The Best Albums of 2012

After countless hours of record shopping, listening and headache-inducing contemplation, I present my picks for The Best Albums of 2012. As usual, I've invited a few of my trusted friends to share their favorites as well. Unfortunately, I was unable to listen to every single album that was released during 2012, so out of the ones that I've heard, these are my absolute favorites. I know that in a month I will discover an album that I missed and it'll deserve a place on here, but this list is immortalized at this point in time. I would love to hear your opinions and your own lists, so be sure to post feedback in the comments section all the way at the bottom. If you would like to purchase any of the albums / songs - please click on the album titles to be redirected.

Please enjoy and be sure to keep up on my daily postings by clicking LIKE over at the Life On This Planet Facebook Page.  Happy Holidays.  - Bret.

Bret Helm

Life On This Planet Blog / the band Audra

Please check out my video for a discussion on my picks, or keep scrolling.

Honorable Mentions:

Joey Ramone - ...Ya Know?

InDreama - s/t

Swans - The Seer

All India Radio - Red Shadow Landing

Grimes - Visions

Best Coast - The Only Place

Metric - Synthetica

My Baker's Dozen (Top 13):

13. Smashing Pumpkins - Oceania

12. The Cult - Choice Of Weapon

11. Lightships - Electric Cable

10. The Raveonettes - Observator

09. Light Asylum - s/t

08. Bruce Springsteen - Wrecking Ball

07. Sinead O'Connor - How About I Be Me (And You Be You)

06. Soulsavers - The Light The Dead See

05. The Big Pink - Future This

04. Lana Del Rey - Born To Die / Paradise

03. Dead Can Dance - Anastasis

02. Sun Kil Moon - Among The Leaves

01. Bill Fay - Life Is People

Ivan Rose

of the band Cultures

10. Ringo Deathstarr - Mauve

09. Om - Advaitic Songs

08. A Place To Bury Strangers - Worship

07. Spiritualized - Sweet Heart Sweet Light

06. Swans - The Seer

05. Purity Ring - Shrines

04. Title Fight - Floral Ring

03. Off! - s/t

02. Dinosaur Jr. - I Bet On Sky

01. Forgetters - s/t

J. DeWolfe

of the band Audra

My top spot goes to: Enslaved - Riitiir

The following 19 are in no particular order:

19. Swans - The Seer

18. Grave - Endless Procession Of Souls

17. Agalloch - Faustian Echoes

16. Killing Joke - MMXII

15. Rush - Clockwork Angels

14. Converge - All We Love We Leave Behind

13. Goatwhore - Blood For The Master

12. Gaza - No Absolutes In Human Suffering

11. Author & Punisher - Ursus Americanus

10. Pig Destroyer - Book Burner

09. Baroness - Yellow & Green

08. Godspeed You! Black Emperor - Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend!

07. Napalm Death - Utilitarian

06. Avishai Cohen - Triveni II

05. Torche - Harmonicraft

04. Manual - Awash

03. Neurosis - Honor Found In Decay

02. JK Flesh - Posthuman

01. Dead Can Dance - Anastasis

Jaymz Todd

Friend of the brothers Helm, avid music lover, and occasional graphic designer for Audra. 

2012 was, for me, a year of complete and total nostalgia. Most of the albums that topped my list harken back to styles of music I absolutely adored in my teens, and lost sight of in my 20s. I purchased over 150 physical releases. Below are my top 50, then following is my 10 worse. I look forward to what others thought. Thanks and enjoy :)

50. Clinic - Free Reign

49. Trailer Trash Tracys - Ester

48. The Game - Jesus Piece

47. Divine Fits - A Thing Called Divine Fits

46. Murs and 9th Wonder - The Final Adventure

45. Eight and a Half - Eight and a Half

44. The Helio Sequence - Negotiations

43. Polica - Give You The Ghost

42. Widows - EP

41. Spiritualized - Sweet heart, sweet light.

40. Whirr - Pipe Dreams

39. Sharon Von Etten - Tramp

38. Ryan Leslie - Les is More

37. Violens - 'True'

36. The Walkmen - Heaven

35. Kendrick Lamar - Good Kid, m.A.A.d city

34. Sanitgold - Master of My Make-Believe

33. Lana Del Rey - Born to Die: Paradise Edition

32. Currency - The Stoned Immaculate

31. Bill Fay - Life is People

30. Animal Kingdom - The Looking Away

29. Chelsea Wolfe - Unknown Rooms: A Collection of Acoustic Songs

28. Ellie Goulding - Halcyon

27. Eras - Eras

26. The Dandy Warhols - This Machine

25. Big Boi - Vicious Lies and Dangerous Rumors

24. Lemonade - Diver

23. Japandroids / Celebration Rock

22. The Big Pink - Future This

21. Grizzly Bear - Shields

20. Frank Ocean - Channel Orange 

19. The Invisible - Rispah

18. TRST - TRST

17. Moonface w/ Siinai - Heartbreaking Bravery

16. Chiddy Bang - Breakfast

15. Tribes - Baby 

14. Bat for Lashes - The Haunted Man

13. Oddisee - People Hear What They See

12. The-Dream - 1977

11. Chromatics - Kill for Love

10. Diiv - OShin

09. The Soft Moon - Zeros

08. The Jealous Sound - A Gentle Reminder

07. Niki and the Dove - Instinct

06. Twin Shadow - Confess

05. SSION - Bent

04. Miguel - Kaleidoscope Dream

03. Bruce Springsteen - Wrecking Ball

02. Wild Cub - Youth

01. Light Asylum - Light Asylum

Jesse Deitermann

7-inch 'record' collector / Cher Lloyd fan

10. The xx - Coexist
09. Paul Weller - Sonik Kicks
08. Father John Misty - Fear Fun
07. Diiv - Oshin
06. The Twilight Sad - No One Can Ever Know
05. The Maccabees - Given To The Wild
04. Sennen - Our Lost History
03. Beach House - Bloom
02. Wild Nothing - Nocturne
01. Lower Dens - Nootropics

Sarah Quarrie

Rad.

15. The Walkmen - Heaven
14. The xx - Coexist
13. Dirty Projectors - Swing Lo Magellen
12. Of Monsters and Men - My Head is an Animal
11. Mumford & Sons - Babel
10. Divine Fits - A Thing Called the Divine Fits
09. POLIÇA - Give You the Ghost
08. alt-J - An Awesome Wave
07. Grimes - Visions
06. Purity Ring - Shrines
05. Diiv - Oshin
04. Japandroids - Celebration Rock
03. Alabama Shakes - Boys & Girls
02. Beach House - Bloom
01. Twin Shadow - Confess

Looking very much forward to in 2013:
Foxygen - We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic 1/22
Frightened Rabbit - Pedestrian Verse 2/05
Foals - Holy Fire 2/11
Atoms for Peace - Amok 2/18
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds - Push the Sky Away 2/18
Phosphorescent - Muchacho 3/13
The Knife - Shaking the Habitual 4/09
Depeche Mode - TBD
Low - TBD
My Bloody Valentine - TBD
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - TBD

----------------------------------------
Thank you for reading! - Bret

The Best Albums of 2012... so far

So, here we are at mid-year, and it's time to recognize some of the excellent releases that have come out in the first half of 2012 A.D. As always, I've enlisted the help of some of my friends to provide some additional insight and coverage of the wide musical spectrum. I look forward to hearing your thoughts and opinions, so feel free to leave some feedback (and even your own lists) in the comments section below - or interact at the Life On This Planet Facebook Page. If you would like to purchase any of the albums on my list, please click here. Okay, let's get started. Thanks for stopping by! - Bret

Bret Helm

Life On This Planet Blog, Audra

My Favorite Albums (in no particular order)

Sun Kil Moon - Among The Leaves

Not only is this one of the best albums of 2012, but perhaps it's Mark Kozelek's best album yet.

Key Tracks:  Sunshine In Chicago, Among The Leaves, UK Blues

The Big Pink - Future This

Loved their first record, and this sophomore LP is outstanding. If you don't know The Big Pink, you should.

Key Tracks: 77, Future This, Stay Gold, Hit The Ground

Sinead O'Connor - How About I Be Me (And You Be You)? 

She is amazing at channeling her trials and tribulations into sincere emotion. It's comforting to think that someone who has been in the music industry for 25 years is still putting out work that stands up with her early gems.

Key Tracks:  The Wolf Is Getting Married, Queen Of Denmark

The Smashing Pumpkins - Oceania

From the beautiful artwork, to the wonderful musical textures, this new Pumpkins album is a winner.

Key Tracks:  One Diamond One Heart, Pale Horse, Violet Rays

Metric - Synthetica

I really enjoyed their last album, 2009's Fantasies, but I almost didn't bother with this one after not digging the first single 'Youth Without You.' I'm glad that didn't stop me, because this is really one of my favorite records of the year... so far.

Key Tracks:  Breathing Underwater, Artificial Nocturne

Soulsavers - The Light The Dead See

This record features Depeche Mode's Dave Gahan on vocals. It's haunting, spiritual and damn good. Buy it.

Key Tracks:  Presence Of God, In The Morning, I Can't Stay

The Cult - Choice Of Weapon

When I bought this album, I guessed that it would be decent enough to get a listen, once every year. Nope - way better than that. The Cult have returned with a really strong album to show the young ones how to rock.

Key Tracks:  Life > Death, The Wolf, Honey From A Knife

Lana Del Rey - Born To Die 

I loved the first two singles that were released months before the album came out. I was afraid that those were going to be the only good tracks on the full-length. I was happy that that wasn't the case. Haters gonna hate, but this is a pretty killer record.

Key Tracks:  Radio, Dark Paradise, Born To Die, Blue Jeans 

I've also enjoyed...
Lightships - Electric Cables
A really laid-back, solo offering from Teenage Fanclub's Gerard Love. It keeps getting better and better with each listen.
The Men - Open Your Heart
All over the road - from catchy garage rock to countryish noodlings - I dig.
The Twilight Sad - No One Can Ever Know
The Scottish trio's third record. 
Die Antwoord - Ten$ion
The indescribable, South African outfit is back for some more insanity on their second LP.
Best Coast - The Only Place
The title track is absolutely one of my favorite songs of the year. 
Bruce Springsteen - Wrecking Ball
Lots of great songs on The Boss's newest LP.
Joey Ramone - ...Ya Know?
Culled from the late Ramone's demos, and finished by a bunch of his friends - this is a pretty dang good record.
Rush - Clockwork Angels
I'm still processing this album's complexities. As always, the musicianship is ace.
Santigold - Master Of My Make-Believe
The sophomore effort from Santigold.
Light Asylum - s/t
A recent discovery from the recommendation of my friend, Jaymz Todd. A cross between Yaz, Grace Jones and Nitzer Ebb, this NY duo is putting together a strange blend of melody and dissonance, that somehow comes together in a memorable way.

Looking forward to these upcoming releases...

Dead Can Dance - Anastasis

The Raveonettes - Observator

Steve Vai - Story Of Light

John Frusciante - Letur-Lefr EP

Redd Kross - Researching The Blues

Sarah Quarrie

My friend in Music City.

Favorite Albums (in alphabetical order)
2:54 - 2:54
Beach House - Bloom
Chromatics - Kill For Love
First Aid Kit - The Lion's Roar
Grimes - Visions
Hot Chip - In Our Heads
Japandroids - Celebration Rock
Kindness - World, You Need A Change Of Mind
Lower Dens - Nootropics
Of Monsters & Men - My Head Is An Animal
POLIÇA - Give You the Ghost
Porcelain Raft - Strange Weekend
Tanlines - Mixed Emotions
Trailer Trash Tracys - Ester
The Walkmen - Heaven

Looking forward to these upcoming releases!
Twin Shadow - Confess
Dirty Projectors - Swing Lo Magellan
Passion Pit - Gossamer
Purity Ring - Shrines
Dead Can Dance - Anastasis
Yeasayer - Fragrant World
Matthew Dear - Beams
The xx - Coexist
Crystal Castles - ?

Jaymz Todd

Destroying CD shelving units since 2012 A.D.

#1:  Light Asylum

Music that feels as if it's completely from That Total

Age era of Nitzer Ebb. It's crazy and confusing, but

yet amazing and exciting. It brings me back to nostalgia

I had for that old Ebb record, while still remaining

completely relevant and new. Give it a spin and see

what I mean...seriously. My mind = melted. I love it.

the rest are great and have no order, except by alphabet. Love them all.

The Big Pink - Future This

"hated their first, love the second"

Chromatics - Kill For Love

The Dandy Warhols - This Machine

Hot Chip - In Our Heads

Japandroids - Celebration Rock

"makes me feel 15 again, fist pounding, anthemic. love it"

The Jealous Sound - A Gentle Reminder

"finally their sophomore follow-up, nearly 10 years later"

R. Kelly - Write Me Back

"I know there are haters, but I'm a lover. you have to separate the man from his art,

and boy does he make some great, quotable baby-makin' music. the dude's a genius..

don't lie."

Liars - Wixiw

"they do no wrong"

Moonface (with Sinai) - Heartbreaking Bravery

Oddisee - People Hear What They See

"Intelligent hip hop with great throw back samples - it's a good one"

Polica - Give You The Ghost

"Bon Iver's backing band, goes it alone"

Bruce Springsteen - Wrecking Ball

"start at track 7 and listen to it on repeat, some great shit"

Symmetry - Themes For An Imaginary Film

"the soundtrack originally intended for Drive"

Trailertrashtracys - Ester

Tribes - Baby

TRST - s/t

"also amazing, canadian, a great throwback sound that's still current sounding"

Sharon Van Etten - Tramp

Violens - True - "love"

Bobby Womack - The Bravest Man In The Universe

"co-produced by Damon Albarn who has helped redefine his sound"

Jason DeWolfe Barton

from Audra

01.  Torche - Harmonicraft
02.  Les Discrets - Ariettes Oubliees
03.  Alcest - Les Voyages de L'Ame
04.  Rush - Clockwork Angels
05.  Napalm Death - Utilitarian
06.  JK Flesh - Posthuman
07.  HIgh on Fire - De Vermis Mysteriis
08.  Goatwhore - Blood for the Master
09.  Cannibal Corpse - Torture
10.  Marduk - Serpent Sermon

Ivan Rose

from Charming Horses

05.  Christian Bland & The Revelators - Pig Boat Blues

04.  Death Valley Sleepers - Self Titled

03.  A Place To Bury Strangers - Worship

02.  Spiritualized - Sweet Heart Sweet Light

01.  The Lost Rivers - Sin And Lostness

If you would like to purchase any of the albums on my list, please click here.

Song Of The Day 2012: Sun Kil Moon - UK Blues

Upcoming Release:  Sun Kil Moon - Among The Leaves (May 29, 2012 on Caldo Verde Records)

I've been loving every song released so far from the upcoming Sun Kil Moon LP. 'Sunshine In Chicago' - which hit the web a few months back - was a bit more light-hearted (kind of) than Mark Kozelek's past work, and today's track is no exception. 'UK Blues' plays like a tour diary throughout Europe, name-checking several cities and their quirks- it's rad, and kind of... funny. Check it out below, and get this album pre-ordered right away. Cheers.

Listen / Download 'UK Blues' over at Stereogum

Pre-order the album

Song Of The Day 2012: Best Coast - The Only Place

Upcoming Release:  Best Coast - The Only Place [May 15, 2012 on Mexican Summer]

One of my favorite albums from 2010 was from California's Best Coast. Their blend of simplicity, wit and super-catchy melodies, made every song on their debut a winner. On May 15th, the band will be dropping their sophomore LP, The Only Place - produced by Jon Brion (who has worked with everyone from Kanye West to Of Montreal to Fiona Apple).

Today marks the release of the first single - an infectious ode to the great state of California. I'm really digging it, so check it out below!  P.S. The album is out now - click on the link to get yourself a copy.

Song Of The Day 2012: Orbital - New France (featuring Zola Jesus)

Upcoming New Release:  Orbital - Wonky [April 10, 2012]

UK electronic group, Orbital, are back with their first record since 2004's Blue Album. A couple of weeks ago, The Hartnoll brothers have released the first single from Wonky - their eighth LP. 'New France' features the amazing Zola Jesus on vocals - and the video... you just have to watch as a teddy bear tires of his suburban life and lives it up. Wonky is due out on April 10th - in the meantime, please enjoy 'New France.'

Song Of The Day 2012: Sinéad O'Connor - The Wolf Is Getting Married

Here is another artist whose upcoming release appeared on my Most Anticipated Albums of 2012 guide.

Sinéad O'Connor. What a voice. I remember taping her early videos onto VHS when I was a teenager in the late 80s/early 90s. And now, 25 years since her debut LP - The Lion And The Cobra - O'Connor will be releasing her ninth full-length LP - How About I Be Me (And You Be You)? - on February 20th. The video for the glorious first single - 'The Wolf Is Getting Married' - has made its world wide web debut - it is our Song Of The Day.

"Your hope gives me hope."

Song Of The Day 2012: The Cranberries - Tomorrow

New Release 2012:  The Cranberries - Roses LP

'Dreams,' 'Linger,' 'Zombie,' and 'Ode To My Family' are just four of the brilliant songs that The Cranberries released early in their career. If you fell out of touch with the band over the years, they've just returned from a hiatus - not having released an album since 2001's Wake Up And Smell The Coffee. On February 21st, the Irish quartet - fronted by singer Dolores O'Riordan - will be releasing their sixth full-length, entitled Roses. The new album was produced by Stephen Street, who not only worked the band's most successful material, but also produced The Smiths. Check out the first single, 'Tomorrow'. Please enjoy.