Frank Ocean, Alt-J, Django Django And More On TAS Staff 'Best Of 2012' Lists
Never mind the naysayers — 2012 was a great year for new music. The Alternate Side staff cheated a bit by coming up with a six month list earlier this summer, but as we edge closer to the end of the year, our final "Best of 2012" tally of music faves includes Frank Ocean, Alt-J, Django Django, Poliça, Tame Impala, Bob Mould, Public Service Broadcasting, Divine Fits, Beach House and much more.
And what was your favorite music of 2012?
Russ Borris
Assistant Music Director and Host of The Alternate Side on FUV
Albums:
Frank Ocean, ChannelORANGE
Perfume Genius, Put Your Back N 2 It
Tame Impala, Lonerism
Divine Fits, A Thing Called Divine Fits
Alt-J, An Awesome Wave
Lost In the Trees, A Church That Fits Our Needs
Father John Misty, Fear Fun
Bobby Womack, The Bravest Man In the Universe
The Walkmen, Heaven
Willis Earl Beal, Acousmatic Sorcery
Songs: (alphabetical)
A.C. Newman, "Not Talking"
Aaron Freeman, "As I Love My Own"
Bob Mould, "The Descent"
Bruce Springsteen, "Wrecking Ball"
Hot Chip, "Night and Day"
Icky Blossoms, "Babes"
The Magnetic Fields, "Andrew In Drag"
The Tallest Man on Earth, "To Just Grow Away"
Twin Shadow, "Five Seconds"
Zeus, "Are You Gonna Waste My Time?"
[video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KpkXG8AXJ0]
Alisa Ali
The Alternate Side Host, Producer & On-Air Interviewer for WFUV
Alt-J, An Awesome Wave
Ben Howard, Every Kingdom
Dinosaur Jr, I Bet on Sky
Silversun Pickups, Neck of the Woods
Father John Misty, Fear Fun
Geographer, Myth
Japandroids, Celebration Rock
Nada Surf, The Stars are Indifferent to Astrology
Niki & the Dove, Instinct
Poliça, Give You the Ghost
[video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YZIpE3ybA8]
Eric Holland
Host, WFUV, FUV Music and The Alternate Side
Top 10 Albums:
Bob Mould, Silver Ag
Divine Fits, A Thing Called Divine Fits
Rodriguez, Searching For Sugar Man
Dr. John, Locked Down
The Walkmen, Heaven
Shearwater, Animal Joy
Gary Clark Jr., Blak and Blu
Dinosaur Jr, I Bet on Sky
Liane La Havas, Is Your Love Big Enough?
RNDM, Acts
New York City Albums:
Fiona Apple, The Idler Wheel
Nada Surf, The Stars are Indifferent to Astronomy
Sharon Van Etten, Tramp
Patti Smith, Banga
Shemekia Copeland, 33 & A Third
Norah Jones, Little Broken Hearts
Nonah Hendryx, Mutatis Mutandis
Betty Lavette, Thankful and Thoughtful
KJ Denhert, Destiny
Donald Fagen, Sunken Condos
Top Ten Concerts:
Roger Waters, The Wall, Yankee Stadium
Bruce Springsteen & E St Band, Fenway/Gillette Equally Epic
Neil Young & Crazy Horse/Black Keys/Foo Fighters, Global Fest In Central Park
Soulive, Brooklyn Bowl
RNDM, Bowery Ballroom
Buddy Guy/Quinn Sullivan, Bb Kings
Bonnie Raitt/Mavis Staples, The Beacon
Green Day, Iriving Plaza
Jack White/Alabama Shakes, Roseland
Radiohead, Prudential Center
[video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpsGcnLEZbk]
Kara Manning
Web Editor for The Alternate Side, On-Air Interviewer/Sub Host for WFUV/The Alternate Side,
Albums:
Passion Pit, Gossamer
Likely the most joyous-sounding album about crippling depression that I've ever heard. Gorgeous and painful at once.
Public Service Broadcasting, The War Room EP
Ingenious London duo weave vintage newsreel and film samples with propulsive Krautrock and electro-pop. Debut album due out in 2013.
Django Django, Django Django
Brash, buoyant and percussively driven roux of stuttering dance rock and lush pop. Like rifling through a DJ's great record collection.
Field Music, Plumb
The Brewis brothers craftily travel down eclectic byways of majestic prog-rock and angular pop, all coalescing into one luminous album.
Tame Impala, Lonerism
Kevin Parker's sumptuous sophomore collection demands a lava lamp, headphones and the time to revel in its dreamy, psychedelic soundscapes.
Frank Ocean, ChannelORANGE
Emotional, bold, candid, smart, brave and unlike any other R&B album this year.
Wild Nothing, Nocturne
Jack Tatum's hazy and sweet blur of a second album reveals an even stronger songwriter.
Cat Power, Sun
The big surprise of the year; the best album of Cat Power's career. Sadly, its release coincided with some severe health problems for the singer.
Damon Albarn, Dr. Dee
A peculiar, pretty and meditative mix of pop and English opera, accompanying the production in London and Manchester. Really beautiful and unexpected from the Blur/Gorillaz frontman.
Toy, Toy
Dappled with psychedelic pop, a motorik pulse and melodic shoegaze with catchy hooks, Toy's debut album isn't just a studio creation; the UK band is just as potent in live performance.
Singles:
Liars, "Brats"
From the outstanding album WIXIW; a brilliant, visceral scrawl of a dance track.
Public Service Broadcasting, "Everest"
Another glorious single from the London duo behind The War Room EP, EP One and "ROYGBIV."
Daughter, "Youth"
This raw, aching track from The Wild Youth EP is one of several unforgettable songs from the London trio, set to release its debut in early 2013.
Alt-J, "Tessellate"
From their confident debut album An Awesome Wave — which has won a boatload of awards — this single remains a highlight.
Dutch Uncles, "Fester"
The first single from the Greater Manchester band's upcoming third album, Out of Touch In The Wild, is a quirky, marimba-driven mathematical equation that builds to a tempest.
Fiction, "Careful"
Yes, it conjures up memories of Prefab Sprout, ABC and Orange Juice, but the London band also brings its own contemporary edge to this wiry track.
Orbital w/Zola Jesus, "New France"
The best slow build of any song this year. The moment when Zola Jesus' vocals really kick in around 1:52 is a thrill. From the very good Orbital album Wonky.
Kindness, "House"
Beautiful song from Adam Bainbridge's debut album, World, You Need A Change Of Mind
Melody's Echo Chamber, "Crystallized"
A sweet blend of fuzz and ferocity, the song takes a explosive left turn near its midway point that is simply fantastic. Produced by Tame Impala's Kevin Parker
Underworld, "Caliban's Dream"
In a difficult year, one of the better memories was Danny Boyle's breathtaking Opening Ceremonies for the London 2012 Olympics ... and Underworld's stellar musical direction, including this original song which underscored the lighting of the Olympic cauldron.
[video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uL9jtjJ3zv0]
Sarah Wardrop
Assistant Program Director, FUV Music Weekend Host, TAS Sub Host
Albums: (alphabetical)
Alabama Shakes, Boys & Girls
Calexico, Algiers
Cold Specks, I Predict A Graceful Expulsion
Dr. John, Locked Down
Kathleen Edwards, Voyageur
Aimee Mann, Charmer
Bob Mould, Silver Age
Poliça, Give You the Ghost
Bonnie Raitt, Slipstream
The Walkmen, Heaven
Songs: (alphabetical, and Aside from the Unavoidable "Call Me Maybe" or My Willie Mae Rock Camp Band's Song, "Kites")
Alunageorge, "You Know You Like It"
Diamond Rugs, "Blue Mountains"
Heartless Bastards, "Got to Have Rock and Roll"
Kelly Hogan, "We Can't Have Nice Things"
Lianne La Havas, "Is Your Love Big Enough?"
The Lumineers, "Ho Hey"
The Magnetic Fields, "Andrew In Drag"
Regina Spektor, "Small Town Moon"
Tegan & Sara, "Closer"
Zeus, "Are You Gonna Waste My Time?"
[video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcXl6CDqpvY]
Rita Houston
Music Director/The Whole Wide World Host
Favorite Albums (in no particular order):
Ben Howard, Every Kingdom
Alabama Shakes, Boys and Girls
Bonnie Raitt, Slipstream
Mumford and Sons, Babel
Bhi Bhiman, Bhiman
Beach House, Bloom
Calexico, Algiers
Rufus Wainwright, Out of the Game
Gary Clark Jr, Blak and Blu
Frank Ocean, ChannelORANGE
Favorite songs (also in no particular order):
Citizen Cope, "One Lovely Day"
Cope writes another classic — the kind of song that people will get married to, make babies to, and play at funerals. A classic!
Rufus Wainwright, "Jericho"
Songwriting is an art and a craft — Rufus excels at both on this song, with barely a word out of place.
Bonnie Raitt, "You Can't Fail Me Now"
A beautiful ballad, written by Joe Henry and Loudon Wainwright III, which Bonnie nails with a heartfelt vocal.
Willie Nelson, "Roll Me Up And Smoke Me When I Die"
Not just because of Snoop, not just because it's such a crowd pleaser live, and not just because this year I rode on Willie's bus, but just because it's great.
Dayna Kurtz, "Don't F*ck Around with Love"
This girl can sing, and cursing always makes a song better.
Cory Chisel, "I've Been Accused"
Cory Chisel writes another one straight from the heart. He's a true artist who will find a huge audience someday.
Mumford and Sons, "Lover of the Light"
A live staple and a powerful singalong. The song actually got even better for me after seeing the artful video.
Bhi Bhiman, "Time Heals"
One of my favorite new artists of 2012. It's hard to describe him — part Nina Simone, part Richie Havens. A poet, really.
Bruce Springsteen, "Wrecking Ball"
Made me cry every time. Especially live
Emeli Sandé, "My Kind of Love (Live at FUV)"
A great singer. Pop star in the UK just getting discovered here. Check out this live WFUV performance from her American radio debut (our most watched video). [video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SO32fVLj0jw]
