{PART 1} {PART 2}

Jack White - Blunderbuss {Rock}

RIYL: The Black Keys, Bob Dylan

Jack White ventures off into solo territory for the first time with his divorce-driven debut album, and this time he’s recruited an all-female backing band to help with his solo efforts. And although it’s easy to compare some of the tracks to his past projects (The White Stripes, The Dead Weather and The Raconteurs), it’s safe to say that Jacky boy is trying to take a new direction with Blunderbuss, which is refreshing for any long-time fan.

Thee Oh Sees - Putrifiers II {Psych Rock}

RIYL: Black Lips, The Velvet Underground

Putrifiers II has easily become one of our favourites this past year, and not only because their sound draws in influences from all the greats; (think: The Doors-meets-Pink Floyd-meets-Velvet Underground). The release takes listeners on a psychedelic listening journey, so if psych rock is your thing then you should give this album a considerable listen and sit back, hold tight and enjoy the ride.

Fiona Apple - The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do {Alternative/Baroque Pop}

RIYL: Tori Amos, Cat Power

Fiona Apple certainly didn’t need a ridiculously long album title and a crapton of hash drama to turn heads this past year, because her latest release (appropriately shortened to The Idler Wheel) has become one of the most talked about albums of 2012. The girl has been around since 1994, so the fact that she’s still being praised by critics deserves recognition.

Wintersleep - Hello Hum {Rock}

RIYL: Matthew Good, Tool

For all you non-Canadians out there who think we hit our peak with Rush and Neil Young, feast your ears on these bad boys. Not just limited to Hello Hum, their entire catalogue is packed full of some great rock tune-age, so if you like what you hear then we highly recommend you check out other tracks like “Jaws of Life,” or “Danse Macabre.”

Deerhoof - Breakup Song  {Experimental/Noise Rock}

RIYL: Yoko Ono, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Death From Above 1979

Whether you like their sound or not, Deerhoof has achieved a cult-like following thanks to their talents of bending the laws of what we know as music. And although we were never really the Deerhoof type, the epic track otherwise known as “There’s That Grin” eventually won us over.

Full album stream:

Mesita - The Coyote {Indie Rock}

RIYL: The Shins, Tapes ‘n Tapes

We’ve come to the conclusion that there’s really no reason not to like this album, especially given that the group’s main man James Cooley released the album independently. Besides the hit single “Onward, Upward,” the release also features a ton of other great tracks like “You or the City” and “Into the Wind,” one of the many album tracks that shows off Cooley’s impressive musicianship.

Mark Lanegan Band - Blues Funeral {Alternative Rock}

RIYL: Nick Cave, Tom Waits, Leonard Cohen

We’ll be the first to admit that we only got into Lanegan because of his involvement with Josh Homme in Queens of the Stone Age/Desert Sessions, but the former Screaming Trees frontman has proven that he’s more than just a contributor. A lot of the songs are a tad on the slower side, but haunting nonetheless thanks to his famous raspy vocals.

Lower Dens – Nootropics {Alternative/Psych Rock}

RIYL: Beach House, Lou Reed

We weren’t really a fan of Lower Dens’ sound when we first heard it, but after seeing the album pop up left and right on all these end-of-year lists we thought we’d give it another chance. And despite the fact that it’s dark, moody and dreary, it certainly deserves its place on anyone’s top albums list just for the sheer fact that it’s different than anything else being released at the moment.
 

Friends – Manifest! {Electropop}

RIYL: New Young Pony Club, Peaking Lights

This energetic and charismatic quintet are more than just a perfect filler in between New Young Pony Club albums. The fact that the album hasn’t received top-notch reviews while other mediocre ones have remains to be a mystery to us, especially with tracks like “Mind Control,” “I’m His Girl” and “Friend Crush.”

The Brian Jonestown Massacre – Aufheben {Psych Rock}

RIYL: Dandy Warhols, The Rolling Stones

It seems hard to believe that BJM has been around for almost 13 years now. And given that we’re such hardcore fans, we were relieved to hear that time hasn’t hampered with Anton Newcombe’s under-appreciated songwriting talents. Living up to the group’s reputation, their 13th (!) album is packed full of all sorts of references any music nerd will appreciate (like “I Wanna Hold Your Other Hand,” “Blue Order New Monday” and “Stairway to the Best Party.”)

Chromatics – Kill For Love {New Wave/Electronic}

RIYL: Depeche Mode, The Cure

It’s been five long years since we’ve seen a Chromatics release, and this one certainly deserves its place on any end-of-year list. The album is a little raw around the edges, but with tracks like “Lady,” “Kill for Love” or “Back from the Grave” it’s easy to see why Chromatics have got everyone’s tongues wagging this past year.

Here We Go Magic - A Different Ship {Pop/Rock}

RIYL: The Shins, Grizzly Bear

Just because Here We Go Magic’s latest album is all over the place doesn’t necessarily mean it isn’t great. And although we’re not huge fans of a lot of the songs, the two leading singles (“How Do I Know?” and “Hard to be Close”) deserve a good nod just for the songwriting and vocals alone. Plus it’s always nice to see Luke Temple return to the Here We Go Magic driver’s seat.

Crystal Castles – III {Experimental/Noise Pop}

RIYL: Sleigh Bells, HEALTH

Before everyone was ranting and raving about Sleigh Bells Crystal Castles were dominating the electronic/noise pop scene. And although their sound may not be for everyone (and the album is a mere 40 minutes in length), there’s no denying that III was one of the most talked about albums of the year.

DIIV - Oshin {Alternative Rock}

RIYL: Editors, Nirvana, Interpol

DIIV (pronounced “Dive”) was formed by the guitarist of Beach Fossils and named after one of the most epic Nirvana songs known to mankind, so forgive us for being biased. Nevertheless, Oshin is a good listen from start to finish, but tracks like “Druun,” “Doused” and “How Long Have You Known?” definitely stand out.

Taken by Trees - Other Worlds {Alternative Rock/Dream Pop}

 RIYL: Best Coast, Sea Pinks, Vampire Weekend

This is the first we’ve heard of the former Concretes frontwoman Victoria Bergsman, but apparently she’s been turning heads in the industry for quite some time now. Other Worlds marks her debut solo release, and features influences from just about every musical genre possible.

Dirty Projectors – Swing Lo Magellan {Experimental Rock}

RIYL: Yeasayer, Toro Y Moi

2012 saw not one, but two releases from the Dirty Projectors (with the second being their About to Die EP). Their compositions are so complex and off-the-wall it’s almost impossible not to be intrigued by the band, and for that reason alone this album deserves all the recognition it can get.

Tennis - Young & Old {Surf Pop/Rock}

RIYL: The Walkmen, Beach Boys, Best Coast

Out of all the bands hopping on the surf rock gravy train, this husband-and-wife duo is the real deal (and not only because their music is influenced by a sailing trip around the Eastern Atlantic). And although they are probably best heard when suntanning on a tropical island, we’re going to go out on a limb and say that this album was definitely our “numero uno” only because it defined our summer of 2012. The album was produced by Patrick Carvey of The Black Keys (and you can definitely hear the influence in songs like “Origins”) and it’s a true travesty that it wasn’t included on every single year-end list.

Full album stream:

{PART 1} {PART 2}

{Like RMD on Facebook} {Follow RMD on Twitter} {Subscribe to our RSS Feed}
{RMD on Google+} {RMD on Soundcloud} {RMD on Pinterest} {RMD on Tumblr}