Year-End Lists

Filter Magazine: Top 20 Albums of 2012

[see also 2011]

1. Lonerism
   Tame Impala
2. Channel Orange
   Frank Ocean
3. Visions
   Grimes
4. good kid, m.A.A.d city
   Kendrick Lamar
5. Diamond Rugs
   Diamond Rugs
6. Sun
   Cat Power
7. Babel
   Mumford & Sons
8. ‘Allelujah! Don’t Bend! Ascend!
   Godspeed You! Black Emperor
9. Instinct
   Niki & The Dove
10. Bloom
    Beach House
11. Happy to You
    Miike Snow
12. Wixiw
    Liars
13. Valtari
    Sigur Rós
14. Oshin
    DIIV
15. Fear Fun
    Father John Misty
16. Kill for Love
    Chromatics
17. The Idler Wheel…
    Fiona Apple
18. Until the Quiet Comes
    Flying Lotus
19. Blunderbuss
    Jack White
20. Coexist
    The xx

FasterLouder: Top 50 Albums of 2012

[see also 2015 • 2011]

1. Lonerism
   Tame Impala
2. Swing Lo Magellan
   Dirty Projectors
3. Fear Fun
   Father John Misty
4. Sun
   Cat Power
5. Love this Giant
   David Byrne & St. Vincent
6. Channel Orange
   Frank Ocean
7. Attack on Memory
   Cloud Nothings
8. Blunderbuss
   Jack White
9. Toward the Low Sun
   Dirty Three
10. A is For Alpine
    Alpine
11. Blues Funeral
    Mark Lanegan Band
12. Locked Down
    Dr. John
13. Django Django
    Django Django
14. The Haunted Man
    Bat for Lashes
15. Mature Themes
    Ariel Pink
16. Hypnotized
    Pony Face
17. Celebration Rock
    Japandroids
18. HyperParadise
    Hermitude
19. good kid, m.A.A.d city
    Kendrick Lamar
20. All We Love We Leave Behind
    Converge
21. Sweet Heart, Sweet Light
    Spiritualized
22. Valtari
    Sigur Rós
23. Ultraísta
    Ultraísta
24. Shields
    Grizzly Bear
25. The Idler Wheel…
    Fiona Apple
26. I Bet on Sky
    Dinosaur Jr.
27. Flume
    Flume
28. A Thing Called Divine Fits
    Divine Fits
29. Neck of the Woods
    Silversun Pickups
30. Double Natural
    Boomgates
31. Heaven
    Walkmen
32. An Awesome Wave
    alt-J
33. Coexist
    The xx
34. I Awake
    Sarah Blasko
35. Quakers
    Quakers
36. Burning Boy
    Joe McKee
37. Songs Of The Third and Fifth
    The Mark Of Cain
38. Bored Nothing
    Bored Nothing
39. Spring and Fall
    Paul Kelly
40. Leave Your Soul to Science
    Something For Kate
41. Psychedelic Pill
    Neil Young & Crazy Horse
42. Visions
    Grimes
43. Something
    Chairlift
44. Born to Die
    Lana Del Rey
45. Hard Rubbish
    Lower Plenty
46. Outlands
    Deep Sea Arcade
47. Open Your Heart
    The Men
48. Deep Heat
    Oh Mercy
49. Tramp
    Sharon Van Etten
50. TOY
    TOY

Spin: 50 Best Albums of 2012

[see also 2021 • 2020 • 2010s • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2011]

1. Channel Orange
   Frank Ocean
2. good kid, m.A.A.d city
   Kendrick Lamar
3. Celebration Rock
   Japandroids
4. Teklife Vol. 1: Welcome to the Chi
   DJ Rashad
5. Kaleidoscope Dream
   Miguel
6. The Haunted Man
   Bat for Lashes
7. The Seer
   Swans
8. R.A.P. Music
   Killer Mike
9. Twins
   Ty Segall
10. Master of My Make-Believe
    Santigold
11. Pluto
    Future
12. No Love Deep Web
    Death Grips
13. Attack on Memory
    Cloud Nothings
14. ‘Allelujah! Don’t Bend! Ascend!
    Godspeed You! Black Emperor
15. Yellow & Green
    Baroness
16. The Idler Wheel…
    Fiona Apple
17. Shields
    Grizzly Bear
18. King Tuff
    King Tuff
19. Da Mind of Traxman
    Traxman
20. Sorrow and Extinction
    Pallbearer
21. Jiaolong
    Daphni
22. Harmonicraft
    Torche
23. Swing Lo Magellan
    Dirty Projectors
24. Sun
    Cat Power
25. Blue Chips
    Action Bronson
26. Lonerism
    Tame Impala
27. Reign of Terror
    Sleigh Bells
28. Devotion
    Jessie Ware
29. I Bet on Sky
    Dinosaur Jr.
30. Interstellar
    Frankie Rose
31. Coexist
    The xx
32. World Music
    Goat
33. Putrifiers II
    Thee Oh Sees
34. Mala in Cuba
    Mala
35. Blunderbuss
    Jack White
36. >>
    Beak
37. Write Me Back
    R. Kelly
38. Red
    Taylor Swift
39. Reloaded
    Roc Marciano
40. Centipede Hz
    Animal Collective
41. Shrines
    Purity Ring
42. Six Cups of Rebel
    Lindstrøm
43. Voyageur
    Kathleen Edwards
44. Koi No Yokan
    Deftones
45. Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded
    Nicki Minaj
46. Father Creeper
    Spoek Mathambo
47. Synthetica
    Metric
48. The Only Place
    Best Coast
49. Nehru Jackets
    Heems
50. Some Nights
    fun.

Gorilla vs. Bear: 50 Best Albums of 2012

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2010s • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2011]

1. Visions
   Grimes
2. Kill for Love
   Chromatics
3. good kid, m.A.A.d city
   Kendrick Lamar
4. Kindred
   Burial
5. Devotion
   Jessie Ware
6. Habits & Contradictions
   Schoolboy Q
7. Bloom
   Beach House
8. Tender Opposites
   Tops
9. Kaleidoscope Dream
   Miguel
10. Something
    Chairlift
11. R.A.P. Music
    Killer Mike
12. Shields
    Grizzly Bear
13. Quarantine
    Laurel Halo
14. Held
    Holy Other
15. Black is Beautiful
    Dean Blunt & Inga Copeland
16. Channel Orange
    Frank Ocean
17. Jessica Pratt
    Jessica Pratt
18. Interstellar
    Frankie Rose
19. Themes For An Imaginary Film
    Symmetry
20. Luxury Problems
    Andy Stott
21. Running From the Sun
    Chromatics
22. Half Way Home
    Angel Olsen
23. Instrumentals II
    Clams Casino
24. Don’t Break My Love / The Prism
    Nicolas Jaar
25. Kingdoms
    Fort Romeau
26. Armor On
    Dawn Richard
27. Tender New Signs
    Tamaryn
28. Music for the Quiet Hour
    Shackleton
29. Foreign Body
    Mirroring
30. Until the Quiet Comes
    Flying Lotus
31. Phedré
    Phedré
32. Changes
    LOL Boys
33. Reloaded
    Roc Marciano
34. Fight Bite
    Fight Bite
35. Age Waves
    Sam Flax
36. End of Daze
    Dum Dum Girls
37. Nootropics
    Lower Dens
38. Maleza
    Las Malas Amistades
39. The Garden of Joy and the Well of Loneliness
    Lace Curtains
40. Last Words + Collected
    Ryan Hemsworth
41. Other Worlds
    Taken By Trees
42. Mature Themes
    Ariel Pink
43. End of Earth
    Antwon
44. Sleep Games
    Pye Corner Audio
45. History
    Molly Nilsson
46. Lucifer
    Peaking Lights
47. The Money Store
    Death Grips
48. Pure Bathing Culture
    Pure Bathing Culture
49. Awe Naturale
    THEESatisfaction
50. Motor City
    Sand Circles

The Fly: Top 50 Albums of 2012

[see also 2011]

1. Tramp
   Sharon Van Etten
2. Visions
   Grimes
3. Channel Orange
   Frank Ocean
4. Sun
   Cat Power
5. Devotion
   Jessie Ware
6. Django Django
   Django Django
7. Plumb
   Field Music
8. World, You Need a Change of Mind
   Kindness
9. Given to the Wild
   The Maccabees
10. Lonerism
    Tame Impala
11. Born to Die
    Lana Del Rey
12. An Awesome Wave
    alt-J
13. Shields
    Grizzly Bear
14. Mature Themes
    Ariel Pink
15. Shrines
    Purity Ring
16. Come of Age
    The Vaccines
17. Coexist
    The xx
18. Beard, Wives, Denim
    Pond
19. Oshin
    DIIV
20. King Tuff
    King Tuff
21. In the Belly of the Brazen Bull
    The Cribs
22. Swing Lo Magellan
    Dirty Projectors
23. Confess
    Twin Shadow
24. All Hell
    Daughn Gibson
25. Melody’s Echo Chamber
    Melody’s Echo Chamber
26. The Haunted Man
    Bat for Lashes
27. Something
    Chairlift
28. TOY
    TOY
29. Give You the Ghost
    Poliça
30. A+E
    Graham Coxon
31. A Different Ship
    Here We Go Magic
32. Bloom
    Beach House
33. Centipede Hz
    Animal Collective
34. Love this Giant
    David Byrne & St. Vincent
35. America Give Up
    Howler
36. Wixiw
    Liars
37. Rispah
    The Invisible
38. The Only Place
    Best Coast
39. Radlands
    Mystery Jets
40. Allah-Las
    Allah-Lahs
41. Beacon
    Two Door Cinema Club
42. 119
    Trash Talk
43. Tough Love
    Pulled Apart By Horses
44. Into The Diamond Sun
    Stealing Sheep
45. Have Some Faith in Magic
    Errors
46. Good Don’t Sleep
    Egyptian Hip Hop
47. 2:54
    2:54
48. Spooky Action at a Distance
    Lotus Plaza
49. Like I Used To
    Lucy Rose
50. Ester
    Trailer Trash Tracy’s

Uncut Magazine: 75 Best Albums of 2012

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013]

1. Old Ideas
   Leonard Cohen
2. Tempest
   Bob Dylan
3. Blunderbuss
   Jack White
4. Locked Down
   Dr. John
5. Channel Orange
   Frank Ocean
6. Life is People
   Bill Fay
7. Hair
   Ty Segall & White Fence
8. Shields
   Grizzly Bear
9. Psychedelic Pill
   Neil Young & Crazy Horse
10. Wrecking Ball
    Bruce Springsteen
11. Lonerism
    Tame Impala
12. On The Hot Dog Streets
    Go-Kart Mozart
13. One Day I’m Going to Soar
    Dexys
14. Mid Air
    Paul Buchanan
15. Plumb
    Field Music
16. Slaughterhouse
    Ty Segall Band
17. Visions
    Grimes
18. Tramp
    Sharon Van Etten
19. The Cherry Thing
    Neneh Cherry & the Thing
20. Coexist
    The xx
21. Tarnished Gold
    Beachwood Sparks
22. Blues Funeral
    Mark Lanegan Band
23. Ekstasis
    Julia Holter
24. Allah-Las
    Allah-Lahs
25. Banga
    Patti Smith
26. A+E
    Graham Coxon
27. Boys & Girls
    Alabama Shakes
28. Sonik Kicks
    Paul Weller
29. Big Moon Ritual
    The Chris Robinson Brotherhood
30. Election Special
    Ry Cooder
31. In Our Heads
    Hot Chip
32. Standing at the Sky’s Edge
    Richard Hawley
33. Never
    Micachu & The Shapes
34. The Bravest Man in the Universe
    Bobby Womack
35. Ascent
    Six Organs of Admittance
36. Among the Leaves
    Sun Kil Moon
37. Heat Lightning Rumbles In The Distance
    Patterson Hood
38. Electric Cables
    Lightships
39. Toward the Low Sun
    Dirty Three
40. The Lion’s Roar
    First Aid Kit
41. Until the Quiet Comes
    Flying Lotus
42. Swing Lo Magellan
    Dirty Projectors
43. Americana
    Neil Young & Crazy Horse
44. Icon Give Thank
    Sun Araw & M Geddes Gengras meet the Congos
45. Celebration Rock
    Japandroids
46. Sun
    Cat Power
47. Young Man in America
    Anaïs Mitchell
48. The Russian Wilds
    Howlin Rain
49. Dr. Dee
    Damon Albarn
50. Silencio
    Laetitia Sadier
51. Born to Die
    Lana Del Rey
52. Cyrk
    Cate Le Bon
53. This is PiL
    PiL
54. The Echo Show
    Yeti Lane
55. Be Strong
    The 2 Bears
56. Beard, Wives, Denim
    Pond
57. Love this Giant
    David Byrne & St. Vincent
58. Sunken Condos
    Donald Fagen
59. Fear Fun
    Father John Misty
60. Crystal Anis
    The Liminanas
61. Putrifiers II
    Thee Oh Sees
62. When I’m President
    Ian Hunter & The Rant Band
63. Algiers
    Calexico
64. Wonky
    Orbital
65. One Second of Love
    Nite Jewel
66. World Music
    Goat
67. Urban Turban: The Singhles Club
    Cornershop
68. Bend Beyond
    Woods
69. Twins
    Ty Segall
70. Simone Felice
    Simone Felice
71. Between the Times and the Tides
    Lee Ranaldo
72. Out of The Game
    Rufus Wainwright
73. Meat + Bone
    The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
74. The Haunted Man
    Bat for Lashes
75. Transverse
    Carter Tutti Void

Sonic Magazine: 25 Best Albums of 2012

[see also 2011]

1. good kid, m.A.A.d city
   Kendrick Lamar
2. Channel Orange
   Frank Ocean
3. World, You Need a Change of Mind
   Kindness
4. The Lion’s Roar
   First Aid Kit
5. ‘Allelujah! Don’t Bend! Ascend!
   Godspeed You! Black Emperor
6. Visions
   Grimes
7. Sing the Delta
   Iris DeMent
8. The Bravest Man in the Universe
   Bobby Womack
9. Ceremony
   Anna von Hausswolff
10. In Our Heads
    Hot Chip
11. Sun
    Cat Power
12. Tarnished Gold
    Beachwood Sparks
13. Total Loss
    How to Dress Well
14. Beväpna dig med vingar
    Thåström
15. The Cherry Thing
    Neneh Cherry & the Thing
16. Psychedelic Pill
    Neil Young & Crazy Horse
17. Until the Quiet Comes
    Flying Lotus
18. Life is People
    Bill Fay
19. Coexist
    The xx
20. A Tender Trap
    Joel Alme
21. Tempest
    Bob Dylan
22. The Haunted Man
    Bat for Lashes
23. Luxury Problems
    Andy Stott
24. Life Is Good
    Nas
25. Locked Down
    Dr. John

Paste Magazine: 50 Best Albums of 2012

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2010s • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2011]

1. Channel Orange
   Frank Ocean
2. Fear Fun
   Father John Misty
3. Local Business
   Titus Andronicus
4. The Idler Wheel…
   Fiona Apple
5. Tramp
   Sharon Van Etten
6. Boys & Girls
   Alabama Shakes
7. Swing Lo Magellan
   Dirty Projectors
8. Celebration Rock
   Japandroids
9. Bloom
   Beach House
10. The Lion’s Roar
    First Aid Kit
11. Open Your Heart
    The Men
12. Cancer 4 Cure
    El-P
13. Port of Morrow
    The Shins
14. Heaven
    Walkmen
15. Blunderbuss
    Jack White
16. Lonerism
    Tame Impala
17. Break It Yourself
    Andrew Bird
18. good kid, m.A.A.d city
    Kendrick Lamar
19. Out of The Game
    Rufus Wainwright
20. Transcendental Youth
    The Mountain Goats
21. The Lumineers
    The Lumineers
22. Hospitality
    Hospitality
23. I Know What Love Isn’t
    Jens Lekman
24. Nothing's Gonna Change the Way You Feel About Me Now
    Justin Townes Earle
25. Shields
    Grizzly Bear
26. Tempest
    Bob Dylan
27. Provincial
    John K. Samson
28. A Thing Called Divine Fits
    Divine Fits
29. R.A.P. Music
    Killer Mike
30. Love this Giant
    David Byrne & St. Vincent
31. The Carpenter
    Avett Brothers
32. Bend Beyond
    Woods
33. America Give Up
    Howler
34. Attack on Memory
    Cloud Nothings
35. King Tuff
    King Tuff
36. Sun
    Cat Power
37. O’ Be Joyful
    Shovels and Rope
38. Locked Down
    Dr. John
39. Old Ideas
    Leonard Cohen
40. Agnostic Hymns & Stoner Fables
    Todd Snider
41. My Head is an Animal
    Of Monsters And Men
42. Thankful ‘N’ Thoughtful
    Bettye LaVette
43. The North
    Stars
44. ‘Allelujah! Don’t Bend! Ascend!
    Godspeed You! Black Emperor
45. Who’s Feeling Young Now?
    Punch Brothers
46. Maraqopa
    Damien Jurado
47. Yellow & Green
    Baroness
48. Lonesome Dreams
    Lord Huron
49. I Like to Keep Myself in Pain
    Kelly Hogan
50. Visions
    Grimes

Piccadilly Records: Top 100 Albums of 2012

[see also 2011]

1. World Music
   Goat
2. The Lion’s Roar
   First Aid Kit
3. White Manna
   White Manna
4. Django Django
   Django Django
5. Blood Speaks
   Smoke Fairies
6. Circles
   Moon Duo
7. Kill for Love
   Chromatics
8. Tramp
   Sharon Van Etten
9. Shields
   Grizzly Bear
10. Manifest!
    Friends
11. Toy
    Toy
12. Standing at the Sky’s Edge
    Richard Hawley
13. Endless Flowers
    Crocodiles
14. And Never Ending Nights
    Loops Of Your Heart
15. Sweet Heart, Sweet Light
    Spiritualized
16. Icon Give Thank
    The Congos / Sun Araw / M. Geddes Gengras
17. Visions
    Grimes
18. Lucifer
    Peaking Lights
19. There Are Witches In The Woods
    Pretty Lightning
20. ‘Allelujah! Don’t Bend! Ascend!
    Godspeed You! Black Emperor
21. Until the Quiet Comes
    Flying Lotus
22. Kingdoms
    Fort Romeau
23. Between the Times and the Tides
    Lee Ranaldo
24. Putrifiers II
    Thee Oh Sees
25. The Drawbar Organ/Music for the Quiet Hour
    Shackleton
26. An Awesome Wave
    alt-J
27. Awe Naturale
    THEESatisfaction
28. Pre Language
    Disappears
29. Lonerism
    Tame Impala
30. Coexist
    The xx
31. The Return Of Love
    Woolfy Vs Projections
32. RIP
    Actress
33. Zeros
    The Soft Moon
34. Living In Patterns
    Pollyn
35. Heavy Electrics
    Eat Lights Become Lights
36. Nocturne
    Wild Nothing
37. Tarnished Gold
    Beachwood Sparks
38. The Seer
    Swans
39. Plumb
    Field Music
40. Blunderbuss
    Jack White
41. Life is People
    Bill Fay
42. Electric Sound Of Summer
    Füxa
43. Boys & Girls
    Alabama Shakes
44. Sun
    Cat Power
45. Aqua Disco
    Seahawks
46. Will Happiness Find Me?
    Maria Minerva
47. Oh No I Love You
    Tim Burgess
48. Bloom
    Beach House
49. Into The Diamond Sun
    Stealing Sheep
50. Key To The Kuffs
    JJ DOOM
51. Blues Funeral
    Mark Lanegan Band
52. Strange Weekend
    Porcelain Raft
53. Oshin
    DIIV
54. Electric Cables
    Lightships
55. The Savage Heart
    The Jim Jones Revue
56. Mature Themes
    Ariel Pink
57. Total Loss
    How to Dress Well
58. Jiaolong
    Daphni
59. Three
    Flavor Crystals
60. Photos Of Photos
    Carlton Melton
61. Swing Lo Magellan
    Dirty Projectors
62. Holograms
    Holograms
63. A Wasteland Companion
    M. Ward
64. The Flaming Lips and Heady Fwends
    The Flaming Lips
65. Port of Morrow
    The Shins
66. Give You the Ghost
    Poliça
67. A World Out Of Time
    Eternal Tapestry
68. Ultraísta – Bonus Disc Edition
    Ultraísta
69. Themes For An Imaginary Film
    Symmetry
70. Total Dust
    Dusted
71. The Echo Show
    Yeti Lane
72. Mungodelics
    Mungolian Jetset
73. Temporary Happiness
    Mock & Toof
74. Tosta Mista
    Hooded Fang
75. The Inner Treaty
    Sun Araw
76. Interstellar
    Frankie Rose
77. Advaitic Songs
    OM
78. Centipede Hz
    Animal Collective
79. Held
    Holy Other
80. Frying On This Rock
    White Hills
81. Good Music
    Colorama
82. Black Music
    Dark Horses
83. Cancer 4 Cure
    El-P
84. One Second of Love
    Nite Jewel
85. Metz
    Metz
86. Presents In Motion #1
    The Cinematic Orchestra
87. Smalhans
    Lindstrøm
88. The Bravest Man in the Universe
    Bobby Womack
89. Breakthrough
    The Gaslamp Killer
90. Algiers
    Calexico
91. Slaughterhouse
    Ty Segall Band
92. Sweet Lights
    Sweet Lights
93. The Orbserver in the Star House
    The Orb Featuring Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry
94. Valtari
    Sigur Rós
95. Survival & Resistance
    Adrian Sherwood
96. In Ghostlike Fading
    My Best Fiend
97. Born to Die
    Lana Del Rey
98. Quarantine
    Laurel Halo
99. Fin
    John Talabot
100. Lay Hollow
     Howse

Q Magazine: 50 Best Albums of 2012 (alphabetical)

[see also 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2013 • 2011]

• Be Strong
  The 2 Bears
• Boys & Girls
  Alabama Shakes
• An Awesome Wave
  alt-J
• Banks
  Paul Banks
• The Haunted Man
  Bat for Lashes
• Bloom
  Beach House
• Jake Bugg
  Jake Bugg
• Love this Giant
  David Byrne & St. Vincent
• Sun
  Cat Power
• Old Ideas
  Leonard Cohen
• Jiaolong
  Daphni
• Born to Die
  Lana Del Rey
• Swing Lo Magellan
  Dirty Projectors
• Django Django
  Django Django
• Tempest
  Bob Dylan
• Cancer 4 Cure
  El-P
• Plumb
  Field Music
• On The Hot Dog Streets
  Go-Kart Mozart
• Visions
  Grimes
• Shields
  Grizzly Bear
• Through The Night
  Ren Harvieu
• Standing at the Sky’s Edge
  Richard Hawley
• A Different Ship
  Here We Go Magic
• In Our Heads
  Hot Chip
• Good Morning To The Night
  Elton John Vs. Pnau
• Portrait
  Josephine
• Battle Born
  The Killers
• World, You Need a Change of Mind
  Kindness
• Blues Funeral
  Mark Lanegan Band
• Given to the Wild
  The Maccabees
• Mala In Cuba
  Mala In Cuba
• Babel
  Mumford & Sons
• The 2nd Law
  Muse
• Channel Orange
  Frank Ocean
• Wonky
  Orbital
• Lucifer
  Peaking Lights
• Ill Manors
  Plan B
• Our Version of Events
  Emeli Sande
• Words and Music by Saint Etienne
  Saint Etienne
• Ghostory
  School Of Seven Bells
• Wrecking Ball
  Bruce Springsteen
• Lonerism
  Tame Impala
• Trouble
  Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs
• Come of Age
  The Vaccines
• Tramp
  Sharon Van Etten
• Heaven
  Walkmen
• Devotion
  Jessie Ware
• Sonik Kicks
  Paul Weller
• Blunderbuss
  Jack White
• The Bravest Man in the Universe
  Bobby Womack