Could it be that
Time has taken its toll
Won’t take you so far
I am in control
And we were lovers
Now we can’t be friends
Fascination ends
Here we go again
Crystal Castles – Not In Love (feat. Robert Smith) [from Crystal CastlesII]
Perfect example of when autotune works. And if you’re thinking “this sounds like Bon Iver…”, it was co-produced by Justin Vernon.
♩ Francis and the Lights – See Her Out (Thats Just Life) [from Farewell, Starlite!]
One of the more bleak tracks from Mitski’s excellent fourth album. The song explores the parallels between uncontrollable urges and withdrawals of babies born with addiction and those suffering from severe depression. Equally vivid and somber and unexpectedly impactful.
♩ Mitski – Crack Baby [from Puberty 2]
Crystal Castles minus Alice Glass still weirds me out, it’s like spending Thanksgiving with a divorced couple. It really shouldn’t work, but somehow it does. I’m mostly pleased with the new material and new recruit Edith Frances, who really shines on this ethereal track.
♩ Crystal Castles – Ornament [from Amnesty (I)]
Alice Glass may be off doing her own thing now, but Crystal Castles is still going strong. Ethan Kath’s production remains, now joined by Edith on vocals. Enjoy.
UPDATE: Wondering who Edith may or may not be? Stereogum has an interesting theory.
“It’s a jerky, dark, and layered record, complete with the kind of adept musical craftsmanship the London band first built its name on. On Four, Bloc Party learns the valuable lesson that sometimes the only way to move forward is to go back where you came from. And like a musical game of Jenga, the band rips out the pieces and starts again with equal parts precision, raw force, heart, and intellect.” (via Consequence of Sound)
♩Bloc Party – 3×3 [from Four]
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“Every new album Crystal Castles release is lacking one thing: a name. Each self-titled entry is instead branded with a number—a good choice, considering each feels like a chapter in the same book, rather than a new novel itself…(III) is fantastically full of energy, jumping from gentle shoegaze or rave-worthy, coked-out beats like with no trouble.” (via Paste)
♩Crystal Castles – Child I Will Hurt You [from Crystal Castles (III)]
♩[bonus] Crystal Castles – Child I Will Hurt You (Joneses Remix) [via Soundcloud]
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“Hot Chip has slowly grown more sincere and less self-consciously ironic, more romantic but no less nerdy. On In Our Heads, the band knits together references to sounds that made the band possible: Chicago house, Kraftwerk, funk, soft rock, soul. But it’s softer and heavier, an album that sounds like it was made by someone (or five someones) deeply in love.” (via NPR Music)
♩Hot Chip – Flutes [from In Our Heads]
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“True to the album’s title, they’ve followed their instincts, crafting a set for themselves that just happens to be brilliant. Their love of pop is evident: from the wistful Italo-disco of the huge ‘DJ Ease My Mind’, to ‘The Drummer’s’ ABBA-like echoed vocals and ‘Somebody’ channelling Madonna’s ‘Lucky Star’, these songs are immediate, intricate and uplifting. Each demands revisiting from the moment it finishes.” (via BBC Music)
♩Niki & The Dove – Tomorrow [from Instinct]
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“San Cisco‘s very accurately titled EP, Awkward, is all about crossed signals, misread cues, and failure to take a hint. Heavy on the choruses and heavy on the drums, the Australian four piece delivers infectious pop in the vein of Blur and Vampire Weekend.” (via Surviving the Golden Age)
♩San Cisco – Awkward [from Awkward EP]
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“‘Dreams’ is quite simply a living and breathing moment of perfected love. It is an orchestrated love story for the ages told by the strings, and the angelic vocals that massages your shoulders into a deep sleep and places you right into a dream world that you will never want to wake from.” (via Et Musique Pour Tous)
♩Taken By Trees – Dreams [from Other Worlds]
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“‘Mr Bones’ oozes with innovation but can be easily appreciated upon first listen…and the many repeats after that. It is incredible in accomplishing this one key aspect: It’s a song that can inspire the individual to not only believe but also compel that person to make the effort to pursue that desire. Given the romanticism of the song, there’s absolutely no doubt that this song will help make your summer.” (via Life After Nirvana)
♩Tiny Victories – Mr Bones [from Those Of Us Still Alive]
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Here you go, my top 10 albums of 2012. I went back and forth on this up until the last minute. But alas, there’s no going back now. My picks are official and floating around the world wide web for everyone to scrutinize. And speaking of scrutiny, I would love some feedback. Do you agree/disagree with my picks? What were your favorites this year? Heck, what were your least favorites? Leave a comment below and keep the conversation going.
[p.s. see how my final top 10 compared to my favorites back in June and July]
10. Sigur Rós//Valtari
Scratched them off my concert bucket list this year and totally lived up to my expectations. I have no idea what Jonsi and company are singing about and I really don’t care. Beautiful music is beautiful music. Period.
♩Sigur Ros – Ekki múkk
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9. Sleigh Bells//Reign of Terror
I can’t get enough of this duo. My favorite driving music. Turn it up, roll down the windows, drive fast. Noise pop at it’s best.
♩Sleigh Bells – Crush
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8. Exitmusic//Passage
An amazing and emotionally charged record that I seem to enjoy more with every listen. If Beach House were to team up with Sigur Rós, I imagine it would sound like this.
♩Exitmusic – White Noise [from Passage]
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7. Blackbird Blackbird//Boracay Planet
If you haven’t already, you need to give Blackbird Blackbird a proper listen. This guy is amazing and he just keeps getting better. Boracay Planet is his best yet.
♩Blackbird Blackbird – It’s A War [from Boracay Planet]
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6. Kishi Bashi//151a
This record makes me happy. Smart lyrics, beautiful vocals, imaginative arrangements, and quite the impressive violin work. Kishi Bashi’s debut album 151a is all of these things and more. Kishi Bashi is my favorite new artist of 2012 and it’s no surprise he’s on so many year end lists.
♩Kishi Bashi – Bright Whites
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5. Crystal Castles//Crystal Castles (III)
My favorite Crystal Castles release to date. With every new track the Canadian experimental/electronic duo dropped, the more and more my excitement and anticipation grew.
♩Crystal Castles – Wrath of God
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4. Lost In The Trees//A Church That Fits Your Needs
One of the most personal, and beautiful, records i’ve fallen in love with (probably since The Antlers’ Hospice in 2009). Lead singer/guitarist based the record largely around his mother’s suicide, stating that — “I wanted to give my mother a space to become all the things I think she deserved to be and wanted to be, and all the beautiful things in her that didn’t quite shine while she was alive.”
♩Lost In The Trees – Golden Eyelids
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3. Porcelain Raft//Strange Weekend
Mauro Remiddi, as Porcelain Raft, has crafted a dreamy and visceral sound unlike no other. One of the most impressive debut albums since The xx’s xx in 2009.
♩Porcelain Raft – Drifting In And Out
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2. Beach House//Bloom
Baltimore’s Beach House continue to set a high standard for dream pop with each and every release. This year’s Bloom might be their best yet. It’s definitely my personal favorite from the duo.
♩Beach House – On the Sea
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1. The xx//Coexist
Easily my favorite album of the year. Totally exceeded my expectations. Like their debut, I can listen to this record, from start to finish, over and over again.