Top 50 Songs of 2012

The title is not a typo.  It wouldn't be right to put out the 2013 year-end lists before doing the last 2012 list.

50. Stars - Hold On When You Get Love And Let Go When You Give It
49. Japandroids - The Nights Of Wine And Roses
48. John K. Sampson - Highway 1 West
47. Like Pioneers - National Spectre
46. The Walkmen - Song For Leigh
45. Local H - Night Flight to Paris
44. Sigur Rós - Varúð
43. Cat Power - Ruin
42. Cat Power - Cherokee
41. Metric - Synthetica
40. A.C. Newman - Wasted English
39. The Casket Lottery - Radiation Bells
38. Stars - A Song Is A Weapon
37. Divine Fits - Shivers
36. The Jealous Sound - A Gentle Reminder
35. Cloud Nothings - Stay Useless
34. Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Walk Like A Giant
33. Cursive - Eulogy For No Name
32. The Casket Lottery - Blood On The Handle

31. Local H - Blue Line
30. Perfume Genius - Dark Parts
29. Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Ramada Inn
28. The Jealous Sound - Equilibrium
27. Like Pioneers - Requiem For Some Band
26. Cloud Nothings - Cut You
25. Further Seems Forver - So Cold
24. The Walkmen - Heaven
23. Best Coast - Up All Night
22. The Jealous Sound - Beautiful Morning
21. A.C. Newman - Strings
20. The Men - Open Your Heart
19. The Jealous Sound - Promise Of The West
18. Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Driftin' Back
17. Titus Andronicus - In A Small Body
16. The Casket Lottery - In The Branches
15. Stars - The 400

14. Best Coast - No One Like You
13. Titus Andronicus - Ecce Homo
12. The Casket Lottery - White Lies
11. Like Pioneers - All Wrapped
10. The Men - Candy
9. Cloud Nothings - Fall In
8. The Casket Lottery - Bapistina
7. Grizzly Bear - Half Gate
6. Japandroids - Fire's Highway
5. Japandroids - The House That Heaven Built
4. Further Seems Forever - Engines
3. Local H - Another February
2. Titus Andronicus - My Eating Disorder
1. Cloud Nothings - Wasted Days

Top 10 Albums of 2012

10. Like Pioneers - Oh, Magic
9. Best Coast - The Only Place
8. A.C. Newman - Shut Down The Streets
7. Local H - Hallelujah!  I'm A Bum
6. The Casket Lottery - Real Fear
5. Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Psychedelic Pill
4. Titus Andronicus - Local Business
3. The Jealous Sound - A Gentle Reminder
2. Japandroids - Celebration Rock
1. Cloud Nothings - Attack On Memory

Top 10 Albums of 2011

10. Yuck - Yuck

9. Cults - Cults

8. Wilco - The Whole Love

7. Girls - Father, Son, Holy Ghost

6. Lemuria - Pebble

5. Okkervil River - I Am Very Far

4. Telekinesis - 12 Desperate Straight Lines

3. Maritime - Human Hearts

2. Bon Iver - Bon Iver

1. Cymbals Eat Guitars - Lenses Alien

Top 50 Songs of 2011

50. Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds - The Good Rebel

49. The Get Up Kids - Rememorable

48. Beirut - Santa Fe

47. Okkervil River - The Rise

46. Okkervil River - Your Past Life As A Blast

45. Fleet Foxes - Lorelai

44. Girls - Alex

43. Maritime - Peopling Of London

42. Death Cab For Cutie - Doors Unlocked And Open

41. Girls - Honey Bunny

40. Low - Try To Sleep

39. The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart - Belong

38. Telekinesis - Gotta Get It Right Now

37. Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds - Dream On

36. Low - Witches

35. Bon Iver - Michiant

34. Lemuria - The One

32. Telekinesis - You Turn Clear In The Sun

33. Okkervil River - White Shadow Waltz

31. Jason Isbell And The 400 Unit - Go It Alone
30. Kevin Devine - The First Hit

29. Ida Maria - My Shoes

28. Cymbals Eat Guitars - Secret Family

27. Smith Westerns - Still New

26. Wilco - Born Alone

25. Telekinesis - Country Lane

24. Tim Kasher - The Jessica

23. Maritime - Faint Of Hearts

22. Cut Copy - Where I'm Going

21. Maritime - It's Casual

20. Kathryn Calder - One Two Three

19. Bon Iver - Wash.18. Radiohead - Codex

17. Cymbals Eat Guitars - Gary Condit

16. Cymbals Eat Guitars - Definite Darkness

15. Wild Flag - Romance

14. Radiohead - Give Up The Ghost

13. Dawes - If I Wanted Someone

12. Bon Iver - Minnesota, WI

11. Cymbals Eat Guitars - Keep Me Waiting

10. Cults - Abducted

9. Cymbals Eat Guitars - Wavelengths

8. Bon Iver - Towers

7. Yuck - Getaway

6. Okkervil River - Show Yourself

5. Wilco - One Sunday Morning (Song For Jane Smiley's Boyfriend)

4. Cymbals Eat Guitars - Rifle Eyesight (Proper Name)

3. Wilco - Art Of Almost

2. Bon Iver - Perth

1. Tim Kasher - No Harmony

Top 25 Songs for September and October

25. Cymbals Eat Guitars - Shore Points

24. Cymbals Eat Guitars - Plainclothes

23. Beirut - Santa Fe

22. Wilco - Born Alone

21. Japandroids - Younger Us

20. Girls - Honey Bunny

19. Girls - Alex

18. Wild Flag - Something Came Over Me

17. Cymbals Eat Guitars - Another Tungustka

16. Telekinesis - You Turn Clear In The Sun

15. Wilco - Misunderstood

14. Japandroids - Shame

13. Wilco - Passenger Side

12. Telekinesis - Gotta Get It Right Now

11. Archers Of Loaf - Death In The Park

10. Telekinesis - Country Lane

9. Wild Flag - Romance

8. Wilco - One Sunday Morning (Song For Jane Smiley's Boyfriend)

7. Wilco - Art Of Almost

6. Cymbals Eat Guitars - Gary Condit

5. Cymbals Eat Guitars - Definite Darkness

4. Cymbals Eat Guitars - Wavelengths

3. Cymbals Eat Guitars - Secret Family

2. Cymbals Eat Guitars - Keep Me Waiting

1. Cymbals Eat Guitars - Rifle Eyesight (Proper Name)

Top 25 Songs for July and August

25. Sebadoh - Careful
24. Lucero - My Best Girl
23. Like Pioneers - Some People
22. Yuck - Sunday
21. Lucero - All These Love Songs
20. Yuck - Operation
19. Titus Andronicus - Breed [Nirvana Cover]
18. Braid - Do Over
17. Braid - Urbana's Too Dark
16. Ida Maria - Devil
15. Tim Kasher - Rabbit, Run
14. Braid - I Keep A Diary
13. Yuck - The Wall
12. Braid - Killing A Camera
11. Braid - Milwaukee Sky Rocket
10. Like Pioneers - Crop Circles Plus Legs
9. Tim Kasher - The Jessica
8. Lucero - Wasted
7. Braid - Divers
6. Lucero - Wandering Star
5. Yuck - Get Away
4. Ida Maria - My Shoes
3. Like Pioneers - Ike
2. Braid - The New Nathan Detroits
1. Tim Kasher - No Harmony

Top 25 Songs for May and June

25. T.V. On The Radio - Second Song
24. Foo Fighters - Bridge Burning
23. Cults - Go Outside
22. The Antlers - No Windows
21. Eddie Vedder - Once In A While
20. Bon Iver - Beth/Rest
19. Death Cab For Cutie - Codes And Keys
18. Death Cab For Cutie - Home Is A Fire
17. Cults - You Know What I Mean
16. Death Cab For Cutie - Some Boys
15. Bon Iver - Hinnom, TX
14. Death Cab For Cutie - You Are A Tourist
13. Bon Iver - Wash.
12. Okkervil River - Your Past Life As A Blast
11. Okkervil River - The Rise
10. Death Cab For Cutie - Underneath The Sycamore
9. Okkervil River - White Shadow Waltz
8. Death Cab For Cutie - Doors Unlocked And Open
7. Bon Iver - Towers
6. Jason Isbell And The 400 Unit - Go It Alone
5. Bon Iver - Minnesota, WI
4. Cults - Abducted
3. Bon Iver - Michiant
2. Okkervil River - Show Yourself
1. Bon Iver - Perth

Top 25 Songs for March and April

25. R.E.M. - Discoverer
24. Maritime - Annihilation Eyes
23. ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead - The Wasteland
22. The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart - Heart In Your Heartbreak
21. ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead - Summer Of All Dead Souls
20. Low - Nothing But Heart
19. The Dodos - Going Under
18. The Dodos - Sleep
17. Maritime - C'Mon Sense
16. The Dodos - Don't Try And Hide It
15. Lykke Li - Youth Knows No Pain
14. ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead - Fall Of The Empire
13. The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart - Belong
12. The Dodos - When Will You Go
11. The Dodos - Black Night
10. Low - Witches
9. Maritime - Paraphernalia
8. Maritime - Air Arizona
7. Low - Try To Sleep
6. Okkervil River - Wake And Be Fine
5. Broken Social Scene - Major Label Debut (Fast)
4. The Bewitched Hands - Happy With You
3. Maritime - Peopling Of London
2. Maritime - Faint Of Hearts
1. Maritime - It's Casual

Top 25 Songs for January and February

25. Tapes 'n Tapes - Nightfall
24. Say Hi - Take 'Ya Dancin'
23. The Get Up Kids - When It Dies
22. Kathryn Calder - Arrow
21. Freelance Whales - Starring
20. Kathryn Calder - Slip Away
19. The Get Up Kids - Better Lie
18. Smith Westerns - All Die Young
17. Lucero - The Last Song
16. Lucero - Sweet Little Thing
15. The Get Up Kids - Tithe
14. Freelance Whales - Generator ^ First Floor
13. Lucero - Darby's Song
12. Freelance Whales - Generator ^ Second Floor
11. Cut Copy - Need You Now
10. Lucero - Chain Link Fence
9. Okkervil River - Mermaid
8. Lucero - Slow Dancing
7. The Get Up Kids - Rememorable
6. Lucero - Here At The Starlite
5. Lucero - I'll Just Fall
4. Smith Westerns - Still New
3. Cut Copy - Where I'm Going
2. Radiohead - Codex
1. Radiohead - Give Up The Ghost

Top 50 Songs of 2010

50. Male Bonding - Your Contact
49. Kanye West - Lost In The World
48. Spoon - Goodnight Laura
47. Best Coast - The End
46. Tokyo Police Club - Wait Up (Boots Of Danger)
45. Sufjan Stevens - Arnika
44. The New Pornographers - Valkyrie At The Roller Disco
43. Best Coast - Goodbye
42. The New Pornographers - Moves
41. Cloud Cult - The Escape - Running With The Wolves
40. The New Pornographers - We End Up Together
39. Cloud Cult - The Invocation (p. 2) - Blessings
38. Titus Andronicus - A More Perfect Union
37. Sufjan Stevens - Djohariah
36. Titus Andronicus - To Friends Old And New
35. Arcade Fire - Suburban War
34. Jimmy Eat World - Coffee And Cigarettes
33. Robyn - Hang With Me
32. Titus Andronicus - Theme From "Cheers"
31. Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
30. Spoon - Trouble Comes Running
29. Kanye West - Runaway
28. The Hold Steady - A Slight Discomfort
27. Sufjan Stevens - Bad Communication
26. Lil Wayne - Right Above It
25. Kanye West - Power
24. Free Energy - Bad Stuff
23. Robyn - Dancing On My Own
22. Kanye West - Blame Game
21. Sufjan Stevens - Futile Devices
20. Titus Andronicus - Four Score and Seven
19. Taylor Swift - Enchanted
18. Local Natives - Airplanes
17. Sufjan Stevens - Too Much
16. Joanna Newsom - In California
15. Sufjan Stevens - I Want To Be Well
14. Perfume Genius - Learning
13. The National - Terrible Love
12. The Hold Steady - The Weekenders
11. The National - Sorrow
10. Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin - Everlyn
9. Broken Social Scene - Art House Director
8. Tokyo Police Club - Frankenstein
7. Kanye West - Dark Fantasy
6. Tim Kasher - Strays
5. Arcade Fire - Ready To Start
4. Titus Andronicus - The Battle Of Hampton Roads
3. Joanna Newsom - Does Not Suffice
2. Sufjan Stevens - Impossible Soul
1. Best Coast - I Want To

Top 25 Songs for November and December

25. Taylor Swift - Back To December
24. The Corin Tucker Band - Riley
23. Kanye West - Hell Of A Life
22. Perfume Genius - Lookout, Lookout
21. Cloud Cult - The Mission - Unexplainable Stories
20. Kanye West - Monster
19. Male Bonding - Nothing Remains
18. Robyn - Cry When You Get Older
17. Kanye West - All Of The Lights
16. Warpaint - Undertow
15. Male Bonding - Your Contact
14. Cloud Cult - The Arrival - There's So Much Energy In Us
13. Kanye West - Lost In The World
12. Cloud Cult - Invocation (p. 2) - Blessings
11. Kanye West - Power
10. Cloud Cult - The Escape - Running With The Wolves
9. Kanye West - Runaway
8. Robyn - Hang With Me
7. Kanye West -Blame Game
6. Taylor Swift - Enchanted
5. Robyn - Dancing On My Own
4. Perfume Genius - Learning
3. Weezer - Getting Up And Leaving
2. Kanye West - Dark Fantasy
1. Weezer - Tragic Girl

Top 10 Albums of 2010

10. Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin - Let It Sway
9. The Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
8. The New Pornographers - Together
7. Tim Kasher - The Game Of Monogamy
6. Sufjan Stevens - All Delighted People EP
5. Joanna Newsom - Have One On Me
4. Kanye West - My Dark Twisted Fantasy
3. Best Coast - Crazy For You
2. Sufjan Stevens - The Age Of Adz
1. Titus Andronicus - The Monitor

Top 25 Songs for September and October

25. Best Coast - This Is Real
24. Someone Still Loves You Boris Yelstin - Sink/Let It Sway
23. Best Coast - So Gone
22. Tim Kasher - A Grown Man
21. Deerhunter - Revival
20. The Vaselines - No Hope
19. Best Coast - Make You Mine
18. Someone Still Loves You Boris Yelstin - Made To Last
17. Deerhunter - Desire Lines
16. Someone Still Loves You Boris Yelstin -Stuart Gets Lost Dans Le Metro
15. Someone Still Loves You Boris Yelstin -Back in the Saddle
14. Tim Kasher - No Fireworks
13. Sufjan Stevens - Bad Communication
12. Best Coast - Something In The Way
11. Jimmy Eat World - Coffee And Cigarettes
10. Sufjan Stevens - Vesuvius
9. Sufjan Stevens - Age of Adz
8. Best Coast - When I'm With You
7. Sufjan Stevens - Too Much
6. Sufjan Stevens - Futile Devices
5. Local Natives - Airplanes
4. Sufjan Stevens - I Want To Be Well
3. Someone Still Loves You Boris Yelstin -Everlyn
2. Tim Kasher - Strays
1. Sufjan Stevens - Impossible Soul

RS: What's your current take on Pinkerton?

Rivers: To me it's a totally brilliant album, so personal, there's such a strong vision, and it was a real joy to go back and crack open the sessions and listen to the tracks one by one and gain inspiration from that. It seems like it's really stuck in people's minds that I disowned or disavowed the record and I'm not sure where that came from.

RS: In 2001, you said the album was "hideous" and a "hugely painful mistake."

Rivers: That's what's so great about it! I didn't mean "hideous" in a negative way. I would say that it's a hideous record in many ways - it's ugly and dark and twisted and embarrassing. Anyway, in 2001 and 2002, I said a lot of inflammatory things.

RS: Like calling your fans "little bitches"?

Rivers: Exactly. I had a way with words then, and I'm still facing the consequences.

Needless to say, I'm awfully excited to see the album performed live.

Top 25 Songs for July and August

25. Sun Kil Moon - You Are My Sun
24. Local H - California Songs
23. Menomena - Queen Black Acid
22. Free Energy - Dream City
21. Best Coast - Crazy For You
20. Sufjan Stevens - Heirloom
19. Sun Kil Moon - Third And Seneca
18. Best Coast - Happy
17. Lil Wayne feat. Drake - Right Above It
16. Sun Kil Moon - Alesund
15. Local H - Fritz's Corner
14. Sufjan Stevens - Arnika
13. Stars - Wasted Daylight
12. Free Energy - Dark Trance
11. Best Coast - Goodbye
10. Sufjan Stevens - Djohariah
9. Arcade Fire - Suburban War
8. Sufjan Stevens - From The Mouth Of Gabriel
7. Best Coast - The End
6. Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
5. Sufjan Stevens - All Delighted People
4. Free Energy - Bad Stuff
3. Best Coast - Girlfriend
2. Arcade Fire - Ready To Start
1. Best Coast - I Want To

Top 25 Songs For May and June

25. Lucero - The War
24. Broken Social Scene - World Sick
23. Tokyo Police Club - Favourite Food
22. The New Pornographers - World Sick
21. Sun Kil Moon - Lost Verses
20. The New Pornographers - My Shepard
19. Broken Social Scene - Meet Me In The Basement
18. The Hold Steady - The Sweet Part Of The City
17. Sun Kil Moon - Glenn Tipton
16. The New Pornographers - Valkyrie In The Roller Disco
15. Sun Kil Moon - Moorestown
14. The New Pornographers - We End Up Together
13. Tokyo Police Club - Wait Up (Boots Of Danger)
12. The Hold Steady - A Slight Discomfort
11. The New Pornographers - Moves
10. Lucero - Sixteen
9. Broken Social Scene - Lover's Spit
8. Sun Kil Moon - Tonight In Bilbao
7. The Hold Steady - The Weekenders
6. The New Pornographers - Up In The Dark
5. The National - Terrible Love
4. The National - Sorrow
3. Broken Social Scene - Art House Director
2. Tokyo Police Club - Frankenstein
1. Sun Kil Moon - Tonight The Sky

Top 25 Songs For March and April

The Top 25 is on life support, but it's not dead yet. In fact, the May/June list figures to be exceptionally good.

25. Joanna Newsom - Good Intentions Paving Company
24. Rogue Wave - Good Morning (The Future)
23. The Besnard Lakes - Glass Printer
22. Joanna Newsom - You And Me, Bess
21. Shearwater - Black Eyes
20. Joanna Newsom - Go Long
19. Titus Andronicus - A More Perfect Union
18. The Besnard Lakes - The Ocean, Like The Innocent, Pt. 2: The Innocent
17. The Besnard Lakes - Light Up The Night
16. She & Him - Thieves
15. Joanna Newsom - Autumn
14. Shearwater - Castaways
13. The Besnard Lakes - Land of Living Skies Pt. 2: The Living Skies
12. Joanna Newsom - On A Good Day
11. Jónsi - Boy Lilikoi
10. Joanna Newsom - Soft As Chalk
9. Joanna Newsom - Jackrabbits
8. She & Him: Over It Over Again
7. Joanna Newsom - '81
6. Titus Andronicus - No Future Part Three: Escape From No Future
5. Titus Andronicus - Four Score And Seven
4. Joanna Newsom - In California
3. Titus Andronicus - Theme From Cheers
2. Titus Andronicus - To Friends Old and New
1. Joanna Newsom - Does Not Suffice

Top 25 Songs For January and February

25. Spoon - I Saw The Light
24. Yeasayer - Madder Red
23. Surfer Blood - Twin Peaks
22. Phoenix - Courtesy Laughs
21. Spoon - Got Nuffin
20. Yeasayer - Ambling Alp
19. Los Campesinos - Romance Is Boring
18. Yeasayer - Love Me Girl
17. Spoon - Before Destruction
16. Phoenix - Consolation Prizes
15. Japandroids - Sexual Aerosol
14. Surfer Blood - Floating Vibes
13. The xx - Shelter
12. Phoenix - Long Distance Call
11. Spoon - Out Go The Lights
10. The xx - Intro
9. Phoenix - Sometimes In The Fall
8. The xx - VCR
7. Phoenix - Lost And Found
6. Spoon - Goodnight Laura
5. Phoenix - One Time Too Many
4. Japandroids - Press Corps
3. Spoon - Trouble Comes Running
2. The xx - Crystallized
1. Phoenix - Rally

Top Ten Albums of 2009: #2

Japandroids - Post-Nothing

I’m still not entirely sure how they did it. I don’t know how Japandroids made one of the most pulsating, re-listenable albums of the year with just guitar, drums, and vocals - and hardly a single overdub to speak of. I’m not sure how they turned what would have otherwise been merely an exuberant album about girls and drinking into something provocative with just a few scattered, harrowing lyrics about feeling your youth slip away. Part of me doesn’t care to know.

Top Ten Albums of 2009: #3

Cymbals Eat Guitars - Why There Are Mountains