Top Releases of 2012

A year ago today I was doing the same thing I am doing now, looking ahead onto a new year that is full of wonder and possibilities.  There is no way I can fully know what to expect, and it's impossible to look into the future and get a solid grasp of what the music world will throw my way; right now, it's all up for grabs.  What's going to be my favorite album of 2013?  What is going to disappoint me?  Which band will release a debut album that blows me away?  These are the same questions I (and all of us for that matter) was faced with at the beginning of 2012.  I didn't have answers, I didn't have a clue.  It's for this reason that I love lists, if nothing else it's a reflection of the year that passed, a representation of the artists you listened to and the albums that grew to symbolize a small segment of your life.  It's all there, neatly organized in a countdown. For me, that's why I do lists.  I don't do them because I want to brag about what I listened to, nor do I think my list is better than everyone else's.  No, I do it because it gives a certain portrayal of who I am for that year, it shows what I was into and what I cared about.  Going through the years of previous lists, it's fascinating to look back and see how I've changed and how my music tastes shifted.  Each list fills in the answers that you asked yourself at the beginning of each year, and it exhibits that child-like excitement and curiosity that you felt 12 months prior.  To go back and observe that introspection is a wonderful thing, and the best part?  You get a chance to do it at the beginning of each and every single year.  The music side of me now has a clean slate going into 2013, and whenever a part of you has an uncertain future, how can you not help but feel a flurry of anticipation?  That's how I feel now, and that's how I felt then, way back in January of 2012.  Now, though, my questions have been answered, and 2012 will slowly disappear behind us (but that doesn't mean we won't forget it) as new and inspiring music makes its way into our ears.  So, without further adieu, here are my favorite releases of the year that passed....

25.  Blondes by Blondes

"Lover"

24.  Strange Weekend by Porcelain Raft

23.  Duality by Captain Murphy

22.  Shrines by Purity Ring

"Crawlersout"

21.  Allah-Las by Allah-Las

"Tell Me (What's On Your Mind)"

20.  Confess by Twin Shadow

"Beg For The Night"

19.  2 by Mac DeMarco

18.  Our House on the Hill by The Babies

17.  Heaven by The Walkmen

"We Can't Be Beat"

16.  Spiderwebbed by Stumbleine

15.  Melody's Echo Chamber by Melody's Echo Chamber

14.  Gossamer by Passion Pit

"It's Not My Fault, I'm Happy"

13.  Coexist by The xx

"Tides"

12.  Shields by Grizzly Bear

"Gun-Shy"

11.  Sweet Heart Sweet Light by Spiritualized

"Little Girl"

10.  There's No Leaving Now by The Tallest Man on Earth

"To Just Grow Away"

9.  Nocturne by Wild Nothing

8.  Oshin by DIIV

7.  Attack on Memory by Cloud Nothings

"Fall In"

6.  Bend Beyond by Woods

"Impossible Sky"

5.  Kindred EP by Burial

"Loner"

4.  Spooky Action at a Distance by Lotus Plaza

3.  Bloom by Beach House

"Lazuli"

2.  Lonerism by Tame Impala

"Music To Walk Home By"

1.  Celebration Rock by Japandroids

"Evil's Sway"

So there ya have it, 2012 in a nutshell!  As with every list I'm sure you agree on some while you completely disagree with others, but that's the beauty of music...no one has to agree on anything, we all just listen to what we like.  Anyway, I look forward to what will hopefully be a stellar 2013 music year, there are sure to be some great releases heading our way (Beach Fossils and Toro Y Moi, I'm looking at you) as well some debut hopefuls (ON AN ON, my fingers are crossed!).  Here's wishing everyone a happy new year, and hoping that your holidays were merry!  Thank you all for reading, it has been a pleasure writing for you, and I hope to see you guys soon!!!

Aylen

In early March I had the pleasure of writing up on Aylen, who had just completed a remix on Distantt's "Infinity".  I instantly fell for the track, as did my friends who I played it for at parties and the like. Today he has officially released a new single "On Fire", which comes in EP format when the remixes of it are included.  The track "On Fire" has been in Aylen's arsenal for quite some time now, but it was used exclusively for his live performances.  He has said that this song was actually his "secret weapon", but that it was about time to make it available to the public.  So there ya have it folks, the secret is out!  "On Fire" categorizes itself nicely with Aylen's lineup; obviously it's very uptempo, intended to move your feet, and includes all aspects that make great moombahthon, including plenty of "hype vocals, bass, and laser sounds".  I've posted the original below, as well as my favorite remix of the collection, by Xristo.  Stream them below, but then head over to SoundCloud to get all of them permanently secured onto your hard drive.  More on Aylen can be found here, and likewise for Xristo here.  Happy Thursday ya'll!

 Aylen - On Fire (Original Mix) by Aylen

 Aylen - On Fire (Xristo Remix) by Aylen

The Other Tribe

I was lucky enough to be hit up this afternoon by The Other Tribe, a group from Bristol, who put out a remix of their song "Skirts" by Don Diablo.  If the original didn't have enough dance motion to it, Don Diablo certainly made the cut with his injection of dubstep flare.  The main basis of the song remains similar, but the breakdown is totally different.  Both work well for summer bangers, and I myself look forward to drinking underneath the beats of both versions.  I've posted the two of them below, so go ahead and have a look!

Skirts by The Other Tribe

DrDr

I figured this would be a decent opportunity to switch things up a little bit and go with a remix, something I rarely write about.  This one comes to you from the band DrDr, a 3-piece live dance act from Brighton.  The group is already one EP deep, but in preparation for their new EP (which is coming out in a few weeks) they have made their own version of Major Lazer's "Get Free" available for all you great listeners out there. DrDr's take on "Get Free" is a little more spacious, with a lot more room for Amber's vocals to stretch out and breathe.  In doing so, her incredibly unique voice tends to take center stage, but not without a slew of underlying dubstep-inspired electronics.  There is an array of beats present in this remix, with different sections of the song taking on different tempos and rhythms.  It's adventurous, but doesn't try and deviate too far from the original or do too much.  It's a great track, and will definitely be successful in pumping some people up for their upcoming EP.  You can get the free download here at their SoundCloud, or take a visit to their Bandcamp if that's what you prefer.  Oh, and they have a Twitter also.

 Major Lazer - Get Free (DrDr Cover) by DrDr

Aylen

For today's post I figured I'd switch it up a little bit. Now, I rarely write about dance music or anything dubstep, which is due to a mix of two facts; one is that I'm not as knowledgeable on the topic and the other being I'm simply not as enchanted by dubstep-influenced songs like other people are.  That being said, when Aylen sent over his new Distantt remix "Infinity", I was surprised when I felt the need to post. Technically the reworked version falls under the category of moombahton, which is a genre that has recently been growing in popularity.  Moombahton is a form of electronic dance music that borrows aspects of reggaeton and in many cases dubstep, the result of which is pretty unique.  "Infinity" is a near six-minute long banger that flows in and out of many sections, so within this mix there is a little bit here for someone.  And for those not so keen on dubstep, "Infinity" is pretty light on that.  So feel free to check it out below, and you can also go to the SoundCloud for a free download.  Enjoy!

 Distantt - Infinity (Aylen Remix) by Aylen