Top #: Albums/Songs of 2012

    Perhaps my favorite post of the year, my favorite albums/songs released in the past year! 2012 edition of course, which was loaded with so many good albums that I seriously had to leave out some really good stuff that I listen to all the time. What helped me in this process of building my favorites for the year was that I kept good notes. I listed all albums in a text document as they came out, kept up to date on when albums were releasing and I do not think missed anything. I also found more places to listen to music legally than every before! Just recently I received an iPod Touch 5th generation for Christmas, so that made it even easier for me to take music with me where ever I go and where ever I have WiFi, thank you Bandcamper, SoundCloud apps and Grooveshark mobile! As opposed to last year, however, I did only start writing this today, so if you're worried my opinion changes tomorrow: (1) I guess I don't care so much, or (2) I don't think they will because I kept good notes, and (3) I have at least been thinking about top albums for a while at least, even if not so much songs.
    Regardless, my observations on 2012 you would find slightly similar to when I wrote up my 100th post, see here, so I won't go into so much detail, except that I'm afraid for all the hip hop influence I hear on the indie stations these days! I understand fun. and other bands taking a purposefully hip hop direction for one album or so, without necessarily losing their sound. But, pure hip hop rhythm and rap-esque singing is somewhat unacceptable in my book. I'd prefer popular culture and indie culture not blend so much to be honest. Maybe it is that indie bands are no longer indie unless they are hidden completely from the public view, which is nearly impossible in today's digital media age. Rant over.
    A few notable accolades to begin:
-Most disappointing album: Freelance Whales: Diluvia. Where did the wonderfully simple and beautiful style of Weathervanes go? Runner ups: Muse: The 2nd Law and Two Door Cinema Club: Beacon.
-Best new finds: Andy Shauf: The Bearer of Bad News and Team Me: To the Treetops!
-Most anticipated release: The Mars Volta: Noctourniquet
    Ok, time for the best (my favorite) albums/songs of:

Top 10 Albums:
honorable mention in no particular order:
Shields - Grizzly Bear
The Bearer of Bad News - Andy Shauf
The Royal Concept - The Royal Concept
Young Buffalo (EP) - Young Buffalo
Oversaturated (EP) - Rubblebucket

10 Silent Hour/Golden Mile (EP) - Daniel Rossen
9 Piramida - Efterklang
8 Ultraísta - Ultraísta
7 151a - Kishi Bashi
6 This Is an Adventure - The Lighthouse and the Whaler
5 Happy to You - Miike Snow
4 Ways to Forget - Clock Opera
3 Some Nights - fun.
2 Noctourniquet - The Mars Volta

and the best of 2012 goes to...
1 Valtari - Sigur Rós

There's nothing quite like this release, which is Sigur Rós's first true ambient album in a long time. Listening to a band find their roots again has never been so enjoyable and beautiful!

Top 20 Songs:
honorable mention in no particular order:

"Ekki Mukk" - Sigur Rós

"Hometown Hero" - Andy Shauf
"Animal Life" - Shearwater
"Breaking the Yearlings" - Shearwater
"Run the Banner Down" - Shearwater
“Christmas Unicorn” - Sufjan Stevens
"Carol of St. Benjamin the Bearded One” - Sufjan Stevens
“Madness” - Muse
“Will I Ever Dance Again” - Stepdad
“We Are 1980” - Said the Whale
“Falling” - Digitalism
“Pain From Love” - Rubblebucket
“Remedy” - The Welcome Wagon
“Orpheo Looks Back” - Andrew Bird
“Static Light” - Ultraísta
“Our Song” - Ultraísta
“Bad Insect” - Ultraísta
“Man in the Moon” - Jukebox the Ghost
“Devil’s On Our Side” - Jukebox the Ghost
“What’s Wrong” - Grizzly Bear
“She Don’t Give it Up” - Bend Sinister
“Got You on My Mind” - Bend Sinister
“I’ll Be Alright” - Passion Pit
“Take a Walk” - Passion Pit
“Pioneers” - The Lighthouse and the Whaler
“Nature Boy” - Young Buffalo
“Hold Me Back” - Young Buffalo
“A Piece of String” - Clock Opera
“Hollow Mountain” - Efterklang
“Apples” - Efterklang
“The Ghost” - Efterklang
“Aegis” - The Mars Volta
“Animals” - Muse
“Octopus” - Bloc Party
“Sleeping Ute” - Grizzly Bear
“We Are Young”- fun.
“It Gets Better” - fun.

I know...list gets longer every year right? So, top 20:

20 "Eq Anda" - Sigur Rós

19 “I Am the Antichrist to You” - Kishi Bashi

18 “Chromatic” - The Lighthouse and the Whaler

17 “(Focus) Oversaturated” - Rubblebucket

16 "I'm Not Falling Asleep" - Andy Shauf
15 “Beyond the Valley of the Three White Horses” - Andrew Bird
14 "Return to Form" - Daniel Rossen
13 "Yet Again" - Grizzly Bear
12 "Once and for All" - Clock Opera
11 “Pretender” - Miike Snow
10 “Alouette” - Clock Opera
9 “Devil’s Work” - Miike Snow
8 “Empty Vessels Make the Loudest Sound” - The Mars Volta
7 “Carry On” - fun.
6 “Gimme Twice” - The Royal Concept
5 “This is an Adventure” – The Lighthouse and the Whaler
4 “Dauðalogn” - Sigur Rós
3 “Valtari” - Sigur Rós
2 “Varðeldur” - Sigur Rós

top honors goes to...drum roll please...
1 “Dislexicon” - The Mars Volta

Has an amazing drop into the song, and still one of my all time favorite bands, The Mars Volta knows progressive rock like no one else. I hope the rumors of their hiatus are not true, though I'm intrigued of the possibility of Bosnian Rainbows.
   Happy New Year! I raise my glass to the hopes of another great music year to come in 2013. Keep reading and keep binge-ing. Hope you enjoyed my list, please do let me know your thoughts or top 10 lists too!