Consequence of Sound's Top 50 Albums of 2012

Our 2012 annual report comes to a striking end.

Published: December 14, 2012 06:00 Source

# 1

channel ORANGE by Frank Ocean

Album • Jul 10 / 2012 Alternative R&B Contemporary R&B

# 2

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

Album • Jun 18 / 2012 Singer-Songwriter Art Pop

# 3

good kid, m.A.A.d city by Kendrick Lamar

Album • Jan 01 / 2012 West Coast Hip Hop Conscious Hip Hop

# 4

Attack On Memory by Cloud Nothings

Album • Jan 24 / 2012 Post-Hardcore Indie Rock Emo

# 5

The Seer by Swans

Album • Aug 28 / 2012 Experimental Rock Post-Rock

# 6

R.A.P. Music by Killer Mike

Album • May 15 / 2012 Southern Hip Hop Hardcore Hip Hop Political Hip Hop

# 7

Bloom by Beach House

Album • May 15 / 2012 Dream Pop Indie Pop

# 8

Celebration Rock by Japandroids

Album • Jun 05 / 2012 Indie Rock

# 9

All We Love We Leave Behind (Deluxe Edition) by Converge

Album • Oct 09 / 2012

# 11

Mr. M by Lambchop

Album • Feb 21 / 2012 Chamber Pop

# 12

Tramp (Deluxe Edition) by Sharon Van Etten

Album • Nov 13 / 2012 Singer-Songwriter Indie Folk

# 13

Reservation by Angel Haze

Album • Jul 17 / 2013 Hardcore Hip Hop

# 14

Fin by John Talabot

Album • Jan 27 / 2012 Balearic Beat Downtempo

# 15

Big Inner by Matthew E. White

Album • Jan 21 / 2013 Soul Singer-Songwriter

# 16

The Money Store by Death Grips

Album • Apr 23 / 2012 Industrial Hip Hop Hardcore Hip Hop Experimental Hip Hop

# 17

Visions by Grimes

Album • Feb 21 / 2012 Synthpop

# 18

Kaleidoscope Dream by Miguel

Album • Sep 25 / 2012 Alternative R&B

# 19

The Haunted Man (Deluxe Version) by Bat for Lashes

Album • Oct 12 / 2012

# 20

A Thing Called Divine Fits by Divine Fits

Album • Aug 23 / 2012 Indie Rock

# 21

Kill for Love by Chromatics

Album • Mar 26 / 2012 Synthpop Dream Pop

# 22

Sweet Heart Sweet Light by Spiritualized

Album • Apr 16 / 2012 Neo-Psychedelia Art Rock

# 23

Slaughterhouse by Ty Segall Band

Album • Jun 26 / 2012 Garage Punk Noise Rock

# 24

Allelujah! Dont Bend! Ascend! by Godspeed You! Black Emperor

Album • Oct 15 / 2012

# 25

Cancer 4 Cure by EL-P

Album • May 22 / 2012

# 26

WIXIW by Liars

Album • Jan 01 / 2012 Electronic Experimental Rock

# 27

METZ by METZ

Album • Oct 09 / 2012 Noise Rock

# 28

Shrines by Purity Ring

Album • Jul 20 / 2012 Synthpop

# 29

Total Loss by How to Dress Well

Album • Sep 18 / 2012 Ambient Pop Alternative R&B

# 30

Bish Bosch by Scott Walker

Album • Dec 03 / 2012 Experimental Post-Industrial

# 31

TNGHT by TNGHT

EP • Jul 23 / 2012 Trap [EDM] Wonky

# 32

Sun by Cat Power

Album • Sep 03 / 2012 Singer-Songwriter Art Pop

# 33

Reign of Terror by Sleigh Bells

Album • Feb 21 / 2012 Noise Pop

# 34

Old Ideas by Leonard Cohen

Album • Jan 31 / 2012 Singer-Songwriter

# 35

LIVE by Tig Notaro

Album • Jul 16 / 2013 Stand-Up Comedy

# 36

Pluto by Future

Album • Apr 17 / 2012 Trap Pop Rap Southern Hip Hop

# 37

Twenty-Five For the Rest of Our Lives by The Henry Clay People

Album • Jun 26 / 2012 Pop Punk

# 38

>> by Beak>

Album • Jul 02 / 2012 Krautrock

# 39

(III) by Crystal Castles

Album • Nov 07 / 2012 Synthpop Witch House

# 40

Shields by Grizzly Bear

Album • Sep 17 / 2012 Indie Folk Indie Rock

# 41

Lonerism by Tame Impala

Album • Jan 01 / 2012 Neo-Psychedelia Psychedelic Rock

# 42

Open Your Heart by The Men

Album • Mar 06 / 2012 Noise Rock Indie Rock

# 43

Oceania by The Smashing Pumpkins

Album • Jun 19 / 2012 Alternative Rock

# 44

1999 by Joey Bada$$

Album • Jun 12 / 2012 Boom Bap East Coast Hip Hop Jazz Rap

# 45

Europe by Allo Darlin'

Album • Apr 17 / 2012 Twee Pop Indie Pop

# 46

Love Is Love // Return To Dust by Code Orange Kids

Album • Nov 20 / 2012 Metalcore Hardcore Punk

# 47

Silver Age by Bob Mould

Album • Sep 04 / 2012 Alternative Rock Power Pop

# 48

Swing Lo Magellan by Dirty Projectors

Album • Jul 10 / 2012 Art Pop Indie Pop Progressive Pop

# 49

Until The Quiet Comes by Flying Lotus

Album • Oct 01 / 2012 IDM

# 50

Life Is Good by Nas

Album • Jul 17 / 2012 East Coast Hip Hop