Hokay, so, I'm about a twelfth of a year late getting this out, but here 'tis:
The moment you have all been waiting fer:
THE most excellent albums of superior musical excellence of the amazing year two thousand twelve. Excellent. Let begin.
In no particular order:
Lets have some runner-ups:
Starting with the honorable mentions:
I begin with Justin Beiber's latest album that dropped late in the year "I'll be constipated for Christmas." I kid, I kid, just seeing if anyone is paying attention. You, in the back, pay attention.
Onward:
Under the umbrella of electronic music:
We have "Ask the Dust" by
LORN; dark, atmospheric, and attitudinal. Best to listen to when you're in the mood to be hatin' on some shortie for impeding your swagger and you don't have a low enough I.Q. to resort to rap. LORN won't let you down... unlike shortie, that foo be messin' with the wrooong I don't know what I'm talking about.
Neckst:
"Time Team" by
Slugabed This is just some fun dub beats that are super catchy and have uber, nay
ÜBER deep bass.
And then we have not one, but 2 EPs from
Free The Robots. These two carry the insanely clever titles of "Vol.2" and "Vol.3" because that is the actual order of their release! Ingeniousness! LISTEN TO THEM.
Furtherward:
Non-electronic honorable mentions:
"The Inner Mansions" by
Teen Daze; kind of electronic, yes. But not entirely. First and foremost, there are vocals which are clearly not synthesized, and second-most, refer to first-most. Teen Daze has a certain sound all his own and I find that sound to resonate o so well with my inner chi cocktail of joy and melancholia.
Then:
Babel by
Mumford and Sons. I usually divert my ears from anything top 40, let alone top ten. And for years I've been dogmatic on the principle not to waste time listening to artists that have a picture of themselves for the album cover. The Mumford family has violated both these principles, which makes them difficult to publicly endorse. Nevertheless, I find their new album rather listenable. Don't judge me.
And finally the
Other Lives new EP "Mind the Gap". I give them top marks on all things musical, but since there's really only a couple new songs produced here, this album will have to settle for runner-up status.
Now, my top picks of most appreciated/listened to LP's of 2012:
7: "Look a little closer" by
Levek
This album has a funny flow where all the odd numbered tracks are funky and the even tracks are mellow. Its kind of weird, but it also works out pretty well. Fun/easy listening the whole family can enjoy! (Unless of coarse you come from a family of musical lummoxes.)
6: "Instrumental Mixtape Vol.2" by
Clams Casino
This lil' beat maker makes awesomeness because: he uses vocals in the melodies, yet there are no words, the bass is deep and thus awesome, there is a lot of 16th note high hattery, and AND ...nostalgia (the trump card of my musical preference).
The down side: he makes beats for the DUMBEST rappers [a
¢rap rocky]. And that is what we here at Saudade for the Transmundane call a travesty.
5: "Shrines" by
Purity Ring
I don't know much about this duo, except I listen to their album a lot. They're really awesome, and they're really real. You can believe me, they're a great big deal, belieeeeeeve me....
4: "Happy to You" by
Miike Snow
Naybe not quite as good as their previous LP, but still a most solid album. I'm not sure what it is that makes this music so dang catchy, but once you get a taste for their flavor, you kind of crave it in unreasonable portions. Try it. Do it. Do it.
3. "An awesome wave" by
Alt-J
This is one I've probably listened to the most on my stereo because my Bethany also appreciates it (most my music mileage is on me headphones). Always a plus when you get a thumbs up from the Mrs! I was quick to overstay this welcome, however, by continuing to play the crap out of "An Awesome Wave" at an unreasonable volume. I know this is hard to believe, given my record of tactful and considerate stereo usage, but apparently if you give me an inch.....
2: "Shields" by
Grizzly Bear
Another album that is heroic, majestic, and impressively great (yes, the very quintessence of 'epic,' without actually using the adjective 'epic' and further assuming your disregarding of the previous two uses of said adjective). This particular album required extraordinary amounts of self restraint to only listen to it once or twice a day, and thus not wear it out for myself. I trust you are impressed. Each song can easily stand as its own mini-opus, but they flow so well together at the same time. At first listen you may be tempted to say, "That was boring." to which I would then take a deep breath, close my eyes, and count to a billion hoping that when I open my eyes, death has occurred naturally for you. (Yes, I can kill with passive aggression.) OR I may calmly assure you that every subsequent listen will require more and more decibels to appreciate, then, BAM. You're 'dicted. And as your attorney, I advise you to assent to said appreciable decibels of addiction.
AND: "Lonerism" by
Tame Impala
I cannot toot their horn loud enough, and believe me, I know a thing or two about tooting. As is often the case, the quality of rock music is most typically in direct proportion to the ugliness of the band members. And I assure you, these guys are UGLY. From the land down under (the equator), These Australian lads are into producing psychedelic rock that feels like it is entirely uninfluenced by the last 40 years of rock progression. And that's kind of dang refreshing. Not to mention that they seem like just a group of nerdy garage-band hippies that happen to strike a chord with the musically malnourished modern rocker. And this is actually a good thing for me, because I probably would not have heard them playing from their Australian garage, yet at the same time, I am little bitter because I have just reduced myself to one of the masses being enlightened to them alongside the rest of the northernmost hemisphere. I'm still trying to reconcile this emotional discrepancy. Don't wait up. Anyway, the band members describe their music as '
dreamy sonic hogwash' and that about sums then up. There previous LP is also awesome, get it. And if you mix these guys with a brew and a cigarette, you will have completed the trifecta of a successful rocking forth.
Sooo there you have it:
fin
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Four years ago today, I received the best gift of my earthly life. Most gifts only deteriorate over time, and eventually they end up worn out or ebayed, but not this gift. This one has only gotten better and better, and the more time I get with it the more precious it becomes. I am amazed at the kind providence of the Lord to give it to me when I am so undeserving. Given that salvation is the supreme good and perfect gift, the gift I’m postin’bout today is the second best. The gift of companionship in the tumult of life is one of the most incredible blessings one can experience this side of heaven. Though I have a relatively young marriage, I am seeing with increasing clarity the genius of our union; how so many of our weaknesses are augmented by each others strengths and special grace is given to forgive each others faults. And certainly one of the main design geniuses of marriage is the unavoidable iron sharpening iron aspect of sinful people learning to truly love, genuinely forgive, and inexorably grow in grace as a result. I am often reminded of the love and forgiveness of God through the acts of love and forgiveness from my wife. I leave for work many’a’nights marveling at how blessed I am to be loved by her and the privilege and joy of loving her. We certainly don’t pretend to have an ideal relationship, and most often i can root that back to my own bumbling dullardry. Thankfully, we are given new grace everyday and the promise of being sanctified by each other for His glory. What a blessing indeed. 
