We’ve not posted on here in a while, been busy n that. We’re going to unleash a treat soon soonish sooner x

Hi, hope you all had a nice time at Christmas and are looking forward to welcoming the new year with gusto and your tipple of choice.

Remember last year when we told you the albums we liked last year? Well this is this year’s equivalent of that post. If you don’t care what music we liked in 2012 and the non-consequential things we have to say then now is the time to stop reading my friend.

The Rules

As an exciting additional extra for 2012 we each chose a song of the year which didn’t have to come from one of the albums or EPs we’d put in our top 5.

Here we go then…

James ‘Literally Doesn’t Have A Middle Name’ Housley

1. Enter Shikari - A Flash Flood Of Colour
Easily my favourite album of 2012. For me it’s a near-perfect mix of rock and electronics, something which they’d never quite got right on their two earlier albums. ‘Arguing With Thermometers’ is a real highlight.

2. Billy Talent - Dead Silence
Adam thinks the lyrics on this album are terrible, but I rarely listen to lyrics so I don’t care. I do listen to hooks though, and this album has them in abundance.

3. Why? - Mumps, Etc.
Despite what I said just above, Why? are one of the few bands whose lyrics I definitely do listen to. Yoni Wolf’s way with words is terrifyingly good, and the music is easily good enough to match. Ok, so it isn’t Why?’s strongest album, but still a lot better than most of the stuff I heard in 2012.

4. Mars Volta - Noctourniquet
I thought this was rubbish when I first heard it as it sounded like The White Stripes playing prog. But then it all clicked into place and I realised it was actually amazing. Now one of my favourite Mars Volta albums.

5. Lana Del Rey - Born To Die 
Dark pop music, perfect when you want a bit of introspection. Both the production and songs on this record are magical.

Song of the year:

Disclosure - Latch (Feat. Sam Smith)
I wanted to stick Disclosure in my album/EP list, but the “proper” EP they released this year wasn’t their best and Aidan’s draconian rules wouldn’t let me get away with using their fantastic 2-track EP/single ‘Tenderly / Flow’. But their real highlight this year was the awesome single ‘Latch’ so being able to name it as my song of the year has worked out nicely. With any luck they’ll feature highly in my list of top albums next year.

Simon ‘Literally Hasn’t Drunk Alcohol For Three Years’ Curd

Quick, before I change my mind…

1. John K. Samson - Provincial
2. mewithoutYou - Ten Stories
3. Now Now - Threads
4. The Mountain Goats - Transcendental Youth
5. The Tallest Man On Earth - There’s No Leaving Now

Didn’t include Why? in the end because it’s the only way they’ll learn.

Song of the year:

Best song/video/thing: Dinosaur Jr. - Watch The Corners

Aidan ‘Literally Hasn’t Drunk Alcohol For Three Minutes’ Blenkinsopp

1. The Jezabels - Prisoner.
Released in 2011 in Australia but 2012 in the UK, this is the album I’ve listened to most this year, and I love it. Ace drumming, unflashy but perfectly textured guitar bits and ridiculously good vocals. Epic pop with a bit of Kate Bushness, and therefore right up my street.

2. Therapy? - A Brief Crack Of Light
Therapy? are one of my favourite bands, so I’m a little biased and generally like everything they do way more than perhaps it merits. I wasn’t overly keen on this album to start with, but after a few listens it started touching all the right places, and returning to listen to it continues to be a pleasure. A Brief Crack Of Light also continues their desirable trend of changing subtly from album to album. ‘Ghost Trio’ is my fave song off this album.

3. Deftones - Koi No Yokan
Deftones are one of my favourite bands, so I’m a little biased and generally like everything they do way more than perhaps it merits. I wasn’t overly keen on this album to start with, but after a few listens it started touching all the right places, and returning to listen to it continues to be a pleasure. Koi No Yokan also continues their desirable trend of changing subtly from album to album. ’What Happened To You’ is my fave song off this album.

4. Baroness - Yellow & Green
Double album, singer with enormous beard who does artwork for Kvelertak, reasonably heavy and riffy but very melodic and brooding, can’t really fault it. I’d describe it as ‘non-shit metal’, and I don’t hear enough of that genre these days. Only got this album the other day but it’s made it into the top five. 

5. Bat For Lashes - The Haunted Man
Natasha Khan’s stuff ticks many of the same boxes as the Jezabels do for me. She’s probably less direct in her approach, but I’d consider that they both owe a heavy debt to dramatic 80s pop and 90s alt stuff in terms of the feel of their music. As an old man, I approve of this.

Song of the year:

Now Now - Thread. Everything I’d ever want from an alt-rock song thanks.

Adam ‘Literally Mis-said The Phrase ’Win-Win Situation’ As ‘A No Lose Situation” Barnes

1. Oceania by Smashing Pumpkins because it is smashing.

2. Race the Loser by Lau. Cool weirdy prog folk good things. The most original stuff I’ve heard for ages.

3. Fade by Cloud Kicker. The best instrumental rock/metal that is out there in my book. The book is called “the best instrumental rock/metal that is out there” and I wrote it.

4. Everything Touching by Tall ships. Not as good as the earlier eps but an ace band.

5. Afterlives by the Unwinding Hours. Really atmospheric and cool guitar sounds. First song is captain ding dong (really good)

Old Ideas by Leanord Cohen just missed out mainly because of the silliness of the vocals, but it’s still really good. 

Some great eps out this year too- State Hospital by Frightened Rabbit, EP 2 by Crosses and Dogs Eating Dogs by Blink 182 have all had numerous 2012 Barnes based ear spins.

Song of the year:

Favourite song I think is Prurient by Crosses.

Banter

James is a mug. Who doesn’t notice lyrics? They are in the songs James.

Any Other Business

Now that we’ve dealt with the above nonsense, we’d just like to say thanks for everyone who’s helped us out in 2012, we’ve had a fun year, and are looking forward to doing more of the same next year. We’ll be back with a bumper update very early in the new year, but for now check out our lovely record label for (amongst other things) something that’s happening on the 3rd January 2013 that may interest you.

We hope you’ve had a grand 2012 and that we see you in 2013 :)

Some Skeletons x