So many records this year. We had to stop somewhere though, so check our top 50 of 2012 — complete with an unbreakable (we tried) tie at the top — after the jump, listen along with this massive Spotify playlist, and then, as always, we can talk about what you think we missed.
50 SAND CIRCLES | Motor City
49 THEESATISFACTION | awE naturalE
48 PURE BATHING CULTURE | Pure Bathing Culture
47 DEATH GRIPS | The Money Store
46 PEAKING LIGHTS | Lucifer
45 MOLLY NILSSON | History
44 PYE CORNER AUDIO | Sleep Games
43 ANTWON | End of Earth
42 ARIEL PINK’S HAUNTED GRAFFITI | Mature Themes
41 TAKEN BY TREES | Other Worlds
40 RYAN HEMSWORTH | Last Words + Collected
39 LACE CURTAINS | The Garden of Joy and the Well of Loneliness
38 LAS MALAS AMISTADES | Maleza
37 LOWER DENS | Nootropics
36 DUM DUM GIRLS | End of Daze
35 SAM FLAX | Age Waves
34 FIGHT BITE | Fight Bite
33 ROC MARCIANO | Reloaded
32 LOL BOYS | Changes
31 PHEDRÉ | Phedré
30 FLYING LOTUS | Until the Quiet Comes
29 MIRRORRING | Foreign Body
28 SHACKLETON | Music For the Quiet Hour
27 TAMARYN | Tender New Signs
26 DAWN RICHARD | Armor On
25 FORT ROMEAU | Kingdoms
mp3:
Fort Romeau :: Say Something
24 NICOLAS JAAR | Don’t Break My Love / The Prism
23 CLAMS CASINO | Instrumentals II
22 ANGEL OLSEN | Half Way Home
mp3:
Angel Olsen :: Tiniest Seed
21 CHROMATICS | Running From the Sun
20 ANDY STOTT | Luxury Problems
19 SYMMETRY | Themes For An Imaginary Film
18 FRANKIE ROSE | Interstellar
17 JESSICA PRATT | Jessica Pratt
mp3:
Jessica Pratt :: Night Faces
16 FRANK OCEAN | Channel Orange
15 DEAN BLUNT & INGA COPELAND | Black is Beautiful
14 HOLY OTHER | Held
13 LAUREL HALO | Quarantine
12 GRIZZLY BEAR | Shields
11 KILLER MIKE | R.A.P. Music
10 CHAIRLIFT | Something
09 MIGUEL | Kaleidoscope Dream
08 TOPS | Tender Opposites
mp3:
TOPS :: Turn Your Love Around
07 BEACH HOUSE | Bloom
mp3:
Beach House :: Myth
06 SCHOOLBOY Q | Habits & Contradictions
05 JESSIE WARE | Devotion
04 BURIAL | Kindred
03 KENDRICK LAMAR | good kid, m.A.A.d city
01 CHROMATICS | Kill For Love
01 GRIMES | Visions
mp3:
Grimes :: Oblivion
Here’s the full Spotify playlist:
Great list as every year. So happy to see Grimes and Chromatics remained untouched since the So Far… list. Also nice to see Chairlift’s underrated Something at #10. Need to check out Tops’ record now though
1 Dean Blunt – The Narcissist II (W/ Black is Beautiful, Attitude Era, London 2012)
2 Chromatics – Kill For Love
3 How To Dress Well – Total Loss
4 Jessica Pratt – S/T
5 CFCF – Exercises
6 Burial – Kindred
7 Kendrick Lamar – GK/MC
8 Miguel – Kaleidoscope Dream
9 Lol Boys – Changes
10 Holy Other – Held
11 Grizzly Bear – Shields
12 Grimes – Visions
13 Jessie Ware – Devotion
14 Jeremih – Late Nights
15 Mirroring – Fell Sound
16 All the Ryan Hemsworth stuff
Good call on CFCF
Tame Impala, Ty Segall + White Fence, Thee Oh Sees
Yes for The Oh Sees
Tame Impala? Come on, Live at Pompeii was made like 40 years ago.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOi2nVB31GM
You actually wrote “like 40 years ago”.
And your message is – because something isn’t original, it can’t be good? Like, what’s up with that?
by that logic, no sample based music is relevant.
GvsB clearly doesn’t have a taste for good psychedelic music, just the poppy bizzare
wrong
Ty Segall!! Liars.
Agreed about Tame Impala. Weird to see their strong sophomore album being excluded from this list when GvB included two of their songs in the top 50 of their “songs of 2012″.
Also, GvB is overrating Grizzly Bear’s Shields. Sure, it’s probably the best thing they’ve come out with since Yellow House but it barely shows any progression from what they did 6 years back. And you know that with the talent they have that they should be evolving more, but they don’t seem to be.
What a crock of pretentious shit.
not sure you know what pretentious means
What an ironic reply…
nah
Yah…
1. Kin- iamamiwhoami
2. TRST- Trust
3. Put Your Back N 2 It- Perfume Genius
4. Kill For Love- Chromatics
5. Bloom- Beach House
6. Visions- Grimes
7. Movement- Holly Herndon
8. Shrines- Purity Ring
9. Something- Chairlift
10. Mature Themes- Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti
11. Melody’s Echo Chamber- Melody’s Echo Chamber
12. Lonerism- Tame Impala
13. The Haunted Man- Bat For Lashes
14. Young and Old- Tennis
15. Ekstasis- Julia Holter
16. Quarantine- Laurel Halo
I’m with you on the addition of Tennis and Purity Ring. Both of those got a lot of spins on my record player this year. I just kept coming back to them.
Kin is my #1 too. Didn’t even think anyone here knew iamamiwhoami. Good call on Holly and Julia too.
Glad to see you included Ms. Molly Nilsson. I did too. Too bad there’s no Fiona, though.
Great list man…really looking forward to your top songs now. I have been stuck on your Facebook post listening to all the ones people suggested! Some really amazing music out there and I am so happy you help get a lot of it to the people! Keep doing your thing!
thanks man! yeah that FB post had so many great recs, still going through them all
A great list Chris— looks like i’ve got a lot more to listen to! I would add a few Australian gems, Bored Nothing debut and Tame Impala.
I’ve been anticipating this one. Great list!
Kisses on the Bottom by Paul McCartney
Centipede hurts?
Oooh, that hurts
wait, no Memory Tapes?
You put (1) twice, might want to fix that.
You put (1) for both Chromatics and Grimes, might want to fix that.
Hey GorillaBear
You put #1 for Kill for Love by Chromatics and Visions by Grimes. I assume Chromatics was #2 though because it came before Visions. Just thought you’d want to know.
i mentioned this at the beginning of the post…
Yo dunno if you noticed but you put #1 twice. Just letting you know so you can fix it
Hey Chris, looks like you accidentally put two records as number one twice on accident lol whoops.
dude I mentioned in the post, it’s a tie!
Haven’t come up with my list yet but Chromatics is already #1 for me. The first few months of the new is always spent listening to what I missed, i.e. Frank Ocean, Symmetry, Godspeed, etc. etc. Anyway excellent list sir!
actually find it refreshing that tame impala didn’t make the cut. album has a couple moments, but is otherwise completely meandering and dull.
super list as usual
btw one of my personal fav artwork where’s the image from? it’s intriguing
i don’t see many people appreciating the visuals, so i give you both of my mexican thumbs up
Great list, but I think Wild Nothing should be in the Top 5 at least.
I might also only be the only person who doesn’t ‘get’ Frank Ocean
Completely overhyped. Thought the record was weak.
“Thinking about You” and “Bad Religion” are enough to sell me on the hype. The other tracks are serviceable too.
“Pyramids” is also brilliant — a mesmerizing homage to the downfall of the Black Woman in the modern West. Don’t miss Channel Orange’s insightful social commentary. Frank Ocean is for real.
I’ll have to give Frank Ocean another listen.
I don’t know what is not to like about Frank Ocean’s Channel orange, but to each his or her own. The album is full of style and sex appeal, and absolutely takes nothing away from the music or his song writing. My favorite thing about the album is you can hear Frank doing a, convincing, stevie wonder impression, or hear him bang the keys like Sir Elton, and you think you have him all figured out, and then he gives you Pilot Jones, Monks, or Forrest Gump. He’s Ice Cold. I think he might be progeny of Bowie & Iman.
i liked him better when he was called the weeknd.
I am blown away that Wild Nothing, Yeasayer, Divine Fits, DIIV, Hot Chip are all missing from the list. That’s my top 5, but what do I know?
Great list! Would have had Fiona Apple and Tame Impala on mine, but I get that’s not necessarily your MO and what not.
How about Captain Murphy’s Duality? Was curious to see if the mixtape would make yr list. You don’t think it deserves a top-50 nod?
yes,i was wondering too….
GRIMES?????
How did iamamiwhoami – Kin not make GvsB’s top 5? Chris? where are you? Easily my favourite album of the year.
Easily topped my list! Great record. The production and songwriting are stellar. That and I just deeply connected with it.
Again, I agree with iamamiwhoami. I think the problem is that they are not very big in America. Chris needs to get on it, though. kin is flawless. I will post mine soon. It’s different from this, but it highlights more experimental women in music and less overhyped pitchfork friendly acts like Frank Ocean and Grizzly Bear.
Really excited to see your list, seems like we have similar views.
Weird. Even Pitchfork reviewed it.
Cult of Youth – Love Will Prevail
I’ve not seen Cate Le Bon’s Cyrk make a single one of these lists. I mean I know gvb isn’t exactly Welsh Folk Rock Central, but that album (and Cyrk II) is undeniably great.
Cyrk is great.
great list !! i’m missing Centipede Hz but pretty happy that i bought a bunch of these releases. just waiting for Big Boi, My Bloody Valentine and the 2nd new Burial 12″ just announced….
No Japandroids? Maybe I’m officially too mainstream for this site.
I think I would have to have Tame Impala, Tennis and most definitely Julia Holter in there. I really liked the Luyas too
oh and Animal Collective and Purity Ring
The task of figuring out which records were deserving was nearly impossible. You’d be surprised at how many impressive and seemingly unbreakable records there actually are. Once I was able to narrow it down to the top 50, it was even harder to rank them.
Good list. Missing El-P for me, but I’m not sure what I’d remove for it. (CforC is better than RAPMusic imo, but it’s close)
I love that both Angel Olsen and Jessica Pratt are on here. Both albums are beautiful and have been generally overlooked. Grimes is my #1 as well.
Great list! Glad to see we agree on the #1.
1. Grimes – Visions
2. White Lung – Sorry
3. John Talabot – Fin
4. Trust – TRST
5. SpectraSoul – Delay No More
6. Purity Ring – Shrines
7. Mirrorring – Foreign Body
8. Loma Prieta – I.V.
9. Bersarin Quartett – II
10. Sore Eyelids – Sore Eyelids LP
White Lung! Nice. I’ll wager a guess that you’re a fellow Canadian.
Finally someone praising Trust! Great record!
Glad you have Taken by Trees in there. I really dig most of that album. Kinda glad you left Purity Ring off. For all the hype, there were only a couple of good songs. #flashindapan
yeah i actually enjoy the Purity Ring album, but the highest highs on the record were the singles from last year
“We’re reserving the right to drop somebody if necessary in the event that Big Boi and/or After Dark 2 actually come out this year”
Can’t you just wait couple days more? What’s the hurry? Why these list pop up so early, there’s still music being released. New Burial in two weeks! Hello!
sure you could always wait a couple days more, regardless of when you release the list. it’s not a concrete/final thing by any means, if I go back and look at my 2011 list i’m sure a bunch of stuff would inevitably be added/dropped/moved around.
also the Big Boi leaked, safe to say it probably wouldn’t have made the list anyway
no ekstasis? everyone was so jazzed on tragedy last year, which is a good but inferior, album. i love it more with every listen.
also:
sleep party people
death and vanilla
kala-ok
mirrorring
tame impala
goat
Glad you included that Chairlift record – for some reason I feel like it was under-appreciated.
same here. it’s a pop gem.
absolutely
John Talabot – Fin #1`’#1`’#1
Loved the list BECAUSE it´s pretty differente than mine (at least from 50º-26º). It´s nice to see that there is still a lot to listen to this year.
Here is my top 40- I guess I’m one of the few who thought Total Loss was HTDW’s best release yet. As always Chris- your list is solid.
1 How To Dress Well – Total Loss
2 Andy Stott – Luxury Problems
3 The xx – Coexist
4 Chromatics – Kill For Love
5 Kendrick Lamar – good kid m.A.A.d. city
6 Frankie Rose – Interstellar
7 Burial – Kindred EP
8 The Weeknd – Echoes of Silence* (Dec ’11, *free mixtape version)
9 Purity Ring – Shrines
10 Sharon Van Etten – Tramp
11 Dean Blunt & Inga Copeland – Black is Beautiful
12 Beach House – Bloom
13 Liars – WIXIW
14 Wild Nothing – Nocturne
15 Clams Casino – Instrumental Mixtape 2 (free mixtape)
16 Cloud Nothings – Attack on Memory
17 Killer Mike – R.A.P. Music
18 Symmetry – Themes for an Imaginary Film
19 Peaking Lights – Lucifer
20 Frank Ocean – channel ORANGE
21 John Talabot – fIN
22 Grimes – Visions
23 Death Grips – The Money Store
24 Monolake – Ghosts
25 Godspeed You! Black Emperor – ‘Allelujah! Don’t Bend! Ascend!
26 Lower Dens – Nootropics
27 Bat For Lashes – The Haunted Man
28 Shackleton – Music for the Quiet Hour/The Drawbar Organ EPs
29 Jessie Ware – Devotion
30 Big K.R.I.T. – Live from the Underground
31 Japandroids – Celebration Rock
32 Holy Other – Held
33 Actress – R.I.P.
34 Crystal Castles – (III)
35 Grizzly Bear – Shields
36 Julia Holter – Ekstasis
37 Schoolboy Q – Habits & Contradictions
38 Twin Shadow – Confess
39 Laurel Halo – Quarantine
40 CFCF – Exercises
-http://thehipsterfiles.wordpress.com/2012/11/28/favorite-albums-of-2012-2/-
i like this list…i’d add tanlines-mixed emotions and pinback-proceed to memory but other than that it’s my fav.
i think there’s a typo on chromatics. they should be 02 not 01. there are two 01s
great list- love seeing Miguel AND Frank Ocean up there. We’re definitely in the midst of an R&B renaissance.
Thank You! Finally some folks agree with me on Miguel y Frank Ocean being two of the year’s best, but i sincerely feel that Frank Ocean released the best album of the year. I didn’t buy into the hype, and was reluctant to give all 9 minutes of Pyramids a chance, and I did, and was hooked. Same goes for the album.
Big Boi came out this year so I’m curious to see who they replace… I’m thinking it could be the 3rd album to tie in 1st place
but what about Action Bronson Blue Chips?
missing:
1) how to dress well’s total loss
2) wild nothing’s nocturne
3) diiv’s oshin
4) john talabot’s fin
these albums could easily replace b.s. like lol boys, taken by trees, shackleton, and burial.
haha no
i can’t remember a less inspiring year for music than this one, which is reflected in this pretty dull list. Not your fault, but last year there was almost a song a day on GvsB that was at least interesting if not downright inspiring. This year has just been one long pfffft. Roll on 2013.
Ha, you were deaf all year if you thought this was a lul year.
To Chris, super stoked on TOPS in the top 10. Lol at everybody who is angry that your SUBJECTIVE list doesn’t include their “far superior” musician who’s on every other tops list. With saying that though, I do feel that there were a couple albums that weren’t included that were super solid.
Cloud Nothings
DIIV
Ty Segall’s MEGA YEAR
METZ
TItus
Mount Eerie
Lymbyc Systym
Kishi Bashi
Japandroids
That’s MY opinion though…solid list Chris!
Completely agree. Thank you Chris and GvsB team for taking your time to entertain me all year while filling my ears with new content. It has been a pleasure sitting at home and judging your judgment :D
I also really liked Mount Eerie’s Clear Moon!
(sorry if this is a double post, I keep getting network errors)
Glad to see Tops “Tender Opposites”- been on repeat since I first heard. Obviously would have liked to see Tame Impala & Thee Oh Sees on here… and kind of bewildered how Animal Collective wasn’t included. Also High Diner’s “Purple Creek” has been one of my favorites of 2012. Definitely would have been nice to see.
Here’s my list for what it’s worth (not much):
Albums:
Tame Impala – Lonerism
Woods – Bend Beyond
Dirty Projectors – Swing Lo Magellan
Zammuto – s/t
Taken by Trees – Other Worlds
Grimes – Visions
Animal Collective – Centipede Hz
Grizzly Bear – Shields
Hundred Waters – s/t
Mac Demarco – 2
Melody’s Echo Chamber – s/t
Alvin Band – Rainbow Road
Songs:
A$AP Rocky – Goldie
Ariel P – Only in My Dreams/Mature Themes
jj – High Summer/Times
Grizzly Bear – Sleeping Ute
Hundred Waters – Boreal/Sonnet
Zammuto – The Shape of Things to Come/Groan Man, Don’t Cry
Woods – Bend Beyond/Cali in a Cup
Grimes – Genesis/Symphonia IX
Dirty Projectors – Dance for You/Impregnable Question
Tame Impala – Apocalypse Dreams/Music to Walk Home By
Taken by Trees – Highest High/Dreams
Purity Ring – Obedear
Alvin Band – Dry Bones
AnCo – Applesauce/Pulleys
Melody’s Echo Chamber – Endless Shore
Mac DeMarco – Freaking out the Neighborhood/Ode to Viceroy
Empress Of – Don’t Tell Me/Champagne
Blue Hawaii – In Two Suite
Wow, no John Talabot – fin?
You forgot about Julia Holter.
#2 says #1… spelling edit
It’s a tie thats why
Sad/hilarious that Tame Impala wasn’t included. What a joke.
I find Tame Impala really boring and old fashioned.
I love the boldness of some choices like burial’s devastating EP at #5 and hype williams at #15 but then you had to ruin it with the usual overrated suspects like chairlift, jessie ware and chromatics taking all the top spots. I will refrain from commenting on grimes being #1 when andy stott’s near masterpiece barely made the top 20. also, where the fuck is john talabot?
If anything Chairlift is UNDERratted, I’m loving finally seeing them showing up on year end lists.
given the level of exposition they had this year and how insufferably overplayed “take it out on me” and amanebobeameoisiawhathaveya were played, yeah, they are definitely overrated and brought nothing new to the table this year.
still shocked that john talabot is nowhere to be seen on this list. shameful.
You don’t come here very often do you?
YES to Chromatics, but where is Dirty Projectors – Swing Lo Magellan?
Why? Ridiculously pretentious and tedious songs with irritating vocal mannerisms…
you dick ride Grimes so hard….
she’s ridiculous electrotrash
she’s gorillavsbear’s answer to lady gaga basically
ugh, this! so much! thank you
Wait, how come _____________ didn’t make your list?
Twin Shadow – “Confess”
Miike Snow – “Happy To You”
^ just a couple I really enjoyed this year. But I think the current selection of favorites is still good.
I can get down with such a low slot for Frank, but not even the best R&B record of the year? hmmmm..
No Tame Impala? Your list is invalid.
lonerism is a great album, I can listen to it on repeat!
Great List!
Great List, def some stuff I need to check out more. Another solid year of music.
No love for Lost in the Trees? A Church That Fits Our Needs is just a fantastic work of art.
lol at eight of the top ten getting BNM from pitchfork….
right?
The Antlers – Undersea
Fantastic list. 2012 was an incredible year in music. Awesome to see Chromatics, Grimes, Taken By Trees, Beach House and especially Pure Bathing Culture and Chairlift.
A few bands on my Top 50 of 2012: Tennis, Twin Shadow, MNDR, The Royalty, and iamamiwhoami.
Great list!!! I was psyched to see that TOPS made the top 10!
surprised to see schoolboy so high up there and roc marciano so low..major props for chromatics at number one though
cool list!
Minor flaws:
- where is Purity Ring??
- Grimes at No.1??? hell noooo. NO!
People who are butthurt about Tame Impala’s exclusion probably don’t listen to the GvB mixes/radio shows. This is coming from someone who loves them and easily thinks it’s album of the year.
Great list, I can definitely see why you have Grimes/Chromatics #1, even though I think Chromatics edges Grimes ever so slightly IMO.
I’m sure this has been explained, but why the eff do you make every first 75/150/225 comments or so unviewable once they hit a certain limit? Ruins the discussion history big time.
i don’t know, that’s a great question. going to try to fix it
fixed, i think
Thx dude. Much better!
The fact that Molly Nilsson, Fight Bite, and Tamaryn made the cut makes this officially my favorite list so far.
REALLY suprised DIIV, Purity Ring, and Tame Impala did NOT make this list. All worthy.
DON’T BREAK MY LOVE is making my head explode.
#1, no competition = John Talabot/Fin. And, no Wild Nothing? I don’t understand? Do your ears not work properly?
Back to John Talabot. It didn’t even make your top 50 which is beyond a joke. My mouth is still open.
my favorite things Talabot did this year were his remixes and b-sides, he’ll be repped on the songs list for sure
Liars
Bear in Heaven
Cemeteries
-were all left off.
those 3 bands made 3 of the best albums of the year.
surprised not to see nite jewel or air on here, along with some others mentioned. FWIW i’d have beach house #1 and chromatics #2. also glad kendrick, schoolboy and miguel all in the top ten. list never fails to deliver year after year.
i love the info i get about new and old music for GvB but really? Grimes is tied for #1? thats stupid dumb. album was not that good.
Jessica Bailiff, Swans and Whirr records are very good. It’s a pity they don’t make anyone’s list. However, there are Chromatics, Tamaryn and Laurel Halo and I really love their albuns.
Oh, Grimes at #1?
wow so early
I haven’t even made my list yet, but nobody mentioned “Groundislava – Feel me” and “Ice Choir – Afar” .
super slept on
GAH I CANT BELIEVE YOU DIDNT PICK THAT ONE ALBUM I LIKED
kill for love is marked as 1 even though it is second
Seriously contentious list, mission accomplished. Gotta say Grimes is just so beyond overrated I don’t know where to start. The fact that she makes #1 basically exposes this year’s crop of albums as a wet fart at best. Try to imagine another year in the last 4 decades where she’d take the top spot. No fucking way kid.
I always enjoy seeing where our lists meet and divert. Definitely some winners on here. Wild to see Johnny Jewel repped three times, but I can’t say he’s undeserving! Also thank you for posting 50, because I was having a lot of trouble only listing 25, and now I’m feeling ok with fleshing out my list some more.
As per, your yearly lists Chris are some of my favourites to peruse as there is always new gems to discover that have somehow slipped through the cracks or that I haven’t paid enough attention to over the course of the year (which is a lot more enriching than arguing with you over who you should/shouldn’t have included). Cheers from one of your Australian readership :)
I like that you’re listening to more electronic music. It was good to see Shackleton, Burial, Andy Stott, and Fort Romeau on your list. 2012 was a great year for albums especially in electronic music. I still don’t get the Grimes appeal it was all just hype. Three indie albums absent from your list that I thought were great from Hundred Waters, Tennis, and DIIV. I also thought The Walkmen’s new one was good.
Here’s my top 20 (subject to change)
1. Legowelt – The Paranormal Soul
2. Beach House – Bloom
3. Claro Intelecto – Reform Club
4. Robert Hood – Motor: Nighttime World 3
5. Four Tet – Pink
6. Tennis – Young and Old
7. Daphni – Jiaolong
8. Two Armadillos – Golden Age Thinking (pts 1-3)
9. Hundred Waters – Hundred Waters
10. Tin Man – Neo Neo Acid
11. Redshape – Square
12. John Talabot – fin
13. Recondite – On Acid
14. Shed – The Killer
15. Andy Stott – Luxury Problems
16. Blondes – Blondes
17. Oskar Offermann – Do Pilots Still Dream Of Flying?
18. Juju & Jordash – Techno Primitivism
19. Voices From The Lake – Voices From The Lake
20. Holy Other – Held
needs more el producto
so glad grimes, kendrick, tops and burial made it! frank ocean’s been topping the charts of many many lists, but man, grimes and tops deserved to take it this year!
What I love about end of year lists, is that I know that I missed something or completely forgot about it when it dropped. Now I can go back, find it and appreciate it all over again. While many will tell you what’s missing, I just wanted to say thank you for a wonderful year and music. It’s good to know that there are people out there that care about quality and diversity and talent. Thank you very much.
Chris, nice list as always. I can always count on yours having a couple things I’ve overlooked for whatever reason. So, thanks for that. (You missed Lonerism. Sorry, had to say it).
Amazing! Already loving this list for Tops alone. Can’t wait to explore the rest of what I missed this year
Claire Boucher, I love you. And how many of these are Johnny Jewel’s doing? Three. That’s how many. And one of them is Kill for Love. Nevertheless, Grimes is the best.
Also, does anyone else still like Night Drive better than this new stuff? And does anyone even listen to the old Grimes?
thanks for another great year, chris. but cmon now – that blunt/copeland record isn’t better than channel orange! “the narcissist” is a top 10 track tho…
gvb always has my favorite year end lists, even though they leave out some obvious choices in the top 10, i always appreciate going back to find some of the lesser known stuff that I didn’t get around to hearing throughout the year
gr8 list yet again bro. Are you doing another “coolest of the year” list? Because I think the obvious choice seems to be Johnny Jewel and Italians do it better.
I find it ironic that people dismiss Tame Impala as ‘boring’. You only have to listen to ‘Nothing That Has Happened So Far Has Been Anything We Could Control’ to realise their music is incredibly stimulating.
I find it ironic that people dismiss Tame Impala as ‘boring’. You only have to listen to ‘Nothing That Has Happened So Far Has Been Anything We Could Control’ to realise their music is incredibly stimulating.
Hey Chris, I pretty much knew CHz wasn’t going to make your list (via too much avey) but what was your final opinion on it? NTB gonna make your top songs list?
btw I already said it on fb but another solid list this year! Seriously stoked that Miguel album made the top 10 despite the fact that I could have never imagined listening to a Miguel album prior to hearing KD last month. Anyways, I always fill my iPhone with your top 25 just in case I miss a gem. First year that the majority of the top 25 were already on my iPhone to begin with!
big ups-I got 22 of 50 of these on vinyl.
Grimes remains a joke
Love the list. This is pretty much the only year end list that I actually take seriously. My only beef is that Laurel Halo should be top 5. I know it’s not the most accessible album but nothing compares to it when you listen to it from start to finish.
Great list! Glad to see LOL Boys in there, Changes is one of the best songs of the year. Missing Arca – Stretch 2, though.
Thanks for the list, always some great ones on it. Def agree with Grimes.
In my top 10 I’d also have:
Tame Impala – Lonerism
First Aid Kit – The Lion’s Roar
Purity Ring – Shrines
Jake Bugg – Jake Bugg
Alabama Shakes – Boys & Girls
Grizzly Bear – Shields
Sharon Van Etten – Tramp
Pond – Beard Wives Denim
Kindness – World You Need a change of Mind
I would have added Purity Ring and Spaceghostpurrp. No Ab-Soul,Captain Murphy or Joey Bada$$? I want to put The xx on my list but I’m not sure,they’re up in the air. Glad that Tops was on this list.
But I totally understand that it’s not the best albums but you’re favorite albums so I really appreciate this list.
Did my best to make a Grooveshark playlist of this list… http://grooveshark.com/#!/playlist/Gorilla+Vs+Bear+Albums+Of+2012/80299924
Just shows how much great stuff came out this year considering what didn’t make the list. I really loved Lemonade’s Diver and John Maus’ A Collection of Rarities, but maybe that would could be considered a reissue since most of those tracks were leaked beforehand. Awesome year for music never the less
Chris, just out of curiosity… Did you not like the latest Dirty Projectors record? I remember you were high pretty high on Bitte Orca (I think..?) in 09. I don’t think SLM is quite as good but still really enjoyed. Anyway, another great list and certainly some stuff to check out.
Gorilla bear never seizes to surprise me. Stay tuned for our list: http://www.lowerfrequencies.com/
I know opinions are like assholes, because everybody’s got one and everybody thinks everyone else’s stinks- but this list sucks. blows. trying too hard.
Perfume Genius, a tough exclusion.
Amen brother!
I can’t believe how bad it’s getting snubbed this year.
Really, really great list! Keep up the good work. Long-time fan of GvB, and I’m so happy this site is around. Not sure if this will be your thing, but check out Vanessa Rossetto’s album Exotic Exit on Kye Records.
It never ceases to amaze me that people never reflect on what’s in the list but only what’s absent, but the Tame Impala thing is next level. I wrote a luke warm review of Lonerism, (for the record I like it but certainly don’t hold it in the top 50 of the year) and got emails bordering on death threats. Are those guys amassing some sort of stoner army? Is Elephant packing an yvan eht noij style subliminal message?
For me 2012 will always be Andy Stott’s. Nice to see Tops in there so high, Sand Circles is also another awesome inclusion. Endless Nights is such a killer track.
GvB is getting a bit…esoteric for me these days. Half of these albums just strike me as valiant attempts at creative art, but not really “good music.” On the more mainstream tip, could not get into Grimes at all, was underwhelmed by Chromatics, and simply don’t understand what makes the Tops record special. Leaving off Liars and Tame Impala just seems odd, but taste is taste I suppose. Definitely feel like this blog’s interests have gotten more obscure over the years, which is fine, but hard to relate to for me. Oh well. Looking forward to the songs list.
Ultraista!!! Such an underrated album.
Omg I really liked Grimes’ music until the release of Visions … who seemed to be able to write a few catchy choruses but the rest of the album I thought was formless….I actually deleted it. Now I hear it everywhere I go and everyone else is like ‘omg i discovered this album called Visions’ on their facebooks. Oh dear. I blame record executives
Halfaxa and the other one for ever.
Can purity ring get some love for 2012. Shrines should have definitely been in the top 50 of the year.
Tame Impala, Divine Fits
Great list. You have your own tastes and aesthetic interests and it happens to resonate with a lot of us guys. And that’s fine.
Chromatics composed and produced a far more masterful album than Grimes though. Grimes had a few decent songs, but, best “album?” Not even close. You guys are better than that.
I am still surprised that, at this stage, G vs B doesn’t do its own music reviews, especially if you’re going to do these “lists” annually. Folks would tune in, with interest, and it would add to your credibility to give us some insight into what you see that maybe we’re missing or could look for upon second, third, etc. listen, e.g. Grimes. You guys could do something like that tastefully, without bombarding us with reviews.
Twin Shadow doesn’t get a nod?
Regardless, thanks for doing what you do. My favourite music site by far.
According to this list, I have a lot to listen to before the end of 2012. Chromatics is incredibly boring and uninspiring, but I’m in the minority on that. Maybe if they got a new vocalist…
Matthew Dear – Beams is my #1. His live show is still reverberating in my bones.
I agree with the Chromatics opinion. I’ve tried. With three different offerings by the Chromatics (or Chromatics-affiliated projects) on here, I’m definitely in the minority. I’m also not hugely into R&B or dance/club music. Maybe I’m a student of old school indie music, or maybe I’m just old? ;)
hooray for las malas amistades
ariel deserves to be a lot higher. difficult, but great album.
Ah, to each their own. I could see some people not liking it, but I would put it as one of my favorites, definitely top 5.
and talabot yeah, that has to be in there.
super happy to see TOPS getting the high praise they deserve.
but where are Melody’s Echo Chamber, Perfume Genius, and Bobby Womack???
at least their music speaks for itself, and they aren’t off trying to turn Brooke Candy into a star. ok, no shade, i love grimes, but damn, hope she doesn’t get lost in the styling of her image and the glitz and lose the charm. i find it funny that every one who ran lana del rey through the machine are forgetting about how strong her songs are holding up. those melodies aren’t going anywhere. it’s great that chairlift is getting props.
thank you for ignoring death grips. people need to come clean on that joke. it’s not funny.
Also, let’s get real about that Miguel record…great but not excellent, and nowhere near as versatile, deep, and socially progressive as Frank Ocean’s. anyway, that’s just my two cents p.s. are there any other grizzly bear fans who aren’t into the new one? i found it to be utter toss.
Haha, I think people do not realize how much these lists are subject to change for various people. I don’t like R&B(no problem with it personally, just not my thing), but I understand the importance of the varied tastes in making these lists. I love seeing all the different opinions, but let’s not forget that they are just those. I loved Nocturne, and Autumn Reel mix was a personal favorite, but I still can just look at people and appreciate their opinion and add that to the albums I already was comfortable with, and push my comfort level with new music. The fact of the matter is, look at somebody else’s top 50 and compare it to your own, and try to understand their perspective, and in the end, artists hopefully don’t focus too much on all of this and the fans should do the same because good music is getting made, and that’s all that matters right?
Been a big fan since Alsatian Darn got #1 spot in your song of the year list a few years back. My 1 and 2 albums are Grimes and Kendrick too with Chromatics not far off as well. Top list. Still think though any album with Apocalyspe Dreams on it maybe coulda sneaked in but superb taste again.
Why’d death grips slid so far? They were pretty high up in the half year list and they even released another great album.
Sweet list, as always. My #1 was Keaton Henson’s Dear. But I can understand why it mightn’t be to everyone’s taste.
Intense
Flying Lotus/UNTIL THE QUIET COMES at #30?! Would have thought it was a lock for top 10 consideration.
Trust- TRST
Grimes-Visions
a lot of grimes hate on here, and while i didn’t get into visions, i do want to say that i loved geidi primes a helluva lot. she has it in her to be phenomenal.
while i wish my girl julia holter was on here, as i said above, props on this list.
mirrorring, tamaryn, angel olsen, chairlift, and chromatics are absolutely some of my favorites this year.
What about Jens Lekman?
i’m so confused why does it skip frank ocean and then have a line separating the artist from the proper track?
20. Ab-Soul – Control System
19. Air Tycoon – Winter Purple
http://air-tycoon.bandcamp.com/album/winter-purple
18. Andy Stott – Luxury Problems
17. Twin Shadow – Confess
16. Crystal Castles – III
15. Evian Christ – Kings And Them
14. TNGHT – TNGHT EP
13. oOoOO – Our Love Is Hurting Us EP
12. Groundislava – Feel Me
11. Sebastien Tellier – my god is blue
10. Killer Mike – R.A.P. Music
9. Tame Impala – lonerism
8. Kendrick Lamar- Good Kid M.A.A.D City
7. Symmetry- themes for an imaginary film
6. iamamiwhoami – Kin
5. Holy Other- Held
4. Purity Ring – Shrines
3. Ice Choir – Afar
2. Chromatics -Kill for Love
1. BeachHouse – Bloom
Great list… but… no mention of Animal Collective? Sacrilege! Nah, it just seems weird. I’ve been coming here forever for AC stuff. In fact, AC is what brought me here years ago. But Centipede Hz didn’t do it for me either. Maybe it’s just one of those things I’ll have to revisit someday. Maybe not.
Your year end list is always the one I find myself looking forward to most, and you certainly didn’t disappoint this year. Awesome work, Chris. Here’s my personal list:
20. The Music Tapes | Mary’s Voice
19. Frankie Rose | Interstellar
18. Cloud Nothings | Attack on Memory
17. Bat for Lashes | The Haunted Man
16. Grimes | Visions
15. Godspeed You! Black Emperor | ‘Allelujah! Don’t Bend! Ascend!
14. The Mountain Goats | Transcendental Youth
13. Beach House | Bloom
12. Japandroids | Celebration Rock
11. Fiona Apple | The Idler Wheel…
10. Dirty Projectors | Swing Lo Magellan
09. Mount Eerie | Clear Moon / Ocean Roar
08. Kendrick Lamar | good kid, m.A.A.d city
07. Frank Ocean | channel ORANGE
06. Chromatics | Kill for Love
05. Death Grips | The Money Store
04. The Shins | Port of Morrow
03. Titus Andronicus | Local Business
02. Chairlift | Something
01, Animal Collective | Centipede Hz
My Top 10 Albums of 2012
1.Beach House- Bloom
2. Fiona Apple- The Idle Wheel
3.Grimes- Visions
4. Chairlift- Something
5. Dum Dum Girls- End of Daze
6. Melody’s Echo Chamber- Melody’s Echo Chamber
7. The Raveonettes- Observator
8. Tame Impala- Lonerism
9. Prince Rama- Top Ten Hits of the End of the World
10. Seapony- Falling
Great list. Diggin’ the Andy Stott and Laurel Halo love.
Also Chris, I think you would like my friend’s music. He’s from Dallas and makes music under the name Treasure Hunt. Moon Glyph just released a tape from him called Toys Unatic. I know that they have them at Good Records. Very beautiful ambient, string plucked ethereal stuff. Reminds me of Nicolas Jaar.
Alabama Shakes’ American Family Insurance ad, overlooked for sure
FINALLY someone includes Holy Other’s hauntingly brilliant Held. Then again, Gorilla vs. Bear was the website that introduced me to Holy Other, so thanks GvB! And I’m glad to see that Frank Ocean was NOT at number one and Jessie Ware was so high on the list. Great list!
My Top Ten Albums for 2012:
1. Purity Ring – Shrines
2. Hot Chip – In Our Heads
3. The XX – Coexist
4. Bat For Lashes – The Haunted Man
5. Chromatics – Kill For Love
6. Wild Nothing – Nocturne
7. Beach House – Bloom
8. Tomas Barfod – Salton Sea
9. Chad Valley – Young Hunger
10. Orbital – Wonky
My Top Ten Tracks for 2012:
1. The XX – Chained
2. Major Lazer – Get Free (feat. Amber Coffman)
3. Chvrches – Lies
4. Wild Nothing – Paradise
5. Hot Chip – Let Me Be Him
6. Purity Ring – Amenamy
7. Bat For Lashes – All Your Gold
8. Chromatics – Lady
9. Tomas Barfod – Till We Die (feat. Nina Kinert)
10. Ultraista – Smalltalk
gross
I would of had Jeff The Brotherhood and Ty Segall in there somewhere.
your list didnt include my favorite albums! also, your list differs in order than mine would! your list is crap, my list is good. here’s my list:
Ok, I love this site and I find out about so much cool music from here but you have to admit the dude who runs it is such a cunt when it comes to criticism of his lists. Case in point, how many people including me have been like John Talabot’s fin was one of the albums of the year and all you can come up with is “yeah I liked his b-sides and remixes better.” What a load of shit, for once admit that you were late to the party you ultra proud hipster
just being honest, i enjoy the album and it narrowly missed this list, but never really fully connected with it. but i loved his chairlift remix, the b-sides (“mai mes” particularly) and that spanish marathon track “braves” more than just about anything on the record.
Yeah you’re completely right. I’m really embarrassed at writing this keep posting good stuff.
Yo Chris, what happened to Shields being “easily their best work to date”? Surprised to see it miss out on the top 10. Was that comment slightly premature or was it just a very strong year for albums? Good list tho as ever
1. Devotion – JESSIE WARE
2. Kill for Love – CHROMATICS
3. good kid, m.A.A.d. city – KENDRICK LAMAR
4. Something – CHAIRLIFT
5. Kaleidoscope Dream – MIGUEL
6. Coexist – THE XX
7. DJANGO DJANGO
8. Bloom – BEACH HOUSE
9. An Awesome Wave – ALT-J
10. Swing Lo Magellan – DIRTY PROJECTORS
Thank you!
No one has mentioned Django Django until now. Does it not count as 2012?
Definitely one of the most unique, cohesive albums I’ve heard in awhile.
Grizzly Bears’ Shields is such a rad album. these guys have created such a new mature sound. theyve done it again!
Some of my favorites missing:
Menomena
Cloud nothings
The Walkmen
Twin shadow
Diiv
Hundred Waters
Solid list, though, obviously everybody’s going to have a different opinion and try to add their two cents…including me haha
Here’s mine, for whatever it is worth
10. Oddissee – People Hear What They See
09. DIIV – Oshin
08. Beach House – Bloom
07. Cat Power – Sun
06. Lower Dens – Nootropics
05. Kris Menace – Electric Horizon
04. Twin Shadow – Confess
03. Guillemots – Hello Land!
02. Grimes – Visions
01. Chromatics – Kill For Love
iamamiwhoami, Julia Holter, Frankie Rose, Flying Lotus, Aesop Rock (among many others) would all round out my list if I were to continue it.
5. Grizzly Bear – Shields
4. Kendrick Lamar – Good Kid, Maad City
3. Fiona Apple – The Idler Wheel…
2. Frank Ocean – Channel Orange
1. Beach House – Bloom
You have, I believe, 4 Johnny Jewel related projects in your Top 25. That’s a bit obsessive. This is my list:
http://buythisrecord.blogspot.com/2012/12/best-records-of-2012-absolutely.html
maybe. he’s one of my favorite artists at the moment though
kaleidoscope dream and channel orange are exactly where they should be…
would have liked to see ab-soul (second best TDE release this year imo) and mac demarco but THANK YOU for giving angel olsen her dues. saw her live twice this year and wow. such an underrated talent. and its great to see clams casino right beside her.
all in all, great job Chris.
Just a little curious why Japandroids didn’t make it? That album kicked ass.
cmon
tame impala should atleast be top 5
srsly
In no particular orders:
LPs
Amanda Palmer & The Grand Theft Orchestra – Theatre Is Evil
Death Grips – The Money Store
Extrawelt – In Aufruhr / Nachschlag
Crystal Castles – III
Grimes – Visions
Hundred Waters – Hundred Waters
iamamiwhoami – Kin
Kendrick Lamar – good kid, m.A.A.d city
Kap Bambino – Devotion
Kindness – World You Need A Change Of Mind
TRUST – TRST
We Have Band – Ternion
yyu – ghost toast
Purity Ring – Shrines
Honourable mentions
Django Django – Django Django
How to Dress Well – Total Loss
METZ – METZ
Miguel – Kaleidoscope Dream
MillionYoung – Amanecer
Porcelain Raft – Strange Weekend
Shades – Clear Motions
Saltillo – Monocyte
Taken By Trees – Other Worlds
Tanlines – Mixed Emotions
TEEEL – University Heights
Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs – Trouble
Tropics – Nautical Clamor
Twin Shadow – Confess
Vacationer – Gone
Vision of Trees – Visions of Trees
Voices from the Lake – Voices from the Lake
Zanmuto – Zanmuto
EPs
Trojans – Through The Glass
MS MR – Candy Bar Creep Show
AlunaGeorge -You Know You Like It
Angel Haze – Classick
Azealia Banks – 1991
Isaac Delusion – Midnight Sun
Labyrinth Ear – Apparitions
London Bridges – Lovesongs
Mr Little Jeans – Runaway
oOoOO – Our Love Is Hurting Us
Rhye – Open
+++ – EP ++
Twigs – Twigs
tame impala´s lonerism and Stars´the north. definitely deserve a spot
tame impala´s lonerism and Stars´the north. definitely deserve a spot
My top 48 of the year :
+++ – EP ++ (EP)
AlunaGeorge -You Know You Like It (EP)
Amanda Palmer & The Grand Theft Orchestra – Theatre Is Evil
Angel Haze – Classick (EP)
Azealia Banks – 1991 (EP)
Bat for Lashes – Haunted Man
Chairlift- Something
Chromatics – Kill For Love
Crystal Castles – III
Death Grips – The Money Store
Django Django – Django Django
Extrawelt – In Aufruhr / Nachschlag
Grimes – Visions
Holy Other – Held
How to Dress Well – Total Loss
Hundred Waters – Hundred Waters
iamamiwhoami – Kin
Isaac Delusion – Midnight Sun (EP)
Julia Holter – Ekstasis
Kap Bambino – Devotion
Kendrick Lamar – good kid, m.A.A.d city
Kindness – World You Need A Change Of Mind
Labyrinth Ear – Apparitions (EP)
London Bridges – Lovesongs (EP)
METZ – METZ
Miguel – Kaleidoscope Dream
MillionYoung – Amanecer
Mr Little Jeans – Runaway (EP)
MS MR – Candy Bar Creep Show (EP)
oOoOO – Our Love Is Hurting Us (EP)
Porcelain Raft – Strange Weekend
Purity Ring – Shrines
Rhye – Open (EP)
Saltillo – Monocyte
Shades – Clear Motions
Taken By Trees – Other Worlds
Tanlines – Mixed Emotions
TEEEL – University Heights
Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs – Trouble
Trojans – Through The Glass (EP)
Tropics – Nautical Clamor
TRUST – TRST
Twigs – Twigs (EP)
Twin Shadow – Confess
Vacationer – Gone
We Have Band – Ternion
yyu – ghost toast
Zanmuto – Zanmuto
Eric “e6gMan” Eggleson’s TOPTEN 2012
Shut Down the Streets -A.C. Newman
Beautiful Sharks -Keith Canisius
Tomorrow’s Yesterday -Almost Charlie
Places -Sam Billen
Interstellar -Frankie Rose
Can I Sit Here and Absorb? -William Seen’s Transport Music
Electric Cables -Lightships
Tender Opposites -Tops
Spooky Action at a Distance -Lotus Plaza
Talent -Heavenly Beat
Nice list. My (humble) best music of 2012:
http://ludditestereo.net/2012/12/23/best-music-of-2012-20-16/