Albums
of the year
2012
So it’s come to this has it? A year of music so good that for the first time I came close to wishing albums would stop being made, as anything new coming out will surely distract and take away time from enjoying the fantastic albums that came out already. I feel bombarded with so much good music, yet time to listen slowly dissolving away (as evidenced by my balding head). Granted, it’s very true that I may not branch out as much as one could, and the most frustrating part is half of what I am into based on this post (and my runners-up post next week) may look like I do nothing but wait for Pitchfork’s daily reviews to guide me on my way musically. Rest assured, that is not the case, and just merely a coincidence. Most of the times I’ve done these posts I’ve just said “HERE! This is where’s it’s at – and listen to this other person tell you why!”. Last year, I took the time to write up my own reviews (who’d a thunk it?), but after looking at my blog stats I saw that it really didn’t reach many people. Your loss! So instead of making this feel like a chore left unnoticed this year by writing relatively long reviews that would fall on deaf ears, I would simplify. In the end, let the music speak for itself, eh? Well, for the most part. So, here you go, my favorite albums of the year. I guess technically they are what I consider to be “the best”, but by saying that it means these then have to be put in some sort of order, and quantified some way. But I really can’t do that. Depending on the mood of the day, each one of these albums is “the best” at one time or another, so really out of all the albums I’ve listened to over the past year, these are my go to albums – my favorites – my “desert island discs” of sorts. I’ve shared one track from each album as well, songs that I think not only represent what is great about the entire album, but what may spark an interest in you to checking out the whole thing, because to me they are all worth your time and quite rewarding indeed. Enjoy with aloha, and as always, turn it WAY the hell up, and for crying out loud use headphones. Laptop speakers = death.
2
Beach House
Bloom
Baltimore’s Beach House released their second album, Teen Dream, two years ago, and it was an enjoyable little affair. But there was something missing to it that I could never quite figure out. I’m not sure if it was the melodies that just never connected with me, but mostly it felt like there was never a coherent mood that made the entire thing gel. Now on Bloom, their third album, little has changed in their sound. So much so that this album can be a difficult collection to digest upon first listens as it’s a a bit of a struggle trying to figure out how they have progressed from the last album. A few of the songs completely stand out, but as a whole, at first, it’s hard to tell. But like most albums (and how many times can I possibly say this?), with time and patience, it crystalizes, to the point that Bloom feels like to me the sound and the level of craftsmanship they have always been trying to achieve. The sound is the same, but the vibe is refined and the songwriting is vastly improved. Just listen to the song I’ve shared here, ‘Lazuli’, an incredibly gorgeous and dare I say romantic track. Like a lot of the album, it’s drenched in this 70’s easy listening mixed with Cocteau Twins dream-pop sound (and no I am NOT referring to the vocals who couldn’t be further apart in style), with a beautiful refrain at the song’s closure (“Like no other you can’t be replaced”) that easily makes it one of my top tracks of the year. It’s a high bar to follow up with, but like the finest of wines (or cheese – like me!), each track ages in the most sublime way possible. It’s lush, it’s luminous, glowing with the most genuine of vocalists, and above all every note feels sincere. On tracks like the closer ‘Irene’, the sound of nostalgia jumps out to you, as if the memories in your fading pile of polaroids come to life, rekindling a more innocent time with friends and family that felt so far out of reach as time has gone by. They’re wonderful feelings to conjure up, and Beach House do it so naturally and with such class and ease. Truly majestic.