The Best Albums of 2012
In 2012, a large number of songs by American instrumentalists featured quintessential Eurodance elements, especially synthesizers and strong beats during the chorus mixed with rapping or vocals for verses. Flo Rida, Pitbull, LMFAO, and The Black Eyed Peas were popular hip-house acts from the early half of the 2010s. On 28 August 2012, the TobyMac album Eye on It debuted at number 1 on that chart, the first Christian album since 1997 and third overall to do so.[68] The very next week, Christian hip hop artist Lecrae debuted at number 3 on the Billboard 200 with Gravity. Additionally, both the number 1 and 2 spots on the iTunes hip hop charts were taken by the deluxe and standard versions of the album. The commercial reception of Gravity was called “easily the biggest sales week ever for a Christian rap album. Here are all of the 2012 albums ranked.
Relive the music of one of the most notable years of rock and roll. Click below and listen to the songs of the year 2012!
10. Visions (Grimes)
“Hits that sweet spot, both an album that captures a very certain moment in musical time but still sounds just as incredibly crisp and engrossing nearly a decade later. Not as outright weird or foreboding as her previous mixtapes could get, but the sounds feeling much more pointed and interwoven work in the album’s favor- the song’s start to really evoke an actual purpose rather than just conjuring up a vague mood. She would continue to get better, but this album is a special little something on its own right.”
9. Born To Die (Lana Del Rey)
“Lana has that nostalgic vibe in her music that anyone can tell it’s her. She took a path and went full on it. This means If you don’t like this type of thing, then It will never hit you. This is a debut from an artist that from the beginning knew what It wanted to be.”
8. The Seer (Swans)
“This album is unlike no other. The cover mentioned that it was “oblivion through sound,” which is by no means inaccurate. Whether you can withstand two hours of this blinding, mesmerizing, elaborately enveloping devilishness is up to you, but even if you consider yourself musically adventurous, be very, very ready. This was all I would allow myself to listen to for at least two weeks, as I knew its influence would be unmatched for the rest of my musically exploratory life.”
See more: Lana Del Ray Albums Ranked
7. The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than The Driver Of The Screw And Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do (Fiona Apple)
“The entire album almost feels like you’re inside her head, hearing her tortured thoughts as she barely manages to hold onto her sanity during a break-up. It’s a modern classic. Her vocal performances throughout this album cease to blow me away.”
6. An Awesome Wave (alt-J)
“Just love this album, very good interesting songs that are put together very well. Breezeblocks and Matilda are the only songs that I don’t really enjoy. Maybe because they are too poppy. Saw them at a festival when I was on XTC. Amazing. Can’t wait to see them soon when I will probably be sober.”
5. The Money Store (Death Grips)
“The Money Store has a terrific balance and flow to it, on top of a list of incredible songs in and of themselves. Each time I listen, I hear another set of sounds I wasn’t focused on the last time, or I’ll hear one of MC Ride’s lyrics in a new light. Oh and Zach Hill. It has Zach Fucking Hill.”
4. Bloom (Beach House)
“The production is impeccable, the instrumentation fits perfectly together like a puzzle, Victoria’s vocals soar over vistas and landscapes of all nations, Alex’s arpeggios bring familiarity and warmth to the overall package of each song.”
See more: Tame Impala Albums Ranked
3. Channel Orange (Frank Ocean)
“A great revitalization of R&B, Frank Ocean delivers personal, though universal lyrics filled with passion, uncertainty, and dreaminess. He has the best R&B voice since Usher, in my opinion. The interludes could have been a little more exciting, or at least added as the intros to some of the songs.”
2. Lonerism (Tame Impala)
“Sounds a bit like The Beatles meet Indie Rock. I like it has a good song to hear and here you can hear the atmosphere that I like in the synth mix and the guitar. I like how the pitch is used to produce a pleasant area.”
1. Good Kid, M.A.A.D City (Kendrick Lamar)
“Kendrick Lamar is just all around a dynamic and poetic artist. His lyrics can be in your face and sometimes even leaving you wondering, what he really means by that. With blunt lyrics and double and deep meanings. His music is worth the listen. I just hope that he keeps his unique sound, rather than giving into the mainstream culture.”