Best Albums of 2012
--- The Top 5 Albums of the Year ---
Kanye West - Good Music Cruel Summer
I was at Amoeba Music and saw that Kanye had a new album out. I asked Thomas what he knew.
"It's a label comp." he said.
It is and it isn't. Kanye may not rap on every track on the album, but he's very present throughout. The rapping, by dudes like Jay-Z, Big Sean and 2 Chains, is some of the best in their careers. Much like Twisted Fantasy, Kanye's previous LP, I can listen to this one on a loop.
Big Sean - Finally Famous
This one grew on me. At first, I had trouble really caring about it, but each track has grown on me.
Big Sean, who constantly refers to himself as "B I G", is quite a talented rap artist. I see a lot of potential here.
Production (partially by Kanye West) throughout the album is great. No album fillers.
Alanis Morissette - Havoc and Bright Lights
I used to be a huge Alanis fan. The Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie album? Yes, plz. But she fell off for me once she started producing her own albums. She did like three in a row that I found unlistenable.
So, when Matt told a bunch of us that she was coming out with a new album, I wasn't pre-sold, at all. The day I got it, though, I listened to it incessantly. I was pleased to hear that she has learned a thing or two about mixing and being subtle. The deep cuts are… smart and pretty.
Smashing Pumpkins - Oceania
I know, I'm holding on to the past. And I was aware of that when I first started getting in to the album.
But Billy and Co are really on to something with this one. I listened to this one hard this summer. It was my go-to.
Lana Del Rey - Paradise
I think this album is perfect. Lana is weird, and her voice isn't perfect, but it works.
--- What I actually listened to this year ---
Jackson 5 - Dancing Machine
Dancing Machine seems to have come out when the guys were unsure which musical direction to head. Michael had gotten older, and Jermaine was about to quit. And apparently Tito wanted more guitar solos.
Regardless, Dancing Machine is a trip. The one that really caught me was I Am Love. It broke down all of my preconceptions about these guys.
Katy Perry - Teenage Dream (The Full Confection)
Matt and I were on a road trip to Arizona and he brought this album. I resisted hard, but after I heard Last Friday Night for the first time, I was a fan. I love that song!
The rest of the album is really strong and well produced.
Barbra Streisand and the Bee Gees - Guilty
I picked this one up on vinyl, in a dollar bin. Barbra Streisand is what she is, but Barry Gibb takes her music to a whole new place. It's such an entertaining and perfect-sounding record.
of Montreal - Daughter of Cloud
I'm biased. Of Montreal is my favorite band right now. Daughter of Cloud isn't a new album; it's instead a collection of rarities. But it's really the same quality as their other releases. The super wacky standout is the one non-wacky song. Sung by someone named Rebecca Cash.
--- Honorable Mention ---
Mika - The Origin of Love
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - The Heist
Kanye West - Good Music Cruel Summer
I was at Amoeba Music and saw that Kanye had a new album out. I asked Thomas what he knew.
"It's a label comp." he said.
It is and it isn't. Kanye may not rap on every track on the album, but he's very present throughout. The rapping, by dudes like Jay-Z, Big Sean and 2 Chains, is some of the best in their careers. Much like Twisted Fantasy, Kanye's previous LP, I can listen to this one on a loop.
Click to viewBig Sean - Finally Famous
This one grew on me. At first, I had trouble really caring about it, but each track has grown on me.
Big Sean, who constantly refers to himself as "B I G", is quite a talented rap artist. I see a lot of potential here.
Production (partially by Kanye West) throughout the album is great. No album fillers.
Alanis Morissette - Havoc and Bright Lights
I used to be a huge Alanis fan. The Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie album? Yes, plz. But she fell off for me once she started producing her own albums. She did like three in a row that I found unlistenable.
So, when Matt told a bunch of us that she was coming out with a new album, I wasn't pre-sold, at all. The day I got it, though, I listened to it incessantly. I was pleased to hear that she has learned a thing or two about mixing and being subtle. The deep cuts are… smart and pretty.
Smashing Pumpkins - Oceania
I know, I'm holding on to the past. And I was aware of that when I first started getting in to the album.
But Billy and Co are really on to something with this one. I listened to this one hard this summer. It was my go-to.
Lana Del Rey - Paradise
I think this album is perfect. Lana is weird, and her voice isn't perfect, but it works.
--- What I actually listened to this year ---
Jackson 5 - Dancing Machine
Dancing Machine seems to have come out when the guys were unsure which musical direction to head. Michael had gotten older, and Jermaine was about to quit. And apparently Tito wanted more guitar solos.
Regardless, Dancing Machine is a trip. The one that really caught me was I Am Love. It broke down all of my preconceptions about these guys.
Katy Perry - Teenage Dream (The Full Confection)
Matt and I were on a road trip to Arizona and he brought this album. I resisted hard, but after I heard Last Friday Night for the first time, I was a fan. I love that song!
The rest of the album is really strong and well produced.
Barbra Streisand and the Bee Gees - Guilty
I picked this one up on vinyl, in a dollar bin. Barbra Streisand is what she is, but Barry Gibb takes her music to a whole new place. It's such an entertaining and perfect-sounding record.
of Montreal - Daughter of Cloud
I'm biased. Of Montreal is my favorite band right now. Daughter of Cloud isn't a new album; it's instead a collection of rarities. But it's really the same quality as their other releases. The super wacky standout is the one non-wacky song. Sung by someone named Rebecca Cash.
--- Honorable Mention ---
Mika - The Origin of Love
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - The Heist