06-12-13

Top Albums 2012

Here are my favorite albums from the past year (here’s last year’s list):

Flying Lotus – Until the Quiet Comes

The mesmerizing and rhythmic video created by Cyriak Harris for “Putty Boy Strut” got me flipping through other Flying Lotus songs in a hurry. I like the distinct texture in each song on this album, from the gauziness of the title track to the swagger of “Sultan’s Request”. Until the Quiet Comes is an excellent companion for the daily commute.

Beach House – Bloom

I’ve heard good things about Beach House for a few years now, but the material seemed too subdued for me (by a totally arbitrary gut feeling). So, I was surprised by how catchy this album is. I particularly like “Other People,” and “The Hours,” songs that showcase that catchiness and Victoria Legrand’s unwavering yet distant vocals.

Tame Impala – Lonerism

Having been a huge fan of Tame Impala’s first album (Innerspeaker), and its roots in psychedelic rock, I think I had a hard time getting into Lonerism at first. It channels the tight repetition of the songs on Innerspeaker into more expansive jams, and relies on a stronger application of synths. But with a little patience, Lonerism is a more rewarding listen.

Favorites: “Nothing That Has Happened So Far Has Been Anything We Can Control,” and “Apocalypse Dreams” (bonus! video contains two other songs).

Grizzly Bear – Shields

What can be said other than that Grizzly Bear just keep getting better? I knew I was in for something special when the single “Sleeping Ute” hit the internet. Their songs are typically so well-crafted that the emotional precision they achieve seems somehow mathematical. I’ve listened to “Sun in Your Eyes” about a thousand times now. And, they put on a great live show.

Jacob Zinman-Jeanes – Astronomy

I don’t even remember how I came across Astronomy. Jacob Zinman-Jeanes captures the awe and immensity of observing the cosmos using twinkling runs and insistent bass lines infused with an 8-bit quality. This seems to access my childhood imagination – when anything and everything could be a spacecraft and technology was becoming a popular medium for showing us things that could not be seen without it. Astronomy is characterized by that sense of exploration and expansiveness.

Favorites: “Hubble,” and “Orion’s Belt.”