Best Albums of 2012

     It's hard to believe another year is almost in the books. The feeling is bittersweet as we get to look back on the great year it was and we get to anticipate what lies ahead up the path. Seems like just yesterday the first fresh batch of albums came in and were absorbed into the eardrums. The return of alternative rockstars from the past and a whole bunch of indie dance tracks set the pace for what turned out to be another successful year for alt-nation.
     As the year ends, and the heap of music has piled up, it's nice to take a look back at a few of the records that stood out a cut above the rest. With that being said, here are some of the best albums from 2012:


Best Albums of 2012


20. Purity Ring - Shrines

19. Animal Collective - Centipede Hz 

18. Muse - The 2nd Law

17. Beach House - Bloom

16. Grizzly Bear - Shields

15. Alabama Shakes - Boys & Girls

14. Gaslight Anthem - Handwritten

13. Cloud Nothings - Attack On Memory

12. Minus the Bear - Infinity Overhead

11. Passion Pit - Gossamer

10. Dinosaur Jr. - I Bet On Sky

9. Japandroids - Celebration Rock

8. The Shins - Port Of Morrow

7. Yeasayer - Fragrant World

6. Tame Impala - Lonerism

5. moe. - What Happened To The La Las

     New York jam-rockers moe. have the uncanny ability of making quality studio albums, something that is not the norm for the genre. On their most recent effort What Happened to the La Las the group utilized an outside producer in John Travis (Kid Rock, Social Distortion) and joined up with Sugar Hill Records. Heavy on guitar-shredding and catchy hooks, The La Las is one of this year's most pleasant surprises.

4. The Smashing Pumpkins - Oceania

     Of all the 90's alternative rockstars that made returns in 2012, only Billy Corgan managed to break through the fold with a solid album. Although they dawn a completely new line-up except for Corgan, Oceania sounds like vintage Pumpkins, in both the production and the song writing. Their classic sound remains true. Welcome back.

3. Brothertiger - Golden Years

     Chillwave guru John Jagos aka Brothertiger dropped perhaps the most dance friendly album of the year. Golden Years is Jagos's first major release and it sure does deliver the goods. Blending easy-breezy summertime vocals with blazing hot synths, this album was meant to be played in the heat of the summer. This is definitely not the last we've heard from Brothertiger, and that's a good thing.

2. Jack White - Blunderbuss

     It's safe to say Jack White was on a mission in 2012 to prove once again that he should be at the top of the list of the world's baddest musicians. He states his case very well with Blunderbuss, his first solo studio album. This record is filled with a little of everything including gritty guitar, poppy keys, and plenty of White's swagger sprinkled in. Mission accomplished, Jack.

1. Two Door Cinema Club - Beacon

     Northern Ireland indie-rockers Two Door Cinema Club made a surge in 2012 stretching to the banks of California and many places in between. This was in part due to Beacon, an impressive collection of arena-sounding, guitar-drenched, dance-worthy rock songs. Frontman Alex Trimble claims this album "Is much more intimate" than their last. That may be true, but it's also more explosive, which is a good thing for music fans.

There you have it folks, the Best Albums of 2012.

Stay tuned for the December 2012 Playlist as well as some site changes!

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