THE 25 BEST ALBUMS OF 2012
25. Perfume Genius- Put Your Back N 2 It
Genre: Baroque Pop
Earlier this year Perfume Genius released an oddly stylized album and it contained some of the most sorrowful songs released in a long time. The tracks were rooted in ambient, yet it was completely engaging. His voice quaked over simple piano chords, but the production and the dynamic swells gave it a magic unmatched by other singer-songwriters.
24. Kidkanevil and Daisuke Tanabe- Kidsuke
Genre: Glitch-hop
If you are a japanese glitch electronica enthusiast you've probably heard of Daisuke Tanabe. He is a monster in the specific subgenre for good reason. The man has a way with tone and rhythm that other electronic musicians can only dream of. The creative pairing with Kidkanevil yields unique results. The synths have a delicateness about them while still remaining foreboding. The songs aren't something that you would bump in the club, but they are unique, engaging, and even danceable if your brave enough.
23. DIIV- Oshin
Genre: Post-punk/Dream-pop
Out of Beach Fossil's ashes rose the reverb-soaked DIIV. By blending post-punk and dream-pop they were able to craft an album that was incredibly cohesive and beautiful. While each song has similarities they also have subtle differences in groove and texture that keep it a fresh listen each time you return to it.
22. Sigh- In Somniphobia
Genre: Extreme Metal
I needed to make the album cover bigger so you could see it. Yes, that is a pregnant elderly queen carting around a wheelbarrow of dead babies. And the album sounds just like that.
21. Thee Oh Sees- Putrifiers II
Genre: Garage/Psych Rock
Garage-rockers Thee Oh Sees pump out at least one album a year, and each of them are great! Seriously how come other artists can't do this? Thee Oh Sees make a pleasing adjustment to their sound, adding some psychedelic aspects and splash more melody, resulting in perhaps their most accessible album yet. But don't worry fans, John's nasally croon is still going strong.
20. Earth- Angels of Darkness, Demons of Light II
Genre: Drone
Drone innovators ("inventors" is perhaps a better word) Earth released a pair of albums at the end of last year and the beginning of this one. Each one ditched the distortion-soaked bass and guitar for clean guitar tones and slow, powerful drum beats. Repetition is key here. The listener has to wrap themselves up in the guitar line and feel the slow march of the drums. The album cover is fitting because this album really sounds like a procession of demonic angels.
19. Captain Murphy- Duality
Genre: Horrorcore
Who knew Flying Lotus could rap? On Duality, FlyLo exhibits his brilliant production ability with some fresh flows. His use of pitch modulation kept the album terrifying and entertaining. Even the skits were gripping, telling the story of a cult searching for its new god, and you're a candidate. Also he raps over Bugg'n by TNGHT and that was fresh as fuck.
18. Suis la lune- Riala
Genre: Screamo
First off, these guys aren't what you think they are. They sound nothing like Asking Alexandria. What they sound like is catharsis. Riala is screamo at its finest, with vocals that exhibit surprising dynamics and sorrowful guitar leads. The rhythm section is tight and in tune with one another. It's a perfect album for someone looking to expand their tastes and challenge themselves. Not all great music is pretty.
17. Lightning Bolt- Oblivion Hunter
Genre: Noise Rock
Lightning Bolt collects material from earlier in their career to compile this 45 minute long EP (its an LP lets be real) and it flows surprisingly well. The production is dirtier and the jams are much rawer than on their studio work. Oblivion Hunter collects some great songs that any noise rock fan will enjoy. The drum work is as frantic as always and the bass lines are fat and all over the place. It's just proof that Lightning Bolt had it since the beginning.
16. Cloud Nothings- Attack on Memory
Genre: Post-hardcore
Cloud Nothings bring a certain softness to the Post-hardcore genre. They dumb down the insanity of Big Black or The Blood Brothers, but with no lesser musical magnitude. The guitar and drum work is heavily rooted in punk but the harsh yet melodic vocals pepper these songs with emotion.
15. El-P- Cancer 4 Cure
Genre: Underground Hip-hop
El-P is a monster. His harsh production style combined with some truly intense flows proves that Eminem is not the only credible white rapper in the game. El-P calls on some talented friends to guest star on a lot of these tracks, and they all kill it. The beats are varied and interesting, utilizing some crazy samples and some tight live instrumentation.
14. Purity Ring- Shrines
Genre: Glitch-pop/Post-dubstep
The genre name post-dubstep just screams "douchebag" but in this case its a really accurate description. Purity Ring utilizes some apparent characteristics of dubstep and bass music and combines them with soaring pop melodies and the result is a surprisingly ethereal album.
13. High on Fire- De Vermis Mystriis
Genre: Sludge/Stoner Metal
Two important bands emerged from stoner metal titan Sleep's ashes, Om and High on Fire. Om took the route of foreboding biblical doom rock while High on Fire kicked up the tempos and added some thrash and speed metal inspired licks. This year High on Fire released an album that was relentless and powerful. The tight drumming and fearsome vocals are matched only by how crisp and full the production is.
12. The Taxpayers- 'God, Forgive These Bastards': Songs From the Forgotten Life of Henry Turner
Genre: Folk-punk
The Taxpayers know their away around a sad love song. With an arsenal of quaint instruments and a couple of shitty microphones, this band crafts a journey throughout the life of a homeless man forgotten by society, but remembered in the alleys of a slum. But that's what folk-punk is all about. I can imagine a group of gypsies playing these songs in the back of their ox-drawn carriage.
11. Death Grips- NO LOVE DEEP WEB
Genre: Industrial Hip-hop
Death Grips have had a roller coaster of a year. They released two albums, one for free, got signed to Epic, then got dropped by Epic, and now Flatlander can't travel "legally". It's fitting that they go through this insanity when their music is so insane. On NO LOVE DEEP WEB the listener encounters a stripped-down and bass heavy collection of songs. MC Ride sounds exhausted and scared, and Zach Hill's drumming calms down, with only snippets of his signature fills coming through. One could say its their most mature record, if you could call Death Grips mature.
10. Japandroids- Celebration Rock
Genre: Indie Punk
Japandroids are all about emotion. Their music is balls to the wall. It's simple from each approach, yet it sounds so seasoned. On their second LP Japandroids deliver shouts, screams, fuzz-soaked guitars, booming drums, and bookend these sounds with fireworks. It's so fun to listen to you forget just how powerful these songs can be.
9. Various Artists- Playing Hide and Seek With the Ghosts of Dawn
Genre: Psychadelic Rock
The Flaming Lips and their buddies cover In the Court of the Crimson King in its entirety, what could possibly go wrong. One of the most important prog rock records of all time is completely re-imagined and re-executed by some fantastic psychadelic groups. These songs gain a whole new perspective, and I love it.
8. Kendrick Lamar- good kid m.A.A.d city
Genre: Conscious Hip-hop
Kendrick Lamar called good kid m.A.A.d city a short film, and not without good reason. The album tells the story of Kendrick's life in Compton and its influence on his music. Each track contains different characters and different scenes. From a young Kendrick spitting rhymes in his friends car to being thrown into drug culture, these songs tell stories. Kendrick's flows have never been hotter. Manipulating meter and rhythm, Kendrick's on his A-game.
7. Animal Collective- Centipede Hz
Genre: Neopsychadelia
Cetipede Hz got a lot of hate this year, but all the criticisms I heard ("the production wasn't crisp", "it didn't have any cool harmonies") just translated to "it wasn't Merriweather Post Pavilion". I appreciate this new direction. Animal Collective went back to the weirdness while retaining a strong pop sensibility. Some of these songs are downright catchy, and most of them are unique and interesting. Perhaps a good new genre name for this would be "alien-pop".
6. The Hickey Underworld- I'm Under the House, I'm Dying
Genre: Garage rock
Foreigners playing garage rock? What is this? It's one of the tastiest albums of the year. The riffs on these songs are so well-calculated and executed, while still sounding so raw. The lead singer sounds like Julian Casablancas with more attitude, and the rhythm section is tight. These songs drip with sex, drugs, and rock and roll.
5. Aesop Rock- Skelethon
Genre: Underground Hip-hop
Skelethon is my favorite hip-hop release this year. Aesop's flows are on par with his best release (before this), Bazooka Tooth, and the production is even better. Aesop employs live drums, creepy vocals, and some seriously strong synths, but it doesn't overpower. Aesop spits his cryptic lyrics with a range of dynamics and tempos. It's an engaging listen from start to finish.
4. Fiona Apple- The Idler Wheel is Wiser than the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More than Ropes Will Ever Do
Genre: Avant Piano Pop
Fiona Apple returns with a vengeance, literally. Her new album contains some of the most tortured singing and playing that I've ever heard. The stripped down instrumentation creates this overall somber tone, but Fiona's voice and piano creates these subtle changes that keeps the listener crawling back for more.
3. of Montreal- Paralytic Stalks
Genre: Experimental Pop
Kevin Barnes is weird. Like really weird. And on of Montreal's new album he's about as weird as he's ever been. He bangs on pianos. He busts out some droning synths. He probably broke a couple of violin strings. The final result, however, was a moving piece of experimental pop with suites of noise and melody. It's unlike anything you've heard, unless you've heard of Montreal before.
2. Swans- The Seer
Genre: Post-rock/Drone
SWANS ARE BACK BABY! Can you handle two and a half hours of repetitive guitar lines, booming drums, terrifying vocals, and the same thing sung over and over again. If you can then you can appreciate the genius of The Seer. Michael Gira and his band of misfits craft pieces of noisy drums and guitars that find roots in anti-grooves that go on for over half an hour in some cases. The listener may find themselves transfixed. It throws everything that makes music accessible out the window. It takes patience. It takes understanding. But most of all, it takes investment. IN AND OUT AND IN AND OUT.
