Music in 2012: My Top 50 Albums of the Year (#50-#31)

Now, for the best bit...

It's common sense that the album is the most rewarding and complete phenomenon within music, and that's why the whole prediction that the mp3 would kill it off turning out to be a load of nonsense overjoyed me. Sure, there's been a lot of deviation from the format: download-for-free EPs and mixtapes and so on - but these have always existed since the cassette generation. Maybe it's with the benefit of hindsight that I scoff at that, but it's mostly preamble to my painstaking and largely arbitrary decision to crown my favourite fifty albums of 2012.

I haven't quite got around to reviewing as many albums as I did in 2011 - 50 fewer, in fact, as it stands, although I endeavour to close that gap by at least five over the festive period - and in all honesty I've not really been wowed in 2012 with as much frequency as I was in 2010 or 2011. For that reason, a lot of the first twenty are filler albums, and aren't really that outstanding at all, but the top twenty are certifiable diamonds that I'll enjoy going back to in years to come. Enough rambling, let's kick off.

#50 - "Happy to You", Miike Snow
It didn't quite spawn the indie-dance anthems that 2009's debut did with Animal or the excellent and underrated Black & Blue, but what this album did offer was a fine selection of very similar-sounding brass-pop tracks.

#49 - "Cut the World", Antony + the Johnsons
It was just a live album with loads of old songs so doesn't really deserve to rank too highly here, but what was interesting and new about it was its, of course, standard display of raw, live emotion and excellent showmanship.

#48 - "Cruel Summer", G.O.O.D. Music
Wasn't quite focused or cohesive enough to really blow me away, but featured enough stellar moments (see Creepers, in the spoiler, or New God Flow, or I Don't Like) to deserve a placing.

#47 - "Instinct", Niki & the Dove
It's strange. At the time I raved about this and them... but since I've grown quite bored of them. That said, the album is strong, and has a very distinct sound... I just think it's one that's now sadly overused.

#46 - "Born to Die", Lana del Rey
A handful of excellent, beautiful, poignant songs surrounded by a mix of quite forgettable ones.

#45 - "Magic Hour", Scissor Sisters
Their career low is still good enough to warrant repeated listens. Never go away please, my favourite band named after a lesbian sex position <3 font="font">

#44 - "Push and Shove", No Doubt
It might not have been quite the chart-commanding comeback we were all secretly hoping for, but it was consistent and decent enough to at least not disappoint everyone.

#43 - "Write Me Back", R Kelly
Didn't go into 2012 expecting to love an R Kelly record... I wouldn't say it's one of my favourites of this year, but it's really quite excellent all the same.

#42 - "The Late Blue", Gypsy and the Cat
One of the few albums charting here that I've been too lazy to review... basically, if you like Empire of the Sun, the Drums or Vampire Weekend, you'll enjoy this album.

#41 - "Danger (EP)", Katy B
Only four songs, but an EP so jam-packed with collaborations and exciting new potential directions for 2010's best newcomer that just about should please everyone. My favourite was the below 'Light as a Feather', but all were good. And free! Amazing.

#40 - "Red", Taylor Swift
Who'dathunkit? A good Taylor Swift album. Ignore the naysayers.

#39 - "Fall to Grace", Paloma Faith
Cunningly released just prior to her decision to drain all life out of INXS' Never Tear Us Apart, at least the first half of 2012 was spent thinking "oh isn't this weird girl lovely? What a nice voice. What nice songs."

#38 - "Confess", Twin Shadow
Not quite the most exciting thing to emerge out of dark, indie synthpop this year but a bloody good contender. Think Kele Okereke if his solo album wasn't crap.

#37 - "True", Solange
Garish artwork aside, a solid album from the Knowles family's second most interesting export.

#36 - "Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded", Nicki Minaj
Another understated year here for Ms. Minaj rounded off quite nicely by a strong selection of amazing pop songs. Shame about the overall consistency of the rap ones.

#35 - "What We Saw From the Cheap Seats", Regina Spektor
Nothing she can do will ever disappoint me... and whilst this didn't quite seize me in the same spirit that songs like Samson, Us or Fidelity did, it was an intriguing, visceral and powerful record from start to finish.

#34 - "Looking 4 Myself", Usher
The decision to work with producers like Luke Steele, Danja and Diplo rather than a saturated Max Martin or Dr. Luke schedule was an inspired one, as it contributed towards arguably Usher's career high. A very, very good album.

#33 - "(III)", Crystal Castles
A couple of gorgeous songs here and there reassured fans of their continuity and quality, but for me this was their weakest album yet. That's a little like saying The Red Shoes is your least favourite Kate Bush album though, because there's always going to be something interesting, peculiar and sinister on tap.


#32 - "ƒin", John Talabot
The album appears to be one of the most mutually agreed-upon classics of the year by your average critic, and for me whilst I'm not quite as tapped into the Barcelona house scene as some, it's a strong and over-the-top production that's worth a listen.

#31 - "Warrior", Ke$ha
The heartiest of "fuck off!"s to her detractors, this album is flawless pop music.