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

[TomAz]

Well, I dislike both Regina Spektor and Ben Folds

You just don't like pianos. You instrumentist.

[HotHamWater]

Anyone who has Scott Walker on a list already, unless they ditched their family this past weekend and did nothing but listen to the album, is a premature twat. It's going to take until at least mid-December for Bish Bosch to full reveal itself. For me anyway.

After reading this thread, especially this post, I realized I'm not enough of a music geek anymore to take part in these discussions and in list making.

[getbetter]

You just don't like pianos. You instrumentist.

He has zither issues.

[TomAz]

Molested by an autoharp at a young age.

[Spooks]

Alabama Shakes - Top 10 Albums of 2012:

Father John Misty - Fear Fun
Bobby Womack - The Bravest Man In The Universe
Dr. John - Locked Down
Jack White - Blunderbuss
Mark Lanegan - Blues Funeral
David Byrne & St. Vincent - Love This Giant
Michael Kiwanuka - Home Again
Diamond Rugs - Diamond Rugs
Patterson Hood - Heat Lightning Rumbles In The Distance
Fly Golden Eagle - Swagger

AARON TURNER (Hydra Head / SIGE / Mamiffer / Old Man Gloom)
Top 10 albums or music related events experienced/seen/heard in 2012:

- Oxbow duo - live
- Daniel Menche - live and "Guts" album
- Swans "The Seer"
- Getting to play live with Old Man Gloom, Mamiffer and WIlliam Fowler Collins
- Converge "All We Love We Leave Behind"
- Martyrdöd - live and "Paranoia" album
- Thomas Köner "Novaya Zemlya"
- Eyvind Kang & Jessika Kinney - live
- Arkhamin Kirjasto "Torches Ablaze"
- James Plotkin and Jon Mueller "Terminal Velocity"

ps Some fuckin amazing items listed here: http://realtomatoketchup.bigcartel.com/

[Spooks]

Finally a list without Grimes at the top! I bet she only put the Swans album on it because she heard Karen O. did some vocals

Grimes' Top 11 of 2012

1. Doldrums - lesser evil (it's not out, but ive heard it and its fucking awesome)
2. Taylor Swift - Red
3. Julia Holter - Ekstasis
4. Lana del rey - born to die
5. condo man - furnished living
6. swans - the seer
7. anything kitty pryde made
8. Mykki Blanco - Mykki blanco and the mutant angels
9. everything dev hynes wrote (solange - losing you, sky ferreira - everything is embarassing)
10. Justin Bieber - believe
11. Ashley Ayers group - summer instagram goths

Fred Armisen's Top 10 Albums of 2012 (in no particular order):

Visions - Grimes
Swing Lo Magellan - Dirty Projectors
Silencio - Laetitia Sadier
Negotiations - Helio Sequence
Kill My Blues - Corin Tucker Band
Just Tell Me That You Want Me - Various artists (Fleetwood Mac songs)
Class Clown Spots a UFO - Guided by Voices
Observator - The Raveonettes
Silver Age - Bob Mould
Mature Themes - Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti

[Spooks]

M83 beat Nicki Minaj?

Spotify's Most Streamed Songs Of 2012 (Global):

10. Nicki Minaj - "Starships"
9. The Wanted - "Glad You Came"
8. M83 - "Midnight City"
7. Flo Rida featuring Sia - "Wild Ones"
6. One Direction - "What Makes You Beautiful"
5. Maroon 5 featuring Wiz Khalifa - "Payphone"
4. Fun. - "Some Nights"
3. Carly Rae Jepsen - "Call Me Maybe"
2. Fun. featuring Janelle Monae - "We Are Young"
1. Gotye featuring Kimbra - "Somebody That I Used To Know"

[mmsk123]

Uncut's Top 75 Albums of 2012

75 Carter Tutti Void - Transverse
74 Bat For Lashes - The Haunted Man
73 The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion - Meat + Bone
72 Rufus Wainwright - Out of The Game
71 Lee Ranaldo - Between The Times And The Tides
70 Simone Felice - Simone Felice
69 Ty Segall - Twins
68 Woods - Bend Beyond
67 Cornershop - Urban Turban: The Singhles Club
66 Goat - World Music
65 Nite Jewel - One Second Of Love
64 Orbital - Wonky
63 Calexico - Algiers
62 Ian Hunter & The Rant Band - When I'm President
61 Thee Oh Sees - Putrifiers II
60 The Liminanas - Crystal Anis
59 Father John Misty - Fear Fun
58 Donald Fagen - Sunken Condos
57 David Byrne & St. Vincent - Love This Giant
56 Pond - Beard, Wives, Denim
55 The 2 Bears - Be Strong
54 Yeti Lane - The Echo Show
53 Public Image Ltd - This is PiL
52 Cate Le Bon - Cyrk
51 Lana Del Rey - Born To Die
50 Laetitia Sadier - Silencio
49 Damon Albarn - Dr Dee
48 Howlin Rain - The Russian Wilds
47 Anais Mitchell - Young Man In America
46 Cat Power - Sun
45 Japandroids - Celebration Rock
44 Sun Araw & M Geddes Gengras Meet The Congos - Icon Give Thank
43 Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Americana
42 Dirty Projectors - Swing Lo Magellan
41 Flying Lotus - Until The Quiet Comes
40 First Aid Kit - The Lion's Roar
39 Dirty Three - Toward The Low Sun
38 Lightships - Electric Cables
37 Patterson Hood - Heat Lightning Rumbles In The Distance
36 Sun Kil Moon - Among The Leaves
35 Six Organs of Admittance - Ascent
34 Bobby Womack - The Braves Man In Universe
33 Micachu & The Shapes - Never
32 Richard Hawley - Standing At The Sky's Edge
31 Hot Chip - In Our Heads
30 Ry Cooder - Election Special
29 The Chris Robinson Brotherhood - Big Moon Ritual
28 Paul Weller - Sonik Kicks
27 Alabama Shakes - Boys & Girls
26 Graham Coxon - A&E
25 Patti Smith - Banga
24 Allah-Las - Allah-Las
23 Julia Holter - Ekstasis
22 Mark Lanegan Band - Blues Funeral
21 Beachwood Sparks - The Tarnished Gold
20 The xx - Coexist
19 Neneh Cherry and The Thing - The Cherry Thing
18 Sharon Van Etten - Tramp
17 Grimes - Visions
16 The Ty Segall Band - Slaughterhouse
15 Field Music - Plumb
14 Paul Buchanan - Mid Air
13 Dexys - One Day I'm Going To Soar
12 Go-Kart Mozart - On The Hot Dog Stands
11 Tame Impala - Lonerism
10 Bruce Springsteen - Wrecking Ball
09 Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Psychedelic Pill
08 Grizzly Bear - Shields
07 Ty Segall & White Fence - Hair
06 Bill Fay - Life is People
05 Frank Ocean - Channel Orange
04 Dr John - Locked Down
03 Jack White - Blunderbuss
02 Bob Dylan - Tempest
01 Leonard Cohen - Old Ideas

[SoulDischarge]

A.k.a. the "why isn't it the 70s any more, maaaaan?" best of list of 2012.

[bballarl]

I can't believe how many people are into that Grimes record. Blows my mind.

[getbetter]

I feel like I heard a couple tracks of Grimes newest album one too many times on UMX to enjoy a full listen of "Visions.

[nosurprises12]

I can't believe how many people are into that Grimes record. Blows my mind.

It's by no means a bad album, but I cannot fathom why it would crack anyone's Top 10, let alone be #1.

[rage patton]

I can't believe how many people are into that Grimes record. Blows my mind.

What is really blowing my mind is all the love for the Django Django record. I listened to the album when it came out earlier this year and I thought it was alright, but it didn't do much for me. I swear, I only heard their name in passing a couple of times throughout the year. Then, suddenly, they wind up on half of the top 10 year end lists? When did this happen? I don't get the sudden love for that record.

[getbetter]

UGH Django Django

[bballarl]

It's by no means a bad album, but I cannot fathom why it would crack anyone's Top 10, let alone be #1.

Agreed 100%. It's just boring.

What is really blowing my mind is all the love for the Django Django record. I listened to the album when it came out earlier this year and I thought it was alright, but it didn't do much for me. I swear, I only heard their name in passing a couple of times throughout the year. Then, suddenly, they wind up on half of the top 10 year end lists? When did this happen? I don't get the sudden love for that record.

This is an interesting point. My friend got me their LP for my birthday in June (he heard them on NPR or something) and I had never heard of them before nor very much since. But it seems like they are everywhere as of the past two months. Strange.

It's a good record and I like it quite a bit, but it's all very out of the blue.

[Alchemy]

I enjoy the Django Django album, but I lose a little interest in the second half of it.

[getbetter]

http://www.gorillavsbear.net/2012/12...lbums-of-2012/

spotify link
http://open.spotify.com/user/thereal...et5SkPfNgyXjqM

50 SAND CIRCLES | Motor City
49 THEESATISFACTION | awE naturalE
48 PURE BATHING CULTURE | Pure Bathing Culture
47 DEATH GRIPS | The Money Store
46 PEAKING LIGHTS | Lucifer
45 MOLLY NILSSON | History
44 PYE CORNER AUDIO | Sleep Games
43 ANTWON | End of Earth
42 ARIEL PINK’S HAUNTED GRAFFITI | Mature Themes
41 TAKEN BY TREES | Other Worlds
40 RYAN HEMSWORTH | Last Words + Collected
39 LACE CURTAINS | The Garden of Joy and the Well of Loneliness
38 LAS MALAS AMISTADES | Maleza
37 LOWER DENS | Nootropics
36 DUM DUM GIRLS | End of Daze
35 SAM FLAX | Age Waves
34 FIGHT BITE | Fight Bite
33 ROC MARCIANO | Reloaded
32 LOL BOYS | Changes
31 PHEDRÉ | Phedré
30 FLYING LOTUS | Until the Quiet Comes
29 MIRRORRING | Foreign Body
28 SHACKLETON | Music For the Quiet Hour
27 TAMARYN | Tender New Signs
26 DAWN RICHARD | Armor On
25 FORT ROMEAU | Kingdoms
24 NICOLAS JAAR | Don’t Break My Love / The Prism
23 CLAMS CASINO | Instrumentals II
22 ANGEL OLSEN | Half Way Home
21 CHROMATICS | Running From the Sun
20 ANDY STOTT | Luxury Problems
19 SYMMETRY | Themes For An Imaginary Film
18 FRANKIE ROSE | Interstellar
17 JESSICA PRATT | Jessica Pratt
16 FRANK OCEAN | Channel Orange
15 DEAN BLUNT & INGA COPELAND | Black is Beautiful
14 HOLY OTHER | Held
13 LAUREL HALO | Quarantine
12 GRIZZLY BEAR | Shields
11 KILLER MIKE | R.A.P. Music
10 CHAIRLIFT | Something
09 MIGUEL | Kaleidoscope Dream
08 TOPS | Tender Opposites
07 BEACH HOUSE | Bloom
06 SCHOOLBOY Q | Habits & Contradictions
05 JESSIE WARE | Devotion
04 BURIAL | Kindred
03 KENDRICK LAMAR | good kid, m.A.A.d city
01 CHROMATICS | Kill For Love
01 GRIMES | Visions

[swhite423]

Why didnt I hear about that Chromatics release?

Nvm googled it. I'll have to give it a listen. Also listening to Grimes just to see if i missed anything...

[Riggins33]

Eve 6 had a pretty rad record come out this year, anyone hear it? It's in my top 10.

[mmsk123]

So great to see Chairlift on GvB's list. The Pure Bathing Culture EP is awesome too.

[SoulDischarge]

Lists are getting ever so slightly better.

Seems like many people who are really into Japandroids don't give a shit about Grimes, and vice versa. Also seems like straight guys are more into Japandroids, and homos and ladies are more into Grimes. Or that's all total bullshit.

[Spooks]

Frank Ocean at #1?! I totally didn't see this coming from Spin

No Grimes?! oh my!

ps yay for Killer Mike making the top 10!

SPIN's Top 50 Albums of 2012
50. fun. - Some Nights
49. Heems - Nehru Jackets
48. Best Coast - The Only Place
47. Metric - Synthetica
46. Spoek Mathambo - Father Creeper
45. Nicki Minaj - Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded
44. Deftones - Koi No Yokan
43. Kathleen Edwards - Voyageur
42. Lindstrom - Six Cups of Rebel and Smalhans
41. Purity Ring - Shrines
40. Animal Collective - Centipede Hz
39. Roc Marciano - Reloaded
38. Taylor Swift - Red
37. R. Kelly - Write Me Back
36. Beak> - >>
35. Jack White - Blunderbuss
34. Mala - In Cuba
33. Thee Oh Sees - Putrifiers II
32. Goat - World Music
31. The xx - Coexist
30. Frankie Rose - Interstellar
29. Dinosaur Jr. - I Bet On Sky
28. Jessie Ware - Devotion
27. Sleigh Bells - Reign of Terror
26. Tame Impala - Lonerism
25. Action Bronson - Blue Chips
24. Cat Power - Sun
23. Dirty Projectors - Swing Lo Magellan
22. Torche - Harmonicraft
21. Daphni - Jiaolong
20. Pallbearer - Sorrow and Extinction
19. Traxman - Da Mind of Traxman
18. King Tuff - King Tuff
17. Grizzly Bear - Shields
16. Fiona Apple - The Idler Wheel...
15. Baroness - Yellow & Green
14. Godspeed You! Black Emperor - Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend!
13. Cloud Nothings - Attack on Memory
12. Death Grips - No Love Deep Web
11. Future - Pluto
10. Santigold - Master of My Make-Believe
9. Ty Segall - Twins
8. Killer Mike - R.A.P. Music
7. Swans - The Seer
6. Bat for Lashes - The Haunted Man
5. Miguel - Kaleidoscope Dream
4. DJ Rashad - Teklife Vol. 1 - Welcome to the Chi
3. Japandroids - Celebration Rock
2. Kendrick Lamar - good kid, m.A.A.d. city
1. Frank Ocean - Channel Orange

[Gribbz]

Good to see Twins getting some love. That album seems to be flying under the radar. On the boards at least.

[mmsk123]

NY Mag's http://www.vulture.com/2012/11/nitsu...en-albums.html

10 Cloud Nothings – Attack On Memory
09 Elle Varner – Perfectly Imperfect
08 Evans The Death – Evans The Death
07 Killer Mike – R.A.P. Music
06 Mount Eerie – Clear Moon and Ocean Roar
05 Jessie Ware – Devotion
04 Death Grips – The Money Store
03 Miguel – Kaleidoscope Dream
02 Chairlift – Something
01 Kendrick Lamar - Good Kid, m.A.A.d. City

[Alchemy]

That Gorilla vs. Bear list has a bunch of stuff that I haven't heard yet. In fact, there are 6 albums in their top 10 that I haven't heard yet. I have heard Grimes, but I think I'll put it back on the table to see if there's anything about it that I missed (though, I think not).

[ocbruin84]

A list of 50 or more albums is pretty ridiculous. I understand there might be pragmatic reasons for this, but it's much more interesting to just narrow it down to 10 or even 20. They might as well name every major record that came out this year.

[Pixiessp]

Grimes is a fun CD. Not a top 10 CD. I have probably listened to it over 20 times. It's not one that grows on
you after repeated listens.

[SmellyBath]

Frank Ocean at #1?! I totally didn't see this coming from Spin

No Grimes?! oh my!

ps yay for Killer Mike making the top 10!

SPIN's Top 50 Albums of 2012
50. fun. - Some Nights
49. Heems - Nehru Jackets
48. Best Coast - The Only Place
47. Metric - Synthetica
46. Spoek Mathambo - Father Creeper
45. Nicki Minaj - Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded
44. Deftones - Koi No Yokan
43. Kathleen Edwards - Voyageur
42. Lindstrom - Six Cups of Rebel and Smalhans
41. Purity Ring - Shrines
40. Animal Collective - Centipede Hz
39. Roc Marciano - Reloaded
38. Taylor Swift - Red
37. R. Kelly - Write Me Back
36. Beak> - >>
35. Jack White - Blunderbuss
34. Mala - In Cuba
33. Thee Oh Sees - Putrifiers II
32. Goat - World Music
31. The xx - Coexist
30. Frankie Rose - Interstellar
29. Dinosaur Jr. - I Bet On Sky
28. Jessie Ware - Devotion
27. Sleigh Bells - Reign of Terror
26. Tame Impala - Lonerism
25. Action Bronson - Blue Chips
24. Cat Power - Sun
23. Dirty Projectors - Swing Lo Magellan
22. Torche - Harmonicraft
21. Daphni - Jiaolong
20. Pallbearer - Sorrow and Extinction
19. Traxman - Da Mind of Traxman
18. King Tuff - King Tuff
17. Grizzly Bear - Shields
16. Fiona Apple - The Idler Wheel...
15. Baroness - Yellow & Green
14. Godspeed You! Black Emperor - Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend!
13. Cloud Nothings - Attack on Memory
12. Death Grips - No Love Deep Web
11. Future - Pluto
10. Santigold - Master of My Make-Believe
9. Ty Segall - Twins
8. Killer Mike - R.A.P. Music
7. Swans - The Seer
6. Bat for Lashes - The Haunted Man
5. Miguel - Kaleidoscope Dream
4. DJ Rashad - Teklife Vol. 1 - Welcome to the Chi
3. Japandroids - Celebration Rock
2. Kendrick Lamar - good kid, m.A.A.d. city
1. Frank Ocean - Channel Orange

Spin's taste disgust me. I don't mind a lot of their top 10 there and Frank Ocean and Kendrick Lamar up top is fine...but seeing Taylor Swift 3 spots ahead of Animal Collective really grinds my gears. It's no Strawberry Jam but for God's sake it's better than fucking Taylor Swift's processed piece of saccharine.

And is that Torche ahead of Tame Impala? I just threw up all over my desk.

[swhite423]

Funny, Spins top three is exactly what I was thinking mine was too

[rag and bone]

I think the Spin list is a really, really interesting shit storm of ideas.