Don't know much about rock, but that song from Red Kross reminds me A LOT to this band, The Ramones? Seriously I don't know haha, but it's a classic rock band.
Welcome back! Gonna try for a big update here to make up for not having one yesterday. The Chronicles of Cat and Dog will have wait. By the way, for those wondering, I'm not just insane, the story will have a payoff towards the end. Alright maybe I'm a little insane but that is besides the point.
It's time for Video Game of the Year! While not as strong as the monster year 2011 was, 2012 still had plenty of great moments for gaming. Most importantly was the rise of downloadable games. You'll see The Walking Dead and Journey receiving Game of the Year honors from many respected publications. It is hard to argue with either of those choices. Journey packs a memorable experience into two hours that most feature length games dream can only dream about. The Walking Dead packed an emotional punch that I've never felt from a video game before, as well as having a thrilling and constantly evolving storyline. Mass Effect 3 is the sequel to my favorite game of this generation, and was the odds on favorite to take this. However, with its endless hours of addictive gameplay, a perfect combination of roleplaying and shooter games and the fluid drop-in/drop-out multiplayer; there could be only one.
A masterpiece.
Back to the music. Let's see how many I can do!
27. Silver Age by Bob Mould
Researching the artists for the first time while posting is always fun. Much like Red Kross, this is an artist that has been rocking for years while I've been completely oblivious. Husker Du and Sugar were the name of his previous bands. They sound familiar but I couldn't place any songs. Shredding a guitar has been proven time and time again to not fade with age. Bob Mould is 52, and as you can hear still very much has it. "Silver Age" "Round The City Square" and the single "The Descent" should be your next views on youtube if you enjoy "Star Machine".
26. Apocryphon by The Sword
I foolishly forgot to include these guys in my concert of the year nominees. They would not have beaten Rammstein still, yet through the power of edit I have corrected my mistake. I really didn't know anything about these guys until that show. A rarity for the internet age, unless its an opening act. Two hours later they had won me over. A real smooth and classic metal sounding. A must listen for any Black Sabbath fans. The title track "Apocryphon" brought back fond memories of Horse the Band with its keyboard opening, but then sounds much different after that. Better, 2012 me would say. 2006 me would have found that statement heretical.
25. Twins by Ty Segall
Wait didn't we just see this guy? You might ask that and you'd be right to! The truth is that Ty Segall put out three different albums this year! This is the solo record, the other (#28) was the darkgaragepunk record, and unfortunately I was not able to listen to his third record Hair with White Fences before my self-imposed deadline. I give this one a three spot edge because .. I just enjoy it slightly more. Not everything can be solved with technical responses, deal with it. Would recommend "Ghost" as your second choice for any interested party.
24. Shrines by Purity Ring
Recommended for any fans of Lights. And I know there are a lot of you out there! I think Lights placed right around here last year, so everything is in its proper order. I'm gonna post another video cause I like "Obedear" and "Fineshrine" equally.
I apologize to low bandwidthers. I think its worth it though! Really good song. She mixes alot of different electronic genres throughout the album, ensuring that every song is a pleasant surprise.
So there's your big update! And we are almost halfway done with the albums. So many great ones so far, what could come next? Only one way to find out for sure.
By the way, grats to Earth for not being destroyed by the sun!
I have never played that game, but have heard about it. I've heard about that Walking Dead game, as well, which sounds really great.
To music, BOB MOUD! Yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Silver Age is one of the best of the year, Great choices for fav songs! If you want recs for Bob Mould's catalog, check out the Sugar album COPPER BLUE. It recalls Silver Age a bit, and is very immediate. A good place to start is my favourite song from it, "Hoover Dam. You'd also like his solo song from 1989 "See a Little Light."
You've told me about your hear The Sword concert, and they are good, from what i've heard! I also like what i've heard from Purity Ring. And of course, TY SEGALL AGAIN! TWINS! One of the best of the year! So good. And you'll have to listen to Hair sometime. You'll love it, it is far more '60s psych then the rest. All three albums are big A+'s in my book, and i'm glad that two of them have made your big ALBUMS LIST!
I'm pretty interested in Borderlands specially because I have seen many people talk about it, might give it a try.
Gotta hear more from Purity Ring. The first song I listened from them, I didn't really like it, but Fineshrine sounds good.
A bunch of music I haven't listened to. Not surprising. I also haven't played B2 yet, but I wanted to play B1 first. And I now really want to see a Mario/COD/Bioshock mashup. I mean, REALLY badly. That would be amazing.
Bassnectar has become a mainstay on these year end lists, placing in the top 25 for three years in a row now (maybe four?). "Laughing Crescendo" is a remake of a song from his 2007 masterpiece, Mesmerizing the Ultra. And if Skrillex is the new King of Dub, then Bassnectar gets relegated to Godfather. I always thought B would be the first to blow, having more of a hip hop sound compared to heavy metal dub that eventually went mainstream. Listening to "Laughing Crescendo" and "Bangarang" back to back is like mashing the Beach Boys and Metallica together. Amazing how much the genre has changed in only half a decade.
22. Good Kid, m.A.A.d. City by Kendrick Lamar
Actually the only hip-hop album to place on the Best Of this year. So much for that diversity! Human Resources would consider me a racist after seeing how white my album list is. The genre will have a little more success on the song list, I swear! Kendrick Lamar's album took me back to the 90s and early aughts days of hip hop. That is probably why it broke through and made the top 25. "m.A.A.d City" ft. M.C. Eight is especially true, with an amazing old school beat followed up by a sudden shift to ANOTHER great old school beat. Also love "Swimming Pools (Drank)" but I have no need to post that since most people have heard it already.
21. Zoo by Ceremony
"Hysteria" always gets me pumped! I heard of this band a couple years ago, when they were still hardcore and they didn't impress me all that much. This year they decided to shift to an alternative classic punk sound. And now I am impressed! Good job recognizing that and making the halftime adjustments, Ceremony. Not to rip on the hardcore genre, its just easy to sound exactly the same as everyone else. Ceremony did something to stand out, and were very successful. "Repeating The Circle" and the 97 second "World Blue" are also worth youtubing (right now).
AND THAT IS HALF.
Grats to everyone who has stuck with me so far.
edit: my videos don't seem to be working quite right. Is that just me?
The good will generated by the Kendrick Lamar album definitely intrigued me. Shame it's the only hip hop representation on your list, was hoping for a Frank Ocean showing. Although maybe your not lumping Ocean into the hip hop category. Which is fair.
Bassnectar! Loved the remix treatment they did for Ellie Goulding and Lights.
Yeah, Roger, I think that he may not be lumping Ocean into hip hop. If anything, he's a new kind of R&B. And god dammit, I need to listen to Kendrick Lamar already.
I know you are a huge Bassnectar fan, so i'm glad he (?) delivered for you again this year. And then there's KENDRICK! Great album! I'm glad it finally broke through your new hip-hop aversion. And of course, CEREMONY! ZOO! If you like rock music, and haven't heard Zoo yet, YOU ARE NOT DOING YOUR JOB. ONE OF THE TOP ALBUMS OF 2012! Ceremony ****ing brought it, and i'm glad it placed high on your list.
Borderland 2 is not bad from what I hear. Man the Bob Mould is sure something, Liking that old classic metal sound by the Sword, I’m in, muse hear more of TY he’s has this incredible sound his vocal not too shabby, I like the infecting sound by Purity Ring esp. on Fineshrine. I listen to Bassnectar time to time and he’s not bad must hear more tho. Lamar’s album is the sh!t for sure. Only hip-hop album I see, what about Nas’ album? Must hear the #21 album. Liking all the new music I hearing. Keep it up.