best of music. 2012.

(I feel like it is worth noting that these are my favorite albums of 2012 that I have HEARD. if you strongly believe an album is missing from this list, it may be because I haven't heard it yet. I don't get paid to listen to music and write these, ya know. but how awesome would that be?!)

#1 Lana Del Rey-Born to Die

"Now my life is sweet like cinnamon. Like a fucking dream I'm living in. Baby love me cause I'm playing on the radio. How do you like me now?"

My interest in Lana Del Rey was sparked after all the controversy surrounding her SNL performance (proving all press is good press). When I caught up with the rest of society the next day, I was surprised at what I heard and saw. After watching the clip, I thought to myself, “I kind of enjoyed that.”

I spent the next week looking up Lana Del Rey on youtube and watched the video for her single “Born to Die” more times than I can count. Lana Del Rey is intriguing and unusual. Her style is a blend of hip-hop and indie goddess with gold chains, thick red lips, flower headbands and long, gouty fingernails.

Throughout “Born to Die” Lana Del Rey sings what she knows -the woes of a rich girl living the high life in L.A. Her music and lyrics are shallow and materialistic. For example, “National Anthem” imparts on us the importance of money (“Money is the reason we exist…the anthem of success”) and encourages us to wear mascara, party dresses and buys expensive cars.

“Off to the Races” has a list of lyrics seeping with drugs, sex, money and what seems to be, well, incest. (“He loves me with every beat of his cocaine heart…Light of his life, fire of his loins. Tell me you want me…give me them coins.”)

But somehow it all works. “Born to Die” is whiny and dramatic. And I like it. Perhaps it’s the excess and theatrics throughout the album and in Lana Del Rey herself that attracts me. Whatever it is, I guess the rest of America and I just have a different definition of “awful.”

Listen to: Born to Die

#2 Torche-Harmonicraft

"Kicking!"

“Harmonicraft” grabs you by the throat with “Letting Go” and holds on tight through the rest of the album. Torche seems to have hit their stride with “Harmonicraft,” providing a fun and energetic rock album that can also be sober.

“Walk It Off” is a fast paced joy ride, “In Pieces” takes things more serious and “Solitary Traveler” strangely does provide a lonely and isolating feeling. It doesn’t take a musician (or a rocket scientist) to appreciate the drumming and guitar playing throughout this album; it’s grueling. (Name) can actually sing which sometimes seems like a lost art in heavy rock bands. 

“Harmonicraft” is full bodied and just an all around great rock album. It is just the right length at 38 minutes, careful not to fill time with needless guitar solos or repetitive jam sessions. “Harmonicraft” is packed-full from beginning to end and I’m totally exhausted by the last song.

Listen to: Reverse Inverted

#3 The Life and Times No One Loves You Like I Do

"Take the fucking weight off your shoulders." 

From the first note of “No one Loves You Like I Do,” you know this album is going to have that classic Life and Times sound. Even the mediocre songs on the album are better than other rock bands’ best work. Throughout “No One Loves You Like I Do,” the songs flow easily from one to the next. The Life and Times know how to make a big sounding album that is steady and dark, yet enjoyable and their current release is no exception. (Remember that while listening to “No One Loves You Like I Do,” only 3 people are making all that noise.) As the epic song at the end of the album, Day 12, says, “I just can’t get you out of my head.” 

Listen to: Day One

#4 Fiona Apple-The Idler Wheel is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do

“Don’t let me ruin me. I may need a chaperone.”

“The Idler Wheel” seems to be a direct reflection of Fiona Apple herself. She is quirky and complicated and has mastered being transparent with her audience. It’s evident that she writes as if she demands perfection from herself. Ms. Apple is a poet first and a musician for the lyricist. In “Left Alone” she eloquently puts the inward contradiction in all of us between wanting to be needed, and wanting to be left the hell alone. She is a brilliant writer who, through her music, takes us along on her journey. She has matured from the drugged out horny girl in “Criminal” (which by the way, is still one of my favorite videos of all time) to a serious artist with real and raw talent. I like Fiona Apple (ok, I am a bit obsessed with Fiona Apple) but I don’t except everyone to. She is a strange creature but like a fine wine, Fiona just seems to get better with age.

Listen to: Every Single Night

#5 Alt J-An Awesome Wave

“An Awesome Wave” sounds like if Mewithoutyou made a weird synth R&B album. This may cause some of you to instantly stop reading but give this album a chance. The single, “Fitzpleasure,” is ultra groovy and funky and the rest of the album follows suite. As someone who appreciates good lyrics, I have no idea what he is saying 95% of the time and I still dig “An Awesome Wave.” Alt J may sound kind of gimmicky and that’s because it is. but that’s ok. 

Listen to: Breezeblocks