Stereogum's Top 50 Albums of 2012

This year, the three albums at the top of Stereogum’s 50 favorite albums of the year are all, in one way or another, Californian studio-pop singer-songwriter opuses. Admittedly, the makers of two of the three aren’t originally from California (they’re from New York and New Orleans) and even though the maker of the other one […]

Published: December 05, 2012 16:18 Source

# 1

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

# 2

channel ORANGE by Frank Ocean

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

# 3

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

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

# 4

The Seer by Swans

Album • Aug 28 / 2012 Experimental Rock Post-Rock

# 5

Devotion by Jessie Ware

Album • Jan 01 / 2012 Alternative R&B

# 6

Attack On Memory by Cloud Nothings

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

# 7

Celebration Rock by Japandroids

Album • Jun 05 / 2012 Indie Rock

# 8

Heaven by The Walkmen

Album • May 29 / 2012 Indie Rock Indie Pop

# 9

Something by Chairlift

Album • Jan 23 / 2012 Synthpop Indie Pop

# 10

Swing Lo Magellan by Dirty Projectors

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

# 11

Lonerism by Tame Impala

Album • Jan 01 / 2012 Neo-Psychedelia Psychedelic Rock

# 12

Kaleidoscope Dream by Miguel

Album • Sep 25 / 2012 Alternative R&B

# 13

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

Album • Oct 15 / 2012

# 14

Kill for Love by Chromatics

Album • Mar 26 / 2012 Synthpop Dream Pop

# 15

Cancer 4 Cure by EL-P

Album • May 22 / 2012

# 16

Shields by Grizzly Bear

Album • Sep 17 / 2012 Indie Folk Indie Rock

# 17

Open Your Heart by The Men

Album • Mar 06 / 2012 Noise Rock Indie Rock

# 18

Yellow & Green by Baroness

Album • Jul 17 / 2012 Heavy Psych

# 19

Red by Taylor Swift

Album • Oct 22 / 2012 Singer-Songwriter Pop Rock Pop

# 20

Sweet Heart Sweet Light by Spiritualized

Album • Apr 16 / 2012 Neo-Psychedelia Art Rock

# 21

Ugly by Screaming Females

Album • Apr 03 / 2012 Indie Rock Punk Rock

# 22

Oshin by DIIV

Album • Jun 26 / 2012 Dream Pop Indie Surf

# 23

R.A.P. Music by Killer Mike

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

# 24

Reign of Terror by Sleigh Bells

Album • Feb 21 / 2012 Noise Pop

# 25

II by Nude Beach

Album • Dec 01 / 2016 Power Pop

# 26

Visions by Grimes

Album • Feb 21 / 2012 Synthpop

# 27

Bloom by Beach House

Album • May 15 / 2012 Dream Pop Indie Pop

# 28

Sun by Cat Power

Album • Sep 03 / 2012 Singer-Songwriter Art Pop

# 29

Shrines by Purity Ring

Album • Jul 20 / 2012 Synthpop

# 30

Harmonicraft by Torche

Album • Apr 24 / 2012 Stoner Rock

# 31

Habits & Contradictions by ScHoolboy Q

Album • Jan 14 / 2012 West Coast Hip Hop

# 32

Twins by Ty Segall

Album • Oct 09 / 2012 Garage Rock

# 33

Total Loss by How to Dress Well

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

# 34

Pluto by Future

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

# 35

Swearin by Swearin'

Album • Jun 01 / 2012 Indie Rock Garage Rock

# 36

Overgrown Path by Chris Cohen

Album • Sep 25 / 2012 Indie Pop

# 37

1999 by Joey Bada$$

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

# 38

Ocean Roar by Mount Eerie

Album • Aug 29 / 2012 Post-Rock Drone Post-Metal

# 39

Jessica Pratt by Jessica Pratt

Album • Nov 06 / 2012 Contemporary Folk Singer-Songwriter

# 40

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

Album • Oct 09 / 2012

# 41

Among the Leaves by Sun Kil Moon

Album • May 29 / 2012 Contemporary Folk Singer-Songwriter

# 42

Tramp (Deluxe Edition) by Sharon Van Etten

Album • Nov 13 / 2012 Singer-Songwriter Indie Folk

# 44

The Haunted Man (Deluxe Version) by Bat for Lashes

Album • Oct 12 / 2012

# 45

The Odds by The Evens

Album • Nov 20 / 2012 Indie Rock

# 46

Big Inner by Matthew E. White

Album • Jan 21 / 2013 Soul Singer-Songwriter

# 47

Rich Forever - Single (Tribute to Rick Ross & John Legend) by Rich Forever

Single • Apr 04 / 2012

# 48

Port Of Morrow by The Shins

Album • Mar 16 / 2012 Indie Pop

# 49

Light Up Gold by Parquet Courts

Album • Jan 15 / 2013 Indie Rock

# 50

Until The Quiet Comes by Flying Lotus

Album • Oct 01 / 2012 IDM