So I used to write for an ambitious music blog based out of Los Angeles. I had been writing and contributing to the site since it's inception nearly four years ago and enjoyed the creative outlet as much as I enjoyed the perks, which, I assure you, were minimal.
For the bulk of those 3+ years I was part of the four-man brain trust that made all the decisions on where the site was headed, what we wanted to do with the site and the day-to-day management of writers and content. And yet, throughout my entire experience, I always knew I was the least qualified music geek out of all the writers and contributors. Don't get me wrong, I love music and I sure as hell listen to a large quantity of music from across a very wide genre spectrum, perhaps to stay current, but mostly to quench my thirst for that thing that a new sound, song or artist can spark within.
We all know a music aficionado and can describe the heard-it-first, rare-whatever, experimental nonsense, "you just don't get it" attitude that is attached to the obsession. Which is why I always hated this time of year.
No, not the holiday-induced depression, launched by the thought of being alone the rest of my life; I've already come to terms with that, in the most logical way (booze, obviously). No, I hate this time of year because I despised having to come up with a list of my "Top 25 Albums" of whatever year it was.
I hated reading list upon list of albums that I had never hear of, albums I thought sucked and albums that no one could have possibly thought was the best thing that anyone had done that year if it weren't already prematurely published on Pitchfork or Rolling Stone or whatever trendy music website other people read.
I hated the process of creating a "Top 25 Albums" for the site that I helped manage and I hated that three quarters of the list I helped create was artists and albums I had not listened to or would never listen to again.
And if you think publicists and management companies for these artists aren't hard at work trying to manipulate all of these "Best of" lists, you're crazy. All throughout the day I receive email from people whose name's I know only because I get five versions of "Put Fun. on your 'Best of 2012' list" promo emails from them a day--but for like 20 different bands. It's madness. Stupid, stupid madness.
So, without further ado, here is my list of Top 10(or so) Albums of 2012!
Frank Ocean - Channel Orange
I know this is a safe, easy pick that will be on everyone's "Best of" list, but screw it, I listen to this album everyday and that has to mean something. Seriously, Frank Ocean did something awesome and unexpected here and "Pyramids" is my favorite song of the year.
Cloud Nothings - Attack On Memory
Cloud Nothings had some of the hardest guitar-driven brooding and jam-outs on anything in 2012, yet somehow brilliantly found a way to balance their album with some really fun, poppy, Rock & Roll. Fun fact, I met these dudes at SXSW this year and asked the lead singer about his first SXSW experience, expecting him to gush about how great it was, etc. Instead, he said it was pretty boring when they weren't playing because they couldn't buy booze or drink--because they were all 19 at the time. Love it!
Alabama Shakes - Boys And Girls
Probably the most user-friendly band on this list. Awesome blues-rock out of, you guessed it, Alabama. Think: Joplin minus the junk.
Grimes - Visions
I hesitate to call Grimes an electronic artist, but she certainly gets how the synth game works. Her songs are beautifully layered only to be outdone by her gorgeously delicate vocals. If you get a chance to see Grimes live, you will gain like, 9-levels of appreciation for what she does, all alone (SFWeekly named her performance at Treasure Island Music Festival this year, one of their "20 Best San Francisco Concerts of 2012").
Japandroids - Celebration Rock
The name of the album says it all. Japandroids are the lone-guitar and drums version of musical fireworks.
Soundcloud Here.
Ok, this started to get long, so I'm going to cut this into two parts. Part 2 next week!
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