Here’s the music that’s rocked my world in 2012*
1) Perfect Wreck (EP) (2012) – Mountain Schmountain
2) Ghosts Upon The Earth (2011) – Gungor
3) I Done A Album (2011) – Beardyman
4) To The Five Boroughs (2004) – Beastie Boys
5) Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares Vol. 3 (1989) – The Bulgarian State Television Female Vocal Choir
6) Champion Of The Game Of Love (single) (2012) – Chris Henson
7) Strange Negotiations (2011) – David Bazan
8) Fight The Power (Coneheads OST) (1993) – Barenaked Ladies
9) The Book Of Love (single) (2011) – Peter Gabriel
10) Normal (2005) – Bumblefoot
1) Perfect Wreck (EP) (2012) – Mountain Schmountain
Naming an 5 song EP that clocks in at just over 11 minutes as your favourite release of the year feels a little odd. But this miniature masterpiece has not left my playlist since it was released early in 2012 and I’m still finding hidden depths. Totally original in writing, viewpoint and execution.
Get it here
2) Ghosts Upon The Earth (2011) – Gungor
The ‘Liturgical Post rock’ band continues to put more and more miles between it and anything else the industry would label as ‘christian music’. Birthed at the intersection of spirituality, originality and great musicianship.
3) I Done A Album (2011) – Beardyman
Beardyman is a musical renaissance man, who transcends mere beatboxing with awesome chameleonic vocals, impressive DJ, mixing and songwriting skills and comedic chops a plenty.
4) To The Five Boroughs (2004) – Beastie Boys
MCA’s death this year set me off visiting and revisiting all things Beastie. I hated this album when it came out and yet loved many of the songs which I later bought in other formats. It took me a while to remember why. Two words – copy control. When I got the CD in 2004, the inbuilt anti-piracy software (malware) crashed my computer and I never went back. Piracy may kill music but Sony gave a masterclass in how to kill fans. Buy the download it, just to be safe…
Check out NyGel’s Ch-Check It Out Istanbul (Not Constantinople) Remix
5) Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares Vol. 3 (1989) – The Bulgarian State Television Female Vocal Choir
Vol. 1 is one of my favourite albums of all time and vol. 2 is none too shabby either, but it took years to finally make it to vol. 3. No other music sounds quite so other worldly and yet primally familiar… feels like Atlantis is calling me home…
6) Champion Of The Game Of Love (single) (2012) – Chris Henson
Quite simply one of the funniest and best written love ballads I’ve ever heard. It’s like a breath of fresh air.
Get it here
7) Strange Negotiations (2011) – David Bazan
2012 was the year I discovered Bazan after being told by several different people that my depressed christian songs sounded like Pedro The Lion. I can see the similarity and Bazan’s writing gets more assured with every release.
8) Fight The Power (Coneheads OST) (1993) – Barenaked Ladies
I had an epiphany listening to this bunch of mild mannered white Canadians singing the unofficial anthem of militant black hip hop. In the future hip hop will take it’s place among the folk music of the world and people of all colours and creeds will faithfully recreate Tupac and Ice T tracks with no more embarrassment (or understanding) than a middle class folk balladeer singing about the Irish potato famine.
I guess Buddy Ebsen really was a hero to most…
9) The Book Of Love (single) (2011) – Peter Gabriel
Gabriel’s album of left field orchestral covers, You Scratch My Back, yielded this beautiful version of The Magnetic Fields song
10) Normal (2005) – Bumblefoot
Guns n Roses guitarist Ron Thal’s alter-ego/band created a compelling audio journey through mental illness. Angry, lyrical, funny and full of great musicianship.
Honourable mentions
Somebody That I Used To Know (single) – Gotye/Walk Off The Earth
I Can’t Get Behind That (from the album ‘Has Been’)– William Shatner ft. Henry Rollins
El Camino (single) – Elisabeth Cook
Human Racing 20th Anniversary reissue – Nik Kershaw
Bangarang (EP) – Skrillex
Whole Lotta Helter Skelter (mashup) – Soundhog
*When I say 2012, I mean releases I first came across this year. I can’t help it of people are inconsiderate enough to release records before i’m ready to listen to then, can I?
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