Top 10 for 2012- #1-5

And now, my top 5 records for 2012...

1. Flats- Better Living

No record this year impressed me as much as Better Living. I am still amazed that I heard no buzz about this release, haven't seen it on any other lists, and it hasn't made any waves anywhere. Harkening back to the days of metal, industrial, experimental and heavy political rock isn't the way to turn heads nowadays, I guess. But for me, this is exactly what the world needs now: Black Sabbath riffs, samples, Pailhead screams, and industrial noise.

Mark my words, (this band and a few others have me thinking that) metal and heavy rock from the UK is coming back. There may be hope yet for "the kids."

2. Django Django- Django Django

A great debut from a band that works all the touchstones they can. From Beta Band and The Specials to krautrock and afrobeat, Django Django wrapped all their tight pop song writing in all sorts of experimental packages, and delivered a great record.

3. Tame Impala- Lonerism

Just by having released "Elephant," Tame Impala cemented a spot in my top 10 this year. Definitely the best single of the year, its glam rock meets psych groove was a game changer. With 2-3 other possible singles on this LP, it's an interesting record that deserves time and attention, even if psychedelia is not your thing.

4. TOY- TOY

TOY was the record The Horrors should have released next. This is a perfect next step in the London nouveau shoegaze scene, without getting caught up in the tropes of their inspirations. With their look, sound, and songs, they are the complete package and I can't wait for their next move.

5. S.C.U.M- Again Into Eyes

I waited a very long time for this record and was not disappointed. After all the talk of goth music and fashion returning, no one seemed to take it seriously or produce music, fashion or art that really understood it. Again Into Eyes for me was the only thing that really hit the target. It's not aping the past but taking inspiration from it and taking those ideas to the next progression, by adding other ideas, genres, textures and re-contextualizing them for 2012.

Sadly, after waiting for 2 years for S.C.U.M to release a full record, it took them less than a year after to break up. Sad days, indeed.

Tame Impala

This record is getting enough coverage all over the internet, so I really shouldn't even add to the cacophony with my two cents. And under most circumstances I wouldn't. If I didn't feel as strongly as I do about this single, I would just skip it. But "Elephant" by Tame Impala is easily the single of the year, and this should be shouted from the rooftops.

This is not to imply that the full record isn't worthwhile. No, in fact, Lonerism is a pretty great record. Much like their previous release, the latest from the Australian band pulls from the psychedelic-era Beatles cannon, and plunders the sunny and the trippy in equal measures throughout. The songs are solid and just complex enough to keep giving after multiple listens, while also keeping to the hook-laden catchy pop songwriting rule book.

But Elephant is more. Not only does it stand out on the new LP, it stands out in the music world. It marries the aforementioned psychedelia with a heavy glam rock stomp-along swinging beat, scuzzy guitars and enough fits and starts to keep things interesting throughout (Think Gary Glitter, Roxy Music and the Sweet). As it chugs along, begging for head banging and pogo-ing, it drops to a slinky velvet analog synth trail of discovery that just leads you deeper into the rabbit hole. This is the song that Jefferson Airplane would dream of; it's the song that the Raconteurs were looking to put on their debut. But "Elephant" bests them all, and just might change stadium intro music for the next few years.

Top 10 for 2010 +1

2010 was not a great year for music. I freely admit that I have slacked in listening to as much music as I should have, and admit that my daily listening shifted from music to more podcasts. But when going through other people's top 10 lists, I just do not see much that I missed out on. In fact, whereas I usually have trouble cutting my list down to 10, this year I struggled to even think of 10 records that I felt were worthy. Really this should be a top 5-15 instead of a top 10, but it's a yearly tradition so here we go:

1. The Crocodiles- Sleep Forever
2. Paul Weller- Wake Up the Nation
3. Tame Impala- Innerspeaker
4. Karen Elson- The Ghost Who Walks
5. Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster- Blood and Fire
6. Scissor Sisters- Night Work
7. Thee Oh Sees- Warm Slime
8. Delphic- Acolyte
9. Hurts- Happiness
10. Junip- Fields

And as a +1, if The Black Belles had a full release and not just a single, they probably could have taken the top spot. Just a guess, but I just love them so much that I am willing to go out on a limb on this one. Thank you, Jack White, for the Black Belles, my favorite band of 2010.