Meaty Favs Of...2012

Here they are...

50. David Wax Museum - Will You Be Sleeping
49. Passion Pit - Take a Walk
48. Santigold - Disparate Youth
47. Of Monsters and Men - Mountain Sounds
46. Davey & The Chains - I Was There
45. Japandroids - Younger Us
44. Heartless Bastards - Marathon
43. Eternal Summers - You Kill
42. Cat Power - Ruin
41. Tame Impala - Feels Like We Only Go Backwards 
40. Ty Segall & White Fence - I Am Not a Game
39. Pussy Wizard - Fazzze It Out
38. Trails and Ways - Nunca
37. Sleigh Bells - Born To Lose
36. The Local Strangers - Uptown
35. Frightened Rabbit - State Hospital
34. Tanlines - All Of Me
33. Mystery Pills - Anti-Pattern
32. alt-j - Something Good
31. Plants & Animals - Lightshow

30. Brendan Losch - Son of a Gun
A nice pleasant song. When I am sitting at home on a sunday afternoon in my pyjamas, this song is on my soundtrack nearly every time. That tambourine and handclap combo is dynamite.

29. Danny Brown - Grown Up
I think this is the only Hip Hop song to crack the my Top 50. I know that I'm not very well-versed on my hip hop game (apparently a guy named Frank Ocean is pretty good) but for some reason this song just had my head bobbing every time it came on.

28. The xx - Angels
Although most of the songs off of Coexist do very little to excite me, perhaps the slowest of them all was the one that made the greatest impact. Their first single 'Angels' is a spindly and delicately romantic song that recaptures the spare, insinuating sensuality of the bands first album.

27. Freelance Whales - Locked Out
There aren't too many Freelance Whales songs that I don't like. I think it's their layered instrumentals that my eardrums enjoy but I haven't quite put my finger on it. Anyways, this song off of Diluvia was one of my favourites.

26. Sonny & The Sunsets - Pretend You Love Me
I'm not typically a huge fan of pedal steel-featuring ballads but for some reason this is an easy listener. Layers of unexpected flute-slides and choir vocals mixed in with a little country twang is the winning combo in this sad, rainy day song.

25. Night Panther - Snudge
I've heard Night Panther's sound described as Hot Pop and Sex Pop. There are rumours they spend the majority of their live shows half naked and dry-humping their keyboards. Either way, these guys created a radiant, mid-temp electronic track that is both sweet and whimsical. Many a summer nights were spent with this song in mind.

24. Allah-las - Tell Me (What's on Your Mind)
Just a simple, well-executed song. Straight to the point rock-pop gem with a psychedelic/country feel to it. Yes please.

23. Wildcat! Wildcat! - Mr Quiche
I originally had this a little further down my list until a couple of days ago. I was out walking the dog and listening to my "Best Of"playlist on the ole iPod. This song came on (after a couple months of not hearing it) and just made me think back to warmer times and days on the beach.

22. The Orwells - Mallrats (La La La)
I remember the first time I heard this song over at Rollo & Grady...it got me so fired up. I'll admit that it's not a song for all occasions but when it's Go Time, throw 'Mallrats' on and prepare to get fired up.

21. Lord Huron - Time to Run
You may or may not be seeing another Lord Huron song on this list at some point in time. This album (Lonesome Dreams) was a game changer for me this year and was the soundtrack to so many days on the beach and walks in the rain. Loved it...and of course this was one of my favs from the record.


20. Tallest Man on Earth - 1904
Either you love him or hate him. Me? I love him. Another great track from a little guy with a big guitar. I found some of his earlier work a little too whiny...his vocal control is way better here; therefore, much more enjoyment for my eardrums.

19. Bat For Lashes - Laura
I wasn't sure of this song the first time I heard it. I found it a little too dramatic for my simple lifestyle. Day after...whistling it in the shower. Day after that...whistling it in the shower. Day after that...whistling it in the shower. And so on. Now I appreciate it. A lot.

18. Lee Fields & The Expressions - You're the Kind of Girl
This year's Charles Bradley? You bet. I'm loving this whole album...start to finish. Just buy it. Lee Fields released his first record back in 1969. That's insanity.

17. Beach House - Myth
I looooooove this song. It's soooo dreamy and soooo poppy. It's dream pop. Put this song on next time you stroll around in the rain. Give your life a little ponder.

16. Father John Misty - Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings
Father John Misty is awesome. How can you just disband from Fleet Foxes and then give birth to 'Fear Fun'? Joshua Tillman, boom.

15. Alabama Shakes - You Ain't Alone
This one still rubs me the wrong way a little. I saw Alabama Shakes' songs pop up all over the 'Best of 2011' lists last year (even mine). Now, twelve months later they are again topping a ton of lists with the exact same songs. Loopholes...

14. Japandroids - The House that Heaven Built
Yesssss. This song just pumps me right up. I want more. Please, give me more. A nice tip of the hat to a Vancouver gem.

13. The Lumineers - Big Parade ('Hear Ya' Live Session)
I remember standing at the urinal during a Yellow Ostrich show back in March at the Media Club. I looked up and saw that a band called The Lumineers were playing the next night for $8 a ticket. I thought to myself, "I've heard a few of their songs and I like them...but man, a double header mid-week? You're not 20 anymore Ryan". Fast-forward 10 months and The Lumineers are selling out the Commodore at $35 a pop. Idiot.

12. Grimes - Oblivion
Oh hey Vancouver...what's up? I swear I'm not being biased here. I was pretty pumped to see her top out the Pitchfork 'Top Songs of the Year' recently. I'm not much of a musician but I can't imagine that being an easy task at all. You go girl.

11. Pacific Air - Float
I hate it when bands change their name...especially in the middle of a break-out season. Most people may know a similar song that was released by a band called KO KO earlier this year. Don't be fooled, same band. It might take me a year to get over this one. Just make sure your next release is just as good and we should have no issues going forward.


10. Purity Ring - Belispeak
If you get the chance then you should really go check out a Purity Ring show. It's super strange and even more addictive. As soon as the first bass drops then everyone in the crowd immediately turned into zombies. They owned us. It was a tough call for my favourite song off of 'Shrines'.

Granma, I've been unruly,
In my dreams and with my speech.
Drill little holes into my eyelids
That I might see you,
That I might see you in my sleep.

9. King Tuff - Keep on Movin'

How could I not throw a King Tuff song into the mix this year? Such a simple rock tune but I guarantee that you will be singing this in the shower tomorrow.

You do the Frankenstein,
That's why you look so fine.
I do the spanish fly,
That's how I make you mine.

8. TV Torso - Clear Lake Strangler
Thinking back, TV Torso was probably the biggest find of the year. Keep it up kids. A handful of your songs made it onto my playlists over the past few months but 'Clear Lake Strangler' was my fav. The driving beat throughout the song makes for an incredible steer-wheel-banging road-tripping companion.

7. Baobab - Spring Forward

This song is a journey...it could be the soundtrack to it's own adventure movie. All the hand-clapping goodness coupled with the trippy vocals. Wait, what was that? A mandolin solo? Holy crap, is that a mandolin solo on top of people chanting? Mind...blown...

6. New Animal - Falling Up
Bit of a surprise here. The more I listened to this song (which was a LOT), the higher it moved up my list. I'm not super familiar with a lot of New Animal tracks (yet) but they have found a great combination of dreamy vocals and welcoming guitar riffs. If you live in a rainy city then plan to be listening to this song on your next stroll. If you live close to a beach and this wasn't on your 2012 list then make it the first addition to your 2013 Beach Playlist.

5. First Aid Kit - King of the World (feat Connor Oberst)
There were a few bands that could have have cracked the Top 50 a few times...First Aid Kit was definitely one of them. Throw in a little Connor Oberst and you have yourself a winner. Chicken dinner?

4. Vacationer - Trip

I need a trip, a trip's what I need
Simmer and sip, as cool as can be

That pretty much sums up the last 12 months of my life...I need a trip. Throw in some tongue-clicks and a nice little bass line and I'm pretty much in ear-drummy heaven. If you like it then make sure to pick up a Vacationer album...so much fun.

3. Yellow Ostrich - Marathon Runner

Big fan. A very big fan of their work. If When you get a chance, go see Yellow Ostrich play live. If you thought Merrill Garbus knew how to work the looping foot pedals then you will be blown away with what these dudes can do. Endless layers of vocals and guitars and drums. So much talent. Again, there were a handful of songs from 'Strange Land' that could have made this list. Tough call.

2. Lord Huron - She Lit a Fire
Lord Huron's album 'Lonesome Dreams' is to 2012 what Beirut's 'Rip Tide' was to 2011...personally speaking of course. So many great tracks that are fitting for all occasions. A nice evening playing board games, driving, bath time, wine time, bath & wine time, pizza eating, sitting on a bus, writing emails, running...you get my drift. This is my favourite song from the album...but that could easily change next time I give it a listen.

1. Dirty Projectors - Dance For You
So awesome. Start to finish. I vividly remember the first time I heard this song. My buddy Trevor put it on and I instantly knew it would be on my playlists for years to come. I obviously didn't let on that I liked it at the time just to save some face. Since this was my first exposure to the Dirty Projectors I was pretty excited to dive into their previous albums. Such a unique style and sound. Not much else I can say about 'Dance For You', it's perfect.