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The Fly's Top 50 Albums of 2012

LIST SUMMARY

VIEW ORIGINAL LIST

List Rating: 75

Based on 546 album ratings

Genre Breakdown:

Indie Rock (9), Indie Pop (8), Experimental (6), Shoegaze (4), Garage Rock (3), Electronic (2), Dream Pop (2), Experimental Rock (2), Alternative Rock (2), Lo-Fi (1), Psychedelic Rock (1), Folk (1), New Wave (1), Indie Folk (1), Psychedelic Pop (1), Hardcore Punk (1), Electropop (1), Psychedelic (1), R&B (1), Post-Hardcore (1), Soul (1)

1. Sharon Van Etten - Tramp

Sharon Van Etten - Tramp

MUST HEAR

Released: Feb 7th, 2012
Genre: Folk

CRITIC SCORE

81

Based on
16 reviews

USER SCORE

82

Based on
49 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
91 ratings

3. Frank Ocean - Channel Orange

Frank Ocean - Channel Orange

MUST HEAR

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

CRITIC SCORE

92

Based on
21 reviews

USER SCORE

83

Based on
136 ratings

4. Cat Power - Sun

Cat Power - Sun

Released: Sep 4th, 2012
Genre: Indie Rock

CRITIC SCORE

76

Based on
18 reviews

USER SCORE

77

Based on
32 ratings

5. Jessie Ware - Devotion

Jessie Ware - Devotion

Released: Aug 20th, 2012
Genre: Soul

CRITIC SCORE

85

Based on
17 reviews

USER SCORE

80

Based on
33 ratings

6. 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
48 ratings

7. Field Music - Plumb

Field Music - Plumb

Released: Feb 14th, 2012
Genre: Indie Pop

CRITIC SCORE

76

Based on
13 reviews

USER SCORE

70

Based on
9 ratings

8. Kindness - World, You Need A Change Of Mind

Kindness - World, You Need A Change Of Mind

Released: Mar 20th, 2012
Genre: Electronic

CRITIC SCORE

64

Based on
8 reviews

USER SCORE

80

Based on
7 ratings

9. The Maccabees - Given to the Wild

The Maccabees - Given to the Wild

Released: Jan 6th, 2012
Genre: Indie Rock

CRITIC SCORE

68

Based on
9 reviews

USER SCORE

78

Based on
19 ratings

10. Tame Impala - Lonerism

Tame Impala - Lonerism

MUST HEAR

Released: Oct 9th, 2012
Genre: Psychedelic Rock

CRITIC SCORE

87

Based on
20 reviews

USER SCORE

87

Based on
134 ratings

11. Lana Del Rey - Born To Die

Lana Del Rey - Born To Die

Released: Jan 31st, 2012
Genre: Indie Pop

CRITIC SCORE

57

Based on
17 reviews

USER SCORE

69

Based on
42 ratings

12. ∆ (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

81

Based on
90 ratings

13. Grizzly Bear - Shields

Grizzly Bear - Shields

MUST HEAR

Released: Sep 18th, 2012
Genre: Indie Folk

CRITIC SCORE

86

Based on
18 reviews

USER SCORE

84

Based on
133 ratings

14. Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti - Mature Themes

Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti - Mature Themes

Released: Aug 21st, 2012
Genre: Psychedelic Pop

CRITIC SCORE

74

Based on
18 reviews

USER SCORE

80

Based on
35 ratings

15. Purity Ring - Shrines

Purity Ring - Shrines

MUST HEAR

Released: Jul 24th, 2012
Genre: Experimental

CRITIC SCORE

80

Based on
18 reviews

USER SCORE

79

Based on
61 ratings

16. The Vaccines - The Vaccines Come of Age

The Vaccines - The Vaccines Come of Age

Released: Sep 4th, 2012
Genre: Indie Rock

CRITIC SCORE

61

Based on
11 reviews

USER SCORE

69

Based on
13 ratings

17. The xx - Coexist

The xx - Coexist

Released: Sep 11th, 2012
Genre: Indie Pop

CRITIC SCORE

78

Based on
19 reviews

USER SCORE

74

Based on
61 ratings

18. Pond - Beard, Wives, Denim

Pond - Beard, Wives, Denim

Released: Mar 6th, 2012
Genre: Indie Rock

CRITIC SCORE

70

Based on
7 reviews

USER SCORE

75

Based on
8 ratings

19. DIIV - Oshin

DIIV - Oshin

MUST HEAR

Released: Jun 26th, 2012
Genre: Shoegaze

CRITIC SCORE

80

Based on
15 reviews

USER SCORE

80

Based on
46 ratings

20. King Tuff - King Tuff

King Tuff - King Tuff

Released: May 29th, 2012
Genre: Garage Rock

CRITIC SCORE

77

Based on
7 reviews

USER SCORE

79

Based on
11 ratings

21. 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

22. Dirty Projectors - Swing Lo Magellan

Dirty Projectors - Swing Lo Magellan

MUST HEAR

Released: Jul 10th, 2012
Genre: Experimental Rock

CRITIC SCORE

83

Based on
20 reviews

USER SCORE

84

Based on
69 ratings

23. Twin Shadow - Confess

Twin Shadow - Confess

Released: Jul 10th, 2012
Genre: New Wave

CRITIC SCORE

80

Based on
15 reviews

USER SCORE

78

Based on
33 ratings

24. Daughn Gibson - All Hell

Daughn Gibson - All Hell

Released: Mar 26th, 2012
Genre: Experimental

CRITIC SCORE

81

Based on
3 reviews

USER SCORE

81

Based on
20 ratings

25. Melody's Echo Chamber - Melody's Echo Chamber

Melody's Echo Chamber - Melody's Echo Chamber

Released: Sep 25th, 2012
Genre: Dream Pop

CRITIC SCORE

77

Based on
10 reviews

USER SCORE

76

Based on
17 ratings

26. Bat For Lashes - The Haunted Man

Bat For Lashes - The Haunted Man

Released: Oct 15th, 2012
Genre: Indie Pop

CRITIC SCORE

81

Based on
17 reviews

USER SCORE

80

Based on
42 ratings

27. Chairlift - Something

Chairlift - Something

MUST HEAR

Released: Jan 24th, 2012
Genre: Electropop

CRITIC SCORE

77

Based on
13 reviews

USER SCORE

80

Based on
28 ratings

28. Toy - Toy

Toy - Toy

Released: Sep 10th, 2012
Genre: Shoegaze

CRITIC SCORE

80

Based on
10 reviews

USER SCORE

77

Based on
19 ratings

29. 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

73

Based on
16 ratings

30. Graham Coxon - A+E

Graham Coxon - A+E

Released: Apr 2nd, 2012
Genre: Indie Rock

CRITIC SCORE

75

Based on
8 reviews

USER SCORE

76

Based on
4 ratings

31. Here We Go Magic - A Different Ship

Here We Go Magic - A Different Ship

Released: May 8th, 2012
Genre: Experimental

CRITIC SCORE

73

Based on
16 reviews

USER SCORE

78

Based on
12 ratings

32. Beach House - Bloom

Beach House - Bloom

MUST HEAR

Released: May 15th, 2012
Genre: Dream Pop

CRITIC SCORE

82

Based on
16 reviews

USER SCORE

83

Based on
126 ratings

33. Animal Collective - Centipede Hz

Animal Collective - Centipede Hz

Released: Sep 4th, 2012
Genre: Experimental

CRITIC SCORE

77

Based on
19 reviews

USER SCORE

77

Based on
51 ratings

34. David Byrne & St. Vincent - Love This Giant

David Byrne & St. Vincent - Love This Giant

Released: Sep 11th, 2012

CRITIC SCORE

75

Based on
15 reviews

USER SCORE

75

Based on
26 ratings

35. Howler - America Give Up

Howler - America Give Up

Released: Jan 17th, 2012
Genre: Garage Rock

CRITIC SCORE

68

Based on
8 reviews

USER SCORE

77

Based on
4 ratings

36. Liars - WIXIW

Liars - WIXIW

Released: Jun 5th, 2012
Genre: Experimental Rock

CRITIC SCORE

85

Based on
21 reviews

USER SCORE

81

Based on
36 ratings

37. The Invisible - Rispah

The Invisible - Rispah

Released: Jun 12th, 2012
Genre: Alternative Rock

CRITIC SCORE

77

Based on
4 reviews

USER SCORE

72

Based on
2 ratings

38. Best Coast - The Only Place

Best Coast - The Only Place

Released: May 15th, 2012
Genre: Indie Pop

CRITIC SCORE

63

Based on
14 reviews

USER SCORE

67

Based on
15 ratings

39. Mystery Jets - Radlands

Mystery Jets - Radlands

Released: Apr 30th, 2012
Genre: Indie Rock

CRITIC SCORE

62

Based on
8 reviews

USER SCORE

72

Based on
6 ratings

40. Allah-Las - Allah-Las

Allah-Las - Allah-Las

Released: Sep 18th, 2012
Genre: Garage Rock

CRITIC SCORE

72

Based on
3 reviews

USER SCORE

83

Based on
3 ratings

41. Two Door Cinema Club - Beacon

Two Door Cinema Club - Beacon

Released: Sep 4th, 2012
Genre: Indie Rock

CRITIC SCORE

63

Based on
11 reviews

USER SCORE

73

Based on
17 ratings

42. Trash Talk - 119

Trash Talk - 119

Released: Oct 9th, 2012
Genre: Hardcore Punk

CRITIC SCORE

68

Based on
7 reviews

USER SCORE

72

Based on
2 ratings

43. Pulled Apart By Horses - Tough Love

Pulled Apart By Horses - Tough Love

Released: Jan 20th, 2012
Genre: Post-Hardcore

CRITIC SCORE

61

Based on
5 reviews

USER SCORE

79

Based on
2 ratings

44. Stealing Sheep - Into The Diamond Sun

Stealing Sheep - Into The Diamond Sun

Released: Aug 20th, 2012
Genre: Indie Pop

CRITIC SCORE

67

Based on
5 reviews

USER SCORE

NR

45. Errors - Have Some Faith In Magic

Errors - Have Some Faith In Magic

Released: Jan 31st, 2012
Genre: Electronic

CRITIC SCORE

75

Based on
9 reviews

USER SCORE

78

Based on
7 ratings

46. Egyptian Hip Hop - Good Don't Sleep

Egyptian Hip Hop - Good Don't Sleep

Released: Oct 23rd, 2012
Genre: Indie Pop

CRITIC SCORE

67

Based on
6 reviews

USER SCORE

61

Based on
1 rating

47. 2:54 - 2:54

2:54 - 2:54

Released: May 29th, 2012
Genre: Alternative Rock

CRITIC SCORE

66

Based on
8 reviews

USER SCORE

68

Based on
8 ratings

48. Lotus Plaza - Spooky Action at a Distance

Lotus Plaza - Spooky Action at a Distance

Released: Apr 2nd, 2012
Genre: Shoegaze

CRITIC SCORE

76

Based on
7 reviews

USER SCORE

76

Based on
20 ratings

49. Lucy Rose - Like I Used To

Lucy Rose - Like I Used To

Released: Sep 24th, 2012

CRITIC SCORE

75

Based on
2 reviews

USER SCORE

96

Based on
1 rating

50. Trailer Trash Tracys - Ester

Trailer Trash Tracys - Ester

Released: Jan 9th, 2012
Genre: Shoegaze

CRITIC SCORE

64

Based on
8 reviews

USER SCORE

75

Based on
6 ratings

Recommend:

Original Source: http://www.the-fly.co.uk/feature/lists/1016070/top-50-albums-of-2012/

MORE 2012 YEAR END LISTS:

American Songwriter

Beats Per Minute

Cokemachineglow

Consequence of Sound

Gorilla vs. Bear

Pretty Much Amazing

The Line of Best Fit

Under the Radar

MORE YEAR END LISTS FROM THE FLY:

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

The Line of Best Fit

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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