Year-End Lists

Piccadilly Records: Top 100 Albums of 2012

[see also 2011]

1. World Music
   Goat
2. The Lion’s Roar
   First Aid Kit
3. White Manna
   White Manna
4. Django Django
   Django Django
5. Blood Speaks
   Smoke Fairies
6. Circles
   Moon Duo
7. Kill for Love
   Chromatics
8. Tramp
   Sharon Van Etten
9. Shields
   Grizzly Bear
10. Manifest!
    Friends
11. Toy
    Toy
12. Standing at the Sky’s Edge
    Richard Hawley
13. Endless Flowers
    Crocodiles
14. And Never Ending Nights
    Loops Of Your Heart
15. Sweet Heart, Sweet Light
    Spiritualized
16. Icon Give Thank
    The Congos / Sun Araw / M. Geddes Gengras
17. Visions
    Grimes
18. Lucifer
    Peaking Lights
19. There Are Witches In The Woods
    Pretty Lightning
20. ‘Allelujah! Don’t Bend! Ascend!
    Godspeed You! Black Emperor
21. Until the Quiet Comes
    Flying Lotus
22. Kingdoms
    Fort Romeau
23. Between the Times and the Tides
    Lee Ranaldo
24. Putrifiers II
    Thee Oh Sees
25. The Drawbar Organ/Music for the Quiet Hour
    Shackleton
26. An Awesome Wave
    alt-J
27. Awe Naturale
    THEESatisfaction
28. Pre Language
    Disappears
29. Lonerism
    Tame Impala
30. Coexist
    The xx
31. The Return Of Love
    Woolfy Vs Projections
32. RIP
    Actress
33. Zeros
    The Soft Moon
34. Living In Patterns
    Pollyn
35. Heavy Electrics
    Eat Lights Become Lights
36. Nocturne
    Wild Nothing
37. Tarnished Gold
    Beachwood Sparks
38. The Seer
    Swans
39. Plumb
    Field Music
40. Blunderbuss
    Jack White
41. Life is People
    Bill Fay
42. Electric Sound Of Summer
    Füxa
43. Boys & Girls
    Alabama Shakes
44. Sun
    Cat Power
45. Aqua Disco
    Seahawks
46. Will Happiness Find Me?
    Maria Minerva
47. Oh No I Love You
    Tim Burgess
48. Bloom
    Beach House
49. Into The Diamond Sun
    Stealing Sheep
50. Key To The Kuffs
    JJ DOOM
51. Blues Funeral
    Mark Lanegan Band
52. Strange Weekend
    Porcelain Raft
53. Oshin
    DIIV
54. Electric Cables
    Lightships
55. The Savage Heart
    The Jim Jones Revue
56. Mature Themes
    Ariel Pink
57. Total Loss
    How to Dress Well
58. Jiaolong
    Daphni
59. Three
    Flavor Crystals
60. Photos Of Photos
    Carlton Melton
61. Swing Lo Magellan
    Dirty Projectors
62. Holograms
    Holograms
63. A Wasteland Companion
    M. Ward
64. The Flaming Lips and Heady Fwends
    The Flaming Lips
65. Port of Morrow
    The Shins
66. Give You the Ghost
    Poliça
67. A World Out Of Time
    Eternal Tapestry
68. Ultraísta – Bonus Disc Edition
    Ultraísta
69. Themes For An Imaginary Film
    Symmetry
70. Total Dust
    Dusted
71. The Echo Show
    Yeti Lane
72. Mungodelics
    Mungolian Jetset
73. Temporary Happiness
    Mock & Toof
74. Tosta Mista
    Hooded Fang
75. The Inner Treaty
    Sun Araw
76. Interstellar
    Frankie Rose
77. Advaitic Songs
    OM
78. Centipede Hz
    Animal Collective
79. Held
    Holy Other
80. Frying On This Rock
    White Hills
81. Good Music
    Colorama
82. Black Music
    Dark Horses
83. Cancer 4 Cure
    El-P
84. One Second of Love
    Nite Jewel
85. Metz
    Metz
86. Presents In Motion #1
    The Cinematic Orchestra
87. Smalhans
    Lindstrøm
88. The Bravest Man in the Universe
    Bobby Womack
89. Breakthrough
    The Gaslamp Killer
90. Algiers
    Calexico
91. Slaughterhouse
    Ty Segall Band
92. Sweet Lights
    Sweet Lights
93. The Orbserver in the Star House
    The Orb Featuring Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry
94. Valtari
    Sigur Rós
95. Survival & Resistance
    Adrian Sherwood
96. In Ghostlike Fading
    My Best Fiend
97. Born to Die
    Lana Del Rey
98. Quarantine
    Laurel Halo
99. Fin
    John Talabot
100. Lay Hollow
     Howse

Q Magazine: 50 Best Albums of 2012 (alphabetical)

[see also 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2013 • 2011]

• Be Strong
  The 2 Bears
• Boys & Girls
  Alabama Shakes
• An Awesome Wave
  alt-J
• Banks
  Paul Banks
• The Haunted Man
  Bat for Lashes
• Bloom
  Beach House
• Jake Bugg
  Jake Bugg
• Love this Giant
  David Byrne & St. Vincent
• Sun
  Cat Power
• Old Ideas
  Leonard Cohen
• Jiaolong
  Daphni
• Born to Die
  Lana Del Rey
• Swing Lo Magellan
  Dirty Projectors
• Django Django
  Django Django
• Tempest
  Bob Dylan
• Cancer 4 Cure
  El-P
• Plumb
  Field Music
• On The Hot Dog Streets
  Go-Kart Mozart
• Visions
  Grimes
• Shields
  Grizzly Bear
• Through The Night
  Ren Harvieu
• Standing at the Sky’s Edge
  Richard Hawley
• A Different Ship
  Here We Go Magic
• In Our Heads
  Hot Chip
• Good Morning To The Night
  Elton John Vs. Pnau
• Portrait
  Josephine
• Battle Born
  The Killers
• World, You Need a Change of Mind
  Kindness
• Blues Funeral
  Mark Lanegan Band
• Given to the Wild
  The Maccabees
• Mala In Cuba
  Mala In Cuba
• Babel
  Mumford & Sons
• The 2nd Law
  Muse
• Channel Orange
  Frank Ocean
• Wonky
  Orbital
• Lucifer
  Peaking Lights
• Ill Manors
  Plan B
• Our Version of Events
  Emeli Sande
• Words and Music by Saint Etienne
  Saint Etienne
• Ghostory
  School Of Seven Bells
• Wrecking Ball
  Bruce Springsteen
• Lonerism
  Tame Impala
• Trouble
  Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs
• Come of Age
  The Vaccines
• Tramp
  Sharon Van Etten
• Heaven
  Walkmen
• Devotion
  Jessie Ware
• Sonik Kicks
  Paul Weller
• Blunderbuss
  Jack White
• The Bravest Man in the Universe
  Bobby Womack

Mojo Magazine: 50 Best Albums of 2012

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2011]

1. Blunderbuss
   Jack White
2. Channel Orange
   Frank Ocean
3. Life is People
   Bill Fay
4. Old Ideas
   Leonard Cohen
5. One Day I’m Going to Soar
   Dexys
6. El Camino
   The Black Keys
7. Django Django
   Django Django
8. Locked Down
   Dr. John
9. Ekstasis
   Julia Holter
10. Tempest
    Bob Dylan
11. Bish Bosch
    Scott Walker
12. Lonerism
    Tame Impala
13. Coexist
    The xx
14. In Our Heads
    Hot Chip
15. Sun
    Cat Power
16. The Bravest Man in the Universe
    Bobby Womack
17. Blues Funeral
    Mark Lanegan Band
18. Wonky
    Orbital
19. A Shut-In’s Prayer
    Advance Base
20. Faithful Man
    Lee Fields & the Expressions
21. Clear Moon
    Mount Eerie
22. Charmer
    Aimee Mann
23. TOY
    TOY
24. Standing at the Sky’s Edge
    Richard Hawley
25. Father Creeper
    Spoek Mathambo
26. No Love Lost
    The Nightingales
27. La Futura
    ZZ Top
28. Wrecking Ball
    Bruce Springsteen
29. Psychedelic Pill
    Neil Young & Crazy Horse
30. Plumb
    Field Music
31. Crown And Treaty
    Sweet Billy Pilgrim
32. Dr. Dee
    Damon Albarn
33. Devotion
    Jessie Ware
34. Visions
    Grimes
35. Tramp
    Sharon Van Etten
36. Home Again
    Michael Kiwanuka
37. This Is PiL
    Public Image Ltd.
38. Sudden Fiction
    Dan Michaelson
39. Until the Quiet Comes
    Flying Lotus
40. Bloom
    Beach House
41. CYRK
    Cate Le Bon
42. Twins
    Ty Segall
43. Shields
    Grizzly Bear
44. Centipede Hz
    Animal Collective
45. R.I.P.
    Actress
46. Mid Air
    Paul Buchanan
47. That’s Why God Made The Radio
    The Beach Boys
48. Sonik Kicks
    Paul Weller
49. Jake Bugg
    Jake Bugg
50. Audience Of One
    Oren Ambarchi

NME: 50 Best Albums of 2012

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2010s • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2011]

1. Lonerism
   Tame Impala
2. Visions
   Grimes
3. Channel Orange
   Frank Ocean
4. (III)
   Crystal Castles
5. An Awesome Wave
   alt-J
6. Given to the Wild
   The Maccabees
7. Beard, Wives, Denim
   Pond
8. In the Belly of the Brazen Bull
   The Cribs
9. Jake Bugg
   Jake Bugg
10. Blunderbuss
    Jack White
11. Django Django
    Django Django
12. Love this Giant
    David Byrne & St. Vincent
13. Oshin
    DIIV
14. Coexist
    The xx
15. Tramp
    Sharon Van Etten
16. Melody’s Echo Chamber
    Melody’s Echo Chamber
17. Shields
    Grizzly Bear
18. Baby
    Tribes
19. Toy
    Toy
20. America Give Up
    Howler
21. Sun
    Cat Power
22. Bloom
    Beach House
23. Standing at the Sky’s Edge
    Richard Hawley
24. Children of Desire
    Merchandise
25. Mature Themes
    Ariel Pink
26. Enjoy It While It Lasts
    Spector
27. Devotion
    Jessie Ware
28. Sweet Heart, Sweet Light
    Spiritualized
29. 2
    Mac DeMarco
30. Other People’s Problems
    Breton
31. Cruel Summer
    G.O.O.D. Music
32. A+E
    Graham Coxon
33. In Our Heads
    Hot Chip
34. The Haunted Man
    Bat for Lashes
35. METZ
    METZ
36. Come of Age
    The Vaccines
37. A Flash Flood of Colour
    Enter Shikari
38. Trouble
    Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs
39. Wixiw
    Liars
40. Give You the Ghost
    Poliça
41. Twins
    Ty Segall
42. Sonik Kicks
    Paul Weller
43. Wiki93
    Ratking
44. good kid, m.A.A.d city
    Kendrick Lamar
45. Born to Die
    Lana Del Rey
46. The Bravest Man in the Universe
    Bobby Womack
47. fIN
    John Talabot
48. Be Strong
    The 2 Bears
49. Until the Quiet Comes
    Flying Lotus
50. Shrines
    Purity Ring

The Guardian: Best Albums of 2012

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2011]

1. Channel Orange
   Frank Ocean
2. Visions
   Grimes
3. Devotion
   Jessie Ware
4. Swing Lo Magellan
   Dirty Projectors
5. good kid, m.A.A.d city
   Kendrick Lamar
6. Lonerism
   Tame Impala
7. An Awesome Wave
   alt-J
8. Coexist
   The xx
9. In Our Heads
   Hot Chip
10. The Bravest Man in the Universe
    Bobby Womack
11. Kaleidoscope Dream
    Miguel
12. Django Django
    Django Django
13. Kill for Love
    Chromatics
14. Shields
    Grizzly Bear
15. Playin’ Me
    Cooly G
16. Red
    Taylor Swift
17. Born to Die
    Lana Del Rey
18. Words and Music by Saint Etienne
    Saint Etienne
19. Until the Quiet Comes
    Flying Lotus
20. Ill Manors
    Plan B
21. The Haunted Man
    Bat for Lashes
22. In the Belly of the Brazen Bull
    The Cribs
23. Classical Curves
    Jam City
24. Armor On
    Dawn Richard
25. RIP
    Actress
26. Make Me Believe in Hope
    Bright Light Bright Light
27. Give You the Ghost
    Poliça
28. Baby
    Tribes
29. Blunderbuss
    Jack White
30. Reservation
    Angel Haze
31. Electra Heart
    Marina and the Diamonds
32. My Teenage Dream Ended
    Farrah Abraham
33. Mala in Cuba
    Mala
34. One Day I’m Going to Soar
    Dexys
35. One Second of Love
    Nite Jewel
36. Bloom
    Beach House
37. Wonky
    Orbital
38. The Idler Wheel…
    Fiona Apple
39. R.A.P. Music
    Killer Mike
40. ‘Allelujah! Don’t Bend! Ascend!
    Godspeed You! Black Emperor

Cahiers du Cinéma: Top Ten Films of 2012

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2010s • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2011]

1. Holy Motors
   Leos Carax
2. Cosmopolis
   David Cronenberg
3. Twixt
   Francis Ford Coppola
4. 4:44 Last Day on Earth
   Abel Ferrara
4. In Another Country
   Hong Sang-soo
4. Take Shelter
   Jeff Nichols
7. Go Go Tales
   Abel Ferrara
8. Tabu
   Miguel Gomes
8. Faust
   Aleksandr Sokurov
10. Keep the Lights On
    Ira Sachs

The Washington Post: The 10 Best Books of 2012

[see also The 10 Best Books of 2023 • 50 Notable Works of Nonfiction in 2023 • 50 Notable Works of Fiction in 2023 • 50 Notable Works of Nonfiction in 2022 • 50 Notable Works of Fiction in 2022 • The 10 Best Books of 2022 • 50 Notable Works of Nonfiction in 2021 • 50 Notable Works of Fiction in 2021 • The 10 Best Books of 2021 • 10 Best Books of 2020 • 50 Notable Works of Nonfiction in 2020 • 50 Notable Works of Fiction in 2020 • Best Books of 2019 • 10 Best Books of 2018 • 100 Notable Books of 2018 • 10 Best Books of 2017 • The 10 Best Books of 2016 • 10 Best Books of 2015 • The Ten Best Books of 2014 • Top 10 Books of 2013]

Nonfiction

• Behind the Beautiful Forevers

  Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity
  Katherine Boo
• House of Stone

  A Memoir of Home, Family, and a Lost Middle East
  Anthony Shadid
• Iron Curtain

  The Crushing of Eastern Europe, 1945–1956
  Anne Applebaum
• Marigold

  The Lost Chance for Peace in Vietnam
  James Hershberg
• Why Nations Fail

  The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty
  Daron Acemoglu and James A. Robinson

Fiction

• Arcadia
  Lauren Groff
• Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk
  Ben Fountain
• Bring Up the Bodies
  Hilary Mantel
• Broken Harbor
  Tana French
• Canada
  Richard Ford

The Booker Prize: Best Fiction of 2012

[see also 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2011]

Winner

• Bring Up the Bodies
  Hilary Mantel

Shortlist

• Swimming Home
  Deborah Levy
• The Lighthouse
  Alison Moore
• Umbrella
  Will Self
• The Garden of Evening Mists
  Tan Twang Eng
• Narcopolis
  Jeet Thayil

Longlist

• Skios
  Michael Frayn
• Philida
  André Brink
• The Teleportation Accident
  Ned Beauman
• The Yips
  Nicola Barker
• Communion Town
  Sam Thompson
• The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry
  Rachel Joyce

Women's Prize: Best Fiction of 2012

[see also Best Fiction of 2024 • Best Nonfiction of 2024 • Best Fiction of 2023 • Best Fiction of 2022 • Best Fiction of 2021 • Best Fiction of 2020 • Best Fiction of 2019 • Best Fiction of 2018 • Best Fiction of 2017 • Best Fiction of 2016 • Best Fiction of 2015 • Best Fiction of 2014 • Best Fiction of 2013 • Best Fiction of 2011]

Winner

• The Song of Achilles
  Madeline Miller

Shortlist

• State of Wonder
  Ann Patchett
• Foreign Bodies
  Cynthia Ozick
• Half-Blood Blues
  Esi Edugyan
• Painter of Silence
  Georgina Harding
• The Forgotten Waltz
  Anne Enright

Longlist

• The Submission
  Amy Waldman
• Tides of War
  Stella Tillyard
• The Pink Hotel
  Anna Stothard
• There but for the
  Ali Smith
• The Night Circus
  Erin Morgenstern
• The Blue Book
  A.L. Kennedy
• The Translation of the Bones
  Francesca Kay
• Gillespie and I
  Jane Harris
• Island of Wings
  Karin Altenberg
• On the Floor
  Aifric Campbell
• The Flying Man
  Roopa Farooki
• Lord of Misrule
  Jaimy Gordon
• The Sealed Letter
  Emma Donoghue
• The Grief of Others
  Leah Hager Cohen

Skandies: 20 Best Films of 2011 [a poll of about 40 cinephiles]

1. The Tree of Life
   Terrence Malick
2. A Separation
   Asghar Farhadi
3. Margaret
   Kenneth Lonergan
4. Certified Copy
   Abbas Kiarostami
5. House of Pleasures
   Bertrand Bonello
6. Drive
   Nicolas Winding Refn
7. Melancholia
   Lars von Trier
8. Meek’s Cutoff
   Kelly Reichardt
9. Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives
   Apichatpong Weerasethakul
10. Martha Marcy May Marlene
    Sean Durkin
11. Tuesday, After Christmas
    Radu Muntean
12. Of Gods and Men
    Xavier Beauvois
13. The Arbor
    Clio Barnard
14. Putty Hill
    Matthew Porterfield
15. Beginners
    Mike Mills
16. Moneyball
    Bennett Miller
17. Take Shelter
    Jeff Nichols
18. Shame
    Steve McQueen
19. Hugo
    Martin Scorsese
20. We Need to Talk About Kevin
    Lynne Ramsay