my top 5 records of 2012... (i think)
Well it is November 9th 2012, still records to be released this year and yet i'm already closing the book on my top 5 nominies. This may seem odd or rushed but i'll tell you why. Looking on the projection of records to be released later this year. None can make my top 5. "But Carl, The Weeknd has a record coming out November 13th." YES I KNOW! I am excited for that but can it be considered an album of the year when only 3 of the 32 tracks are "new" to 2012. Also... this is MY top 5 so.. thats really all of a reason i need. I think this list may actually surprise maybe two of you. Some who know me would think i'd be quick to chart "Born & Raised" By John Mayer to the top of the list but it wont be. I have a long running relationship with his music but it will never mean he automatically is my number 1. While Lana Del Rey is releasing another EP next week of all new music.. to me EPs cannot make the list. Just not enough music for me. Though i think a top 5 EP list could be done. Ok so how did i come to this decision. There are some many different types of music i enjoy. Each day has its own soundtrack and some days just need an old classic tune and new music just bothers me. (Thats my problem though.) I sort of just looked back at the entire year of music i bought and enjoyed. I started with the thought, "If i could only listen to five albums released this year, what would they be" from there i knew what i was working with. Even that question is tough because lets be honest, why would that ever be the case? maybe if zombies came and i was... never mind.. i would not be worried about music.. id just run. althoughh i might be in a large field with zombies all around and the sun setting just right with a safe house off in the distance and maybe just maybe the right tune would get me there.. ahh forget it.. sorry i'l get on with it. 2012 saw records from so many new acts it was at times hard to keep track. Every day there was a "new artist" tweet or blog or text in front of me.. often times from me. (You're welcome) How could anyone keep up. Luckily i've been bored and just also really love music.. So without wasting any more time. here they are.
5. Hands Like Houses - "Ground Dweller"
This record takes about 40 seconds to get going but the build up was very welcomed by me. At first listen i could see this album losing some listeners due to the "heavy angst" from the get go, but i would dare one of you to actually give it a listen or even read the lyrics on the opening track "Antarctica" "before you fly you'll fall, before you walk you crawl." Sure it may appear to be a slight "emo" or dramatic but for me that lyric is about perspective. I think the sound of this record would lose most and i can understand but you have to be open to all aspects of a record. I think the real clincher on this record me was the pace and layered drum patterns partnered with the melody brought in by Trenton Smith. the bands frontman. A lot of Post-Hardcore frontmen seem to force it or go out of range but Smith keeps his voice within reason. This record was my go to for every workout it seemed since its release. If you need a kick to your run or weights this record is for you. Trust me i understand the "hatred" of "angry hardcore emo" music but this record was lumped in to for the tunes but the lyrics are far from it.
favorite track: "Don't look now I'm being followed. Act Normal"
surprise track: "The definition of not leaving"
4. Alex Clare - "The Lateness of the Hour"
Who saw Alex Clare coming? Microsoft..? Surely you've seen the commercial? no.. ok i'll continue. The fact is no one saw him coming and yet everyone got hooked. "Too Close" was in everyones ears wether you realize it or not. It charted on itunes forever and was met with a US release of a record that the UK had already been privileged to have. This record for me was something unique in he brought a sort of "soul" missing from my itunes library. One listen to "Hands are Clever" and you'll be tapping your feet and smiling and have no idea why. Here's why.. music moves us more than we realize. It is what gets u through the day, its there for us when we want it, on demand. it gets us through a break-up and after full listen to this record you get that Clare was going through some things. (side note: did you know he dated Amy Winehouse?) Though he has said none of the songs have to do directly with her. Their is some history of hurt in his lyrics and wether its the overly apologetic "I Love You" or the sympathetic approach to justifying cheating on "Up All Night" This album is full of emotion under its ever changing tempo. If you have not explored beyond "Too Close" maybe you should.
favorite track: "Hummingbird"
surprise track: "Hands Are Clever"
3. Frank Ocean - "channel ORANGE"
On it's "release date" i was almost sure this record was going to be #1 right away. and by all means it might very well have been on a different day or if i had a different year. That however is taking nothing away from what will almost likely go down as one of the most beautifully written R&B records of all time. Hard to toss it in just yet but for everything that surrounded this record and Frank Ocean himself, nothing can take away from the craft and heart of these songs. With the sound of R&B almost seemingly be for the club or the car radio.. It was a breath of fresh air to have a record that could be released when R&B was done right and still stand out. I had the privilege of seeing Ocean perform just around his release date and you saw a young man coming to terms with who he was almost hoping while scared that everyone else could come to terms with him as well and the crowd was behind him 100%. Songs on this album are for anyone who has loved or been hurt by love. Struggled with love or been scared by love. It is all on this record. The mix of interludes in between various tracks only add to the atmosphere this record gives to a room. "You dont know how little you matter until you're all alone".. that lyric for me was one of the most stand out lyrics of 2012. I hear that lyric has a motivation to enjoy every moment you have with the people around you. You have no idea when it could go away. Anyone who has been on the internet in 2012 knows the history behind this records release and everyone i know embraced it. It is a record i will play for my kids. few records that are released these days have a timeless appeal. "channel ORANGE" will never go away.
favorite track: "Sweet Life"
surprise track: "Forrest Gump"
2. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - "The Heist"
78,000 or so people bought this record in one week. You could make an argument that 78,000 people shared the record with another. Maybe even repeat that formula for a couple times.. so we will give an estimate of roughly 500,000 give or take a few. The greatest take away from that initial number was that it was done with no label, no promotion, no commercials. Just Macklemore & Ryan Lewis and the ever growing "Shark Face Gang" the Seattle hip/hop duo have done something no one could have imagined. Yes while you may think of "So far Gone" by Drake being a huge independent success, that was never released for sale just co-signed by probably the Hottest rapper at the time Lil Wayne(not so much these days) and while his first debut was a huge success. He was already a house hold name. Macklemore and Ryan Lewis come from Seattle.. known for rain, starbucks, teen angst and more rain. Not hip Hop, surely not two white guys doing hip/hip at all.. yet alone successfully. Macklemore (real name Ben Haggerty) talks about ultimatly finding pride in doing it all by himself on "Jimmy Iovine" "i would rather be a starving artist than succeed at being fucked." You can't turn this record off. It grabs real hip/hop heads on "wings" all while grabbing the ears of sneaker heads everywhere with its ode to the want of Jordans. Pulls in indie kids with the ode to being bummy and being ok with it on "Thrift Shop" For a genre known for its flash and flair for the expensive, Macklemore is tossing that all on its head and challenging the theory all together. The huge song "Same Love" that has given Equal Rights a huge lift in the hip-hop community that for its entire history has been ignored. Macklemore has approached the topic from self doubt and his own family member not an outsiders perspective. All of this could not be possible if not for being brought to life by Ryan Lewis' producing and craft he puts forth on every single track on 'The Heist." Do not be surprised to see his name on the notes of a few artist's aside from Macklemore in 2013 and beyond. This record is not a fluke. You don't sell out a Nationwide and European tour without a full debut if the music does not effect people. Wether it's "Same Love" or "Starting Over" an open letter from Macklemore about his struggle with substance abuse and coming to terms with it. Take away from this record what you will but i guarantee you'll take something away from it.
surprise track: "Starting Over" f/ Ben Bridwell
1. Lana Del Rey - "Born to Die"
"High heels in her hands, swayin' in the wind. While she starts to cry, mascara runnin' down her little Bambi eyes: "Lana how i hate those guys." How could a record that has lyrics like that on the modern day American girl anthem "This is What Makes Us Girls" make it to be the number one record on my list. I'll tell you. I think for those who know me most know how much i love music and how expansive my genre appreciation reaches and the passion i take in music. Knowing that about me, you'll believe me when i say i have never heard another record like "Born to Die" the debut record from New York native Lana Del Rey. This record was by all intensive purposes not meant for me, not supposed to be what grabbed my ears. Though with every single female artist on the radio being produced by the same three producers, using the same 4 beat patters and selling to the same Mom/Daughter BFF duo. This was something that was was very welcomed by myself and seemingly every single person i know give or a take maybe two. Some would be quick to point out her SNL performance but we are grading record here not made for TV performances. The albums title track "Born to Die" produced by Emile Haynie (who won a grammy for Best Rap Album for Eminem's "Recovery") gives this track a 1960's Vietnam War Era sound along with Lana's overly honest love letter to the man behind the song. This record to me was appropriate for any occasion. No better than a summer night drive with the windows down. Not many records take you to a different era but this record does." Aside from being unapologetically beautiful with her approach to music and appearance Lana was something the music scene needed. She sings endlessly about being in love with someone who can't seem to realize it. In a genre where female artist seemed to be only concerned with singing about how crappy men are. Born to Die is one females effort to show her desire to love and the desire to be loved. This record has a "you and me against the world" anthem all throughout it. While it only seems to be Lana who thinks that. There is so much more i could say about this record but the record speaks for itself. No song on here can be ignored nor hated. Depending one what version you buy. every single song is worth listening to and will most certainly be your "favorite" at one time or another. Lana Del Rey releases an extend version of "Born to Die" dubbed the "The Paradise Edition" with nine new tracks on November 13th. Now might just be the perfect time to give her a listen (if you haven't yet).
favorite track: "National Anthem"
surprise track: "Lucky Ones"
So there you have it. I assume and suspect some would disagree or scratch there head at this list but again remember it is my list. I simply wanted to share with you. (no one asked thought i know.) There were so many note worthy records released this year from The XX, Yeasayer, Gary Clark Jr, JMSN, GOOD Music and a hundred others.. I just took what i knew i would want to take most from this year. As for that John Mayer guy.. "Born & Raised has its own place in my year of music.. go look for yourself a couple posts ago. I hope i have maybe given even just one of you something new to listen to with this list. 2012 was a great year for music.. who knows, something "new" might just surprise me before the years end. take care.
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