Best of 2012 - Music

[Bikeage77]

The only records I bought that came out this year was

 

Head On Electric: Sleep Slaughter Sheep: LP (Milwaukee Grunge Punk)

Jean Claude Jam Band: Discography: Cassette

Neon Piss: S/T: Cassette

 

There just hasn't been anything new that I've thought was worth getting. I saw King Tuff this year and its alright, but nothing great, more or less Ramonesy-pop-garage-punk. Like Nobunny, but probably better. (Sorry, my friends go nuts for that band, and I'm still not sure why).

 

Each year I get more and more jaded about punk bands that are starting up. There's only a few that really stand out to me anymore, and unfortunately they don't release stuff every year. (ie Marked Men, Future Virgins, Ted Leo)

 

I've found myself going back and finding bands from the 80's and 90's that I can't stop listening to. (Goo Goo Dolls - Hold Me Up probably lands in my top 25. Nothing like more recent GGD stuff, so great!) Otherwise, If anyone has any suggestions from that era, lemme know.

[pretendastronaut]

I have gone all digital these days. I pay for Spotify and use it all day, every day. I'll buy a digital album I like if I see it on Amazon for $5 or so.

 

These have been mentioned:

 

Fun. - Some Nights (Very surprised I liked this album as much as I did, it's no doubt my single most played album of the last 6 months.)

Silversun Pickups - Neck of the Woods

Cloud Nothings - Attack on Memory

Polica - Give You The Ghost

Japandroids - Celebration Rock

Of Monsters and Men - My Head is an Animal

 

Some I haven't seen mentioned:

 

Laura Stevenson and the Cans - Sit Resist

Faded Paper Figures - The Matter

I Used to Be a Sparrow - Luke

Esperanza Spalding - Radio Music Society (Very different than everything else in my list, but a really great album.)

Two Door Cinema Club - Beacon (Not as good as Tourist History, but still good.)

Passion Pit - Gossamer

 

And, I'd be remise to not mention Her Space Holiday. This was a new discovery for me in 2012, even though he's been around for awhile and put out his final album in 2011. But Her Space Holiday got 930 scribbles from me this year, more than double my number two (Rural Alberta Advantage).

[razzzorsharp]

I bought two albums...

 

Mumford and Sons-Babel

Avett Brothers-The Carpenter

 

So I guess that's my top two. Also, those two were the most I have bought in a year since the late 90's.

[patrickgpe]

I bought two albums...

 

Mumford and Sons-Babel

Avett Brothers-The Carpenter

 

So I guess that's my top two. Also, those two were the most I have bought in a year since the late 90's.

 

Avett brothers was my favorite album of the year. i was a little disappointed with Mumford and Sons, only because their debut was so good but its still better than just about anything else released.

[jjkoestler]

Babel sounds exactly like Sigh No More. They are both solid records, but I felt like I was listening to unreleased material from the Sigh No More sessions when I spun Babel.

[wisniewski]

I bought 44 albums in 2012, 25 were new releases in '12, and hands down my absolute favorite is from a Milwaukee band called The Championship. The record is called High Feather and it it OUTSTANDING.

 

I hate to pigeonhole it because there are a lot of different styles being melded, but if you are into the alt-country thing, this record is right up your alley. It is outstanding good.

 

EDIT: My top 5 favorite of the year

 

1.) The Championship - High Feather

2.) Juniper Tar - Since Before

3.) Mewithoutyou - Ten Stories

4.) Your Favorite Trainwreck - s/t

5.) Forgetters s/t

 

Honorable Mentions: Gaslight Anthem 'Handwritten', Drowning Men 'All of The Unknown'

 

I agree with the post above mine that Babel sounds like an extension of Sigh No More. There are some good tracks (Ghosts We Knew, Lovers Eyes) but for the most part not much makes it unique. And as for Some Nights, I've been a huge Nate Ruess fan for the last decade (The Format). I don't know why they vox'd his voice so much on Some Night....it was a travesty. Aim & Ignite was worlds better and IMO much more original.

[FenderMan]

My favorites this year, in no particular order:

 

Jack White - Blunderbuss

Rush - Clockwork Angels

Van Halen - A Different Kind of Truth

Alabama Shakes - Boys & Girls

Best Coast - The Only Place

Kid Rock - Rebel Soul

Scott Lucas & The Married Men - Half Blood Moon

The Smashing Pumpkins - Oceania

The Stripminers - Movies

 

Really looking forward to new albums in 2013 from Johnny Marr and Jenny Lewis.

[brettac1]

My favorite album of the year was Patterson Hood's "Heat Lightning Rumbles In The Distance". Others I liked:

 

Chris Knight - "Little Victories"

Tim Barry - "40 Miler"

JKutchma & The Five Fifths - "Pastoral"

Doc Dailey & Magnolia Devil - "Catch The Presidents"

Cheap Girls - "Giant Orange"

[SenatorShriv]

My top album for the year was Trampled By Turtles - Stars and Satellites. Some great tracks on there.

 

In a similar genre, "bluegrass" bands that are pushing the boundaries and making music accessible to non-bluegrass fans, The Infamous Stringdusters - Silver Sky should get a mention.

 

A couple of others that have been mentioned already:

Alabama Shakes - Boys and Girls

Jack White - Blunderbuss

Of Monsters and Men - My Head is an Animal

[danzig6767]

I think Blunderbuss is a solid album, but i didn't like it on the same level as his work with the White Stripes, The Raconteurs, or Dead Weather.

[TooLiveBrew]

I think Blunderbuss is a solid album, but i didn't like it on the same level as his work with the White Stripes, The Raconteurs, or Dead Weather.

Isn't it awesome to be able to say that relatively confidently? Jack White is a stud.

[Kelbysdaddy]

On the impossible past from the menzingers is amazing.

[BrewCrewForever]

I think Blunderbuss is a solid album, but i didn't like it on the same level as his work with the White Stripes, The Raconteurs, or Dead Weather.

Isn't it awesome to be able to say that relatively confidently? Jack White is a stud.

 

Agree, Jack White is fantastic. Everything he touches turns to gold. But I think for me I like his work in The Raconteurs best.

[danzig6767]

Really hard for me to pick a favorite from between White Stripes, The Raconteurs, or Dead Weather. I remember when the first Dead Weather cd came out, i was obsessed with listening to it and there are some great live versions of the songs on youtube. His full body of work with the White Stripes is amazing also.

 

 

Speaking of solo Jack White, for whatever reason i hadn't initially listened to his work on the Cold Mountain soundtrack. Man, it's really good. If you hadn't heard it, here are two from the soundtrack.

 

 

[nate82]

1. Ugly Kid Joe - Stairway to Hell : Excellent hard rock release from a band I thought was dead and gone!

2. Lita Ford - Living Like a Runaway : From the moment I put this one in the cd player, this cd just stuck with me. I played it well over 100 times, just couldn't get enough.

3. Rush - Clockwork Angels : Another quality release from one of the best bands of all time!

4. Kiss - MONSTER! : I love everything these guys do. If you like hard ass kicking rock and roll, this cd is great!

5. Jackyl - Best in Show : Straight ahead rock and roll, infectious hooks...

6. Geoff Tate - Kings & Thieves : Nothing but quality here. Any fan of Queensryche will be happy after hearing this gem!

7. Van Halen - A Different Kind of Truth : Took me a while to catch onto this cd. After about 6 or 7 plays, it took. Great disc!

 

With the music you like you might like a band from Sweden called Hardcore Superstar.

 

Their newest song

 

[TURBO]

Thanks, yeah, that sounds pretty good, I'll have to look into these guys... Stupid band name though.

 

[nate82]

Thanks, yeah, that sounds pretty good, I'll have to look into these guys... Stupid band name though.

 

 

My favorite song from them.