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Home
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> The Wire's Top 50 Releases of 2012
The Wire's Top 50 Releases of 2012
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LIST SUMMARY
VIEW ORIGINAL LIST
List Rating:
82
Based on 226 album ratings
Genre Breakdown:
Experimental (6), Hip Hop (3), Electronic (3), Juke (2), Dubstep (2), Folk (1), Jazz (1), Post-Rock (1), Minimal (1), Psychedelic Pop (1), R&B (1), Dub Techno (1), Ambient (1)
1.
Laurel Halo - Quarantine
Released:
May 29th, 2012
Genre:
Electronic
CRITIC SCORE
78
Based on
11
reviews
USER SCORE
76
Based on
19
ratings
iTunes
Amazon
Spotify
2.
The Congos / Sun Araw / M. Geddes Gengras - Icon Give Thank
Released:
May 8th, 2012
CRITIC SCORE
75
Based on
4
reviews
USER SCORE
71
Based on
3
ratings
iTunes
Amazon
3.
Actress - R.I.P.
Released:
Apr 24th, 2012
Genre:
Experimental
CRITIC SCORE
84
Based on
13
reviews
USER SCORE
74
Based on
30
ratings
iTunes
Amazon
Spotify
4.
Jakob Ullmann - Fremde Zeit Addendum
Released:
May 22nd, 2012
CRITIC SCORE
NR
USER SCORE
NR
Rate now
iTunes
Amazon
5.
Jason Lescalleet - Songs About Nothing
Released:
Jul 1st, 2012
CRITIC SCORE
90
Based on
1 review
USER SCORE
90
Based on
2
ratings
iTunes
Amazon
6.
Chora(s)san Time-Court Mirage - Live At The Grimm Museum Volume One
Released:
Aug 28th, 2012
CRITIC SCORE
NR
USER SCORE
NR
Rate now
iTunes
Amazon
7.
Bob Dylan - Tempest
Released:
Sep 11th, 2012
Genre:
Folk
CRITIC SCORE
75
Based on
12
reviews
USER SCORE
65
Based on
16
ratings
iTunes
Amazon
Spotify
8.
Julia Holter - Ekstasis
MUST HEAR
Released:
Mar 6th, 2012
Genre:
Experimental
CRITIC SCORE
82
Based on
13
reviews
USER SCORE
79
Based on
28
ratings
iTunes
Amazon
Spotify
9.
Carter Tutti Void - Transverse
Released:
Mar 26th, 2012
Genre:
Electronic
CRITIC SCORE
79
Based on
7
reviews
USER SCORE
82
Based on
1
rating
iTunes
Amazon
Spotify
10.
Ricardo Villalobos - Dependent and Happy
Released:
Sep 25th, 2012
Genre:
Minimal
CRITIC SCORE
79
Based on
2 reviews
USER SCORE
NR
Rate now
iTunes
Amazon
11.
Scott Walker - Bish Bosch
Released:
Dec 4th, 2012
Genre:
Experimental
CRITIC SCORE
78
Based on
12
reviews
USER SCORE
74
Based on
14
ratings
iTunes
Amazon
Spotify
12.
Josephine Foster - Blood Rushing
Released:
Sep 18th, 2012
CRITIC SCORE
75
Based on
4
reviews
USER SCORE
75
Based on
1
rating
iTunes
Amazon
Spotify
13.
Fushitsusha - Mabushii Itazura Na Inori
Released:
Sep 18th, 2012
CRITIC SCORE
NR
USER SCORE
NR
Rate now
iTunes
Amazon
14.
Oren Ambarchi / Keiji Haino / Jim O'Rourke - Imikuzushi
Released:
Feb 28th, 2012
CRITIC SCORE
84
Based on
2 reviews
USER SCORE
81
Based on
1
rating
iTunes
Amazon
15.
Death Grips - The Money Store
Released:
Apr 24th, 2012
Genre:
Hip Hop
CRITIC SCORE
85
Based on
13
reviews
USER SCORE
82
Based on
57
ratings
iTunes
Amazon
Spotify
16.
Emptyset - Medium
Released:
Apr 10th, 2012
CRITIC SCORE
NR
USER SCORE
NR
Rate now
iTunes
Amazon
17.
Dean Blunt and Inga Copeland - Black Is Beautiful
Released:
Apr 10th, 2012
Genre:
Experimental
CRITIC SCORE
72
Based on
7
reviews
USER SCORE
81
Based on
3
ratings
iTunes
Amazon
Spotify
18.
Andy Stott - Luxury Problems
MUST HEAR
Released:
Oct 29th, 2012
Genre:
Dub Techno
CRITIC SCORE
86
Based on
9
reviews
USER SCORE
81
Based on
27
ratings
iTunes
Amazon
19.
Various Artists - Wandelweiser und so Weiter
Released:
Nov 1st, 2012
CRITIC SCORE
NR
USER SCORE
NR
Rate now
iTunes
Amazon
20.
Morton Feldman - Crippled Symmetry: at June in Buffalo
Released:
Sep 25th, 2012
CRITIC SCORE
NR
USER SCORE
NR
Rate now
iTunes
Amazon
21.
Richard Skelton - Verse of Birds
Released:
May 1st, 2012
CRITIC SCORE
NR
USER SCORE
NR
Rate now
iTunes
Amazon
22.
The Bohman Brothers - Back on the Streets
Released:
Jul 1st, 2012
CRITIC SCORE
NR
USER SCORE
NR
Rate now
iTunes
Amazon
23.
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
iTunes
Amazon
Spotify
24.
Michael Pisaro and Toshiya Tsunoda - Crosshatches
Released:
Jun 7th, 2012
CRITIC SCORE
NR
USER SCORE
NR
Rate now
iTunes
Amazon
25.
Bass Clef - Reeling Skullways
Released:
Apr 30th, 2012
CRITIC SCORE
NR
USER SCORE
NR
Rate now
iTunes
Amazon
26.
Aaron Dilloway - Modern Jester
Released:
Dec 20th, 2011
CRITIC SCORE
78
Based on
2 reviews
USER SCORE
90
Based on
1
rating
iTunes
Amazon
Spotify
27.
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
iTunes
Amazon
Spotify
28.
Shackleton - Music For the Quiet Hour / The Drawbar Organ EPs
Released:
Apr 30th, 2012
Genre:
Dubstep
CRITIC SCORE
83
Based on
5
reviews
USER SCORE
NR
Rate now
iTunes
Amazon
29.
Rhodri Davies - Wound Response
Released:
Oct 7th, 2012
CRITIC SCORE
NR
USER SCORE
NR
Rate now
iTunes
Amazon
30.
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
30
ratings
iTunes
Amazon
Spotify
31.
Wadada Leo Smith - Ten Freedom Summers
Released:
May 22nd, 2012
CRITIC SCORE
NR
USER SCORE
92
Based on
1
rating
iTunes
Amazon
32.
Thomas Köner - Novaya Zemlya
Released:
Jul 3rd, 2012
CRITIC SCORE
NR
USER SCORE
NR
Rate now
iTunes
Amazon
Spotify
33.
Annea Lockwood - In Our Name
Released:
Jun 1st, 2012
CRITIC SCORE
NR
USER SCORE
NR
Rate now
iTunes
Amazon
Spotify
34.
Earth - Angels of Darkness, Demons of Light II
Released:
Feb 14th, 2012
Genre:
Experimental
CRITIC SCORE
83
Based on
13
reviews
USER SCORE
79
Based on
8
ratings
iTunes
Amazon
Spotify
35.
Lee Gamble - Diversions 1994-1996
Released:
Oct 26th, 2012
CRITIC SCORE
90
Based on
1 review
USER SCORE
NR
Rate now
iTunes
Amazon
Spotify
36.
Heatsick - Déviation
Released:
Jun 22nd, 2012
CRITIC SCORE
NR
USER SCORE
NR
Rate now
iTunes
Amazon
Spotify
37.
Duane Pitre - Feel Free
Released:
Apr 10th, 2012
CRITIC SCORE
NR
USER SCORE
NR
Rate now
iTunes
Amazon
Spotify
38.
Raime - Quarter Turns Over a Living Line
Released:
Nov 26th, 2012
Genre:
Ambient
CRITIC SCORE
80
Based on
4
reviews
USER SCORE
80
Based on
4
ratings
iTunes
Amazon
39.
Swans - The Seer
Released:
Aug 28th, 2012
Genre:
Post-Rock
CRITIC SCORE
91
Based on
17
reviews
USER SCORE
83
Based on
64
ratings
iTunes
Amazon
Spotify
40.
Mark Ernestus presents Jeri-Jeri with Mbene Diatta Seck - Mbeuguel Dafa Nekh
Released:
Jan 25th, 2012
CRITIC SCORE
NR
USER SCORE
NR
Rate now
iTunes
Amazon
41.
Cooly G - Playin' Me
Released:
Jul 24th, 2012
Genre:
Dubstep
CRITIC SCORE
80
Based on
8
reviews
USER SCORE
79
Based on
5
ratings
iTunes
Amazon
Spotify
42.
Traxman - Da Mind of Traxman
Released:
Apr 17th, 2012
Genre:
Juke
CRITIC SCORE
78
Based on
5
reviews
USER SCORE
83
Based on
3
ratings
iTunes
Amazon
43.
DJ Rashad - Teklife Vol. 1: Welcome To The Chi
Released:
Jun 5th, 2012
Genre:
Juke
CRITIC SCORE
NR
USER SCORE
NR
Rate now
iTunes
Amazon
Spotify
44.
Charles Gayle Trio - Streets
Released:
Feb 14th, 2012
Genre:
Jazz
CRITIC SCORE
85
Based on
2 reviews
USER SCORE
NR
Rate now
iTunes
Amazon
Spotify
45.
Frank Ocean - Channel Orange
MUST HEAR
Released:
Jul 17th, 2012
Genre:
R&B
CRITIC SCORE
92
Based on
21
reviews
USER SCORE
82
Based on
126
ratings
iTunes
Amazon
Spotify
46.
Pye Corner Audio - Sleep Games
Released:
Oct 19th, 2012
Genre:
Electronic
CRITIC SCORE
80
Based on
1 review
USER SCORE
NR
Rate now
iTunes
Amazon
Spotify
47.
Peter Cusack - Sounds from Dangerous Places
Released:
Jun 19th, 2012
CRITIC SCORE
NR
USER SCORE
NR
Rate now
iTunes
Amazon
48.
Pelt - Effigy
Released:
Oct 29th, 2012
CRITIC SCORE
NR
USER SCORE
NR
Rate now
iTunes
Amazon
49.
DVA - Pretty Ugly
Released:
May 15th, 2012
Genre:
Experimental
CRITIC SCORE
68
Based on
5
reviews
USER SCORE
NR
Rate now
iTunes
Amazon
Spotify
50.
Brotzmann / Satoh / Moriyama - Yatagarasu
Released:
Jul 1st, 2012
CRITIC SCORE
NR
USER SCORE
NR
Rate now
iTunes
Amazon
Recommend:
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Original Source:
http://www.thewire.co.uk/news/21457/rewind-2012-issue-out-now
MORE 2012 YEAR END LISTS:
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BBC
Beats Per Minute
Clash
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Check out our
2012 Year End Summary
.
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2012 YEAR END SUMMARY
2012 YEAR END LISTS
A.V. Club
AllMusic
American Songwriter
BBC
Beats Per Minute
Clash
Cokemachineglow
Consequence of Sound
DIY
Exclaim!
FACT Magazine
FILTER
Gigwise
Gorilla vs. Bear
MAGNET
MOJO
musicOMH
NME
No Ripcord
Obscure Sound
Paste
Pazz and Jop
Pitchfork
PopMatters
Pretty Much Amazing
Rolling Stone
Slant
SPIN
Spinner
Stereogum
The 405
The Fly
The Guardian
The Quietus
Tiny Mix Tapes
Uncut
Under the Radar
MORE 2012 LISTS
Alternative Press
Beats Per Minute (EPs)
Drowned in Sound
Entertainment Weekly
Greg Kot (Chicago Tribune)
Idolator
Insound
Nitsuh Abebe (New York Magazine)
Piccadilly Records
Pitchfork Readers
PopMatters (Electronic)
PopMatters (Hip Hop)
PopMatters (Indie Pop)
PopMatters (Indie Rock)
Pretty Much Amazing (EPs)
Pretty Much Amazing (Mixtapes)
Rough Trade
Stereogum (First Half)
The Needle Drop
TIME
TOP RATED FOR 2012
A.V. Club
Album of The Year
AllMusic
Beats Per Minute
Consequence of Sound
Drowned in Sound
musicOMH
NME
No Ripcord
Paste
Pitchfork
PopMatters
Spin
The 405
Tiny Mix Tapes
Under The Radar
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BEST ALBUMS OF 2012 BY GENRE
Alt-Country
Alternative Rock
Ambient
Chillwave
Dream Pop
Drone
Dubstep
Electronic
Electropop
Experimental
Experimental Rock
Folk
Funk
Garage Rock
Hardcore Punk
Hip Hop
House
IDM
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Indie Rock
Lo-Fi
Noise Rock
Pop
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