ILM's Top 77 Albums of 2012

is there such a thing as an ambient "anthem"? Maybe 'Rhubarb' by Aphex...

'Another Green World' by Eno?

Not sure you're going to see any of the footwork albums you've been boosting dog latin. Would have thrown Traxman a few points if I'd have heard it sooner.

I wasn't too mad on the Traxman one compared to Rashad/Young Smoke. If any of these place it'll be Rashad even though Young Smoke is the most accessible Chi footwork release I've come across. But you're right, I don't think they will place :-(

See I voted Spinn over Rashad and couldn't really get into the Young Smoke. Liked the pretty ambient parts of the Traxman stuff, it's not like I would be dancing to it anyway.

is there such a thing as an ambient "anthem"?

first thing to spring to mind was 'roygbiv'

also think it's significant that keef's biggest boosters on ilm lived in chicago last year - i can imagine that the closer you are to it the more important it seems. a lot of the album actually reminded me of grime, stylistically, but even though grime was incredible to me i wouldn't have expected non-londoners (certainly not non-britishers) to get it.

I really need to give the Spinn EP a proper listen. On first investigation it sounded kind of back-to-basics compared to the other big footwork releases of the year, but I've recently read reviews saying the opposite.

I think it is more back-to-basics cos it's a compilation of old stuff iirc rather than a new album (similar case with the Rashad too?). Missed out on it the first time round though, so it still sounds pretty new and exciting to me.

is there such a thing as an ambient "anthem"? Maybe 'Rhubarb' by Aphex...

Little Fluffy Clouds?

With the Metal poll #1 having already placed (Converge) I've given up on Neurosis, Nachtmystium,Alcest, Om, Saint Vitus placing however I think the controversial #3 Swans will place and the even more controversial #16 Goat might place.

for those who didn't read that poll here is the top 20
1 Converge - All We Love We Leave Behind - 364 points, 17 votes, 6 first place votes
2 Neurosis - Honor Found In Decay - 358 points, 19 votes, 4 first place votes
3 SWANS - The Seer - 344 points, 16 votes, 7 first place votes
4 Nachtmystium - Silencing Machine - 235 points, 18 votes
5 Dawnbringer - Into The Lair Of The Sun God - 223 points, 15 votes, 1 first place vote
6 Old Man Gloom - No - 214 points, 14 votes, 1 first place vote
7 Krallice - Years Past Matter - 213 points, 16 votes, 1 first place vote
8 Christian Mistress - Possession - 195 points, 17 votes, 2 first place votes
9 Aluk Todolo - Occult Rock - 195 points, 16 votes, 1 first place vote
10 Agalloch - Faustian Echoes EP - 194 points, 14 votes
11 Pallbearer-Sorrow and Extinction - 183 points, 15 votes, 1 first place vote
12 OM - Advaitic Songs - 181 points, 13 votes, 1 first place vote
13 Dordeduh - Dar de duh - 178 points, 11 votes, 1 first place vote
14 Saint Vitus - LILLIE: F-65 - 170 points, 14 votes, 1 first place vote
15 Alcest - Les Voyages De L'Âme - 164 points, 13 votes
16 Goat - World Music - 163 points, 10 votes, 1 first place vote
17 Baroness - Yellow & Green - 162 points, 12 votes, 1 first place vote
18 Les Discrets - Ariettes oubliées... - 162 points, 11 votes, 2 first place votes
19 High On Fire - De Vermis Mysteriis - 156 points, 14 votes
20 Jess and the Ancient Ones - Jess and the Ancient Ones - 154 points, 11 votes, 1 first place vote

That Baroness record might well pop up as well although I think you guys would probably have a bigger chance of getting metal records in this if you didn't siphon it off into a separate poll every year. Or it might get overlooked altogether.

i think Baroness have had their day in the sun as far as ILM polls are concerned, but maybe

Whiney is a huge fan of that album and he got a lot of ilxors to check it out. I think it could place. Half of the album really is brilliant.

Alcest made previous polls I think.

Hey, I voted for four of the records on that top 20. Probably the four least tr00 metal, but still... Good list.

If I could pick a few of that top 20 to place I'd choose
Converge
Neurosis
Aluk Todolo (krautrock inspired metal)
Jess And The Ancient Ones (If you dug Christian Mistress i recommend this album as its even better imo)

Aluk Todolo is so awesome. Track VI from that is close to being the best thing i've heard all year.

as much as i love Neurosis, i couldn't quite bring myself to love the new one. i haven't given up on it just yet though.

The best tracks on the Blondes album were the remixes which put me off voting for it.

I'd say the metal poll can only help in terms of giving exposure. To get into the top 77 an album needs around 8 votes. The number of votes for an album is something like the intersection of (a) the people who have heard the album (b) the people who would like the album if they heard it (c) the people who vote. With anything other than the most well-known albums, (a) plays a really big role - see all the people going "I've never heard this before but it's really great", even for albums that made it.

right, I'm hungry for some countdowns...

I agree. One of the only reasons I vote in this poll at all is because I feel like I have no crew, no bobbins or goons, I'm not a metalhead or a poptimist, but I like what I like! So I voted for what I like. And apparently what I like does not appear to be what other people like. I'm ok with that, but I thought my #1 had a chance because (1) it was my #1, (2) it was on the WIRE list, (3) NickB assured me so (4) people seemed to really like it on ilx, if maybe a disparate group of people.

Anyway, I agree that the little polls help increase exposure. Aluk Todolo, Pinkish Black, Menace Ruine, all great metally albums I liked this year. Goat too but that is not metal.

Dawnbringer is ok but the power ballad is not my bag.

(5) it is awesome

well obviously

what are you talking about herE?

also think it's significant that keef's biggest boosters on ilm lived in chicago last year - i can imagine that the closer you are to it the more important it seems.

Actually got into a heated argument about Chief Keef with my 21-year-old cousin on Christmas.

xp Josephine Foster (also my #1)

LL you should join us on rolling rock/indie/alt/experimental/pop-but-weird stuff 2013 - nobody's really sure what the thread is about but its dreams of inclusivity have not yet been crushed.

Is 'Blood Rushing' the record you're talking about LL? I have been listening to it since I caught up with this thread this morning. It has managed to put me in much better humour than I was in when I finished work today. I don't usually listen to music this delicate, for want of a better word, but perhaps I should.

xp - I agree with that too -- Keef was big news here. (Did not vote for, but I enjoyed Don't Like when it came on the radio)

YES J Foster album is BLOOD RUSHING. That is what I was talking about. It's on spotify if you're inclined. I guess now that I think about it I tend to post enthusiasm to artist threads rather than rolling threads -- that and I pretty much like anything on Soundway and they have been stepping it up in the new music dept recently. Poor JFo has to share a thread with J Newsom! Unjust.

xposts i feel the same way you do LL

The JoFo (lol) album is not all as delicate as the first song -- there's a lot of variety. I recommend Geyser for a thorough shakedown, Panorama Wide for Morricone-esque Western noodliness. I don't think of her as delicate at all though! Well, sometimes, but she's pretty fierce imo.

i somehow deluded myself into thinking richard skelton would place

Rolling vs artist threads goes back to my point about people needing to have heard an album to vote for it - how many people read the JoFo thread?

xp - I knew you were going to pick up on that "delicate" comment!

I love josephine foster but I think i forgot to vote for it (didnt take note of my ballot)

Richard Skelton was on my to-check-out list but it's not on Spotify and I guess I'm lazy :(

man I am sad I didn't hear about this Cooly G album earlier

i've been meaning to check out josephine foster for a while and i think i shall, now

seandalai could you email me my ballot please?

Josephine Foster might be a good one for Lex to try cos it's not a million miles away from Mirel Wagner. Except it's a very warm, welcoming record, whereas the Mirel one seemed about as warm as a freshly dug grave in October.

ha xxp!

about as warm as a freshly dug grave in October.

not a diss btw

if my estimates are correct, approx 6 ppl read the JoFo thread
ha

you're right -- i follow the folk/drone/weirdo rolling thread, i guess that's where i belong.

haha that's what i love about the mirel album

i don't really have any sort of idea what kind of music jofo makes

j-fo!

sold on listening to jofo

i hadn't heard this jofo album before but it's great!

are we j foing itt or what

a victory of sorts!

i'll take it

I like the Josephine Foster record but I can't listen to it in one go. I don't like her voice a ton so I have to limit my exposure. The songs are amazing though, so I dip in and out. Have to say, "Child Of God" is sounding great this morning.