2012 in a review – music.

This year I have been listening a lot of music. It’s been an excellent year for all music lovers addicted to all different kinds of sound. Even if I mostly enjoy hardcore and metal bands, I have noticed a lot of good staff from hip hop and pop industry. There were a lot of catchy songs in January and that good stream was being continued through the year. I explored new artists, got a bit disappointed by well-known others and felt amazed by awesomeness of my favourite band. Every album I put my hands on gave me so many emotions, that few things are only able to do. Hopefully 2013 music will be at least halfway intense as in 2012.

Best albums of 2012:

# Converge – All We Love We Leave Behind

I am never disappointed by these guys. Never ever!

# Birds In Row – You, Me & Violence

What an outstanding debut! I can truly feel energy from Verse, commitment like Converge and fresh performance I thankfully was able to experience in small basement somewhere in Manchester. Three young, positive and talented boys. They made me buy my first vinyl in life – their LP! :)

# Deftones – Koi No Yokan

I love Deftones, even if sometimes I don’t appreciate their all albums outright. Their new release is really good and “Leathers”, “Tempest’, ‘Entombed” quickly became my favourites.

# Lana Del Rey – Born To Die

I succumbed temptation and I fell in love with Lana like the half of the world. You can say she is plastic, ‘done’, that she is a product, can’t sing etc. etc. But I adore her. At the same time she seems humble, honest and a bit lost in this big world of show business, despite her impressive photoshots, free American-girl look and bold lyrics. She has great videos and I just really like her. Additionally, Lana is the first female artist ever I am going to see live in my long concert’s history. So it must mean something ;)

# Neurosis – Honor Found in Decay

Older gentelmans with already grey beards, but still making one of the most influential sound in post-metal music. ‘At the Well’ is my favourite.

# and my too-late discovery: The Naked and Famous - Passive Me, Aggressive You (2010)

I am always late with new releases. I wish I was up to date with music, but there is always something missing, because of my lack of time, laziness and other more ‘important’ things to do. These New Zealands remind me of How to Destroy Angels, but in more positive way. 

I was addicted to their album during summer.

Worth to mention of 2012:

# Rise And Fall – Faith 

# Amenra – Mass V

At the same time my two favourite and two best bands overall from Belgium. Nothing more to add ;)

Letdown of 2012:

# Make Do And Mend – Everything You Ever Loved

While their first album end EPs are really touching, the second release seems to be too soft and pop-way. I love their melodies, but I think some kind of power is missing this time.

# Verse - ­Bitter Clarity, Uncommon Grace

I shed a tear when I found about their reunion. But they have got a really strong competition this year, after time I don't remember any song from new album, even if I have listened to it many times. And it's not normal, because it's my beloved Verse! Unfortunately, Birds In Row > Verse this year, sorry guys!

Best gigs of 2012:

I only attended three concerts this year (such a shame) and they all were brilliant, so:

Converge – Manchester

Neurosis & Godflesh – London

Birds In Row – Manchester

Still have to listen carefully from 2012:

Old Man Gloom – No, Code Orange Kids – Love Is Love, Swans – The Seer, Torche – Harmonicraft, Kendrick Lamar – good kid, m.A.A.d city, Killer Mike – R.A.P. Music, Jessie Ware – Devotion, Baroness – Yellow & Green, How To Destroy Angels - Keep It Together and tons of other music I don’t even realize now. 

Songs of 2012:

Lana Del Rey – Blue Jeans

Converge – Empty On The Inside & All We Love We Leave Behind

Deftones – Tempest

Giles Corey - Buried Above Ground

Florence And The Machine – No Light, No Light

Jay-z & Kanye West – Niggas in Paris (I know, it’s from 2011)

The Naked And Famous – All of This and rest of their great album

A$AP Rocky – Wild For A Night (from upcoming 2013 album – yes, it’s a leak, but what a banger!)