FAVOURITE ALBUMS OF 2012.
ok. So, here it is. My top albums of 2012. It’s been a nutty year, full of some really incredible albums. As I mentioned in my earlier post, it was impossible to listen to everything, but, I did try. Continuing on with the whole Australian music blog theme this blog has taken on over the past 8 or 9 months, everything here is Australian. Check out my 11-20 list for the os albums that made my faves.
I’ve made a bit of a mix with a track or two from each album which you can stream/download below. Also, if you click on the album titles, you can stream the album on spotify. Coz I is good like that.
So, without further ado, 10 – 1.
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10. Bored Nothing – Bored Nothing
Such a chilled release. A culmination of tracks from EPs leading up to his singing to SPUNK, not only is it a rad collection of tracks, but they all sit so tightly together. Great prolific song writing on show with this one.
Bored Nothing – Get Out Of Here
9. Jonathan Boulet – We Keep The Beat, Found The Sound, See The Need, Start The Heart
I called this fella a genius when his debut album came in my fave albums of 2009. His second album, whilst perhaps not living up to the rather lofty heights he set himself a few years ago, still nails it. A lot more percussive this time round, I think the beauty in it is just how ferocious some of this disc is.
Jonathan Boulet – Trounce
8. Catcall – The Warmest Place
This took me a little by surprise. From the opening 46 second intro, The Warmest Place shows that Catcall is, simply put, a killer pop song writer. But moreso, not only is she an individual pop song master, she also pretty much kills a pop album.
Catcall – The World is Ours
7. Pop Singles – All Gone
Like the Twerps debut album of last year (my fave of the year too!) Pop Singles have the whole Flying Nun era jangly pop, but still manage to sound broad, encompassing, and dare I say, Australian. Not only are there some incredibly excellent individual songs on this release (in fact, each track is excellent), the songs sit really well alongside each other. It freakin works as an album.
Pop SIngles – All Gone
6. King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard – 12 Bar Bruise
Throw shit at the wall and see what sticks? King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard nail that noisy bluesy punk vibe with their debut release, 12 Bar Bruise. There’s a bit of variety on this disc which I love.
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard – Muckraker
5. Presets – Pacifica
There are so many great pop moments on this album. Whilst I had heard that this disc was going to be a bit more straight techno than Apocolypso, I would perhaps suggest that there are a heap more feel good moments on here. Both Kim and Julian nail it though.
The Presets – Ghosts
4. Tame Impala – Lonerism
For all of the hype this album has received, for me, it still manages to fit in the top 10. The album has some seriously great tracks – some perhaps even contenders for year best! But, as with all the albums on this list, it’s not just a collection of songs. They all sit well together, and there’s an overarching story if you like, in the sequencing of the tracks.
Tame Impala – Elephant
3. Collarbones – Die Young
A massively hyped album, for sure, but I think still deserving of every little bit of love it gets. If beat driven glitchy rave style r’n’b is the new thing, then these two are at the forefront.
Collarbones – Die Young feat. HTML Flowers
2. Love Migrate – Plagued Are All My Thoughts, Like White Ants In The Fence
Easily one of my favourite Melbourne bands, this was definitely an album I was eagerly anticipating. Showcasing some incredibly strong songwriting, it’s full of really broad encompassing instrumentation. Eddie’s wonderfully crafted vocals really complement what this band do.
Love Migrate – What Kind Of Man Have I Become
1. Boomgates – Double Natural
As is the sound of bands like Dick Diver, Twerps, and Eddy Current, there’s this thrown together sound that these guys really nail. It really does sound like a couple of mates having a play. As a result, there’s this nice snug feeling that you get from listening to this disc. And yeah, sure, you may classify it as indie pop. But more me, it’s indie pop perhaps at it’s finest, and it genuinely leaves you feeling satisfied.
Boomgates – Flood Plains
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Miks
NOVEMBER ’12 MIX
It’s nearly the end of the year. And what a crazy/nuts year it’s been. I can confirm that there will be a best of the year mixtape, maybe a bumper edition (read – close to 2 hours).
But before all that, here is the November tape. Some real different genres on this one, from the grunge stylings of Heavy Beach and Violent Soho to the real tech house vibes of Kharkov. There’s also some really lovely local guitar pop stuff too. As usual, it’s a real mix!
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TRACKLISTING:
1. Friendships – I Never Get A Morning Anymore
2. The Townhouses – Heartsick
3. Ta-Ku – Where
4. Dyl Thomas – One Dat feat. Allday
5. City Calm Down – Sense of Self
6. Panama – It’s Not Over (Ejeca’s Rave To The Grave Remix)
7. Kharkov – Le Go
8. Spoonty – Taro
10. Mammals – That Was Then, This Is Now
11. Pop Singles – All Gone
13. Heavy Beach – Five Days
14. Violent Soho – Neighbour Neighbour
15. Milk Teddy – Suburbs Mystery
16. Camperdown & Out – Down and Out
17. Jonti – Saturday Night
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Miks
JULY ’12 MIX
Well well well…who woulda funk it? A Monthly Mixtape delivered on time? Yeah, it’s the 1st of August and here is July’s Mixtape all up in your grill n shit.
Pretty good mix this time round, if I don’t say so myself – bit of everything. Majority local, new Jordan F EP is amazing. Then there’s also some killer stuff from Amali Ward & QWARMS, The Nectars, Pop Singles, and serial maamf feature man, Ry.
Then of course there’s the internationals – man, that Frank Ocean record is something amazing. And there’s also a killer track from New Yorkers, Romans.
But yeah, you can stream/download the mix below…but if bandwidth ain’t your friend, a few of the tracks are available for free download too!
MAAMF – JULY ’12 MIX (Right click/save as)
TRACKLIST.
Jordan F – Crime in Fourth Sector
Ry – Won’t Be Long (Prod. Soul Marauder)
Sable – Euphoria
Amali Ward – Leave Me Alone (QWARMS RMX)
Van She – Coconuts
Frank Ocean – Pink Matter (feat. André 3000)
Sticky Fingers – Caress Your Soul
Wildcat General Strike – Is Jonathan Taking You Out Again?
The Nectars – Do You Want Me To Possess You?
Velociraptor – Riot
Bad Dreems – Too Old
Single Twin – confused during the show
Love Migrate – Making This Hard
Pop Singles – Field in Flames
Bored Nothing – Get Out Of Here
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Miks
POP SINGLES.
Caught the end of these guys the other week when they supported Pains Of Being Pure At Heart. Finally got round to tracking them down and man, they do kill. Pop Singles kinda sound like Geoffrey O’Connor and classic local stuff like Go Betweens. They are great song writers – quite intricate at times, but, in the same way as, say, Twerps, they manage to still sound big and epic.
It’s live though that you need to check them out – for a small band, they put in such an invigorating show. You can’t help but take notice! I got a track from their most recent release Lambert St Cassette, a tape recorded at live shows along the east coast. Also got a bit of a killer track of their first self titled release called Soaking Wet.
The guys have just finished recording a new release with Jack Farley (he’s worked with Beaches, Twerps, St Helens). Will be getting a release this year sometime.
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Miks
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