2012 Top Ten Albums in 140 characters each
10. Sleigh Bells - Reign of Terror: surprised by how much I
enjoyed outrageously abrasive production/infectious melodies. Over. The. Top.
9. Craig Finn - Clear Heart Full Eyes: All my downtime makes
me nervous, Finn says. Somehow I get that. Pure gut-punch stories via Nashville.
8. The Jealous Sound - A Gentle Reminder: gently reminding us
how needed Blair's heartbroken lyricism is. Heard it before? Yes. Still vital?
Yes!
7. Kathleen Edwards - Voyaeur: Sounds like spring in the
dead of winter. Folksy, modern, tragicomic songs delivered by veteran
songstress.
6. From Indian Lakes - Able Bodies: Making Central Cal proud
with mathpop time-shifts, sharp-edged guitars, AND singable, intelligent songs.
5. Of Monsters and Men - My Head Is An Animal: many
instruments, voices make a pleasant racket...should sound plastic but instead
is sublime.
4. Japandroids - Celebration Rock. If crafting fuzzy,
stadium-sized, 3XL anthems is so easy, ask yourself this: Why am I not in the
Spin Top 50?
3. The Killers - Battle Born: Brandon Flowers is gifted.
Ambitious, soaring, passion-pop songs that tell Our Story, circa '12. Not
trendy but timeless.
2. The Walkmen - Heaven: indie music for grownups...family
vacations, storytime, and bittersweet love (the only kind). And it sounds
amazing.
1. Hammock - Departure Songs: post-rock masterwork.
Sprawling, densely layered double album, sounds like planets spiraling over
fiscal cliff.
