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Rolling Stone's 50 Best Albums of 2012

LIST SUMMARY

VIEW ORIGINAL LIST

List Rating: 76

Based on 530 album ratings

Genre Breakdown:

Indie Rock (6), Hip Hop (6), Rock (5), Folk (4), Indie Pop (4), Singer-Songwriter (3), Alternative Rock (3), Indie Folk (2), Blues (2), Blues Rock (1), Soul (1), R&B (1), Experimental (1), Punk Rock (1), Garage Rock (1), Reggae (1), World (1), Pop (1), Psychedelic (1), Experimental Rock (1), Dream Pop (1), Electronic (1)

1. Bruce Springsteen - Wrecking Ball

Bruce Springsteen - Wrecking Ball

Released: Mar 5th, 2012
Genre: Rock

CRITIC SCORE

74

Based on
13 reviews

USER SCORE

64

Based on
20 ratings

2. 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
135 ratings

3. Jack White - Blunderbuss

Jack White - Blunderbuss

Released: Apr 24th, 2012
Genre: Rock

CRITIC SCORE

80

Based on
18 reviews

USER SCORE

77

Based on
38 ratings

4. Bob Dylan - Tempest

Bob Dylan - Tempest

Released: Sep 11th, 2012
Genre: Folk

CRITIC SCORE

75

Based on
12 reviews

USER SCORE

66

Based on
16 ratings

5. Fiona Apple - The Idler Wheel

Fiona Apple - The Idler Wheel

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

CRITIC SCORE

89

Based on
18 reviews

USER SCORE

83

Based on
85 ratings

6. 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
105 ratings

7. Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros - Here

Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros - Here

Released: May 29th, 2012
Genre: Indie Folk

CRITIC SCORE

61

Based on
8 reviews

USER SCORE

64

Based on
7 ratings

8. Green Day - ¡Uno!

Green Day - ¡Uno!

Released: Sep 25th, 2012
Genre: Punk Rock

CRITIC SCORE

69

Based on
10 reviews

USER SCORE

62

Based on
11 ratings

9. Japandroids - Celebration Rock

Japandroids - Celebration Rock

MUST HEAR

Released: Jun 5th, 2012
Genre: Garage Rock

CRITIC SCORE

84

Based on
16 reviews

USER SCORE

81

Based on
65 ratings

10. Neil Young and Crazy Horse - Psychedelic Pill

Neil Young and Crazy Horse - Psychedelic Pill

Released: Oct 30th, 2012
Genre: Rock

CRITIC SCORE

78

Based on
8 reviews

USER SCORE

75

Based on
18 ratings

11. Mumford & Sons - Babel

Mumford & Sons - Babel

Released: Sep 25th, 2012
Genre: Folk

CRITIC SCORE

52

Based on
12 reviews

USER SCORE

62

Based on
37 ratings

12. Jimmy Cliff - Rebirth

Jimmy Cliff - Rebirth

Released: Jul 17th, 2012
Genre: Reggae

CRITIC SCORE

77

Based on
6 reviews

USER SCORE

85

Based on
1 rating

13. Leonard Cohen - Old Ideas

Leonard Cohen - Old Ideas

Released: Jan 31st, 2012
Genre: Singer-Songwriter

CRITIC SCORE

82

Based on
13 reviews

USER SCORE

75

Based on
16 ratings

14. 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

15. Dr. John - Locked Down

Dr. John - Locked Down

Released: Apr 3rd, 2012
Genre: Blues

CRITIC SCORE

80

Based on
11 reviews

USER SCORE

72

Based on
12 ratings

16. 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

17. John Mayer - Born and Raised

John Mayer - Born and Raised

Released: May 22nd, 2012
Genre: Rock

CRITIC SCORE

70

Based on
3 reviews

USER SCORE

100

Based on
1 rating

18. Nas - Life is Good

Nas - Life is Good

Released: Jul 17th, 2012
Genre: Hip Hop

CRITIC SCORE

82

Based on
15 reviews

USER SCORE

77

Based on
18 ratings

19. Band of Horses - Mirage Rock

Band of Horses - Mirage Rock

Released: Sep 18th, 2012
Genre: Indie Rock

CRITIC SCORE

60

Based on
11 reviews

USER SCORE

59

Based on
11 ratings

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

Killer Mike - R.A.P. Music

Released: May 15th, 2012
Genre: Hip Hop

CRITIC SCORE

86

Based on
16 reviews

USER SCORE

81

Based on
36 ratings

21. 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

80

Based on
70 ratings

22. Bonnie Raitt - Slipstream

Bonnie Raitt - Slipstream

Released: Apr 10th, 2012

CRITIC SCORE

78

Based on
2 reviews

USER SCORE

NR

23. 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

24. G.O.O.D. Music - Cruel Summer

G.O.O.D. Music - Cruel Summer

Released: Sep 18th, 2012
Genre: Hip Hop

CRITIC SCORE

65

Based on
12 reviews

USER SCORE

72

Based on
14 ratings

25. Donald Fagen - Sunken Condos

Donald Fagen - Sunken Condos

Released: Oct 16th, 2012

CRITIC SCORE

75

Based on
2 reviews

USER SCORE

90

Based on
1 rating

26. 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

27. Gary Clark Jr. - Blak & Blu

Gary Clark Jr. - Blak & Blu

Released: Oct 22nd, 2012
Genre: Blues

CRITIC SCORE

72

Based on
5 reviews

USER SCORE

73

Based on
5 ratings

28. 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
125 ratings

29. Dave Matthews Band - Away From the World

Dave Matthews Band - Away From the World

Released: Sep 11th, 2012
Genre: Rock

CRITIC SCORE

75

Based on
2 reviews

USER SCORE

78

Based on
4 ratings

30. Azealia Banks - 1991

Azealia Banks - 1991

Released: May 29th, 2012
Genre: Hip Hop

CRITIC SCORE

74

Based on
7 reviews

USER SCORE

73

Based on
6 ratings

31. Taylor Swift - Red

Taylor Swift - Red

Released: Oct 22nd, 2012
Genre: Pop

CRITIC SCORE

75

Based on
7 reviews

USER SCORE

69

Based on
9 ratings

32. Hospitality - Hospitality

Hospitality - Hospitality

Released: Jan 31st, 2012
Genre: Indie Pop

CRITIC SCORE

73

Based on
10 reviews

USER SCORE

70

Based on
9 ratings

33. Grimes - Visions

Grimes - Visions

MUST HEAR

Released: Feb 21st, 2012
Genre: Experimental

CRITIC SCORE

80

Based on
17 reviews

USER SCORE

81

Based on
90 ratings

34. Alabama Shakes - Boys & Girls

Alabama Shakes - Boys & Girls

Released: Apr 10th, 2012
Genre: Blues Rock

CRITIC SCORE

72

Based on
13 reviews

USER SCORE

75

Based on
23 ratings

35. 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

36. 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
12 reviews

USER SCORE

74

Based on
10 ratings

37. Justin Townes Earle - Nothing's Gonna Change The Way You Feel About Me Now

Justin Townes Earle - Nothing's Gonna Change The Way You Feel About Me Now

Released: Mar 27th, 2012
Genre: Folk

CRITIC SCORE

69

Based on
6 reviews

USER SCORE

85

Based on
2 ratings

38. Titus Andronicus - Local Business

Titus Andronicus - Local Business

Released: Oct 23rd, 2012
Genre: Indie Rock

CRITIC SCORE

75

Based on
11 reviews

USER SCORE

73

Based on
16 ratings

39. Passion Pit - Gossamer

Passion Pit - Gossamer

Released: Jul 24th, 2012
Genre: Electronic

CRITIC SCORE

79

Based on
18 reviews

USER SCORE

76

Based on
40 ratings

40. Escort - Escort

Escort - Escort

Released: Nov 15th, 2011

CRITIC SCORE

78

Based on
6 reviews

USER SCORE

63

Based on
2 ratings

41. The Avett Brothers - The Carpenter

The Avett Brothers - The Carpenter

Released: Sep 11th, 2012
Genre: Folk

CRITIC SCORE

72

Based on
8 reviews

USER SCORE

79

Based on
5 ratings

42. Allo Darlin' - Europe

Allo Darlin' - Europe

Released: Apr 17th, 2012
Genre: Indie Pop

CRITIC SCORE

82

Based on
10 reviews

USER SCORE

74

Based on
14 ratings

43. Fun. - Some Nights

Fun. - Some Nights

Released: Feb 21st, 2012
Genre: Indie Pop

CRITIC SCORE

42

Based on
6 reviews

USER SCORE

54

Based on
26 ratings

44. Garbage - Not Your Kind of People

Garbage - Not Your Kind of People

Released: May 15th, 2012
Genre: Alternative Rock

CRITIC SCORE

58

Based on
11 reviews

USER SCORE

64

Based on
12 ratings

45. Rick Ross - Rich Forever

Rick Ross - Rich Forever

Released: Jan 6th, 2012
Genre: Hip Hop

CRITIC SCORE

75

Based on
8 reviews

USER SCORE

74

Based on
4 ratings

46. Muse - The 2nd Law

Muse - The 2nd Law

Released: Oct 2nd, 2012
Genre: Alternative Rock

CRITIC SCORE

50

Based on
14 reviews

USER SCORE

56

Based on
24 ratings

47. Todd Snider - Agnostic Hymns & Stoner Fables

Todd Snider - Agnostic Hymns & Stoner Fables

Released: Mar 6th, 2012
Genre: Singer-Songwriter

CRITIC SCORE

80

Based on
4 reviews

USER SCORE

80

Based on
2 ratings

48. The Smashing Pumpkins - Oceania

The Smashing Pumpkins - Oceania

Released: Jun 18th, 2012
Genre: Alternative Rock

CRITIC SCORE

71

Based on
12 reviews

USER SCORE

72

Based on
11 ratings

49. Amadou & Mariam - Folila

Amadou & Mariam - Folila

Released: Apr 10th, 2012
Genre: World

CRITIC SCORE

75

Based on
8 reviews

USER SCORE

70

Based on
3 ratings

50. 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
68 ratings

Recommend:

Original Source: http://www.rollingstone.com

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 ROLLING STONE:

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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BEST ALBUMS OF 2012 BY GENRE

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