino/O'Rourke/Ambarchi - Imikuzushi
15. Death Grips - The Money Store
16. Emptyset - Medium
17. Hype Williams - Black is Beautiful
18. Andy Stott - Luxury Problems
19. Wandelweiser Und So Weiter
20. Morton Feldman - Crippled Symmetry: At June In Buffalo
21. Richard Skelton - Verse of Birds
22. The Bohman Brother - Back on the Streets
23. Kendrick Lamar - good kid
24. Michael Pisaro & Toshiya Tsunoda - Crosshatches
25. Bass Clef - Reeling Skullways
26. Aaron Dilloway - Modern Jester
27. Killer Mike - RAP Music
28. Shackleton - Music For The Quiet Hour/Drawbar Organ
29. Rhodri Davies - Wound Response
30. Ariel Pink - Mature Themes
31. Wadada Leo Smith - Ten Freedom Summers
32. Thomas Koner - Novaya Zemlya
33. Annea Lockwood - In Our Name
34. Earth - Angels of Darkness, Demons of LIght II
35. Lee Gamble - Diversions
36. Heatsick - Deviation
37. Duane Pitre - Feel Free
38. Raime - Quarter Turns Over a Living Line
39. Swans - The Seer
40. Jeri Jeri with Mbene Diatta Seck - Mbeuguel Dafa Nekh
41. Cooly G - Playin' Me
42. Traxman - Da Mind of Traxman
43. DJ Rashad - Teklife Vol. 1
44. Charles Gayle Trio - Streets
45. Frank Orange - Channel Orange
46. Pye Corner Audio - Sleep Games
47. Peter Cusack - Sounds from Dangerous Places
48. Pelt - Effigy
49. DVA - Pretty Ugly
50. Brotzmann/Satoh/Moriyama - Yatagarasu

[bballarl]

Whoa, new Fushitsusha.

[bmack86]

New Pelt? How the hell?

And I'm getting there. Metz and Killer Mike are probably the two most impressive releases of the year. But dammit Frank Ocean, you keep coming back with your first (expect many more) masterpiece.