Best Albums of 2012

Much later than everyone else I've decided to finally detail the list of the best albums released in 2012. Or more accurately, the best albums of 2012 that I actually got round to listening to. 'Best' is a pretty tricky word, as what can be called the 'best' often comes down to taste and personal preference. So anyway, here are the best (my favourite) albums (and EPs that I heard) from 2012.


10. The Heist - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
'Who?' you ask yourself.
While the words "white" and "rapper" next to each other are a huge turn-off for a lot of people, one by the name of Washington-born Macklemore (born Ben Haggerty) partnered up with producer Ryan Lewis to build a fun and original rap album. What makes this album great is the fact that Macklemore doesn't try to be anyone else; not Jay-Z, not Eminem but purely himself. No imitations or stupid accents. Just good rap music.

      Key Tracks: Thrift Shop, Jimmy Iovine

9.  Reign of Terror - Sleigh Bells
American duo Sleigh Bells also released their second album this year, which featured thumping synths, electric guitars and even a contemporary power ballad. Together Alexis and Derek show a rare example of how bigger can sometimes actually be better.
Key Tracks: End of the Line, Demons

8. Brandy - Two Eleven
'Ohhhhhh (never-er) heyyyyyy' 
Brandy brings back the late 90s and early 00s without making her newest LP dated or irrelevant. Not even a Chris Brown assisted track can bring this album down. Two Eleven is Brandy's first release since 'Human' in 2008, an album she herself didn't even like. But Brandy is back once again on top form, deciding to forgo the blaring Pop/Dance trend to make a coherent and strong offering. Well done Brandy.
Key Tracks: Wildest Dreams, Slower, Put It Down 

7. Armor On - Dawn Richard

One of the year’s best albums is actually an EP…with as many tracks as an album has. Ex-Diddy -Dirty Money and Danity Kane singer Dawn Richard independently released the piece 'Armor On', as an opener to a proposed trilogy of albums kicking off with GoldenHeart in January. Richard is an innovator, who marries her distinctively incredible voice with the sounds of producer Druski. Every track coincides with one another, working perfectly as a strange and out-there concept piece. (Full review here)

6. Melanie Fiona - The MF Life

Melanie Fiona brought R&B back earlier this year, with an array of guests on her latest, 'The MF Life'. J. Cole, Nas, B.O.B and John Legend all assist Fiona as she put love and relationships at the forefront of the album, detailing the good, the bad, and the ugly throughout. Full review here

5. Channel Orange - Frank Ocean
I'm not gonna pretend that I've always liked and known Frank Ocean, because I haven't. In fact, I pretty much ignored most of his work, thinking he was just another over-hyped, here today/gone tomorrow internet fad. What a fool I was, as Ocean can siiiiing. 'Channel Orange' is a strong album, with Frank getting to work straight away in his falsetto on 'Thinking About You' and keeping our attention in a chokehold for the duration of the album.
Key Tracks: Lost, Pink Matter


4. Perfectly Imperfect - Elle Varner
I don't think I've ever heard Country strings and an 808 sound so good togethe..if it all, ever. Varner, who co-wrote every song on the album, worked with an intimate group of producers including Oak & Pop to produce 11 track wonderment. One of the best debuts of the last few years for definite.
Key Tracks: Refill, I Don't Care, Not Tonight

3. Born to Die - Lana Del Rey

Technically released twice this year, Lana Del Rey’s first huge release saw the starlet attract a huge amount of controversy on account of her alleged manufactured past. Nevertheless the disc released in January was undeniably great. (You can read reviews for both editions of the album here and here).

2. Music 4 TNGRS - Chester French

Ex-Harvard attendees Max Drummey and D.A Wallach released one of the freshest, multi-genre albums this year, that went disturbingly under the radar. Wallach’s voice is beautifully throaty, while the lyrical content and production infused big band style brass instruments, soothing strings and banging synths. You can read a full review of the album here.

1. Kaleidoscope Dream - Miguel

Miguel, still largely unknown in the UK, seemed to burst out of nowhere for his second LP 'Kaleidoscope Dream'. Similarly to Dawn Richard, Miguel's voice sits strongly over the distorted R&B sounds of the album, which takes prevalence over the production. The album opens with one of it's strongest tracks 'Adorn', a 'Sexual Feeling' for the 21st Century. To be honest, it's all continuously up from there, as KD fails to display a weak spot in its 54 minute runtime.

Key Tracks: Adorn, Don't Look Back, Arch & Point

Lana Del Rey - 'Born To Die (Paradise Edition)'

You can read my review of the original Born To Die here

For those expecting an upbeat pop-y follow up to Del Rey’s debut album Born To Die released in January can look elsewhere, as Born To Die – Paradise Edition is treated almost as a complete continuation of what has been offered on the previously released disc. With this in mind, I think it’s safe to say that those who didn't enjoy the first outing are sure to feel the same way about this follow up.

As I am still avidly enjoying Lana’s first offering, the 8 track piece from the salacious siren is an uneven set – travelling through the interesting to lyrically labyrinthine then through to the mundane and the drab as the album progresses.

BTD – PE opens with the lead single ‘Ride’: a hauntingly beautiful Brandon Flowers inspired ballad. Lana’s temperament is apparent from the offset, and doesn't seem to change throughout the whole extended play. Even when she mutters that her “pussy tastes like Pepsi cola” on a track called...you guessed it, ‘Cola’, she sounds as if she is on the cusp of boredom and lethargy. Similarly in ‘Gods & Monsters’, Lana coos “fuck yeah, give it to me” a number of times over a classically serene drum and violin combo. Not two concepts you would ever expect to married together. The fifth track, a cover of ‘Blue Velvet’ (originally released by The Clovers in 1950) is a sweet yet melodramatic throwback which wouldn't sound of out of place in the works of John Huston and Adolph Deutsch, while the last two songs 'Yayo' and 'Bel Air' are the least rewarding songs on the disc.

What saves Lana’s sometimes lackadaisical tone is the great production that runs throughout each track. The singer partnered up with Rick Nowels, who has crafted songs for Marina and the Diamonds and Sia, as well as Del Rey on the original Born To Die. Although the EP has its dreary moments throughout, Lana lets her inner nympho reign supreme, making for a complicated and captivating release.
 

B

Key Tracks: American, Cola, Gods and Monsters

Lana Del Rey- 'National Anthem'- (music video)

“It’s a love story for the new age” Lana coos on 'National Anthem', her fifth official single from one of my favourite albums this year Born To Die. With Del Rey unveiling the clip for the standout track earlier today, the aforementioned lyric couldn’t be more apparent throughout its 7 minute 40 second star spangled love telling.

The video adopts the same style that the throwback starlet has let flow through her short-yet-controversial career; a sweet and sunny late 1950s/early 60s vibe with a tinge of 2012. In fact, it is filmed entirely to capture the feel of a short 'Super 8' home video. 'National Anthem' opens with Del Rey dressed in an evening gown approaching a podium to serenade the President in a very Monroe-esque manner (also used as the single artwork), possibly setting up that she will annoy everyone by portraying the role of the doomed actress throughout the video. Au contraire, as Lana chooses to emulate the classic first wife Jackie Onassis to 23-year old rapper A$AP Rocky’s President John F. Kennedy, who probably wouldn't be the first, or the 100th choice to play as such in a music video.

Del Rey as Jackie O. with Rocky portraying JFK

While interracial relationships are neither new or anything to bat an eyelid at, the depiction of such within music videos have been mostly absent, save a few that do so directly to make a point (such as ‘Un-Thinkable’ by Alicia Keys, or that Madonna video). Furthermore, even fewer depict a happily married interracial couple with children as this does. Over the course of the clip we see the family having breakfast, celebrating a birthday and frolicking about on the beach, while Del Rey and Rocky share tender moments on a sunbed.  As the video reaches it's climax, it ends in the same form as John and Jackie's did- with the assassination of the former. From here we are left with a monologue lead by Lana detailing her love for her dearly departed, ending a previously blissful romance into a frequently visited theme throughout Del Rey's career- death.

National Anthem is an entertainingly heart-warming video to watch, and while some will undoubtedly moan and roll their eyes at the fact that she has chosen to pose as a widely recognisable and celebrated recent historical figure, it turns out to be her most satisfying music video yet.

Oh by the way Lana, I'm still waiting for that 'Summertime Sadness' vid.

A

Lana Del Rey- 'Born To Die' (album)

If ‘Disney’s Gothic Magic Kingdom’ were a real place, Lana Del Rey would be the main attraction. I was captivated by her essence and voice the first time I listened to ‘Video Games’ in autumn last year, and awestruck by her (if to be believed, carefully crafted and constructed) persona. But you can’t judge an album off of one song, and after following an artist for some time, you can often feel let down by the end product. This fortunately isn't the case with 'Born To Die'.

First of all, ‘Born To Die’ is a brilliant album. From what feels like an overture from a Rita Hayworth movie in the title track which opens the album, the tone for the 12 tracks is set. Del Rey juxtaposes the beauty of besotted love with the torturous and haunting strings that accompany every song on the album perfectly. The range in her voice is astounding, which varies from the almost comically high in ‘Off To Races’ (light of my life, fyyre ‘f’ma loins) to the downbeat downtrodden sounds of both ‘Born to Die’ and ‘Carmen’.

Personally, Del Rey’s first album feels like a concept album, an autobiography of sorts detailing the positive sides as well as the dangers of falling and staying in love. Standout tracks such as National Anthem and This Is What Makes Us Girls will be on repeat for weeks. Along with news that Lana Del Rey has purchased the rights to her unreleased first album under her real name, Lizzy Grant, I can’t wait to hear what’s next.

A-

Key Tracks: National Anthem, Born To Die, This Is What Makes Us Girls, Summertime Sadness