I love listening to music, and although this year, I limited
my list to 85 albums, it doesn’t mean there weren’t more candidates for the
list.
Any of them are really good,
depending on what kind of music you like, and the fact that the same list is
shared by a 77-year-old folk-rock icon and a Icelandic indie pop band releasing
their first album speaks volumes about the world of music today.
I have
numbered and described the top 50 and listed
the others as “Honorable Mention.”
My annual qualifier is that my tastes tend to run toward
alternative rock, R&B/soul, indie rock, and inventive pop music, so if you
are a fan of Classical, Country, Death Metal, or Rap, you will probably be
disappointed with this list. I also tend
to like music that is up-front, rather than hidden by layers of production.
The numbering is somewhat random, because on any given day,
I might want to hear one album ahead of any other, and each of the “Honorable
Mention” albums could easily have made the top 50. With that said, here is my list in ascending
order:
50. Morning Parade,
“Morning Parade”
This is the debut album of a a
five-piece, English, alternative rock band with excellent modern rock
sensibilities and highly enjoyable songs including “Headlights,” “Us &
Ourselves,” and “Under the Stars.”
49. Sun Kil Moon,
“Among the Leaves”
The eighth album by this band, fronted by singer-songwriter Mark Kozelek,
is an acoustic beauty featuring Kozelek’s outstanding lyrics and expressive
singing. Songs include the title song, “Sunshine
In Chicago,” and the humorously named “The Moderately Talented Yet Attractive
Young Woman vs. The Exceptionally Talented Yet Not So Attractive Middle Aged
Man.”
48. Best Coast, “The
Only Place”
Bethany
Cosentino and Bobb Bruno are
Best Coast, and their brand of modern surf pop is an enjoyable romp that
harkens to the 60s beach bands—fuzzy production techniques and all. The group’s second album includes “The Only
Place,” “Up All Night,” and “Why I Cry.”
47. Sharon Van Etten,
“Tramp”
This Brooklyn-based artist is her own breed of singer-songwriter, capable
of quiet elegance in one song followed by a rock-infringed powerhouse on the
next. Add to that her lovely but raspy
voice and the production of The National’s Aaron Desner, and the result is an
outstanding set of songs including “Serpents,” “Leonard,” and “We Are Fine.”
46. Graffiti6,
“Colours”
Essentially the work of British artist Jamie Scott, this infectious set of
pop/soul songs is the first full album by Graffiti6, and it definitely bears
repeated listening. Songs include “Stare
Into the Sun,” “Free,” and “Over You.”
45. Field Music,
“Plumb”
If you’ve read my past reviews, you’ll know that Field Music usually winds
up on this list. If you’ve listened to
them, you’ll understand why I love their inventive style of rock, which defies
classification. This, their fourth
album, features “Start the Day Right,” “A New Town,” and the brief but
beautiful a capella tune, “How Many More Times?”
44. Alt-J, “An
Awesome Wave”
The first full studio album by this English quartet is just wonderfully
different from most of what you’re likely to hear on the radio. What jumps out at you is the excellent
musicianship combined with the offbeat vocals.
Songs include “Breezeblocks,” “Dissolve Me,” and “Fitzpleasure.”
43. Esperanza
Spalding, “Radio Music Society”
After winning the Grammy for best new artist, Spaulding followed it up with
this beautiful vocal jazz album that demonstrates her many talents. Songs include “Cinnamon Tree,” “Black Gold,”
and “I Can’t Help It.”
42. Paul Buchanan,
“Mid Air”
I admit to playing the Blue Nile’s “Hats” many times in the late 80s and
early 90s for its superb use of multi-layered, synthesized music and the
haunting vocals of Paul Buchanan.
Although he was never able to duplicate the excellence of that sonic
masterpiece, his music has continued to amaze me. This is his first solo album and it reminds
me why I liked the Blue Nile so much.
Songs include “Mid Air,” “Buy a Motor Car,” and “God Is Laughing.”
41. Loudon Wainwright
III, “Older Than My Old Man Now”
On his 22nd album, the patriarch of the musical Wainwright clan
explores what it’s like to get older. In
doing so, he’s created an immensely humorous and entertaining set of songs that
include “The Here & the Now,” “My Meds,” and “I Remember Sex.”
40. Silversun
Pickups, “Neck of the Woods”
On their fourth studio album, the Los Angeles-based quartet shows why they
are one of the most interesting alt-rock bands recording today. Their songs have a driving beat and a lively
grasp of what it takes to construct a good song, such as “Make Believe,” “Bloody
Mary (Nerve Endings),” and “The Pit.”
39. Walk the Moon,
“Walk the Moon”
This is the second album (first on a major label) by a Cincinnati-based
quartet that creates an exuberant sound that will have you up and dancing, or
at least tapping your feet. Songs
include “Anna Sun,” “Tightrope,” and “Shiver Shiver.”
38. Conor Oberst and
The Mystic Valley Band, “One of My Kind”
Conor Oberst has recorded under his own name and as Bright Eyes. Here, he has assembled a 5-person backup band
called The Mystic Valley Band, and the result is a slightly more rock-oriented
effort than his previous albums. As
always, Oberst’s songs are intelligent and thoughtful, and his unique voice
adds texture to original songs like “Gentleman’s Pact,” and “Normal,” as well
as covers like “Corina, Corina” and “Kodachrome.”
37. John Boutté, “All
About Everything”
New Orleans-based John Boutté is an American original. Here, on his tenth album, he uses his sweet,
emotional voice to deliver what may be the best set of songs of his career,
including “These Blue Days,” “The Grass Is Greener,” and a bluesy version of
the Leonard Cohen classic, “Hallelujah.”
36. Imagine Dragons,
“Night Visions”
A true modern rock band, this Las Vegas-based quartet combines excellent
songwriting, outstanding musicianship, and wall-of-sound production techniques
to construct songs that build from the beginning to the end. This is their first studio album with songs
that include “Radioactive,” “It’s Time,” and “On Top of the World.”
35. Muse, “The 2nd
Law”
While unlike anything Muse has done before, this, their sixth album, is a
concept album about the residents of a planet who need to find somewhere else
to live. As usual, their totally
enveloping sound is evident from start to finish on songs like “Madness,”
“Survival,” and “Liquid State.”
34. We Are Serenades,
“Criminal Heaven”
This debut album from a Swedish duo uses modern production techniques to create
a beautiful, almost symphonic sounding set of songs that includes “Birds,”
“Daydreaming,” and “Walking Home.”
33. Passion Pit,
“Gossamer”
This Cambridge Mass-based band met at Berklee School of Music and debuted
in 2009 with the excellent “Manners.”
This, their second effort, is even better and combines a variety of
styles into a highly listenable album that includes “Take a Walk,” “Carried
Away,” and “Hideaway.”
32. The Lumineers,
“The Lumineers”
If you haven’t heard the Lumineers’ “Ho Hey,” maybe you slept through this
year, or you don’t listen to much new music.
Otherwise, you understand the infectiousness of their refrain, “I belong
with you, you belong with me, in my sweet heart.” The band’s debut album combines bluegrass
with simple lyrics and Neyla Pekarek’s
cello and includes “Flowers In Your Hair,” “Ho Hey,” and “Stubborn Love.”
31. Laetitia Sadier,
“Silencio”
The French lead singer of Stereolab released this, her second solo effort,
which combines her rich, beautiful vocals with inventive musicianship that
makes you take notice of each song, including “Silent Spot,” “Between Earth and
Heaven,” and “Fragment pour le future de l’homme.”
30. Joe Bonamassa,
“Driving Towards the Daylight”
Joe Bonamassa is one of the best guitarists to ever record an album, and he’s
a good vocalist too. If you don’t
believe me, you can ask people like Eric Clapton, Gregg Allman, and Rick Derringer, who have
all played with him and marvel at his skills.
On this, his tenth studio album, the 35-year-old Bonamassa continues to
wow anyone who listens to songs like “Dislocated Boy,” “A Place in My Heart,”
and “Too Much Ain’t Enough Love.”
29. The Magnetic
Fields, “Love at the Bottom of the Sea”
Stephin Merritt, the
creative force behind the Magnetic Fields, is a musical genius similar to David
Byrne, and each of the band’s 11 albums demonstrates that genius. This is no exception, as demonstrated by
songs like “Andrew in Drag,” “Infatuation (With Your Gyration),” and “I Don’t
Like Your Tone.”
28. Alicia Keys “Girl
on Fire”
It’s easy to take Alicia Keys for granted.
After all, her debut album, “Songs in A Minor,” was as breathtakingly
beautiful as her face. Now, with her
fifth album, Keys (nee Alicia Cook) has released another group of listenable,
well-written and well-produced songs including “Brand New Me,” “Girl on Fire,”
and “Fire We Make.”
27. Go Kart Mozart,
“On the Hot Dog Streets”
If you’ve know Springsteen’s songs (specifically “Blided By the Light”),
you’ll recognize this band’s name. That’s
particularly funny because this band is fronted by a British artist known
simply as Lawrence. This is their third
album and it is a series of well-recorded, satirical, post-punk songs that
include “Lawrence Takes Over,” “Mickie Made the Most ,” and “White Stilettos In
the Sand.”
26. Ingrid
Michaelson, “Human Again”
On her fifth album, Ingrid Michaelson continues to establish herself as one
of the best singer-songwriters recording today.
Her lyrics are thoughtful, her tunes are lovely, and her voice is
expressive. Songs include “Fire,” “I’m
Through,” and “How We Love.”
25. The xx, “Coexist”
This is a very talented English band operating at the top of its craft and
deserving of the critical acclaim that both of its albums have received. Their songs are steeped in mood and ambience
that tend to transpose you to another place.
If you haven’t heard them, do yourself a favor and buy songs like
“Angels,” “Chained,” and “Sunset.”
24. Dr. John, “Locked
Down”
At 73, Malcolm
John "Mac" Rebennack, Jr. (aka Dr. John) may have released his best
and most personal album ever, and one that is definitely worth listening
to. It’s great to hear this master, New
Orleans bluesman perform songs as well-written as “Locked Down,” “Revolution,”
and “My Children, My Angels.”
23. Cat Power, “Sun”
Atlanta-based Chan Marshall (who performs as Cat Power) is well-known for
the uniquely moody approach she has taken throughout her nine previous
albums. That’s what makes this album
such a major and welcome departure. I
wouldn’t call these dance tunes, but you could certainly dance to them, and
that’s very unusual with regard to her music.
Songs include “Cherokee,” “Manhattan,” and “Silent Machine.”
22. Frank Ocean, “Channel
ORANGE”
Some of the songs on this, Ocean’s second album are outstanding, while
others seem to benefit too much from Auto-Tune technology. It’s too early to say if this New
Orleans-based soul singer-songwriter will reach his full potential or fade into
the woodwork, but he shows considerable promise in a genre that cries out for
new stars. Songs include “Thinkin Bout
You,” “Sweet Life,” and “Forrest Gump.”
21. Meiko, “The
Bright Side”
In the pantheon of American singer-songwriters, Meiko is starting to carve
out a niche with her sexily breathy vocals and use of a variety of
instruments. Hailing from Georgia and
one quarter Japanese-American (hence the name), she combines styles and
syncopations to fill her second album with songs like “Stuck On You,” “Leave
the Lights On,” and “Good Looking Loser.”
20. Bruce
Springsteen, “Wrecking Ball”
On his 17th studio album, the boss has conjured up a group of
songs with rousing tunes but lyrics that reflect the trials of the working
class. This is one of the best albums of
Springsteen’s recent years—one which combines his familiar, gravelly voice with
a wide range of instruments including some Irish fiddle. Songs
include “We Take Care of Our Own,” “Death to My Hometown,” “Land of Hope and
Dreams,” and “American Land.”
19. Kat Edmonson, “Way
Down Low”
This, her second album, was funded through a Kickstarter campaign, and it
shows off the immense talent of this singer-songwriter. Her clear, quirky voice works beautifully with
the offbeat tunes, rhythms, and lyrics that she writes. If you like acoustic music and haven’t heard
Kat Edmonson, I suggest you give this album a listen.
18. Ladyhawke,
“Anxiety”
Phillipa
"Pip" Brown is from New Zealand, suffers from Asperger syndrome, and has recorded
under the name, Ladyhawke since leaving the band Two Lane Blacktop. Her style is straight-ahead rock, seemingly
descended from the likes of Pat Benatar and Joan Jett. Like those musicians, Ladyhawke makes
excellent music that deserves to be heard.
Songs include “Girl Like Me,” “Black White & Blue,” and “Cellophane.”
17. Regina Spektor, “What
We Saw from the Cheap Seats”
This sixth album by the Moscow-born, New York resident may not be so
groundbreaking as her earlier work, but how many times can one person break new
ground? Personally, I love her witty,
intelligent songs and these are no exception, including “Don't Leave Me (Ne me quitte pas),” “How,” “All the Rowboats,” and “The Party.”
16. Green Day, “¡Uno!”
“¡Dos!” and “¡Tré!”
This is actually three albums that Green Day released in 2012. In doing so, they went away from the “rock
opera” approach of the last few albums while still putting together a worthy
set of songs that includes “Let Yourself Go,” “Stray Heart,” and “The
Forgotten.” Even if the songs weren’t as
good as they are, the band deserves recognition for being so ambitious in this age of seemingly lazy
musicians.
15. Matt & Kim, “Lightning”
Matt
Johnson (vocals/keyboards)
and Kim
Schifino (drums) from
Brooklyn have recorded four albums, but this is by far their best. Their voices are clear, their harmonies are
superb, and their songs have an infectiousness that is missing from most modern
pop music. Sings include “Let’s Go,” “It’s
Alright,” and “Tonight.”
14. P!nk, “The Truth
About Love”
I just love listening to P!nk. That’s
the recording name of Alecia Beth Moore of Doylestown, PA. Six albums
into her career, she continues to combine great music with intelligent lyrics
that challenge her listeners to be the best they can be. She is consistently one of America’s best
recording artists, and that consistency is reflected in songs like “Blow Me
(One Last Kiss),” “Try,” and “Just Give Me a Reason.”
13. Dirty Projectors,
“Swing Lo Magellan”
It’s surprising to think that Dirty Projectors has already released seven
albums, none more powerful than 2009’s “Bitte Orca,” but this is a worthy
follow-up to that effort. Their
inventive music and harmonious vocals combine perfectly with their unique
production techniques to create a style all their own. Songs include “Gun Has No Trigger,” “Swing
Lo Magellan,” and “The Socialites.”
12. Jimmy Cliff,
“Rebirth”
Seeing and hearing Jimmy Cliff in the 1972 film “The Harder They Come” was
a revelation that introduced most of the world to Reggae music and catapulted
Cliff into stardom. 40 years later,
Cliff released this album, appropriately called “Rebirth,” and showed us that
he’s still at the top of his game. Songs
include “One More,” “Reggae Music,” and the Clash classic, “Guns of Brixton.”
11. Of Monsters and
Men, “My Head Is An Animal”
This debut album from an Icelandic indie band is one of the year’s most
infectious set of songs, combining pop tunes and vocals with music that draws
you in and continues to build to its rollicking conclusion. This is the kind of album that makes me
remember while I like music so much.
Songs include “Mountain Sound,” “Love Love Love,” and the international
sensation known as “Little Talks.”
10. Rebecca Ferguson,
“Heaven”
The runner-up in the 2010 season of the British “X Factor” competition,
Ferguson’s first album demonstrates the clarity and elegance that occasionally
distinguishes British soul music. In
doing so, the Liverpool native displays both power and subtlety in a way that
shows what’s often missing from the overproduced music that passes for
R&B these days. Songs include “Fairytale
(Let Me Live My Life This Way),” “Teach Me How to Be Loved,” and “Nothing’s
Real But Love.”
9. Jack White, “Blunderbuss”
Jack White continues to build on his already expansive career. Through his work with the White Stripes, the
Raconteurs, and the Dead Weather, as well as his many side projects, he has
already established himself as the modern poet laureate of rock. This is technically his first complete solo
album and it shows an artist that continues to grow and experiment with new styles,
usually with great success. Songs
include “Missing Pieces,” “I’m Shakin’,” “I Guess I Should Go to Sleep,” and “Love
Interruption.”
8. Fun, “Some
Nights”
For years, I’ve been raving about a band called the Format. So when Nate Ruess of that band broke off and founded Fun with with Andrew Dost of Anathallo and Jack
Antonoff of Steel Train, I had great hopes. But I never expected the immense popularity
and commercial success that Fun has achieved.
Of course, there are good reasons for that success, including “Some
Nights,” “We Are Young,” and “Why Am I the One.”
7. Elizaveta, “Beatrix
Runs”
Elizaveta
Igorevna Khripounova was raised in New York and Moscow. Her three, full-length, studio albums combine
her operatic voice, outstanding songwriting skills, and avant-garde
arrangements into a wonderfully unique sound.
This, her third album, includes “Meant,” “Armies of Your Heart,” and “Goodbye
Song.”
6. The Wombats, “The
Wombats Proudly Present... This Modern Glitch”
This band is comprised of two Liverpudlians
and one Norwegian, and together, they have recorded two albums of inventive,
state-of-the-art music that combines interesting melodies, enjoyable lyrics,
and hard-driving rock rhythms. If I didn’t
know better, I’d have trouble placing their sound in a particular decade, but
the lyrics give them away in songs like “Our Perfect Disease,” “Jump Into the
Fog,” and “1996.”
5. Emeli Sandé, “Our
Version of Events”
A songwriter from Scotland whose songs have been recorded by a number of
well-known artists, the very talented, 25-year-old Emeli Sandé released her own
album in 2012, and what a beauty it is. It’s
hard to classify her music, which draws on R&B, disco, pop, and rock, but
whatever you call her, it’s clear from songs like “Heaven,” “Next to Me,” and “River”
that she’s one of the most talented young artists on the scene today.
4. Alex Clare, “The
Lateness of the Hour”
With a voice that combines rock and blues and an edgy songwriting style, London-based
Alex Clare shows on his first album why he is the real thing. Each song on this collection demonstrates a style
that is simultaneously timeless and immediate…almost like Adele in a man’s
body. Check out songs like “Treading
Water,” “Too Close,” and “Caroline.”
3. Two Door Cinema
Club, “Beacon”
Hailing from Northern Ireland, Two Door Cinema Club released its second
album this year, and what a beauty it is.
An outstanding example of modern rock at its best, this album has it all—driving
drums and bass, clear and emotive vocals, hummable tunes with great changes,
and the great production of Jacknife Lee, who has also worked with U2, R.E.M.,
and Snow Patrol. Songs include “Next
Year,” “Sun,” “Sleep Alone,” and “The World Is Watching.”
2. Alabama Shakes,
“Boys and Girls”
This band’s debut album shows off the incredible talents of lead
singer/guitarist Brittany Howard, who may be the best female blues-rock vocalist
since Janis Joplin. Her level of
commitment to each song rivals that of Joplin and the rest of the band is
better than Big Brother & the Holding Company ever were. Every time I listen to songs like “Hold On,” “You
Ain’t Alone,” or “Be Mine,” I find additional nuances in Howard’s remarkable
voice. Don’t miss this album.
1. Leonard Cohen, “Old
Ideas”
You might say that Leonard Cohen was a late bloomer; he was already 33 when
his first album, the classic “Songs of Leonard Cohen,” was released.
And you can’t really call him prolific, having released only 11 studio
albums in the 44 years since then. But
he has always been brilliant—testing the boundaries of songwriting in ways that
few others have dared to try. As his
voice has aged, his singing has gained a depth that was not always apparent in
his earlier work. So it was not a
complete surprise that at 77, he would release such a masterpiece, but these
ten songs say more about life and love than most poets convey in a lifetime. That’s why “Old Ideas” is 2012’s best
album.
The following are all excellent albums that deserve Honorable Mention
(alphabetically by artist):
- Andrew Bird, “Break It
Yourself”
- Ani DiFranco, “Which Side
Are You On?”
- B.o.B., “Strange Clouds”
- Ben Kweller, “Go Fly a
Kite”
- Benjamin Gibbard, “Former
Lives”
- Bloc Party, “Four”
- Bob Dylan, “Tempest”
- Brad, “United We Stand”
- The Cribs, “In the Belly
of the Brazen Bull”
- Dar Williams, “In the Time
of Gods”
- Edward Sharpe & the
Magnetic Zeros, “Here”
- Father John Misty, “Fear
Fun”
- The Gaslight Anthem, “Handwritten”
- Gossip, “A Joyful Noise”
- Grimes, “Visions”
- Jason Mraz, “Love Is a
Four Letter Word”
- Jesse Thomas, “War Dancer”
- John Mayer, “Born and
Raised”
- Judith Owen, “Some Kind of
Comfort”
- The Killers, “Battle Born”
- Lacuna Coil, “Dark
Adrenaline”
- The Mars Volta, “Noctourniquet”
- Melanie Fiona, “The MF
Life”
- Michael Kiwanuka, “Home
Again”
- My Darkest Days, “Sick and
Twisted Affair”
- Nneka, “Soul is Heavy”
- Norah Jones, “Little Broken
Hearts”
- Scissor Sisters, “Magic
Hour”
- Shinedown, “Amaryllis”
- Sleigh Bells, “Reign of
Terror”
- Snow Patrol, “Fallen
Empires”
- The Vaccines, “Come of
Age”
- White Rabbits, “Milk
Famous”
