Favorite Albums of 2012: #40-21

Once again, I was able to compile a list of 40 albums that I legitimately really liked to loved in 2012. Here is the first half of that list. Also, with each half of the list comes a 20-song mix! Tracked in order of the list, from bottom to top (track one is #40, track two is #39, etc.). The track list is revealed in the blurbs that I write, listed as each album's "top jam."

Anyway, let's do this.

DOWNLOAD MIX HERE


(40) Among the Leaves - Sun Kil Moon (Caldo Verde)
Mark Kozelek shamelessly singing about being an asshole to the tune of gorgeous folk music. I am a sucker for this shit. Excellent fall soundtrack.
Top jam: "Sunshine in Chicago"


(39) Metz - Metz (Sub Pop)
Sounds like classic Sub Pop and Touch & Go rock music a la Nirvana and The Jesus Lizard. Totally bad ass with my kind of huge drums.
Top jam: "The Mule"


(38) I'm Going to Kill Myself - Sneeze (self-released)
Fuzzy, lo-fi pop punk. Some songs aren't especially impressive, but most of them totally are.
Top jam: "Red Bullgirls"


(37) A Thing Called Divine Fits - Divine Fits (Merge)
Britt Daniel and Dan Boeckner team up and release an album that's best songs really make me look forward to the next Spoon record. "Would That Not be Nice" and "Like Ice Cream" are two the best songs I had heard all year.
Top jam: "Like Ice Cream"


(36) Broad Shoulders - Dikembe (Tiny Engines)
Technical, melodic, fun emo. Not a huge fan of the vocals and the drummer plays way too many fills, but otherwise, this rules.
Top jam: "We Could Become River Rats"


(35) Seconds Matter EP - Brightside (It's a Trap!)
Pop punk with some subtle emo tendencies. Nice guitar leads that aren't too emo noodly. Hopefully they'll come out with a full length in 2013?
Top jam: "Memo"

 
(34) Electric Cables//Fear and Doubt EP - Lightships (Geographic)
Gorgeous guitar pop from one of the main Teenage Fanclub dudes. Reminds me of a more orchestral version of The Byrds.
Top jam: "Stretching Out"


(33) Dream Journal EP - Living Room (self-released)
More awesome emo, more awesome goodness. 2012 was a ridiculous year for quality emo, I will tell you that. I am thankful for this revival taking place.
Top jam: "Red Saints"


(32) Up and Down, Away! - The Rants (self-released)
Michigan boys The Rants had been mum since 2006's excellent Spirit! Then they recorded an album and released it in 2012 through iTunes without telling anybody. What the hell, right? This is some top notch party garage pop. Put it to wax, boys!
Top jam: "Xray"


(31) Sirs - Sirs (Topshelf)
Loud, fast, intense, quirky emo punk. This music is so much, and the way this short (23 minutes!) album is sequenced is ridiculous.
Top jam: "King's English"

 
(30) Family Business - Prayer Breakfast (Flannelgraph/Crossroads of America)
I've been awaiting a full length from this Bloomington supergroup for some time now, and it did not disappoint. Sounds like a slightly emo'd up (that's a good thing) Pavement and Built to Spill with vocals not unlike a mix of Jeff Mangum and Jeremy Enigk.
Top jam: "Soon Enough"


(29) A Different Ship - Here We Go Magic (Secretly Canadian)
I guess I am of the opinion that Here We Go Magic is one of the most underrated bands around. This is their third LP that I know of, and second time making it on one of my top 40 lists. Where's the love? This one was produced by Nigel Godrich, and you can definitely tell.
Top jam: "Hard to be Close"


(28) Breakup Song - Deerhoof (Polyvinyl)
Another year, another good Deerhoof record. Of all the Deerhoof records I know, this is my least favorite. But, it's Deerhoof, and thus it is worthwhile. Both more polished and obnoxious than I'd like, but the middle section of Breakup Song is pretty much untouchable. It also might feature the best closer of 2012. Also, when the eerie yet beautiful harmonizing guitars come in towards the end of "Zero Seconds Pause," that's probably the single greatest moment in any song released in 2012.
Top jam: "Zero Seconds Pause"


(27) Dwell & Dwell EP - Snooze (self-released)
This is a jangly indie pop project from my friend (and Alec Jensen wife) Emily Jane Powers and her friend Andrew. It is so good. Slumberland Records better be paying attention.
Top jam: "Talk Yourself Down"


(26) Everyone Everywhere - Everyone Everywhere (self-released)
This is some ridiculously well produced emo with nice (ie sorta boring) vocals. Every instrument sounds awesome, and every part of every song is enjoyable. I am very jealous of the punk/emo scene in Philadelphia right now.
Top jam: "Queen Mary II"


(25) Silver Age - Bob Mould (Merge)
Former Husker Du frontman's new solo record, which sounds very much like his 90s band Sugar. Awesome songs, awesome production. This album rips.
Top jam: "The Descent"


(24) Bloom - Beach House (Sub Pop)
When this record first leaked in late April or early May or whenever, it quickly became my favorite album of the year at that time. Then, as 2012 rolled on, it grew increasingly boring to me. Still, can't shake those spring vibes, or the mid-2012 nostalgia that comes with it (this was one of the 2012 albums that my girlfriend Sara and I first bonded over). Lastly, "Other People" is probably Beach House's best song yet.
Top jam: "Other People"


(23) Birdfeeder EP - Big Awesome (self-released)
Really stupid band name, but this EP is fantastic, even if I was skeptical at first (Bravender tipped me off to it the week of Christmas, and it really complicated things when it finally came time to organize this list). Very well produced emo with great chord progressions and melodies. A full length by these guys could crush me.
Top jam: "Grey's Birthday"


(22) Centipede Hz - Animal Collective (Domino)
Is it possible that Animal Collective released the most critically underrated album of 2012? It is not only possible, it is fact. It's like a brighter, not quite as chaotic Strawberry Jam. Don't get me wrong, it's no Feels or Merriweather Post Pavilion, but, it still rules.
Top jam: "Father Time"


(21) Nope - Coping (Protagonist)
If you had to guess what this album sounds like, what would you suggest? Don't bother, I'll just tell you. EMO. Bright, upbeat, positive, complex emo. And it is so good, even if the production is not so much. The songs are great, and all their twists and turns are really what make them so.
Top jam: "B"