PopMatters' Best Indie Rock Albums of 2012



LIST SUMMARY
VIEW ORIGINAL LIST

List Rating: 82
Based on 134 album ratings

Genre Breakdown:
Indie Rock (2), Shoegaze (2), Lo-Fi (1), Post-Rock (1), Experimental (1), Noise Rock (1), Dream Pop (1), Synthpop (1), Garage Rock (1)

1. Chromatics - Kill for Love

Chromatics - Kill for Love
MUST HEAR
Released: Mar 26th, 2012
Genre: Synthpop
CRITIC SCORE
83
Based on
18 reviews
USER SCORE
80
Based on
62 ratings


Kill for Love is a heavy-hearted but eternally romantic midnight road movie for the mind that’ll haunt you long after those taillights fade.


2. Swans - The Seer

Swans - The Seer
Released: Aug 28th, 2012
Genre: Post-Rock
CRITIC SCORE
91
Based on
18 reviews
USER SCORE
83
Based on
64 ratings


The Seer ... is a brave record, one that at times threatens to lose its hold on you, but in the end one that manages to be self indulgent without being self serving. 


3. Japandroids - Celebration Rock

Japandroids - Celebration Rock
MUST HEAR
Released: Jun 5th, 2012
Genre: Garage Rock
CRITIC SCORE
84
Based on
16 reviews
USER SCORE
80
Based on
59 ratings


Celebration Rock isn’t a final stand, it’s a push forward.


4. METZ - METZ

METZ - METZ
Released: Oct 9th, 2012
Genre: Noise Rock
CRITIC SCORE
83
Based on
12 reviews
USER SCORE
77
Based on
20 ratings


Undeniably one of my favorite albums of the year, METZ shines brightly, like a Molotov cocktail at the moment of impact.


5. 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


Bloom is a gushing collection of top tier songs that have been carefully knitted together for maximum impact, and is absolutely gorgeous and stunning.


6. Divine Fits - A Thing Called the Divine Fits

Divine Fits - A Thing Called the Divine Fits
Released: Aug 28th, 2012
Genre: Indie Rock
CRITIC SCORE
78
Based on
12 reviews
USER SCORE
75
Based on
19 ratings


They’re not there yet, but with Boeckner’s insistence that the group will be the primary focus of its members for the foreseeable future, they might just get it right next time.


7. Cloud Nothings - Attack on Memory

Cloud Nothings - Attack on Memory
MUST HEAR
Released: Jan 24th, 2012
Genre: Indie Rock
CRITIC SCORE
81
Based on
15 reviews
USER SCORE
79
Based on
63 ratings


It’s great, catchy as hell, and bristling with retro rage and vitriol.


8. 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
18 ratings


In many ways, we’ve heard all these songs before, in slightly tighter fashion, on the last two Deerhunter albums.


9. DIIV - Oshin

DIIV - Oshin
MUST HEAR
Released: Jun 26th, 2012
Genre: Shoegaze
CRITIC SCORE
80
Based on
15 reviews
USER SCORE
80
Based on
44 ratings



10. Moonface - With Siinai: Heartbreaking Bravery

Moonface - With Siinai: Heartbreaking Bravery
Released: Apr 17th, 2012
Genre: Experimental
CRITIC SCORE
77
Based on
14 reviews
USER SCORE
78
Based on
11 ratings


Rather than leading Krug to indulge in his noodling fantasies, Siinai seems to have forced him to the other end of the spectrum, the place where hooks reign supreme.


Recommend:

Original Source: http://www.popmatters.com/pm/feature/165829-best-indie-rock-of-2012/

MORE 2012 YEAR END LISTS:


Check out our 2012 Year End Summary.

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