Year-End Lists

Sasha Frere-Jones of The New Yorker: 40 Best Albums of 2012 (listed chronologically, exceptional albums marked with asterisks)

[see also 2022 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2011]

• Rich Forever
  Rick Ross
• Nehru Jackets
  Heems
• Elemental: I-IV
  Demdike Stare
• Reign of Terror
  Sleigh Bells
• The Block Brochure
  E-40
• Icon Give Thank
  Sun Araw, MGG & Congos
• R.I.P.
  Actress
• The Money Store
  Death Grips
• Fifty-One
  Kool A.D.
• The Drawbar Organ/Music for the Quiet Hour
  Shackleton
• R.A.P. Music
  Killer Mike
• Cancer 4 Cure
  El-P
• We Rose From Your Bed With The Sun In Our Head
  Swans
• The Cherry Thing
  Neneh Cherry & the Thing
• The Idler Wheel…
  Fiona Apple
• Aun soundtrack
  Christian Fennesz
• Channel Orange
  Frank Ocean
• Mungodelics
  Mungolian Jetset
• The Seer
  Swans
• Sun
  Cat Power
• Eight
  Deadbeat
• Live
  Nik Bärtsch’s Ronin
• METZ
  METZ
• ‘Allelujah! Don’t Bend! Ascend!
  Godspeed You! Black Emperor
• The World Is Too Much With Us
  Peace
• Jiaolong
  Daphni
• Tempest
  Tussle
• Living for a Song: Tribute to Hank Cochran
  Jamey Johnson
• Luxury Problems
  Andy Stott
• 4 EPs (Derren, Harem, Alfur, Realise)
  Old Apparatus
• good kid, m.A.A.d city
  Kendrick Lamar
• Red
  Taylor Swift
• Alone Together
  Karriem Riggins
• Fistful of Buddha
  Christiaan Virant
• Get Lost V (mixed by Acid Pauli)
  various artists
• The Cherry Thing Remixes
  Neneh Cherry & the Thing
• Paradise
  Lana Del Rey
• Lux
  Brian Eno
• Today Bread, Tomorrow Secrets
  Moon Wiring Club
• Bish Bosch
  Scott Walker