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The Guardian's Best Albums of 2012

LIST SUMMARY

VIEW ORIGINAL LIST

List Rating: 79

Based on 430 album ratings

Genre Breakdown:

Indie Pop (6), Hip Hop (4), Experimental (3), R&B (3), Electronic (3), Soul (3), Indie Rock (3), Dubstep (2), Electropop (1), Post-Rock (1), Dream Pop (1), Synthpop (1), Psychedelic Rock (1), Rock (1), Experimental Rock (1), Indie Folk (1), Psychedelic (1), Singer-Songwriter (1), Pop (1)

1. Frank Ocean - Channel Orange

Frank Ocean - Channel Orange

MUST HEAR

Released: Jul 17th, 2012
Genre: R&B

CRITIC SCORE

92

Based on
20 reviews

USER SCORE

82

Based on
125 ratings

2. Grimes - Visions

Grimes - Visions

MUST HEAR

Released: Feb 21st, 2012
Genre: Experimental

CRITIC SCORE

80

Based on
17 reviews

USER SCORE

81

Based on
80 ratings

3. Jessie Ware - Devotion

Jessie Ware - Devotion

Released: Aug 20th, 2012
Genre: Soul

CRITIC SCORE

84

Based on
16 reviews

USER SCORE

80

Based on
29 ratings

4. Dirty Projectors - Swing Lo Magellan

Dirty Projectors - Swing Lo Magellan

MUST HEAR

Released: Jul 10th, 2012
Genre: Experimental Rock

CRITIC SCORE

83

Based on
18 reviews

USER SCORE

84

Based on
65 ratings

5. Kendrick Lamar - good kid, m.A.A.d. city

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

Released: Oct 22nd, 2012
Genre: Hip Hop

CRITIC SCORE

89

Based on
15 reviews

USER SCORE

86

Based on
100 ratings

6. Tame Impala - Lonerism

Tame Impala - Lonerism

MUST HEAR

Released: Oct 9th, 2012
Genre: Psychedelic Rock

CRITIC SCORE

87

Based on
17 reviews

USER SCORE

87

Based on
123 ratings

7. ∆ (Alt-J) - An Awesome Wave

∆ (Alt-J) - An Awesome Wave

Released: May 28th, 2012
Genre: Experimental

CRITIC SCORE

67

Based on
10 reviews

USER SCORE

80

Based on
84 ratings

8. The xx - Coexist

The xx - Coexist

Released: Sep 11th, 2012
Genre: Indie Pop

CRITIC SCORE

78

Based on
18 reviews

USER SCORE

74

Based on
57 ratings

9. Hot Chip - In Our Heads

Hot Chip - In Our Heads

Released: Jun 11th, 2012
Genre: Electropop

CRITIC SCORE

75

Based on
15 reviews

USER SCORE

78

Based on
39 ratings

10. Bobby Womack - The Bravest Man in the Universe

Bobby Womack - The Bravest Man in the Universe

Released: Jun 12th, 2012
Genre: Soul

CRITIC SCORE

75

Based on
11 reviews

USER SCORE

74

Based on
10 ratings

11. Miguel - Kaleidoscope Dream

Miguel - Kaleidoscope Dream

Released: Oct 2nd, 2012
Genre: R&B

CRITIC SCORE

84

Based on
8 reviews

USER SCORE

79

Based on
26 ratings

12. Django Django - Django Django

Django Django - Django Django

Released: Jan 30th, 2012
Genre: Psychedelic

CRITIC SCORE

79

Based on
9 reviews

USER SCORE

77

Based on
41 ratings

13. Chromatics - Kill for Love

Chromatics - Kill for Love

MUST HEAR

Released: Mar 26th, 2012
Genre: Synthpop

CRITIC SCORE

82

Based on
17 reviews

USER SCORE

80

Based on
62 ratings

14. Grizzly Bear - Shields

Grizzly Bear - Shields

MUST HEAR

Released: Sep 18th, 2012
Genre: Indie Folk

CRITIC SCORE

87

Based on
16 reviews

USER SCORE

84

Based on
123 ratings

15. Cooly G - Playin' Me

Cooly G - Playin' Me

Released: Jul 24th, 2012
Genre: Dubstep

CRITIC SCORE

80

Based on
8 reviews

USER SCORE

79

Based on
5 ratings

16. Taylor Swift - Red

Taylor Swift - Red

Released: Oct 22nd, 2012
Genre: Pop

CRITIC SCORE

75

Based on
7 reviews

USER SCORE

67

Based on
8 ratings

17. Lana Del Rey - Born To Die

Lana Del Rey - Born To Die

Released: Jan 31st, 2012
Genre: Indie Pop

CRITIC SCORE

57

Based on
16 reviews

USER SCORE

69

Based on
39 ratings

18. Saint Etienne - Words and Music by Saint Etienne

Saint Etienne - Words and Music by Saint Etienne

Released: May 21st, 2012
Genre: Indie Pop

CRITIC SCORE

73

Based on
10 reviews

USER SCORE

71

Based on
8 ratings

19. Flying Lotus - Until the Quiet Comes

Flying Lotus - Until the Quiet Comes

Released: Oct 2nd, 2012
Genre: Electronic

CRITIC SCORE

85

Based on
17 reviews

USER SCORE

80

Based on
51 ratings

20. Plan B - Ill Manors

Plan B - Ill Manors

Released: Jul 23rd, 2012
Genre: Hip Hop

CRITIC SCORE

80

Based on
4 reviews

USER SCORE

75

Based on
5 ratings

21. Bat For Lashes - The Haunted Man

Bat For Lashes - The Haunted Man

Released: Oct 15th, 2012
Genre: Indie Pop

CRITIC SCORE

80

Based on
16 reviews

USER SCORE

79

Based on
34 ratings

22. The Cribs - In the Belly of the Brazen Bull

The Cribs - In the Belly of the Brazen Bull

Released: May 7th, 2012
Genre: Indie Rock

CRITIC SCORE

70

Based on
11 reviews

USER SCORE

69

Based on
5 ratings

23. Jam City - Classical Curves

Jam City - Classical Curves

Released: Jun 5th, 2012

CRITIC SCORE

77

Based on
2 reviews

USER SCORE

NR

24. Dawn Richard - Armor On

Dawn Richard - Armor On

Released: Mar 27th, 2012
Genre: R&B

CRITIC SCORE

82

Based on
3 reviews

USER SCORE

85

Based on
1 rating

25. Actress - R.I.P.

Actress - R.I.P.

Released: Apr 24th, 2012
Genre: Experimental

CRITIC SCORE

84

Based on
13 reviews

USER SCORE

74

Based on
30 ratings

26. Bright Light Bright Light - Make Me Believe in Hope

Bright Light Bright Light - Make Me Believe in Hope

Released: Jun 4th, 2012

CRITIC SCORE

75

Based on
3 reviews

USER SCORE

NR

27. Poliça - Give You The Ghost

Poliça - Give You The Ghost

Released: Feb 14th, 2012
Genre: Indie Pop

CRITIC SCORE

77

Based on
9 reviews

USER SCORE

72

Based on
15 ratings

28. Tribes - Baby

Tribes - Baby

Released: Jan 16th, 2012
Genre: Indie Rock

CRITIC SCORE

63

Based on
5 reviews

USER SCORE

68

Based on
6 ratings

29. Jack White - Blunderbuss

Jack White - Blunderbuss

Released: Apr 24th, 2012
Genre: Rock

CRITIC SCORE

78

Based on
15 reviews

USER SCORE

77

Based on
34 ratings

30. Angel Haze - Reservation EP

Angel Haze - Reservation EP

Released: Jul 18th, 2012
Genre: Hip Hop

CRITIC SCORE

85

Based on
4 reviews

USER SCORE

84

Based on
5 ratings

31. Marina and the Diamonds - Electra Heart

Marina and the Diamonds - Electra Heart

Released: Apr 30th, 2012
Genre: Indie Pop

CRITIC SCORE

59

Based on
6 reviews

USER SCORE

72

Based on
10 ratings

32. Farrah Abraham - My Teenage Dream Ended

Farrah Abraham - My Teenage Dream Ended

Released: Aug 1st, 2012

CRITIC SCORE

80

Based on
1 review

USER SCORE

62

Based on
2 ratings

33. Mala - Mala in Cuba

Mala - Mala in Cuba

Released: Sep 11th, 2012
Genre: Dubstep

CRITIC SCORE

73

Based on
5 reviews

USER SCORE

83

Based on
2 ratings

34. Dexys - One Day I'm Going to Soar

Dexys - One Day I'm Going to Soar

Released: Jun 4th, 2012
Genre: Soul

CRITIC SCORE

67

Based on
6 reviews

USER SCORE

95

Based on
2 ratings

35. Nite Jewel - One Second of Love

Nite Jewel - One Second of Love

Released: Mar 6th, 2012
Genre: Electronic

CRITIC SCORE

68

Based on
9 reviews

USER SCORE

75

Based on
4 ratings

36. Beach House - Bloom

Beach House - Bloom

MUST HEAR

Released: May 15th, 2012
Genre: Dream Pop

CRITIC SCORE

82

Based on
16 reviews

USER SCORE

84

Based on
117 ratings

37. Orbital - Wonky

Orbital - Wonky

Released: Apr 3rd, 2012
Genre: Electronic

CRITIC SCORE

75

Based on
10 reviews

USER SCORE

75

Based on
7 ratings

38. Fiona Apple - The Idler Wheel

Fiona Apple - The Idler Wheel

Released: Jun 19th, 2012
Genre: Singer-Songwriter

CRITIC SCORE

89

Based on
17 reviews

USER SCORE

83

Based on
80 ratings

39. Killer Mike - R.A.P. Music

Killer Mike - R.A.P. Music

Released: May 15th, 2012
Genre: Hip Hop

CRITIC SCORE

85

Based on
14 reviews

USER SCORE

81

Based on
34 ratings

40. Godspeed You! Black Emperor - 'Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend!

Godspeed You! Black Emperor - 'Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend!

Released: Oct 16th, 2012
Genre: Post-Rock

CRITIC SCORE

84

Based on
14 reviews

USER SCORE

79

Based on
46 ratings

Recommend:

Original Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/musicblog/2012/dec/14/readers-best-album-2012

MORE 2012 YEAR END LISTS:

American Songwriter

Beats Per Minute

Cokemachineglow

Consequence of Sound

Gorilla vs. Bear

Pretty Much Amazing

Under the Radar

MORE YEAR END LISTS FROM THE GUARDIAN:

Check out our 2012 Year End Summary.

COMMENTS

2012 YEAR END SUMMARY

2012 YEAR END LISTS

American Songwriter

Beats Per Minute

Cokemachineglow

Consequence of Sound

Gorilla vs. Bear

Pretty Much Amazing

Under the Radar

TOP RATED FOR 2012

Album of The Year

Beats Per Minute

Consequence of Sound

Drowned in Sound

Under The Radar

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80 Impersonator by Majical Cloudz

74 Drifters/Love Is The Devil by Dirty Beaches

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NR Betty Rubble: The Unitiation by Mykki Blanco

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BEST ALBUMS OF 2012 BY GENRE

Alternative Rock

Experimental Rock

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Singer-Songwriter