Better late than never, here is my Best of 2012 post. I don’t think this year was as good as last year in terms of GREAT albums, but it did offer a lot of fantastic stuff. Let’s take a look at my top 15:
15. TITLE FIGHT – FLORAL GREEN
3rd full length release by these guys, and it rules. Miles ahead of Shed, and musically my favorite thing they’ve ever done. Has that raw intensity I expect with this band, while having pretty good production at the same time. This album debuted at #67 on the Billboard 200, which is HUGE for a band like this.
14. PROPAGANDHI – FAILED STATES
Not quite as good as their 2009 album, Supporting Caste (which is a phenomenal masterpiece by the way), but still an absolutely blistering, awesome LP full of technical tracks.
13. BASEMENT – COLOURMEINKINDNESS
I might like this album more than their debut full length (I Wish I Could Stay Here), which I thought of very highly. It’s a perfect combination of that 90s alternative, mixed with Balance and Composure’s “Separation” album and some of Title Fight’s newer stuff. “Covet” is my favorite track.
12. MAKE DO AND MEND – EVERYTHING YOU EVER LOVED
Just as good as End Measured Mile, an album I ranked 8 out of 93 in 2010. This band just takes songwriting to a whole new level. “St. Anne”, “Lucky”, and “Stay In The Sun” are major standouts.
11. THE EARLY NOVEMBER – IN CURRENTS
Pretty phenomenal comeback record in my opinion. I really am not a huge fan of “Digital Age”, but everything else is excellent. The title track “In Currents” is one of my biggest jams of the year.
10. MISSER – EVERY DAY I TELL MYSELF I’M GOING TO BE A BETTER PERSON
Misser features the two backup vocalists from Transit and This Time Next Year… and they prove here that they are incredible songwriters in their own right. Very experimental in their sound, tones, and progressions, this will be one of the more memorable albums of the year.
9. ELLIE GOULDING – HALYCON
I was first drawn to her because of her voice, and it shines brighter than ever before on this album. I don’t think it’s possible for mainstream electro-pop to be better than this. This is a record chock full of potential singles, from the super catchy “My Blood” and “Anything Could Happen” to the club beat of “Figure 8″. Vocally, she puts on a clinic.
8. CALVIN HARRIS – 18 MONTHS
The best club/remix/dance album I’ve heard in ages.
7. THE MENZINGERS – ON THE IMPOSSIBLE PAST
Simply put, one of the best punk rock releases of the past few years.
6. DEFTONES – KOI NO YOKAN
Incredible album. Intense and beautiful at the same time. I’ve never heard a band that can incorporate such opposite feelings into nearly every song, which they’ve done here. First you’re being lulled to a tranquil state with some atmospheric ambient sound and then BAM, the punishing guitar hits you like a ton of bricks and Chino’s voice goes from soothing to pure raw aggressiveness in the blink of an eye. Saying this is their best album is saying A LOT, but it just may be.
5. HOSTAGE CALM – PLEASE REMAIN CALM
This band took such a huge step from their previous LP to this one. Bringing back influences dating back to 60s rock, this is one of the must-listens of the year.
4. EVERY TIME I DIE – EX LIVES
Another typical ETID album that absolutely shreds. Keith Buckley has never sounded this good.
3. JAPANDROIDS – CELEBRATION ROCK
Outstanding rock album. This is absolutely perfect summer music. A band to watch out for in the next few years.
2. NO TRIGGER – TYCOON
Arguably my most hyped up album of the year, and it did not disappoint. Hardcore punk at it’s best here.
1. SHARKS – NO GODS
I barely even listened to Sharks coming into this year, so to see them at my #1 spot really says something about this album. It’s an album that sounds fresh and manages to stand apart from even the better punk releases this year. All of their songwriting talents are on display here in full force — this is their best work to date.
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