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American Songwriter's Top 50 Albums of 2012

LIST SUMMARY

VIEW ORIGINAL LIST

List Rating: 74

Based on 373 album ratings

Genre Breakdown:

Folk (12), Singer-Songwriter (6), Alt-Country (3), Rock (3), Indie Rock (3), Indie Folk (2), Alternative Rock (2), Psychedelic Rock (2), Blues Rock (1), R&B (1), Soul (1), Bluegrass (1), Garage Rock (1), Jazz (1), Country (1), Indie Pop (1)

1. Bob Dylan - Tempest

Bob Dylan - Tempest

Released: Sep 11th, 2012
Genre: Folk

CRITIC SCORE

75

Based on
12 reviews

USER SCORE

65

Based on
16 ratings

2. 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

76

Based on
18 ratings

3. Shovels & Rope - O' Be Joyful

Shovels & Rope - O' Be Joyful

Released: Jul 31st, 2012

CRITIC SCORE

NR

USER SCORE

NR

4. Leonard Cohen - Old Ideas

Leonard Cohen - Old Ideas

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

CRITIC SCORE

82

Based on
13 reviews

USER SCORE

76

Based on
16 ratings

5. 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
19 ratings

6. 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
44 ratings

7. 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

84

Based on
4 ratings

8. Mumford & Sons - Babel

Mumford & Sons - Babel

Released: Sep 25th, 2012
Genre: Folk

CRITIC SCORE

52

Based on
12 reviews

USER SCORE

61

Based on
32 ratings

9. Bonnie Raitt - Slipstream

Bonnie Raitt - Slipstream

Released: Apr 10th, 2012

CRITIC SCORE

78

Based on
2 reviews

USER SCORE

NR

10. 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
20 ratings

11. 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

12. Iris DeMent - Sing The Delta

Iris DeMent - Sing The Delta

Released: Oct 2nd, 2012

CRITIC SCORE

75

Based on
2 reviews

USER SCORE

NR

13. The Lumineers - The Lumineers

The Lumineers - The Lumineers

Released: Apr 3rd, 2012
Genre: Folk

CRITIC SCORE

78

Based on
2 reviews

USER SCORE

79

Based on
13 ratings

14. Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit - Live From Alabama

Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit - Live From Alabama

Released: Nov 19th, 2012
Genre: Alt-Country

CRITIC SCORE

80

Based on
1 review

USER SCORE

NR

15. Brandi Carlile - Bear Creek

Brandi Carlile - Bear Creek

Released: Jun 5th, 2012
Genre: Folk

CRITIC SCORE

80

Based on
2 reviews

USER SCORE

55

Based on
1 rating

16. Father John Misty - Fear Fun

Father John Misty - Fear Fun

Released: May 1st, 2012
Genre: Folk

CRITIC SCORE

77

Based on
11 reviews

USER SCORE

77

Based on
21 ratings

17. 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

18. Dwight Yoakam - 3 Pears

Dwight Yoakam - 3 Pears

Released: Sep 18th, 2012

CRITIC SCORE

80

Based on
3 reviews

USER SCORE

NR

19. 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
123 ratings

20. Andrew Bird - Break It Yourself

Andrew Bird - Break It Yourself

Released: Mar 6th, 2012
Genre: Indie Folk

CRITIC SCORE

78

Based on
13 reviews

USER SCORE

77

Based on
14 ratings

21. Jack White - Blunderbuss

Jack White - Blunderbuss

Released: Apr 24th, 2012
Genre: Rock

CRITIC SCORE

78

Based on
15 reviews

USER SCORE

77

Based on
33 ratings

22. The Shins - Port of Morrow

The Shins - Port of Morrow

Released: Mar 20th, 2012
Genre: Indie Rock

CRITIC SCORE

70

Based on
15 reviews

USER SCORE

71

Based on
29 ratings

23. 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

65

Based on
7 ratings

24. Cory Branan - Mutt

Cory Branan - Mutt

Released: May 22nd, 2012

CRITIC SCORE

77

Based on
1 review

USER SCORE

80

Based on
1 rating

25. Norah Jones - Little Broken Hearts

Norah Jones - Little Broken Hearts

Released: May 1st, 2012
Genre: Jazz

CRITIC SCORE

66

Based on
7 reviews

USER SCORE

69

Based on
9 ratings

26. Michael Kiwanuka - Home Again

Michael Kiwanuka - Home Again

Released: Mar 12th, 2012
Genre: Soul

CRITIC SCORE

70

Based on
6 reviews

USER SCORE

71

Based on
6 ratings

27. Loudon Wainwright III - Older Than My Old Man Now

Loudon Wainwright III - Older Than My Old Man Now

Released: Apr 17th, 2012
Genre: Singer-Songwriter

CRITIC SCORE

81

Based on
6 reviews

USER SCORE

64

Based on
3 ratings

28. 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

86

Based on
2 ratings

29. Andrew Combs - Worried Man

Andrew Combs - Worried Man

Released: Oct 30th, 2012

CRITIC SCORE

NR

USER SCORE

90

Based on
1 rating

30. Punch Brothers - Who's Feeling Young Now?

Punch Brothers - Who's Feeling Young Now?

Released: Feb 14th, 2012
Genre: Bluegrass

CRITIC SCORE

85

Based on
4 reviews

USER SCORE

71

Based on
15 ratings

31. John Fullbright - From the Ground Up

John Fullbright - From the Ground Up

Released: May 8th, 2012

CRITIC SCORE

70

Based on
1 review

USER SCORE

75

Based on
1 rating

32. Rodney Crowell & Mary Karr - Kin

Rodney Crowell & Mary Karr - Kin

Released: Jun 5th, 2012
Genre: Country

CRITIC SCORE

70

Based on
1 review

USER SCORE

NR

33. Ben Folds Five - The Sound of the Life of the Mind

Ben Folds Five - The Sound of the Life of the Mind

Released: Sep 18th, 2012
Genre: Alternative Rock

CRITIC SCORE

61

Based on
8 reviews

USER SCORE

56

Based on
5 ratings

34. Jay Farrar, Will Johnson, Anders Parker, Yim Yames - New Multitudes

Jay Farrar, Will Johnson, Anders Parker, Yim Yames - New Multitudes

Released: Feb 28th, 2012

CRITIC SCORE

84

Based on
2 reviews

USER SCORE

NR

35. Rhett Miller - The Dreamer

Rhett Miller - The Dreamer

Released: Jun 5th, 2012
Genre: Alt-Country

CRITIC SCORE

72

Based on
6 reviews

USER SCORE

78

Based on
1 rating

36. Kathleen Edwards - Voyageur

Kathleen Edwards - Voyageur

Released: Jan 17th, 2012
Genre: Alt-Country

CRITIC SCORE

71

Based on
11 reviews

USER SCORE

84

Based on
3 ratings

37. 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

38. Regina Spektor - What We Saw From The Cheap Seats

Regina Spektor - What We Saw From The Cheap Seats

Released: May 29th, 2012
Genre: Indie Pop

CRITIC SCORE

73

Based on
9 reviews

USER SCORE

78

Based on
16 ratings

39. First Aid Kit - The Lion's Roar

First Aid Kit - The Lion's Roar

Released: Jan 24th, 2012
Genre: Folk

CRITIC SCORE

76

Based on
11 reviews

USER SCORE

79

Based on
20 ratings

40. Diamond Rugs - Diamond Rugs

Diamond Rugs - Diamond Rugs

Released: Apr 24th, 2012
Genre: Garage Rock

CRITIC SCORE

57

Based on
7 reviews

USER SCORE

NR

41. Old Crow Medicine Show - Carry Me Back

Old Crow Medicine Show - Carry Me Back

Released: Jul 17th, 2012
Genre: Folk

CRITIC SCORE

63

Based on
5 reviews

USER SCORE

NR

42. Ben Howard - Every Kingdom

Ben Howard - Every Kingdom

Released: Apr 3rd, 2012
Genre: Folk

CRITIC SCORE

70

Based on
2 reviews

USER SCORE

82

Based on
7 ratings

43. Beth Orton - Sugaring Season

Beth Orton - Sugaring Season

Released: Oct 2nd, 2012
Genre: Singer-Songwriter

CRITIC SCORE

72

Based on
7 reviews

USER SCORE

68

Based on
2 ratings

44. Dr. Dog - Be The Void

Dr. Dog - Be The Void

Released: Feb 7th, 2012
Genre: Psychedelic Rock

CRITIC SCORE

75

Based on
9 reviews

USER SCORE

80

Based on
9 ratings

45. Delta Spirit - Delta Spirit

Delta Spirit - Delta Spirit

Released: Mar 13th, 2012
Genre: Indie Rock

CRITIC SCORE

71

Based on
5 reviews

USER SCORE

75

Based on
4 ratings

46. M. Ward - A Wasteland Companion

M. Ward - A Wasteland Companion

Released: Apr 10th, 2012
Genre: Folk

CRITIC SCORE

70

Based on
13 reviews

USER SCORE

68

Based on
5 ratings

47. Ben Kweller - Go Fly a Kite

Ben Kweller - Go Fly a Kite

Released: Feb 7th, 2012
Genre: Singer-Songwriter

CRITIC SCORE

65

Based on
7 reviews

USER SCORE

67

Based on
1 rating

48. The Gaslight Anthem - Handwritten

The Gaslight Anthem - Handwritten

Released: Jul 24th, 2012
Genre: Alternative Rock

CRITIC SCORE

67

Based on
10 reviews

USER SCORE

76

Based on
5 ratings

49. Matthew Ryan - In the Dusk of Everything

Matthew Ryan - In the Dusk of Everything

Released: Oct 30th, 2012

CRITIC SCORE

NR

USER SCORE

NR

50. 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

60

Based on
9 ratings

Recommend:

Original Source: http://www.americansongwriter.com/2012/12/american-songwriters-top-50-albums-of-2012/

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2012 YEAR END SUMMARY

2012 YEAR END LISTS

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