Year-End Rundown | The List of Lists

It’s that time of year again. The holidays are upon us, December is flying by, it’s getting colder (in theory- Nashville did not so much get the memo on that one), and the music industry is mostly on an extended vacation. Record releases have basically come to a halt, tours are winding down, awards season is preparing to gear up, and basically every single magazine and website that writes about music is releasing a year-end list in some form or another. We at No Country are preparing our own year-end lists for release very soon, but in the time being I wanted to put together a roundup of the most interesting lists from other magazines and sites to see how they compare. A list of lists if you will. I’ll be adding to it as more year-end lists are published, so be sure to check back (and don’t hesitate to let us know about anything we missed in the comments)! I’m adding the top 5 picks from each list- hit the links for the full rundown.

 

ALBUMS

 

 

Rolling Stone – 50 Best Albums of 2012

• 1. Bruce Springsteen – Wrecking Ball
• 2. Frank Ocean – Channel Orange
• 3. Jack White – Blunderbuss
• 4. Bob Dylan – Tempest
• 5. Fiona Apple – The Idler Wheel Is Wiser…

SPIN – 50 Best Albums of 2012

• 1. Frank Ocean – Channel Orange
• 2. Kendrick Lamar – good kid, m.A.A.d city
• 3. Japandroids – Celebration Rock
• 4. DJ Rashad – TEKLIFE Vol. 1: Welcome to the Chi
• 5. Miguel –  Kaleidoscope Dream

http://youtu.be/s26qTrH2atA

NME – 50 Best Albums of 2012

• 1. Tame Impala – Lonerism
• 2. Grimes – Visions
• 3. Frank Ocean – Channel Orange
• 4. Crystal Castles – (III)
• 5. ∆ (alt-J) – An Awesome Wave

A.V. Club – The Best Music of 2012

• 1. Frank Ocean – Channel Orange
• 2. Japandroids – Celebration Rock
• 3. Cloud Nothings – Attack on Memory
• 4. Sharon Van Etten – Tramp
• 5. Fiona Apple – The Idler Wheel Is Wiser…

Consequence of Sound – Top 50 Albums of 2012

• 1. Frank Ocean – Channel Orange
• 2. Fiona Apple – The Idler Wheel Is Wiser…
• 3. Kendrick Lamar – good kid, m.A.A.d city
• 4. Cloud Nothings – Attack on Memory
• 5. Swans – The Seer

Stereogum – Top 50 Albums of 2012

• 1. Fiona Apple – The Idler Wheel Is Wiser…
• 2. Frank Ocean – Channel Orange
• 3. Kendrick Lamar – good kid, m.A.A.d city
• 4. Swans – The Seer
• 5. Jessie Ware – Devotion

MOJO – Top 50 Albums of 2012

• 1. Jack White – Blunderbuss
• 2. Frank Ocean – Channel Orange
• 3. Bill Fray – Life is People
• 4. Leonard Cohen – Old Ideas
• 5. Dexys – One Day I’m Going to Soar

Gorilla vs. Bear – Top 50 of 2012

• 1. TIE: Grimes – Visions
• 1. TIE: Chromatics – Kill for Love
• 3. Kendrick Lamar – good kid, m.A.A.d city
• 4. Burial – Kindred
• 5. Jessie Ware – Devotion

Paste – The 50 Best Albums of  2012

• 1. Frank Ocean – Channel Orange
• 2. Father John Misty – Fear Fun
• 3. Titus Andronicus – Local Business
• 4. Fiona Apple – The Idler Wheel Is Wiser…
• 5. Sharon Van Etten – Tramp

Alternative Press – 10 Essential Albums of 2012

• 1. The Gaslight Anthem – Handwritten
• 2. Enter Shikari – A Flash Flood of Colour
• 3. Japandroids – Celebration Rock
• 4. Classics of Love – Classics of Love
• 5. Metz – Metz

Entertainment Weekly – 10 Best Albums of 2012

• 1. Frank Ocean – Channel Orange
• 2. Fiona Apple – The Idler Wheel Is Wiser…
• 3. Japandroids – Celebration Rock
• 4. Miguel –  Kaleidoscope Dream
• 5. Lord Huron – Lonesome Dreams

Beats Per Minute – The Top 50 Albums of 2012

• 1. Flying Lotus – Until the Quiet Comes
• 2. Chromatics – Kill for Love
• 3. Andy Stott –  Luxury Problems
• 4. Frank Ocean – Channel Orange
• 5. Tame Impala – Lonerism

Spinner – The 50 Best Albums of 2012

• 1. Fiona Apple – The Idler Wheel Is Wiser…
• 2. Frank Ocean – Channel Orange
• 3. Japandroids – Celebration Rock
• 4. Kendrick Lamar – good kid, m.A.A.d city
• 5. Leonard Cohen – Old Ideas

TIME – Top 10 Albums of 2012

• 1. Fiona Apple – The Idler Wheel Is Wiser…
• 2. Kendrick Lamar – good kid, m.A.A.d city
• 3. Frank Ocean – Channel Orange
• 4. Dirty Projectors – Swing Lo Magellan
• 5. Getatchew Mekuria & the Ex & Friends – Y’Anbessaw Tezeta

MAGNET – Top 25 Albums of 2012

• 1. The Walkmen – Heaven
• 2. Ty Segall – Twins / Ty Segall Band – Slaughterhouse / Ty Segall & White Fence – Hair
• 3. Beach House – Bloom
• 4. Guided by Voices – Let’s Go Eat the Factory / Class Clown Spots a UFO / The Bears for Lunch
• 5. Cat Power – Sun

FILTER – Top 10 of 2012

• 1. Tame Impala – Lonerism
• 2. Frank Ocean – Channel Orange
• 3. Grimes – Visions
• 4. Kendrick Lamar – good kid, m.A.A.d city
• 5. Diamond Rugs – Diamond Rugs

http://youtu.be/M9S7zoYKM-w

Pop Matters – The 75 Best Albums of 2012

• 1. Frank Ocean – Channel Orange
• 2. Japandroids – Celebration Rock
• 3. Fiona Apple – The Idler Wheel Is Wiser…
• 4. Beach House – Bloom
• 5. Swans – The Seer

The Guardian – The Top 40 Albums of 2012

• 1. Frank Ocean – Channel Orange
• 2. Grimes – Visions
• 3. Jessie Ware – Devotion
• 4. Dirty Projectors – Swing Lo Magellan
• 5. Kendrick Lamar – good kid, m.A.A.d city

BBC Music – Top 25 Albums of 2012

• 1. Kendrick Lamar – good kid, m.A.A.d city
• 2. Frank Ocean – Channel Orange
• 3. Dexys – One Day I’m Going to Soar
• 4. Jessie Ware – Devotion
• 5. Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs – Trouble

Slant – The 25 Best Albums of 2012

• 1. Frank Ocean – Channel Orange
• 2. Jessie Ware – Devotion
• 3. Santigold – Master of My Make-Believe
• 4. Bat for Lashes – The Haunted Man
• 5. Dirty Projectors – Swing Lo Magellan

Obscure Sound – 50 Best Albums of 2012

• 1. Tame Impala – Lonerism
• 2. Wild Nothing – Nocturne
• 3. Kendrick Lamar – good kid, m.A.A.d city
• 4. Beach House – Bloom
• 5. Frank Ocean – Channel Orange

American Songwriter – Top 50 Albums of 2012

• 1. Bob Dylan – Tempest
• 2. Neil Young and Crazy Horse –  Psychedelic Pill
• 3. Shovels and Rope – O’ Be Joyful
  
• 4. Leonard Cohen – Old Ideas
• 5. Bruce Springsteen – Wrecking Ball

 

SONGS

 

Rolling Stone – 50 Best Songs of 2012

• 1. Alabama Shakes – “Hold On”
• 2. Taylor Swift – “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together”
• 3. Passion Pit – “Take a Walk”
• 4. Frank Orange – “Thinkin Bout You”
• 5. Neil Young and Crazy Horse – “Ramada Inn”

SPIN – 40 Best Songs of 2012

• 1. G.O.O.D. Music (feat. Kanye West, Big Sean, Pusha T, and 2 Chainz) – “Mercy”
• 2. Japandroids – “The House That Heaven Built”
• 3. Frank Ocean – “Bad Religion”
• 4. Kendrick Lamar – “Swimming Pools (Drank)”
• 5. Bat for Lashes – “Laura”

NME – 50 Best Tracks of 2012

• 1. Palma Violets – “Best of Friends”
• 2. M.I.A. – “Bad Girls”
• 3. Blur – “Under the Westway”
• 4. Haim – “Forever”
• 5. Plan B – “Ill Manors”

Consequence of Sound – Top 50 Songs of 2012

• 1. Frank Ocean – “Thinkin Bout You”
• 2. Japandroids – “The House That Heaven Built”
• 3. Passion Pit – “I’ll Be Alright”
• 4. Grimes – “Genesis”
• 5. Usher – “Climax”

http://youtu.be/pNBD4OFF8cc

Stereogum – Top 20 Tracks of 2012

• 1. Japandroids – “The House That Heaven Built”
• 2. Grizzly Bear – “Yet Again”
• 3. Frank Ocean – “Pyramids”
• 4. Tame Impala – “Feels Like We Only Go Backwards”
• 5. Grimes – “Oblivion”

Gorilla vs. Bear – 100 Favorite Songs of the Year

• 1. Usher – “Climax”
• 2. Grimes – “Oblivion”
• 3. Frank Ocean – “Pyramids”
• 4. Dean Blunt & Inga Copeland – “The Narcissist”
• 5. Major Lazer – “Get Free”

Paste – The 50 Best Songs of 2012

• 1. Japandroids – “The House That Heaven Built”
• 2. John K. Samson – “When I Write My Master’s Thesis”
• 3. First Aid Kit – “Emmylou”
• 4. Frank Ocean – “Pyramids”
• 5. Titus Andronicus – “Still Life with Hot Deuce on Silver Platter”

Alternative Press – The Top 12 of 2012

• Not ranked. Hit the link for the list.

Entertainment Weekly – 5 Best Non-Adele Songs of the Year

• 1. Carly Rae Jepsen – “Call Me Maybe”
• 2. Gotye – “Somebody That I Used to Know”
• 3. fun. – “Some Nights”
• 4. Icona Pop – “I Love It”
• 5. Phillip Phillipd – “Home”

Beats Per Minute – The Top Tracks of 2012

• 1. Disclosure – “What’s in Your Head”
• 2. Usher – “Climax”
• 3. Andy Stott – “Numb”
• 4. Kendrick Lamar – “Sing About Me, I’m Dying of Thirst”
• 5. Tame Impala – “Apocalypse Dreams”

TIME – Top 10 Songs of 2012

• 1. Usher – “Climax”
• 2. PSY – “Gangnam Style”
• 3. Carly Rae Jepsen – “Call Me Maybe”
• 4. Taylor Swift – “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together”
• 5. Parquet Courts – “Master of My Craft’

Pop Matters – The 75 Best Songs of 2012

• 1. Grimes – “Oblivion”
• 2. Japandroids – “The House That Heaven Built”
• 3. Frank Ocean – “Pyramids”
• 4. Fiona Apple – “Every Single Night”
• 5. Plan B – “Ill Manors”

The Guardian – Best 20 Tracks of 2012

• 1. Carly Rae Jepsen – “Call Me Maybe”
• 2. Usher – “Climax”
• 3. Plan B – “Ill Manors”
• 4. Jessie Ware – “110%”
• 5. Taylor Swift – “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together”

Slant – The 25 Best Singles of 2012

• 1. Drake featuring Rihanna – “Take Care”
• 2. Jessie Ware – “Running”
• 3. Frank Ocean – “Pyramids”
• 4. Dirty Projectors – “Gun Has No Trigger”
• 5. Santigold – “Disparate Youth”

American Songwriter – Top 50 Songs of 2012

• 1. Shovels and Rope – “Birmingham”
• 2. Lambchop – “Gone Tomorrow”
• 3. Iris DeMent – “Sing the Delta”
• 4. Leonard Cohen – “Going Home”
• 5. Todd Snider – “Too Soon to Tell”

 

Click “Continue Reading” for the rest of the lists (including genere-specific lists, EPs, reissues, live bands, music videos, comedy, etc.).

 

GENRE-SPECIFIC

 

SPIN – 40 Best Hip Hop Albums of 2012

• 1. Kendrick Lamar – good kid, m.A.A.d city
• 2. Killer Mike – R.A.P. Music
• 3. Future – Pluto
• 4. Death Grips – No Love Deep Web
• 5. Action Bronson – Blue Chips

SPIN – 20 Best Metal Albums of 2012

• 1. Baroness – Yellow & Green
• 2. Pallbearer – Sorrow and Extinction
• 3. Torche – Harmonicraft
• 4. Goat – World Music
• 5. Deftones – Koi No Yokan

Decibel – Top 40 (Metal) Albums of 2012

• 1. Converge – All We Love We Leave Behind
• 2. Baroness – Yellow & Green
• 3. Evoken – Atra Mors
• 4. Witchcraft – Legend
• 5. Pallbearer – Sorrow and Extinction

Stereogum – Top 40 Metal Albums of 2012

• 1. Pallbearer – Sorrow and Extinction
• 2. Dawnbringer – Into the Lair of the Sun God
• 3. High on Fire – De Vermis Mysteriis
• 4. Winterfylleth – The Threnody of Triumph
• 5. Samothrace – Reverence to Stone

Pop Matters – The Best of 2012: Genre Lists

• Noise-Rock
• Jazz
• Hip Hop
• Electronic
• Country
• Metal
• Indie Pop
• Pop Punk
• Progressive Rock
• Indie Rock

MAGNET – Best of 2012: Genere Lists

• Hard Rock
• Singer/Songwriter
• Electronic
• Metal
• Jazz/Improv
• Indie Roots
• Punk/Hardcore
• World Music
• Noise
• Hip Hop

Pop Matters – The 10 Best Pop Singles of 2012

• 1. Carly Rae Jepsen – “Call Me Maybe”
• 2. One Direction – “What Makes You Beautiful”
• 3. Neon Trees – “Everybody Talks”
• 4. Adam Lambert – “Never Close Our Eyes”
• 5. Adele – “Skyfall”

 

ETC.

 

Paste – The 10 Best EPs of 2012

• 1. Dum Dum Girls – End of Daze
• 2. Dirty Projectors – About to Die
• 3. Rubblebucket – Oversaturated
• 4. Burial – Kindred
• 5. Azealia Banks – 1991

Pop Matters – The Top 10 Overlooked Albums of 2012

• 1. Spider Bags – Shake My Head
• 2. Will Johnson – Scorpion
• 3. Woodsy Pride – Live at the All Hands House
• 4. Strand of Oaks – Dark Shores
• 5. Whatever Brains – Whatever Brains

SPIN – 10 Best Reissues of 2012

• 1. Various Artists – Country Funk 1969-1975
• 2. Various Artists – Man Chest Hair
• 3. Various Artists – Personal Space: Electronic Soul 1974-1984
• 4. Tim Maia – The Existential Soul of Tim Maia
• 5. Can – The Lost Tapes

Paste – The 20 Best Reissues and Box Sets of 2012

• 1. The Beatles Stereo Vinyl Box Set
• 2. Sufjian Stevens – Silver & Gold
• 3. Pedro the Lion Complete Catalogue
• 4. Death Cab for Cutie – The Barsuk Years
• 5. Ryan Adams – Live After Deaf

MAGNET – Best of 2012: Reissues

• 1. Johnny Cash – The Complete Albums Collection
• 2. Lee Hazlewood – The LHI Years: Singles, Nudes & Backsides (1968-1971)
• 3. The Kinks – At the BBC
• 4. The Velvet Underground & Nico – The Velvet Underground & Nico (45th Anniversary)
• 5. Captain Beefheart – Bat Chain Puller

Pop Matters – The 10 Best Canadian Albums of 2012

• 1. Kathleen Edwards – Voyager
• 2. Neil Young & Crazy Horse – Americana
• 3. Goodspeed You! Black Emperor – Allelujah! Don’t Bend! Ascend!
• 4. The Luyas – Animator
• 5. Metz – Metz

Stereogum – 40 Best News Bands of 2012

• Not ranked. Hit the link for the list.

Paste – The 25 Best Live Acts of 2012

• 1. Jack White
• 2. Alabama Shakes
• 3. Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band
• 4. Gary Clark Jr.
• 5. Vintage Trouble

Paste – The 20 Best New Bands of 2012

• 1. Matthew E. White
• 2. Shovels & Rope
• 3. Nick Waterhouse
• 4. Field Report
• 5. Grimes

Pop Matters – The 30 Best New Artists of 2012

• 1. Frank Ocean
• 2. Jessie Ware
• 3. ∆ (alt-J)
• 4. Grimes
• 5. Kendrick Lamar

Pitchfork – The Top Music Videos of 2012

• Not ranked. Hit the link for the list.

Consequence of Sound – Top 25 Videos of 2012

• 1. Tom Waits – “Hell Broke Luce”
• 2. M.I.A. – “Bad Girls”
• 3. Japandroids – “The House That Heaven Built”
• 4. PSY – “Gangnam Style”
• 5. Grimes – “Oblivion”

Paste – The 25 Best Music Videos of 2012

• 1. M.I.A. – “Bad Girls”
• 2. tUnE-yArDs – “My Country”
• 3. Grimes – “Oblivion”
• 4. Jack White – “Sixteen Saltines”
• 5. Ben Folds Five – “Do It Anyway”

NME – 5 Best Music Films of 2012

• 1. Searching for Sugar Man
• 2. Shut Up and Play the Hits
• 3. Marley
• 4. Something from Nothing: The Art of Rap
• 5. Hit So Hard

A.V. Club – The Best Comedy Albums of 2012

• 1. Tig Notaro – Live
• 2. Kyle Kinane – Whiskey Icarus
• 3. John Mulaney – New in Town
• 4. Hannibal Buress – Animal Furness
• 5. Louis C.K. – Live at the Beacon Theater

Paste – The 10 Best Comedy Albums, DVDs & Specials of 2012

• 1. Hannibal Buress – Animal Furness
• 2. Kyle Kinane – Whiskey Icarus
• 3. Dylan Brody –  Chronological Disorder
• 4. Tig Notaro – Live
• 5. John Mulaney – New in Town