These are my current updated music charts compiled for January through March 2012 releases I've listened to so far. That said, March is currently incomplete. The past 2 weeks of releases have been extensive and maybe within a week or so I will be posting full March 2012 charts with all of the amazing releases I'm sure I haven't listened to yet. I know the list is extensive but check it out and perhaps you too will find some favorites. Due to my time constraints I'm unable to review each and every record. Instead I'm letting the placement in my "charts" do the talking for me. If it's #1 then it's there for a reason, which from me means BUY NOW! Enjoy, because life is too short to listen to crap music and sadly that's all that's being pushed to sell out there in the world so I hope I can assist in your search for something better.
FAVOURITE SINGLES BY MONTH:
JANUARY (IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER)
1. DREXCIYA-“LARDOSSEN FUNK”
2. DREXCIYA-“SEA QUAKE”
3. XRAY EYEBALLS-“DIE LITTLE LOVE (MENTHOL 100’S VERSION)”
4. GUIDED BY VOICES-“WAVES”
5. CANDY CLAWS & MIKE ADAMS AT HIS HONEST WEIGHT-“DO YOU EVER FEEL THAT WAY” (STARFLYER 59 COVER)
6. HEAVENLY BEAT-“FAITHLESS” (A FAV!)
7. KATHLEEN EDWARDS-“CHANGE THE SHEETS”
8. FIRST AID KIT-“THE LION’S ROAR” (A FAV!)
9. FIRST AID KIT-“EMMYLOU” (A FAV!)
10. DIAGRAMS-“TALL BUILDINGS”
11. THE LIFE AND TIMES-“DAY TWO”
12. THE BIG PINK-“STAY GOLD”
13. FRANKIE ROSE-“KNOW ME”
14. SCHOOL OF SEVEN BELLS-“LAFAYE”
15. PORCELAIN RAFT-“SHAPELESS & GONE” (A FAV!)
16. PORCELAIN RAFT-“PUT ME TO SLEEP”
17. PORCELAIN RAFT-“BACKWORDS”
18. CLOUD NOTHINGS-“FALL IN”
19. NADA SURF-“WAITING FOR SOMETHING” (A FAV!)
20. NADA SURF-“THE MOON IS CALLING”
21. NADA SURF-“LOOKING THROUGH” (A FAV!)
22. CHAIRLIFT-“WRONG OPINION”
23. CHAIRLIFT-“I BELONG” (A FAV!)
24. KENDL WINTER-“SHADES OF GREEN” (A FAV!)
25. KENDL WINTER-“LONG WAY”
26. ANCIENT SKY-“TIME IS AN OCEAN”
27. THE ASTEROIDS GALAXY TOUR-“HEART ATTACK” (A FAV!)
28. THE ASTEROIDS GALAXY TOUR-“FANTASY FRIEND FOREVER”
29. THE BIG SLEEP-“ACE”
30. THE BIG SLEEP-“VALENTINE”
31. ERRORS-“PLEASURE PALACES” (A FAV!)
32. ERRORS-“HOLUS-BOLUS” (A FAV!)
33. DISKJOKKE-“NOW DANCE (BRIGHT LIGHT BRIGHT LIGHT REMIX)” (A FAV!)
34. THE JEALOUS SOUND-“CHANGE YOU”
35. THE JEALOUS SOUND-“YOUR EYES WERE SHINING”
36. LANA DEL REY-“BORN TO DIE”
37. LANA DEL REY-“BLUE JEANS”
38. LANA DEL REY-“VIDEO GAMES” (A FAV!)
39. LANA DEL REY-“WITHOUT YOU”
40. BLACK BANANAS-“RAD TIMES”
41. HOSPITALITY-“EIGHTH AVENUE”
42. THE 2 BEARS-“WORK”
43. CANYONS-“MY RESCUE” (A FAV!)
44. TRAILER TRASH TRACYS-“STRANGLING GOOD GUYS”
45. FRED EAGLESMITH-“KATIE”
46. THEE OH SEES-“AA WARM BREEZE” (A FAV!)
47. DJANGO DJANGO-“DEFAULT” (A FAV!)
48. DJANGO DJANGO-“WAVEFORMS” (A FAV!)
49. J.R. PLANKTON-“SUNDANCE” (A FAV!)
50. BUXTON-“FINGERTIPS”
51. ELEPHANT MICAH-“AIRLINE LIVING”
52. BARRY ADAMSON-“TURNAROUND”
53. BARRY ADAMSON-“DESTINATION” (A FAV!)
54. HOWLER-“THIS ONES DIFFERENT” (A FAV!)
55. HOWLER-“PYTHAGOREAN FEAREM” (TOTAL FAV!!)
56. JESSIE BAYLIN-“HURRY, HURRY”
57. JESSIE BAYLIN-“THE WINDS” (TOTAL FAV!!)
58. JESSIE BAYLIN-“SEASICK”
JANUARY 2012 (IN ORDER BEGINNING WITH MY FAVOURITE RELEASES OF THE MONTH)
1. FIRST AID KIT-“THE LION’S ROAR”
2. NADA SURF-“THE STARS ARE INDIFFERENT TO ASTRONOMY”
3. PORCELAIN RAFT-“STRANGE WEEKEND”
4. DJANGO DJANGO-“DJANGO DJANGO”
5. KATHLEEN EDWARDS-“VOYAGEUR”
6. ERRORS-“HAVE SOME FAITH IN MAGIC”
7. ELEPHANT MICAH-“LOUDER THAN THOU”
8. THE PINES-“DARK SO GOLD”
9. HOWLER-“AMERICA GIVE UP”
10. CLOUD NOTHINGS-“ATTACK ON MEMORY”
11. WINDY & CARL-“WE WILL ALWAYS BE”
12. THE 2 BEARS-“BE STRONG”
13. FRED EAGLESMITH-“6 VOLTS”
14. BARRY ADAMSON-“I WILL SET YOU FREE”
15. J.R. PLANKTON-“NEON”
16. KENDL WINTER-“THE MECHANICS OF HOVERING FLIGHT”
17. CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX-“(MANKIND) THE CRAFTY APE” (2-CD)
18. BUXTON-“NOTHING HERE SEEMS STRANGE”
19. GUIDED BY VOICES-“LET’S GO EAT THE FACTORY”
20. CANYONS-“KEEP YOUR DREAMS”
21. LANA DEL REY-“BORN TO DIE” (DELUXE EDITION)
22. MATADOR-“KINGSWING” [EP]
23. XRAY EYEBALLS-“SPLENDOR SQUALOR”
24. THE BIG SLEEP-“NATURE EXPERIMENTS”
25. CHAIRLIFT-“SOMETHING”
26. VARIOUS ARTISTS-“POP AMBIENT 2012”
27. THE BOATS-“BALLADS OF THE RESEARCH DEPARTMENT”
28. BILL RYDER-JONES (FROM THE CORAL)-“IF…(ON A WINTER’S NIGHT A TRAVELER)” (U.S. EDITION)
29. ALOG-“UNEMPLOYED”
30. MI AND L’AU-“IF BEAUTY IS A CRIME”
31. JESSIE BAYLIN-“LITTLE SPARK”
32. LAURA GIBSON-“LA GRANDE”
33. OREN AMBARCHI-“AUDIENCE OF ONE”
34. CARDINAL-“HYMNS”
35. HEAVENLY BEAT-“FAITHLESS B/W PRESENCE” (SINGLE)
36. SCHOOL OF SEVEN BELLS-“LAFAYE B/W LOVE FROM A STONE” (SINGLE)
37. CASPIAN-“LIVE AT OLD SOUTH CHURCH”
38. TRAILER TRASH TRACYS-“ESTER”
39. ANCIENT SKY-“T.R.I.P.S.”
40. CANDY CLAWS & MIKE ADAMS AT HIS HONEST WEIGHT-“HELP ME WHEN YOU’RE GONE B/W DO YOU EVER FEEL THAT WAY” (STARFLYER 59 COVERS SINGLE)
41. MATT ELLIOTT-“THE BROKEN MAN”
42. BIG DEAL-“LIGHTS OUT”
43. OLAFUR ARNALDS-“LIVING ROOM SONGS”
44. THE JEALOUS SOUND-“A GENTLE REMINDER”
45. DISKJOKKE-“NOW DANCE” (2-TRACK SINGLE W/ REMIX BY BRIGHT LIGHT BRIGHT LIGHT)
46. BLACK BANANAS-“RAD TIMES XPRESS IV”
47. DIVE-HUMAN B/W BIG JOKE” (SINGLE)
48. CATE LE BON-“CYRK”
49. IMPERIAL TEEN-“FEEL THE SOUND”
50. ACID WASHED-“FOR YOUR EYES ONLY / PRINCE ACID” (SINGLE)
51. THE 2 BEARS-“WORK: THE REMIXES EP 1”
52. THE LIFE & TIMES-“NO ONE LOVES YOU LIKE I DO”
53. LOST LANDER-“DRRT”
54. TODD TERJE-“IT’S THE ALPS” [EP]
55. HELIGOLAND-“BETHMALE” [EP]
56. FRANKIE ROSE-“KNOW ME” (SINGLE)
57. DARREN HAYMAN-“JANUARY SONGS” (2-CD)
58. DRY THE RIVER-“WEIGHTS & MEASURES” [EP]
59. THE BABIES-“CRY ALONG WITH THE BABIES” (DEMOS)
60. THE BIG PINK-“FUTURE THIS”
61. EARLY WINTERS-“EARLY WINTERS”
62. ELECTRIC GUEST-“THIS HEAD I HOLD / TROUBLEMAN / AMERICAN DAYDREAM” (THEIR ONLY 3 RELEASED TRAX SO FAR)
63. AIDAN BAKER-“SPECTRUM OF DISTRACTION” (2-CD)
64. ONEIDA / MUGSTAR-“COLLISIONS 02”
65. LIECHTENSTEIN-“FAST FORWARD”
66. VARIOUS ARTISTS-“UNCUT MAGAZINE COMPILATION CD: JANUARY 2012 ISSUE: 15 TRACKS FROM UNCUT’S ALBUMS OF THE YEAR 2011”
67. VARIOUS ARTISTS-“SPIN MAGAZINE COMPILATION: JANUARY 2012 ISSUE: 24 TRACKS FROM THEIR BEST OF 2011”
OTHER RELEASES I LIKED BUT EITHER WEREN’T AMAZING TO MAKE MY FAVOURITES LIST, OR THEY ONLY HAD A FEW TRACKS I REALLY LIKED. STILL THEY MAY BE WORTH A LISTEN AND A MENTION.
JANUARY (IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER AT ALL)
1. TAYLOR DEUPREE + MARCUS FISCHER-“IN A PLACE OF SUCH GRACEFUL SHAPES”
2. PLUG-“BACK ON TIME”
3. ANI DIFRANCO-“WHICH SIDE ARE YOU ON?”
4. A HEAVY FEATHER-“YOU’RE THE LOTION ON DARKNESS KNUCKLES AS IT PUNCHES LIGHT IN THE FACE”
5. DEERHOOF / DAVID BAZAN-“DEERBAZAN” (SINGLE)
6. DIAGRAMS-“BLACK LIGHT”
7. SNOW PATROL-“FALLEN EMPIRES” (TURNS OUT THAT THE NEW ALBUM FROM THE JEALOUS SOUND-“A GENTLE REMINDER” IS PROBABLY THE NEW RECORD THAT GARY LIGHTBODY SHOULD HAVE MADE AS SNOW PATROL…)
8. RODRIGO Y GABRIELA AND C.U.B.A.-“AREA 52”
9. O F F LOVE-“PROBABLY LOVE”
10. IMBOGODOM-“AND THEY TURNED NOT WHEN THEY WENT”
11. POP. 1280-“THE HORROR”
12. RHYTON-“RHYTON”
13. HOSPITALITY-“HOSPITALITY”
14. LILACS & CHAMPAGNE-“LILACS & CHAMPAGNE”
15. THE DOOZER-“KEEP IT TOGETHER”
16. LEONARD COHEN-“OLD IDEAS”
17. KEVIN SAUNDERSON-“DEFECTED PRESENTS: KEVIN SAUNDERSON IN THE HOUSE” (6-CD MIX ALBUM)
18. PRINZHORN DANCE SCHOOL-“CLAY CLASS” (A MELLOW GANG OF FOUR FIXATION!)
19. LIBERTEER-“BETTER TO DIE ON YOUR FEET THAN LIVE ON YOUR KNEES”
20. MIDNIGHT DAVIS-“AFTERSHOCKS” [EP]
21. WIRE-“THE BLACK SESSION PARIS, 10 MAY 2011”
22. FCL-“MORE VOCALS FOR EVERYONE” [EP]
23. DJANGO DJANGO-“DEFAULT” (REMIX EP)
IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER THESE ARE RELEASES I DIDN’T REALLY CARE FOR AT ALL IN JANUARY:
1. VARIOUS ARTISTS-“MOJO MAGAZINE COMPILATION CD: JANUARY 2012 ISSUE: STICKY SOUL FINGERS – A ROLLING STONES TRIBUTE THEIR 1971 “STICKY FINGERS” REGROOVED” (OK, THIS MATERIAL IS JUST AWFUL. HAS TO BE THE WORST BATCH OF COVERS I’VE HEARD IN A WHILE. THE ONLY REDEEMER WAS THE BONUS TRACK “ANGIE” AT THE END BY BETA HECTOR. DON’T KNOW WHO THAT IS BUT IT WAS PRETTY GOOD. IT WAS BASICALLY TORTURE FOR ME LISTENING TO THIS.)
2. BRIGHT EYES (FEATURING FIRST AID KIT)-“WE ARE GONNA BE FRIENDS” (SINGLE TRACK) (BEING FANS OF BOTH I EXPECTED A GREAT SONG. INSTEAD IT’S SOME KITSCHY TRACK. I DIDN’T LIKE IT. BUT THE NEW FIRST AID KIT ALBUM “THE LION’S ROAR” IS THE FIRST STUNNER OF 2012!)
3. MATTHEW DEAR-“HEADCAGE” [EP] (OK, THIS IS MY LAST CHANCE FOR MATTHEW. LAST YEAR’S ALBUM SUCKED AND I REALLY HATE THIS EP TOO. I DON’T KNOW WHAT HIS OBJECTIVE IS BUT THESE 4 SONGS ARE JUST AWFUL REALLY.)
4. PYRAMIDS + HORSEBACK-“A THRONE WITHOUT A KING”
5. (WORST OF THE MONTH AWARD) CRAIG FINN-“CLEAR HEART FULL EYES” (WHAT A SCAM! THIS IS HANDS DOWN WORST ALBUM OF THE MONTH. I JUST FULL OUT SUCKS. HE MAY HAVE A MORE THAN COMPETENT BAND OF MUSICIANS BEHIND HIM BUT HE IS ANYTHING BUT. NOT THAT IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE LIKE A HOLD STEADY ALBUM; WHATEVER HE THINKS IT IS , I THINK IT’S UNLISTENABLY STUPID.
6. JASON URICK-“I LOVE YOU”
7. WOLF PEOPLE-“TIDINGS”
8. THE ASTEROIDS GALAXY TOUR-“OUT OF FREQUENCY” (WITH THE EXCEPTION OF 2 GREAT TRACKS, BOTH SINGLE WORTHY, THE REST OF THIS IS JUST CRAP!!! IT’S MOSTLY THE SINGER’S FAULT. UGH!)
9. LILACS & CHAMPAGNE-“LILACS & CHAMPAGNE”
10. WE HAVE BAND-“TERNION”
11. GOTYE-“MAKING MIRRORS”
12. ACTUAL WATER-“THE PAISLEY ORCHARD”
13. BRIGHT LIGHT BRIGHT LIGHT-“BLUEPRINTS EP1”
14. PALOMAR-“SENSE & ANTISENSE”
15. THE GOLDEN CALVES-“COLLECTION: MONEY BAND + CENTURY BAND” (THIS IS PRE-WOODEN WAND AND THE VANISHING VOICE MATERIAL FROM JAMES JACKSON TOTH’S GOLDEN CALVES PROJECT FROM 1996) (BASICALLY SKETCHES OF TRACKS AND NOT ENGAGING MUCH AT ALL…)
16. THE LIBRARY IS ON FIRE-“WORKS ON PAPER”
THESE ARE EITHER A RE-RELEASE OR BEST OF COLLECTION FOR 2012. JANUARY FAVOURITES IN ORDER:
1. DREXCIYA-“JOURNEY OF THE DEEP SEA DWELLER” (COMPILATION)
2. JAY FARRAR-“TERROIR BLUES: DOGTOWN SESSIONS” (2003/2012)
3. WHITE DENIM-“LAST DAY OF SUMMER” (2009-2010 IMPORT COLLECTION)
4. KAREN DALTON-“1966”
BEST ELECTRONICA/DANCE RECORDS (JANUARY 2012)
1. DREXCIYA-“JOURNEY OF THE DEEP SEA DWELLER 1” (COMPILATION) (JANUARY)
2. MATADOR-“KINGSWING” [EP] (JANUARY)
3. CANYONS-KEEP YOUR DREAMS” (JANUARY)
4. ACID WASHED-“FOR YOUR EYES ONLY / PRINCE ACID” (SINGLE)
5. KEVIN SAUNDERSON-“DEFECTED PRESENTS: KEVIN SAUNDERSON IN THE HOUSE” (6-CD MIX ALBUM)
BEST FOLK / COUNTRY / AMERICANA ALBUMS OF THE MONTH (JANUARY 2012)
1. FIRST AID KIT-“THE LION’S ROAR”
2. KENDL WINTER-“THE MECHANICS OF HOVERING FLIGHT”
3. FRED EAGLESMITH-“6 VOLTS”
4. LAURA GIBSON-“LA GRANDE”
DEBUT ALBUMS OF THE MONTH – IN ORDER OF GREATNESS OR NOT SO GREAT (THAT WOULD BE THE ONES AT THE BOTTOM OF THE LIST) (JANUARY 2012)
1. PORCELAIN RAFT-“STRANGE WEEKEND”
2. DJANGO DJANGO-“DJANGO DJANGO”
3. HOWLER-“AMERICA GIVE UP”
4. THE 2 BEARS-“BE STRONG”
5. BUXTON-“NOTHING HERE SEEMS STRANGE”
6. CANYONS-“KEEP YOUR DREAMS”
7. BIG DEAL-“LIGHTS OUT”
8. BLACK BANANAS-“RAD TIMES XPRESS IV”
9. TRAILER TRASH TRACYS-“ESTER”
10. LANA DEL REY-“BORN TO DIE”
11. LOST LANDER-“DRRT”
12. EARLY WINTERS-“EARLY WINTERS”
13. POP 1280-“THE HORROR”
14. A HEAVY FEATHER-“YOU’RE THE LOTION ON DARKNESS KNUCKLES AS IT PUNCHES LIGHT IN THE FACE”
15. O F F LOVE-“PROBABLY LOVE”
16. DIAGRAMS-“BLACK LIGHT”
17. HOSPITALITY-“HOSPITALITY”
18. LILACS & CHAMPAGNE-“LILACS & CHAMPAGNE”
19. ACTUAL WATER-“THE PAISLEY ORCHARD”
MY PICKS FOR BEST ELECTRONIC / INSTRUMENTAL / EXPERIMENTAL RECORDS OF JANUARY 2012
1. ERRORS-”HAVE SOME FAITH IN MAGIC”
2. WINDY & CARL-“WE WILL ALWAYS BE”
3. J.R. PLANKTON-“NEON”
4. VARIOUS ARTISTS-“POP AMBIENT 2012” (A KOMPAKT RECORDS COMPILATION)
5. CASPIAN-“LIVE AT OLD SOUTH CHURCH”
6. THE BOATS-“BALLADS OF THE RESEARCH DEPARTMENT”
7. OREN AMBARCHI-“AUDIENCE OF ONE”
8. STARVING WEIRDOS-“HARD LINES”
9. BILL RYDER JONES (FROM THE CORAL)-“IF… (ON A WINTER’S NIGHT A TRAVELER)” (U.S. EDITION)
10. OLAFUR ARNALDS-“LIVING ROOM SONGS”
11. ALOG-“UNEMPLOYED”
12. AIDAN BAKER-“SPECTRUM OF DISTRACTION” (2-CD)
13. ONEIDA / MUGSTAR-“COLLISIONS 02”
FEBRUARY SINGLES (IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER)
1. FARMER SEA-“NOTHING EVER HAPPENED”
2. SHARON VAN ETTEN-“SERPENTS” (A FAV!)
3. SHARON VAN ETTEN-“KEVIN’S (A FAV! A STUNNER – FAV SINGLE OF THE MONTH?)
4. THE TWILIGHT SAD-“DON’T MOVE”
5. THE TWILIGHT SAD-“DON’T LOOK AT ME”
6. MARK LANEGAN BAND-“THE GRAVEDIGGER’S SONG”
7. MARK LANEGAN BAND-“GRAY GOES BLACK”
8. MARK LANEGAN BAND-“RIOT IN MY HOUSE” (A FAV! NEXT FAV SINGLE OF THE MONTH?)
9. MARK LANEGAN BAND-“ODE TO SAD DISCO” (ANOTHER SUPER FAV!)
10. MARK LANEGAN-“QUIVER SYNDROME”
11. LA SERA-“PLEASE BE MY THIRD EYE”
12. FRANKIE ROSE-“KNOW ME”
13. A PLACE TO BURY STRANGERS-“I LOST YOU” (A FAV!)
14. A PLACE TO BURY STRANGERS-“DRILL IT UP”
15. THERAPY?-“LIVING IN THE SHADOW OF THE TTERRIBLE THING”
16. THERAPY?-“MARLOW” (4TH FAV SINGLE OF THE MONTH!)
17. BOY FRIEND-‘LAZY HUNTER”
18. DJ FOOD-“GIANT (FEATURING MATT JOHNSON OF THE THE)” (2ND FAV SINGLE OF THE MONTH TIED W/ MARK LANEGAN!)
19. WYMOND MILES-“HIDDEN THINGS ARE ASKING YOU TO FIND THEM” (3RD FAV SINGLE!)
20. TAPE-“IN VALLEYS” (GORGEOUS 5TH FAV)
21. DAVID SYLVIAN & RYUICHI SAKAMOTO-“BAMBOO HOUSES” (FROM THE ‘WE ARE THE WORKS IN PROGRESS’ COMPILATION)
22. GOTH-TRAD-“MIRAGE”
23. RADAR EYES-“IN LOVE”
24. RADAR EYES-“ACCIDENT”
25. RADAR EYES-“I AM”
26. JOHN TALABOT-“DESTINY FEATURING PIONAL”
27. JOHN TALABOT-“WHEN THE PAST WAS PRESENT” (FAV!)
28. JENNY OWEN YOUNGS-“YOUR APARTMENT”
29. JENNY OWEN YOUNGS-“PIRATES”
30. JENNY OWEN YOUNGS-“BORN TO LOSE” (FAV!)
31. CLASSICS OF LOVE-“CASTLE IN THE SKY”
32. DESTROYER-“LEAVE ME ALONE” (NEW ORDER COVER) (6TH FAV OF THE MONTH)
33. BIOSPHERE-“BLUE MONDAY” (NEW ORDER COVER)
34. TENNIS-“IT ALL FEELS THE SAME” (7TH FAV)
35. TENNIS-“HIGH ROAD”
36. TENNIS-“TAKE ME TO HEAVEN”
37. FRANCOIS & THE ATLAS MOUNTAINS-“CITY KISS”
38. AMOS LEE-“SIMPLE THINGS”(8TH FAV)
39. HEARTLESS BASTARDS-“PARTED WAYS” (FAV!)
40. ROBERT DEEBLE-“HEART LIKE FEATHERS” (FAV!)
41. GIOVANNA PESSI & SUSANNA WALLUMROD-“HANGOUT” (STUNNING! TIED W/ 1ST OR 2ND FAV OF THE MONTH)
42. POLICA-“DARK STAR”
43. TERRANOVA-“SO STRONG (FEAT. KHAN)
44. EMIKA-“HIT ME (FEATURING JIMMY EDGAR)”
45. SHEARWATER-“YOU AS YOU WERE”
46. SHEARWATER-“STAR OF THE AGE” (FAV!)
47. ROSIE THOMAS-“WHERE WAS I” (FAV!)
48. TRIBES-“WE WERE CHILDREN” (FAV!)
49. WILD NOTHING-“NOWHERE” (FAV!)
50. WILD NOTHING-“WAIT” (IN TOP FAVS!)
51. WINTERPILLS-“AMAZING SKY”
52. WINTERPILLS-“THE SUN IS ALONE” (IN TOP FAVS!)
53. YOUNG PRISMS-“FOUR HOURS (AWAY)” (FAV!)
54. CHADWICK STOKES-“CROWBAR HOTEL”
55. LAMBCHOP-“MR. MET” (IN TOP FAVS!)
56. GRIMES-“NIGHTMUSIC (FEAT. MAJICAL CLOUDS)
57. EISLEY-“LIGHTS OUT”
58. EISLEY-“DEEP SPACE” (FAV!)
59. BOOKA SHADE-“NUMBERS” (SUPER FAV!)
60. TINDERSTICKS-“FROZEN” (FAV!)
61. SLEIGH BELLS-“COMEBACK KID”
62. KEVN KINNEY & THE GOLDEN PALOMINOS-“GOTTA MOVE ON” (FAV!)
63. KEVN KINNEY & THE GOLDEN PALOMINOS-“CHALLENGE” (FAV!)
64. KEVN KINNEY & THE GOLDEN PALOMINOS-“BIRD” (SUPER WOW FAV IN TOPS!)
65. BRIGHT MOMENTS-“BEHIND THE GUN”
66. COLLEEN GREEN-“I WANNA BE DEGRADED”
67. PETER BRODERICK-“BLUE” (GORGEOUS FAV!)
68. RELEASE THE SUNBIRD-“I WILL WALK”
69. MY BEST FIEND-“ONE VELVET DAY”
70. BURNING HEARTS-“INTO THE WILDERNESS” (FAV!)
71. BURNING HEARTS-“THE SWALLOWS”
72. WRINKLE NECK MULES-“STONE ABOVE YOUR HEAD”
73. FUTURE UNLIMITED-“GOLDEN”
74. THE CRANBERRIES-“TOMORROW” (FAV!)
75. NEW MULTITUDES-“OLD L.A.” (SUPER TOP FAV!)
76. NEW MULTITUDES-“CARELESS RECKLESS LOVE”
77. NEW MULTITUDES-“WHEN I GET HOME”
78. SOPHIA KNAPP-“GLASSES HIGH” (FAV!)
79. PLANTS AND ANIMALS-“BEFORE” (SUPER TOP FAV!)
80. PLANTS AND ANIMALS-“WHY & WHY”
81. PLANTS AND ANIMALS-“CONTROL ME”
82. SCHOOL OF SEVEN BELLS-“THE NIGHT”
83. SCHOOL OF SEVEN BELLS-“LAFAYE”
84. SCHOOL OF SEVEN BELLS-“WHEN YOU SING” (FAV!)
85. MONOLAKE-“GHOSTS”
86. MONOLAKE-“ALIGNING THE DAEMON”
87. NZCA/LINES-“OKINAWA CHANNELS”
88. BADLY DRAWN BOY-“LET IT RAIN” (FAV!)
89. BEACH FOSSILS-“SHALLOW” (FAV!)
90. ELLIOTT BROOD-“NORTHERN AIR” (TOP FAV!)
91. BETH JEANS HOUGHTON AND THE HOOVES OF DESTINY-“ATLAS”
92. BETH JEANS HOUGHTON AND THE HOOVES OF DESTINY-“NIGHTSWIMMER”
93. TRUST-“DRESSED FOR SPACE” (FAV!)
94. TRUST-“GLORYHOLE” (TOP FAV!)
95. TRUST-“CHRISSY E.”
96. TRUST-“SULK” (TOP FAV!)
97. BEARS-“FROM GOOD TO BAD”
98. LITTLE BARRIE-“HOW COME”
99. WHITE BUFFALO-“HOW THE WEST WAS WON” (TOP FAV!)
100. WHITE BUFFALO-“THE PILOT”
FEBRUARY (IN ORDER BEGINNING WITH MY FAVOURITE RELEASES OF THE MONTH)
1. MARK LANEGAN BAND-“BLUES FUNERAL”
2. SHARON VAN ETTEN-“TRAMP”
3. BETH JEANS HOUGHTON AND THE HOOVES OF DESTINY-“YOURS TRULY, CELLOPHANE NOSE”
4. TINDERSTICKS-“THE SOMETHING RAIN”
5. GOTH-TRAD-“NEW EPOCH”
6. WINTERPILLS-“ALL MY LOVELY GONERS”
7. JAY FARRAR, WILL JOHNSON, ANDERS PARKER & YIM YAMES-“NEW MULTITUDES” (2-CD DELUXE EDITION) (A COLLECTION OF WOODY GUTHRIE LYRICS SET TO MUSIC)
8. LAMBCHOP-“MR.M”
9. TERRY MALTS-“KILLING TIME”
10. PERFUME GENIUS-“PUT YOUR BACK N 2 IT”
11. TRUST (ROBERT ALFONS + MAYA POSTEPSKI OF AUSTRA)-“TRST”
12. TENNIS-“YOUNG & OLD”
13. A PLACE TO BURY STRANGERS-“ONWARDS TO THE WALL” [EP]
14. JOHN TALABOT-“FIN”
15. GIOVANNA PESSI & SUSANNA WALLUMROD-“IF GRIEF COULD WAIT”
16. KEVN KINNEY & THE GOLDEN PALOMINOS-“A GOOD COUNTRY MILE”
17. MONOLAKE-“GHOSTS”
18. DIRTY THREE-“TOWARD THE LOW SUN”
19. WHITE BUFFALO-“ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST”
20. ELLIOTT BROOD-“DAYS INTO YEARS”
21. MY BEST FIEND-“IN GHOSTLIKE FADING”
22. THE TWILIGHT SAD-“NO ONE CAN EVER KNOW”
23. TENNIS-“YOUNG & OLD”
24. SHEARWATER-“ANIMAL JOY”
25. ANAIS MITCHELL-“YOUNG MAN IN AMERICA”
26. POLICA-“GIVE YOU THE GHOST”
27. BANG ON A CAN-“BIG BEAUTIFUL DARK AND SCARY” (2-CD 25TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION)
28. TAPE-“REVELATIONES”
29. GRIMES-“VISIONS” (BONUS TRAX EDITION)
30. BHI BHIMAN-“BHIMAN”
31. BURNING HEARTS-“EXTINCTIONS”
32. WYMOND MILES-“EARTH HAS DOORS” [EP]
33. GABRIEL & THE HOUNDS-“KISS FULL OF TEETH”
34. WRINKLE NECK MULES-“APPRENTICE TO GHOSTS”
35. FRANCOIS & THE ATLAS MOUNTAINS-“E VOLO LOVE”
36. THE PLIMSOULS-“BEACH TOWN CONFIDENTIAL: LIVE AT THE GOLDEN BEAR HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA 1983”
37. SCUBA-“PERSONALITY” (2-CD)
38. ELLIOTT BROOD-“DAYS INTO YEARS”
39. RADAR EYES-“RADAR EYES”
40. JENNY OWEN YOUNGS-“AN UNWAVERING BAND OF LIGHT”
41. ROBERT DEEBLE-“HEART LIKE FEATHERS”
42. DONOVAN QUINN-“HONKY TONK MEDUSA”
43. BADLY DRAWN BOY-“BEING FLYNN” (ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK)
44. WARM DIGITS-“KEEP WARM…WITH THE WARM DIGITS”
45. PLANTS AND ANIMALS-“THE END OF THAT”
46. CLASSICS OF LOVE-“CLASSICS OF LOVE”
47. LOOPS OF YOUR HEART-“AND NEVER ENDING NIGHTS”
48. SCHOOL OF SEVEN BELLS-“GHOSTORY”
49. WILD NOTHING-“NOWHERE B/W WAIT” (SINGLE)
50. VARIOUS ARTISTS-“DJ-KICKS: THE EXCLUSIVES VOLUME TWO” (2-CD)
51. AIR-“LE VOYAGE DANS LA LUNE”
52. BEACH FOSSILS-“SHALLOW B/W LESSONS” (SINGLE)
53. AMOS LEE-“AS THE CROW FLIES” [EP]
54. TRIBES-“WE WERE CHILDREN” [EP]
55. PUBLIC LOVER-“A BROKEN SHAPE OF YOU”
56. DAMON MOON AND THE WHISPERING DRIFTERS-“LUNGS, DIRT AND DREAMS”
57. AMY ALLISON & DAVID SCOTT-“TURN LIKE THE WORLD DOES””
58. ISIDORE (JEFFEREY CAIN OF REMY ZERO & STEVE KILBEY OF THE CHURCH)-“LIFE SOMEWHERE ELSE”
59. DISAPPEARS-“PRE LANGUAGE”
60. FRANKIE ROSE-“INTERSTELLAR”
61. ULRICH SCHNAUSS & MARK PETERS OF ENGINEERS-“UNDERRATED SILENCE”
62. THE UNTHANKS-“THE SONGS OF ROBERT WYATT AND ANTONY & THE JOHNSONS, LIVE FROM THE UNION CHAPEL (DIVERSIONS, VOLUME 1)”
63. VARIOUS ARTISTS-“THE MINIMAL WAVE TAPES, VOLUME 2”
64. MOUSE ON MARS-“PARASTROPHICS”
65. FARMER SEA-“A SAFE PLACE”
66. YOUNG PRISMS-“FOUR HOURS (AWAY) B/W WHEN I’M WITH YOU” (SINGLE)
67. PINCH-“FABRICLIVE 61”
68. BLONDES-“BLONDES” (DELUXE EDITION 2-CD)
69. ROYAL BATHS-“BETTER LUCK NEXT LIFE”
70. TERRANOVA-“HOTEL AMOUR”
71. FIELD MUSIC-“PLUMB”
72. EISLEY-“DEEP SPACE” [EP]
73. PETER BRODERICK-“IT STARTS HEAR”
74. DUSTIN WONG-“DREAMS SAY, VIEW, CREATE, SHADOW LEADS”
75. DEAD FINGERS (TAYLOR & KATE HOLLINGSWORTH)-“DEAD FINGERS
76. BONNIE ‘PRINCE’ BILLY-“THE B-SIDES FOR TIME TO BE CLEAR” [EP]
77. BAHAMAS-“BARCHORDS” (WHY DOES AFIE JURVANEN SOUND EXACTLY LIKE M. WARD ON THIS RECORD?! IT’S A GOOD ALBUM. NOT GREAT AND NOT LIKE HIS DEBUT “PINK STRAT”)
78. THERAPY?-“A BRIEF CRACK OF LIGHT”
79. CAGE & AVIARY-“MIGRATION”
80. COLLEEN GREEN-“MILO GOES TO COMPTON”
81. PONTIAK-“ECHO ONO”
82. HEARTLESS BASTARDS-“ARROW”
83. STRATEGY-“BOXY MUSIC” [EP]
84. DISTANCE-“REBOOT B/W BAZURK” (SINGLE)
85. MEMORYHOUSE-“THE SLIDESHOW EFFECT”
86. AMY RAY-“THE NOISETRADE SAMPLER”
87. DAVID FORD-“AUSTERITY MEASURES” [EP]
88. JULIA STONE-“LET’S FORGET ALL THE THINGS THAT WE SAY” [EP]
89. CLARO INTELECTO-“SECOND BLOOD” [EP]
90. EMIKA-“3 HOURS” [EP]
91. EARTH-“ANGELS OF DARKNESS, DEMONS OF LIGHT II”
92. YOUNG MAGIC-“MELT”
93. VARIOUS ARTISTS-“MONK MIX: REMIXES & INTERPRETATIONS OF MUSIC BY MEREDITH MONK” (VOLUME TWO)
94. VARIOUS ARTISTS-“MONK MIX: REMIXES & INTERPRETATIONS OF MUSIC BY MEREDITH MONK” (VOLUME ONE)
95. GRACE WOODROOFE-“ALWAYS WANT”
96. BONNIE “PRINCE” BILLY & MARIEE SIOUX-“BONNIE & MARIEE” [EP]
97. ONE MODEL NATION-“TOTALWERKS VOL 1 (1969-1977) (COURTNEY TAYLOR-TAYLOR FROM THE DANDY WARHOLS)
98. SHIGETO-“LINEAGE”
99. LANA DEL REY-“VIDEO GAMES REMIXES” [EP]
100. BRIGHT MOMENTS-“NATIVES”
101. RELEASE THE SUNBIRD-“IMAGINARY SUMMER” [EP]
102. CHADWICK STOKES-“SIMMERKANE II”
103. THE CHIEFTAINS-“VOICE OF AGES”
104. MINILOGUE-“LET LIFE DANCE THRU YOU (REMIXES EP)”
105. BURIAL-“KINDRED” [EP]
106. BART SKILS-“BURNIN’” (SINGLE)
107. JAMES VINCENT MCMORROW-“WE DON’T EAT” [EP]
108. ROSIE THOMAS-“WITH LOVE”
109. VARIOUS ARTISTS-“WE ARE THE WORKS IN PROGRESS” (BENEFIT TO SUPPORT JAPAN COMPILED BY KAZU MAKINO OF BLONDE REDHEAD)
110. FUCKED UP-“YEAR OF THE TIGER” [EP]
111. DJ FOOD-“THE SEARCH ENGINE”
112. CHEAP GIRLS-“GIANT ORANGE”
113. BEARS-“GREATER LAKES”
114. GEMMA RAY-“GEMMA RAY SINGS SPARKS (WITH SPARKS)” (2-TRACK SINGLE)
115. DAMIEN JURADO-“MARAQOPA”
116. OBJEKT-“CACTUS B/W PORCUPINE” (SINGLE)
117. CARLOS GIFFONI-“EVIDENCE B/W DESIRE IN THE SUMMER” (SINGLE)
118. BLACK MARBLE-“WEIGHT AGAINST THE DOOR” [EP]
119. HANS CHEW-“TENNESSEE & OTHER STORIES: BONUS MATERIAL EP”
120. VARIOUS ARTISTS-“MOJO MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2012 PRESENTS: NEW ORDER’S 1983 MASTERPIECES ‘POWER CORRUPTION & LIES’ RE-RECORDED COVERED”
121. VARIOUS ARTISTS-“UNCUT MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2012 PRESENTS: BAD MOON RISING: 15 TRACKS IN THE SPIRIT OF CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL”
OTHER RELEASES I LIKED BUT EITHER WEREN’T AMAZING TO MAKE MY FAVOURITES LIST, OR THEY ONLY HAD A FEW TRACKS I REALLY LIKED. STILL THEY ARE WORTH A LISTEN AND A MENTION OTHERWISE SEE MY DIDN’T CARE FOR AT ALL LIST FOR THOSE THAT I JUST COULDN’T RELATE TO.
FEBRUARY (IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER AT ALL)
1. DIGITAL LEATHER-“MODERN PROBLEMS”
2. THE 2 BEARS-“WORK: THE REMIXES EP 2”
3. BOY & BEAR-“MOONFIRE”
4. TIM BERNE-“SNAKEOIL”
5. BONOBO-“BLACK SANDS REMIXED”
6. HOOKWORMS-“HOOKWORMS”
7. HOWLIN RAIN-“THE RUSSIAN WILDS”
8. ITAL-“HIVE MIND”
9. LIAM THE YOUNGER-“AFTER THE GRAVEYARD”
10. LIAM THE YOUNGER-“CLEAR SKIES OVER BLACK RIVER”
11. MY DARLING CLEMENTINE-“HOW DO YOU PLEAD?”
12. SLEIGH BELLS-“REIGN OF TERROR”
13. JOSH RITTER-“BRINGING IN THE DARLINGS” [EP]
14. SINEAD O’CONNOR-“HOW ABOUT I BE ME (AND YOU BE YOU)?”
15. THE CRANBERRIES-“ROSES”
16. SOPHIA KNAPP-“INTO THE WAVES”
17. NZCA/LINES-“NZCA/LINES”
18. FANFARLO-“ROOMS FILLED WITH LIGHT”
19. CAROLINA CHOCOLATE DROPS-“LEAVING EDEN”
20. THE CHROME CRANKS-“AIN’T NO LIES IN BLOOD”
21. DREAMEND-“AND THE TEARS WASHED ME WAVE AFTER COWARDLY WAVE”
22. GEOGRAPHER-“MYTH”
23. LITTLE BARRIE-“KING OF THE WAVES”
DIDN’T REALLY CARE FOR MUCH AT ALL IN FEBRUARY:
1. CHUCK PROPHET-“TEMPLE BEAUTIFUL” (THIS ONE GETS MY VOTE FOR WORST ALBUM OF THE MONTH. I’M A BIG FAN SINCE THE DAYS OF GREEN ON RED. HIS SOLO ALBUMS IN THE PAST FEW YEARS HAVE BEEN A REAL CHALLENGE AND THIS ONE IS NO EXCEPTION. SQUANDERED IDEAS AND FRANKLY JUST UNBEARABLE SONGS. I KNOW CHUCK IS TALENTED BUT HE’S JUST NOT APPLYING IT TO HIS SOLO ALBUMS. I GUESS THIS IS ABOUT SAN FRANCISCO. GEE, I SURE DIDN’T GET THAT PART EITHER…)
2. LINDSTROM-“SIX CUPS OF REBEL” (THIS IS A MESS! THIS IS A DISASTER! I REALLY AM A FAN OF LINDSTROM AND HE WAS AMAZING LIVE LAST YEAR. THIS ALBUM IS CONFOUNDING. APPARENTLY HE DECIDED TO TAKE ALL OF HIS INFLUENCES AND LIKES AND CRAM THEM INTO EACH AND EVERY SONG. I FOUND IT DIDN’T WORK AND I COULDN’T WAIT FOR THE ALBUM TO END. I WON’T BE REVISITING THIS ONE –EVER!
3. DR. DOG-“BE THE VOID” (THE LAST ALBUM I REALLY LIKED FROM THEM MUST HAVE BEEN “FATE” FROM 2008. THESE LAST COUPLE OF ALBUMS ARE AN ABSOLUTE CHORE TO EVEN GET THROUGH ONCE. I DON’T KNOW WHAT’S GONE ON WITH THEIR SONGWRITING SKILLS BECAUSE THE BAND CAN STILL PLAY BUT THE SONGS ARE JUST AWFUL AND FALL TERRIBLY FLAT ON TAKE OFF. I THINK I’M DONE CHECKING OUT THEIR NEW RELEASES.)
4. CALLERS & DELICATE STEVE-“FURTHER OUT B/W PERFECT PAIRS” (SINGLE)
5. HOUSE OF LOW CULTURE-“POISONED SOIL”
6. NEW YORK DOLLS-“LIVE FROM THE BOWERY IN 2011”
7. THE SAINT JAMES SOCIETY-“THE SAINT JAMES SOCIETY” [EP]
8. THE KILLS-“THE LAST GOODBYE” (COVERS EP)
9. ISLANDS-“A SLEEP & A FORGETTING” (2-CD DELUXE EDITION) (THIS TITLE IS PERFECT! IT COULD PUT YOU TO SLEEP AND IT IS INCREDIBLY FORGETFUL. JUST AWFUL!)
10. THE LAST HURRAH!-“SPIRITUAL NON-BELIEVERS” + “THE GREAT GIG IN DISGUISE” (UNLISTENABLE)
11. LAURA J MARTIN-“THE HANGMAN TREE”
12. MULL HISTORICAL SOCIETY-“CITY AWAKENINGS”
13. (BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT OF THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY AWARD GOES TO: PUNCH BROTHERS-“WHO’S FEELING YOUNG NOW?” (THE FIRST TRACK IS EXCELLENT. THEN, IT’S ONLY DOWNHILL FROM HERE WITH TRACKS 10 & 11 REDEEMING. THESE GUYS CAN SURE PLAY THEIR INSTRUMENTS AND SING BUT THEY JUST CAN’T SEEM TO WRITE GREAT SONGS. IT’S KIND OF SAD THAT THEY MAY NEED THE REST OF THE NICKEL CREEK GANG TO PITCH IN AND OFFER SOME SONGS ALREADY! SAD.)
14. JAH WOBBLE & KEITH LEVINE-“EP” (WHY OH WHY DID THEY BOTHER? SO STUPID)
15. JONES STREET STATION-“THE UNDERSTANDING” [EP]
16. DIRTY GHOSTS-“METAL MOON”
17. HANNE HUKKELBERG-“FEATHERBRAIN”
18. THE MENZINGERS-“ON THE IMPOSSIBLE PAST”
19. ORGANS OF LOVE-“LIVE IN STEREO” [EP]
20. (WHAT IS THIS CRAP?!) AMY RAY-“LUNG OF LOVE”
21. KEITH FULLERTON WHITMAN-“GENERATORS”
22. ELECTRICITY IN OUR HOMES-“DEAR SHAREHOLDER”
23. RHYE-“OPEN” [EP]
THESE ARE EITHER A RE-RELEASE OR BEST OF COLLECTION FOR 2012. FEBRUARY FAVOURITES IN ORDER:
1. DIANA ROSS-“DIANA ROSS 1976” (2-CD SPECIAL EDITION)
BEST ELECTRONICA/DANCE RECORDS (FEBRUARY 2012)
1. GOTH-TRAD-“NEW EPOCH”
2. JOHN TALABOT-“FIN”
3. SCUBA-“PERSONALITY” (2-CD EDITION)
4. MONOLAKE-“GHOSTS”
5. VARIOUS ARTISTS-“DJ-KICKS: THE EXCLUSIVES VOLUME TWO” (2-CD)
6. TRUST (ROBERT ALFONS + MAYA POSTEPSKI OF AUSTRA)-“TRST”
7. STRATEGY-“BOXY MUSIC” [EP]
8. CAGE & AVIARY-“MIGRATION”
9. PINCH-“FABRICLIVE 61”
10. MINILOGUE-“LET LIFE DANCE THRU YOU (REMIXES EP)”
11. TERRANOVA-“HOTEL AMOUR”
12. DISTANCE-“REBOOT B/W BAZURK” (SINGLE)
13. BURIAL-“KINDRED” [EP]
14. BART SKILS-“BURNIN’” (SINGLE)
15. MOUSE ON MARS-“PARASTROPHICS”
BEST FOLK / COUNTRY / AMERICANA ALBUMS OF THE MONTH (FEBRUARY 2012)
1. JAY FARRAR, WILL JOHNSON, ANDERS PARKER & YIM YAMES-“NEW MULTITUDES” (2-CD DELUXE EDITION) (A COLLECTION OF WOODY GUTHRIE LYRICS SET TO MUSIC)
2. LAMBCHOP-“MR.M”
3. WHITE BUFFALO-“ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST”
4. ELLIOTT BROOD-“DAYS INTO YEARS”
5. BHI BHIMAN-“BHIMAN”
6. WRINKLE NECK MULES-“APPRENTICE TO GHOSTS”
7. DEAD FINGERS (TAYLOR & KATE HOLLINGSWORTH)-“DEAD FINGERS”
DEBUT ALBUMS OF THE MONTH – IN ORDER OF GREATNESS OR NOT SO GREAT (THAT WOULD BE THE ONES AT THE BOTTOM OF THE LIST) (FEBRUARY 2012)
1. BETH JEANS HOUGHTON AND THE HOOVES OF DESTINY-“YOURS TRULY, CELLOPHANE NOSE”
2. GOTH-TRAD-“NEW EPOCH”
3. TERRY MALTS-“KILLING TIME”
4. TRUST (ROBERT ALFONS + MAYA POSTEPSKI OF AUSTRA)-“TRST”
5. MY BEST FIEND-“IN GHOSTLIKE FADING”
6. JOHN TALABOT-“FIN”
7. POLICA-“GIVE YOU THE GHOST”
8. WARM DIGITS-“KEEP WARM…WITH THE WARM DIGITS”
9. BHI BHIMAN-“BHIMAN”
10. GABRIEL & THE HOUNDS-“KISS FULL OF TEETH”
11. WYMOND MILES-“EARTH HAS DOORS” [EP]
12. LOOPS OF YOUR HEART-“AND NEVER ENDING NIGHTS”
13. CLASSICS OF LOVE-“CLASSICS OF LOVE”
14. CAGE & AVIARY-“MIGRATION”
15. BLONDES-“BLONDES” (2-CD DELUXE EDITION W/ REMIX BONUS DISC)
16. RADAR EYES-“RADAR EYES”
17. FARMER SEA-“A SAFE PLACE”
18. FRANKIE ROSE-“INTERSTELLAR”
19. YOUNG MAGIC-“MELT”
20. MEMORYHOUSE-“THE SLIDESHOW EFFECT”
21. DEAD FINGERS (TAYLOR & KATE HOLLINGSWORTH)-“DEAD FINGERS”
22. BRIGHT MOMENTS-“NATIVES”
23. ONE MODEL NATION-“TOTALWERKS VOL 1 (1969-1977) (COURTNEY TAYLOR-TAYLOR FROM THE DANDY WARHOLS)
24. NZCA/LINES-“NZCA/LINES”
MY PICKS FOR BEST EP’S OF FEBRUARY 2012
1. A PLACE TO BURY STRANGERS-“ONWARDS TO THE WALL” [EP]
2. STRATEGY-“BOXY MUSIC” [EP]
3. EISLEY-“DEEP SPACE” [EP]
4. WYMOND MILES-“EARTH HAS DOORS” [EP]
5. TRIBES-“WE WERE CHILDREN” [EP]
6. AMOS LEE-“AS THE CROW FLIES” [EP]
7. FUCKED UP-“YEAR OF THE TIGER” [EP]
8. CLARO INTELECTO-“SECOND BLOOD” [EP]
9. EMIKA-“3 HOURS” [EP]
10. BONNIE “PRINCE” BILLY-“THE B-SIDES FOR TIME TO BE CLEAR” [EP]
11. JULIA STONE-“LET’S FORGET ALL THE THINGS THAT WE SAY” [EP]
12. BURIAL-“KINDRED” [EP]
13. LANA DEL REY-“VIDEO GAMES REMIXES” [EP]
14. JAMES VINCENT MCMORROW-“WE DON’T EAT” [EP]
15. BONNIE “PRINCE” BILLY & MARIEE SIOUX-“BONNIE & MARIEE” [EP]
16. RELEASE THE SUNBIRD-“IMAGINARY SUMMER” [EP]
17. BLACK MARBLE-“WEIGHT AGAINST THE DOOR” [EP]
18. JOSH RITTER-“BRINGING IN THE DARLINGS” [EP]
MY PICKS FOR BEST ELECTRONIC / INSTRUMENTAL / OR EXPERIMENTAL RECORDS OF FEBRUARY 2012
1. DIRTY THREE-“TOWARD THE LOW SUN”
2. BANG ON A CAN-“BIG BEAUTIFUL DARK AND SCARY” (2-CD 25TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION) (2/28)
3. MONOLAKE-“GHOSTS”
4. WARM DIGITS-“KEEP WARM…WITH THE WARM DIGITS”
5. TAPE-“REVELATIONES”
6. DUSTIN WONG-“DREAMS SAY, VIEW, CREATE, SHADOW LEADS”
7. AIR-“LE VOYAGE DANS LA LUNE”
8. LOOPS OF YOUR HEART-“AND NEVER ENDING NIGHTS”
9. ULRICH SCHNAUSS & MARK PETERS OF ENGINEERS-“UNDERRATED SILENCE”
10. PUBLIC LOVER-“A BROKEN SHAPE OF YOU”
11. CLARO INTELECTO-“SECOND BLOOD” [EP]
12. YOUNG MAGIC-“MELT”
13. SHIGETO-“LINEAGE”
14. CARLOS GIFFONI-“EVIDENCE B/W DESIRE IN THE SUMMER” (SINGLE)
MARCH SINGLES (IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER)
1. DESARIO-“SUCCESS (IS OURS)”
2. MIND SPIDERS-“WAIT FOR US”
3. JOSEPH ARTHUR-“TRAVEL AS EQUALS”
4. JOSEPH ARTHUR-“NO SURRENDER COMES FOR FREE”
5. NITE JEWEL-“IN THE DARK”
6. CEREMONY-“CITIZEN”
7. VIOLENS-“DER MICROARC”
8. TEEN DAZE-“BROOKLYN SUNBURN” (FAV!)
9. THE MEN-“TURN IT AROUND” (TOP FAV!)
10. THE MEN-“ANIMAL”
11. THE MEN-“PLEASE DON’T GO AWAY”
12. THE MEN-“OPEN YOUR HEART”
13. YELLOW OSTRICH-“STAY AT HOME” (FAV!)
14. SHARON VAN ETTEN-“LIFE OF HIS OWN” (STUNNING TOP FAV?!)
15. ZULU WINTER-“WE SHOULD BE SWIMMING”
16. WARM DIGITS-“WARM WELCOME / KEEP WARM” (TOP FAV!)
17. WARM DIGITS-“HERE COME THE WARM DIGITS”
18. TERRY MALTS-“SOMETHING ABOUT YOU” (FAV!)
19. TERRY MALTS-“WAITING ROOM”
20. TERRY MALTS-“I’M NEUROTIC”
21. TERRY MALTS-“NAUSEOUS”
22. WHOMADEWHO-“FIREMAN”
23. WHOMADEWHO-“NEVER HAD THE TIME” (FAV!)
24. ST LUCIA-“WE GOT IT WRONG” (FAV!)
25. ST LUCIA-“CLOSER THAN THIS”
26. LOTUS PLAZA-“REMEMBER OUR DAYS” (TOP FAV!)
27. MOONLIGHT BRIDE-“DIEGO”
28. POND-“WHEN IT EXPLODES”
29. POND-“ELEGANT DESIGN” (THESE 2 TOGETHER PROBABLY MY TOP FAVS!)
30. VCMG-“SPOCK XOQ” (FAV!)
31. VCMG-“SLIP BLIP”
32. HOBO-“SHADOWZ” (FAV!)
33. WHIRR-“JUNEBOUVIER” (FAV!)
34. WHIRR-“HOME IS WHERE MY HEAD IS” (TOP FAV!)
MARCH (IN ORDER BEGINNING WITH MY FAVOURITE RELEASES OF THE MONTH)
1. THE MEN-“OPEN YOUR HEART”
2. YELLOW OSTRICH-“STRANGE LAND”
3. DENISON WITMER-“THE ONES WHO WAIT”
4. DEMDIKE STARE-“ELEMENTAL” (2-CD)
5. WHIRR-“PIPE DREAMS”
6. ANDREW BIRD-“BREAK IT YOURSELF”
7. JULIA HOLTER-“EKSTASIS”
8. SHARON VAN ETTEN-“LEONARD B/W LIFE OF HIS OWN” (SINGLE)
9. HOBO-“IRON TRIANGLE”
10. NITE JEWEL-“ONE SECOND OF LOVE”
11. BOWERBIRDS-“THE CLEARING”
12. POND-“BEARD, WIVES, DENIM”
13. ST LUCIA-“ST. LUCIA”
14. LOTUS PLAZA / ODONIS ODONIS-“SPLIT EP”
15. XIU XIU-“ALWAYS”
16. CONDRE SCR-“YOU ARE GENIUS”
17. MIIKE SNOW-“HAPPY TO YOU” (DELUXE EDITION)
18. AUREX-“STRING THEORY” (2-CD)
19. CEREMONY-“ZOO”
20. LOTUS PLAZA/NICE WEEKEND-“LONGEST DAYS B/W COMEBACK” (SPLIT SINGLE)
21. VCMG-“SINGLE BLIP” (REMIX EP)
22. OLIVERAY-“WONDERS” (NILS FRAHM & PETER BRODERICK)
23. VCMG-“SPOCK” (REMIX EP)
24. 120 DAYS-120 DAYS II”
25. SKAI NINE-“EMBER” [EP]
26. YOUNG HEEL-“FALLS” [EP]
27. TRIBES-“BABY”
28. MOONLIGHT BRIGHT-“TWIN LAKES” [EP]
29. WHOMADEWHO-“BRIGHTER”
30. ALLO DARLIN’-“CAPRICORNIA B/W WHEN YOU WERE MINE” (SINGLE)
31. ZULU WINTER-“WE SHOULD BE SWIMMING” (SINGLE)
32. GOOD OLD WAR-“COME BACK AS RAIN”
33. VARIOUS ARTISTS-“SHANGAAN SHAKE” (2-CD COMPILATION OF ELECTRO MEETS SHANGAAN)
34. MMOTH-“MMOTHS” [EP]
35. ST LUCIA-“WE GOT IT WRONG” (REMIXES EP)
36. CASS MCCOMBS-“BRADLEY MANNING” (SINGLE)
37. POOR MOON-“ILLUSION” [EP]
38. THE DECEMBERISTS-“WE ALL RAISE OUR VOICES TO THE AIR: LIVE SONGS 04/11 TO 08/11” (2-CD)
39. ROCCO DELUCA-“DRUGS ‘N HYMNS”
40. OLAFUR ARNALDS-“ANOTHER HAPPY DAY” (ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK)
41. EVANS THE DEATH-“TELLING LIES B/W MORNING VOICE (ACOUSTIC VERSION)” (SINGLE)
42. PEARL AND THE BEARD-“PRODIGAL DAUGHTER” [EP]
43. VARIOUS ARTISTS-“MOJO MAGAZINE 2012: THE SONGS OF LEONARD COHEN COVERED. MOJO PRESENTS A TRIBUTE TO HIS CLASSIC 1967 DEBUT ALBUM”
44. VARIOUS ARTISTS-“INSOUND DIGITAL MIXTAPE – INSOUND MARCH 2012 MIXTAPE”
45. VARIOUS ARTISTS-“INSOUND DIGITAL MIXTAPE- INSOUND VINYL NEWS MIXTAPE 3/1/12”
46. VARIOUS ARTISTS-“SPIN PRESENTS BEST SXSW ACTS 2012 WITH 36 BANDS HIGHLIGHTS”
47. VARIOUS ARTISTS-“UNCUT MAGAZINE 2012: SOUNDS OF THE STAR-CLUB: 16 ORIGINAL VERSIONS OF SONGS COVERED BY THE BEATLES”
OTHER RELEASES I LIKED BUT EITHER WEREN’T AMAZING TO MAKE MY FAVOURITES LIST, OR THEY ONLY HAD A FEW TRACKS I REALLY LIKED. STILL THEY ARE WORTH A LISTEN AND A MENTION OTHERWISE SEE MY DIDN’T CARE FOR AT ALL (MARCH 2012)
1. VARIOUS ARTISTS-“THE WIRE MAGAZINE – BELOW THE RADAR VOLUME 8”
2. SKAI NINE-“NOT A WORRY IN THE WORLD B/W DANDELION (ORIGINAL MIX) (SINGLE)
3. MICATONE-“WISH I WERE HERE”
4. HUNX-“HAIRDRESSER BLUES”
5. NOW, NOW-“DEAD OAKS” [EP]
6. THE ROSIE TAYLOR PROJECT-“TWIN BEDS”
LIST FOR THOSE THAT I JUST COULDN’T RELATE TO.
MARCH (IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER AT ALL)
1. (WORST ALBUM OF MARCH 2012 GOES TO:) BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN-“WRECKING BALL” (WHERE DOES ONE START WITH THIS MESS? IT’S A GOSPEL ALBUM! WELL, THERE IS PLENTY OF GOD, JESUS AND FAITH (DON’T FORGET RIGHTEOUSNESS) AND BACK UP GOSPEL SINGERS, AND JUST PLAIN OLD BACK UP SINGERS. BUT WAIT! IT’S AN IRISH ALBUM! OR IS THAT A PIRATE LURKING? WHAT’S WITH THAT FAKE ACCENT? MUST BE HANGING AROUND WITH THAT OTHER FAKE ACCENT PERSON MADONNA. AND THEY BOTH SOUND JUST AS BAD. OH NO! LOOK OUT! HERE’S A RAPPER. MUST FEEL HE HAS TO PROVE HE’S SO “NOW” WITH THAT (ALWAYS) BAD CHOICE OF AN INCLUSION. HOWEVER IT FITS ALL THE OTHER RIDICULOUSNESS GOING ON HERE. DISAPPOINTMENT IN ALL OF THESE PROCEEDINGS COULDN’T BE OVERSTATED. WHY AM I WASTING TIME ON THIS CRAP WHEN THE BEST ALBUMS OF THE YEAR 2012 ARE ALREADY HERE SO FAR AND THEY ARE FROM FIRST AID KIT AND MARK LANEGAN. IT’S TIME TO RETIRE BRUUUUUUUUCCCCCCCCE. P.S. IF ALL THAT WASN’T ENOUGH, THE PRICING ON THIS BAD RECORD IS EVEN MORE INSULTING THAN THE CONTENTS. $12.99 DIGITAL WHEN HE’S RICHER THAN THE GOD HE SINGS ABOUT. OTHER NEW RELEASES ARE 5.99 TO 9.99. DIDN’T EVEN “LOWER” HIMSELF TO OFFER A $3.99 RELEASE DAY DISCOUNT BECAUSE HE’S OBVIOUSLY TOO GREEDY. DON’T PREACH TO ME ABOUT THE RIGHTEOUS MISTER.)
2. (THE NEXT WORST ALBUM GOES TO: ) JONATHAN SEGEL-“ALL ATTRACTIONS” + “APRICOT JAM – INSTRUMENTALS” (FROM CAMPER VAN BEETHOVEN. DOES NOT HAVE A STRONG VOICE AT ALL WHICH EXPLAINS WHY HE’S NOT THE SINGER BUT SADLY HE IS ON HIS SOLO ALBUMS. SOME OF THE MUSIC IS GOOD BUT THE LYRICS AND VOCALS ARE UNACCEPTABLE TORTURE)
3. (BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT OF THE MONTH) JOSEPH ARTHUR-“REDEMPTION CITY” (2-CD) (FREE FROM JOSEPH’S SITE). DISC ONE HAS IT’S MOMENTS AND IS MOSTLY ENJOYABLE. DISC TWO BEGINS WITH A DECENT 11 MINUTE INSTRUMENTAL AND THEN IT’S DOWNHILL FROM THERE. JOSEPH HAS DECIDED THAT HIS GREAT VOICE ISN’T WORTH SINGING WITH THIS TIME AROUND OR IT’S JUST HIS LAZY PIECE OF WORK THIS TIME? I DON’T KNOW BUT LAZY TALK/RAPPING EXACTLY THE SAME ON EVERY SINGLE SONG ON THIS ALBUM WAS NOT ONLY SADLY TRENDY, BUT BORING, MONOTONOUS, TEDIOUS TO TRY TO GET THROUGH (WHICH WITH DISC TWO I HAD TO JUST MOVE ON AS EACH SONG DID EXACTLY THE SAME THING – JOSEPH WOULD START TALK/RAPPING IN THE SAME EXACT WAY AS THE SONG THAT PRECEDED IT ALL – WHAT A MESS!) LAZY AND I’M FRUSTRATED OVER WHY HE’D WASTE HIS POETRY IN THIS WAY. I GUESS HE FINDS RAP AN ART FORM, WHEN I DO NOT. HE IS GIFTED WITH A GREAT VOICE AND IF HE’S BORED SINGING THEN HE COULD HAVE JUST PUT OUT A POETRY BOOK OF THESE SONGS WITH SOME PAINTINGS INSTEAD. I’VE SEEN HIM LIVE TWICE AND HE WAS GREAT. THIS IS JUST AN EXPERIMENT GONE ALL WRONG SINCE IT QUICKLY DIDN’T MATTER WHAT HE WAS SAYING.
4. DIE ROSTIGEN LOFFEL-“DIESES ALBUM MACHT SCHLANK” [EP]
5. (I THINK THIS TIES WITH BRUCE AS WORST ALBUM OF MARCH! OMG IT’S A HOT MESS!) THE MAGNETIC FIELDS-“LOVE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA” (IF I COULD PLAY MATCHMAKER RIGHT NOW IT WOULD BE TO CONNECT THE LEADERS FROM MAGNETIC FIELDS AND OF MONTREAL. I BELIEVE THESE 2 BOYS WOULD BE VERY HAPPY TOGETHER AND MAKE EVEN STRANGER MUSIC TOGETHER ONCE THEY HOOKED UP. STEPHEN HAS MOSTLY LOST ME HERE ON THIS ONE… AND DON’T GET ME STARTED ON THE MESS THAT IS THE NEW OF MONTREAL ALBUM!)
6. ROYAL CANOE-“EXTENDED PLAY” [EP]
7. WOWSER BOWSER-“WOWSER BOWSER”
8. CUDDLE MAGIC-“INFO NYMPHO”
9. TIM FITE-“AIN’T AIN’T AIN’T”
10. KAISER CHIEFS-“START THE REVOLUTION WITHOUT ME” (UM, MORE LIKE “START THE RECORD WITHOUT ME IN THE ROOM! YUCK!)
11. MINIATURE TIGERS-“MIA PHAROAH”
12. NOW, NOW-“THREADS”
13. SAID THE WHALE-“LITTLE MOUNTAIN”
14. MIKE WEXLER-“DISPOSESSION”
THESE ARE EITHER A RE-RELEASE OR BEST OF COLLECTION FOR 2012. MARCH FAVOURITES IN ORDER:
1.
BEST ELECTRONICA/DANCE RECORDS (MARCH 2012)
1. HOBO-“IRON TRIANGLE”
2. AUREX-“STRING THEORY” (2-CD)
3. WHOMADEWHO-“BRIGHTER”
4. VCMG-“SINGLE BLIP” (REMIXES EP)
5. VCMG-“SPOCK” (REMIXES EP)
6. SKAI NINE-“EMBER” [EP]
7. VARIOUS ARTISTS-“SHANGAAN SHAKE” (2-CD COMPILATION OF ELECTRO MEETS SHANGAAN)
BEST FOLK / COUNTRY / AMERICANA ALBUMS OF THE MONTH (MARCH 2012)
1. DENISON WITMER-“THE ONES WHO WAIT”
2.
DEBUT ALBUMS OF THE MONTH – IN ORDER OF GREATNESS OR NOT SO GREAT (THAT WOULD BE THE ONES AT THE BOTTOM OF THE LIST) (MARCH 2012)
1. WHIRR-“PIPE DREAMS”
2. ST. LUCIA-“ST. LUCIA”
3. OLIVERAY-“WONDERS”
4. TRIBES-“BABY”
MY PICKS FOR BEST EP’S OF MARCH 2012
1. LOTUS PLAZA / ODONIS ODONIS-“SPLIT EP”
2. VCMG-“SINGLE BLIP” (REMIXES EP)
3. MIDNIGHT BRIDE-“TWIN LAKES” [EP]
4. YOUNG HEEL-“FALLS” [EP]
5. POOR MOON-“ILLUSION” [EP]
6. ST LUCIA-“WE GOT IT WRONG” (REMIXES EP)
MY PICKS FOR BEST ELECTRONIC / INSTRUMENTAL / OR EXPERIMENTAL RECORDS OF MARCH 2012
1. DEMDIKE STARE-“ELEMENTAL” (2-CD)
2. JULIA HOLTER-“EKSTASIS”
3. CONDRE SCR-“YOU ARE GENIUS”
4. MMOTHS-“MMOTHS” [EP]
