I didn’t do a list last year, and while I thought about not doing one this year, a friend of mine mentioned that if nothing else, a list will provide a good snapshot in time. As with past years, I’m sure it will change as I discover other albums that I’ve missed (feel free to offer suggestions in the comments).

As with my mix (previously posted), this year was very, very heavy in terms of electronic music. In fact, it was probably the best year for electronic music (and all related-genres) in as long as I can remember. Maybe rock will make a comeback next year.

Having said all of the above, I’m not going to list things out in top-down chronological order, as it’s really a fruitless exercise. Looking back over past years, true order breaks down pretty quickly based on what I’ve discovered subsequently and even the whims of what I’m feeling that particular day / week / month / year.

There were five releases that were the cream this year, and I’m going to put these just a bit higher due to the sheer amount of spins they’ve gotten.
Blondes – Blondes (CD | MP3)
John Talabot – Fin (CD | MP3 | LP)
Andy Stott – Luxury Problems (CD | MP3 | LP)
Kendrick Lamar – good kid, m.A.A.d city (CD | MP3 | LP)
Japandroids – Celebration Rock (CD | MP3 | LP)

The rest of these aren’t far behind, but haven’t gotten quite the sheer number of reps. There’s some absolutely killer stuff in here, though, and I would heartily recommend any and all of them.
Cloud Nothings – Attack On Memory (CD | MP3 | LP)
Ricardo Villalobos – Dependent and Happy (CD)
Ricardo Donoso – Assimilating The Shadow (MP3)
Raime – Quarter Turns Over A Living Line (CD | MP3 | LP)
Scott Walker – Bish Bosch (CD | MP3 | LP)
Mortiz Von Oswalt Trio – Fetch (CD | MP3 | LP)
Holy Other – Held (CD | MP3)
Twin Shadow – Confess (CD | MP3 | LP)
Four Tet – Pink (CD | MP3)
Dirty Projectors – Swing Lo Magellan (CD | MP3 | LP)
Death Grips – The Money Store (CD | MP3 | LP)
Cristian Vogel – The Inertials (CD | MP3)
Patrice & Friends – Champagne Sauna (MP3)
Burial – Street Halo / Kindred EP (CD | MP3 | LP)
Beat Connection – The Palace Garden (CD)
Larry Gus – Silent Congas (MP3)
Grimes – Visions (CD | MP3 | LP)
Julia Holter – Ekstasis (CD | MP3 | LP)

I’m sure there’s some stuff I missed (and some things I heard that didn’t make the list), but feel free to let me know in the comments either way.

1. Dwayne Says:
   February 18th, 2013 at 3:10 am

   Great list. A lot on the list I haven’t gotten around to but will definitely do that now!