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NeoGAF's 2012 Album of the Year Thread
- Thread starter HiResDes
- Start date
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You're a fool, what do you know?
A solid list, I've heard almost all the albums there and can appreciate why their popular.
A few observations:
- Kendrick's #1 spot is well deserved. I was skeptical when I first heard the album but boy did this album just grow on me. The narrative, his unique flow, a voice with something to say ... I can't object to his #1 status, even though I enjoyed Killer Mike's record more. Which leads me to ...
- Killer Mike's RAP Music deserves a place on here.
- I will never understand the "Channel Orange is boring" sentiment. What's boring to me is how stale modern R&B has gotten, with it's dance crossover vibe and auto-tuning. Frank's minimalist approach and superb production are a breath of fresh air in the genre. 2012 was a good year for R&B, with Frank, Miguel, How to Dress Well and The Weekend putting on great records that all deserve a listen.
- I liked the records from Fiona Apple, Beach House and Purity Ring but found that there was nothing there that was bringing me back.
- Japandroids put out an amazing rock record and deserve every bit of love they get. They hold a special place in my heart after seeing them rock Barcelona at 3am at Primavera Sound. I was front and centre on the barrier, and these guys brought so much noise for a two piece. Can't wait to see them play Laneway festival in Sydney and Melbourne next week.
- Godspeed You was introduced to me by Gaf so thanks for that. Can't wait to see them in sydney in a couple of weeks too.
A few observations:
- Kendrick's #1 spot is well deserved. I was skeptical when I first heard the album but boy did this album just grow on me. The narrative, his unique flow, a voice with something to say ... I can't object to his #1 status, even though I enjoyed Killer Mike's record more. Which leads me to ...
- Killer Mike's RAP Music deserves a place on here.
- I will never understand the "Channel Orange is boring" sentiment. What's boring to me is how stale modern R&B has gotten, with it's dance crossover vibe and auto-tuning. Frank's minimalist approach and superb production are a breath of fresh air in the genre. 2012 was a good year for R&B, with Frank, Miguel, How to Dress Well and The Weekend putting on great records that all deserve a listen.
- I liked the records from Fiona Apple, Beach House and Purity Ring but found that there was nothing there that was bringing me back.
- Japandroids put out an amazing rock record and deserve every bit of love they get. They hold a special place in my heart after seeing them rock Barcelona at 3am at Primavera Sound. I was front and centre on the barrier, and these guys brought so much noise for a two piece. Can't wait to see them play Laneway festival in Sydney and Melbourne next week.
- Godspeed You was introduced to me by Gaf so thanks for that. Can't wait to see them in sydney in a couple of weeks too.
Great work on putting this post together! I'm glad to see Frank Ocean and Fiona Apple in the top 10, but I'm disappointed to not see Killer Mike's album up there (Big Beast was one of my favorite songs from last year). I'm going to have to listen to everything else that I've missed.
Sweet Baby Roy
Banned
A better list than I expected...no death grips though?
FelixOrion
Poet Centuriate
I kinda knew Kendrick was gonna win GAF's #1 but...
I just can't get into it...it's just so...not as stellar as I hear from everyone, idk, I wasn't impressed at all. It's not a bad album but I would never put it in the "critically acclaimed, perfection from the gods" that everyone else thinks it is.
I just can't get into it...it's just so...not as stellar as I hear from everyone, idk, I wasn't impressed at all. It's not a bad album but I would never put it in the "critically acclaimed, perfection from the gods" that everyone else thinks it is.
Sweet Baby Roy
Banned
That's cool if you don't fuck with it but the album has already earned universal critical acclaim, and either way it's really not something you can dictate in the first place.
FelixOrion
Poet Centuriate
I don't understand what you're trying to say to me here at the bold.
And I already know it's received "universal critical acclaim!!" (which is a bit of a ridiculous claim. Everyone loves it? You sure?) cause it's said....a lot. But I'm saying I just don't get all that love, it's not an amazing album.
User 85168
Banned
Dang, Lord Huron didn't make it D:
ThanksVision
Member
japandroids album sucked. Such a disappointment after their great debut. Wow they made anthems that aren't actually good but they ARE ANTHEMS and we haven't heard those in a while. they really did take everything that was lovely about the debut and got rid of it
also I sorta wish people here would defend/bash albums. Don't just say "it's terrible" without an explanation and don't just say "b-b-but it's critically acclaimed!!" It's just sorta boring if that's all we do
also I sorta wish people here would defend/bash albums. Don't just say "it's terrible" without an explanation and don't just say "b-b-but it's critically acclaimed!!" It's just sorta boring if that's all we do
Oh man, totally disagree. To me they took the fun, sing-along bar songs of post-nothing and turned them into life-affirming arena rock songs. You're right in calling them anthems, but the difference between you and I is that I have no problem with that. Their brand is noisy rock sing-along anthems, and if you have seen them live, you'll know how powerful that is.
I had the pleasure of seeing them last year in Barcelona at Primavea Sound. In a three-day festival lineup that included bands like the Cure, Justice, Wilco and others, they for me put on the best goddamn show of the festival. The amount of passion and ferocity their brought to the stage - at 3am! - was something I'll never forget.
Nah, I still like it but Celebration Rock is definitely a bit over engineered.
NinjaBoiX
Member
You realise pitchfork didn't design the artwork right?
Or are you suggesting they pick albums based on pretty pictures?
Meh post.
nickelback
InaudibleWhispa
Member
Votes probably split between the two albums. All should have went to The Money Store though.
Great list, Kendrick deserves the top spot. Pleasantly surprised Bloom ended up as high as it did. It's brilliant though, by far Beach House's best album. I remember listening to it for the first time and being really disappointed, then going back and liking different songs on each next listen... It's a weird album, it took a long time for me to click. Now I think every song's pretty much perfect, it's an incredible record
Spider from Mars
tap that thorax
Foo Fighters
All done! I'd like to personally thank you guys for introducing me to Anathema. I'm quite pick about my metal, it has to be somewhat atmospheric and the vocals can't be too screamy though I don't mind a devilish croon or sludgish belt like in Isis. Weather Systems has proven to be perfect.
You had B.O.B. over Kendrick Lamar and like Nickelback.
Did you hear Dope Body's Natural History?
I agree with this. Give me Attack on Memory or Evans The Death over that album anyday. Hell even The Men's record was better.
I agree with this. Give me Attack on Memory or Evans The Death over that album anyday. Hell even The Men's record was better.
theepicoftyler
Member
Converge made it. Good job.
ThanksVision
Member
Post-Nothing opened with anti-Thin Lizzy jam "The Boys are Leaving Town," which encapsulated everything this band was about at the time: growing up, leaving home, being unsure and nervous about literally everything now that they are on their own. The great thing about that record was that these themes were represented in the lyrics AND the music. They were these messy pieces that truly sounded like some young guys jamming out in a garage. Everything felt spontaneous, and that stream-of-consciousness mentality made the band/album appear brutally honest and therefore, earnest. I believe Post-Nothing is a wonderful album; it captures the late-teen angst (hate that word, but it sorta fits) that tons of guys go through. And that sounds corny on paper, but when listening to the album, the last word you would ever think is "corny."
Unfortunately, they took almost a complete 180 with the second album. Maybe the lyricism stayed, but the music/production definitely changed for the worse. Like f0rk said, it's over engineered. Everything here was pre-meditated and calculated beforehand. Rock is all about spontaneity. With this album, they completely got rid of the spontaneity, and then had the nerve to call it "Celebration Rock." LP2 felt manufactured, especially in light of their debut, which was so so passionate.
And it's totally fine if people like LP2. I was just dissatisfied with the route the band took.
EDIT: Hey HRD, do you know where Actress placed?
fine if not!Hot Coldman
Banned
Oh sweet, I got a quote in for Cloud Nothings. Awesome.
way to undo all the goodwill your Ritzy avatar gave you :'(
(yes I read the other part of your post before I cut it out, I'm just not terribly verbose when it comes to speaking my opinion when it comes to music)
way to undo all the goodwill your Ritzy avatar gave you :'(
(yes I read the other part of your post before I cut it out, I'm just not terribly verbose when it comes to speaking my opinion when it comes to music)
A bit melodramatic.
And it's totally fine if people like LP2. I was just dissatisfied with the route the band took.
EDIT: Hey HRD, do you know where Actress placed?
Actress only had 11 votes, for reference the album in last place in the top 25 had 21 votes. And there were a bunch of albums that had close to 20.
I kind of wish I had voted for this album instead of Purity Ring after it was all said and done.
ThanksVision
Member
totally fine, read my post above. I kinda explain why I was disappointed with it
ahhhh I see, thanks. I'm preaching the gospel of Ghettoville this year! I'll make sure he makes it on the 2013 list. This is our year!!
Out of curiosity, which albums did you like...I can tell if you if they were close.
CheesecakeRecipe
Stormy Grey
Looking forward to checking out some of the other winners. I always enjoy seeing a list that I don't have an exact match with because it gives me new tunes to check out. 2012 was a hell of a year for music and 2013's already starting to bring it in the next few months!
Thanks for putting it all together HiResDes, and I'm glad you enjoyed my blurbs!
Thanks for putting it all together HiResDes, and I'm glad you enjoyed my blurbs!
I didn't expect most of mine to be close, haha. If I had to pick one it would've been Katatonia - Dead End Kings. I followed the thread pretty closely though, and I think it only had 1 or 2 other mentions.
I love voted lists though, so no complaints here.
Alt-J was my top for last year, but I due to a bunch of reasons I didn't listen to much. I still have to listen to the latest Beach House and Dirty Projectors album for example. I also really loved The Walkmen and Thee Oh Sees latest stuff. Oh, and Mother Mother's album was much better than the previous. Kinda surprised that didn't wind up in here somewhere, I thought GAF loved them.
OmegaDragon
Member
Nice list, thank you for naming the genres and giving some sample tracks. I intend to use it to discover some new artists (as I've only listened to four albums on that list)
Also my top two made it, hurray.
Also my top two made it, hurray.
ThanksVision
Member
Funniest thing about this list is that el-p is higher than killer mike
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