THE TOP 5 ALBUMS OF 2012:2012 was another kinda, sorta bad year for music. Sure Gagnam Style was pretty coll, but for every good song we had something along the lines of Nicki Minaj bullshit to outweigh goodness. But there was good music in 2012 and here's the top 5 albums. BTW, since the point of this thingy is to exalt modern music, I'm trying to keep away from all the fantastic jazz, blues and WE ARE NOT OLD PEOPLE rock n' roll albums released. It's really freakin difficult though.
5. Transcendental Youth
The Mountain Goats
The Mountain Goats have been around since the dawn of "indie" music and they have kept with it ever since. Leader singer/guitarist/lyricist/only real band member John Darnielle has yet again put together a fantastic album that effortlessly combines rock, folk, and some bluegrass and jazz elements. If you enjoy a good acoustic rock album, these guys are brilliant. Another note would be that even after 14 freakin albums, the songs still song fresh and original and the lyricism is some of the best you'll hear in music today.
Album Highlights:
Cry For Judas
Night Light
Transcendental Youth
4. Shields
Grizzly Bear
Grizzly Bear is just odd. They're kinda of hard to define, though it almost seems like they're not. They use elements from tons of different genres, including alternative, folk, surf rock, jazz, pop, and others. They're absolutely great. Even Stephen Colbert thinks so. That's why he gave them the Colbert Bump. Honestly this is just something you need to listen to, it's brilliant, just take my word for it.
Album Highlights:
Sleeping Ute
Yet Again
Sun In Your Eyes
3. Skelethon
Aesop Rock
In case you don't know, this is a rap album by a rapper who makes raps. Yeah, I know what you're thinking. "HOW THE HELL COULD A RAP ALBUM BE GOOD?". I would be thinking the exact same thing, if it weren't for one little fact. AESOP ROCK IS A FUCKING GENIUS. Seriously, he is. I honestly would put him as one of the best lyricists of the past 20 years, in the same league as Isaac Brock(Modest Mouse), Tomas Kalnoky(Streetlight Manifesto), and John Darnielle(see above). He doesn't talk about bitches or money or drugs at all, except in a NEGATIVE way. And despite a little hiccup with his last album None Shall Pass, which was good but not great, this one is full blown awesomeness. If you're a fan of sweet beats, cryptic lyricism, and beards, this album is for you!
Album Highlights:
Leisureforce
Cycles To Ghenna
Zero Dark Thirty
2. My Head is An Animal
Of Monsters And Men
I absolutely LOVE this album. It's hard to say why. Maybe it just feels right. The trumpet and accordian certainly don't do any harm. OMAM have managed to make one of the best records of the year by doing what a lot of other "indie" bands are doing, but doing RIGHT. Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir voice sounds like crystal, and she easily has one of the best voices I've heard in a long time. And it sounds especially good accompanied by Ragnar Þórhallsson's very smooth and mellow voice. A fantastic contrast that makes the co-frontman/woman excellent. Are you going to find super special awesome lyricism here or super creative mind-blowingness? No, not necessarily. What I think is so great about this album is that Of Monster's and Men have achieved something I didn't know was possible. They made a pop/folk album that I ENJOY. And that's pretty fuckin' special. And not to mention this is their DEBUT album. So it can only get better. Or worse. It all depends.
Album Highlights:
Little Talks
Mountain Sound
Lakehouse
1. Blunderbuss
Jack White
Did I say there wouldn't be any blues on here? Okay, I lied a little then. Jack White has been involved in numerous projects over the years, from The White Stripes to The Dead Weather to The Raconteurs. But this is his first solo project, as well as the only one that doesn't start with "The". Both are pretty monumental. Mr. White has brought to this album exactly what you would think. But the only thing is he didn't. Where the White Stripes were pure, furry induced, primitive garage rock and The Raconteurs was almost the same thing, except slightly more refined and with a bass guitar, Jack White's solo debut takes it to a whole new level. It's like The White Stripes turned into a country gentlemen with an exquisite taste in white suits and a fancy mustache. And it's really, really good. With a full-blown band consisting of a good 15 members, White shows how his guns canblaze when he isn't confined to writing for just a guitar and drumset. If you like blues, rock n'roll, piano ballads, or music in general, CHECK THIS ALBUM OUT.
Album Highlights:
Blunderbuss
Freedom At 21
Sixteen Saltines
Love Interruption
Weep Themselves to Sleep
Other honorable mentions:
How To Destroy Angels - An Omen EP
Smashing Pumpkins - Oceania
Toh Kay - The Hand That Thieves
No Doubt - Push and Shove
There.