LISTAMANIA 2012: Fav albums of the year

Sample: Ice, Tights, Mike

NUMBER TEN
POLYSICS
WEEEEEEEEEE!!!

Number ten, as usual, was the hardest to choose.  Polysics just edged out Squarepusher, Hot Chip, and Screaming Females.

Sample: Wrong Opinion

NUMBER NINE

CHAIRLIFT

SOMETHING

I usually hate cheesy 80's synth pop, but this band does it seriously and artistically   Not in that boring ironic joking way.

Sample: Bonus Oceans

NUMBER EIGHT

JEFF ROSENSTOCK

I LOOK LIKE SHIT

This would have been much higher if it were given more of a proper album treatment.  This is a very well written album about descending into societal obscurity.  Both soul crushing, and fun to listen to.

Sample: 空腹と空白

NUMBER SEVEN

TSUSHIMAMIRE

SHOCKING

Probably the most ambitious album of 2012.  The indie noise rockers mellow out to make a "Ziggy Stardust" epic concept album about food based aliens (with a fake band to boot!).

Sample: Kicking You

NUMBER SIX
THE BIRTHDAY
VISION

Year after year, badass rock and roll from Chiba Yusuke and his cronies.

Sample: V.A.L.I.S

NUMBER FIVE

BLOC PARTY

FOUR

This album gave me a brand new sense of respect for this band, and their ability/fearlessness to always be trying new things.

Sample: Dildonics

NUMBER FOUR
WE ARE THE PHYSICS
YOUR FRIEND, THE ATOM

Waited four years for this album, and it's like letting a rabid animal out of a cage.  This is ENERGY in pure uncut form.

Sample: Good Things

NUMBER THREE

THE MENZINGERS

ON THE IMPOSSIBLE PAST

Good old jaded punker rock and roll.  Soaked in depression, failure, and introspection.  This album is worthy of all the praise it's been getting.

Sample: The Trouble With Candyhands

NUMBER TWO
DEERHOOF
BREAKUP SONG

Somehow both the most accessible and the most wacky Deerhoof album ever.  Amazing combination of their weirdness + catchiness.  Love the lyrics, the glitch, and the dance party vibe it gives off.

Sample: Octagon

NUMBER ONE

LIARS

WIXIW

The most compelling release of 2012.  This album will give you the heebie-jeebies.  It's strange, sometimes scary, maybe impossible to understand; and you won't be able to stop listening.  Yes, these are all good things.