20 Alabama Shakes ~ Boys & Girls


19 Patterson Hood ~ Heat Lightning Rumbles In The Distance


18 Calexico ~ Algiers


17 Diamond Rugs ~ Diamond Rugs


16 Old Crow Medicine Show ~ Carry Me Back


15 The Men ~ Open Your Heart


14 Chris Robinson Brotherhood ~ Big Moon Ritual


13 Jason Isbell - Live From Alabama


12 Shurman ~ Inspiration


11 Divine Fits ~ A Thing Called Divine Fits


10 First Aid Kit ~ The Lion’s Roar


09 Nude Beach ~ Nude Beach II


08 David Byrne & St. Vincent ~ Love This Giant


07 Bruce Springsteen ~ Wrecking Ball


06 Kelly Hogan ~ I Like To Keep Myself In Pain


05 The Walkmen ~ Heaven


04 Japandroids ~ Celebration Rock


03 Chuck Prophet ~ Temple Beautiful


02 Justin Townes Earle ~ Nothing’s Gonna Change The Way You Feel About Me Now


01 Patrice O’Neal ~ Mr. P


Honorable mentions:
The Henry Clay People ~ 25 For The Rest Of Our Lives
Tame Impala ~ Lonerism
Marty Stuart ~ Nashville Volume 1: Tear The Woodpile Down
Lucero ~ Women and Work
June Star ~ Slow Dance
Lee Fields & The Expressions ~ Faithful Man
Dr John ~ Locked Down
Will Johnson ~ Scorpion
Carolyn Mark ~ The Queen of Vancouver
Mynabirds ~ Generals

Notes...Is it a gimmick to put a comedy album at #1? I'm not sure. 2012 was definitely "The Year of Comedy" moreso than say "The Year of Rock", Patrice was my favorite working comedian at the time of his death and I listened to Mr P like it was an album: Numerous times in a variety of settings, occasionally just going to a specific track or two etc.

With that being said, the top 5 is fairly interchangeable. I loved all of those records and spent a ton of time with each. JTE edges out the other non comedy records mainly by sheer volume of listens. I played and continue to play the record a lot.

The only late edition was Old Crow which could have easily made the Top 10 if I'd heard it sooner. Great, great record.

I give up! I'm gonna have to give the Kelly Hogan a whirl. Unusual crossover love with Japandroids and The Walkmen in our top 5.

I guess that's an odd #1 but I haven't heard it so I dunno. Haven't heard a lot of comedy albums lately but seen a few specials (John Mulaney, Hannibal Buress, Jim Gaffigan, Aziz Ansari) and would probably rank them among the funniest things I've seen/heard this year.

I don't think I ever listened to that David Byrne/St Vincent album.

I forgot about Diamond Rugs album but I think it contained one of my most hated songs this year (Hungover And Horny).

Divine Fits has grown on me much more than I would have thought, prolly a top fiver for me. I'll give Vesco credit for the one Jdroids tune I can care about. Thanks for that. I t kicks ass. The Alabama Shakes should've hit me better but never got past Hold On. No hater, but I will always be intrigued with the Walkmen, not a fan though.

I probably should have paid more attention to Calexico and Hogan. A reminder to revisit.

LOL that's my favorite song on the album.

Solid list, CK1. Probably most overlap I've seen with mine so far.

I really wanna hear that Patrice O'Neal album now.

I loved Elephant in the Room.

Its on Spotify, Drink, if you get down like that.

I guess we took this year off in having anything in common.

I've been enjoying The Graceless Age the past couple of weeks.

Algiers has jumped several spots for me after spending more time with it last week and then seeing Calexico on Friday night.

please go see them in ATL with Yo La Tengo? do it for me? i would've killed for YLT over a Bahamas opener!

Had it queued in Spotify for a while but never executed. Kicking self and such.