My Favorite Albums of 2012

Well, it's already time once again to reflect on all the great music that has come out over the past year. Here are my favorites, in no particular order.

Of Monsters and Men - My Head Is An Animal: Last January, I dubbed these guys my new favorite band of the year. (This was before their album even came out in the US, because I am suuuuch a hipster). This band is totally deserving of all the attention they received, and I'm so happy that they found success here as well as Iceland.

Fiona Apple - The Idler Wheel: Fiona is my queen. This album is genius. Etc etc. 

The Gaslight Anthem - Handwritten: I'm basically obsessed with this band and lead singer Brian Fallon these days. Every time I listen to this album, I fall a little bit more in love with it.

The Chevin - Borderland: David Letterman said it best when these British lads played on his show: "Holy crap! That's good."

Green Day - ¡Dos!: I thought American Idiot was fantastic and I will fight anyone who says otherwise. That said, Green Day's take on retro-y garage rock on this album is just so damn fun. I love ¡Uno! and ¡Tre! too, but this is my favorite of the three. 

A Fine Frenzy - Pines: I have such a girl crush on singer Alison Sudol. She could put out a dubstep record and I would still buy it. Thankfully, she channeled her energies into this vibrant, nature-inspired album instead.

The Lumineers - The Lumineers: I don't mean to toot my own horn, but The Lumineers are another band that I totally discovered before they were famous. (#trendsetter) But thanks to Mumford & Sons and that Bing commercial, the rest of the world is discovering how fabulous this three-piece folk band is. I also interviewed lead singer Wesley Schultz back in April, right as the band really started to take off.

Blaqk Audio - Bright Black Heaven: I'm not usually an electronic music fan, but I'll buy anything singer Davey Havok wants to sell me.

The All-American Rejects - Kids in the Street: This band has yet to disappoint me. Right when I moved away from home to NYC, they released a mature album about growing up and figuring out who you are. Thanks for reading my mind, guys.

The Horrible Crowes - Elsie: Okay, this album actually came out last year, but I just discovered it and have listened to basically nothing else since. 

Thanks 2012, it's been real.

The sounds of summer

Every spring, I compile a giant playlist of music for the sunny days ahead. The songs put me in a good mood all summer, and when the weather turns cold, I have a souvenir of the good times I had (and okay, songs to weep to when I'm wrapped up in eight blankets and desperately wishing January would be over already).

Here are some of my favorites from this summer's playlist, in a handy 8tracks mix for you to enjoy.

Soundtrack to Summer 2012 from xanne on 8tracks.

Track list:

1. "Anna Sun" - Walk The Moon

2. "Numb Bears" - Of Monsters and Men

3. "Equestrian" - U.S. Royalty

4. "Werewolf" - Fiona Apple

5. "Runaway Train" - Brandon Boyd

6. "Gonzo" - The All-American Rejects

7. "Red Hands and White Knuckles" - The Bravery

8. "Hey Joe" - Jimi Hendrix

9. "Stubborn Love" - The Lumineers

10. "Paralyzed" - Rooney

11. "Bliss" - Blaqk Audio

12. "Oh, Love!" - William Beckett

13. "MoneyGrabber" - Fitz and the Tantrums

14. "Breath Of Life" - Florence and the Machine

15. "Hacienda Motel" - Pickwick

16. "Motorcycle Drive By" - Third Eye Blind

17. "Mind Eraser" - The Black Keys

Bamboozle on the beach

Thank you Instagram for making this even prettier.

I spent this past weekend in Asbury Park, New Jersey for Bamboozle. Before I arrived, I had no idea that the festival would be on the beach. Seriously. This made the layout of the stages slightly confusing, but I got to dance to several of my favorite bands with my feet actually in the sand, so I'll overlook it.

My highlights of the weekend:

• Incubus. This band influenced my life more than any other, and seeing them live is always like a religious experience for me. Plus, hearing "Wish You Were Here" and realizing I could literally go dig my toes in the sand at that moment was just surreal.

Incubus playing "In The Company of Wolves"

• Watching people dance to Skrillex. Dubstep is really not my thing, but after watching these kids, I started to appreciate it just a tiny bit more. (There were even better moves going on before, but it was too dark for my camera at that point!)

• Motion City Soundtrack. To be honest, I haven't really kept up with their latest albums (I know, shame!) but they consistently put on a fun, energetic show that's not to be missed.
• The All-American Rejects. I don't know what I love more, the music or Tyson Ritter's habit of changing the words to their songs. He is easily one of the most entertaining frontmen I've ever seen.
• Jimmy Eat World. Do I really need to elaborate on this? They're a fantastic band and they always put on a beautiful show. They've been around for almost two decades for a reason.
• Foo Fighters. I only know a couple of their albums, but this band is just a must-see live act. In an industry full of computers and Auto-Tune, it is so refreshing to see true rock 'n roll like this.

I didn't stay for Sunday, although I would have loved to catch Brand New and the Gaslight Anthem. Oh well. At the end of Saturday night, I had almost no voice left and my legs were barely holding out. Aside from being forced to sit through half a Mac Miller set, I'd call Bamboozle 2012 a great success.

My most anticipated spring albums

Every spring, I start assembling playlists of music that feels perfect for the upcoming warm weather. Some music just feels like it was meant for a sunny day. Last year, the best example was All At Once by The Airborne Toxic Event - it came out right when the weather was starting to get nice, and I listened to it quite often in the beginning of the summer. In fact, it began to embody summer so much in my mind that when I tried to listen to it this winter, it just made me want to burrow up under a comforter and bawl because spring was still months away. But that's a story for another time.

A lot of the music that is going to make up my summer playlists hasn't been released yet, but I already know what it's going to be. There are three particular albums coming out in the next few weeks that I am psyched about.

Kids In The Street - The All-American Rejects


So I won't get any street cred for this one, but I just really love AAR. They are one of the only bands that I love all of their albums pretty much equally - usually one of them at least has to be a flop. Not these guys. They are masters of catchy, feel-good pop-rock, and they know it. Plus, just check out that trailer above. Early reviews are saying this is their best and most ambitious album yet. And besides, few acts make music as perfect for summer as AAR. I can't wait and I have no shame.
The Lumineers - The Lumineers

Okay, I confess: I watch some embarrassing TV shows. But the thing is, some of them have such great soundtracks (that's the only reason I watch, I swear.) I found The Lumineers through one of these shows that will remain nameless. I immediately loved the song (the stomping, folky first single "Ho Hey") but could not find any other recorded songs from the band. Thankfully, that's all about to change on April 3rd, when the band's debut comes out. You can stream the whole album now though here.
My Head Is An Animal - Of Monsters and Men

I already raved about this album a few months ago, and now it is officially being released in the U.S. (on the same day as The Lumineers as well!) I'm psyched. I love this band and I cannot wait to see them in April. 
There you have it. I'm sure once these come out, I'll be posting full-length reviews/rambling about how much I love them. 
Honorable mention: this will cost me even more scene points (like I had any to begin with, c'mon) but that new Flo Rida song featuring Sia, "Wild Ones," is just so CATCHY. Anyone who enjoys a summery pop song should check it out.
Now that I'm actually recommending Flo Rida songs on my blog, I think it's time to end the post. Happy spring, everyone!