This year was yet another exciting one in music. We saw surprise hits (Gotye’s “Somebody I Used To Know”) and some returning success stories (Mumford And Sons), but here are the 10 albums that stood out to me.
10. Kopecky Family Band Kids Raising Kids
This is a late entry in the race, but they really blew me away the first time I heard them. They seem to be America’s answer to Of Monsters And Men. Both bands use the male-female dynamic beyond just a simple duet, both start with a folk base that builds to more of an indie rock sound, and both seemingly came out of nowhere. They released Kids before securing the big record deal (Of Monsters signed on with Universal for their first album) and released the record after a string of big releases in the Fall, but I wouldn’t be shocked to see them really makes some waves in the near future.
9. Lianne La Havas Is Your Love Big Enough
La Havas continues the tradition of soulful British singers with her release this year. The difference with her is that she combines a greater number of styles than those who preceded her. While Amy Winehouse focused on her throwback sound and Adele goes for more of a folky soul, La Havas isn’t afraid to bring in any style to the table. Highlights include the title track and her duet with Martha’s Vineyard native Willy Mason and his unique baritone vocals on “No Room For Doubt”. Expect big things from La Havas in the future.
8. Polica Give Up The Gun
Now here’s a truly innovative group. When I first saw them live, I worried that their lack of a traditional lead instrument would bother me (they consist of a vocalist, bassist, and two drummers while part of the music comes from a laptop). Well, they were able to make their unique mix work. Channy Leaneagh is the singer and her vocals go through a ton of effects, however she makes that an art. To a certain extent those vocal effects take the place of traditional instruments. The two drummers also add a different dynamic. They deliver a booming sound together, but then create complex rhythms apart. Definitely a revelation in 2012.
7. Alabama Shakes Boys & Girls
This is one of those bands you HAVE to include. Brittany Howard sounds like Raphael Saadiq and Joss Stone decided to have a baby. She can simultaneously belt out rock and soul music on a verse and it just slices through your speakers. The band is tight but maintains the garage rock spirit by keeping a little rattle and hum in the mix. I’m excited to see where the band goes on their next release.
6. Dr. John Locked Down
I was fortunate to have the opportunity to be at the recording of Dr. John for the World Cafe. Not only did his personality shine through with his words and appearance (you should see the man’s cane), you could also tell he’s genuine. He spoke about different troubles he had in his life and some of the lessons he learned along the way. This was also part of the program’s “Sense Of Place” series as they traveled to the REAL New Orleans, not just to tourist traps. Not only did his genuine personality present itself there, he let it loose on the album that brought him to World Cafe called Locked Down. He thanked The Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach, who produced the album, for helping him return to basics. Auerbach brings The Black Keys sound but molds it to fit Dr. John. The result of this collaboration is a modern twist on New Orleans’ eclectic sound.
5. Gary Clark Jr. Blak And Blu
Prodigies don’t always live up to the hype. Clark must have felt a little weight on his shoulders while he recorded Blak And Blu, but you can’t really tell if he cares or not. He’s just himself and lets his vast array of talents loose on his debut full album. He’s been a staple at the Crossroads festival and has been invited to play with blues giants like B.B. King, Buddy Guy, and Eric Clapton. You can hear why on his take on the blues on “Bright Lights” and “Ain’t Messin Around”. He also has nods to rock n’ roll history, but the really surprising parts of the album come when he explores his R&B side. So in review his new album includes: blues, rock, soul, and R&B. Best of all, he gets them all to fit together by putting a modern spin on everything.
4. Jack White Blunderbuss
How did Jack White last so long without a solo album? I mean, you KNOW when Jack White is involved, mainly because he’s always the leading contributor. Whether you’re talking about White Stripes, The Raconteurs, or Dead Weather, he’s always THE guy. Heck, you can even tell his collaborations with just about everyone are led by him. In any event, he brings together a lot of his previous work into his solo album. Some songs slant towards his White Stripes days, others to the Raconteurs, and others harken back to the artists that influenced him. Overall, this is the way an artist like Jack White should record a solo album. It’s him from start to finish and he doesn’t try to be someone he isn’t.
3. The Shins Port Of Morrow
After waiting 5 years, James Mercer finally got the band back together. Well, sort of. This a case where if James Mercer decided to just record a solo album I’m not sure it’d be any different than a Shins album. The entire lineup turned over, but The Shins came back as good as ever. Following up on their 2007 album Wincing The Night Away, Mercer and co. put together a terrific, cohesive album. Every song sticks in your head and flows well from one into the next.
2. Tame Impala Lonerism
The new release from Australian band Tame Impala has been described as psych rock, but it truly goes beyond that. To a certain extent it has a vintage sound and seems like it could have been written in the 1970s or 1980s, but at the same time it has a much more modern approach. The album is both very simple and very complex. It’s this balance that makes Lonerism so fantastic.
1. Father John Misty Fear Fun
The first song I heard from this release was “Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings” and I thought this would be another out there release from Sub Pop. Upon further investigation, I saw that this song was only the beginning. From the Beatlesesque “I’m Writing A Novel” to the country inspired “Tee Pees 1-9”, Father John Misty, née Josh Tillman, delicately balances uptempo irony with his well crafted criticisms on slower songs. His lyrics revolve around Los Angeles and he lets his humor run rampant throughout the album. I rarely pick up lyrics, but I love his thoughts on one of the more unique regions of the US. Best of all, this is entirely separate from his previous work with Fleet Foxes. He’s the kind of musician who doesn’t stay in one place so I doubt his next release will be the same, but you can bet I’ll give it a thorough listen.