Despite all the cranks saying that no one is making good music anymore, I found that there were more than enough records out there to make a pretty solid list and still leave out several. Anyone who says all new music sucks has just gotten cranky and isn't trying anymore, and that's unfortunate. Knock it off.
Surprisingly this year's list leans heavily on the electronic...2012 was a great year for pushing the boundaries of electronic and pop music. I listened to boatloads of good hardcore and metal, and there were lots of great singles and EP's that could make the list (Arctic Flowers and Big Eyes to name a couple,) but I decided to go with just LP's. I also interspersed honorable mentions through the list, for no reason other than to amuse myself.
If i missed anything that I should know about please let me know! For example, do i really need to hear Grizzly Bear?
1. Fiona Apple: "The Idler Wheel..."
Pathos have always been a major part of Fiona Apple's work..."Criminal," for example, has creeped me out since "Tidal" came out. On previous releases the pathos have been cut with a heavy dose of melody that puts the music right at home on FM radio. On this release that is all over...the songs are bare and spiky, mostly just piano and various percussion elements, and the lyrics amp up the psychological intensity. "how do I ask someone to love me/when all I do is beg to be left alone" she sings on "Left Alone," her voice quavering between a sad gentle musing and harrowing wailing. it's a highly avant recording, but with enough traces of musicality to keep interest. It is a masterwork.
Speaking of avant:
Ke$ha: "Warrior" While Fiona wails, purrs and generally terrifies everyone, Ke$ha delivers an awesome slice of pure pop ear candy. Well produced beats, sing along melodies and hilariously absurd lyrics abound. Who else could pull off a line like "Feeling like a saber tooth tiger/sippin on a warm Budweiser" with a straight face? Check out "Die Young" and become a believer.
2. Swans: "The Seer"
Right down to the vicious dog cover, this album is a beautiful mess. Noise tracks juxtapose against stately marches and raging rockers. The lyrics cover the usual Swans topics: Insanity, death, pain. It's not a heartwarmer, but it is an astoundingly rich and compelling experience. Swans have experienced a great second act in the past few years, but nothing could prepare the world for this epic work.
Speaking of great second acts:
Dinosaur Jr. : "I Bet on Sky"
Who ever would have thought we would see J Mascis and Lou Barlow back together at all, let alone for a run of three very fine albums...While "Farm" was excellent it did suffer from a certain sameness of the material. Not so on "I Bet on Sky," which finds J writing at a career peak and the whole band firing like a bunch of kids. "Pierce the Morning Rain" is easily one of their top songs.
3. Screaming Females: "Ugly"
I'm still deeply bummed that Marissa Paternoster's unfortunate illness caused these guys have to cancel their tour leg that would have brought them here. This double album was on pretty much constant rotation on the record player for 2 months when it came out...utterly awesome guitar work, a rhythm section that can hold it's own with anyone in rock today, and most importantly songs with drama and tension. Check out "Red Hand" to hear what they can dish out. Proving that rock can still be art in 2012.
Speaking of rock as art:
Grimes: "Visions"
I'm fascinated with this album...Twee pop and techno mixed up with little girl vocals, but highly addictive. A sugar rush delivered in a dirty Hello Kitty mug. Yet underneath all the bleeps and coos there is spiky texture and variety. This is the future of pop music. I can't wait to hear her next one.
4. Om: "Advaitic Songs"
I was initially totally bummed about this record...I was really hoping that Om would put out a raw bass, drum and vocal album like "Pilgrimage." I can still hope for next time...For now though I have to admit the guys have done well. Augmenting the bass and drums are flutes, cellos and violins, and even other singers make an appearance. Is it a cop-out to say that it's the heaviest metal album you'll ever hear with John the Baptist on the cover that isn't Christian music? Like Al Cisneros' previous project Sleep, this is slow music that takes patience, but like that band's epic one-song album "Dopesmoker" it's worth the time.
Speaking of bass and drums...
Bell Witch: "Longing"
Profound Lore records is putting out some serious music lately (Pallbearer's album is certainly worthy of mention here,) but none better than the minimalist creepy crawl of Bell Witch. Six string bass, drums, vocals and a few samples here and there combine to the most haunting and atmospheric release of the year. This is music that requires devoted listening, good headphones and high volume. If we can't have a new Sunn 0))) album this year this makes a decent fill in.
5. Frank Ocean: "channel ORANGE"
I'll admit it, I never would have heard this release if not for cheating a bit and seeing what was on other folks' lists for the year. I've been listening to this for a couple of weeks at least once a day and I am deeply impressed with this release. I haven't heard much artistically advanced music coming from the R&B world for a while, but hopefully Frank can lead a rebirth of the genre. The songs on this arise and scatter in a thoroughly modern way, some are little more than fragments, perfect for a generation who loves to boil things down to status updates and "tweets." Yet he ties his themes together, weaving in spoken word skits and grouping songs together almost like a concept record. Oh, and "Forrest Gump" is explicitly about being in love with another man, which is awesome to hear on a release at this level of visibility.
Speaking of records I never would have heard of if not for other people's lists:
Tame Impala: "Lonerism"
Apparently much of this was recorded in fits and starts during a world tour, and it shows...the songs have a disjointed, fractured quality to them that could easily make this a mess. Instead it comes across as endearing, there are surprises around all the corners. And like the album cover, a closer look reveals all kinds of interesting details, for instance on of the best bass performances of the year. I can imagine this appealing to Beatles fans, lovers of classic guitar rock, and the indie legions.
6. Death Grips: "The Money Store"
Let's be honest, hip-hop is becoming less of a defensible genre by the day. When Lil Wayne is the cutting edge of a genre, help is needed. Death Grips may have hit on the future of rap with this astonishing, claustrophobic release. The absurdist album art couldn't be more perfect - there is a story here, but to find it you'll need to work your way through the audio equivalent of gender identities, sadist relationships, minimal harsh lines and yes, gimp masks. "Hustle Bones" is the best rap hook since Public Enemy quit working with the Bomb Squad.
Speaking of claustrophobic:
Black Dice: "Mr. Impossible"
If you have not yet checked out Black Dice's efforts like "Load Blown" or "Repo," and you're still reading this, you need to check them out. Minimalist electronic skronk and noise with a heavy dub influence, this is the sound of bad parties ending too late. It's a bummer in the best possible way. On this newest release the band continues down the path they've been on but adds some surprising touches of funky syncopation that are shockingly human.
7. Deerhoof: "Breakup Song"
It's no surprise to see Deerhoof on my list, I love their warped and subversive take on pop music. On first listen I really thought this album was a slight one and their weakest effort, but on repeat listens it reveals itself as a tremendously textured release. The songs are the simplest they have done yet, but quickly shift between production styles and textures to create a patchwork pop masterwork. Where the group has previously relied on big dynamic shifts, here they work in subtle transformation. This is a band that is truly delightful to watch evolve.
Speaking of subtlety:
Crystal Castles: "III"
Crystal Castles continue their maturation on this release, which downplays the bleep-bloop video game aesthetic of their debut even further. At times this borders on house music, but Alice Glass continues to unnerve with her wailing and gnashing, which manages to be more pronounced as she is mixed lower in the terrain. It's all topped off with the hauntingly lovely "Child I Will Hurt You," possibly the most dysfunctional song ever recorded.
8. Gojira: "L'enfant Sauvage"
French metal savants Gojira finally hit their potential on this stunning release. This is the pinnacle of modern melodic death metal, brilliantly played, well written and pristinely recorded. In fact the album almost suffers from a lack of tension due to its surgical precision, but the strength of the performances saves it. This material probably sounds great live.
Speaking of pristine...
Walls: "The Future is Wide Open"
Walls could be Gojira's evil twin (Gamera?) with their fractured, acerbic, breathless take on modern hardcore. Utterly unhinged, by the time the first song "Just Complain" is over the words "you're just a f@#king piece of s#!t" have already been shouted more than once. This is what Jesus Lizard might sound like if they got back together and replaced sleep with cheap coffee, or possibly cheap meth. It's a bad scene in the same way that some of de Goya's paintings are bad scenes...meaning its a great scene.
Godspeed You Black Emperor - "Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend!"
This is my first experience with this group, and I feel like I've been ripped off of years of enjoyment (especially after digging into their back catalog.) Ambient freeform music rarely gets better than this...The music is organic and absolutely shimmers with texture, but there are definite peaks and valleys. This is classical music in 2012. Apparently these guys are tough to read on whether they will put out another record or not, I'll be there with bells on if they do.
Speaking of bands who suddenly surprise the world with a new album:
Skeleton Key: "Gravity is the Enemy"
I almost jumped for joy when I heard that Skeleton Key would release a new record...and what a pleasant surprise to have it be almost as good as their classic "Fantastic Spikes Through Balloon." The songs don't quite pop with the same charm as that record, but the band's junkyard aesthetic still serves it well. This one is most easily available in the US as a digital download, I highly recommend heading to Amazon and giving it a listen. Fans of Tom Waits, Helmet, and general awesomeness welcomed.
10. Japandroids, "Celebration Rock"
Japandroids advance light years on this release, one of the finest shiny pop releases of the year. Big shouted choruses, lunkhead riffs and rollicking drums abound. Much has been made of "The House that Heaven Built" and the Gun Club cover (both quite good,) but for my money the opener "The Nights of Wine and Roses" takes the prize here. Rock is not dead and here's your proof.
Speaking of two instrument bands:
Pig Destroyer: "Book Burner"
Pig Destroyer welcome a new drummer Adam Jarvis, and he manages to make the group more precise and more manically unhinged...an impressive feat. Scott Hull's guitar is deadly on point here with the most monstrous riffs of his career, and J.R. Hayes continues to be the most terrifying man in grindcore. Adding in some excellent guest appearances gives this release more texture than their previous albums. Highly recommended for those who wish Napalm Death would get a little more intense sometimes.
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