10. Manners
-Passion Pit
This is a happy record, and and hits all the right notes, and as with Passion Pit’s last release, I can’t help but smile when I hear it. They further develop their unique brand of electro-pop, making even the most stoic reluctant hipsters want to dance. So “Fold your hands”, move your “Sleepyhead”, “Let your love grow” and take a listen one more time.
9. Bitte Orca
-Dirty Projectors
Well, this is definitely Dirty Projector’s most accessible album yet. There’s still a lot of “Dirty Projector moments” in this album, but a few tracks showed glimpses of other influences. For me the best example of this is “Stillness Is The Move”, it’s basically a pop song, which is probably why it was covered by Solange Knowles. In a lot of ways Bitte Orca is all over the place, but it’s wonderfully crafted vocals and catchy hooks are what make it great, possibly even (dare I say it?) commercially viable.
8. Actor
-St. Vincent
This is Ms. Annie Clark’s sophomore St. Vincent release, and it show’s us a more polished, controlled example of what she can do. Her virtuosity on the guitar is still evident, if not a bit further back in the mix compared to that on Marry Me. Distortion pedals, effected synths and quirky syncopation give Actor a certain “Disney” feel. As always Clark’s vocals are spot-on and her lyrics clever. I certainly enjoyed this record, but I still say it’s no substitute for seeing it live and recommend that you do to if you get a chance.
7. Embryonic
-The Flaming Lips
The ghost of Jim Morrison is smiling while listening to this record. In so many way’s Embryonic is an homage by the Flaming Lips to psychedelic rock roots, there are no pop songs here. Trippy synth sounds, vintage amp tones, and even a vocoder seem to be employed in creating this kaleidoscope of sound and at times wall of sound.
6. Hymns from Rhodesia
-listenlisten
I was a bit hesitant to include Hymns from Rhodesia on this due to my connection to listenlisten, but in so many ways no other record this year proved as timely and appropriate as it did. In Hymns we find dis-topic futures, existential crisis and awareness of one’s own mortality all combining to paint pretty bleak picture of the future. For someone who is admittedly more than a little obsessed with the 2012 hype, this record has proven to be a perfect soundtrack. We are reminded that all things will end just as they began, “I came in this world on a rope, and I’ll leave this world on a rope”.
5. Merriweather Post Pavilion
-Animal Collective
This one of the most “accessible” Animal Collective albums to-date. Being a fan of the Beach Boys’ “Pet Sounds sound”, I found it quite enjoyable. There’s less of the tribal beats, chanting, gurgling, etc. and more finely-tuned vocal harmonies and catchy melodies. “My Girls”, the most playable track on the record (in my opinion) is the best example of this. For some Merriweather Post Pavilion may be too mainstream, but it’s definitely worth a listen or two.
4. Blood Bank EP
-Bon Iver
Blood Bank is my winter record for the year. Listening to it I can’t help but imagine looking out the window at falling Wisconsin snow, as my soul is warmed by Justin Vernon’s vocals. In so many ways this album adheres to the conventions that I’ve come to expect from Bon Iver, effected falsettos, warm tones and pretty melodies. Yet on “Woods” Vernon manages to somehow use Auto-tune tastefully in a manner reminiscent of Imogen Heap’s 2005 hit “Hide And Seek“. In so many ways Blood Bank merely expanded on what Bon Iver did on For Emma, Forever Ago, non-the-less, I’m still digging it.
3. Psychic Chasms
-Neon Indian
I’ve always been a fan of pretty much everything project that Alan Palomo has been a part of, and Neon Indian isn’t any different. Psychic Chasms is Palomo’s first release for this new project on the heals of his Vega EP, Well Known Pleasures, so needless to say, he’s had a busy year. I fell in love with the record the first time I heard it. Call it “glo-fi”, retro, or formulaic, I can’t help but like it and feel good about it. Despite the fact that by my count Alan wasn’t even born when this sound and formula was “Top 40″, he has managed to create something that captures a sense of nostalgia and good vibes. Mastering the use of said formula quite well.
2. Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
-Phoenix
It’s funny that it is this Phoenix record that I fell in love with. For years have had friends talk about (I belive) three previous Phoenix albums and how great they were, and it just happened that I finally started listening the year they blow up. None-the less, after finally familiarizing myself with the “back-catalogue” (they’re French) I can safely say that Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix is my favorite. “1901″ which was featured in a Cadillac commercial and “Lisztomania” became the stand out tracks on this record. It’s no-holds-barred, good, pop music and I love it. (hate myself.)
1. Veckatimest
-Grizzly Bear
Grizzly Bear would certainly rank up there as one of my favorite bands right now, and for me it definitely has a dichotomy. There is “Ed Dorset Grizzly Bear” with pretty vocals, woodwinds and building three-part hamomies, and the “Danniel Rossen/Dept. of Eagles Grizzly Bear” with pure vocals, blues riffs and driving baselines.Veckatimest for me was a further fine-tuning of the Grizzly Bear sound and melding of these two styles. There is a certain prim and polish to this record’s sound, yet it still manages to feel organic, with glimpses of a certain “broad-stroke” feel that GB has in its’ live performances. As with a lot of bands the songs on this record are best experienced live, but in so many ways, there’s a certain beauty to Veckatimest, it’s spot-on in almost every way.
