UPDATE 02:
ALBUMS 13 12 ARTIST 09 SONGS 45 44 43 42 41

UPDATE No. 2 has begun!





#13: Reign of Terror - Sleigh Bells
Ah, Sleigh Bells. Don’t worry, not every single album on Psychobabble is going to be a sophomore release, although I good deal of them are. I saw Sleigh Bells live earlier this year and they had this fantastic energy, however, I personally feel that their sound was refined from the warm, yet grating fuzziness of their debut Treats. I still would prefer Treats, but Reign of Terror has convinced me that Sleigh Bells are not just some buzz band. And apparently, a third album is already in the works, which is quite exciting. The songs I really enjoyed off of Reign of Terror are Born To Lose, Comeback Kid, End of the Line and Leader of the Pack.



#12: Feed Me Diamonds - MNDR

MNDR is probably the best pop-star that you have never heard of. Feed Me Diamonds is filled with glittering synths and killer hooks, yet the album is still very intelligent. Both the music and lyrics are great, something that is becoming more prevalent in underground indie pop music. I have been waiting for the release of this album ever since I discovered MNDR after she had been featured on Mark Ronson’s killer track Bang Bang Bang, also featuring Q-Tip released back in the summer of 2010. Two years later, MNDR has finally released her first full length after many singles. I am still quite surprised that she has remained so underrated, I consider this one of the best pop albums released this year. But anyway, perhaps people will catch on in 2013. My favorite songs are I Go Away, Draw The Curtains and Burning Hearts.



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#9: St. Lucia

Where to begin with St. Lucia? He is really quite a gem. I discovered St. Lucia in the spring, and it was quite amazing. I believe his music has been described as tropical-dream pop. And that is kind of what it is. A lot of his music brings the warm summer to mind, especially Before The Dive and We Got It Wrong. His official debut single, September was released this fall, and it is less summery, and more synth-y. His debut album will be released sometime next year. Hailing from South Africa, Jean-Phillippe Grobler, the mastermind behind St. Lucia, now calls Brooklyn home, but for some time he also lived in the U.K. His music has many influences, probably from his various locations.








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#45: I'm Good, I'm Gone - Lykke Li

After a stellar performance on last year's list (Psychobabble 2011 Statistics; I Follow Rivers - #1, Jerome - #40, Wounded Rhymes - #3), Lykke Li is back this year with an entry from her debut album, Youth Novels. I discovered Lykke Li’s music during the Wounded Rhymes era, and 2012 was the first time I went back and checked out Youth Novels, and this is the song that made the biggest impression on me this year. I also did enjoy Come Near, which was quite an unexpected surprise. This is Lykke’s last solo entry for 2012, but you will see her again later in the chart.



#44: Hurricane - MS MR

MS MR has finally arrived on the chart. This is their first of several entries. Hurricane is a really great song, and I think it has the most appeal to people who are looking to get into the Brooklyn duo. The mysterious duo is probably one of my favorite new artists of 2012, and I cannot wait for their debut album, said to be released in spring 2013. Fun Fact: Did you know Lizzie, the lead singer of MS MR, is the co-creator of Neon Gold Records, home of Marina and the Diamonds’, Ellie Goulding’s, and Passion Pit’s debut EPs?



#43: Little Talks - Of Monsters and Men

Iceland’s latest export had many people talking this year, and this was the song that got most people talking. The song Little Talks is really quite cozy, and I love the music video. I saw these guys live just a few weeks ago and they have such great energy. Though this was my introduction to Of Monsters and Men, this is their lowest chart entry on Psychobabble. They have several more entries coming up.



#42: Chateau (Mickey Remix) - Housse De Racket

I discovered this song by watching Kitsuné videos, and I was hooked as soon as I heard this catchy song. It’s actually kind of addictive. I still don’t really know who Mickey or Housse De Racket are, but I just absolutely adore this song. It makes me want to dance so much! I found it right before spring break, so it reminds me of the spring. And it reminds me of France, even though I didn’t go to France this year.



#41: A Commotion - Feist

Feist’s first of several entries. This song is quite brilliant, it has quietness and loudness that a lot of music these days lacks. And for those of you who have not checked out the interactive video, it’s very interesting. The video is a crossfading between Feist and Mastodon’s cover of A Commotion, and you can change the balance using a fader on the bottom of the screen.

01 Marina and the Diamonds
02 Chairlift
03 Florence + the Machine
04 Feist
05 Of Monsters and Men
06 MS MR
07 The Lumineers
08 Bat For Lashes
09 St. Lucia
10 IO Echo



01 Something - Chairlift
02 Metals - Feist
03 My Head Is An Animal - Of Monsters and Men
04 Electra Heart - Marina and the Diamonds
05 The Lumineers - The Lumineers
06 Ghost City USA - MS MR
07 Cinderella's Eyes - Nicola Roberts
08 Ceremonials - Florence + The Machine
09 IO Echo EP - IO ECHO
10 The Lion's Roar - First Aid Kit
11 The Haunted Man - Bat For Lashes
12 Feed Me Diamonds - MNDR
13 Reign of Terror - Sleigh Bells
14 Bloom - Beach House
15 Coexist - the xx



01 Lonely Hearts Club – Marina and the Diamonds
02 Nuclear Seasons – Charli XCX
03 Emmylou – First Aid Kit
04 Buy the Stars – Marina and the Diamonds
05 Before The Dive – St. Lucia
06 Young Blood – The Naked and Famous
07 Ash Tree Lane – MS MR
08 Angels – The xx
09 Perfect World – Gossip
10 Runaway – Mr Little Jeans
11 We Got It Wrong – St. Lucia
12 Lazuli – Beach House
13 Genesis – Grimes
14 Shake It Out – Florence + The Machine
15 Ho Hey – The Lumineers
16 When The Lillies Die – IO Echo
17 Madder Red – Yeasayer
18 Night Swim – Frankie Rose
19 Met Before – Chairlift
20 Stay Human – Mirror Talk
21 I Belong In Your Arms (Japanese Version) – Chairlift
22 Primadonna – Marina and the Diamonds
23 I Got – Young the Giant
24 Wrong Opinion – Chairlift
25 A New Name To Go By – The Deportees & Lykke Li
26 Youth – Daughter
27 Lakehouse – Of Monsters and Men
28 Huggin & Kissin – Big Black Delta
29 Undiscovered First – Feist
30 Origins – Tennis
31 Laura – Bat for Lashes
32 Been There Before – Ghost Beach
33 Take It Out On Me – Chairlift
34 Fifteen (TABS Remix) – Goldroom
35 Guns Out – Young the Giant
36 White Coats – Foxes
37 Don’t You Worry Child – Swedish House Mafia
38 Mountain Sound – Of Monsters and Men
39 Dark Doo Wop – MS MR
40 King And Lionheart – Of Monsters and Men
41 A Commotion – Feist
42 Chateau (Mickey Remix) – Housse De Racket
43 Little Talks – Of Monsters and Men
44 Hurricane – MS MR
45 I’m Good, I’m Gone – Lykke Li
46 Bullets – Rebecca & Fiona
47 Sutphin Boulevard – Blood Orange
48 Myth – Beach House
49 Tongue Tied – Grouplove
50 Midnight City – M83