2012 Favorites: Albums of the Year

2012 Favorites: Songs of the Year | Albums of the Year

I wrote a few paragraphs about my year-end feelings but decided not to bore you. These are favorites, not best. All recommended, particularly the top 15, which soundtracked the vast majority of my year. I would consider both Jens Lekman and Fiona Apple five-star classics — usually one album per year meets that standard for me, so cheers, 2012. Another more generous thought: this is a great time to look at your own top 10 or so and make sure you gave those bands money this year. They really need it.

Pre-2012 Discoveries and Heavy Rotation:

Dear Nora – We’ll Have a Time
Pants Yell! – Recent Drama
Devon Williams – Euphoria
Young and Sexy – Stand Up For Your Mother
Fennesz – Venice
Readymade – All The Plans Resting
The Byrds – discography
Sleater-Kinney – discography
Emperor X – discography

Favorite Albums of 2012:

1. Jens Lekman – I Know What Love Isn’t
2. Fiona Apple – The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do
3. Hospitality – Hospitality
4. Jessica Pratt – Jessica Pratt
5. Swearin’ – Swearin’
6. Big Deal – Lights Out
7. Nite Jewel – One Second of Love
8. Weird Dreams – Choreography
9. Frank Ocean – channel ORANGE
10. Memoryhouse – The Slideshow Effect

11. Ravens & Chimes – Holiday Life
12. Cloud Nothings – Attack on Memory
13. Grizzly Bear – Shields
14. Haim – Forever EP
15. Tennis – Young and Old
16. Violens – True
17. Kendrick Lamar – good kid, m.A.A.d city
18. Beth Orton – Sugaring Season
19. Sweet Hearts – Sweet Hearts EP
20. Mark Eitzel – Don’t Be a Stranger

21. Bowerbirds – The Clearing
22. Beachwood Sparks – The Tarnished Gold
23. Taylor Swift – Red
24. The Mountain Goats – Transcendental Youth
25. Lotus Plaza – Spooky Action at a Distance
26. Nada Surf – The Stars Are Indifferent to Astronomy
27. Will Stratton – Post-Empire
28. DIIV – Oshin
29. Kitty Pryde – Haha, i’m sorry EP
30. Allo Darlin’ – Europe

31. States – Room To Run
32. Rebecca Gates – The Float
33. Melody’s Echo Chamber – Melody’s Echo Chamber
34. Carly Rae Jepsen – Kiss
35. Keaton Henson – Dear
36. Standard Fare – Out of Sight, Out of Town
37. John K. Samson – Provincial
38. Horse Feathers – Cynic’s New Year
39. Rufus Wainwright – Out of the Game
40. Divine Fits – A Thing Called Divine Fits

41. Ke$ha – Warrior
42. Lord Huron – Lonesome Dreams
43. Action Bronson – Blue Chips mixtape
44. First Aid Kit – The Lion’s Roar
45. The Walkmen – Heaven
46. The Explorers Club – Grand Hotel
47. Of Montreal – Paralytic Stalks
48. Damien Jurado – Maraqopa
49. Projectionists – Projectionists EP
50. Mesita – The Coyote

I shared and wrote about most of these albums in my Playlist Club, my weekly hand-curated music discovery service. Give it a try.