Right, so previously I have published a list of the best songs of 2012.
Now, continuing that list, this list will be about the top 30 albums of 2012 for me.
Compared to last year’s best album list I’m gathering albums from different genres (and being less pretentious) which encompasses 2012 in music for me personally.
Differing from what I did last year, which was not in particular order, this list will be started with the top 10 albums then I will start by putting things not in a particular order.
So, here’s the list:
1. Deftones – Koi no Yokan
[[posterous-content:pid___0]]This album definitely tops my list. Incredibly beautiful yet it still rocks my ear. I don’t think I can describe this album in a few words, so you can read my review on this album here
2. Tame Impala – Lonerism
[[posterous-content:pid___1]]
Evolving greatly from their debut album, Innerspeaker, Lonerism takes us into a whole new level of Kevin Parker’s ambitious songwriting. More melodious than their previous album and the psychedelic synth-textured songs ransacked the past of psychedelica movement and bringing it into the future.
4. The xx – Coexist
[[posterous-content:pid___3]]
Sophomore album, more often than not, can be an obstacle for various bands with a wonderful debut album. However, The xx proves that they can handle it with such ease. Stripping down their sounds further from their previous self-titled debut album, Coexist is a beautiful album with minimalistic sounds. I did a review on this album here
5. Passion Pit – Gossamer
[[posterous-content:pid___4]]
A wonderful upbeat synthpop album. Songs like Take a Walk and Carried Away gets me hyperactive, while Constant Conversations and Mirrored Sea brings me down to my knees.
6. Jack White – Blunderbuss
[[posterous-content:pid___5]]
Jack White is a genius, we all know that. This is his first solo album, and we can see him running loose without constraints here. Blurting out wonderful bluesy riffs, with wonderful composition and writing. This album deserves one of the top spot for the best album of this year.
7. Alabama Shakes – Boys and Girls
[[posterous-content:pid___6]]
One of the best debut album of 2012. Composed with blues sounds, influenced greatly by southern style rock and Americana with soulful vocals from Brittany Howard, this album has given them the attention they deserved and also give them three grammy nominations.
8. Japandroids – Celebration Rock
[[posterous-content:pid___7]]
Despite this album only contains 8 tracks, doesn’t mean it lacks the kick needed for them to be among the best albums of 2012. Blasting with noisy punk riffs with dynamic drum beats, singer-guitarist Brian King and singer-drummer David Prowse take the combinations of guitar and drums to transcend the boundaries of musical instruments. Sometimes to make a great album, you’d only need a guitar and a set of drums.
9. Converge – All We Love We leave Behind
[[posterous-content:pid___8]]
This album is even more intense than their previous album, Axe to Fall. Maintaining hyperspeed drums and guitar riffs and technical playing, this is one of the heaviest albums this year
10. Beach House – Bloom
[[posterous-content:pid___9]]
Teen Dream by Beach House was a magnificent record. But, who would’ve thought that Bloom could top its predecessor? They come with, as RollingStone puts it, ‘even prettier vision of synth-y, Eighties-steeped romanticism.’ They made even more distinct sounds, accompanied by Victoria Legrand’s hauntingly smooth vocals. Well, no wonder this album managed to break through the top 10 of Billboard charts.
For album no. 11-30, I won’t put them in numerical order as I’ve mentioned above.
So here it is, my best albums no.11 – 30:
The Cribs – In the Belly of the Brazen Bull
[[posterous-content:pid___10]]
Although Johnny Marr is no longer with them, The Cribs have finally found their sound back in this album. I personally think this album bested their previous attempt, Ignore the Ignorant, and only fell behind Men’s Needs, Women’s Needs, Whatever
[[posterous-content:pid___11]]
I don’t listen to a lot of rap or hip-hop, but this album is definitely the best rap album and also the most ambitious one this year. Kendrick Lamar created a narrative album, portraying his life growing up in Compton, California and Lamar himself referred to this album as a short film.
Grimes – Visions
[[posterous-content:pid___12]]
Claire Boucher is this year’s electronic and synth-pop princess. Taking electronic and synth with r&b and slightly dream pop, her music is definitely worth to listen and dance to.
Crystal Castles – (III)
[[posterous-content:pid___13]]
The duo of Alice Glass and Ethan Kath are getting more dark in their third album. Compared to their previous albums where Glass’s singing doesn’t really matter, here it does matter. As Pitchfork puts it: “(III) is filled with meditations on the exploitation of women and children and religious oppression to match those asphyxiated vocals”
Baroness – Yellow & Green
[[posterous-content:pid___14]]
This album is even less ‘metal’ than their previous album, Blue Record. However, their approach in songwriting and composing is more mature than before.
Alt-J – An Awesome Wave
[[posterous-content:pid___15]]
Another magnificent debut album in 2012, they even managed to grab a Mercury Prize in the UK. A wonderfully crafted album
Grizzly Bear – Shields
[[posterous-content:pid___16]]
One of the most sophisticated indie-rock albums of 2012. As RollingStone puts it: “melding idiosyncratic approaches to texture and tune into a subtly mind-blowing whole”
Best Coast – The Only Place
[[posterous-content:pid___17]]
Bethany Consentino is still obsessed with California and surf-rock and sixties pop sounds in this album. What I love from this album is that Bethany can let her true vocals out by freeing this album from the lo-fi sounds from their previous album.
Chairlift – Something
[[posterous-content:pid___18]]
“Something is a record with a new-age brain and a thumping 80s pop heart, pulling equally from the playbooks of Suzanne Ciani and Duran Duran” said Pitchfork. An easy listening album with so many tracks that are memorable (e.g. I Belong In Your Arms, Met Before, Frigid Spring)
Enter Shikari – A Flash Flood of Colour
[[posterous-content:pid___19]]
Post-hardcore, combined with drums and bass and dubstep. With lyrics that are political and touching on sensitive issues, Enter Shikari is growing into a massive powerhouse in UK’s music scene. This album even bested Muse’s dubstep attempt in The 2nd Law
[[posterous-content:pid___20]]
While this album is all about the present, said George Lewis Jr. aka Twin Shadow, the music is still rather obsessed with 80s. Not a bad idea though, because this album combines both elements of the past and the present perfectly.
Sleigh Bells – Reign of Terror
[[posterous-content:pid___21]]
Alexis Krauss and Derek Miller is still as explosive as they did before although they toned it down a little bit. This is still a fun album and while it may tone down a little bit, Alexis Krauss’ vocals can be heard clearly than before.
Hot Chip – In Our Heads
[[posterous-content:pid___22]]
The dance floor anthem of this year. Hot Chip is growing a lot in terms of songwriting, but still maintains their eclecticism and fun while doing it.
How to Dress Well – Total Loss
[[posterous-content:pid___23]]
An experimental r&b album, with minimalistic and poignant sounds. This album is great at amplifying emotional breakdowns.
Meshuggah – Koloss
[[posterous-content:pid___24]]
Koloss takes Meshuggah into a whole new level. Their performance in this album is more technical and more experimental than their previous efforts.
Motion City Soundtrack – Go
[[posterous-content:pid___25]]
This record sounds more personal for Justin Pierre and co. Pop-punk have never been both energetic and poignant at the same time.
The Walkmen – Heaven
[[posterous-content:pid___26]]
Hamilton Leithauser and co. are getting obsessed with retro sounds in this album. Heaven shines on with these classic sounds, while at the same time they still remember who they are by fusing these classic pre-rock n’ roll sounds with their own surf rock sounds (e.g. title track Heaven)
The Shins – Port of Morrow
[[posterous-content:pid___27]]
Just like their first single of this album, Simple Song, this is a simple album yet mesmerizing effort from James Mercer with songs such as It’s Only Life or For a Fool that has deep meaningful lyrics.
[[posterous-content:pid___28]]
Probably not the best doom metal out there, but this album deserves to be in this list. A pretty straightforward album, with only 5 songs, yet they managed to maximize each songs’ potential by conveying doom metal classics with gothic tones in them.
Parkway Drive – Atlas
[[posterous-content:pid___29]]
Metalcore has not been this exciting since two years ago, when Parkway Drive released this album’s predecessor. They haven’t slowed down in a bit, and they become even more brutal. Definitely among the best metalcore albums in history and also helps to define metalcore further.
So that completes my 30 best album of this year. I can’t wait to see what 2013 will bring, whether there will be any more exciting albums or not. Hopefully there will be more awesome albums than this year.
