Best of 2012

It's tough being here in Malawi, where it's tough to stream things online.  I give up 78% of the time when I'm trying to watch a video or listen to a song on youtube.  But I have my iPod and have bought a few digital albums, so here's what I listened to to most over the last year.  The thing that I miss most about the states - live shows.  Without a doubt, I miss shows so much it hurts when I see touring schedules for some of my favorite bands that are headed right through SC or NC.

20) Godspeed You! Black Emperor  "Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend"…it’s GY!BE, 29 minute songs that make me want to cry, hug someone, go to sleep and burst with happiness all in the same track.  Another landscape soundtrack record, good for riding in a bus with people that don't speak english.

19) Pinback "Information Retrieved"…another solid Pinback album, start to finish.  Melodic, smooth flowing and a voice that fits perfectly with the niche sound that is Pinback.

18) Right Away Great Captain "Church of the Good Thief"…Andy Hull, everyone knows how I feel about all things Manchester, although I haven’t gotten into Bad Book II.  Soon.  I’m in Africa, things take time.

17) Hot Water Music "Exister"…Doing it again.  Thank God for bands that stay true to their sound.  So thankful these guys are back.

16) Circa Survive "Violent Waves"….I felt this album flew under the radar and I don’t know why.  It’s possibly my 2^nd favorite Circa record, behind Juturna.

15) Benjamin Gibbard "Former Lives"…love Death Cab, love Ben Gibbard, love everything he puts out.

14) KB "Weight and Glory"…Christian rap.  Sound like a bad idea?  For this guy, it’s not.  It’s usually a gym record but it’s been on regular rotation.

13) The Shins "Port of Morrow"….slow, simple, melodic.  The Shins remind me of watching a movie from 40's, when things were clean and innocent or at least in the cinema.  The harmonies are sincere and this album has lots of staying power. 

12) Deftones "Koi No Yokan"...so sick and I've tried to delete that phrase from my vocab.  It’s like they don’t even belong in a scene.  They just stay outside of the current trendy crap and put out gems every couple of years.

11) Passion Pit "Gossamer"...The 1^st Passion Pit record that I’ve liked.  It feels different to me.

10) P.O.S  "We Don't Even Live Here"...Love this guy and his passion.  Feel bad for his bad kidney and the cancellation of the tour to support this record.  Doomtree is solid from top to bottom.   

9) Cloud Nothings  "Attack on Memory"….fuzzy, short and loud.  Perfect for the side of me still in love with 1994.

8) The XX "Coexist"...Love The XX.  Like, a lot.  Doesn’t top the previous album but still played at least once every couple of days since it came out.  "Fiction" may be my favorite song of the year.

7) The Gaslight Anthem "Handwritten"...Brian Fallon is hands down my favorite songwriter, this isn’t my 

favorite from them but it’s still awesome.  I like the earlier albums more and more.  But the big polished sounds suits them and I would like nothing more than this band blowing up.

6) Japandroids "Celebration Rock" – Party record of the year.  Blast this for a good time.  No need to think about it, just turn it up.

5) mewithoutYou "Ten Stories"...I love MWY and the stories played out in each sing.  Like the return to some strained vocals and a nice contrast with pretty songs as well.   

4) Every Time I Die "Ex-Lives"... ETID can do no wrong in my book.  Love the vocals, love the thick nasty bass sounds on this record.  The lyrics are always unique and crazy to be set against musical chaos.

3) The Forecast "Everybody Left"...The Forecast have been a current favorite band for the last two albums, this took them to another level in my book.   

2) Pentimento "S/T"...The record played most at the hospital during work – it’s honest and straight up rock

1) Sigur Ros "Valtari"...Sigur Ros is one of my all-time favorite bands.  I have a lot of bus rides where I put in ear buds and watch the sunset or watch as we buzz by people in the street.  This is my default record for such rides.

Need to listen more – but I like what I’ve heard

Converge "all we love, we leave behind"

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis "The Heist"

From Indian Lakes "Able Bodies" - may end up LOVING this album

Lecrae "Gravity" never been a huge fan, so this could go either way

Alt-J "An Awesome Wave"

Grizzly Bear "Shields"

Stick to your guns "diamond"

Bad Books II

Make Do And Mend "Everything You Ever Loved"

Bloc Party "Four"