Top 12 for 2012

Will's Top 12 For '12:
This year was a great year for music.  Lots of my favorite established artists dropped new records, along with a lot of strong records from up-and-coming acts or other acts that I hadn't previously discovered.  I hope you enjoy my musings on my favorite releases 2012 had to offer:

Honorable Mention:Japandroids "Celebration Rock," Divine Fits "Thing Called Divine Fits," Trampled By Turtles "Stars and Satellites,"  Beach House, "Bloom"

12: David Wax Museum "Knock Knock Get Up"
If this disc doesn't make you smile, I don't know what will. David Wax Museum delivers feel-good music at its best with bright horn arrangements and some really fascinating percussion. This Mexican-American folk act definitely has a niche at this point, and I can only guess that they will continue to hone and diversify their sound in the years to come.
11. Alt-J- "An Awesome Wave"
Categorizing Alt-J's sound is a challenging task, aside from simply saying, "infectious."  If Soul Coughing and the xx were to get married Alt-J could be what their musical child might sound like.  Simple keyboard melodies combined with quirky instrumentation and beats help draw listeners into this album.  I am really looking forward to seeing this act in March 2013  @ Turner Hall.

10.  Titus Andronicus- "Local Business"
Pure rock 'n roll energy drives "Local Business," making it a favorite of mine from this year.  Front man Patrick Stickles' lyrical delivery and narrative song writing falls into a similar category to The Hold Steady's Craig Finn, and, to some extent, even fellow New Jersey native, Bruce Springsteen.  Favorite tracks include "In A Big City," and "I Am the Electric Man."


9. Hospitality- "Hospitality"
Catching this band open for Here We Go Magic at Stonefly this year put them on my radar.  This is an incredibly catchy indie-pop record with well-crafted melodic tunes, which really never went out of my rotation throughout the year.  Clever guitar and drum arrangements also add to the pure pop goodness of this record.  


8.  Polica- "Give You The Ghost"
Combine ethereal vocals, driving beats from two drummers, and grooving bass lines.  Mix with some added electronic effects and loops, and bake for about 45 minutes, and you have yourself,  "Give You The Ghost," one of the more interesting albums to come out of 2012.  Simply put, Channy Leaneagh's vocals are soulful and spellbinding and make this record a real stand-out on my list and plenty of others' lists this year.


7. Spiritualized- "Sweet Heart, Sweet Light"
Spirtualized is an act that defies time and place.  In  many ways, you can listen to "Sweet Heart, Sweet Light" and think that the album could be from the 1970's, or from the hay day of the British shoe-gaze acts in the late-nineties. However, one would be remiss if they simply tried to fit Spitualized into this category.  What sets Spitualized apart from other acts is the diverse songwriting of lead singer/guitarist Jason Pierce, who creates an album of stark contrasts, juxtaposing witty pop songs with spacey jams and even slower, more melancholy tracks.  This British psychedelic rock outfit is on a short list of acts I haven't seen live and would really like to. 


6.  Tame Impala- "Lonerism"
In many ways, Tame Impala is similar to Spititualized as an act that is hard to classify. Their latest, "Lonerism," is a poppy, jammy, tangled delight.  What gives Tame Impala one up on Spiritualized, in my opinion, is how cohesive the album is.  It is rare that I'll skip over a track, and can find myself often entrenched in the jams.


5.  Sea Wolf- "Old World Romance"
Alex Brown Chruch delivers a masterful singer-songwriter effort on "Old World Romance."  From the catchy opener, "Old Friend," through gems like "Priscilla," and "Miracle Cure," Sea Wolf's latest certainly put them on the radar of several indie-folk fans, myself included.

 

4.  Father John Misty- "Fear Fun"
J. Tillman delivers the album that has grown on me the most over the year, the whimsical "Fear Fun."  A diverse mix of alt-country, experimental folk, and straight ahead rock 'n roll,  Tillman's narrative tunes roll seamlessly into each other on the record, leading to a most enjoyable listen.  Stand out tracks include: "I'm Writing A Novel," "Nancy From Now On," "Only Son of the Ladies Man," and "Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings."  You know an album is good when you keep having a new favorite tune  after each listen.

 

3.  Band of Horses- "Mirage Rock"
"A ramshackle crew with something to prove, and the truck blew up, believe it."  This line from the opening track "Knock Knock," sets the tone for a straight ahead rock 'n roll effort which shows Ben Bridwell and the boys in prime form.  Bridwell's country-esque twang comes across wonderfully on tracks like "Electric Music," "How to Live," and "Heartbreak on the 101."  While I can argue that "Cease to Begin" is perhaps my favorite release from this band, "Mirage Rock" provides a satisfying, uplifting listen, which translates especially well live.
 
 

2.  Grizzly Bear- "Shields"
Grizzly Bear's wonderfully eclectic release, "Shields," is arguably their finest album to date, and a record that sees this New York City group rising in terms of popularity and critical acclaim.  I doubt I'll see them at a $15 Pabst Theater show again like I did a few years ago.  Bluesy vocals, multifaceted percussion, clever synthesizer loops and a haunting appeal makes "Shields" a beautiful listen from start to finish.  This is an act that I could see making the jump to an upper-mid level act very quickly. 


 1. Jack White- "Blunderbuss"
I'll admit, I'm late to the party with Jack White... or am I?  If "Blunderbuss" is any indication, White's best work may be still to come.  To be honest, I (foolishly) passed on seeing the White Stripes numerous times, and even passed on the Racontours, only now to be more than willing to hop in a car and drive to anywhere in the general vicinity to catch Jack White's act live.  Everyone who I've known who has seen him on this tour was simply blown away, and rightfully so, this record is loaded with awesome rock 'n roll. 

White puts together a thoughtful, fun, and varied album that makes you want to play air guitar to "Sixteen Salteens," pump your first in the sky to "Freedom at 21," tap your foot to "Hypothetical Kiss," and sing along to "Love Interruption."  This is a highly accessible album that appeals to a wide fan base.  It is a joyous listen from start to finish and has been played more than any other record this year, hence, earning the top spot on the chart.