Mike's Top 20 Albums of 2012

Just as Greg listed his top albums, it's now my turn. This year was a fantastic one for albums that were brave enough to try something different, become innovative, cross genres and break conventional molds. As Greg reiterated before, this list is meant to be put up for fun, but opinions are like assholes--everybody has one. So let's here your favorites and whether you agree with our choices.


1. Punch Brothers--Who's Feeling Young Now?
2. Alt-J--An Awesome Wave
3. Tame Impala--Lonerism
4. The Walkmen--Heaven
5. Father John Misty--Fear Fun
6. Royal Headache--Royal Headache
7. Dr. John--Locked Down
8. Dirty Projectors--Swing Lo Magellan
9. Michael Kiwanuka--Home Again
10. Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti
11. Titus Andronicus--Local Business
12. Mac Demarco--2
13. Ty Segall--Slaughterhouse
14. Frank Ocean--Channel Orange
15. Animal Collective--Centipede Hz
16. Bob Dylan--Tempest
17. The Men--Open Your Heart
18. Kimbra--Vows
19. Grizzly Bear--Shields
20. Kendrick Lamar--Good Kid, m.a.a.d city

2012: Greg's Favorite Albums of the Year

A few notes before you being painstakingly critiquing my picks...

- These lists are meant to be fun.

- I haven't heard every record that was put out this year (if I have listened to a few hundred albums then I would be happy with that), so don't be upset when you don't see records that "deserved" to make it.

- Who cares what some nerd picks for his albums of the year? All I am hoping for is that a few of you will read this list and give some of these albums a listen.

- This has been an unbelievable year for music. Just thinking about it, I heard some serious contenders for my "album of the year" from multiple genres: R&B, Rap, Punk, Dream Pop, Psychedelic Rock, Electronica, Jazz, Folk, Adult Contemporary, Indie Rock, and whatever genre Alt-J is...

Honorable Mentions

Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti -- Mature Themes

The Bad Plus -- Made Possible

Divine Fits -- A Thing Called Devine Fits

Dr. John -- Locked Down

The Evens -- The Odds

Fang Island -- Major

Flying Lotus -- Until The Quiet Comes

Goat -- World Music

Passion Pit -- Gossamer

Wild Nothing -- Nocturne 

30.) John Talabot -- fIN

29.) Spoek Mathambo -- Father Creeper

28.) Andy Stott -- Luxury Problems

27.) Kishi Bashi -- 151a

26.) Spiritualized -- Sweet Heart Sweet Light 

25.) Regina Spektor -- What We Saw from the Cheap Seats

24.) Stars -- The North

23.) Hospitality -- Hospitality

22.) Lotus Plaza -- Spooky Action at a Distance

21.) Karriem Riggins -- Alone Together

20.) Sharon Van Etten -- Tramp

19.) Cat Power -- Sun 

18.) Father John Misty -- Fear Fun 

17.) Woods -- Bend Beyond

16.) Lambchop -- Mr. M

15.) Beach House -- Bloom

14.) Chairlift -- Something

13.) The Mountain Goats -- Transcendental Youth

12.) Cloud Nothings -- Attack on Memory

11.) The Walkmen -- Heaven

10.) Jack White -- Blunderbuss

9.) Punch Brothers -- Who's Feeling Young Now?

8.) Japandroids -- Celebration Rock

7.) Dirty Projectors -- Swing Lo Magellan

6.) Kendrick Lamar -- good kid, m.A.A.d city

5.) Tame Impala -- Lonerism 

4.) Grizzly Bear -- Shields 

3.) Alt-J -- An Awesome Wave

2.) Frank Ocean -- channel ORANGE

1.) Fiona Apple -- The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than The Driver Of The Screw & Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do

2012: Greg's Favorite Songs of the Year

The end of the year: a time for family, friends, holidays, drinking, and end-of-the-year lists. Sadly, making and reading end-of-the-year lists is the thing I look most forward to.... Wait! Who am I kidding? I love getting hammered and arguing with my family. Seriously though, I love this time of the year because it represents a time of discovery. As much as I love arguing with my fellow music nerds about songs/albums of the year, what is more important is that we all can read these lists and marvel at how amazing this year was for music. I am kicking FILWAD's end-of-the-year lists off with my favorite songs.

Enjoy,

Greg

30.) Cat Power -- "Sun"

29.) Passion Pit -- "Take A Walk" 

28.) The Shins -- "Simple Song"

27.) The Bad Plus -- "Pound For Pound"

26.) Jack White -- "Hip (Eponymous) Poor Boy"

25.) (∆) alt-J -- "Dissolve Me"

24.) John Talabot -- "Destiny" (feat. Pional)

23.) Kendrick Lamar -- "The Art of Peer Pressure"

22.) Fiona Apple -- "Hot Knife"

21.) Tame Impala -- "Elephant"

20.) Punch Brothers -- "Who's Feeling Young Now?"

19.) Grizzly Bear -- "Sun In Your Eyes"

18.) Dirty Projectors -- "Gun Has No Trigger"

17.) Father John Misty -- "Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings"

16.) Cody ChesnuTT -- "''Til I Met The"

15.) Chairlift -- "I Belong In Your Arms"

14.) Animal Collective -- "Moonjock"

13.) Regina Spektor -- "Small Town Moon"

12.) Pond -- "You Broke My Cool"

11.) Miguel -- "Adorn"

10.) The Avett Brothers -- "Live and Die"

9.) Grizzly Bear -- "Sleeping Ute"

8.) Cloud Nothings -- "Stay Useless"

7.) Fiona Apple -- "Werewolf"
6.) Bobby Womack -- "Please Forgive My Heart"

5.) Tame Impala -- "Feels Like We Only Go Backwards"

4.) Japandroids -- "The House That Heaven Built"




3.) Frank Ocean -- "Thinkin Bout You"



2.) Kishi Bashi -- "Bright Whites"



1.) Mackelmore & Ryan Lewis -- "Same Love"

Documentary Presentation: Andrew Bird, "Hands of Glory"

Pitchfork takes a trip up to violin virtuoso Andrew Bird's studio barn where he cut his recent album, "Break It Yourself." In this documentary, Bird and company strips back the gadgets and loops for a bare bones performance of "If I Needed You."

Blog Pigeons and Planes Lists 20 Rare Audio Tracks of Jimi Speaking Just in Time for his Birthday

In honor of Jimi Hendrix's birthday, Complex magazine music blog, Pigeons and Planes, has included a list which features 20 audio clips of Hendrix speaking from interviews and other forms of media.

Hendrix may have made a statement with his pioneering guitar work, but was usually very soft spoken and playful when he spoke in conversation. In one audio track, Hendrix discusses his fear of playing on stage when he was younger:

"It was so very hard to me, because at first man, I was so scared. I wouldn't dare go on stage... Plus, you get so very discouraged, you hear bands playing around you and the guitar player seems like he's always so much better than you are, you know?"

Today would have been Hendrix's 70th birthday. Happy Birthday, voodoo child.