ILM's Top 77 Albums of 2012

that's probably to do with the cover too

i typically don't listen closely enough to albums to ever really tell what they're ~about~ or whatever, and this is certainly the case for me here, but enough interesting and occasionally arresting things/ideas happen throughout this one that i can experience it like a 12-year-old listening to some poem he doesn't really ~get~ and still get really affected

I agree with this I think - I'm not sure the extent I would have paid attention to the story had I not actually read a synopsis of it after listening. But so much attention has gone into the production and atmosphere of the record, I genuinely think I would enjoy in a purely instrumental version of this, although obviously it wouldn't be an album-of-the-year contender.

I genuinely think I would enjoy in a purely instrumental version of this, although obviously it wouldn't be an album-of-the-year contender.

why obv?

Because there's not enough interest or development in the music alone to make it a great album rather than an enjoyable one.

i read a number of ppl saying it's annoying how you have to buy into the story/context to really enjoy it or whatever

This is so depressing. God forbid there should be storytelling in hip hop. Even if you don't follow the whole arc, how can you hear The Art of Peer Pressure and not get the message?

tbh i seem to have read more ppl say the opposite, that its enjoyable w/o reading the story

reading = paying attention to

ah ok, not heard the record just was curious why it was so obv

you really don't have to buy into the overall story, and the coherent/short film aspect was mad overrated, but it does enhance the album; more importantly, the storytelling on individual tracks (the best ones, anyway), is strong enough that they hold up individually as well as part of a whole

It's not about the ins and outs of the narrative (which I couldn't explain off the top of my head tbh) but the fundamental moral conflict. You get that first time and then pick up little details from individual tracks each time you return to it. Good concept albums don't get too tied up in the narrative anyway - you need tracks that can stand alone.

Missed the final results. Such a worthy winner and a great list overall.

Huge thanks to seandalai and Johnny Fever for putting this all together.

Tim F the manuel tur album is on spotify! It just hits all my pleasure centres.

I am really enjoying this! So lush and un-austere...

The surprising omissions:

Flying Lotus - Until the Quiet Comes
Trust - TRST
Light Asylum - Light Asylum
DIIV - Oshin

No, I didn't vote for any of them, but I thought all would speak to parts of the ILM massive.

The Flying Lotus album is really good

this is so sad but the flying lotus album not being on spotify means i only listened to it once

Trust did speak to parts of the ILM massive; it came in at #78!

DIIV - Oshin

this album is super awesome

i get the sense a lot of more rock oriented ppl don't vote in this poll, at least i didn't

this is so sad but the flying lotus album not being on spotify means i only listened to it once

― congratulations (n/a), Friday, February 1, 2013 11:53 AM (20 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

I think this probably had an impact on its standing. I didn't hear it until a few weeks ago because I got if for Christmas.

I still haven't heard the Flying Lotus for the same reason.

Before Spotify, we found ways. Some of us even left the house.

I guess I'm not that desperate to hear it either, otherwise I'd find a way round the inconvenience. There are other albums I'm more motivated to hear but if it had been on Spotify I would have checked it out.

DIIV - Oshin

this album is super awesome

i get the sense a lot of more rock oriented ppl don't vote in this poll, at least i didn't

― downton arby (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Friday, February 1, 2013 12:55 PM (49 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

i voted for Oshin!

also i just discovered the Graveyard record which i easily would have voted for if i had heard it, i think it was more than one voter out of the top 77 though.

i voted for oshin too, that record really snuck up on me w/how good it is

actually comparing the poll results to my ballot made me realize how ilm has kind of turned me from a rock-oriented person into a pop-oriented person, gonna try to reverse that a bit in 2013 since there's probably a ton of good rock music i'm missing out on

polyphonic's color album art imgur has been udpated btw: http://imgur.com/a/HGHgu

<3

i also voted for oshin

No Tomorrow by Chief Keef is fucking awesome, really getting into the album as well. I have got the Nicki album for my son's ipod (it was making me sad that he still listens to Lady Gaga) and decided to give it a blast earlier and I really love a lot of this as well. Sometimes its really cool to just flip a bit + check stuff out that you think you won't like and be totally startled by how fucking good it is.

78 Trust - TRST

OH FUCK ALL OF YOU

― Ima R.A.E.D. (DJP), jeudi 31 janvier 2013 20:19 (Yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Seriously. It was my #3. I think a lot of people get put off by the cover, which I find hilarious. The whole thing's great form start to finish. Sounds are reminiscent of Front 242, Anne Clark, Clan of Xymox all wrapped in catchy songs.

I'm a listener more likely to be put off by vocal mannerisms than anything else. Dylan is excruciating. And it kept me from appreciating Trust.

trust would have placed had i voted, sorry y'all

fsr that was the most popular 2012 album among my friends

elections polls have conseqeuences!

and they have consequences too

another record that didn't make this list but that is excellent and should've: Lotus Plaza's "Spooky Action at a Distance"

^true

also no gbv nominated was a silly oversight (of mine and others)

No one could agree on which of the three 2012 albums was the best, so they'd have been split right out of the top 77.

(It was The Bears for Lunch btw.)

wow. had never heard the FLA. verrry entertaining.

Things I own:

63. CHRISTIAN MISTRESS Possession (Well, it's on the way in the mail right now...)
49. DEATH GRIPS The Money Store (Fantastic!)
48. CLOUD NOTHINGS Attack on Memory (Just got it, have to listen.)
21. GODSPEED YOU! BLACK EMPEROR Allelujah! (A splendid release, their most accessible for sure, and that's not a bad thing.)
11. SWANS The Seer (Just arrived in the mail today!)
10. GOAT World Music (Really amazing album, worth the hype!)
05. GRIMES Visions (A really enjoyed this album and it's not the kind of stuff I usually listen to.)

Things I would like to own:

68. METZ Metz
53. JAPANDROIDS Celebration Rock
52. CONVERGE All We Love We Leave Behind
38. THE MOUNTAIN GOATS Transcendental Youth

The Converge is mainly because of all the critical acclaim here on ILM (winner of the metal poll; placed in this one) because I have always found the group to be good but not amazeballs... The other ones I don't know as well.

Work seems extraordinarily slow today now that there isn't an eoy poll to follow. ;_;

there is the springsteen poll. Not spoken to james about restarting the 70s poll.

Not to worry, we'll soon be back in 2014 when m b v tops the 2013 albums poll!

i bet it doesnt

just for jf its reopened
1970-1979 WTF - The Hard 'n' Heavy 'n' Loud + Krautrock, Arty, Noisy, Weird, Funky, Punky Shit - Albums Poll!- VOTING THREAD!- Closes Nov 8th 11.59 PM UK Time - All ILXORS/LURKERS WELCOME

http://i.imgur.com/0Dxvtri.jpg

OK, this Miguel record is rather good. A bit goth too, innit? I've filed the CD next to Mezzanine and the Portishead s/t.

Only tracks 2 and 3 really.

I've come to the conclusion I've been playing Andy Stott at the wrong volume all this time