Albums of 2012
The records from 2012 that made our lists.
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1BloomBeach House
Bloom
A lush, immersive dream-pop peak of widescreen beauty. Hypnotic and beloved. Their finest.
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2The Money StoreDeath Grips
The Money Store
A violent, exhilarating collision of punk, noise and rap that influenced a wave of experimental music. Abrasive and thrilling. A cult landmark.
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3Koi No YokanDeftones
Koi No Yokan
An atmospheric, dynamic late peak. Heavy and acclaimed. A high point.
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4The Lion's RoarFirst Aid Kit
The Lion's Roar
A harmony-rich folk peak of Swedish-Americana beauty. Warm and acclaimed. A breakthrough.
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5Until the Quiet ComesFlying Lotus
Until the Quiet Comes
A dreamy, immersive beat-scene peak. Inventive and acclaimed. A high point.
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6Channel OrangeFrank Ocean
Channel Orange
A widescreen breakthrough of narrative R&B, from the sprawling 'Pyramids' to the tender 'Thinkin Bout You'. Warm, literate and assured. The album that made him a star.
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7Blak and BluGary Clark Jr.
Blak and Blu
A modern blues-rock breakthrough blending soul, hip-hop and guitar fire. Bold and acclaimed. A contemporary highlight.
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8L'Enfant SauvageGojira
L'Enfant Sauvage
A focused, crushing progressive-death peak. Heavy and acclaimed. A high point.
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9ShieldsGrizzly Bear
Shields
A dense, intricate indie peak. Bold and acclaimed. A high point.
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10De Vermis MysteriisHigh on Fire
De Vermis Mysteriis
A blistering, riff-driven metal peak. Heavy and acclaimed. A high point.
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11good kid, m.A.A.d cityKendrick Lamar
good kid, m.A.A.d city
A self-described 'short film' about growing up in Compton, structured as a cohesive narrative with cinematic detail. Dense, melodic and replayable, it confirmed Kendrick as the leading rapper of his generation. A modern classic.
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12R.A.P. MusicKiller Mike
R.A.P. Music
A furious, El-P-produced peak of political fire. Sharp and acclaimed. A creative high.
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13Born to DieLana Del Rey
Born to Die
A cinematic, melancholic pop debut of vintage glamour. Lush and beloved. Her breakthrough.
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14KolossMeshuggah
Koloss
A monolithic, groove-heavy djent peak. Heavy and acclaimed. A high point.
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15Kaleidoscope DreamMiguel
Kaleidoscope Dream
A sleek, psychedelic R&B record of real songcraft and sensuality. Smooth and adventurous. A modern soul high point.
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16BabelMumford & Sons
Babel
A bigger, anthemic follow-up that swept the Grammys. Rousing and huge. A commercial peak.
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17Sorrow and ExtinctionPallbearer
Sorrow and Extinction
A melodic, mournful doom-metal debut. Heavy and acclaimed. A modern landmark.
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18Black RadioRobert Glasper
Black Radio
A genre-melting fusion of jazz, hip-hop, soul and R&B with star guests. Influential and warm. The bridge between jazz and modern Black music.
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19LonerismTame Impala
Lonerism
Woozy, psychedelic pop built almost entirely by Kevin Parker, dense and dreamlike. Inventive and warm. A modern psych landmark.
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20RedTaylor Swift
Red
A sprawling, genre-blurring bridge from country to pop, home to 'All Too Well'. Tuneful and beloved. A fan favourite.
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21The LumineersThe Lumineers
The Lumineers
A warm, stomp-along folk-pop debut, home to 'Ho Hey'. Tuneful and beloved. A breakthrough.
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22An Awesome Wavealt-J
An Awesome Wave
A quirky, intricate indie debut of folk, electronics and odd harmony. Distinctive and acclaimed. A Mercury-winning breakout.