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Best Albums of 2012 (so far) + Songs Mix

Date June 28, 2012


photo via cubagallery

We’ve hit the halfway point for 2012 and that can only mean it’s time for our annual mid-year recap of the best albums of the year so far. Looking through my list of favorite albums, I’ve noticed a surprising dominance of guitar-oriented rock and folk music and a general lack of electronica (with Grimes, Hot Chip and Chromatics being the exceptions). I’ve listed the albums below with a sample track from each and (new this year!) I’ve added my 30 favorite songs of the year, which you can listen to in a handy-dandy Spotify playlist. So without further ado, these are the best albums (and songs) released in 2012 so far.

Best Albums of 2012 (so far)


First Aid Kit – The Lion’s Roar (January 24, Witchita)
MP3 The Lion’s Roar

 

 


Hospitality – Hospitality (January 31, Merge)
MP3 Friends of Friends

 

 


 Shearwater – Animal Joy (February 14, Sub Pop)
MP3 You As You Were

 

 


 Grimes – Visions (February 21, 4AD)
MP3 Genesis

 

 


Andrew Bird – Break It Yourself (March 6, Mom + Pop)
MP3 Eyeoneye

 

 


Bowerbirds – The Clearing (March 6, Dead Oceans)
MP3 Tuck The Darkness In

 

 


Kindness – World, You Need A Change Of Mind (March 20, Casablanca)
MP3 House

 

 


Chromatics – Kill For Love (Mar 28, Soundcloud)
MP3 Kill For Love

 

 


 Allo, Darlin – Europe (April 17, Slumberland)
MP3 Capricornia

 

 


Moonface – with Siinai: Heartbreaking Bravery (April 17, Jagjagwar)
MP3 Teary Eyes and Bloody Lips

 

 


Spiritualized – Sweet Heart, Sweet Light (April 17, Fat Possum)
MP3 Hey Jane

 

 


Beach House – Bloom (May 15, Sub Pop)
MP3 Myth

 

 


Sigur Rós – Valtari (May 29, XL)
MP3 Ekki mukk

 

 


Japandroids – Celebration Rock (May 29, Polyvinyl)
MP3 The House That Heaven Built

 

 


Hot Chip – In Our Heads (June 12, Domino)
MP3 Night And Day

 

 

Honorable Mentions:
Cloud Nothings
Sharon Van Etten
Alabama Shakes
of Montreal
Tallest Man On Earth
Fanfarlo
Porcelain Raft
Sun Kil Moon

***

Best Songs of 2012 (so far) Mix

Click here to listen via Spotify Playlist. Click below to view the tracklist.

[spoiler intro="View Tracklist"]

Alabama Shakes – Be Mine
Allo, Darlin’ – Capricornia
Andrew Bird – Danse Carribe
Beach House – Lazuli
Best Coast – Up All Night
Bobby Womack – Please Forgive My Heart
Bowerbirds – Tuck The Darkness In
Chairlift – I Belong In Your Arms
Chromatics – Kill For Love*
Cloud Nothings – Wasted Days
Eternal Summers – Millions*
Father John Misty – Nancy From Now On
First Aid Kit – EmmyLou
Grimes – Oblivion
Grizzly Bear – Sleeping Ute
Here We Go Magic – How Do I Know
Hospitality – Eighth Avenue
Hot Chip – Don’t Deny Your Heart
Japandroids – The House That Heaven Built
Kindness – SEOD
Moonface – Teary Eyes and Bloody Lips
of Montreal – Dour Percentage
Porcelain Raft – Unless You Speak From The Heart
Sharon Van Etten – Serpents
Shearwater – You As You Were
The Shins – Simple Song
Sigur Ros – Varúð
Spiritualized – So Long You Pretty Thing
Tallest Man On Earth – 1904
The Walkmen – We Can’t Be Beat

*unavailable on Spotify[/spoiler]

***

Leave your favorite albums / songs in the comments. Thanks for reading!

 


Category Posted by in Lists, Mix

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12 Responses to “Best Albums of 2012 (so far) + Songs Mix”


  1. Hendrick said:

    June 28th, 2012 at 12:30 pm

    Reliably great list. Seems like there’s a lot good releases but a scarcity of really great ones… but I felt that for 2011 too.

  2. Austin said:

    June 28th, 2012 at 2:01 pm

    Love the inclusion of Hospitality, I was really surprised by how delightful that one is. Can’t stop listening.

  3. Tom said:

    June 28th, 2012 at 2:44 pm

    Alt-J

  4. Kym said:

    June 29th, 2012 at 8:41 am

    After 6 months I’m still listening to of Montreal’s Paralytic Stalks

  5. GOB Bluth said:

    June 29th, 2012 at 1:07 pm

    No love for The Shins? Other than that, great list! Looking forward to going through the ones I’ve missed.

  6. Taylor said:

    June 29th, 2012 at 2:21 pm

    @GOB Not the album, but “Simple Song” is on the songs mix.

  7. tom said:

    June 30th, 2012 at 9:25 am

    My list for what it’s worth

    http://open.spotify.com/user/125021367/playlist/4MwWeLVItSAfhqLGKinYLF

  8. Suskie said:

    July 1st, 2012 at 4:03 pm

    You’ve hit most of my favorites (Hot Chip, Chromatics, Spiritualized), so I don’t have much to add. I do recommend checking out the new Chairlift if you haven’t already, and I’ll second Alt-J.

  9. alberto said:

    July 4th, 2012 at 11:50 am

    WALKMEN: HEAVEN
    PETE WILLIAMS: SEE
    THE CRIBS: IN THE BELLY OF THE BRAZEN BULL
    BEACH HOSE: BLOOM
    SHARON VAN ETTEN: TRUMP
    THE MACCABEES: GIVEN TO THE WILD
    GUILLEMOTS: HELLO LAND!
    SPIRITUALIZED: SWEET HEART SWEET LIGHT
    SUCKERS: CANDY SALAD
    WEIRD DREAMS : COREOGRAPHY
    SEVENTEEN EVERGREEN: STEADY ON SCIENTIST
    YOUNG MAGIC:MELT
    HOWLER: AMERICA GIVE UP
    TENNIS: YOUNG AND OLD
    FIRST AID KIT: THE LION’S ROAR
    BRITISH SEA POWER : EP 1.2.3.4.5…….
    VIOLENS: TRUE
    POND: BEARD, WIVES,DENIM
    DELTA SPIRIT: DELTA SPIRIT
    LOTUS PLAZA: SPOOKY ACTION AT A DISTANCE
    BOXER THE HORSE: FRENCH RESIDENCY
    CITIZENS!:HERE WE ARE
    CROCDILES: ENDLESS FLOWERS
    TRIBES:BABY

  10. Rachel said:

    August 31st, 2012 at 7:36 pm

    Time for another addition! Lets get The Darkness in their with the new album Hot Cakes! Take a listen http://bit.ly/SORnlz

  11. Dedra said:

    December 16th, 2012 at 12:24 am

    A search in Yahoo brought up your web blog – I’m thankful it did, cheers.

  12. Verhuur said:

    March 15th, 2013 at 5:07 am

    That is a great list!
    Although greatly hyped Alt-J is one of my favourites of 2012

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