Favorite Albums of 2012: #20-1

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(20) - Open Your Heart - The Men (Sacred Bones)
Not a huge fan of the country rock songs here, but the ones that are reminiscent of Sonic Youth and Husker Du are excellent. Great bookends to this album, too.
Top jam: "Please Don't Go Away"


(19) Children of Desire - Merchandise (Katorga)
Mid-fi 80s goth jams with chorus guitars, drum machine and Morrissey vox. Not on Captured Tracks, but it certainly would fit in well there. "Time" is probably my favorite song of 2012.
Top jam: "Time"


(18) Gallery EP - Craft Spells (Captured Tracks)
Mellow 80s pop jams with chimey guitars, synths, programmed drums. I really liked Craft Spells' LP from 2011, and it seems the songs are getting even better.
Top jam: "Sun Trails"


(17) Spooky Action at a Distance - Lotus Plaza (Kranky)
Admittedly, the songs on this album are not too different from Lockett Pundt's Deerhunter songs. Bored vocals singing quality melodies, soft drums, and guitars that both chime and jangle and continue to layer on top of each other. Subtract the first and last songs, and this would've ranked even higher.
Top jam: "Remember Our Days"


(16) When I Couldn't Breathe - Sundials (Asian Man)
Jangly 90s indie/alternative with a slight pop punk edge. At first I was deceived by the outward simplicity of these songs, and then discovered all the subtle quirks hidden underneath. The melodies are great, and pretty much every song is a jam.
Top jam: "Mosby Blues"


(15) Of All Things I Will Soon Grow Tired - Joyce Manor (Asian Man)
Nine tracks of versatile, absolutely brilliant pop punk clocking in at just over 13 minutes total. RIDICULOUS.
Top jam: "Bride of Usher"


(14) Overgrown Path - Chris Cohen (Captured Tracks)
For several years, Chris Cohen was a crucial member of Deerhoof, and he also spent time in Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti. I am pleasantly surprised that he released a solo record in 2012 that is better than the one his former bandmates in the 'Hoof did. Smooth pop with those chimey guitars I love and keep talking about, and jazzy chords. Somewhere between 60s psych and 70s adult contemporary.
Top jam: "Caller No. 99"


(13) Wind Hand Caught in the Door - South South Million (Triple Down)
Trevor Naud and Daniel Clark from my favorite (and simply the best) Detroit band Zoos of Berlin have waited more than ten years to finally put this record out. I was lucky to receive it in an email from Trevor back in 2010, and it's been a joy to have been able to spend the last two+ years with it. Short, aimless, sample-heavy, experimental soundscapes with pop sensibility. Imagine if The Avalanches did drugs and only created ballads. Put it to wax, boys!
Top jam: "Wolf Dreams"


(12) Plumb - Field Music (Memphis Industries)
If you know me well, then you probably recognize the fact that Field Music are one of my absolute favorite bands to come out of the 21st century thus far. At first, I was very disappointed by this, their fourth LP. Then I got my head out of my ass. They're still doing the very complex 60s brit pop thing, but Plumb is even more subtle and orchestral, and even more like The Beatles. Still doesn't come close to touching 2007's Tones of Town, though.
Top jam: "A New Town"


(11) Giant Orange - Cheap Girls (Rise)
An awesome band from Lansing, can you believe it? I know they've been around a while, but this is my first full taste, and it did me well. 90s-style indie/alternative with some of the best melodies of the year and great riffage. Believe it or not, though, this is not the best this particular sub-genre of rock 'n' roll had to offer in 2012.
Top jam: "Manhattan on Mute"


(10) Oshin - DIIV (Captured Tracks)
Yes, I know stupid band name. But, with few standouts, this record does its job well. Clean, chimey, delayed guitar warped by all the layers, backed by driving bass and drums, and fronted by reverb-heavy, buried vocals. Mysterious! And totally awesome.
Top jam: "Human"


(9) Let's Get You Somewhere Else - Luther (Chunksaah)
Had I discovered this even a little earlier than the week of Christmas, it could have broken into the top five. More 90s indie/alternative with pop punk elements, but this time with a slight nod to emo thrown in at times for good measure. Really really great.
Top jam: "Rattlesnake"


(8) Runner - The Sea and Cake (Thrill Jockey)
As Travis Bravender would say, "This sounds like a record by The Sea and Cake." After Radiohead, they are the single most consistently amazing band in existence. Their latest does not take away from that whatsoever.
Top jam: "Pacific"


(7) Celebration Rock - Japandroids (Polyvinyl)
More Replacements-rock than the somewhat shoegaze-y party emo of Post-Nothing. Still it has its emo moments, and they are wonderful. I don't even pay attention to the unifying lyrics, the chord progressions are inspiring enough. Not the best guitar album of 2012 like I feel like almost everyone else is saying, but it definitely is up there.
Top jam: "Fire's Highway"


(6) Mature Themes - Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti (4AD)
Is it possible for Ariel Pink to get weirder and more silly than he was on 2010's near perfect Before Today? Apparently so. Is it possible for his songs to get even better? At first, I thought so, but now the jury's actually still out. Mature Themes has plenty of songs that are awesome on their own merit. But, it's the outright zaniness that makes songs like "Kinski Assassin," "Is This the Best Spot?," "Schnitzel Boogie" and "Symphony of the Nymph" great.
Top jam: "Mature Themes"


(5) Swing Lo Magellan - Dirty Projectors (Domino)
As situationally understated as Swing Lo Magellan is, it's nice to hear a more restrained, stripped down Dirty Projectors. I'm surprising myself by stating that. The drums and guitars are not as huge, and that is  exactly what makes this record so charming. Believe it!
Top jam: "Just From Chevron"

 
(4) Nocturne//Nowhere 7" - Wild Nothing (Captured Tracks)
Wild Nothing had an incredible year this year, and Pitchfork failed to acknowledge this fact. Doesn't matter. The Nowhere 7" that was released early in 2012 was a pleasant surprise, and the timing for Nocturne couldn't have been more perfect. No song here touches the best ones from my favorite album of 2010, Gemini, but it doesn't even matter as the album is still just about perfect. Bonus to hear these dreamy 80s goth-pop gems with some pep and in such high fidelity. Probably my favorite production of the year.
Top jam: "Midnight Song"


(3) Lonerism - Tame Impala (Modular)
Yes, I know. Modern psych pop with John Lennon's ghost singing. This record is incredible, and it's structure continues to catch me off guard (and that is a really cool thing). Awesome guitars, synths, drums, production, etc., etc. Very much looking forward to seeing them live next month.
Top jam: "Music to Walk Home By"


(2) Floral Green - Title Fight (Side One Dummy)
These young melodic hardcore punk boys really grew up! Those roots are still there, but Floral Green adds some Small Brown Bike and a touch of Hum to the mix. I would argue that this record is perfect. Not one moment here is less than excellent. Second best guitars of 2012.
Top jam: "In-Between"

 
(1) Just Married//An Obscure Moon Lighting an Obscure World EP - Glocca Morra (Kind of Like)
No one made better music in 2012 than the noodly, upbeat Philadelphia emo/punk band Glocca Morra. They've already made me forget about Algernon Cadwallader. Not really, but they've helped to soften the blow of AC's demise. Just Married showcases upbeat tempos, technical yet tasteful musicianship, great production, always shifting song structures, catchy melodies (in both the vocals and the guitars). An Obscure Moon Lighting an Obscure World is simpler, less emo, and more dark pop punk mixed with 90s indie rock in the vein of Archers of Loaf, I guess. Glocca Morra is most definitely an Aaron Quillen kind of band. What a treat to get two stellar releases in one year from them. Best guitars of 2012, hands down. These guys are THE GUYS!
Top jam: "Broken Cigarettes"