Top 40 Albums of 2012: #31-40

Presented alphabetically.

Absolute Monarchs - 1 (Good To Die)

Appropriately-titled debut from this Seattle heavy rock quartet. It ain't grunge, but it's dark and rumbling.

Favorite track: "Thinking Thieves"

Fiona Apple - The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do (Epic)

I used to think she was pretentious and overrated, but she's not overrated. She's a gifted songwriter, and this album was written and recorded in secret with her drummer, sans Jon Brion's genius; it's much more stripped-down than previous efforts.

Favorite track: "Hot Knife"

Ceremony - Zoo (Matador)

Huge guitars. Singalong choruses. Distinct basslines. This is a SF Bay Area hardcore act that's growing out of their blistering beginnings. Their 4th album is still punk but quite accessible.

Favorite track: "Brace Yourself"

The Dandy Warhols - This Machine (The End)

Still psych, still catchy, still Portland. Props to these guys for basically never giving a fuck what anyone thinks. Dandys rule OK?

Favorite track: "Sad Vacation"

Kelly Hogan - I Like To Keep Myself In Pain (ANTI-)

Neko Case's alter ego? Whatever. Kelly can sing, and she has some incredibly talented friends to write songs for her, play on her album, and produce the thing.

Favorite track: "Ways of this World"

Gravenhurst - The Ghost in Daylight (Warp)

Dark, dreary, gorgeous spacefolk from this Bristol man/band. Veers between hushed Nick Drake-like picking and washes of shoegaze. Shhh.

Favorite track: "The Prize"

King of Prussia - Transmissions From the Grand Strand (self-released)

Very British-sounding pop from this ex-Kindercore project. Originally based in Athens, GA, then Barcelona (?), and now Chicago (last I checked).

Favorite track: "...For the Masters Said It So"

The Pharmacy - Stoned and Alone (Old Flame)

Their latest album of garage pop is slower than they used to be, but still a charming shambles. Coincidentally titled after my life for the past 20 years. Not really.

Favorite track: "Dig Your Grave"

The White Wires - WWIII (Dirtnap)

Muscular garage rock from Ottawa that expands upon their initial releases to include more varied tempos. Nevertheless: no muss, no fuss, just the good stuff.

Favorite track: "Down On My Own"








the xx - Coexist (Young Turks)

To be honest, I ignored these guys because the Pfork hype turned me off. It's the stupid contrarian in me. But this male/female duo make very pleasant, competent acoustic folk with dark soundscapes behind it that appeals to my inner sadsack.

Favorite track: "Tides"






I'll post the next batch of 10 in a week, and then 10 more the next week, and then the next, til we're done!