Friday, March 02, 2012

The 11 Best Albums of 2012 So Far


I've never figured out the way critics decide which aging rock stars to skewer and which ones to reward.  There were a lot of big releases last year from bands making comebacks.  There were many of them I was very impressed with...only to read the reviews later and find out I must be sorely mistaken.  I thought the new album by the Red Hot Chili Peppers was their best since Blood Sugar Sex Magic, but when I read the reviews they told me it might be "their worst effort"...and "a sign of the apocalypse of alternative music."  I was pleasantly surprised by the new Janes Addiction.  But the reviewers called it "musical retardation," "F-minus," and "dead baby dumpster drivel."  Meanwhile, I thought the new Bush and Beastie Boys were huge disappointments to only learn that they were some of the best comebacks of the year.  I know music is arbitrary...but sometimes it seems like a band's hip factor has more to say about whether their album will be well-received or not.

This year...I at least seem to be somewhat inline with the critics.  I doubt VH will stay atop the list for the whole year...but it's nice to a familiar face leading the pack out of the gates.

Here are the 11 Best Albums of 2012 so far:


1.       Van Halen - A Different Kind of Truth 
2.       Jay Farrar, Will Johnson, Anders Parker, Yim Yames - New Multitudes 
3.       The Big Pink - Future This (Lose Your Mind)
4.       Craig Finn - Clear Heart Full Eyes
5.       Sleigh Bells - Reign of Terror
6.       Cloud Nothings - Attack on Memory (Stay Useless)
7.       WZRD - WZRD
8.       Anais Mitchell - Young Man in America
9.       Grimes - Visions
10.   Chiddy Bang - Breakfast
11.   Burial - Kindred EP

6 comments:

Anthony said...

I agree on some of these - but my 2 favorite so far didn't make the cut:

Dr. Dog - Be The Void
Ezra Furman - The Year of No Returning

New Bruce and Howlin Rain are also pretty impressive, but I like the list. Keep up the good work!

acompleteunknown said...

I didn't even know there was a new Ezra...that gives me something new to listen to today. And I do like the new Bruce but since it isn't officially out...I couldn't include it in the list just yet.

BHer said...

Loving the Craig Finn album...

Keith said...

Tangent... 2011 The Cars returned to music now VH ? Sad Song was a slick synth track. Youtubing VanHalen 2012 right now with high hopes...

Unknown said...

based on this list, I don't think I can ever trust your musical judgement. Of course, I am kidding. Good Blog. Cheers.

(check out mine)
http://thecolorinyourcheeks.wordpress.com/

Nate said...

I had a slightly different approach to my list, focusing only on hip hop albums. Not so much a list, but a cluster of mixtapes and albums: http://beatsforthelisteners.blogspot.com/2012/06/best-albumsmixtapes-of-2012-so-far.html