The world didn't end and neither did good music in 2012, despite proclamations to the contrary. Here is ReeVewz annual best album list for the past 12 months. One common theme from top to bottom is that several of the albums featured the most impressive work by those particular artists in years--and in some cases, decades.
* Indicates reviewed/referenced in High Times magazine and/or online at High Times.com
1. Paralytic Stalks...Of Montreal. Kevin Barnes' lyrical and musical genius was never more evident than on Paralytic, the dense complexities of the song structures to be analyzed for aeons. Here Barnes successfully coalesces his earlier Barrett/Beatles influences with his more recent Bowie/Prince dabbling.
2. Clockwork Angels...Rush. The Canadian power-trio's best album in 31 years is a conceptual masterpiece, with "Headlong Flight" the standout track for both musicianship and melody.
3. Psychedelic Pill...Neil Young. Like Rush, Young dipped back to his '70's influences to create something fresh and necessary. If the 16-minute "Walk Like a Giant" isn't enough, try the 27-minute opener "Driftin' Back".
4. Noctourniquet...Mars Volta. After the disappointment of 2009's Octrahedron, Omar and Cedric bounced back in a big way with this album of one strong song after another, highlighted by another round of brilliant vocalizing by Bixler-Zavala (more on him below).
5. Shark Wolf Rabbit Snake...Eliot Lipp. Shark et al is the electronica album of the year, a concept piece fusing the organic and the synthetic in a way that appeals to prog geeks as much as it does club bouncing hipsters. Also wins best LP cover of the year.
*6. Electric Sea...Buckethead...Per usual, Mr. Head released about 420 albums this year, so there are an abundance of choices. But we're going with this touching, mostly acoustic offering from arguably the most diverse guitarist in rock history.
*7. Oblivion Hunter...Lightning Bolt...Oblivion is the best EP of '12, a re-re of "lost 2008 material" that makes a travel-size representation of the Bolts' two-man assault. Their experimentation is ever on display, as on 13-minute "World Wobbly Wide".
*8. Anywhere...Anywhere With this eponymous release, Cedric Bixler-Zavala established himself as the musical MVP of 2012, not only singing but playing persuasive percussion. Also featuring former Triclops! guitarist Christian Beaulieu and bass-god Mike Watt, Anywhere is ferocious and psychedelic all while being largely acoustic.
9. The General Strike...Anti-Flag...The punk album of the year, AF continues their assault on conservative insanity and inanity delivering genuine punk instead of pop-laced junk food. Strike opens creatively with a 20-second thrash mini-track before kicking into head-rushing "The Neoliberal Anthem".
*10. Unlocked--Live From the Georgia Theater...Conspirator...This is the jamband live album of the year, the best representation of Conspirator's sound to date, bringing the studio proficiency of Brownstein and Magner into the live arena with dynamic results.
11. Centipede Hz...Animal Collective...While this isn't as realized as their 2009 smash Merriweather Post Pavilion, on Centipede AC went back to their darker roots and excavated some gems, most notably the thrice-changing and always thrilling track closer "Amanita", in the discussion for song of the year.
*12. That's Why God Made the Radio...The Beach Boys...In 2011, the Boys topped the list with Smile, this year they're on the bottom rung, but the fact they're here at all on this long awaited and sometimes feared reunion album is a pleasant surprise. The last three songs comprise a sentimental suite that ranks right up there with just about anything in the BB' canon.
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