TOP 10 ALBUMS OF 2012

No messing….straight to the point….

1) Sigur Ros – Valtari

2) Asgeir Trausti – Dýrð í dauðaþögn

3) Field Music – Plumb

4) Efterklang – Piramida

5) Grizzly Bear – Shields

6) Dirty Projectors – Swing Lo Magellan

7) Borko – Born to be Free

8) Tame Impala – Lonerism

9) Clock Opera – Ways to Forget

10) The Invisible – Rispah

I seem to vaguely remember last year’s list being a bit of a lady-fest so odd to see this year is much more testosterone based…(well….that’s not quite accurate as none of these are particularly LAD! LAD! LAD! bands but you know what I mean…). As ever, the Scandinavians have done well. The cheeky scamps. Not that gender or geography matter an iota. It’s either good music or it’s not.

Also, in a year where I’ve probably listened to more varied styles and genres of music than ever before I’m quite surprised that my final choices are all still fairly guitar oriented alt-pop stuff. I guess some habits die hard….probably because a lot of those jazz and classical types are too busy being dead to make a new album. How achingly cool of them…

As per usual there’s loads of albums I’ve either only heard on Spotify (other streaming services are available) or not had enough time with to fall for properly yet. I’m still catching up with last years albums to be honest….and the year before….and the year before etc….

One of my ‘rules’ is that I have to at least properly own said album, so Beach House, First Aid Kit, Sharon Van Etten, Lianne La Havas, (so there’s all the lasses!) The Shins, Godspeed!, David Byrne/St Vincent, Peter Broderick, Swans and The Walkmen would all probably be very high if I’d actually gotten around to purchasing the LP’s yet. Damn being a skint musician and vinyl being more than 50p a go. Fingers crossed that Santa reads this blog…

Also, lingering just outside the top ten would probably be Scott Walker, Spiritualized, Retro Stefson and Richard Hawley. They were just nudged out as it’s been a particularly cracking year for music I think. I expect a few other names will come to me the minute I post this up.

Aaaaaaaaand finally…this is Wit posting so don’t hold any of the others responsible for my musical tastes…..NONE OF THEM ARE AS HIP AS ME*

Top gigs of the year to come later this week….

W

xxx

*they are all hipper than me