16 Dec Top Albums/songs/etc. of 2012
I’ve been doing a top 10 albums list since at least 2004 (see below for previous years lists). This year was another weird one for me in terms of discovering new music. The desire to purchase physical CD’s is at an all time low, so it was a big digital year for me. I started using Spotify a lot more than MP3s and my iTunes library even. That caused me to listen a little less on the go since I didn’t always have the mp3’s with me in subways and things like that…I think certain albums didn’t quite get the full time they deserved, but it was still an amazing year. Let me know if you have any suggestions for stuff to check out in the comments.
This year wasn’t as exciting for me for music videos but I’m sure I’m forgetting a few gems…I will post a follow up eventually.
Many of these albums are on a spotify playlist where I’m keeping albums I’m interested in. If you’d like to check them out in an easy to digest format, please check out or subscribe to my Ambient Signal~ spotify playlist: AmbientSignal~
Here is my list of favorites and notables in a slightly particular order at the top and less particular towards the bottom.
Top Albums (Bottom ones don’t mean they are bad albums, just that I liked them a little less in relativity to the others):
~~~~~Dirty Projectors – Swing Lo Magellan
Favorite tracks: Just from Chevron, Socialites, Swing Lo Magellan
I have not been a huge fan of Dirty Projectors in the past, but I think this album toned them down enough to make them within reach for me. Shows some fantastic, varied musicianship the whole way through without feeling like it is all over the place.
~~~~~Freelance Whales – Diluvia
Favorite tracks: Dig into Waves, Red Star, Follow Through
The content of the album is a little hard to grasp or relate to because it’s mostly about space travel and ethereal BIG universal things, but the music has a lot of really fun things to let your musical mind play with and I found myself returning very often. Their album in 2010 was my top album that year so it was great to see them return so strongly in their sophomore effort.
~~~~~Why? – Mumps, etc.
Favorite tracks: Sod in the Seed, White English, Strawberries
This album actually manages to beat out Alopecia for my favorite Why? album so far which is a rare feat…especially when I originally considered Alopecia to be such a fantastic piece.
~~~~~Helio Sequence – Negotiations
Favorite tracks: October, One More Time, The Measure
Hadn’t heard from these guys in years but was very pleased to get this amazing follow up from their 2008 Keep Your Eyes Ahead
~~~~Alt-J( ∆ ) – An Awesome Wave
Favorite tracks: Tesselate, Matilda, Breezeblocks
This was one of those random finds that came out of a tumble through random music blogs and I was very intrigued right off the bat. His unusual voice isn’t for everyone, but there are some really interesting musical moments hidden in there. The most interesting thing about this album for me: drums are prominently featured but there is very little use of cymbals and no use of crash at all.
~~~Sun Airway – Soft Fall
Favorite tracks: Black Noise, Close
Had the pleasure of listening to this one early on and pitching a music video for Close. The album has a nice flow all the way through and some great repeating motifs that only come through on multiple listens.
~~~Beach House – Bloom
Favorite tracks: Myths, Lazuli
~~Lymbyc Systym – Symbolyst
Favorite tracks: Prairie School, Nightfall, Falling Together
~~Purity Ring – Shrines
Favorite track: Fine Shrines
~~Grizzly Bear – Shields
Favorite tracks: Yet Again, Simple Answer
Notable as well:
~Hammock – Departure Songs
~Album Leaf – Forward/Return
~Sigur Ros – Valtari
~Balmorhea – Strangers
~Cat Power – Sun
~Menomena – Moms
~Dntel – Aimlessness
~Ramona Falls – Prophet
Most anticipated albums of 2013: The Velvet Teen (recorded), Son Lux (not sure), Hooray For Earth (recording), Braids (recording I think), Blue Hawaii (releases in january), Annuals (touring..that’s something), Phantogram (recording/recorded I think)
Previous lists: