15
Beach House, Bloom ALTERNATIVE (8.0/10) Beach House returned in 2012 with another set of dreamy synth pop, creating their most expansive album yet. From the opening notes of “Myth” the stunningly beautiful closing track “Irene,” the duo provides us with everything we’ve come to love about them, but with the age of a fine wine.
14
Andy Stott, Luxury Problems ELECTRONICA (8.1/10) Producer Andy Stott’s 2012 masterpiece is the perfect combination of low-end electronics and the angelic voice of Stott’s former piano teacher he recruited to record vocals for the album. The combination helps create Stott’s most sonically intricate record ever, and one of the crowning achievements in electronica this year.
13
Crystal Castles, (III) ELECTRONICA (8.1/10) No band makes music quite like Crystal Castles, no matter how many may try. That’s part of the reason why their 2012 album is so good, because after years of hearing bands attempt to recreate this sound, there is still no one doing it better than Alice Glass and company.
12
Father John Misty, Fear Fun ROCK (8.1/10) The first album I fell in love with in 2012, Father John Misty’s spring debut is one of the most lyrically and musically intriguing albums of the last year. From the opening track “Fun Times in Babylon,” to the catchy “Nancy From Now On” to the psychedelic rock of “This Is Sally Hatchet,” Misty hits us with a lot of wonderful ideas, creating even more wonderful memories.
11
The Walkmen, Heaven ROCK (8.1/10) The Walkmen slow things down to a crawl on their 2012 LP, from the acoustic guitar opening of “We Can’t Be Beat,” to “Line By Line,” to “Southern Heart,” the band created their most stripped down, personal records of their career. Song like “Heaven” and “The Witch” provide all the energy needed to get through the record; sheer emotion is enough to carry us the rest of the way.
As I continue to count down the 50 greatest albums of 2012, today we dive into the top 10. These are the 10 albums that will come to define this year in music as one of the most eclectic, unpredictable years in music in quite some time. From hard rock to R&B, from electronica to hip-hop, all the bases here are covered.
Now is the time to unveil to you some of the best albums of the year, albums ten through six on the list of Top 50 Albums of 2012.
10
Ty Segall Band, Slaughterhouse ROCK (8.2/10)
On Ty Segall Band’s wonderful 2012 release (one of three releases credit to Ty Segall last year), Segall and his band create an album the recalls some of the greatest in hard rock, including past work from Black Sabbath and Iggy & The Stooges. While the album is undeniably heavy, there are great pop melodies throughout, including on the fantastic opener “Death,” and “Wave Goodbye.” Most tracks here are under 3 minutes, including the blistering “The Bag I’m In”, as Segall and co. waste no time shooting straight to the heart.
9
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 ALTERNATIVE (8.4/10)
Fiona Apple’s return to the music world could not come quickly enough. When she announced she was finally releasing a new album in 2012, anticipation quickly skyrocketed. Now not often in the past year did albums meet expectations. Not all albums were The Idler Wheel..., however. Apple’s songwriting has only grown stronger since her last outing, with tracks such as “Anything We Want,” “Werewolf,” and “Jonathan” all containing some of her most potent lyrics ever. It’s refreshing to see an artist who had such great success early in her career still have the hunger and determination to record a stunning album 10+ years later, making this one of the best of her career.
8
Grimes, Visions ELECTRONICA (8.7/10)
I’m not sure when it happened, but sometime in 2012, Grimes became the indie music world’s “It” girl. Was it when she dropped the fantastic video for “Oblivion,” or was it before then, when we first heard her studio album Visions? No matter when it happened, we’re all that much better off for it. From the aforementioned “Oblivion” to the seductive “Be a Body,” and ethereal “Vowels = Space and Time,” Grimes created an album that rivals tUnE-yArDs’ excellent 2011 release as one of the most forward thinking albums by a female artist of the past 5 years.
7
Jessie Ware, Devotion R&B/SOUL (8.8/10)
On Devotion, Jessie Ware devotes a lot of her time proving herself worthwhile to her partner, whether she’s running for him, taking in water for him, or giving more than 100% to him at all times. The feeling is reciprocated on tracks such as “Night Light,” and “Sweet Talk,” where the object of her affection is her own personal safety blanket. The album has a very strong theme sonically, unparalleled by any other female artist making their debut in 2012.
6
Miguel, Kaleidoscope Dream R&B/SOUL (8.9/10)
Who would have thought that Miguel would deliver one of the 10 best albums of the year? Well, if you’re surprised, you definitely have not listened to his remarkable 2012 release Kaleidoscope Dream. From the opener (and third best song of 2012) “Adorn,” to “Do You…” where Miguel inquires about his lover’s fondness for drugs, to the incredibly vulnerable “Use Me,” where Miguel sings, “Forgive me, it’s the very first time / That I’m nervous. Can I trust you?,” Miguel's album resonates on so many different emotional levels. When Miguel enlists Alicia Keys on “Where’s The Fun In Forever?” the two have such an outstanding chemistry and vocally the pair push each other to great heights. Not many modern day R&B albums can be played front to back without any skips, but Miguel crafted one of the best albums in the genre in years, pushing the boundaries of what is acceptable in the field. In terms of production, there might not be a better-produced album that I heard in 2012. Everything shines like a gem, and the attention to detail is remarkable. With news leaking that Miguel has been at work with Beyoncé on her comeback album, Kaleidoscope Dream is looking more and more like the first step in a long and fruitful career as a recording artist for Miguel.
Tomorrow is another big day on this countdown, as I will bring you four more albums, leading up the big reveal of the #1 album of 2012 on Friday. Of the top 5 albums, two were just as successful commercially as they were critically, while the other 3 come from acts that some critics have argued released their best albums yet in 2012.
And then on Saturday, I will put a final bow on this thread, as I will give you my list of the 20 Greatest Music Videos of 2012, my most anticipated releases of 2013, my 5 new artists to look out for this year, and more!
Thanks so much for following this thread as I've gone from counting down the 200th Greatest Songs of 2012 to the top 5 albums of the year.
Tame Impala’s sophomore album took all the ingredients that made their 2010 debut Innerspeaker so distinct and refreshing and amped everything up to the nth degree. From the opening “Be Above It” it’s already apparent how the band expanded upon their already distinct sound. What ultimately differentiates the two records is the fact that Kevin Parker has become one of the best pop songwriters in the indie community. On “Elephant” and “Feels Like We Always Go Backwards,” Parker creates two of the catchiest pieces of music you’ll hear all year, while “Why Won’t They Talk To Me?,” “Nothing That Has Happened So Far Has Been Anything We Could Control,” and “Apocalypse Dreams,” take those new pop sensibilities and apply them to songs that would not sound out of place on their debut. Like that first record, Lonerism spends a lot of time discussing isolation and solitude. Where their last record saw seclusion as a choice one makes, Lonerism takes the approach that we are condemned to be free, where the choice isn’t to be alone or not, rather the choice is how you respond to being alone.
4
Grizzly Bear, Shields ROCK (9.1/10)
The most technically proficient rock album of 2012, Shields is Grizzly Bear at their artistic heights. Musically, Ed Droste, Chris Taylor, Christopher Bear, and Daniel Rossen all grew exponentially since their last record, and their confidence as a band permeates through the record. Between albums, Chris Taylor produced albums such as Twin Shadow’s Forget, as well as releasing an album under the moniker CANT, Daniel Rossen released an EP of songs intended for the Shields sessions, entitled Silent Hour/Golden Mile, that show where the inspiration for the stunning closing track “Sun In Your Eyes,” and Ed Droste tied the knot with his longtime boyfriend. All of the band’s members past experiences come out in waves on Shields, their most collaborative album yet. Each member had a much larger role in the writing process, and the cohesion that the writing session produced is remarkable. It’s ironic in a sense that an album in which Grizzly Bear appears at their most cohesive and confident would be titled Shields. In 2012, the band showed that, whether shielded or putting down their armor, they are capable of making incredible records, good enough to be the best rock album of 2012.
3
Frank Ocean, channel ORANGE R&B/SOUL (9.3/10)
There isn’t a lot to be said about Frank Ocean and channel ORANGE that has yet to be iterated in various year-end publications published throughout December. While coming up just short from being named the Best Album of 2012, channel ORANGE is certainly the most important album of this year, and perhaps the most important album in how it changed the music world since Radiohead’s In Rainbows.
Already one of the most anticipated major label debuts of 2012, thanks to his work with Beyoncé as well as Jay-Z and Kanye West, the hype machine went into overdrive one fateful night when Frank Ocean posted a coming out letter on his Tumblr. R&B in the 2000s had become one of the most conservative genres in music, with each song sharing the same beat and same themes of a man loving (and losing) a woman. Ocean had already flipped the script with his Nostalgia. Ultra mixtape, featuring some refreshing new production styles unrivaled in the R&B community. But on his full-length major label debut, Ocean challenged his base by writing songs that openly express his love for another man, including the heartbreaking “Bad Religion” and the uplifting “Forrest Gump.” Sonically, Ocean pumps so much life into this record, with the album’s numerous tracks acting as a collage to his vivid, beautiful, portrayal of 21st century life for a gay black man. No one new the urban market was ready for an album like this. That they, and everyone else, were ready for it shows just how far we’ve come.
2
Kendrick Lamar, good kid, m.A.A.d. city HIP-HOP/RAP (9.5/10)
On 2011’s “Rigamortus,” Kendrick Lamar proclaims the death of every rapper that dare set foot in his lane. It wasn’t that he didn’t like competition, rather all other rappers couldn’t dare to keep up with his flow, lest they risk getting caught up in his tsunami waves. In 2012, Lamar released the modern day hip-hop classic good kid, m.A.A.d. city, the best hip-hop debut since The College Dropout. On good kid, he makes good on his 2011 warning, commanding the spotlight for the entirety of the album. If this were a movie, it would be The Dark Knight, and Lamar would be The Joker, stealing ever scene he’s in. While the features here are great, none of the rappers he enlists can keep up with him, as he raps with such dexterity and with such a clear vision it’s as if all these songs have been waiting to be released from within. The story, which goes from Lamar riding around with his crew and wreaking havoc (“Backseat Freestyle” and “The Art of Peer Pressure”) to him being anointed the future king of Compton (“Compton”) this is a triumphant tale of a good kid making it out of the mad city, without ever forgetting how he got from A to B in the first place.
Soon I will unveil to you all my favorite album of 2012. But before I do that, here is a recap of the albums that have charted thus far. Check back at Midnight for the #1 album.
Top Albums
50 Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti, Mature Themes
49 Sweet Lights, Sweet Lights
48 Animal Collective, Centipede Hz
47 Menomena, Moms
46 Slow Magic, Triangle
45 The xx, Coexist
44 Schoolboy Q, Habits & Contradictions
43 El-P, Cancer 4 Cure
42 ∆, An Awesome Wave
41 TNGHT, TNGHT EP
40 Death Grips, The Money Store
39 Perfume Genius, Put Ur Back In 2 It
38 Scissor Sisters, Magic Hour
37 Porcelain Raft, Strange Weekend
36 The Antlers, Undersea EP
35 Hot Chip, In Our Heads
34 Majical Cloudz, Turns Turns Turns EP
33 Jack White, Blunderbuss
32 Passion Pit, Gossamer
31 Spiritualized, Sweet Heart Sweet Light
30 Foxygen, Take The Kids Off Broadway
29 Matthew Dear, Beams
28 Dirty Projectors, Swing Lo, Magellan
27 Divine Fits, A Thing Called Divine Fits
26 Burial, Kindred
25 Purity Ring, Shrines
24 Wild Nothing, Nocturne
23 Killer Mike, R.A.P. Music
22 Pacific Air, Long Live KoKo EP
21 Lotus Plaza, Spooky Action At a Distance
20 John Talabot, ƒin
19 Solange, True EP
18 Japandroids, Celebration Rock
17 Dan Deacon, America
16 Flying Lotus, Until the Quiet Comes
15 Beach House, Bloom
14 Andy Stott, Luxury Problems
13 Crystal Castles, (III)
12 Father John Misty, Fear Fun
11 The Walkmen, Heaven
10 Ty Segall Band, Slaughterhouse
9 Fiona Apple, The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Chords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do
8 Grimes, Visions
7 Jessie Ware, Devotion
6 Miguel, Kaleidoscope Dream
5 Tame Impala, Lonerism
4 Grizzly Bear, Shields
3 Frank Ocean, channel ORANGE
2 Kendrick Lamar, good kid, m.A.A.d. city
It's been a long ride counting down all this way to the #1 album of 2012. As this train pulls into the station, check out the album that somehow topped good kid, m.A.A.d. city and channel ORANGE as the best album of the year.
1
Chromatics, Kill For Love ELECTRONICA
On Kill For Love, Chromatics created one of the most remarkable listening experiences of the past decade, rivaling the work of Kanye West’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, Animal Collective’s Merriweather Post Pavillon, and Modest Mouse’s The Moon and Antarctica as some of the most fully realized albums of this millennium, with each track sharing a bond that makes the whole so much greater than its parts. That this band, hailing from Portland, Oregon, can go from the synth pop masterpieces of “Kill For Love,” and “Back From the Grave,” to the rock inspired “The Page” and “Into the Black,” to the instrumentals “These Streets Will Never Look the Same” and “There’s a Light Out On the Horizon,” (which are just as easy to get lost in as the more structured tracks on the album) shows how strong of an artistic vision was needed to begin this project. Producer and multi-instrumentalist Johnny Jewel did a masterful job with Kill For Love, as the album is one of the best produced albums in recent memory. Ruth Radelet’s angelic and hypnotic vocals go hand-in-hand with the outstanding production, and Adam Miller’s guitar playing is some of the most nuanced, subtle of any album released in 2012.
Jewel has said the band recorded over 30 tracks for the project, before ultimately cutting it down to the 17 on display before us. Some of those basement floor tracks surfaced in the form of an EP entitled Running From the Sun, and is yet another indicator of just how many great ideas this band had during this recording process. For all these reasons, there is no way for me to look at 2012 and not remember Kill For Love, and Chromatics, as the best thing to happen in music these past 12 months.