Honorable Mentions:
So this year there were a few albums that came out that really affected me positively, I mean, none of these albums made the top 20 for a reason, but they are all good in their own rights. First off, there’s the worlds biggest pop star Justin Bieber. His massive album Believe touted a handful of mainstream singles, and also showed just how much the Biebs has grown up. Granted, he’s still a kid, but he has proven that he’s a lasting talent with a keen ear for catchy beats. Not to mention he has an incredible voice. In the same catchy vein, I was really surprised at how much I enjoyed fun’s second LP Some Nights. I know I’ll probably catch more flack for listening to this than Bieber, but I really enjoy the pop meets glam rock approach that fun. takes. It’s an album I’ve spun a lot over the past year and one that’ll definitely stay in somewhat regular rotation.
In the hip-hop realm, I had a blast with the corny and ridiculous Based on a T.R.U Story by 2 Chainz. It’s nothing that’s going to change the world, but it was more consistent than the Kanye lead crew album Cruel Summer that featured 2 Chainz prominently, and if this goofball can make an album better than Kanye and his hand picked guests, he deserves a mention. So perhaps this 2 Chainz nod is more compensating for the fact that one of my favorite artists of all time made a bad album...
Speaking of my favorite artists of all time, a handful of artists I really enjoy put out good albums that just quite didn’t make the cut for one reason or another. Returning to the honorable mentions list is one of my oldest guilty pleasures Yellowcard with their eighth LP Southern Air, which packs another dose of fun pop-punk. It’s not quite as good as last years When You’re Through Thinking Say Yes, but it is a fun 40 minutes. Perhaps the biggest surprise was that a reunited Van Halen put out a listenable and downright kick-ass LP in A Different Kind of Truth, the first full length album David Lee Roth has contributed to since the classic 1984. Truth is run of the mill Van Halen for the most part, but considering the last “good” Van Halen album came out 26 years ago, that’s an achievement. A former list-topper and Outkast member Big Boi also put out his more experimental second LP Vicious Lies and Dangerous Rumors. The album isn’t nearly as powerful and party friendly as its predecessor Sir Lucious Leftfoot: The Son of Chico Dusty, but it does have the interesting dynamic, heavily featuring electronic bands like Little Dragon, Wavves and Phantogram. The album peaks with the track “In The A” which reminds us why the party-banger Big Boi is what we love the most, as the track features a bumping beat with some fiery guest verses from T.I. and Ludacris. Another former list-topper, Brother Ali put out a very interesting and admirable album in Mourning in America and Dreaming in Color, which shows Ali lamenting on the problems with our fine nation and thinking about how he can make the world better for his children. I’ve said in the past that I love the Brother Ali that talks about his upbringing and life in general, so when he focuses in the problems with our government, I couldn’t help but find myself a little disappointed. And finally, the RZA spearheaded the soundtrack to his directorial debut The Man With The Iron Fists with a soundtrack that shows just what makes him the head of Wu-Tang Clan’s rhetorical Voltron. The soundtrack obviously features Wu-Tang member heavily, but perfectly adds in a ton of my favorite artists like The Black Keys, Danny Brown, Kanye West, Pusha T and more. It’s really good.
But enough about these good albums...let’s get to the 20 best!
DAVE’S TOP 20 ALBUMS OF 2012:
20. Macklemore and Ryan Lewis-The Heist
People throw around the term “bro rap” when they talk about Macklemore. He’s the guy that dudes go to when they want to seem deep, or to say that they do indeed listen to hip-hop that has actual subject matter involved. I was worried about that image going into The Heist, but I left it with a ton of respect for Mack as a lyricist. He really knows how to spit, and he has a ton of personality too, which shines through on tracks like “Ten Thousand Hours”, “Can’t Hold Us” and “Make The Money”. Mack also manages to tackle some legitimate issues like gay marriage on the track “Same Love” and the absurdity of hip-hop’s love of sneakers on the track “Wing$”. What ultimately holds this album at the bottom of the list is the production from Ryan Lewis. It feels as though he’s desperately trying to find a pop sound that sticks and makes Macklemore famous rather than crafting him beats that show off his lyrical chops. And clearly the formula works, as my least favorite track on the album “Thrift Shop” is a major hit. Soak it in mainstream listeners. Soak it right in.
NOTABLE TRACKS: "Ten Thousand Hours", "Make the Money", "Wing$"
19. RiFF RaFF and Dame Grease-Hologram Panda
If Macklemore is everything I love about lyrical hip-hop, then Riff Raff is everything I love about the idiocy of hip-hop culture. The Houston based trap rapper and meme kingpin released a slew of mixtapes in 2012, most of which recycled songs and featured a boatload of obnoxious autotuned singing. But it must be noted that there were always gems lodged in those tapes, tracks that featured the ridiculously unique rhyme flow and absurd metaphors and similes that made Riff Raff “famous”. On Hologram Panda, superproducer Dame Grease hooks Riff up with beats that perfectly match what makes him such an enigma. It’s whacky and fun and some lines are hilarious and some left me going “What does that even mean?” so log onto Rap Genius and push play on track one and let this mixtape flow through your ears, because it’s awesome.
NOTABLE TRACKS: "Chop Another Rock", "Peppermint Tint", "Versace Lies"
18. Carly Rae Jepsen-Kiss
For real. Nobody expected Carly to recover from “Call Me Maybe” but not only did she, but she lapped it as far as catchiness is concerned. Sure, 2012 will be a year remembered by that iconic pop masterpiece, but for those of us with too much free time and a love of catchy pop music, Kiss provides us with a ton of material. Carly Rae is full of personality and the tracks don’t have that overproduced, too many hands in the bowl feel that a ton of pop artists have. It feels like Carly Rae Jepsen is genuinely invested, rather than singing songs handed to her by a committee. And she co-wrote the majority of the album too, so she really is a pop artist, not just a pop star. Please don’t hate me for enjoying this.
NOTABLE TRACKS: "Call Me Maybe", "Good Time", "Guitar String/Wedding Ring"
17. La Coka Nostra-Masters of the Dark Arts
When La Coka Nostra dropped their first LP in 2009, A Brand You Can Trust, I was all about hardcore hip-hop. Distorted guitar, rugged lyrics, badass personas...basically everything that LCN was about. As time has passed, I’ve grown a bit jaded to that style, I still hold a warm place in my heart for it, but I’ve moved onto new things. So when I heard Everlast had dropped out of LCN and the group was still putting out an LP I was genuinely upset. Yet when I pushed play on “My Universe” I was almost immediately happy. I was brought back to my junior year of college, but with a distinct 2012 flare. Masters is definitely a step above A Brand You Can Trust as far as production is concerned, and in that cleaner production, I feel as though primary MC’s Ill Bill and Slaine feel the need to bring the lyrics much more than in the past. Or maybe it’s the lack of Everlast’s “Whitey Ford” style slower songs and hooks that just keep this train rolling, but at the end of the day it’s pretty awesome. I shouldn’t have doubted these guys, and I shouldn’t have shunned my taste from a mere 3 years ago!
NOTABLE TRACKS: "Creed of the Greedier", "Mind Your Business", "Coka Kings"
16. The Darkness-Hot Cakes
You may be asking yourself, “These guys are still around?” and the answer is yes! In fact, they recently reunited after a hiatus! And they’re just as goofy and killer as ever! Now, I know that a lot of people aren’t fans of completely over the top and ridiculously sexual rock and roll, but for those of us that enjoy a good time, Hot Cakes delivers. It’s got all the trademarks that made the first two Darkness albums really underrated, and it even has a Radiohead cover to show the hip kids that even the shredders who sing about STD’s and things called love can get on their level. Check this out. Check out their prior two LP’s because you’re missing out with them too.
NOTABLE TRACKS: “Keep Me Hangin’ On”, “Living Each Day Blind”, “Street Spirit (Fade Out)”
15. KISS-Monster
Speaking of shredders who sing about STD’s and things called love, America’s favorite/least favorite band of all time put out another stellar rock and roll album...in 2012. Now, we all know KISS from their classics in the 70’s and 80’s, stuff like “Rock and Roll All Nite”, “Detroit Rock City” and “Lick It Up”, but they kind of tanked quickly after their peak ended. I mean...Songs From The Elder anyone? Psycho Circus? But since the bands last LP Sonic Boom in 2009, it felt like the guys actually cared just as much about the music as they do about the dollar signs. So Monster was a pleasant affirmation of that ideal. It feels like a classic era KISS LP, chock full of riffs, solos, vocal harmonies, and just an overall atmosphere that bands today wish they could cultivate. I doubted that these guys could top Van Halen’s superfun A Different Kind of Truth, but man...they did. And they did it without having to break up for the umpteenth time.
NOTABLE TRACKS: “Hell or Hallelujah”, “Eat Your Heart Out”, “The Devil is Me”
14. The Smashing Pumpkins-Oceania
Since Billy Corgan picked the name of the Pumpkins up again, the results have been less than stellar. 2007’s Zeitgeist was a mess of hard-rock, and then Billy tried to say he was done releasing traditional LP’s and instead was going to focus on singles and EP’s as part of his Teagarden by Kaleidyscope project. Thankfully, he returned to the traditional LP format with his current lineup and put out Oceania, a surprisingly modern and consistent take on the traditional Pumpkins sound. Billy’s not trying to make a hard rock album, nor is he expanding on some ridiculous concept, he’s just making a solid LP. Oceania shows that even after fumbling several times and fading into the retro/nostalgia scene, an artist can truly show their true colors and lasting power. This is definitely worth checking out, as it does it really does clean up the mess Corgan made in the mid 2000’s and forges forward with a new sound and hopefully a new motivation to continue making LP’s.
NOTABLE TRACKS: "My Love is Winter", "Pinwheels", "The Chimera"
13. Dave Matthews Band-Away From The World
Over the summer I got the chance to experience Dave Matthews Band live. What I got out of the 2 night bender was that the guy can pull a billion people into one venue, and that he loves to just jam with his boys. I enjoyed it quite a bit, but I didn’t leave a bigger fan of the band, just a very tired and jammed out individual. So when Away From The World was released I had to look back when Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King came out in 2009, and how I was blown away by how much fun I had with it, rather than the superjams that filled my drunken ears just a few weeks prior. In channeling that excitement, I found myself compelled to listen to Away From The World, and man do I like it! While it’s not as funky as Big Whiskey, it’s really catchy and fun and shows that these guys are much more than their public image. The musicianship is there, the songwriting is there, the good times are there, basically this album is the complete package of a good time LP. I’m still not going to call myself a diehard DMB fan, but I’m slowly crawling up the ranks, and I owe that all to the fact that these guys just do what they do well.
NOTABLE TRACKS: “Belly Belly Nice”, “If Only”, “Rooftop”
12. El-P-Cancer 4 Cure
I got really into El-P at the end of 2011 and the beginning of 2012, listening to his 2007 LP I’ll Sleep When You’re Dead ad nauseum. So when Cancer 4 Cure was released I was really excited to get my first dose of brand new El-P, and this does deliver. While it’s not as groundbreaking or unique as I’ll Sleep When You’re Dead, it is consistent and just as whacky. I was kind of let down by Killer Mike’s R.A.P. Music, which was entirely produced by El, so hearing C4C wasn’t a letdown was a great treat for me. The beats bang really hard and sound completely original, which is a testament to El’s production skills. And the guests are awesome, Exquire, Danny Brown, Killer Mike, Despot and Nick Diamonds fit perfectly into El’s mold. While some fans would have preferred a more forward moving LP, I think C4C does a fine job solidifying El as a legend behind the board, and a genius behind the mic.
NOTABLE TRACKS: “The Full Retard”, “Oh Hail No”, “Tougher Colder Killer”
11. Frank Ocean-Channel Orange
I think it’s a shame that Frank’s name is almost synonymous with his letter revealing his sexuality that came out earlier in the year. While it was a brave act, and one that should be seen as an example among the hip-hop and R&B community, it overshadowed the power that he brought to the table with Channel Orange. This LP just overflows with his unique voice and personality. I was not a fan of Nostalgia, Ultra, Frank’s pseudo cover LP, so when I listened to this I was wowed. Frank brings so much unique flavor to the table both in his lyrics and vocal presentation, as well as the beats he chooses. This feels like his album, and there’s only one other Odd Future member present (Earl Sweatshirt) and the other guests are clearly hand chosen by Frank for a reason. I’m not the biggest R&B fan, but this album made me very curious about this new class of singers, I’m definitely intrigued to say the least.
NOTABLE TRACKS: “Super Rich Kids”, “Pink Matter”, “Lost”
10. Death Grips-The Money Store
You want to talk about hype? I really enjoyed Death Grips first release Exmilitary, and I was pumped for this, but then it came out and the internet soiled themselves over how great they thought it was. I was skeptical, because when the ol’ net soils themselves I usually find myself disliking whatever it is that caused the soiling, but Death Grips brought it on The Money Store. To call this a hip-hop album would be a lie, but to call it an album that fits in any genre would be...so let’s just say this experimental LP features a math rock dummer and a loud MC that channels equal parts DMX and the RZA. And on The Money Store, the guys aren’t as consistently abrasive as they are on Exmilitary. The beats really vary in both sound and influence, I feel a distinct 80’s vibe from some songs, especially the infectiously absurd “I’ve Seen Footage”. From track one you'll know whether or not this is your cup of tea. For me, it did it’s job. I see a bright future if Death Grips continue to evolve and provoke.
NOTABLE TRACKS: “Get Got”, “I’ve Seen Footage”, “Hacker”
9. Nas-Life is Good
When you talk about legendary hip-hop albums Nas’ debut Illmatic immediately comes to mind. Everything after that is kind of rocky though, not to say he’s made a string of bad albums, but there’s no denying the inconsistency of his body of work. His last string of LP’s Hip Hop is Dead, Untitled (originally called something a tad more controversial) and his collaboration with Damian Marley Distant Relatives, have all been met with lukewarm praise. They were all great in concept but lacking in definition and to be quite honest they felt like Nas had given up his title as one of the greatest MC’s of all time. Thankfully, as Mr. Jones approached 40 he was given a miraculous boost of charisma and motivation and released Life is Good, an LP that celebrates and dissects the success that he has achieved. Granted, it’s no Illmatic, but as a fan of his work and of hip-hop in general, this feels natural in an environment where false egos and absurd characters dominate the radio and even the underground scene. I’m not complaining about the state of hip-hop, I am praising the fact that Nas didn’t need to change himself to regain relevance. I hope this is the beginning of a new era for the MC, but even if it isn’t we got one great album.
NOTABLE TRACKS: “Loco-Motives”, “Back When”, “The Don”
8. Miguel-Kaleidoscope Dream
When I first heard Miguel’s single “Adorn” on the radio I wrote it off. Sure it’s a great track, but it’s the radio, how many artists that make it on Hot 97 are actually good? Then some friends said I had to listen to Kaleidoscope Dream and I was swayed. And wow! This album is good. Miguel has a really unique voice and a great delivery. The production here is tight to boot, most of it due to Miguel himself. I know Frank Ocean has been receiving a ton of hype for the quality of Channel Orange, but honestly I will listen to Kaleidoscope Dream over that any day of the week, regardless of how much more polished and commercial it is. I think that is a testament to the quality of some mainstream artists.
NOTABLE TRACKS: “Adorn”, “Kaleidoscope Dream”, “Don’t Look Back”
7. Bloc Party-Four
Bloc Party is a band that never really struck a chord with me, sure their debut Silent Alarm is an album chock full of great songs, but the rest of their discography has drastically fallen short of that. When Four came out I was told by some people that it was a retread, Bloc Party trying to go back to basics to get wandering fans back into them, and then some people said it was just a straight up awesome hard rocker. So, listening to it, I was surprised to not agree entirely with either. It’s definitely a guitar rocker, that’s for sure, but it’s not like Hot Cakes or anything like that. It still has that more indie feel, which is appreciated. One thing that sticks out to me is the fact that it doesn’t seem pandering. I feel like these guys just wrote some awesome tracks. And one thing I notice in both the chord progressions and guitar sounds is that this LP draws a lot from 90’s alt, specifically the Smashing Pumpkins, and I love subtle homages like that. In no way does this come off as a ripoff of that style, but it feels like it’s equally modern and nodding to its influences. Bloc Party are going to be around for awhile, and I’m glad they got their act together and put out another awesome album.
NOTABLE TRACKS: “So He Begins to Lie”, “Kettling”, “Team A”
6. Ty Segall Band-Slaughterhouse
I was sold on this album by the cover of it, but in all honesty, I thought it was going to be a lot more...metal than it actually is. In actuality, California native Ty Segall, put out a pretty killer garage/noise rock album with his bands LP Slaughterhouse. It feels like equal parts The Beatles and The Stooges thrown in a blender and then recorded in the tiniest corner of a big room. It sounds minuscule and condensed, but it contains a ton of ripping guitar and pretty sweet vocal harmonies. I think it’s in that production that this album goes from somewhat hokey, almost throwback-y to straight up awesome. These guys, Segall in particular, have a bright future ahead of them if they can continue being so innovative in combining influence with modern styles.
NOTABLE TRACKS: “The Tongue”, “Tell Me What’s Inside Your Heart”, "Wave Goodbye"
5. Action Bronson & The Alchemist-Rare Chandeliers
If Dame Grease was the perfect producer to compliment Riff Raff’s absurd style on Hologram Panda, then The Alchemist is the perfect producer to harness the overblown ego and mafioso-esque bravado of Action Bronson on his mixtape Rare Chandeliers. Bronson, often compared to Ghostface Killah due to his raspy voice and intense flow, feels like a child of 90’s Cuban Linx/Ironman style hip-hop infused with the disposition of the current underground stylings of A$AP Rocky, Danny Brown, or even the aforementioned Riff Raff. Adding The Alchemist to that style, a producer whose clientele ranges from Eminem to B.o.B. to Linkin Park to Everlast, gives this tape a flair that many underground mixtapes just lack. In a world where Lil B puts out tape after tape of uninspired rhymes and lame beats just to garner a reaction, and where stars like Rick Ross and Lil’ Wayne spew out extra material, it’s a blessing to see two people collaborate to make a genuinely artistic project. I look forward to Bronson’s studio debut, and pray that The Alchemist at least pops in to produce a track or two.
NOTABLE TRACKS: “The Symbol”, “Sylvester Lundgren”, “Gateway to Wizardry”
4. Metz-Metz
When I heard Slaughterhouse I was certain that my mind had been sufficiently blown as far as rock music was concerned in 2012. But then, late in the year, a friend of mine recommended this LP to me and the lid that had just been re-attached after enjoying Ty Segall blew right back off. While this LP may not be the most technically sound piece of music from 2012, it just rocked my brains off from front to back. It’s loud, and it has a ton of personality. Perhaps the best part of this is that it’s a great time. I think a lot of time with critically acclaimed LP’s, we see atmospheric tunes that don’t tickle that part of your brain that just triggers a smile. Amidst all the noise and distortion on Metz, I found myself smiling the whole time. And that is a trait that a lot of albums, even some of my favorites, can’t do.
NOTABLE TRACKS: “Headache”, “Sad Pricks”, “Knife In The Water”
3. Aesop Rock-Skelethon
When I first got into hip-hop I fell in love with a few indie rappers, Atmosphere and Aesop Rock were the two that absolutely charmed me, but as the years passed, and as my fandom grew, they both fell a little out of style. While I do appreciate pure lyricism, I found their beats to be a little uninspired, especially with age. So when Skelethon came out I almost didn’t listen to it. Thankfully, the nerdy little angel on my shoulder told me to, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. What bothered me about prior Aes LP’s was that the man just spits as many words as possible over Blockhead beats. On Skelethon, Aes produced the whole thing himself, and in that the whole experience feels more organic. Where once I was bored with Aesop oozing words, on this LP it all syncs up. As I write this I find myself at a loss for words, since I honestly never thought Aesop Rock would top a list, let alone appear on one. Kudos Aes! You’ve shut me up.
NOTABLE TRACKS: “ZZZ Top”, “Zero Dark Thirty”, “1,000 O’Clock”
2. Kendrick Lamar-good kid, m.A.A.d city
When I listened to Kendrick Lamar’s 2011 mixtape Section.80 I thought that he would remain an odd indie rapper and coast along the mixtape scene for a few years before falling into irrelevance. Alas, good kid, m.A.A.d city shows that Kendrick is not only capable of mainstream success, but he’s thriving in this new environment. This album manages to incorporate everything that makes indie rappers succeed, while touting guests like Drake and Dr. Dre and producers like Pharrell, Scoop Deville and Just Blaze. But the best thing about this is Kendrick’s flow. He’s a one of a kind rapper who changes up the pitch of his voice, his cadence, his energy...things that seem like nothing, but compared to other famous rappers, they are very important. Good kid also manages to ride a fine line between historically classic albums and forward thinking ones. The skits on this album are definitely reminiscent of mid 90’s hip-hop, but Kendrick himself sounds so unique that you can’t pinpoint an era for him. Which is why it’s good that he’s fit so well into the current indie scene, because he can lead this new class into the mainstream. His success is a blessing for hip-hop fans, and this album is a testament to his quality.
NOTABLE TRACKS: “Backseat Freestyle”, “Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe”, “Money Trees”
1. Jukebox the Ghost-Safe Travels
“Who in the blue hell is Jukebox the Ghost?” asked everyone reading this list. Well, this Brooklyn based trio has released two surprisingly fun pop-rock LP’s over the past four years, and Safe Travels is their third! While I was always a fan of theirs, they never blew me out of the water. However, when I first popped Safe Travels into my car CD player I just smiled. And I smiled the whole time this album ran, and here I am, months later, still smiling. These guys produced an infectious LP that has everything that I want out of music. It’s original, it’s got killer vocal harmonies, it’s a foot tapper, and the lyrics have some depth to them. Granted, not all of the songs are super deep, but it’s got a lot more to offer than most pop rock. Another huge perk of this band is that there are two distinct voices, pianist Ben Thornwell and guitarist Tommy Siegel share the frontman-ship. Having two different voices stops the monotony, and gives every song a different vibe. There’s a ton to love here, and while this isn’t the most challenging LP I’ve ever heard, the fact that I can enjoy it at the most basic level and still be able to read into the lyrics is awesome. Listen to this LP and try not to enjoy yourself, because I found it impossible.
NOTABLE TRACKS: “Oh Emily”, “At Last”, “Everybody Knows”
See you next year music! From the looks of it some of my favorites have LP's coming out...A$AP Rocky, Biffy Clyro, Tomahawk, Ghostface Killah, Danny Brown, Kanye West, Phoenix, Vampire Weekend...I'm pumped already!
