Your Top 10 Albums of 2012

Trollheart · 06-16-2012, 05:58 PM

I already expect much rolling of eyes and comments that these are too mainstream, but this is what I listen to, so for what it's worth...

I haven't listened to all that many new albums this year, and some of those I have listened to have been good but not great, and some have been downright awful. All I can muster is a paltry top five, and here they are, make of them what you will.

5. Bruce Springsteen --- Wrecking ball (The Boss still has it!)

4. Hawkwind --- Onwards (almost half a century later, Hawkwind can still deliver the goods)

3. Fadeout --- To protect our way of living (Absolute find of the year)

2. Joseph Arthur --- Redemption City (A real candidate for album of the year, even at this midway point, but just beaten out by....)

1. Half Moon Run --- Dark eyes (Debut from a Canadian band you can expect to be hearing a lot more from!)

Mrd00d · 06-16-2012, 06:08 PM

I think Beck and Jack White made two singles, so find that other one. I don't know if they're doing a whole project together or not though...

James Ihash · 06-16-2012, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mrd00d

I think Beck and Jack White made two singles, so find that other one. I don't know if they're doing a whole project together or not though...

Thats sad news

SGR · 06-17-2012, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Goofle11

"4. Japandroids - Celebration Rock
A no-frills indie rock thrill. It's an album packed with unforgettable songs and an overall high-energy rush. Will definitely be high up come the end of the year."

Bored me to tears if I am honest.

I totally agree. Songs all sound similar and are all rather bland imo

James Ihash · 06-17-2012, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anteater

My ten are rather tentative, as most of what I've been looking forward to has yet to hit, but here's mine so far-

1. Sonic Station - Sonic Station
- Swedish AOR/Westcoast superproject from a promising young guitarist. Having four different vocalists and some unbelievably catchy songwriting goes a long way over 11 songs, and nothing in the genre has beaten this sucker out for me so far in 2012.

2. Suspyre - Suspyre
- There's been a lot of progressive metal standouts so far, but Suspyre beats them all out so far in sheer ingenuity. Bossa nova meets avant-garde metal? Holy ****!

3. Ne Obliviscaris - Portal Of I
- The Aussie band everyone's been talking about lately, and for good reason: they make quirky black metal sound fresh in an era where everyone thinks they've got the answers.

4. Echo Us - Tomorrow Will Tell The Story
- A band who take what Enigma did back in the early 90's to exciting, strange new territories. Nobody's been talking about this 2012 sophomore release much this year, but its a minor masterpiece in thoughtful, electronically-oriented World music.

5. The Explorers Club - Grand Hotel
- These guys aren't much older than me, but they already capture the 60's and 70's better than most bands from those decades who are still around do. It beats the hell out of Best Coast at least!

6. Lone - Galaxy Garden
- Early 90's rave/techno given new life. If you miss the musicality of all those early Sega Genesis and Nintendo soundtracks, this goes a long way toward satiating that thirst.

7. It Bites - Map Of The Past
- My favorite progressive rock/pop crossover group continue to amaze. Not quite the infectious monster that The Tall Ships was back in 2008, but stands out nicely amidst everything else in 2012.

8. Melody Gardot - The Absence
- Brazillian jazz-pop done right by someone who was born to make it. My go-to record for late nights these days.

9. Storm Corrosion - Storm Corrosion
- One of the most interesting folk records to arrive on scene since Comus's First Utterance back in '71, and the first time we've really seen Porcupine Tree's Steven Wilson and Opeth's Mikael Akerfeldt do something together that tries to be something other than what they're already known for.

10. Poets Of The Fall - Temple Of Thought
- Finland's top alternative rock band have been doing some evolving since Max Payne made them known to the world, and this record makes their last couple sound like high school outtakes in comparison, lol!

Very interesting mate, I've never heard of any of those, but I'll definately check em out.

Trollheart · 06-18-2012, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anteater

My ten are rather tentative, as most of what I've been looking forward to has yet to hit, but here's mine so far-

1. Sonic Station - Sonic Station
- Swedish AOR/Westcoast superproject from a promising young guitarist. Having four different vocalists and some unbelievably catchy songwriting goes a long way over 11 songs, and nothing in the genre has beaten this sucker out for me so far in 2012.

2. Suspyre - Suspyre
- There's been a lot of progressive metal standouts so far, but Suspyre beats them all out so far in sheer ingenuity. Bossa nova meets avant-garde metal? Holy ****!

Hey Ant! Have you heard Diablo Swing Orchestra?

Anteater · 06-18-2012, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trollheart

Hey Ant! Have you heard Diablo Swing Orchestra?

Indeed I have! Loved their debut in fact. :P

Gucci Little Piggy · 06-18-2012, 10:14 AM

Well this Japandroids album is actually really good. Didn't bother with it at first but I'm listenign right now and it delivers a great energy rush. The Money Store is still my favorite album from this year but this one is still awesome.

James Ihash · 06-18-2012, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trollheart

Hey Ant! Have you heard Diablo Swing Orchestra?

Oh god, this is so awesome!

Trollheart · 06-18-2012, 12:16 PM

Yeah it's brilliant, isn't it? I'll be reviewing the full album ("Sing along songs for the damned and delerious") in my journal soon. Meantime, they have a new one out this month folks!

06-16-2012, 05:58 PM	#21 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,992	I already expect much rolling of eyes and comments that these are too mainstream, but this is what I listen to, so for what it's worth... I haven't listened to all that many new albums this year, and some of those I have listened to have been good but not great, and some have been downright awful. All I can muster is a paltry top five, and here they are, make of them what you will. 5. Bruce Springsteen --- Wrecking ball (The Boss still has it!) 4. Hawkwind --- Onwards (almost half a century later, Hawkwind can still deliver the goods) 3. Fadeout --- To protect our way of living (Absolute find of the year) 2. Joseph Arthur --- Redemption City (A real candidate for album of the year, even at this midway point, but just beaten out by....) 1. Half Moon Run --- Dark eyes (Debut from a Canadian band you can expect to be hearing a lot more from!) __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

06-16-2012, 06:08 PM	#22 (permalink)
Mrd00d Stoned and Jammin' Out Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Northern California; Eugene, OR; mobile Posts: 1,602	I think Beck and Jack White made two singles, so find that other one. I don't know if they're doing a whole project together or not though... __________________ Mrd00d's Last.fm

06-18-2012, 10:14 AM	#28 (permalink)
Gucci Little Piggy Music Addict Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 315	Well this Japandroids album is actually really good. Didn't bother with it at first but I'm listenign right now and it delivers a great energy rush. The Money Store is still my favorite album from this year but this one is still awesome. __________________ My Last.fm. Please add me. Now. NOW. FUCK THE PORN IT CAN WAIT. My RYM thingy I now have a tumblr and I do stuff on it

06-18-2012, 12:16 PM	#30 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,992	Yeah it's brilliant, isn't it? I'll be reviewing the full album ("Sing along songs for the damned and delerious") in my journal soon. Meantime, they have a new one out this month folks! __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018