The Best of the Rest
or
88 Lines about 44 Songs

Part Four

11) Minus the Bear - Lies and Eyes
Like Matt Scheidler, I am a child of the 90's.  That means strong guitars in the alternative style will always work for me.

10) Jack White - Sixteen Saltines
I was a little let down by this Jack White album.  This song, however, is representative of almost everything that Jack White does well.

9) Tanlines - All of Me
I guess this is 80's-ish?  I just think it is crazy danceable.

The Best of the Rest
or
88 Lines about 44 Songs

Part Three

22) The Royal Concept - Gimme Twice
Yes, this does sound just like Phoenix.  But Phoenix didn't release an album this year, and this is quite capable of filling the vacuum.

21) Atlas Genius - Trojans
Not much to say.  It is catchy indie pop though.

20) fun. - Some Nights
Yes, I don't understand the need for auto-tune, and the "whoa-oh-oh-ohs" do kinda sound like "Oh Cecilia."  Still, this song is, well, fun.

The Best of the Rest
or
88 Lines about 44 Songs

Part Two

33) Dirty Projectors - Offspring are Blank
This is kinda a weird song (although not really by Dirty Projectors standards).  But even weird songs can kick ass.

32) El P - Oh Hail No
El P is a very good producer and a competent enough rapper.  The reason this song is ranked where it is though is because at the 1:40 mark, Mr. Muthafuckin eXquire gives my favorite rap verse of the year.

31) Kelly Hogan - We Can't Have Nice Things
Is it enough to say I find her voice pretty?  Because that's all the analysis you're going to get.

The Best of the Rest
or
88 Lines about 44 Songs

(In order to go easy on internet browsers, this will be broken into four parts)

Part One

44) Adam Arcuragi - Oh I See
Gospel-infused folk that manages to build to a spiritual crescendo.  Having never heard of the guy before this year, I can't wait to see where he goes from here.

43) Yuna - Someone Out of Town
Brooding and haunting, this is one of my favorite chill songs of the year.  Reminds me of that one Imogen Heap song.

42) Lightships - Sweetness is Her Spark
I was likely to enjoy anything by a former member of Teenage Fanclub.  Airy pretty guitars will get me every time.

Best 13 Albums of 2012

It sure felt like it was an awful good year in music this year.  It's been interesting compiling this list after paying so much closer attention to new releases on a week to week basis: some of the albums released in the first quarter of the year feel like they came out a decade ago.  Still, these selections have managed to stay at the forefront of my mind, and I fully expect to be reaching for these albums often in the years to come.

13) Tribes - Baby

I listened the hell out of this album at the beginning of the year.  Old-school 90's Britpop with plenty of singalong choruses.

We Were Children

When My Day Comes

Corner of an English Field