ILM's Top 77 Tracks of 2012

Three things are a constant in ILM end-of-year polls. 1) Lex whining about the results 2) N/A getting defensive about people complaining about the songs he likes and 3) Hot Chip singles.

Still really like Disparate Youth but Santigold doesn't really feel like she made much other impact in 2012. There's nothing interesting about the Twin Shadow song at all.

the twin shadow song is like 8 bad songs played in 30-second increments

There are interesting things about the Twin Shadow song. I like some of his synth choices, and I think it propulsive in a good way. Not the best track on his 2012 album by far, but it's decent.

Santigold made more impact in my realm with "The Keepers," but I don't know if that's still to come or not. This wasn't as good an album as her first.

santigold does jaded better than just about anyone else right now imo

i have missed the twin shadow/d'eon songs that overlap on their venn diagram

Catching up:

60. KEITH FULLERTON WHITMAN "Issue Generator (for Eliane Radigue)"

I haven't felt a need for more drone for some time. Hell, I'm not sure If I ever finished Eliane Radigue's Trilogy from a decade+ back.

59. HAIM "Forever"(Lindstrom remix)

Love this. The clipped vocal reminds me of early Phoenix. I tried once to put together a list of Lindstrom & Prins Thomas's remix work for further investigation, and gave up after 50 or so titles...

57. MUNGOLIAN JETSET "Toccata"

This could have come off the Reich Remixed comp.

56. JESSIE WARE "Running"

I voted for this (first so far this poll), and for the original track. My favorite so far from the album, but I must admit I'm a latecomer. So its Sade in new sonic trappings. That's a plus for me.

55. JESSIE WARE "Wildest Moments"

Not as strong a song as "Running" to my ears. The shadow of trip-hop looms long over this album.

54. CHER LLOYD "Want U Back"

Like the grunts, and the backing, but not enamored with Lloyd's gum chewing persona here.

53. HOT CHIP "Let Me Be Him"

Hot Chip hasn't particular caught my attention since the afrobeat experiments on a few tracks on Made in the Dark. This one doesn't play up their strengths.

52. GRIMES "Genesis"

Went with "Oblivion" here. Sounds like a demo/sketch from a gifted but naive songwriter. The album is nice sketchbook, but Grimes sorely needs a sympatico producer to hone the backings.

51. BURIAL "Kindred"

I'm sure this would be great on headphones in a room lit only by fire.

50. TWIN SHADOW "Five Seconds"

Billy Idol without the snarl. S'okay.

49. SANTIGOLD "Disparate Youth"

I'm a sucker for white reggae. Might have voted for this. Not up to par with the highlights of the debut before she was forced to change her name to a hygiene product.

So far, today's been a better set than 61-77, which is a first for one of ILM's wrapups for me.

Sounds like a demo/sketch from a gifted but naive songwriter.

i suspect this is part of grimes' appeal

You could describe most Zola Jesus stuff the same way.

the twin shadow song is like 8 bad songs played in 30-second increments

― an eagle named "small government" (call all destroyer), Tuesday, January 22, 2013 4:07 PM (4 minutes ago) Bookmark

lol

Three things are a constant in ILM end-of-year polls. 1) Lex whining about the results 2) N/A getting defensive about people complaining about the songs he likes and 3) Hot Chip singles.

― Matt DC, dinsdag 22 januari 2013 22:06 (1 minute ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Actually it is more like this:

1) Lex whining about the results (aka whining about the songs he doesn't like/didn't vote for)
2) N/A getting defensive about Lex whining about the song N/A does like
3) Others getting defensive about Lex's whining
3) Lex falsely denying whining
4) Others truthfully saying he really does whine but coming on too strong
5) Next song to place
6) Repeat from 1)
7) We're still alive

am i the only person who can see my positive posts (about MOST of the songs so far) or...?

http://s9.postimage.org/er5ja5cun/Screen_Shot_2013_01_22_at_15_12_06.png

48. PURITY RING "Fineshrine" [244 points, 8 votes, 2 first place votes]

Spotify / Youtube

this song is a song

Expected to like this album more than I did (which was not so much).

yay Santigold!!!

this song is a song

lol

In isolation, this songs sound pretty good to me right now. Hmm.

*song

i find it impossible to endure purity ring's "thing" over the length of an album but this song is kinda neat

*sounds

Of today's songs, I liked the Haim and "Wildest Moments", but neither of them struck me as much as some of yesterday's songs. Well acquainted with the Grimes record, which I like but not enough to get mad if someone hates it. Burial all sounds the same to me but it hits the spot at times. Cher Lloyd song has some nice grunting but otherwise sucks shit. Santigold song is significantly less fun than others on the record.

don't really get picking tracks off the purity ring album as they are all similar (a strength in this case imo)

I voted for this, but Megan's little lost girl vocals are a bit wearying over the course of an album.

should be said that i'm really into the body horror lyrics

love the purity ring album so much but i kept it to the albums poll for the same reason as cad

That Purity Ring song was played to death on 6music and everyone in my office developed such a massive hate-on for it. It makes me understand where the Grimes haters are coming from.

all of you who need a shot of perspective re: how uncivil it is virtually anywhere else on the internet shd check the comments on that santigold youtube link

because O_O

imho you are all v mannerful and lovely

Its worth mentioning that neither the "Alison Shaw recites her poetry book" or "UK bass music from Alberta" bits would work individually.

lol that's true xp

I voted for this, but Megan's little lost girl vocals are a bit wearying over the course of an album.

― Pauper Management Improved (Sanpaku), Tuesday, January 22, 2013 2:17 PM (4 minutes ago)

You must really hate The Cranes.

imo this thread contains exactly the same amount of dickishness every year; make of that what you will

It occurs to me that "Five Seconds" is a very particular type of 80s mining; that of the closing credits of a action or teen drama movie.

ps. all i listened to all year was a bunch of mediocre-to-decent comedy podcasts so an extra thx u to everyone for showing me maybe the 3rd thru 77th new songs i've heard all year (i heard the two big songs i am not an APE)

well yes, but done very boringly xp

i spent most of year intending to check out purity ring and never getting round to it (i was disappointed when someone said they weren't actually witch house)

i like the thick gothiness of the backing but i really hate that kewpie doll girlish voice...not as bad as grimes in this regard but not something i want to hear regularly

those types of reactions to purity ring are interesting to me because i hear her vocals as extremely....matter-of-fact

Yeah, there are a lot of bands out there fronted by someone who sings like a kewpie doll, but Purity Ring don't strike me as a major offender.

more like purity BOring

purity ring are kindof not very good

no this is good

xp: Viceroy

Actually I'm nearly a Cranes completist. In the early work, Allison Shaw's voice is a witness to the assault, later its a distinction. Megan from Purity Ring isn't nearly as extreme, indeed I think some more inflection would be welcome the next go 'round.

http://s9.postimage.org/koyocjplb/Screen_Shot_2013_01_22_at_15_30_13.png

47. Haim "Don't Save Me" [244 points, 9 votes]

Spotify /Youtube

NICE!

Wasn't sure this had enough time to make an impact on voting, as it only came out in December (or maybe late November).

xxp Cool. I like The Cranes a lot too. I don't mind high-pitched/"kewpie" (IDGI?) female vocalists of any kind, even if they are kinda blase like Purity Ring.

think I've managed to ignore santigold up to now because of 1.) the name and 2.) that one album with the gross cover art

That's a shame. The one with the vomiting glitter cover was so great, and the more recent one is definitely okay.

purity rings is like a gothier school of seven bells with the vocal harmonies replaced by flying lotus compression, this album is sounding incredible to me right now

flying lotus flower bomb compression

i think i only like half of each santigold album but i really, really, really love those halves