Rolling "favorite music of 2012 so far" thread (albums and/or tracks edition)

2012 has been a disappointing year for me as far as anything goes, music included, but fuck my hat if I'm not a bit addicted to DJ Rashad's 'Teklife Vol.1: Welcome to the Chi' - simply the best introduction anyone can have to the burgeoning footwork scene.

Plenty of people have been getting excited on the dedicated chicago juke thread, but I think it needs wider attention. Whiney's review here not only nails it but also you can stream the whole thing here: http://www.spin.com/spin.com/reviews/dj-rashad-teklife-vol-1-welcome-chi-lit-city

It's crack for the ears... Smo-smo-smo-smosmossmosmosmosmosmo....

I went to all the trouble of making this collage for facebook, so I figured I'd post it here too. These are the 12 albums I probably maybe like the best from the first half of 2012:

http://i.imgur.com/Wj91u.jpg

Niki & The Dove - Instinct
Frankie Rose - Interstellar
Hot Chip - In Our Heads
Chairlift - Something
Chromatics - Kill for Love
Georgia Anne Muldrow - Seeds
Oddisee - People Hear What They See
Van Halen - A Different Kind of Truth
Mrs. Magician - Strange Heaven
Twin Shadow - Confess
BEAK> - >>
Beat Connection - The Palace Garden

Do we have a "halfway through 2012" thread? Here's my hastily-scribbled top 12 from the first 1/2 of '12:

Georgia Anne Muldrow - Seeds
Nite Jewel - One Second of Love
Tenniscoats - Papa's Ear
John Talabot - Fin
Grimes - Visions
Dawn Richard - Armor On
Julia Holter - Ekstasis
Zita Swoon Group - Wait For Me
Marissa Nadler - The Sister
Sun Araw, M. Geddes Gengras and the Congos - FRKWYS 9
Peaking Lights - Lucifer
Lee Ranaldo - Between the Times and the Tides

Lots of other things I like well enough and/or haven't made my mind up about yet: Neneh Cherry/Thing, Chromatics, Polica, SVIIB, Motion Sickness of Time Travel, Richard Youngs, Frankie Rose, THEESatisfaction, Sand Circles, Laurel Halo, Lone, Eyvind Kang, Dirty Three, Terje...

Biggest disappointment so far: Trembling Bells and Bonnie "Prince" Billy :(

Peaking Lights - Lucifer

This one's still in the air for me...def need to spend more quality time with it.

I didn't fall in love with it immediately like I did with 936 but it's growing on me.

Here's my "most enjoyed" for the first half of 2012:

Alabama Shakes - Boys & Girls
Beach House - Bloom
Laurel Halo - Quarantine
Loudon Wainwright III - Older Than My Old Man Now
Django Django - Django Django
Tindersticks - The Something Rain
Saint Etienne - Words And Music By Saint Etienne
Spiro - Kaleidophonica
Cafe Iman Istanbul - Fasl-i Rembetiko
Leonard Cohen - Old Ideas
Todd Terje - It's The Arps
Batida - Batida
Dirty Three - Toward The Low Sun
Matt Elliott - The Broken Man
Natalie Duncan - Devil In Me
Carter Tutti Void - Transverse
Patti Smith - Banga
Get The Blessing - OC DC
Bella Hardy - The Dark Peak and The White
NZCA/LINES - NZCA/LINES
Storm Corrosion - Storm Corrosion
Neneh Cherry & The Thing - The Cherry Thing
Rumer - Boys Don't Cry
VDU - Past Future Sequence
Punch Brothers - Who's Feeling Young Now?
Auntie Flo - Future Rhythm Machine
Bobby Womack - The Bravest Man In The Universe
Usher - Looking 4 Myself
Talabarte - Talabarte
Cornshed Sisters - Tell Tales
THEESatisfaction - awE naturalE
Orbital - Wonky
Ulrich Schnauss & Mark Peters - Underrated Silence
Robert Glasper - Black Radio

thaT Batida record is amazing

My three favourite albums of the year came out in the last month.

iamamwhoami-Kin
Hot Chip-In Our Heads
Dexys-One Day I'm Going to Soar

1. Here We Go Magic - A Different Ship
2. Hospitality - S/T
3. Sonny and the Sunsets - Longtime Companion
4. Field Music - Plumb
5. Eric Chenaux - Guitar and Voice
6. Death Grips - The Money Store
7. Actress - R.I.P
8. Cupp Cave - Retina Waves
9. BEAK> - >>
10. Christian Cosmos - Enthronement By God As The First-Born of the Dead

Miguel - Art Dealer Chic EPs
Killer Mike - R.A.P. Music (Williams Street)
Leonard Cohen - Old Ways
Kellie Pickler - 100 Proof
Imperial Teen - Feel the Sound
Saint Etienne - Words and Music
R. Kelly - Write Me Back
Usher - Looking 4 Myself (RCA)
Rufus Wainwright - Out of the Game (Decca/Polydor)
Todd Snider - Agnostic Hymns & Stoner Fables (Aimless0
Beach House - Bloom (Sub Pop)
Fiona Apple - The Idler Wheel (Epic)
Lambchop - Mr. M (Merge)
Hot Chip - In Our Heads (Astralwerks)
Sinead O’Connor - How About I Be Me (And You Be You) (One Little Indian)
Cloud Nothings - Attack on Memory (Carpark)

JF: You've heard the Twin Shadow album? So psyched for that.

Yeah, I cheated by putting that in there since it doesn't come out until next week (or maybe the week after), but it's really pretty good.

So there are a few places putting up their best of the first six months of 2012 lists or similar:

Quietus Albums Of The Year So Far 2012
http://thequietus.com/articles/09217-quietus-albums-of-the-year-so-far-2012

The 40 Best Albums of 2012... So Far
http://www.spin.com/gallery/40-best-albums-2012-so-far

Pitchfork - 20 overlooked albums
http://pitchfork.com/features/staff-lists/8880-overlooked-records-2012/

Any other noteable ones out there?

Complex did this weird list which is mainly rap with occasional incursions from Beach House and Grimes

http://www.complex.com/music/2012/07/the-50-best-songs-of-2012-so-far

Greg Kot and Jim DeRogatis (Sound Opinions):

http://www.soundopinions.org/shownotes/2012/062212/shownotes.html

I've bought (and therefore heard in full) exactly ten 'new in 2012' releases thus far. Of which the favourite five are perhaps:

Bertrand Burgalat - Toutes directions
Orbital - Wonky
Todd Terje - It's the Arps EP
Gemma Ray - Island Fire
Belbury Poly - The Belbury Tales

Favourite reissues and the like so far:

V/A - Andy Votel presents Music Minus Music
Bruce Haack & Esther Nelson - The Way Out Record For Children
My Bloody Valentine - EPs and Rarities
Ilaiyaraaja - Fire Star
Todd Rundgren & Utopia - Disco Jets
The Seasons: Drama Workshop w/Radiophonic Music by David Cain
V/A - Disco Discharge: Disco Exotica
F C Judd - Electronics Without Tears

Are those MBV reissues available on vinyl as well?

Loved that tQ list

pitchfork and quietus lists are interesting, sound opinions dudes reminding me why i don't listen to sound opinions

nice to see that spin's got bath salts covered

This is a very educational thread, thanks. Currently digging
Neneh Cherry & The Thing's The Cherry Thing (cool sunbursts in the robust, not too many light years from Rip Rig & Panic or Raw Like Sushi, no Radiohead or Nirvana covers in this rock/hip-hop-compatible bass culture jazz)
Neil Young & Crazy Horse, Americana
Fiona Apple, The Idler's Wheel
The dB's Falling Off The Sky (pretty tough for jangle, not trying to sound younger or older than they are. pretty limber for fiftysomethings)
The Hobart Brothers and Lil Sis Hobart Texastentialists with power pop stashed here and there, comes in handy: Freedy Johnston, Jon Dee Graham, Susan Cowsill.
Not looking fwd to new Dirty Projectors, having seen a couple of recent performances online, but maybe those were off-nights. They'll be performing the whole album live July 9, 10 p.m. EST http://youtube.com/thebowerypresents

Gnod - Chaudelande Vol. II
Het Droste Effect - Lingerland
Voder Deth Squad - II
Sun Araw, M. Geddes Gengras & The Congos
The Men - Open Your Heart
School of Seven Bells - Ghostory

Are those MBV reissues available on vinyl as well?
Not as yet. Vague promises of vinyl editions from K Shields in recent interviews. Don't hold yr breath yadda yadda.

This was my January to June soundtrack:

Admiral Fallow – The Paper Trench
Air – Seven Stars
Alabama Shakes – Hold On
Bahamas - Caught Me Thinkin
Batida – Tirei O Chapéu
Beach House – Other People
Beth Jeans Houghton & The Hooves Of Destiny – Sweet Tooth Bird
Bobby Womack – Please Forgive My Heart
Bright Light Bright Light - Waiting For The Feeling
Carly Rae Jepsen – Call Me Maybe
Castro – African Girls (feat. Baby Jet (Asamoah Gyan))
Chairlift – Amanaemonesia
Cornershop - What Did The Hippie Have In His Bag?
Damien Jurado – Nothing Is The News
Daniel Rossen – Silent Song
D'Banj – Oliver Twist
De La Soul's First Plug 1 & 2 present First Serve – Must B The Music
Dirty Projectors – Gun Has No Trigger
Django Django – Firewater
Dog Is Dead – Two Devils
Donnie & Joe Emerson – Baby
Esperanza Spalding – Vague Suspicions
Estelle - Cold Crush
Father John Misty - I'm Writing A Novel
Get The Blessing – Americano Meccano
Gotye – Somebody That I Used To Know
Hot Chip – Night and Day
Jack White – Love Interruption
Jai Paul – Jasmine (demo)
Jake Bugg – Lightning Bolt
Jessie Ware – 110%
Jherek Bischoff – Eyes
Jupiter – One O Six
King Charles – Lady Percy
Leonard Cohen – Darkness
Little Boots – Headphones
Lone – Lying In The Reeds
Loreen – Euphoria
M. Ward - Primitive Girl
Marius – Yester
Miike Snow – Paddling Out
Natalie Duncan – Sky Is Falling
New Build – Behind the Shutter
Nicki Minaj – Starships
Nneka – Shining Star - Joe Goddard Remix Radio Edit
NZCA/Lines – Okinawa Channels
Patti Smith – April Fool
Paul Buchanan – Mid Air
Peaking Lights – All The Sun That Shines
Punch Brothers – New York City
Roberto Fonseca – 80´s
Robin Thicke – Never Give Up
Ronika - Automatic
Rudimental – Feel The Love - Feat. John Newman
Rumer – P.F. Sloan
Saint Etienne – Tonight
Sandro Perri – Changes
Sarah Williams White – If I Smile At You
Scissor Sisters – Let's Have A Kiki
Seu Jorge – Quem Não Quer Sou Eu
Shook feat. Ronika – Distorted Love
Stereo Venus - John Sebastian's Girl
Swimming – All Things Made New (Stand)
SWV – Do Ya Feat. Brianna Perry
Teengirl Fantasy – Cheaters (John Talabot's Classic Vocal Refix)
The 2 Bears – Bear Hug
The Drums – Days
THEESatisfaction – Deeper
Thepetebox – V.O.D.K.A
Tindersticks – Come Inside
Todd Terje – Inspector Norse
Usher – Climax
When Saints Go Machine – Add Ends
X-Press 2 – Dark Matar
Yeti Lane – Analog Wheel

man i've been slacking on new music this year so much stuff i've yet to hear :-(

I've been discovering more EOY candidates even since my last post:

Barbara Morgenstern - Sweet Silence
Fennesz - AUN
Las Malas Amistades - Maleza

tiny mix tapes - http://www.tinymixtapes.com/features/favorite-30-albums-of-2012-so-far-staff-feature

idk these are all the same already

otoh i didnt know there was a new chris corsano record, i could do with that

xp Actually, I kind of feel that there isn't much consensus so far tbh. Like only about half of the TMT list appears on any of the Quietus/P4K/Spin lists, still lots of albums being mentioned that I've never heard of.

i need to do some settling, i've listened to the same few records over and over again this year mostly. but here are some that have stood out along with them:

cloud nothings - attack on memory
black breath - sentenced to life
christian mistress - possession
steve lehman trio - dialect flourescent
gareth dickson - quite a way away
sidi touré - koïma
darius ciuta - mina
ebo taylor - appia kwa bridge

i've listened to pallbearer, high on fire, witch mountain, ufomammut, and the dirty three a lot too, probably going to have to get selective at the end of the year about what metal i prefer most.

my top grouping so far this year would be:

Alcest
Allo Darlin
Beach House
Blondes
Chairlift
Cloud Nothings
Deepspacepilots
Django Django
Hospitality
The Men
Tennis
Todd Terje EP

from the Deepspacepilots album, I really loved "Black Emmanuelle" but not much else. Maybe I'll have to give it more time

added Beak> to my best of 2012 playlist

cloud nothings and the men are on the top of my "bands i should in theory love but kinda bore me" list

i've already played the cloud nothings about 50 times this year!

Piccadilly Records Top 50 if we're still counting: http://www.piccadillyrecords.com/shop/feature.php?feature=702

DJ RASHAD - TEKLIFE VOl.1

THIS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT!

Field Music
Liars
Talabot
Hawley
Grimes
Japandroids
Orbital
Chromatics

Mike T-D, you're usually v clued in to my tastes - am I missing anything?

So far, of the few things I've heard, my favorites are Action Bronson's "Blue Chips" and Royal Headache's s/t. Next three would be Grimes, Screaming Females, and Death Grips.

I have a feeling the new Gojira album will be added to my list soon.

xpost to Nick: Beach House and Dirty Three would be my safest tips, based on what I know of your tastes. Next would come Django Django, Todd Terje, Tindersticks. In the "hopefully he gets it" pile: Laurel Halo (plenty of people hate this, though), Matt Elliott (nobody is talking about this record, which is sad), Carter Tutti Void. I think you'd also like Get The Blessing, NZCA/LINES, Ulrich Schnauss/Mark Peters, Batida, Neneh Cherry & the Thing, Auntie Flo.

i've had a few weeks off new music and i really really need to be recommended some stuff that'll make me excited about music again

I'm not sure what to make of the Rudi Zygadlo album. It's incredible on a technical level, but despite that it manages to kind of drift by after a few songs..

I'm enjoying

Aleph - From Chaos to Cosmos
Black Dice - Mr Impossible
The Black Lips - Arabia Mountain
Dave Nada - Blow Your Head Two: Dave Nada presents Moombahton
Dream Continuum - Reworks EP
Flaming Lips - ...& Head Fwends
Ital - Hive Mind
King Creosote - I Learned From the Gaels
Neuport - CHORIZO ep
Peaking Lights - Lucifer
Philip Storey - Outside This House
Prinzhorn Dance School - Happy In Bits
Traxman - The Mind Of Traxman
UFOmammut - Oro: Opus Primum

Not really listened to all that much techno this year, but have really been enjoying Claro Intelecto - Reform Club these last few weeks.

Thanks Mike. Of those I've got (and quite like) Django Django, and I bought the Neneh Cherry & The Thing at the weekend. I've never got the fuss about Beach House, and don't know most of the others.

2nd quarter wrapup.....

01 Beak> "Spinning Top"
02 Frank Ocean "Super Rich Kids"
03 Broken Water "Coming Down"
04 Nicki Minaj "Come On A Cone"
05 Japandroids "The Nights of Wine and Roses"
06 Drake "The Motto"
07 Eric Copeland "Car Alarm"
08 Kitty Pryde "Okay Cupid"
09 Waka Flocka Flame "Foreign Shit"
10 Guided By Voices "Roll of the Dice, Kick In The Head"

albums
Beak>
Blanche Blanche Blanche
Merchandise
King Tuff
Broken Water
Japandroids
Black Dice
Speedy Ortiz
Frank Ocean

Track:

Sa Dingding - Lai Zhe Mo Jie

More from the same album on the way, possibly followed by the whole album, but I'm confused by my response to it.

Yes, it is sometimes bombastic New Age world music from China with politically dubious appropriations of Tibetan and ethnic minority themes (she's half-Mongolian herself, however), but. . .

Album:

Sa Dingding - The Coming Ones

(As predicted.) I like about half the songs a lot, and you just have to kind of ride the storm of the excessively mellow ones in-between. So much about the production is wrong here, but to me that just says that it must be her musicality that's coming through underneath. And then there are her vocals, all over the place in a good way, over top.

top 10
1. baroness
2. dj rashad
3. beak>
4. action bronson
5. swans
6. killer mike
7. white suns
8. pallbearer
9. torche
10. future