And on we go....
17. Killer Mike - R.A.P. Music
The best rap album of the year, Mike and El-P (along with Big Boi, T.I and others) mixed classic dirty South rap with East Coast brutalism to produce the sleekest hip hop album in many a year. From the moment 'Big Beast' clatters into your ears with primitive 808s and punishing raps from KM, you know this is going to be great. Shorn of any unnecessary skits or starry guest spots, it's a politicised record that avoids being heavy-handed and even Obama comes in for some KM criticism, putting the Prez in the same bracket as Reagan and Bush, just another "talking head on a teleprompter". An unforgiving experience, and all the better for it.
16. Efterklang - Piramida
The reason that the Danish band's latest excellent album is so far down the list is that I've been spoiled by the live version of the recording. Witnessing Efterklang with the Northern Sinfonia in Edinburgh's Usher Hall in October of this year was one of the most thrilling live experiences I've had. Taking the tracks from Piramida and adding an orchestra and choir took the album to another level, a wonderful place full of wonder and symphony. On record, it's still great, an extension of the work we heard on Parades and Magic Chairs: the sound of a band willing to experiment but keeping a melodic pop heart at the core of what they do.
15. Sun Kil Moon - Among the Leaves
Mark Kozelek rarely ever puts a foot wrong. Continuing the stripped down approach of Admiral Fell Promises, it's mainly the former Red House Painter and his nylon-stringed guitar again, singing tales of what it's like to be on the road: groupies, leaving his home and having to endure bad food and weather in the UK. It's scattered with Kozelek's dark humour as always, yet there's always loss and sadness just around the corner. What's often ignored, among the beautiful playing and poetic lyrics, is how good a voice Kozelek has, and his current minimal approach means its as naked as it's ever been, and better than it's ever been. An artist that's prolific without losing quality control, some acts could take a leaf out of Sun Kil Moon's book.
14. Jens Lekman - I Know What Love Isn't
Everyone's favourite lovelorn Swedish troubadour returned in 2012 with some of his strongest work to date; as witty and lyrically clever as he's always been, Jens this time makes us work for the goods rather than give us hook and chorus after hook and chorus. From beautiful solo piano interludes, through the saxophone of 'Erica America' to the gorgeousness of the string-laden 'The End of the World Is Bigger Than Love', the album is always sweetly swoonsome. In a world where lovelorn troubadours rule, Jens Lekman would always be top of the charts.
13. Team Me - To The Treetops!
This is the happiest record of 2012, by a long way. Back in March I wrote that this album from the Norwegian six-piece would either make you sick with twee or giddy with joy, and that still stands. A combination of Broken Social Scene, Sufjan Stevens and Arcade Fire on Prozac, To The Treetops remains a brilliant blast of pure fun, everything-and-the-kitchen-sink instrumentation and killer tunes.
12. Divine Fits - A Thing Called Divine Fits
Of all things, a "super group" that doesn't collapse under the weight of egos on show. Dan Boeckner of Handsome Furs/Wolf Parade met Spoon's Britt Daniel backstage after a show, joking they should work together...and so they ended up doing just that. Combining the taut sparseness of recent Spoon records with the glam paranoia of Boeckner's work, A Thing... is an unqualified success unworthy of being passed off as an occasional side-project. From the synth banger 'My Love Is Real' to the raw rock n roll of 'What Gets You Alone', everything the band turns its hand to comes off as a complete success, leaving more records from Divine Fits a near-certainty.
11. Grizzly Bear - Shields
Everyone knows what a wonderful band this lot are, and the only reason that the album isn't in the top ten is due to the fact that for whatever reason I've not been able to devote enough time to it. Live, they were fantastic once again a month or so ago in Glasgow and I've so much time for each member of the band (a pointer to another record that does make my top ten), and the songs on here are near-perfect: the electric clatter of 'Sleeping Ute' and 'Yet Again' show a band capable of harnessing a powerful sound, just as 'A Simple Answer' and 'Sun In Your Eyes' show off their ability to create symphonic wonders. Impeccably played, produced and constructed, they might well be the best US band we've got right now. A top three record in a world where I have more time...
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