Douglas Wolk: Top 10 Albums of 2012, as published by Time Magazine
- Fiona Apple — The Idler Wheel…
- Kendrick Lamar — good kid, m.A.A.d city
- Frank Ocean — Channel Orange
- Dirty Projectors — Swing Lo Magellan
- Getatchew Mekuria & the Ex & Friends — Y’Anbessaw Tezeta
- Swans — The Seer
- various artists — Listen, Whitey! The Sounds of Black Power 1967–74
- The Mountain Goats — Transcendental Youth
- Azealia Banks — 1991 EP
- Killer Mike — R.A.P. Music