ILM's Top 77 Albums of 2012

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.

we have to redo the poll now, good job

i said this before, but on this album she covers her full spectrum from preschool teacher to Disney heroine/prewar pop to crazy crazy crazy lady and that is what i love about her. she tries lots of different things and even when she doesn't hit her target (I didn't love Graphic as a Star, was kinda dull) it's pretty.

anyway

more results, i feel like my work here is done

Okay 'Geyser' on this record is amazing!

I still wouldnt count anything out yet; this poll doesn't seem to be likr previous ones. Though don't get your hopes up either!!

xp - that is why i nominated it in the tracks poll (early!) so people could accidentally hear it when they played the ilx spotify list on shuffle and be like WHAAAAA

in 2013, polls will change forever

granted some people would prob be like AGGGGHHHH but either way at least they heard it

if she's not out yet, this may be my most magical bitching of all time

her voice is amazing but i do know why some cant take it. But she has put out a lot of quality records in her time.

where is our very own jofo btw?