Victoria's Best of 2012 | Top 100 Albums | Top 5 revealed - Page 19

Victoria

3/4 of the best albums of 2012 are already in my list. Now it's time to reveal the first part of the top 25.

Highlights of the album, as always, are bolded. The best tracks on the albums are in red.

25. Bruno Mars – Unorthodox Jukebox
Score: 88.50/100

Unorthodox Jukebox – Track by Track

Bruno's sophomore album "Unorthodox Jukebox" was definitely a big surprise for me, especially after the huge letdown of "Doo-Wops and Hooligans" (sans the singles). The whole era really kicked off really well with the lead single "Locked Out of Heaven", which is a piece of heaven for the ears. The album as whole really sounds amazing. Bruno really did a good job combining Pop music with his Soul and Dance influences and they all blend really well.

24. Odd Future – The OF Tape Vol. 2
Score: 88.61/100

The OF Tape Vol. 2 – Track by Track

Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All, or OFWGKTA, or Odd Future is an American Hip-Hop group that released one of the best Rap albums of 2012. The group consists of Tyler, The Creator, Hodgy Beats, Earl Sweatshirt, Domo Genesis, Mike G, and most notably Frank Ocean (and a bunch of others). Each of those guys has his own distinctive sound and the album really amazes with how well all of those styled blend together making a truly amazing record. The best song on the album - the more than 10 minute long album closer - "Oldie" really proves that.

23. Of Monsters and Men – My Head Is an Animal
Score: 89.16/100

My Head Is an Animal – Track by Track

Never ever in my life have I thought that I would ever listen to someone from Iceland outside of Björk and her music. Of Monsters and Men really delivered a very solid album despite my low expectations. The album is so good and sounds so unique, it sounds like absolutely nothing heard on top 40 radio this decade and probably that's why I love it so much.

22. Big Boi – Vicious Lies and Dangerous Rumors
Score: 90/100

Vicious Lies and Dangerous Rumors – Track by Track

Big Boi - what can I say about him? He's one of the best rappers of 21st century and is most known as a part of the duo OutKast, along with the even more flawless André 3000. OutKast delivered one of the best Hip-Hop songs and albums of all time. Big Boi as a solo artist doesn't disappoint at all. His latest effort is pretty great. The only thing missing in it is an André 3000 collabo, but even without it the album is amazing. And VLADR is the first album on my Best of to have a score above 90.

21. The Weeknd – Trilogy
Score: 90.16/100

Trilogy – Track by Track

The Weeknd (or just Abel Tesfaye) is one of the most promising artist of Contemporary R&B music. He already got famous in 2011 due to releasing 3 amazing mixtapes - "House of Baloons", "Thursday", and "Echoes of Silence". His debut album "Trilogy" contains all the material from those mixtapes and some new material. He, Miguel, and Frank Ocean showed us that R&B is still going strong and that there worthy male artists in that flawless genre.

20. Carrie Underwood – Blown Away
Score: 90.36/100

Blown Away – Track by Track

Country - that is a music genre that I absolutely hate and despised before 2012. "Blown Away" was actually the first Country album I listened in full in my life. This amazing album, the first album in the top 20, really showed me that Country can be just as great as any other music genre. Carrie's beautiful and powerful voice is probably the reason why I love it so much.

19. Ellie Goulding – Halcyon
Score: 90.38/100

Halcyon – Track by Track

I knew Ellie since 2010. She was amazing back then and she's still amazing. The album, despite being nearly flawless, still can't compare to the masterpiece that was "Lights"/"Bright Lights". I definitely think that Ellie can do much better. There are moments of the album where Ellie sounds so out of place or lost in the production. It's still a great album, though, and deserves to be among the 20 best albums of 2012.

18. Santigold – Master of My Make-Believe
Score: 90.45/100

Master of My Make-Believe – Track by Track

It's so hard to determine what genre Santigold is making music in. She just has a little of everything - from Pop and Electronic to Reggae and Hip-Hop. All the genre variety doesn't mean that her music is a mess. Her second album "Master of My Make-Believe" proves that. All those genres combine flawlessly to create a masterpiece. Combining with Santigold's exotic vocals the albums sounds magical.

17. fun. – Some Nights
Score: 90.50/100

Some Nights – Track by Track

fun. really blew up in 2012 in a way that no expected or predicted. But all of their success was deserved. "Some Nights" is really a great Pop-meets-Alternative record. The reason why like it so much is because it was really inspired by the best band of all time - Queen. (It's just another proof that Queen has more impact, and are more iconic and legendary than the Beatles or any other band). The way the lead singer - Nate Ruess sings really reminds me of the great voice of the best male vocalist of all time - Freddie Mercury (another proof that Queen>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>The Trashles).

16. Kendrick Lamar – good kid, m.A.A.d city
Score: 90.87/100

good kid, m.A.A.d city – Track by Track

Kendrick Lamar is one of the most promising artists of 2012. I can definitely see him becoming the next Kanye West in the next few years. Kendrick his second studio album is probably the best Hip-Hop album released this year. It's just so amazing and I don't why but it reminds in so many ways of the best 2010 album - "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" (MBDTF>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Kendrick's existence, tho). Kendrick did an amazing job with the whole concept of the album and I really applaud him for that.

Scorpio

Unorthodox Jukebox & Halcyon

Changes

Ah Of Monsters and Men, The Weeknd and Kendrick! Nice update!

SupremeGoddess

carrie

thediscomonkey

Surprised with Bruno's placing! I use 4 of those albums. I think Kendrick's LP have started to sink in on me. Great one.

The Weeknd tho.

Crazytowel

All amazing

Halcyon, Trilogy, Master...

Regina George

Bruno is overrated

but yas Ellie & Carrie!

paulyyyozd

Halcyon

Press

What a great set

Bruno, OMAM, Carrie, Ellie, fun.

SebaMonster

Kendrick

Tantei

Unorthodox Jukebox and Some Nights

igor

Halcyon and Blown Away.

I am yet to listen to Bruno's album.

Robert

Bruno, Ellie, Fun. and The Weeknd

Achilles.

I think I love My Head Is An Animal for the same reason- it's so unique compared to what I normally listen to.
I've heard "Little Talks" on the radio like 3 times this week!

Blown Away is 1/4 amazing, 1/4 acceptable and 1/2 awful imo, but it made my top 20 as well. It's highs get very high.

Some Nights and Halcyon are amongst my favorites from 2012 as well!

backtoback

Unorthodox Jukebox, Blown Away and Some Nights were faves

activebeast

Ellie, Bruno and fun.

SO.UNCOOL™

Santigold & Kendrick Lamar

Japoy

Fun. and Ellie Goulding

I'll probably include Bruno's album next year.

AshleeSimpsonFan

Of Monsters and Men

and Halycon was so good, like it

CoS

Of Monsters and Men, Ellie Goulding, Fun, Carrie U