I'm back for a short time to round up this roller coaster year with my Best Of 2012 (I promise I'll finish it this year). It's been a pretty up and down year for music, no big star has released anything particularly spectacular and that has allowed smaller artists to shine with their releases. I mean who'd have thought the 2012 summer would end up being personified by 'Call Me Maybe' and these past winter months by the explosion of Psy - perhaps it was inevitable with the advent of the 'viral video' - either way it is pretty fascinating. Whilst music has seen it's high and lows this year, my personal life has only soared; I've never before been happier. I will be covering top 30 albums & top 30 songs, nice and simple.
Dum Dum Girls: End Of Daze
Garage rock is often known for giving its makers very short careers and perhaps it is therefore testament to the brilliance of the Dum Dum Girls that they are still standing. End Of Daze is a kick above anything else they have made as it pulls together the lessons they have learnt over the years. It's beautifully short, clocking in at just short of 18 minutes but it is in those 18 minutes that the Dum Dum Girls prove themselves to be a cut above the rest when it comes to Garage rock. Season In Hell
alt-J: An Awesome Wave
The massive indie breakouts of the year, alt-J have infected every hipster this side of the equator and rightfully so, their music is equally accessible as it is good. Besides the production on the tracks being very plain it is consistently done well and the vocals are interesting enough to carry a listener through. It gets a place here because it is a staple for any indie-rock lover of the year - though I'm sure if you are such a person you already have it. Tesselate
The Maccabees: Given To The Wild
This band have had their high and low moments but Given To The Wild is most defiantly one of, if not their, best highlights of their career. It combines the murmured vocals and loud, often poppy at times, production together better that experienced on any of their other albums. The album carriers itself on the post-punk heritage it came from but develops from its origins in the early 2000s alongside artists such as Maximo Park. Ayla
Songs:
Jessie Ware:110% (Devotion)
In the first of her many appearances on this list, 110% perhaps encapsulates the beginnings of Jessie's venture into a solo career. After having appeared on the excellent SBTRKT album last year 110% proved to us that Jessie had what was required for a solo career. Jessie represents this smart midway point between Katy B and Sade and 110% summed this up perfectly; it combines the beautiful soul vocals of Jessie over a clicking, churning 808 that at times sounds mechanical. It was the absolute perfect no-words introduction to Jessie that 2012 needed. 110%
The Lumineers: Ho Hey (The Lumineers)
Pop-folk is officially back on the agenda. Ho Hey is that anthemic, wild poppy folk song that managed to infect everyone every year. Although very catchy, Ho Hey is nothing short of brilliant, its charm lies in its simple chant of 'I belong with you, you belong with me' almost a la Taylor Swift that manages to transcend almost anyone anywhere. Ho Hey
Rudimental: Feel The Love
The dance song of the winter, I'm entirely sure that this is the song that will be leading me into 2013 come new years. It combines the beauty of drum'n'bass, dubstep, pop and of course jazz together in the biggest club banger of 2012, nothing compares to the dancefloor when this song is blasted at 11 from the speakers. Sum it up in one word? Insane Feel The Love
Fantastic first set of albums, dude. One of those three albums are going to be Top 10 on my lists. I know the three artists. Dum Dum Girls was one of my favorite band from last year. I've only heard one song from Alt-J. Perhaps I should give a listen to theit album.
Haven’t checked out Dum Dum Girl’s album but they sound incredible and like their way of music. Same goes for the Maccabees. Fun songs. Alt-J’s album is pretty good bit overrated but still has some good tunes in there. I should check more of Jessie ware since people are into here. Heard a couple so far. The 110% is a very nice and wondrous song. Ho Hey is just that good with that folk rock in their to carry a poppy tune. Feel The Love has its moment. Gets catchy for about then gets annoying and pull it off altogether until it brings you back. Very nice set to kick off the End of.
