Favorite Songs of 2012

I'm currently putting together my posts for my 50 favorite albums of 2012, but I thought I'd start off with a post about my favorite tracks of the year.

In alphabetical order:

Father John Misty - 'Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings'

This is easily my favorite song of 2012 and possibly my favorite video as well.  Father John Misty is also known as J. Tillman, who had a pretty good gig drumming for Fleet Foxes before he started recording under the moniker Father John Misty.  His album will also be pretty high on my year end list.  Make sure you check him out at The Bottleneck in Lawrence on Monday, January 7th.

First Aid Kit - 'The Lion's Roar'

There has been a horrible trend in popular music recently that I squarely blame on Mumford & Sons. That trend is an increase in pop music relying heavily on stringed instruments and group vocals.  I could do without hearing another track from The Lumineers, Of Monsters & Men and the like for a very long time.  One group that might fall into that category that I can still get behind is First Aid Kit. Check out the title track from their debut album to hear why.

Daughn Gibson - 'Tiffany Lou'

I've got to admit that Daughn's voice is the primary reason this song and album resonated so much with me in 2012.  The album is one of the most underrated of the year and if you like this track I highly suggest checking out the rest of the LP.

Grizzly Bear - 'Yet Again'

Grizzly Bear have quickly turned into one of those bands that you know are going to continue to release fantastic album after fantastic album.  The best track off their most recent album, Shields, is 'Yet Again', another contender for best song of 2012.

Hot Chip - 'Motion Sickness'

Another band that released a fantastic album in 2012 that I haven't seen at the tops of many best-of lists.  The first track off their new album In Our Heads is everything I love about the band.  Seeing them play an amazing show in Lawrence back in 2007 with Tortoise keeps me hoping they come back through KC or Lawrence again one day.

How To Dress Well - 'Set It Right'

Something about the sound & vibe of the second full length How To Dress Well album really does it for me. The standout track on that album is the single 'Set It Right' which sets Tom Krell's falsetto vocals over a triumphant sounding loop.

Japandroids - 'The House That Heaven Built'

It was really hard just picking one track off Japandroids brilliant second album for this list.  I ended up going with 'The House That Heaven Built' but any of the albums either amazing tracks could have made this list.  I recommend a lot of albums but Japandroids Celebration Rock is far and away the best rock album of the year.

A.C. Newman - 'I'm Not Talking'

I'm a huge fan of The New Pornographers and subsequently  A.C. Newman's solo stuff.  I've always found his previous solo work to sound like mellow NP songs, so it was a pleasant surprise when I heard his new album, Shut Down The Streets.  The new album has a different sound to it and it's incredibly refreshing.

Frank Ocean - 'Pyramids'

If you haven't heard the new Frank Ocean album yet and have even the most remote interest in R&B music, you need to check it out immediately.  The highlight of the album is the track 'Pyramids', which also has a pretty great video to go with it (fair warning, the video is NSFW).

Perfume Genius - 'Hood'

Released very early in 2012, Perfume Genius' second album Put Your Back N 2 It has stayed near the top of my favorite albums list for most of the year.  I still get chills whenever I listen to this track.

Sigur Rós - 'Varúð'

Although I really enjoyed the most recent Sigur Rós album, I found it to be more of a complete listen type of album as opposed to an album with a few standout songs.  The one exception is the hauntingly beautiful track  'Varúð'.  As with most Sigur Rós songs, it's accompanied by an equally captivating video.

Tame Impala - 'Feels Like We Only Go Backwards'

Already on many "best of" lists for 2012, I'll put in my .02 that Tame Impala released one of the better albums of 2012 in Lonerism.  This is another album where a half dozen songs could have made this list, but I had to settle on just one.

The xx - 'Angels'

I've never understood all the hype surrounding The xx, but man do they have flashes of utter brilliance The first single 'Angels' from their second album is proof of that.