Clarke's Favourite Music '12

Intro: 
Anyone who says modern music has nothing to offer needs to take a good, long look at the musical year of 2012 - the breadth and scope of its quality and variety are testaments to the fantastic creative energy out there. Those who complain about lack of quality music just weren't looking this year.

This was a stunning year for R&B with new voices (Frank Ocean, Miguel and How to Dress Well) pushing forward "prog R&B" while staying true to the roots of the music.

Hip-hop also produced one of the most promising new voices in years (Kendrick Lamar) while showing off some stellar up-and-comers (Big K.R.I.T., Ab-Soul, Meek Mill, Big Sean and Schoolboy Q). Many of hip-hop's heavyweights (Jay-Z, Kanye West, Lil Wayne and Drake) were guests on tracks, but didn't put out new material, letting these new voices shine.

Rock had an extremely diverse year, with the rise of folk-rockers (Mumford & Sons, The Avett Brothers, Milo Greene and The Lumineers), while interesting and odd new musicians (alt-J, Grimes and DIIV) embraced a vast landscape of sound.

2012 also saw the return of several artists (Jack White, Norah Jones, John Mayer, The Shins and the Dave Matthews Band) taking their music to unexpected and exciting places, showing that there are still many adventures ahead.

Lest anyone think the old guard is out of the picture, many "older" artists (Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Bonnie Raitt, Van Morrison, Dr. John, Bobby Womack and Dwight Yoakam) released some of the best records of their careers. 

The internet also helped spread the word about artists, especially in hip-hop, where in many cases the work done on free mix-tapes beat anything released on a record label. The ability to share music and interest listeners on sites like Spotify, Bandcamp and Soundcloud allows artists more freedom to follow whatever unique sounds they want.

I hesitate to call the following lists the "best" since I freely admit I didn't listen to everything out there this year - despite my best efforts - and tastes always vary, so even if I call it my best, think of it as my favourites.




Cheers, and I hope everyone listened to something great this year.

Top 50 Albums

1. channel ORANGE – Frank Ocean  

                                              2. good kid, m.A.A.d city – Kendrick Lamar

                                                     3. Celebration Rock – Japandroids

                                                    4. Born and Raised – John Mayer

                                                 5. Little Broken Hearts – Norah Jones

                                                       6. Blunderbuss – Jack White

                                              7. Black Radio – Robert Glasper Experiment

                                                  8. Wrecking Ball – Bruce Springsteen

                                                    9. Lonesome Dreams – Lord Huron

                                                              10. Sun – Cat Power

                                                            11. Tempest – Bob Dylan

                                                        12. Babel – Mumford & Sons

                                                   13. Boys & Girls – Alabama Shakes

                                                         14. Nocturne – Wild Nothing

                                                          15. Heaven – The Walkmen

                                                  16. The Idler Wheel… - Fiona Apple

                                                    17. Blak and Blu – Gary Clark Jr.

                                                         18. An Awesome Wave – alt-J

                                                            19. Bloom – Beach House

                                                          20. Locked Out – Dr. John 

                                                     21. Reign of Terror – Sleigh Bells

                                                       22. Port of Morrow – The Shins

                                                              23. Coexist – The XX

                                                            24. Life is Good – Nas

                                                         25. Lonerism – Tame Impala

                                            26. Live from the Underground – Big K.R.I.T.

                                                    27. Voyageur – Kathleen Edwards

                                                  28. Cruel Summer – G.O.O.D. Music

                                                       29. Lion's Roar – First Aid Kit

                                                           30. Europe – Allo Darlin'

                                        31. Here – Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros

                                                    32. Mirage Rock – Band of Horses

                                           33. Swing Lo Magellan – The Dirty Projectors

                                                               34. Oshin – DIIV

                                                     35. Control System – Ab-Soul

                                         36. A Thing Called the Divine Fits – Divine Fits

                                                       37. Reservation – Angel Haze

                                         38. Away from the World – Dave Matthews Band

                                                        39. R.A.P. Music – Killer Mike

                                      40. Vicious Lies and Dangerous Rumors – Big Boi

                                                        41. The Only Pace – Best Coast

                                                       42. Mixed Emotions – Tanlines

                                                43. The Carpenter – The Avett Brothers

                                                          44. Gossamer – Passion Pit

                                                45. The Haunted Man – Bat for Lashes

                                                    46. Oceania – Smashing Pumpkins

                                                   47. Total Loss – How to Dress Well

                                                   48. Colored Emotions – Night Moves

                                        49. Psychedelic Pill – Neil Young with Crazy Horse
 

                                                                     50. 3 Pears – Dwight Yoakam  

Top 100 Songs 

1. "The House That Heaven Built" – Celebration Rock – Japndroids
2. "Swimming Pool (Drank)" – good kid, m.A.A.d city – Kendrick Lamar
3. "Thinkin' Bout You" – channel ORANGE – Frank Ocean
4. "White Dress" – The Man With the Iron Fists – Kanye West
5. "Wrecking Ball" – Wrecking Ball – Bruce Springsteen
6. "She Lit A Fire" – Lonesome Dreams – Lord Huron
7. "Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe" – good kid, m.A.A.d city – Kendrick Lamar
8. "Hands on the Wheel" feat. A$ap Rocky – Habits & Contradictions  - Schoolboy Q
9. "Pyramids" – channel ORANGE – Frank Ocean
10. "Heaven" – Heaven – The Walkmen
11. "'45'" – Handwritten – The Gaslight Anthem
12. "Dissolve Me" – An Awesome Wave – alt-J
13. "Mercy" – Away From the World – Dave Matthews Band
14. "Hold On" – Boys & Girls – Alabama Shakes
15. "Little Talks" – My Head Is An Animal – Of Monsters and Men
16. "Numb" – Blak and Blu ­– Gary Clark Jr.
17. "Sixteen Saltines" – Blunderbuss – Jack White
18. "The Only Place" – The Only Place – Best Coast
19. "Walt Grace's Submarine Test, January 1967" – Born and Raised – John Mayer
20. "Lover of the Light" – Babel – Mumford & Sons
21. "Western Pier" – Clear Heart Full Eyes – Craig Finn
22. "Stubborn Love" – The Lumineers – The Lumineers
23. "Good Morning" – Little Broken Hearts – Norah Jones
24. "Emmylou" – The Lion's Roar – First Aid Kit
25. "When I Write My Master's Thesis" – Provincial – John K. Samson
26. "Song For Leigh" – Heaven – The Walkmen
27. "Love Interruption" – Blunderbuss – Jack White   
28. "I'm Getting Ready" – Home Again – Michael Kiwanuka
29. "Twisted" feat. Pharrell – Looking 4 Myself – Usher  
30. "Amen" feat. Drake and Jeremih – Dreamchasers 2 – Meek Mill
31. "Queen of California" – Born and Raised – John Mayer
32. "New God Flow" feat. Kanye West, Pusha T, Ghostface Killah – Cruel Summer – G.O.O.D. Music 
33. "Cutty Love" – Milo Greene – Milo Greene
34. "Constant Conversations" – Gossamer – Passion Pit
35. "Boobie Miles" – 4Eva N A Day – Big K.R.I.T.
36. "Angels" – Coexist – The XX
37. "Soon After Midnight" – Tempest – Bob Dylan
38. "Every Single Night"  - The Idler Wheel… - Fiona Apple
39. "Only Wanna Dance With You" – Warrior – Ke$ha
40. "Praying Man" feat. B.B. King – Live from the Underground – Big K.R.I.T.
41. "Laura" – The Haunted Man – Bat for Lashes
42. "Mercy" feat. Kanye West, Big Sean, Pusha T & 2 Chainz – Cruel Summer – G.O.O.D. Music
43. "Somebody That I Used to Know" – Making Mirrors – Gotye
44. "Untitled (Love Song)" – Underwater Sunshine (Or What We Did on Our Summer Vacation) – Counting Crows
45. "Adorn" – Kaleidoscope Dream – Miguel
46. "Maybe Not Tonight" – Rhythm and Repose – Glen Hansard
47. "Oh Love" – Uno! – Green Day
48. "I Wish You Would" feat. Kanye West and Rick Ross – Kiss the Ring – DJ Khaled
49. "Some Nights" – Some Nights – fun.
50. "That's Why God Made the Radio" – That's Why God Made the Radio – The Beach Boys
51. "End of the Line" – Reign of Terror – Sleigh Bells
52. "Power Circle" feat. Rick Ross & Kendrick Lamar – MMG Presents: Self Made Vol. 2 – Gunpaly, Stalley, Wale & Meek Mill
53. "Put the Gun Down" – Til the Casket Drops – ZZ Ward
54. "My Way" feat. Common, Lloyd and Kendrick Lamar – Quality Street Music – DJ Drama
55. "Nothing to Remember" – The Hunger Games: Songs From District 12 – Neko Case
56. "Myth" – Bloom – Beach House
57. "Cherry Wine" feat. Amy Winehouse – Life is Good – Nas
58. "Underwater" – Underwater – Joshua Radin
59. "North Side Gal" – Signs & Signifiers – JD McPherson
60. "Merry Go 'Round" – Merry Go 'Round Single – Kacey Musgraves
61. "How Dare You" feat. Bilal – Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album – Lupe Fiasco
62. "Miss Atomic Bomb" – Battle Born – The Killers
63. "Oldie" – The OF Tape Vol. 2 – Odd Future
64.  "Roll One Up" – Fuck Em We Ball – B.o.B.
65. "Tiny Little Bows" – Kiss – Carly Rae Jepsen
66. "Reagan" – R.A.P. Music – Killer Mike
67. "Manhattan" – Sun – Cat Power
68. "No Way Down" – Port of Morrow – The Shins
69. "God Only Knows" – Slipstream – Bonnie Raitt
70. "Everything's Gonna Be Undone" – Mirage Rock – Band of Horses
71. "Clique" feat. Kanye West, Jay-Z & Big Sean – Cruel Summer – G.O.O.D. Music
72. "Anything Could Happen" – Halcyon – Ellie Goulding
73. "Descending" feat. Little Dragon – Vicious Lies and Dangerous Rumors – Big Boi
74. "Close Enough for Jazz" – Born to Sing: No Plan B –Van Morrison
75. "State of Grace" – Red – Taylor Swift
76. "Mind Mischief" – Lonerism – Tame Impala
77. "Sixteen" feat. Andre 3000 – God Forgives, I Don't – Rick Ross
78. "Shining Through the Dark" (Live) – This is 40 soundtrack – Ryan Adams
79. "24K of Gold" feat. J. Cole – Detroit – Big Sean
80. "The Introduction" – Trouble Man: Heavy is the Head – T.I.
81. "Ramada Inn" – Psychedelic Pill – Neil Young & Crazy Horse
82. "& It Was U" – Total Loss – How to Dress Well
83. "CHI (Need to Know)" – Reservation – Angel Haze
84. "I Won't Give Up (Demo Version)" – Love is a Four Letter Word – Jason Mraz
85. "I Can Go" – Dry Land is Not A Myth – The White Arrows
86. "Trap Life" feat. St. Nick – Live From Harlem – Tim Vocals
87. "Teardrop Windows" – Former Lives – Benjamin Gibbard
88. "Midnight Ferry" – Rebel Soul – Kid Rock
89. "Mafia" – Out Of Frequency – The Asteroids Galaxy Tour
90. "Change the Sheets" – Voyageur – Kathleen Edwards
91. "Livin' on the Inside" – Sing the Delta – Iris DeMent
92. "Vespa's Song" – Listening – Ben Taylor
93. "All That (Lady)" feat. Lil Wayne, Big Sean, Fabolous and Jeremih – Jesus Piece – The Game
94. "I Was Gonna Marry You" – Cedar + Gold – Tristan Prettyman
95. "Disparate Youth" – Master of My Make-Believe – Santigold
96. "Citgo" – Finally Rich – Chief Keef
97. "Real Good Hands" –Be Good – Gregory Porter
98. "Snakes" feat. T'nah Apex – 1999 – Joey Bada$$
99. "To Be Loved" – California 37 - Train

100. "Losing You" – True EP – Solange  

Reissues

1. Graceland (25th Anniversary) – Paul Simon
2. XX – Rage Against the Machine
3. So (25^th Anniversary) – Peter Gabriel
4. Bad (25^th Anniversary) – Michael Jackson
5. Turn on the Bright Lights (10^th Anniversary) – Interpol
6. L.A. Woman (40^th Anniversary) – The Doors
7. Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness – The Smashing Pumpkins
8. Prince from Another Planet – Elvis Presley
9. Thick As A Brick (40^th Anniversary) – Jethro Tull
10. Lark's Tongues in Aspic (40^th Anniversary) – King Crimson

Live Albums

1. Live After Deaf – Ryan Adams
2. Live at Red Rocks Aug. 3-4 – My Morning Jacket
3. Celebration Day – Led Zeppelin
4. Unplugged – Florence and the Machine
5. Live in New York City – Paul Simon
6. Live at Hull 1970 – The Who
7. Live 2012 - Coldplay
8. At the BBC – Amy Winehouse
9. Live At Amoeba – The Civil Wars
10. Live from Alabama – Jason Isbell

Music DVDs

1. Under African Skies – Paul Simon
2. Shut Up and Play the Hits – LCD Soundsystem
3. Celebration Day – Led Zeppelin
4. Living in the Material World – George Harrison
5. Charlie is My Darling – The Rolling Stones
6. Live in New York – Paul Simon
7. Journeys – Neil Young
8. The Swell Season – The Swell Season
9. Live 2012 – Coldplay
10. Pink Friday…Roman Reloaded (The Re-Up) – Nicki MInaj

Soundtracks

1. Various Artists – The Hunger Games
2. Various Artists – This Is 40
3. Howard Shore – The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
4. Various Artists – The Man with the Iron Fists
5. Various – Lawless
6. Various Artists – Django Unchained
7. Various Artists – Silver Linings Playbook
8. Various Artists – Moonrise Kingdom
9. Various Artists - Brave
10. Various Artists – The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Box Sets

1. XX – Rage Against the Machine
2. Stereo Vinyl Box Set – The Beatles
3. Live After Deaf – Ryan Adams
4. Graceland (25^th Anniversary) – Paul Simon
5. 50^th Anniversary Collection – The Preservation Hall Jazz Band
6. Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness – The Smashing Pumpkins
7. So (25^th Anniversary Immersion Box) – Peter Gabriel
8. Woody at 100 – Woody Guthrie
9. The Velvet Underground & Nico (45^th Anniversary) – The Velvet Underground & Nico
10. Bad (25^th Anniversary) – Michael Jackson