COOL KIDS BELONG TOGETHER

01. Werewolf - Fiona Apple (The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the...

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 12:58:00 -0400

01. Werewolf - Fiona Apple (The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do)

Best of 2012 .::. #1 THE IDLER WHEEL … | Top 5 albums

we can still support each other / all we gotta do’s avoid each other / nothing’s wrong when a song ends in a minor key

What an astonishing record by the extraordinary Apple machine. The Idler Wheel ... is cutting, beautiful, full of big emotions laid out unafraid in musically and lyrically complex arrangements, never undeserved or overwrought. […] It’s hard for me to imagine another album this year coming close to this one.

Ranking the tracks (you can see how much I love this album):

… (continue here)

So there you have it, the number one album of 2012 to cap off this prolonged endeavour. I’ve got my copy of the Idler Wheel. Have you?

#1. Climax - Usher (Looking 4 Myself, 2012)

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 12:16:00 -0400

#1. Climax - Usher (Looking 4 Myself, 2012): Best of 2012 .::. 100 Tracks | Original Tracks (dl...

Best of 2012: The year that was

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 01:03:00 -0400

Before we reach our number one of the past year, I want to make a few notes regarding some trends,...

02. Missing - The Xx Best of 2012 .::. 100 Tracks | Original...

Sun, 31 Mar 2013 16:19:00 -0400

02. Missing - The Xx

Best of 2012 .::. 100 Tracks | Original Tracks

That break at 1:20 in! Did it prepare you for what was coming? It took the ends of my hair by surprise. I’m pretty sure I said “wow” and died. And then brought back, only to be killed again by Romy’s quietly trailed off inquiry: “are we all we could be?”

02. Unfold - The xx (Coexist) Best of 2012 .::. #2 COEXIST | Top...

Sun, 31 Mar 2013 16:07:00 -0400

02. Unfold - The xx (Coexist)

Best of 2012 .::. #2 COEXIST | Top 5 albums

The consistency on this album is remarkable, both in themes and quality of delivery. It’s a continuing development of the unique XX sound, still bare and intimate, but with a layer of mourning wise beyond their years. Coexist is in many ways about finding a place for evolution - of relationship, love, and music - while remaining true to the beat that drives the heart, honouring all the past feelings and life imprints that make us who we are.

Other worthy tracks: Reunion, Sunset, Swept Away, and the #2 song …

03. Get Free (Feat. Amber Coffman) - Major Lazer Best of 2012...

Sun, 31 Mar 2013 15:55:00 -0400

03. Get Free (Feat. Amber Coffman) - Major Lazer

Best of 2012 .::. 100 Tracks | Original Tracks

This song makes me so, so happy. I don’t know if I should be or not, but that synth comes in and I just wanna run down a stream, splashing water everywhere, shouting at the top of my lungs “LOOK AT ME, I JUST CAN’T BELIEVE, WHAT THEY’VE DONE TO ME, WE COULD NEVER GET FREE, I JUST WANNA BE, I JUST WANNA DREEAAAAMM. AAAAHHHEEEHHHHH”

I may have done this every time the song is on. Minus the stream thing. That kind of thing is hard to come by.

03. Bad Religion - Frank Ocean (channel Orange) Best of 2012...

Sun, 31 Mar 2013 15:40:00 -0400

03. Bad Religion - Frank Ocean (channel Orange)

Best of 2012 .::. #3 channel ORANGE | Top 5 albums

One hell of a spiritual journey into love and desire and every memorable sting and impassioned tenderness that come with it.

Other worthy tracks: Pyramids, Thinking about you, Super Rich Kids, and Pink Matter.

04. Wiseman - Frank Ocean Best of 2012 .::. 100 Tracks |...

Sun, 31 Mar 2013 15:19:00 -0400

04. Wiseman - Frank Ocean

Best of 2012 .::. 100 Tracks | Original Tracks

So this is the second Frank Ocean song on the list. It may seem like I’ve broken the one artist / one song rule but I really didn’t because it was not written for his album (not that anyone cares, but it is per album, for the record). Frank Ocean wrote this song for Django Unchained, and Tarantino was right in not using it as part of the soundtrack. As much as I enjoy Django, the film is nowhere near as soulful and heartbreaking as what has been laid out on this track. It also underscores how amazing Frank Ocean’s voicebox is. Just listen to him going up on that note with “primate sharpens tooooool to survive and thrive in the jungoooool.” Jeebus what a voice. Goosebumps. Goosebumps everywhere.

04. Sing about me, I’m dying of thirst - Kendrick Lamar...

Sun, 31 Mar 2013 15:01:00 -0400

04. Sing about me, I’m dying of thirst - Kendrick Lamar (Good kid, M.A.A.D. City)

Best of 2012 .::. #4 GOOD KID, M.A.A.D. CITY | Top 5 albums

Surprisingly goes down easy in its entirety? There’s almost a classic quality to Kendrick Lamar’s music? He’s, like, a professional smooth talker or something. I don’t know what it is, but the first time I listened to the album in full, I thought to myself, “hey, I think he’s trying to say something! I would actually have to listen to this whole thing again. Look at me. I could sing along and stuff. I’m so G.”

Other worthy tracks: Good kid, M.A.A.D. city, Money trees, The recipe.

#5 Lady - Chromatics (Kill for love, 2012)

Sun, 31 Mar 2013 14:39:56 -0400

#5 Lady - Chromatics (Kill for love, 2012): Best of 2012 .::. 100 Tracks | Original Tracks What I...

05. Heavy Chevy - Alabama Shakes (Boys and Girls) Best of 2012...

Sun, 31 Mar 2013 14:35:00 -0400

05. Heavy Chevy - Alabama Shakes (Boys and Girls)

Best of 2012 .::. #5 BOYS AND GIRLS | Top 5 albums

This whole best of 2012 is just dragging out too long, so I’m going to truncate the album list to just 5 albums. More doable?

Alabama Shakes is no frontier in music, make no mistake. They’re just really, really good at playing this old rockin’ music style. The album is coherent, soulful, and a rollicking good time. We need more of that.

Other worthy tracks: Heartbreaker, Boys & Girls, Goin’ to the party, I ain’t the same

06. Regret - Fiona Apple Best of 2012 .::. 100 Tracks | Original...

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 14:41:00 -0400

06. Regret - Fiona Apple

Best of 2012 .::. 100 Tracks | Original Tracks

Any number of track on Fiona’s latest album could’ve made it on here, and probably in the same position too. I pick this one because it astounds me that after all these years, she is still able to deliver such fury through words that are so raw, so wounded, so poetic. It’s a perfect marriage of anger and vulnerability, put together like a black flower bouquet with spikes sprinkled all over. Taylor Swift may be known for writing mean songs about her exes, but it’s all child’s play compared to Fiona’s wrath. There’s nothing deceptive and upbeat about Fiona’s anger. It comes from a genuine knowing place, and it hits where it hurts the most. All is not fair in love and war, and nobody knows how to use it better than Ms. Apple.

07. Pink Matter (feat. Andre 3000) - Frank Ocean Best of 2012...

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 14:10:00 -0400

07. Pink Matter (feat. Andre 3000) - Frank Ocean

Best of 2012 .::. 100 Tracks | Original Tracks

My god, she’s giving me pleasure.

Just.

08. Arch & Point - Miguel Best of 2012 .::. 100 Tracks |...

Sun, 17 Mar 2013 13:28:19 -0400

08. Arch & Point - Miguel

Best of 2012 .::. 100 Tracks | Original Tracks

When it feels so good, then it just comes natural.

Indeed. A straight up good ol’ R ‘n B sizzling dish made for unadorned times.

09. $4 Vic/FTL (Me and You) - El-P Best of 2012 .::. 100 Tracks...

Sun, 17 Mar 2013 00:11:04 -0400

09. $4 Vic/FTL (Me and You) - El-P

Best of 2012 .::. 100 Tracks | Original Tracks

Yo,

This is E.P.I.C.

Ain’t no $4 Vic

The twists and turns, the fadeaways, the comebacks

They come at you grinning like Pontiacs

…

YEAH.

Seriously. Listening to EI-P bringing his A game on this fighting song is a rush every time. As Ali G would say, “Respekt!”

10. Plague - Crystal Castles Best of 2012 .::. 100 Tracks |...

Sat, 16 Mar 2013 23:52:00 -0400

10. Plague - Crystal Castles

Best of 2012 .::. 100 Tracks | Original Tracks

‘tis the song that beat Women, Weed & Weather. Welcome to T.O.!

Best of 2012 - Original Tracks, Part 1.5 (11-25)

Sat, 16 Mar 2013 23:49:00 -0400

Best of 2012 .::. 100 Tracks | Original Tracks 11-25. These songs are like horses that come in...

Best of 2012 - Original Tracks, Part 2 (26-50)

Sat, 09 Mar 2013 23:36:00 -0500

We’re entering the top 50 zone. These are the songs I actually, really, truly, honestly like. I’ll...

39. Holiday - Micachu (Never) Best of 2012 .::. 100 Tracks |...

Sat, 09 Mar 2013 23:12:00 -0500

39. Holiday - Micachu (Never)

Best of 2012 .::. 100 Tracks | Original Tracks

Holiday is awesome, but this video is not. It doesn’t matter. I love Micachu and the Shapes until the day Mica Levi sucks. Which is never gonna happen. I wish though they would pretend like they have some money for professional recording. I think that’s the only thing standing between them and world domination. BELIEVE.

47. Shoreless kid - Young Galaxy Best of 2012 .::. 100 Tracks |...

Sat, 09 Mar 2013 22:58:00 -0500

47. Shoreless kid - Young Galaxy

Best of 2012 .::. 100 Tracks | Original Tracks

I can’t get this song on the playlist, so it’s gonna have its own post. The tempo change half way through makes it even more gay & glorious than one would have thought given its first half. “Nothing’s so simple,” indeed.