Being the end is near (anytime now according to the Mayans), I present my best albums of 2012. Enjoy (if you have time.)
12. Storm Corrosion - "Storm Corrosion"
(5/8/12, Roadrunner [Sweden/UK])
For fans of Opeth, Porcupine Tree, King Crimson
Premium cuts: Drag Ropes, Lock Howl, Storm Corrosion
11. Fiona Apple - "The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do"
(6/19/12, Epic [USA])
For fans of Tori Amos, Billie Holiday, Mazzy Star
Premium cuts: Hot Knife, Periphery, Jonathan
10. Witchcraft - "Legend"
(9/21/12, Nuclear Blast [Sweden])
For fans of Graveyard, Pentagram, Tool
Premium cuts: White Light Suicide, It's Not Because Of You, Dystopia
9. 3 Inches Of Blood - "Long Live Heavy Metal"
(3/27/12, Century Media [Canada])
For fans of Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Dio
Premium cuts: Dark Messenger, Leather Lord, 4000 Torches
8. Sean Rowe - "The Salesman And The Shark"
(8/27/12, -Anti [USA])
For fans of Andrew Bird, Bill Withers, Tom Waits
Premium cuts: Horses, The Ballad Of Buttermilk Falls, The Lonely Maze
7. Menahan Street Band - "The Crossing"
(10/30/12, Dunham Records [USA])
For fans of The Budos Band, Mondo Cane, El Michels Affair
Premium cuts: Sleight Of Hand, Three Faces, Lights Out
6. Baroness - "Yellow & Green"
(7/16/12, Relapse [USA])
A common trend among many of my admired metal bands over the past few years has been to write an album with smaller cojones. That may be too harsh of a description, as groups getting in touch with their softer side has lead to some killer material (case in point, last years #5 album of the year; Opeth's "Heritage"). Baroness had this in mind heading into the studio to record "Yellow & Green", knowing very well fans may be polarized with less aggression. The result was far from delicate. Songs like "Eula" and "The Lines Between" have enough beef and fire to support the Donner party. The boys from Savannah, GA, also seem to have opted for an early 90s rock groove, sounding very much like the Meat Puppets ("Collapse") and Quicksand ("Psalms Alive"). If this represents the new Baroness, a fourth album entitled "Magenta" would still come off as ferocious.
For fans of Mastodon, Meat Puppets, The Moody Blues
Premium cuts: Eula, Cocainium, Mtns. (The Crown & Anchor)
5. Django Django - "Django Django"
(10/9/12, Ribbon Music [UK])
It has been a while since a more mainstream, alternative, pop rock band with radio airplay has sparked my interest in any meaningful way. Part of the reason Django Django has been able to accomplish this feat is due to nostalgia. The music on their full length debut is a continuation of vocal harmony and electronic synth as introduced by The Beta Band in the late 90s. Having listened to The Beta Band since my introduction following the "Sell Five Copies" scene from the movie High Fidelity, I have loved their distinctive style. Django Django has tapped into the same vein with DJ sampling and breakbeats mixed with acoustic rock and surf pop. The beats are absolutely infectious throughout Django Django. Consider the torch passed.
For fans of The Beta Band, The Beach Boys, Archie Bronson Outfit
Premium cuts: Default, Hail Bop, Love's Dart
4. The Tallest Man On Earth - "There's No Leaving Now"
(6/12/12, Dead Oceans [Sweden])
Folk artists take note; there is no one better than The Tallest Man On Earth. Kristian Matsson may only be 5'7", but his music is gargantuan. On his third LP, Mr. Matsson uses more production to give his music a bigger sound, compared to his previously more rustic albums. His songwriting remains second to none with a voice Dylan purists miss (see "Tempest.") Hearing the majority of "There's No Leaving Now" live added to my appreciation of this album. Stripped down and played acoustic, these songs stand out even more and continue with TTMOE's track record of being yet to write a song that wasn't instantly memorable. Only three albums and 2 EPs into his career, the Tallest Man is already among the upper echelon of folk songwriters. Here's hoping he stays true to his word and doesn't leave anytime soon.
For fans of Bob Dylan, Nick Drake, William Elliott Whitmore
Premium cuts: Little Brother, Wind And Walls, Revelation Blues
3. Graveyard - "Lights Out"
(11/6/12, Nuclear Blast [Sweden])
I am convinced that Sweden has more musical talent per capita than any other country. Four albums on this list are from Sweden. Three of my favorite artists hail from the land of meatballs and lutfisk; Opeth, The Tallest Man On Earth and Graveyard. Graveyard also claimed the crown for "best album of 2011" with the monumental "Hisingen Blues." Their follow-up album "Lights Outs" continues the bands trend of psychedelic blues, southern-fried "classic" rock/metal. Joakim Nilsson and crew has gotten the "Led out" yet another time in a mere 18 months. The music on their 3rd full length album is just as good as their previous efforts with vocals sounding like it was spewed from classic rock pioneers and riffs as catchy as anything heard at Woodstock. This rollicking, rock music is contagiously fun in a time where the whole world seems like it could use a little. For full effect, "Lights Out" is best served loud. Skål!
For fans of Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, The Sword
Premium cuts: Endless Night, An Industry Of Murder, The Suits, The Law & The Uniforms
2. Enslaved - "
RIITIIR"
(10/9/12, Nuclear Blast [Norway])
Most individuals mellow out as they become long(er) in the tooth. However, as I have aged (to my ripe old mid-thirtysomething's), my taste in music has become much heavier. Thrash metal of the 80's (in the vain of Megadeth [the greatest thrash metal band of all time] and Metallica) was the start. Followed by more radio-friendly rock/metal. Over the past few years, my auditory "palate" has expanded to enjoy Stoner Metal, Doom Metal, Death Metal, Black Metal, New Wave Of Swedish Death Metal and Progressive Death Metal (a recent favorite.) Enslaved is the newest extreme band I have become quite fond of and has introduced me to Progressive Viking Metal (check out the
Map Of Metal.) "
RIITIIR" is the 12th studio album from Norway's Enslaved and the 5th with their current (and best) lineup. Following heavy rotation of their back catalog, one can hear an increasing progressive element akin to Pink Floyd and King Crimson, which is undoubtedly why this album stands out. It is amazingly heavy with guttural roars and clean vocals throughout. At times, Grutle Kjellson's vocals sound like an orc from Middle Earth whom has overdosed on helium (this description doesn't come off as bad-ass as he actually sounds.) That all being said, these vikings retain their musicianship without compromising brutality. Conventional time signatures need not apply as several different span throughout even a single song. Chaos rules in this epic, bombastic, metal masterpiece.
For fans of Opeth, Dimmu Borgir, Dream Theater
Premium cuts: Roots Of The Mountain, Thoughts Like Hammers, Death In The Eyes Of Dawn
1. Matt Elliott - "The Broken Man"
(1/16/12, Ici d'ailleurs... [UK/France])
"The Broken Man" is haunting and this is because Matt Elliott is scary good... Literally. He is a gifted songwriter and his music is incredibly eerie. From Bistol, United Kingdom, this limey has been creating music for over a decade ranging from electronic/drum and bass to ambient soundscapes. He has recently opened my eyes to a new genre of music dubbed "dark folk" (for a great collection of dark folk music check out the 2010 compilation album "Whom The Moon A Nightsong Sings.") "The Broken Man" is primarily a solitary man and his acoustic guitar. Elliott's guitar picking technique is similar to toque played in flamenco music. But the most memorable part of his craft is his voice which is absolutely entrancing, almost hypnotizing. His deep, bass intonation is both wicked and soothing. The album starts with "Oh How We Fell," which begins with a simple guitar strum and builds until the sounds of a choir (and quite possibly cherubs) accompany our storyteller. This album is layered with so many different accents from bells, piano and chimes to barks, chants and ghosts(?). The lyrics on "Dust Flesh and Bone" include "still you yearn for contact but the burden that you shoulder means you'll never trust a living soul again. This is how it feels to be alone." WARNING: the severely (or even mildly) depressed should not spin the record for risk of commitment. Despite its bleak lyrics, "The Broken Man" is a beautiful, unique recording with a sound unlike any I have heard before. And as a result, has been christened my "best" album of 2012.
For those in the right mood for something completely different.
Premium cuts: Dust Flesh and Bones, Oh How We Fell, This Is For
Best Songs of 2012:
1. "Little Brother" - The Tallest Man On Earth
2. "Phantom In The Valley" - Howlin Rain
3. "Endless Night" - Graveyard
4. "Secular Haze" - Ghost
5. "Horses" - Sean Rowe
6. "Epic Castles" - Toadies
7. "White Light Suicide" - Witchcraft
8. "Sleight Of Hand" - Menahan Street Band
9. "Default" - Django Django
10. "The Lion's Roar" - First Aid Kit
11. "Mary Lou" - Black Mountain
12. "Spiritual Rites" - High On Fire
