Top 50 Songs Of 2013

Another year in the books and with that being the case it's time for another year end list. Once again I've waited until the last minute to finish this, so here it is one song per artist (I don't know why I have that rule).

50. Health Plan - Pissed Jeans
I still think Pissed Jeans is a great name for a band because its just ridiculous to think why they chose this. This band isn't at all serious but its a very loud fast punk track.

49. Graceless - The National

48. We Are - Karnivool

47. Recovery - Frank Turner
Frank Turner as honest as ever, while his albums as a whole aren't as great as the early ones theres always a couple of spot on tracks.

46. Rival - Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
classic BRMC

45. Brushstrokes - Natasha Kmeto

44. The Brass - The Men

43. Royals - Lorde

42. You - Bibio

41. I Sat By The Ocean - Queens Of The Stone Age
While I wasn't the biggest fan of the new direction they've taken them riffs of this track are too good to pass up.

40. So Good At Being In Trouble - Unknown Mortal Orchestra

39. Raw Matierial - Deap Valley
It's balls to the wall and the distorted riffs remind me a little of bands like Fu Manchu.

38. Crazy - Ty Segall
Stripped back and completely honest

37. She Will - Savages

36. Your Heartwarming Story Makes Me Sick - Ken Mode

35. Numbers On The Boards - Pusha T
That beat just gets me everytime

34. Delicate Cycle - The Uncluded
Juno Raps

33. Mirrors - Justin Timberlake
It's just a complete toss up between this and Suit & Tie

32. I Can't Resist - Expensive Looks

31. Amethyst Rockstar - Joey Bada$$

30. Grab Her! - Disclosure

29.Kingdom of Kush - Melt Yourself Down
Daddy Fat Sax

28. It All Feels Right - Washed Out
Might be the perfect summer track for this year, seriously it sparkles

27. We're Taking This - Kylesa

26. Default - Atoms For Peace

25. Dance Apocalyptic - Janelle Monae

24. I Love It - Icona Pop feat. Charli XCX
Might seem like a guilty pleasure choice but this is an absolute banger

23. Holland - Black Angels

22. Belong To The World - The Weeknd

21. Simple Pleasures - Jake Bugg

20. Savagely Attack - Czarface feat. Ghostface Killah

19. 25 Bucks - Danny Brown feat. Purity Ring
Can we get a collab album please?

18. Stoned and Starving - Parquet Courts
The Strokes with better lyrics

17. Don't Let Me Go - Mikal Cronin

16. Monomania - Deerhunter

15. Sea Legs - Run The Jewels
Killer Mike absolutely goes for it on this track, like the control verse without having to name people because he's challenging everyone.

14. Tunnel Time - Thee Oh Sees
Controlled chaos

13. You Ha Ha Ha - Charli XCX
A great Pop track that has the great creativity and a massive Gold Panda sample which works so well.

12. Entertainment - Phoenix

11. Reach For The Dead - Boards Of Canada

10. Runnin - David Dallas

9. Get Lucky - Daft Punk feat. Pharrell Williams

It's too damn catchy for it not to make the top 10

8. Wraith - Peace

7. No Waves - FIDLAR

DRUGGGGGS

6. Demon Dance - Surfer Blood

5. I'm The Man That Will Find You - Connan Mockasin

This track is so damn smooth and incredibly sleazy

4. Collard Greens - Schoolboy Q feat. Kendrick Lamar

another top track for Schoolboy his tracks are so damn easy to listen to and the Kendrick verse is so damn good.

3. Attracting Flies - AlunaGeorge

2. Reflektor - Arcade Fire

I've always found Arcade Fire incredibly bland and boring but for some reason I gave this track a go when it was released pre album. WHERE DID THIS COME FROM!?!?! it's completely epic I didn't think they had this thing in them but its such a brilliant track from start to finish.

1. Let Her Go - Jagwar Ma

I was pretty certain I was going to end up with Reflektor being number one but I decided this was a way better choice. It really has everything to me, it's catchy and chorus gets it done everytime. Hearing them do this song live gives it a slightly stronger case as this Australian three piece have made a pop gem.

Album Review: Lorde - Pure Heroine

Did you hear how Lorde is only 16? ...    ..... .... of course you did cause its being rammed down everyone's throat every time we hear about her. Obviously its a huge achievement what she has done in the small amount of time Lorde, the alias of Auckland singer songwriter Ella Yelich-O'Connor has been in existence but for this review I'm going to stay away from the fact shes 16 cause its not that important.

Before I get into what I think of the album I must say I'm unsure of what Lorde is? is she a simple pop star produced by a big record label to sell a bunch of records and then be discarded a few years later? or is she a legitimate musician that we could be seeing for a long time to come? In all honesty I don't actually think shes either of those two cause I always get a vibe that the big business are trying to push her away from her being a bubble gum pop star and instead be this bedroom songwriter who is anti mainstream. Kind of like if a small indie band released a single and suddenly had number a 1 song and millions of fans. In the end though I have come to the conclusion that at this stage I think her image is still a little unclear but we'll probably see it in the coming months and whether its believable will be interesting to see.

The album starts with one of the big tracks from before this was released in Tennis Court and without a doubt this is one of the best on this album. It's minimal beat with a gloomy feel isn't at all adventurous but its unnecessary on this track. Instead displaying the reason why anyone listening to this in Lorde's voice and the that stay in line with where Ella is at this stage in her life. 400 Lux continues to move in the same direction as the album opener a simple pop song with a a solid beat backing it. Moving on to Royals the other elite level song on this album, a smash hit everywhere its certainly a track you can build a strong album off of. There's very little to be said about this song because its massive and everyone's probably heard it way too many times already.

Now we get to where this album has its first real problems because its so god damn stale and even worse safe. If there was ever an argument that they rushed this album out off the back of the EP and singles success it is evident in the rest of this album. The production is so safe it borders on boring, I don't know if this was her preference in terms on music but someone needs to invest in a producer that wants to take a risk. It makes the songs so samey and I get a feeling during the back half of this album that its almost pointless to listen to. Team almost brings this back to where we were early in the album but its surrounded by album filler in tracks Glory and Gore, Buzzcut Season and Still Sane.

A World Alone isn't a bad album closer although at this point my care factor for the rest of this album is extremely low. Being a new artist at the top of the world is a good reason to get more music out there as soon as possible, but if its not going to be at the same level or even close then don't bother, it only gives strength to those that second guess her. Would it be wrong for her to go away and truly find out who she is as an artist? come back with a real album not something that has such massive highs and then so much filler that doesn't at all do this justice.

This isn't at the end of the day a bad album, but it could be so much better with a little more time and perhaps an attempt to not have the songs so similar throughout. Lyrically its nice throughout and incredibly believable which can always be something I don't always get with pop music. While the 2nd half was quite stale there were still strong moments that combined with the strong trio at the beginning of this album at the very least gives a decent debut.

6.5/10

Favourite Albums of 2013 Halftime

So the end on June is upon and so I thought it was time to bring the blog back to write about the albums from this year that I've really enjoyed. I don't know what it is but I feel like its been a pretty quiet year for great albums (I still haven't listened to new Daft Punk) but there's definitely been some strong releases.

I've decided that these will be in no order just ones I can think of off the top of my head.

Wavves - Afraid Of Heights
Indie Rock

Coming off a favourite of mine in King Of The Beach Wavves went into a different direction, instead of his raw lo-fi indie surf rock style which suited him perfectly he has changed to much cleaner rock sound. Thankfully he pulls this off well, lyrically its deeper but still playful so to keep with how it has always been with Wavves. I really enjoyed the direction hes gone and have found these songs incredibly easy to listen to, fun album fo sur.

Czarface - Czarface
hip hop

I was slightly late on getting into this album, there really wasn't a hip hop/rap album out that had grabbed me (that A$AP album is garbage apart from the featuring artists) so went out in search and this came up as well as the Ghostface/Adrian Younge (solid) this is the better of the two. Czarface is the new project of Wu Tang member Inspectah Deck with the help of 7L and Estortic bringing together a superhero alter ego in Czarface. This album is full of fun wrestling samples and some slick rhyming with some nice features from Action Bronson and a couple of his Wu friends Ghostface and Cappadonna.

Mikal Cronin - MCII
Pop

This album is catchy as fuck and intriguing at the same time. This is the first Mikal Cronin album I've heard and I love how hes found a way of writing simple pop songs with a bit of edge instrumentally. It's hard for me to put this into a category maybe its a pop album but with some of the noisy riffs that he has added brings into play a more alt rock edge. Lyrically is on point the whole way through and makes this an album that I keep coming back to this year.

The Black Angels - Indigo Meadow
Psychedelic rock

I've been a fan of these guys for a couple of years and was also lucky enough to see them last week and they were great btw. This album is next level for me, the riffs are magic and I feel like Alex Maas has killed it vocally on this album. The distorted riffs are there, the way it is all brought together on this album might be why its their best work it seems like it all clicked. It's the classic retro psychedelic sound that they and the Brian Jonestown Massacre have kept alive over the last decade.

Thee Oh Sees - Floating Coffin
Garage Punk

This album is easily my favourite of this year, I enjoyed it a little after early listens but at this stage its clear cause I just can't stop going back and listening to the damn thing, its taken over. I wasn't sure if I could enjoy these guys anymore after Carrion/Crawler but its like they took that album and pushed it even further. They have those great instrumental jams in there, the crazy
rock moments where you lose your shit, they have what a psych band and a punk band put together would sound like. I think this is almost mental for the most part but put together so well that its held together and never gets sloppy. It'll rock your socks off!

Daft Punk - Random Access Memories: The Overrated and Underrated

Before this goes anywhere this isn't a review, after all I haven't even listened to this yet and not sure I want to go near it right now. Most of the time even hyped albums intrigue me enough to give it at least a listen to see what the fuss is all about because I'm not always a believer in certain ratings on music websites. Then there is the new Daft Punk an album which is taking being hyped to another level, the marketing isn't in your face annoying in fact its the opposite, with strategically placed ads during SNL and Coachella. There was never a need for them to do this because once die hard fans get a sniff they'll do the rest for you and in this case they sure have.

Now to the main reason for this post as I listen to the new album by The National (Trouble Will Find Me) is that this album right now for someone like myself (not a die hard fan, but don't dislike the work by any means) is almost not worth listening to. Not that the music will suck or anything just that the hype has almost become too much and left me not caring for this at all. I already have looked at a couple of reviews and comments on facebook about this album which have led me to believe this is how this album will work.

Daft Punk's Random Access Memories is the boldest, smartest, most pleasurable dance album of this decade 

So already we've started making massive calls about this album after just a few days and then at the same time we get this.

Daft Punk album fails to live up to the hype

But, but I thought this was a masterpiece...

I didn't even read the reviews because the titles alone did enough for me not to bother reading them, this right now is an album that I feel like only die hard fans who really want more Daft Punk should listen to. They'll probably enjoy it no matter what and there's nothing wrong with liking an album from a band you love. The rest of us though should leave it particularly those who had enough of hearing how great it was going to be, so much so that they wish it sucks to annoy those that wouldn't shut up about something they'd never heard.

This has all the makings of being heavily overrated and heavily underrated for at least a few months, until people come back to this album with a clearer head. Then we can figure out why we like or dislike it because it has all the making of being above average and not great or disappointing.
You can't use the hype against the band, its not a bad thing people are excited by them bringing something new out and remember when they hadn't released anything from the album PEOPLE WERE STILL GOING CRAZY FOR THIS!!!!.

PS I'll wait for a while before I listen to this.

Top 50 Albums of 2012

Its late but fuck it, also them write ups they take too long and no one cares.

50. Wild Nothing - Nocturne
49. The XX - Coexist
48. Schoolboy Q - Habits and Contradictions
47. The Men - Open Your Heart
46. Passion Pit - Gossamer
45. Enslaved - RITTIR 
44. Big Boi - Vicious Lies and Dangerous Rumours
43. Old Man Gloom - NO
42. Death Grips - No Love Deep Web
41. Perfume Genius - Put Your Back N 2 It
40. Dinosaur Jr. - I Bet On Sky
39. Dirty Three - Toward The Low Sun
38. Bats For Lashes - The Haunted Man
37. Ruby Frost - Water To Ice
36. Cloud Nothings - Attack On Memory
35. ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of The Dead - Lost Songs
34. Tallest Man On Earth - No Leaving Now
33. King Tuff - King Tuff
32. Lawrence Arabia - The Sparrow
31. Alt J - An Awesome Wave
30. Menomena - Moms
29. Matthew Dear - Beams
28. Crystal Castles - III
27. Gojira - L'enfant Sauvage
26. Purity Ring - Shrines
25. Frank Ocean - Channel Orange
24. High On Fire - De Vermis Mysteriis
23. Mac Demarco - 2
22. Lotus Plaza - Spooky Action At A Distance
21. Flying Lotus - Until The Quiet Comes
20. Home Brew - Home Brew
19. Michael Kiwanuka - Home Again
18. Sharon Van Etten - Tramp
17. Kendrick Lamar - Good Kid M.A.A.D. City
16. Grimes - Visions
15. Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffitti - Mature Themes
14. EL-P - Cancer For Cure
13. Ty Segell Band - Slaughterhouse
12. Grizzly Bear - Shields
11. Tame Impala - Lonerism


Top 10

10. Scott Walker - Bish Bosch

I don't care in what form this man sings he'll forever be great, its a strong, powerful voice that brings together some pretty fucked up songs. (if they can even be called that) This is very much a tough listen music wise but it somehow still works with his vocals powering through.

9. Swans - The Seer

This shit is long (2 discs) the first one is my favourite with tracks like Mother Of The World on it but overall Gira has pulled a loud, long and crunching masterpiece. One that at the longer end of an album doesn't at any point for me feel too long.

8. Converge - All We Love We Leave Behind

From the get go this album punches you in the face from the start, this doesn't really let up and its another strong album from a great hardcore band. You better recognise the slick guitar work!

7. John Talabot - Fin

This shit glides on beautifully throughout the tracks flow amazingly but at the same time each are completely unique. This has such a chill mood while the vocals add a nice compliment to the beat he is producing throughout.

6. Godspeed You! Black Emperor - Allelujah! Don't Bend

It's Godspeed and they're back...oh this rules. The atmosphere on this is signature Godspeed the whole mental image the album produces is no surprise but at the same time shouldn't be underestimated cause this is amazing.

5. Beach House - Bloom

Some don't like this cause its more of the same, but when you make such beautiful, dreamy pop tracks why do anything else? I think this is another great album by them and perhaps a slightly bigger sound on this one than the last. A Beach House fan will love this, at the same time how could you hate it?

4. Japandroids - Celebration Rock

The name of this is appropriate, this is such a fun rock album and loud for a band consisting of just a guitarist/singer and a drummer. Easily the one of the best pure rock and roll albums in a while and you can hear through the songs written and performed that they are really enjoying themselves.

3. The Brian Jonestown Massacre - Aufheben

One of my favourite musicians Anton Newcombe has produced another amazing album, its classic psychedelic rock. Unlike the Tame Impala album I feel like the psychedelic nature is as "in your face" and more laid back and flowing.  I prefer it this way, the emotion in his voice is always great and an album closer like Blue Order/New Monday is a monster.

2. Death Grips - Money Store

This album is so fuckin rough. The loud, brash raps with the bass heavy beats accompanied by Zach Hill on drums has lead to a spectacular album. This isn't a normal rap album, the shouting style of vocalist MC Ride for the most part work well considering its not a normal style.

1. Killer Mike - R.A.P. Music

This album kicks off so well with Big Beast and it goes from strength to strength throughout. This rap album has it all, intensity from Mike with the production from El-P and verses that strengthen the songs at all times. The pace changes throughout and at no point weakens this album. It rules.

Top 50 Songs Of 2012

50. Song For Leigh - The Walkmen (Heaven)
I didn't think of this song until real last minute mainly because I left a note on my ipod that this was my favourite track on the album. After listening to it a few times I remembered why I like it. Its simple, although I've never sung myself sick or met someone called Leigh but he better be grateful for the song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUB5S9RRt8A

49. Oldie - Odd Future (Odd Future Mixtape Vol.2)
I see a theory brewing with Odd Future it starts with people seeing whatever album that is next as the breakout album and then they disappoint you almost completely apart from a few tracks which remind you why you still live in hope. This is that song, the beat is simple, the verses are nice from the whole group and the return of EARL. Oh yeah that theory I need a name for that.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LPBsQ-lWKU

48. Hood - Perfume Genius (Put Your Back N 2 It)
It's sad and slow, the emotion in it is beautiful and believable, I love the change in tempo and the build to that plus the dip back down. The music video is weird.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOpkr8uNWpk

47. Reunion - The xx (Coexist)
I was worried the new xx album might just stink and after the initial love for this album, I kind of got bored but I always felt this track was great. I love the beat, while still slow and minimal it still has found a way to be dancy in its own little way.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVLVNLuC33w

46. Spiritual Rites - High On Fire (De Vermis Mysteriis)
Its one of the few metal tracks on this list and I love the explosiveness of the song and the snarly vocals of Matt Pike. It still has the HOF sludgy sound that has developed over the years and its almost completely balls to the wall.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2dVwtZR4M4

45. Dissolve Me - Alt J (An Awesome Wave)
I hadn't heard of this band until a friend started gushing about them after they were announced for Laneway next year (I'm going) so I checked them out. I don't like them nearly as much as my friend but I definitely see the appeal and this is my favourite off it mainly because of the beat.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrTDDQPzXac

44. I Bought My Eyes - Ty Segall Band (Slaughterhouse)
just a rock song, nice distortion and rocks hard
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAXONGchVtc

43. 1904 - The Tallest Man on Earth (There's No Leaving Now)
I got the new Tallest Man On Earth album for someone as part of a 21st Bday present, I hadn't heard it but knew she'd enjoy it and I ripped the album before gifting
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibEwxlV1ac4

42. Epizootics - Scott Walker (Bish Bosch)
It's debatable about whether this is even a song cause its completely fucked, but Scott Walker's voice is so great and I like this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Ih7KzKLLWA

41. Pique - Menomena (Moms)
Lyrically this might be the best Memomena song for me apart from TAOS cause it has "cocksure" in it. I don't prefer the word cocksure cause it has cock in it either. You like men.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kXBmvHJrJs

40. Come on, Be A No-One - The Cribs (In The Belly Of The Brazen Bull)
Its catchy and its British indie rock, it works.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-6vL85EBoc

39. Bones - Michael Kiwanuka (Home Again)
I've never been a soul guy, but this dude is so great that you must recognise. Epic voice.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXtOtdO5jyI

38. Take A Walk - Passion Pit (Gossamer)
Passion Pit are BACK and I was worried the synth pop times might be dying but this album opener is perfect. It throws you back into why Passion Pit were great the first time.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wMhhq7zwPc

37. Bad Thing - King Tuff (King Tuff)
I really like this song when he shouts "I'm a baaaaaaad thiiiiinngg"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkxlZk-IYZk

36. Don't Want The World - David Dallas (Buffalo Man)
He's so talented and this rap is just incredibly catchy and once I heard it for the first time multiple listens in quick succession ensued.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aStRlfh6Fxc

35. Upon Viewing Oregon's Landscape With The Flood Of Detritus - Titus Andronicus (Local Business)
While they don't look punk in this slightest, their songs have the same spirit and when it builds to the singer screaming is when shit gets real.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdzwsgJr5OI

34. Lines - Big Boi feat. A$AP Rocky and Phantogram (Vicious Lies and Dangerous Rumours)
Phantogram on this song slows things down nicely and unsurprisingly the verses of Big Boi and A$SAP rule.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIo2m0iyl-U

33. Elephant - Tame Impala (Lonerism)
Dat riff, this song oozes psychedelia
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCo3CQw6wp8

32. Belispeak II - Purity Ring feat. Danny Brown (Shrines)
Synth pop is still cool or as still as cool as it was before (I'm unsure if it ever was), this version is mo better than the O.G. version (that's great as well). Danny Brown kills it and only add to a strong song. Needs more collaborations.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpdyGFmct78

31. Monoliths - Lotus Plaza (Spooky Action At A Distance)
Desire Lines Pt.2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfGfbaRvdL0

30. Laura - Bats For Lashes (The Haunted Man)
I've met some Laura's before, none to the extent where they'd even be described as a superstar but this song is easily the star on this album. Its right in the middle of the album but you know it peaks at this point.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6kLJiednQc

29. Hey Jane - Spiritualized (Sweet Heart Sweet Light)
God damn this is like old rock classic in 2012 form, when it builds around the middle part of the song reminds me of those times at gigs where its last track and its the last time to really get amongst.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-A0NdCq8KQ

28. Circumambient - Grimes (Visions)
There's many to choose from, but as of right now this is it, a beautiful pop song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAyIOL14eyo

27. Pyramids - Frank Ocean (Channel Orange)
This song is by far the most legit on this, I didn't like the whole statement before this dropped about his first love being a man, not because its a man, cause I don't care about that. But because it totally takes away from the songs as most will describe this as "Frank Ocean, you know the guy who likes men) when it should be "Frank Ocean, the guy who put out Pyramids, the song with the sick beat and beautiful vocals".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfyWQ2AEBic

26. To A Poet - First Aid Kit (Lions Roar)
I love and stripped down they are, its never to a point where it sounds thin. The vocals are amazing, when they sing together for "Though I miss you more than I can take and I will surely break. And every morning that I wake up there is the sake, but there's nothing more to it, I just get through it. Ah, there's nothing more to it, I just get through it." is when it hits its peak.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2Yrit1Da1I

25. Speak In Rounds - Grizzly Bear (Shields)
Dat acoustic.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vK2mwcakibA

24. Mother Of The World - Swans (The Seer)
The beginning is relentless and once you get past that its like a gift when Gira starts singing "In and Out and In and Out aggggaaaaaiiinnn" total monster track.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4mQxGXxU2M

23. Everything Is Embarassing - Sky Ferreira (Ghost)
Sky Ferreira the person on twitter who counted down the release of the Hobbit and Christopher Owens re tweeted each days countdown. This is such a lovely pop song, its believable and totally accessible to anyone into pop, I hope people come round to this one, its worth it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tR3_JapvzH0

22. Evil Sway - Japandroids (Celebration Rock)
Can they sound anymore happy during this song? "oh yeah, oh right"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_CIc3hXOkM

21. Catatonic - ...And You Will Know Us BY The Trail Of The Dead (Lost Songs)
It doesn't slow down, you just have to keep up and I prefer it that way.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHavDqUOtTM

20. Wishes - Beach House (Bloom)
It's hard to describe why you like a Beach House song, cause you can't just say "its Beach House", but I'm going to anyway. It's dreamy and while there's no significant different from times past they don't need to change.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyDD-LhpgBc

19. Brats - Liars (WIXIW)
I was late on this, the beat gets this going and the vocals kick it up a notch, the song feels like it'll get out of hand but then you realise it never does.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kl_FP0L76j4

18. Backstreet Freestyle - Kendrick Lamar (Good Kid M.A.A.D. City)
I feel like his raps on this are stronger than any other song by far plus he wants to fuck the world for 72 hours.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTz_K__9L2A

17. Aimless Arrow - Converge (All We Love We Leave Behind)
There's no easing into this song they just throw you in and I love it this way, the song just doesn't give you a chance to catch your breath.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoZlujggIq0

16. Set It Off - Diplo (Express Yourself)
Its a great club track, although I doubt I'll ever hear it in a club.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMOmwFynnWI

15. Hustle Bones - Death Grips (Money Store)
So many to choose from but this one since first listen has been my go to track from this, the style he has when rapping is why I love this. It's totally explosive from start to finish and the abrasiveness of the beat adds to this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1A3HXOVIbU

14. Road Dog - Dope Body (Natural History)
I listened to this song for the first time whilst drunk and wrote a note to remind me to check it out again, that was a great decision. It's a weird rock song, I love the drumming, the strained vocals and the fun the song has.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wghh4t4R8A4

13. Kinski Assasin - Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti
Ariel always finds a way to bring out that retro sound and the lyrics "who sunk my battleship/I sunk my battleship" are great.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCd0Wzrxeyc

12. Listen To Us - Home Brew (Home Brew)
This is the anthem of the poor in New Zealand, it's hard hitting and anti government but without it being all American gangster wannabe. "John Key can suck my dick hiding in his mansion/ while half the population flies across the tasman" is where shit gets real and what Home Brew stands for in this song very much comes out. The piano in compliments this track perfectly as well as the samples at the beginning of the track to set the scene.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AjgWyxJAGQ

11. The Full Retard - El-P (Cancer For Cure)
"Pump this shit/ like they do in the future" Space raps for days, the beat is so chill and El-P just floats through with great flow throughout.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKCX-Hd1Vxo

10. Wrath Of God - Crystal Castles (Crystal Castles III)
I love the beginning of this song, its slow and creeps around like the sleazy dude early in the night at a party. Then the level lifts with the vocals of Alice Glass which is  when the song really gets going its sure to be a great rave as well as massive live.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HYtbC0vcB8

9. Open Your Heart - The Men (Open Your Heart)
Its a relentless punk track with some great noise rock guitar sound throughout it, I love how it even when it lets up we get an almost sloppy, noisey solo that stick's with the theme.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=en1lfsSaOqw

8. Molly Ringwald - Danny Brown/Araabmuzik (Song From Scratch Session)
I enjoy most of Danny Brown's stuff, his rapping is so unique and I enjoy it much more when he really starts rapping a little faster and with more aggression. The beat produced by Araabmuzik is unsurprisingly great, making this a nice one off collaboration.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ple6dGMszM

7. Destiny - John Talabot feat. Pional
If this song never finished I wouldn't have a problem with that.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnQpYijJjf4

6. Don't Die - Killer Mike (R.A.P. Music)
The aggression in Mike's raps is great and I dig that beat change.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ze1_vkSyPDY

5. Hands On The Wheel - School Boy Q feat. A$AP Rocky (Habits and contradictions)
Its my favourite rap song of 2012 "I fucked her once and I could fuck her twice and you heard me right I might fuck tonight" and "weed and brew" don't sum me up at all but still the laid back fashion this has is nice.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGd9DTTrX4U

4. Blue Order/New Monday - The Brian Jonestown Massacre (Aufheben)
Album closer of the year, this track is such an immense psychedelic track the flows beautifully throughout and the tortured vocals of Anton Newcombe only enhances this track to make it a favourite of this year for me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pN7TwM7HZp4

3. Earthforms - Matthew Dear (Beams)
The bass line in this track is one of my favourite parts of this song but what really does it for me is that chorus "I'm right in front of you now, I'm trying to be such a stain" its a pop track that goes a different way but is much more dancey than the rest.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xG0fQw2jW0

2. Give Out - Sharon Van Etten (Tramp)
This has been a long time listen for me and while Serpents could also be up here I love the emotion and slowness of this song. For one I feel like she presents this song perfectly and its completely believable. Sharon Van Etten has thrown her emotions completely into this song and it shows, the minimal instrumentation in this track makes sure that her voice is forever the focal point.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exJ3AG0JIeo

1. Wasted Days - Cloud Nothings (Attack On Memory)
The first time I heard this was just after the album was released, I hadn't heard of this band but decided to check them out anyway. This track blew me away first listen, I love the bass solo midway through, the aggressive build to the end and the lyrics "I thought I would be more than this". There is no real let up in the listen, its an eight minute ride of emotions in the song that culminates aggressively at the end.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsmaTq-T4zE

Top 25 Albums of 2012 6 Months In

 
This is a little late compared to the songs list but I've been busy, but finally I've found the time and the list is done. Due to its lateness I've been able to sneak a few listens of albums released after July 1 but its all good cause I make the rules. So here's the list

1. Killer Mike - R.A.P. Music

Produced by EL-P (another member of this list) Killer Mike's southern hip hop album is the most in your face, hard hitting album of this year. It starts emphatically with Big Beast which features Bun B and the album goes on to produce a range of great tracks including my favourite and song list member Don't Die and Reagan. Not a single bad song on here

2. Beach House - Bloom

There seem to be some that were hoping for more from Beach House, well while I can see where they are coming from, they can get FUCKED. The album is a little different as its a far bigger sound but the main gist of Beach House is still there with the ultra beautiful and sweet sounding dream pop tracks.

3. Brian Jonestown Massacre - Aufheben

Another stellar album from one of my favourite bands of all time, Anton Newcombe has again put together another strong psychedelic album and with a closer as strong as Blue Order/New Monday the album has an incredible ending to a strong album throughout.

4. John Talabot - Fin

This album flows so great, Talabot has created a great array of beats and creates a strong house album. When put on you can't skip to halfway through or even to the second track as you will immediately feel something is missing. While after listening for a while you almost become consumed by the album...in a positive way of course!

5. Ty Segell band - Slaughterhouse

Are you punk rock? anyway this album is fast, raw and powerful and overall a strong modern punk record that brings together I like about modern punk. Raw emotion, a large amount of noise and a little bit of speed.

6. EL-P - Cancer For Cure

White boy can rap...and hes back! its so good to see EL-P release a new album and god damn it rules. His flow is fast and clear and the lyrics are strong. The speed in which some of the beats are make me happy, this nig likes some fast tracks and we get this.

7. Japandroids - Celebration Rock

This is just a fun rock album, this two piece makes so much sound and has found a way of putting together a bunch of great rock tracks with some solid lyrics.

8. Home Brew - Home Brew

I was a little slow to get this album, but after all I am a complete fool. This album is strong on powerful lyrical content with references to growing up and the New Zealand Government. It does have its moments of humour and doesn't take itself too seriously, I like.

9. Grimes - Visions

This album flows perfectly, the ambient at times electronics combined with the sweet voice of Claire Boucher (Grimes) this album just meshes. The dream pop vocals take this album to another level and while her earlier albums were quite good this album seems to be a serious step up.

10. Lotus Plaza - Spooky Action At A Distance

Man, remember Desire Lines from the last Deerhunter album? yeah that song was sweet and featured the vocals of guitarist Lockett Pundt. This album is the second solo album of his under the title Lotus Plaza and its as dreamy as that great Deerhunter track. Standouts on the album are Monoliths and Dusty Rhodes (Hes an American...dream). The songs are full of dreamy indie rock with long dragged out moments that add to the overall beauty of the album.

The rest:

11. Death Grips- The Money Store
12. First Aid Kit - The Lions Roar
13. Sharon Van Etten - Tramp
14. Frank Ocean - Channel Orange
15. King Tuff - King Tuff
16. Gojira - L'Enfant Sauvage
17. Cloud Nothings - Attack On Memory
18. Ruby Frost - Water To Ice
19. Dirty Three - Toward The Low Sun
20. Lawrence Arabia - The Sparrow
21. High Of Fire - The Art Of Self Defense
22. Michael Kiwanuka - Home Again
23. Perfume Genius -  Put Your Back N 2 It
24. Liars - WIXIW
25. The Men - Open Your Heart