Fade – Yo La Tengo (January 2013)

Click above to listen on Spotify!

It is not 1997.  One can no longer woo the world with a wonderfully woven autumn sweater.  Sixteen years after Yo La Tengo fully realized itself, we have Fade, the elements of which refuse to stand out in front of each other.  Nothing is foregrounded, creating a comforting effect that lets you feel the ease with which the album was made.  Only the towering bookends, “Ohm” and “Before We Run,” push six minutes while the eight in between are calm, humble outings.  Its melodies are so low-key that everything takes a while to learn, but familiarizing yourself with Fade is a pleasant task.  A band is most exciting in its growth, but Yo La Tengo recognizes that years later, you can still stare up at a giant Sequoia, no longer growing but slowly fading into forever.

A

LONG.LIVE.A$AP – A$AP Rocky

Click above to listen on Spotify!

I can’t recall a rap album so defined by atmosphere since Take Care, and it actually takes Drake, aided by 2 Chainz, for a pop moment to find A$AP Rocky’s debut.  After six tracks to which you might sit on your bed, hit the lights, and lose yourself nodding your head to, “Fuckin’ Problems” finds Rocky, Drake, and Kendrick Lamar each finishing by asserting their beasthood, but thanks to a career highlight verse, I only believe Drake.  Rather, I suspect Rocky seeks to transcend beasthood, carefully navigating the darkness he landscapes with Clams Casino and Skrillex.  For over six preposterous minutes on “1 Train,” he drags into his world the most overwhelming battalion of warriors to reckon with since Raekwon brought the Wu to his “House of Flying Daggers.”  Rocky effortlessly establishes himself as two red eyes glowing in the black, but is that the path to immortality he seeks on the opener?  I’m convinced that Beast Drake and Good Kid have figured living forever calls for efforts like “Fashion Killa” or “Fuckin’ Problems,” but they’ve found eternity through their forthcoming approaches. From the shadows, Rocky makes me worry, and with this album, he gives us no answers but certainly makes me wonder if he already has them.

A-

Lysandre – Christopher Owens (January 2013)

Click above to listen on Spotify!

With each album he released with Girls, Christopher Owens’ music would get a little more audacious.  This resulted in a diverse, often twisted third release in Father, Son, Holy Ghost, but while his audacity continues upward after he sheds his band, here everything shrinks.  With eleven tracks in 28 minutes, Owens keeps everything modest, although the “theme” at the end of many songs is as unnecessary as the sounds of intercontinental takeoff.  The confusion of his two concepts–his adventures in America on his first tour and his romance in the French Riviera (started by “Riviera Rock,” another unnecessary moment)–damages his bottom line.  The final four songs would make for a nice EP, but before takeoff, Owens’ tales have no weight (“Here We Go” and “A Broken Heart” deserve better), ending in his continued abuse of clichés (for which I’m still game) and perseverance through problems his story failed to establish.  Conceptual but jumbled, pleasant but weightless, and brief but unnecessarily long, Owens was better unfocused, with more than one girl in his music.

B

Heartthrob – Tegan & Sara (January 2013)

Click above to listen on Spotify!

To get to the bottom of this album’s surface, check the production credits to find one Greg Kurstin, who colored P!nk’s latest with distorted guitar buzzing underneath its electropop oomph, as on “Blow Me.” But Tegan & Sara are too quick for P!nk’s heavy approach; opener “Closer” is at least the best anticipation of lip locking since Carly Rae’s “This Kiss.”  That excitement embodies Heartthrob, which only slows its beating when T&S underutilize or fail to realize the power of their new aesthetic, which they command perfectly on the duo’s most striking moment since “Call It Off”: when finale “Shock to Your System” slashes “WHAT. YOU. ARE. IS. LONELY.” across your chest.  Heartthrob’s power and starry-eyed pop ambitions might make it the quintessential T&S experience, taking the leap that Sainthood called for.  Good on them for not settling after conquering a few hearts and instead aiming to conquer the universe.

A-

Top 24 Albums of 2012: On Your Headphones Album Poll

The University of Minnesota, Morris campus’s The University Register‘s music column On Your Headphones has conducted its first annual album poll.  Four voters (Editor Nah-Tieh Bropleh, Founder Joey Daniewicz, Writer Will Hanson, and Writer KT Lindemann) submitted ballots naming and ranking exactly 25 albums from 2012 and distributing exactly 250 points among them, giving each album no more than 30 but no fewer than 5 points.  This features all albums mentioned by two or more voters, with albums ranked by total number of points and ties broken by number of mentions (both points and mentions being equal results in a tie).

This poll was curated by On Your Headphones Founder Joey Daniewicz, who also edited the writings below.

Click on the album titles to listen on Spotify (with only a few links leading elsewhere).

24. Bloom – Beach House

Points: 12
Mentions: 2
Points per mention: 6
Voters: Nah-Tieh (7, #19), KT (5, #25)

While the most exciting Beach House moment of 2012 was the sample on “Money Trees,” Bloom was a close second.  All half-jokes aside, Bloom is another great album by a band that honestly hasn’t changed much about their formula, but why should they?  While individual tracks may not stand out as far as on past albums, as a whole, Bloom was one of the most beautiful albums of 2012. –Nah-Tieh Bropleh

23. 4evaNaDay – Big K.R.I.T.

Points: 13
Mentions: 2
Points per mention: 6.5
Voters: Joey (7, #18), Will (6, #20)

While Big K.R.I.T. came out with a great big label swag debut album this year, it’s really on his mixtapes, where K.R.I.T. got his start, that he seems the most comfortable, and his comfort is our pleasure.  4evaNaDay is aware of its own status in the canon of southern rap, but K.R.I.T. expands past the “dirty” aspect of dirty south and creates something heartfelt and real with a full confident flow, perfectly accompanied by his usual top-notch production. –Will Hanson

22. Old Ideas – Leonard Cohen

Points: 15
Mentions: 2
Points per mention: 7.5
Voters: Nah-Tieh (5, #22), Joey (10, #9)

It’s an odd thing when whispers prophesize an artist’s album may be their last, and Leonard Cohen, making albums since ’67 and at 78, ought to have more mortal concern than the forever-young Bob Dylan (71) or the ever-boyish Loudon Wainwright III (66).  But Cohen’s latest, maybe last, exudes patience and peacefulness more than anxiety, with intricate, slow moving, slow-blooming melodies weaving in and around his low, lean-in-closer croak, often helped upright by the gentle exhalation of background voices.  Those praying he has any fight left can remain hopeful: Cohen’s final old idea is to maintain his sexual ways religiously. –Joey Daniewicz

19 (tie). Tempest – Bob Dylan

Points: 17
Mentions: 2
Points per mention: 8.5
Voters: Nah-Tieh (12, #10), Will (5, #25)

I think we find something attractive about having the integrity to be unattractive.  For two decades, Bob Dylan has been honing that skill by being an old man musically, but it’s only with Tempest that he synthesizes old man Dylan and storyteller Dylan. As listeners, we’re rewarded for adventuring the arcane like we are when listening to our grandparents talk about years past. There are moments that could be cut (cough “Long and Wasted Years” cough), but when it’s good, as with the title track, it offers cinematic portraits that could only be told by the master storyteller. –W.H.

19 (tie). Shields – Grizzly Bear

Points: 17
Mentions: 2
Points per mention: 8.5
Voters: Nah-Tieh (12, #6), Will (5, #22)

Of the albums on this list, Shields was probably the most hotly debated among us when review time came around.  Why exactly this was is still beyond me. Compositionally, Grizzly Bear has never been as complex.  The first half of the album is fantastic, but G-Bear doesn’t make the mistake of front-loading Shields.  After the wonder that was Veckatimest, it’s relieving the band didn’t try to sell a sequel but instead further played with their sound.  I see Shields as an example of a band doing the right thing. –NB

19 (tie). 1991 – Azealia Banks

Points: 17
Mentions: 2
Points per mention: 8.5
Voters: Joey (9, #14), KT (8, #18)

Azealia Banks is a fascinating figure in the canon of recent YouTube fame. She’s more resonant than most flash-in-the-pan musicians, more relatable than Lana Del Rey, and more daring than Karmin and Justin Bieber. After exploding onto the scene with the bombastic “212,” she released her 1991 EP, which has all the big city, tough kid swagger of her first hit but with added elegance and sensuality.  Plus, Banks has incredible flow, both as a rapper and as a singer, which permeates all four songs.  1991 is a short-form success, and proves that Banks is an artist worth watching. –KT Lindemann

17 (tie). Until the Quiet Comes – Flying Lotus

Points: 18
Mentions: 2
Points per mention: 9
Voters: Nah-Tieh (13, #4), Will (5, #21)

Steven Ellison AKA Flying Lotus enjoys working closely to the realm of dreams. Though suggested by the title “DMT Song,” this is apparent on Until the Quiet Comes long before that track plays. Equal parts serene and playful, UTQC has all the traits of a good dream. Combining elements of hip-hop, jazz, and electronica is a difficult feat, but with UTQC, Ellison picks the best aspects of each genre, creating a unique experience that demands head bobbing throughout. –NB

17 (tie). Blunderbuss – Jack White

Points: 18
Mentions: 2
Points per mention: 9
Voters: Nah-Tieh (12, #9), KT (6, #21)

While The White Stripes album covers featured Jack and Meg White in their own realities and The Raconteurs donned retro outfits, Jack White is alone on the cover of Blunderbuss, save for the vulture resting on his shoulder. Such is the tone of Blunderbuss, where Jack is finally left with himself, weighted by maturation and solemnity as the album progresses. The result is Jack White’s most emotionally gripping work to date, as well as his most complete. –NB

16. Attack on Memory – Cloud Nothings

Points: 19
Mentions: 3
Points per mention: 6.3
Voters: Nah-Tieh (5, #24), Joey (7, #16), KT (7, #20)

There’s a fine line between being angsty and complaining, but Cloud Nothings frontman Dylan Baldi thankfully finds the right side of the line with Attack on Memory. It’s easy to look foolish singing “I miss you ‘cause I like damage/I need something I can hurt” as an adult, but Baldi closes the album thusly without seeming childish.  While he doesn’t completely lose the power pop label he was trying to shed with Attack on Memory, Baldi still manages to craft more aggressive work than before, which is still a job well done. –NB

15. The Haunted Man – Bat for Lashes

Points: 20
Mentions: 2
Points per mention: 10
Voters: Will (10, #11), KT (10, #13)

There’s something about Natasha Khan’s voice that’s always allowed for her highbrow concept albums to maintain some sense of personal space, but with The Haunted Man, she’s transferred the intimacy of her voice into the context of actual intimacy.  She still sings about doppelgängers and the stars as she did with much less control in the past, whereas here she imbues songs like “Laura” with imagery and scenes that are transcribed with such loving detail and realism that it’s impossible not to feel as if you’ve actually been somewhere and not just heard about it. –W.H.

14. The Money Store – Death Grips

Points: 21
Mentions: 2
Points per mention: 10.5
Voters: Joey (8, #12), Will (13, #5)

Listening to Death Grips is physical and confrontational.  It’s not always pleasant, but that’s not the point.  MC Ride can be downright scary with his angry yelling and violent, paranoiac lyrics, and Zach Hill’s disjointed production is soaked in noise. However, they come together in a way that makes for a nightmarish and schizophrenic journey to the heart of darkness in America’s cities.  The Money Store perfects the formula they sought out on Ex-Military by creating fully realized industrial-punk-rap production and lyrics that push everything to the absolute extreme, dragging you down into derangement and dystopia. –W.H.

13. Born to Die – Lana Del Rey

Points: 22
Mentions: 3
Points per mention: 7.3
Voters: Nah-Tieh (11, #11), Joey (6, #23), KT (5, #24)

Upon its release, I wasn’t a fan of Born to Die, but despite my initial dismissal, here I am writing about how much I enjoy the album. It’s hardly my fault. Lana’s I’m-glamorous-but-still-sad image didn’t grip me quickly, but it’s a persona Lana performs better than I previously gave her credit for. The character of Lana Del Rey is an enchanting one, and Born to Die‘s noirish feel is the perfect background to her tales of loving bad boys. I was slow to warm to her, but Lana Del Rey was truly one of the greater figures of 2012. –NB

12. I Know What Love Isn’t – Jens Lekman

Points: 23
Mentions: 2
Points per mention: 11.5
Voters: Nah-Tieh (12, #8), Joey (11, #7)

Like saga of introspection “An Argument with Myself” stretched to album length with simpler, more traditional craft, Lekman’s latest finds him adopting and discarding mindsets and methods to combat feeling like a sinking rock tied to the leg of a person.  When cowboy boots visit his dreamland and misadventures in Melbourne bring a revelation, Lekman grasps a handle on his healing, admitting he doesn’t know what love is, thinking of Erica, and gleefully finishing that he knows what love isn’t.  Still, the finale reveals he’s simply carrying his broken heart gracefully.  Inside, it’s still “fuck you,” “no, you fuck you!” —J.D.

11. Europe – Allo Darlin’

Points: 24
Mentions: 2
Points per mention: 12
Voters: Joey (10, #11), KT (14, #5)

The road to “Too Precious” is always paved with good intentions.  Inoffensive and sunshiny indie pop Londoners Allo Darlin’ could’ve easily produced a twee disaster, but instead they gave us Europe: a joyous, transcontinental road trip of an album.  Upbeat guitars and beautiful vocal harmonies hop along as a baby-voiced Elizabeth Morris sings her elegantly penned lyrics.  The album peaks with “Tallulah,” a stripped-down, ukulele-and-vocals message to a faraway friend.  It’s a small but mighty tune on a sweet but powerful album, which should touch the wanderluster in all of us. ­–K.L.

10. Gossamer – Passion Pit

Points: 24
Mentions: 3
Points per mention: 8
Voters: Joey (6, #22), Will (7, #18), KT (11, #12)

Who knew catharsis could be such a pleasure to listen to?  Gossamer, the belated follow-up to Passion Pit’s 2009 debut Manners, comes from a place of intense emotion–depression, anxiety, and anger–but with near-manic melodies and metre.  Gossamer is strained and brutally honest, but energetic and euphorically optimistic.  It’s a kind of bipolar relationship, but it works, especially considering frontman Michael Angelakos hit one hell of a rough patch of bipolar disorder making this album.  To that end, Passion Pit has pulled off an impossible creative compromise, under even more impossible circumstances. –K.L.

9. Call Me Sylvia – Low Cut Connie

Points: 26
Mentions: 3
Points per mention: 8.7
Voters: Nah-Tieh (5, #25), Joey (8, #15), KT (13, #7)

With the stellar collection of rambunctious loser anthems on Call Me Sylvia, Low Cut Connie presented us with an old-school yet surprisingly fresh dose of rock and roll in 2012.  Their bouncy breed of punk works wonderfully, thanks to generous, scrappy hooks and cheeky, often sexy lyrics.  The album is lovably crude, loaded with rickety piano riffs and handclaps, and frontmen Adam Weiner and Dan Finnemore can even make a pity party sound like a great time. –K.L.

8. Wrecking Ball – Bruce Springsteen

Points: 27
Mentions: 3
Points per mention: 9
Voters: Nah-Tieh (12, #7), Joey (6, #21), KT (9, #15)

Imagine hearing “We Take Care of Our Own” if the Supreme Court had stricken down Obamacare, making the song bubble over with venomous irony a la “Born in the U.S.A.”  Instead, I listen to this collection content in the world’s direction as we keep working on that dream.  The band playing louder than ever in lieu of their sorely missed saxophonist and the music rooted in a melting pot of traditional folksiness to evoke this land, Wrecking Ball establishes Springsteen not as a protester picketing outside The Establishment but as a demolition man, his crane slowly but ominously approaching. –J.D.

7. Visions – Grimes

Points: 29
Mentions: 3
Points per mention: 9.7
Voters: Nah-Tieh (11, #13), Will (9, #13), KT (9, #14)

Eccentric, theatrical, and bedazzled, Claire Boucher AKA Grimes could very easily be dismissed as a gimmicky figure.  On the contrary, she’s a thoughtful, innovative musician who shows incredible control and style on Visions.  “Genesis” and “Oblivion,” two of the most infectious songs of the year, display Grimes’ knack for melody and layering sound without excess. Whether creating Visions, directing her own music video, or performing live, for this one-woman freakshow, stunning craft comes first. –K.L.

6. Transcendental Youth – The Mountain Goats

Points: 32
Mentions: 3
Points per mention: 10.7
Voters: Nah-Tieh (5, #23), Joey (15, #5), KT (12, #11)

His storytelling perfected by Tallahassee, melodies by The Life of the World to Come, and singing and arrangements by All Eternals Deck, John Darnielle’s gone a while without setting his sights skyward.  Transcendental Youth finds Darnielle pulling back the hammer and holding the gun straight each time, sharpening his teeth between lines as a child star dies early of heroin overdose, he snarls (annoyed that he even needs a reason) that he just likes his corner, and the only advice he can give a doomed, spent gladiator beyond “just stay alive” is “…maybe spit some blood at the camera?” —J.D.

5. Swing Lo Magellan – Dirty Projectors

Points: 36
Mentions: 4
Points per mention: 9
Voters:  Nah-Tieh (7, #20), Joey (10, #10), Will (11, #10), KT (8, #17)

Dirty Projectors make the weirdest hooks, but they always manage to become yearlong earworms.  In the past, the band has sprawled these hooks over a lot of space while fitting them into songs where the transition between chorus and verse might not seem logical or normal, and though all their previous work is great, this is their best album yet precisely because they compress their songs.  This is really what’s so stunning about Swing Lo Magellan; they’re able to create perfect pop songs while maintaining every bit of their knack for synthesizing pop music into art music. –W.H.

4. Celebration Rock – Japandroids

Points: 54
Mentions: 4
Points per mention: 13.5
Voters: Nah-Tieh (13, #5), Joey (13, #6), Will (13, #6), KT (15, #4)

Adrenaline.  Testosterone.  Sweat.  Electricity.  Smoke.  Alcohol-stained concrete.  These are what I see as I close my eyes, Celebration Rock on my headphones, and unconsciously switch between playing my air guitar and kit, silently but powerfully mouthing every “WHOA!” and imagining my bandmate in back of me and audience in front of me shouted with me.  I wonder why Brian King smeared all those interjections across the lyric sheet then figure they’re just his appropriate releases of built-up excitement.  Excited about what?  Life, death, Heaven, Hell, youth, love.  Their extreme themes and passionate performances make for a helluva bang. –J.D.

3. The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do – Fiona Apple

Points: 67
Mentions: 4
Points per mention: 16.8
Voters: Nah-Tieh (14, #3), Joey (15, #3), Will (20, #2), KT (18, #1)

Fiona Apple has a prolific capacity for expressing emotion with words, and she proved it in 2012 with The Idler Wheel…: an anxious, evocative masterpiece. It’s not just a breakup album, but instead something much bigger: a reflection on diverse romantic struggles, sung with impeccable flow from the core of an exhausted person.  She asks to be called an airplane, as “the gashes I got from my heartbreak make the slots and the flaps upon my wings, and I use them to give me lift.”  They’ve certainly lifted her miles above other like-minded musical forays of the year. –K.L.

2. good kid, m.A.A.d. city – Kendrick Lamar

Points: 70
Mentions: 4
Points per mention: 17.5
Voters: Nah-Tieh (17, #1), Joey (19, #2), Will (20, #1), KT (14, #6)

Art is about empathy, and gangster rap always has the difficulty of making the average person relate to living in an environment of crime and violence. However, Kendrick Lamar recalls his experiences with such vivid and tragic beauty that not relating is to deny your own humanity. Lamar doesn’t drastically alter the formula for gangster rap, but through that empathy, he perfects it.  He presents a young man, emotionally naked and prematurely at the crossroads of life choosing whether to continue to embody the system he lives in or rise above it without dismissing anyone who chooses the former. –W.H.

1. channel ORANGE – Frank Ocean

Points: 71
Mentions: 4
Points per mention: 17.8
Voters: Nah-Tieh (16, #2), Joey (21, #1), Will (18, #3), KT (16, #3)

Some feel vague dissatisfaction with Frank’s first album but second straight dinger, as channel ORANGE is often slow, soupy, and nebulous–issues unfound in nostalgia,ULTRA.  But this triumph differs immensely from his first: slower because he’s more deliberate, soupier because moods he’s evoking are of a complex brew, and less definite so his analogies can breathe freer.  He invites a wandering legend and a young talent he believes in.  If you’re not on the list, you’re not getting in.  Frank’s less interested in showcasing friends, crafting more personal affairs, but as with Kanye before him, lightning’s struck twice, and immediately. —J.D.

On Your Headphones Album Poll 2012: The Ballots

Nah-Tieh Bropleh

1. good kid, m.A.A.d. city – Kendrick Lamar: 17

2. channel ORANGE – Frank Ocean: 16

3. The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do – Fiona Apple: 14

4. Until the Quiet Comes – Flying Lotus: 13

5. Celebration Rock – Japandroids: 13

6. Shields – Grizzly Bear: 12

7. Wrecking Ball – Bruce Springsteen: 12

8. I Know What Love Isn’t – Jens Lekman: 12

9. Blunderbuss – Jack White: 12

10. Tempest – Bob Dylan: 12

11. Born to Die – Lana Del Rey: 11

12. Port of Morrow – The Shins: 11

13. Visions – Grimes: 11

14. Coexist – The xx: 11

15. 1999 – Joey Bada$$: 11

16. Lonerism – Tame Impala: 8

17. Clear Heart Full Eyes – Craig Finn: 8

18. Life Is Good – Nas: 7

19. Bloom – Beach House: 7

20. Swing Lo Magellan – Dirty Projectors: 7

21. Mature Themes – Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti: 5

22. Old Ideas – Leonard Cohen: 5

23. Transcendental Youth – The Mountain Goats: 5

24. Attack on Memory – Cloud Nothings: 5

25. Call Me Sylvia – Low Cut Connie: 5

Joey Daniewicz

1. channel ORANGE – Frank Ocean: 21

2. good kid, m.A.A.d. city – Kendrick Lamar: 19

3. The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do – Fiona Apple: 15

4. Older Than My Old Man Now – Loudon Wainwright III: 15

5. Transcendental Youth – The Mountain Goats: 15

6. Celebration Rock – Japandroids: 13

7. I Know What Love Isn’t – Jens Lekman: 11

8. Red – Taylor Swift: 11

9. Old Ideas – Leonard Cohen: 10

10. Swing Lo Magellan – Dirty Projectors: 10

11. Europe – Allo Darlin’: 10

12. The Money Store – Death Grips: 9

13. Kaleidoscope Dream – Miguel: 9

14. 1991 – Azealia Banks: 9

15. Call Me Sylvia – Low Cut Connie: 8

16. Attack on Memory – Cloud Nothings: 7

17. Pink – Four Tet: 7

18. 4evaNaDay – Big K.R.I.T.: 7

19. Kindred – Burial: 7

20. Kill the Sexist! – Pussy Riot: 7

21. Wrecking Ball – Bruce Springsteen: 6

22. Gossamer – Passion Pit: 6

23. Born to Die – Lana Del Rey: 6

24. Looking 4 Myself – Usher: 6

25. Kiss – Carly Rae Jepsen: 6

Will Hanson

1. good kid, m.A.A.d. city – Kendrick Lamar: 20

2. The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do – Fiona Apple: 20

3. channel ORANGE - Frank Ocean: 18

4. An Awesome Wave - ∆ (Alt-J): 15

5. The Money Store – Death Grips: 13

6. Celebration Rock – Japandroids: 13

7. (III) – Crystal Castles: 12

8. Mr. M – Lambchop: 12

9. R.A.P. Music – Killer Mike: 11

10. Swing Lo Magellan – Dirty Projectors: 11

11. The Haunted Man – Bat for Lashes: 10

12. Adventures in Your Own Backyard - Patrick Watson: 10

13. Visions – Grimes: 9

14. Devotion – Jessie Ware: 9

15. Yellow & Green – Baroness: 8

16. Shrines – Purity Ring: 8

17. Skelethon – Aesop Rock: 7

18. Gossamer – Passion Pit: 7

19. Sun – Cat Power: 6

20. 4evaNaDay – Big K.R.I.T.: 6

21. Until the Quiet Comes – Flying Lotus: 5

22. Shields – Grizzly Bear: 5

23. We Don’t Even Live Here – P.O.S.: 5

24. Portico Quartet - Portico Quartet: 5

25. Tempest – Bob Dylan: 5

KT Lindemann

1. The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do – Fiona Apple: 18

2. Ugly – Screaming Females: 16

3. channel ORANGE – Frank Ocean: 16

4. Celebration Rock – Japandroids: 15

5. Europe – Allo Darlin’: 14

6. good kid, m.A.A.d. city – Kendrick Lamar: 14

7. Call Me Sylvia – Low Cut Connie: 13

8. Master of My Make-Believe – Santigold: 12

9. Tramp – Sharon Van Etten: 12

10. “Kill My Blues” – The Corin Tucker Band: 12

11. Transcendental Youth – The Mountain Goats: 12

12. Gossamer – Passion Pit: 11

13. The Haunted Man – Bat for Lashes: 10

14. Visions – Grimes: 9

15. Wrecking Ball – Bruce Springsteen: 9

16. The Lion’s Roar – First Aid Kit: 9

17. Swing Lo Magellan – Dirty Projectors: 8

18. 1991 – Azealia Banks: 8

19. Local Business – Titus Andronicus: 7

20. Attack on Memory – Cloud Nothings: 7

21. Blunderbuss – Jack White: 6

22. Centipede Hz – Animal Collective: 6

23. Do You Really Want to Read More? – Pilemil: 5

24. Born to Die – Lana Del Rey: 5

25. Bloom - Beach House: 5

Top 25 Albums of 2012: Expert Witness Pazz & Jop

Robert Christgau’s MSN blog, Expert Witness, has a comment section filled with some of the best music discussion I’ve come across.  Last year, I hosted a poll of commenters’ favorite albums and songs of 2011.  Now, I’ve hosted a second poll there to find commenters’ favorite albums and songs of 2012.  Users voted for exactly ten albums, distributing 100 points among them and awarding each album no more than 30 but no fewer than 5 points.   The top albums here are chosen from 57 ballots, 6 more than last year.  ”Big supporters” indicates voters who gave an album >10 points.  ”First place mentions” indicates voters who had an album in their top slot.  You can find the fifty-seven ballots that were cast here, and you can look at the tally of the top 74 albums and top 84 songs here.

24. Swing Lo Magellan – Dirty Projectors

Points: 59

Mentions: 7

Points per mention: 8.4

Big supporters (2): John Speranza (15), Dan Weiss (12)

First place mentions (1): John Speranza (15)

24. Europe – Allo Darlin’

Points: 59

Mentions: 7

Points per mention: 8.4

Big supporters (2): KT Lindemann (11), Markus Rauchenwald (13)

First place mentions (2): Chris Hurst (10), Markus Rauchenwald (13)

22. Perfectly Imperfect - Elle Varner

Points: 62

Mentions: 7

Points per mention: 8.9

Big supporters (1): Alex Wolf (15)

First place mentions (1): Alex Wolf (15)

22. 4evaNaDay – Big K.R.I.T.

Points: 62

Mentions: 7

Points per mention: 8.9

Big supporters (1): Raul Roque (15)

21. Sorry to Bother You – The Coup

Points: 68

Mentions: 8

Points per mention: 8.5

20. I Know What Love Isn’t – Jens Lekman

Points: 69

Mentions: 7

Points per mention: 9.9

Big supporters (3): Tom Lane (15), Brad Luen (16), Markus Rauchenwald (11)

First place mentions (1): Brad Luen (16)

19. “Kill My Blues” – The Corin Tucker Band

Points: 70

Mentions: 8

Points per mention: 8.8

Big supporters (1): Peter Gorman (11)

18. Kindred – Burial

Points: 74

Mentions: 7

Points per mention: 10.6

Big supporters (2): Jason Gubbels (14), Dan Weiss (22)

Points for Street Halo/Kindred: 37

Mentions for Street Halo/Kindred: 3

Points per mention for Street Halo/Kindred: 12.3

17. Wrecking Ball – Bruce Springsteen

Points: 90

Mentions: 10

Points per mention: 9.0

Big supporters (4): Paul Hayden (15), Greg Morton (17), Zach Philips (15), Markus Rauchenwald (13)

First place mentions: Paul Hayden (15), Greg Morton (17)

16. Attack on Memory – Cloud Nothings

Points: 95

Mentions: 11

Points per mention: 8.6

Big supporters (1): Felix Lorenz (16)

15. Old Ideas – Leonard Cohen

Points: 102

Mentions: 12

Points per mention: 8.5

Big supporters (1): Paul Hayden (14)

14. Tempest – Bob Dylan

Points: 104

Mentions: 9

Points per mention: 11.6

Big supporters (4): Jacob Bailis (11), Zach Philips (15), John Speranza (13), Jerry Withrow (30)

First place mentions: Jerry Withrow (30)

13. Red – Taylor Swift

Points: 104

Mentions: 10

Points per mention: 10.4

Big supporters (5): Jacob Bailis (12), Scott Coleman (15), Brad Luen (11), Ryan Maffei (11), Michael Swallop (13)

First place mentions (1): Mike Imes (10)

12. Dialect Fluorescent – Steve Lehman Trio

Points: 111

Mentions: 8

Points per mention: 13.9

Big supporters (5): Jason Gubbels (19), Tom Hull (15), Brad Luen (16), Christopher Monsen (20), Dan Weber (11)

First place mentions (1): Christopher Monsen (20)

11. Celebration Rock - Japandroids

Points: 124

Mentions: 13

Points per mention: 9.5

Big supporters (3): Paul Hayden (14), Jon LaFollette (12), KT Lindemann (12)

10. The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do – Fiona Apple

Points: 131

Mentions: 15

Points per mention: 8.7

Big supporters (4): Nah-Tieh Bropleh (12), Joey Daniewicz (11), Will Hanson (15), KT Lindemann (16)

First place mentions (1): Kt Lindemann (16)

9. 1991 – Azealia Banks

Points: 141

Mentions: 12

Points per mention: 11.8

Big supporters (5): Justin Little (11), Joe Lunday (19), Michael Tatum (16), Rodney Taylor (30), Alex Wolf (13)

First place mentions (2): Joe Lunday (19), Rodney Taylor (30)

8. Americana – Neil Young & Crazy Horse

Points: 153

Mentions: 16

Points per mention: 9.6

Big supporters (4): Scott Coleman (15), Mitch Fujita (13), Richard Ross (20), John Smallwood (12)

First place mention (3): Kevin John Bozelka (10), Jeff Melnick (10), Richard Ross (20)

7. The Truth About Love – P!nk

Points: 153

Mentions: 17

Points per mention: 9

Big supporters (4): Phil Brasor (20), Scott Coleman (16), Jimmy Cook (24), Rob Cooper (12)

First place mentions (3): Phil Brasor (20), Scott Coleman (16), Jimmy Cook (24)

6. Father Creeper – Spoek Mathambo

Points: 167

Mentions: 17

Points per mention: 9.8

Big supporters (6): Chuck Bromley (15), Justin Little (18), Nick M (11), Kenny Mostern (15), Jaimie Stone (15), Dan Weber (11)

First place mentions (2): Justin Little (18), Kenny Mostern (15)

5. Transcendental Youth – The Mountain Goats

Points: 185

Mentions: 18

Points per mention: 10.3

Big supporters (7): Jacob Bailis (18), Rob Cooper (12), Joey Daniewicz (11), Peter Gorman (11), Felix Lorenz (14), John Smallwood (20), Michael Tatum (12)

First place mentions (2): Jacob Bailis (18), John Smallwood (20)

4. good kid, m.A.A.d. city – Kendrick Lamar

Points: 196

Mentions: 17

Points per mention: 11.5

Big supporters (8): Chuck Bromley (13), Nah-Tieh Bropleh (15), Joey Daniewicz (14), Nick Farruggia (18), Will Hanson (16), KT Lindemann (11), Alexander Nevermind (25), Alex Wolf (11)

First place mentions (4): Nah-Tieh Bropleh (15), Will Hanson (16), Alexander Nevermind (25), Matt Rice (10)

3. Agnostic Hymns & Stoner Fables – Todd Snider

Points: 263

Mentions: 22

Points per mention: 12.0

Big supporters: 11

First place mentions (4): Jeff Callahan (10), Mitch Fujita (16), Jon LaFollette (17), Tom Lane (21)

2. channel ORANGE – Frank Ocean

Points: 358

Mentions: 28

Points per mention: 12.8

Big supporters: 18

First place mentions (5): Chuck Bromley (15), Joey Daniewicz (15), Nick Farruggia (20), Felix Lorenz (16), Raul Roque (20)

1. Older Than My Old Man Now – Loudon Wainwright III

Points: 458

Mentions: 30

Points per mention: 15.3

Big supporters: 21

First place mentions (11): Paul Albone (30), Richard Cobeen (24), Rob Cooper (20), Jason Gubbels (23), Glen Hadwen (10), Tom Hull (15), Liam Smith (15), Michael Tatum (20), Dan Weber (18), Dan Weiss (22), Joe Yanosik (10)

Expert Witness Pazz & Jop 2012: The Tally

Albums (75 total)

1. Older Than My Old Man Now - Loudon Wainwright III: 458 (30)

2. channel ORANGE - Frank Ocean: 358 (28)

3. Agnostic Hymns & Stoner Fables - Todd Snider: 263 (22)

4. good kid, m.A.A.d. city - Kendrick Lamar: 196 (17)

5. Transcendental Youth - The Mountain Goats: 185 (18)

6. Father Creeper - Spoek Mathambo: 167 (17)

7. The Truth About Love - P!nk: 153 (17)

8. Americana - Neil Young & Crazy Horse: 153 (16)

9. 1991 - Azealia Banks: 141 (12)

10. The Idler Wheel… - Fiona Apple: 131 (15)

11. Celebration Rock - Japandroids: 124 (13)

12. Dialect Fluorescent - Steve Lehman Trio: 111 (8)

13. Red - Taylor Swift: 104 (10)

14. Tempest - Bob Dylan: 104 (9)

15. Old Ideas - Leonard Cohen: 102 (12)

16. Attack on Memory - Cloud Nothings: 95 (11)

17. Wrecking Ball - Bruce Springsteen: 90 (10)

18. Kindred - Burial: 74 (7)

19. “Kill My Blues” - The Corin Tucker Band: 70 (8)

20. I Know What Love Isn’t - Jens Lekman: 69 (7)

21. Sorry to Bother You - The Coup: 68 (8)

22. 4evaNaDay - Big K.R.I.T.: 62 (7)

22. Perfectly Imperfect - Elle Varner: 62 (7)

24. Europe - Allo Darlin’: 59 (7)

24. Swing Lo Magellan - Dirty Projectors: 59 (7)

26. Accelerando - Vijay Iyer Trio: 59 (6)

27. Sing the Delta - Iris Dement: 58 (7)

28. Kaleidoscope Dream - Miguel: 55 (5)

29. Bloom - Beach House: 54 (5)

30. Blunderbuss - Jack White: 52 (5)

31. Bouger le Monde! - Staff Benda Bilili: 50 (5)

31. C.A.R. - Serengeti: 50 (5)

33. Born to Die - Lana Del Rey: 49 (6)

34. Tropicália Lixo Lógico - Tom Zé: 49 (5)

35. Words and Music by Saint Etienne - Saint Etienne: 44 (4)

36. Beak & Claw - s / s / s: 43 (4)

37. Dylan Hicks Sings Bolling Greene - Dylan Hicks: 39 (4)

38. A Thing Called Divine Fits - Divine Fits: 38 (6)

39. Sadie - P.S. Eliot: 38 (3)

40. The Money Store - Death Grips: 36 (5)

41. Coexist - The xx: 35 (4)

42. Call Me Sylvia - Low Cut Connie: 33 (4)

43. Sunken Condos - Donald Fagen: 32 (3)

44. R.A.P. Music - Killer Mike: 30 (4)

45. Little Victories - Chris Knight: 30 (3)

46. Nehru Jackets - Himanshu “Heems” Suri: 29 (4)

47. A Working Museum - Wreckless Eric & Amy Rigby: 29 (3)

48. Psychedelic Pill - Neil Young & Crazy Horse: 27 (3)

49. Reign of Terror - Sleigh Bells: 26 (3)

50. Living for a Song: A Tribute to Hank Cochran - Jamey Johnson: 25 (3)

50. Lonerism - Tame Impala: 25 (3)

50. Now What! - Tommy Womack: 25 (3)

50. True - Solange: 25 (3)

54. The Rough Guide to Ethiopia - Various Artists: 24 (2)

54. Visions - Grimes: 24 (2)

56. No1 2 Look Up 2 - Big Baby Gandhi: 23 (2)

57. Born to Sing: No Plan B - Van Morrison: 21 (2)

58. Bell Hooks - BBU: 20 (2)

59. En Yay Sah - Janka Nabay & the Bubu Gang: 20 (2)

59. The Cherry Thing – Neneh Cherry & The Thing: 20 (2)

61. Master of My Make-Believe - Santigold: 19 (3)

61. Out of Sight, Out of Town - Standard Fare: 19 (3)

63. Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded - Nicki Minaj: 19 (2)

64. Breakfast - Chiddy Bang: 18 (2)

65. Listen…Oka! - Chris Berry & the Bayaka of Yandoumbe: 17 (2)

65. MDNA – Madonna: 17 (2)

65. Songs for Desert Refugees - Various Artists: 17 (2)

68. Between the Time and the Tides - Lee Ranaldo: 16 (2)

68. The Rough Guide to Highlife - Various Artists: 16 (2)

70. Shields – Grizzly Bear: 15 (2)

70. Reunion: Live in New York - Sam Rivers/Dave Holland/Barry Altschul: 15 (2)

70. The Only Place - Best Coast: 15 (2)

73. Union Square - Ben Allison, Michael Blake & Rudy Royston: 13 (2)

74. Elysium - Pet Shop Boys: 10 (2)

74. Kiss - Carly Rae Jepsen: 10 (2)

Songs (84 total)

1. “Call Me Maybe” – Carly Rae Jepsen: 19

2. “212″ (featuring Lazy Jay) – Azealia Banks: 15*

3. “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” – Taylor Swift: 14

4. “The House That Heaven Built” – Japandroids: 12

5. “Adorn” – Miguel: 10

5. “New York Banker” – Todd Snider: 10

5. “Pyramids” – Frank Ocean: 10

8. “Andrew in Drag” – The Magnetic Fields: 9

9. “Bad Girls” – M.I.A.: 6

9. “Climax” – Usher: 6

9. “Gangnam Style” – Psy: 6

9. “In C” – Loudon Wainwright III: 6

9. “Somebody That I Used to Know” (featuring Kimbra) – Gotye: 6*

9. “The Night I Learned How Not to Pray” – Iris Dement: 6

15. “Blow Me (One Last Kiss)” – P!nk: 5

15. “Boozophilia” – Low Cut Connie: 5

15. “Merry Go ‘Round” – Kacey Musgraves: 5

15. “Video Games” – Lana Del Rey: 5*

15. “We Take Care of Our Own” – Bruce Springsteen: 5

20. “Amy AKA Spent Gladiator 1″ – The Mountain Goats: 4

20. “Bangarang” (featuring Sirah) – Skrillex: 4

20. “Death to My Hometown” – Bruce Springsteen: 4

20. “Losing You” – Solange: 4

20. “NYC Cops” – Himanshu “Heems” Suri: 4

20. “Putin Lights up the Fire” – Pussy Riot: 4

20. “Refill” – Elle Varner: 4

20. “Same Love” – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis: 4

20. “Simple Song” – The Shins: 4

20. “Tallulah” – Allo Darlin’: 4

20. “The Only Place” – Best Coast: 4

31. “1991″ – Azealia Banks: 3

31. “Brenda” – Todd Snider: 3

31. “Early Roman Kings” – Bob Dylan: 3

31. “Every Single Night” – Fiona Apple: 3

31. “I Love It” (featuring Charli XCX) – Icona Pop: 3

31. “In Between Jobs” – Todd Snider: 3

31. “I’ve Seen Footage” – Death Grips: 3

31. “Liquorice” – Azealia Banks: 3

31. “Long and Wasted Years” – Bob Dylan: 3

31. “Mercy” (featuring Kanye West, Big Sean, Pusha T, and 2 Chainz) – G.O.O.D. Music: 3

31. “Myth” – Beach House: 3

31. “Oblivion” – Grimes: 3

31. “Rocky Ground” – Bruce Springsteen: 3

31. “Sweet Life” – Frank Ocean: 3

31. “The Days That We Die” – Loudon Wainwright III: 3

31. “Womyn” – Himanshu “Heems” Suri: 3

47. “Bad Religion” – Frank Ocean: 2

47. “Backseat Freestyle” – Kendrick Lamar: 2

47. “Bitch Don’t Kill My Vibe” – Kendrick Lamar: 2

47. “Boobie Miles” – Big K.R.I.T.: 2

47. “Do You…” – Miguel: 2

47. “Do You Remember That” – Wreckless Eric & Amy Rigby: 2

47. “Emmylou” – First Aid Kit: 2

47. “Feels Like We Only Go Backwards” – Tame Impala: 2

47. “Give Me All Your Luvin’” – Madonna: 2

47. “Going Home” – Leonard Cohen: 2

47. “Groundhog Day” – The Corin Tucker Band: 2

47. “Harlem Roulette” – The Mountain Goats: 2

47. “Hot Knife” – Fiona Apple: 2

47. “I Knew You Were Trouble” – Taylor Swift: 2

47. “Ill Manors” – Plan B: 2

47. “I’m Shakin’” – Jack White: 2

47. “Land of Hope and Dreams” – Bruce Springsteen: 2

47. “Let Them Talk” – Spoek Mathambo: 2

47. “Lost” – Frank Ocean: 2

47. “Money Trees” (featuring Jay Rock) – Kendrick Lamar: 2

47. “Oh Susannah” – Neil Young & Crazy Horse: 2

47. “Oh What a Night” – Elle Varner: 2

47. “Play That Cheap Trick, Cheap Trick Play” – Tommy Womack: 2

47. “Red” – Taylor Swift: 2

47. “Ride” – Lana Del Rey: 2

47. “Show Me the Place” – Leonard Cohen: 2

47. “Sixteen Saltines” – Jack White: 2

47. “Soundproof Room” – Elle Varner: 2

47. “Springsteen” – Eric Church: 2

47. “Starships” – Nicki Minaj: 2

47. “Swimming Pools (Drank)” – Kendrick Lamar: 2

47. “Tempest” – Bob Dylan: 2

47. “The Guillotine” – The Coup: 2

47. “Thinkin Bout You” – Frank Ocean: 2

47. “Thrift Shop” – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis: 2

47. “Tonight” – Saint Etienne: 2

47. “Wildest Moments” – Jessie Ware: 2

47. “Your Parents’ Cocaine” (featuring Justin Sane from Anti-Flag) – The Coup: 2

Expert Witness Pazz & Jop 2012: The Ballots

Paul Albone

Albums

1. Older Than My Old Man Now – Loudon Wainwright III: 30

2. Agnostic Hymns & Stoner Fables – Todd Snider: 20

3. Wrecking Ball – Bruce Springsteen: 10

4. The Truth About Love – P!nk: 10

5. Americana – Neil Young & Crazy Horse: 5

6. The Rough Guide to Highlife – Various Artists: 5

7. Transcendental Youth – The Mountain Goats: 5

8. Old Ideas – Leonard Cohen: 5

9. Sing the Delta – Iris Dement: 5

10. The Isle of Marx – Harry Marx: 5

Songs

1. “We Take Care of Our Own” – Bruce Springsteen

2. “In Between Jobs” – Todd Snider

3. “The Here and the Now” – Loudon Wainwright III

4. “Somebody That I Used to Know” (featuring Kimbra) – Gotye

5. “Do You Remember That?” – Wreckless Eric & Amy Rigby

6. “Early Roman Kings” – Bob Dylan

7. “Used to Rule the World” - Bonnie Raitt

8. “Mutt Romney Blues” – Ry Cooder

9. “Jack of All Trades” – Bruce Springsteen

10. “New Found Year” – Paul Kelly

Jacob Bailis

Albums

1. Transcendental Youth – The Mountain Goats: 18

2. Older Than My Old Man Now – Loudon Wainwright III: 17

3. Red – Taylor Swift: 12

4. Tempest – Bob Dylan: 11

5. Old Ideas – Leonard Cohen: 10

6. channel ORANGE – Frank Ocean: 9

7. MDNA – Madonna: 8

8. Wrecking Ball - Bruce Springsteen: 5

9. 1991 – Azealia Banks: 5

10. Kiss – Carly Rae Jepsen: 5

Songs

1. “Call Me Maybe” – Carly Rae Jepsen

2. “Amy AKA Spent Gladiator 1″ – The Mountain Goats

3. “Tempest” – Bob Dylan

4. “In Between Jobs” – Todd Snider

5. “The Days That We Die” – Loudon Wainwright III

6. “Show Me the Place” – Leonard Cohen

7. “Will the Real Mitt Romney Please Stand Up?) (featuring Eminem) – Hugh Atkin

8. “Begin Again” – Taylor Swift

9. “Give Me All Your Luvin’” – Madonna

10. “Tin Angel” – Bob Dylan

Kevin John Bozelka

Albums

1. Americana - Neil Young & Crazy Horse: 10

2. Tropicália Lixo Lógico – Tom Zé: 10

3. Bell Hooks - BBU: 10

4. awE NaturalE – THEESatisfaction: 10

5. Older Than My Old Man Now – Loudon Wainwright III: 10

6. 100 Proof – Kellie Pickler: 10

7. Coexist – The xx: 10

8. good kid, m.A.A.d. city – Kendrick Lamar: 10

9. Sing the Delta – Iris Dement: 10

10. The Money Store – Death Grips: 10

Songs

1. “Voodoo Pussy” – Miss Prada

2. “Faith” - Dead Rose Music Company

3. ”Vogue If Ya’ Nasty” – B. Ames

4. “Stupid Hoe” – Nicki Minaj

5. “Fuck U All the Time” (featuring Natasha Mosley) – Jeremih

6. “Raise and Fall” – Gunfight!

7. “Demonstrate” – JoJo

8. “Crayon” – G-Dragon

9. “50 Ways to Say Goodbye” – Train

10. “Merry Go ‘Round” – Kacey Musgraves

Phil Brasor

Albums

1. The Truth About Love – P!nk: 20

2. Night & Day – Andre Williams & the Sadies: 15

3. En Yay Sah - Janka Nabay & the Bubu Gang: 15

4. True – Solange: 10

5. Older Than My Old Man Now – Loudon Wainwright III: 10

6. channel ORANGE: 10

7. Street Halo/Kindred – Burial: 5

8. Cancer 4 Cure – El-P: 5

9. Cut the World – Antony & the Johnsons: 5

10. The Money Store – Death Grips: 5

Chuck Bromley

Albums

1. channel ORANGE – Frank Ocean: 15

2. Father Creeper – Spoek Mathambo: 15

3. good kid, m.A.A.d. city – Kendrick Lamar: 13

4. Dialect Fluorescent – Steve Lehman Trio: 10

5. Born to Die – Lana Del Rey: 10

6. Unorthodox Jukebox – Bruno Mars: 9

7. Transcendental Youth – The Mountain Goats: 9

8. Old Ideas – Leonard Cohen: 7

9. The Truth About Love - P!nk: 7

10. The Idler Wheel… – Fiona Apple: 5

Songs

1. “Hot Knife” – Fiona Apple

2. “212″ (featuring Lazy Jay) – Azealia Banks

3. “The Night I Learned How Not to Pray” – Iris Dement

4. “Call Me Maybe” – Carly Rae Jepsen

5. “Bad Girls” – M.I.A.

6. “Andrew in Drag” – The Magnetic Fields

7. “Pyramids” – Frank Ocean

8. “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” – Taylor Swift

9. “Soundproof Room” – Elle Varner

10. “I’m Shakin’” – Jack White

Nah-Tieh Bropleh

Albums

1. good kid, m.A.A.d. city – Kendrick Lamar: 15

2. channel ORANGE – Frank Ocean: 14

3. The Idler Wheel… – Fiona Apple: 12

4. Until the Quiet Comes – Flying Lotus: 11

5. Celebration Rock – Japandroids: 10

6. Shields – Grizzly Bear: 10

7. Wrecking Ball – Bruce Springsteen: 10

8. I Know What Love Isn’t – Jens Lekman: 8

9. Blunderbuss – Jack White: 6

10. Tempest – Bob Dylan: 5

Songs

1. ”Money Trees” (featuring Jay Rock) – Kendrick Lamar

2. “Pyramids” – Frank Ocean

3. “Chum” – Earl Sweatshirt

4. “The House That Heaven Built” – Japandroids

5. “Simple Song” – The Shins

6. “Oldie” – OFWGKTA

7. “Adorn” – Miguel

8. “Feels Like We Only Go Backwards” – Tame Impala

9. “Putty Boy Strut” – Flying Lotus

10. “Higher Ground” – TNGHT

Jeff Callahan

Albums

1. Agnostic Hymns & Stoner Fables – Todd Snider: 10

2. Older Than My Old Man Now – Loudon Wainwright III: 10

3. channel ORANGE – Frank Ocean: 10

4. The Truth About Love - P!nk: 10

5. Transcendental Youth – The Mountain Goats: 10

6. Dylan Hicks Sings Bolling Greene – Dylan Hicks: 10

7. The Idler Wheel… – Fiona Apple: 10

8. Perfectly Imperfect – Elle Varner: 10

9. good kid, m.A.A.d. city – Kendrick Lamar: 10

10. Attack on Memory – Cloud Nothings: 10

Songs

1. “212″ (featuring Lazy Jay) – Azealia Banks

2. “We Take Care of Our Own” – Bruce Springsteen

3. “The 90 and the 9″ – Ry Cooder

4. “The Night I Learned How Not to Pray” – Iris Dement

5. “The House That Heaven Built” – Japandroids

6. “Groundhog Day” – The Corin Tucker Band

7. “I Knew You Were Trouble” – Taylor Swift

8. “Sixteen Saltines” – Jack White

9. “I’ve Seen Footage” – Death Grips

10. “Ramada Inn” – Neil Young & Crazy Horse

Richard Cobeen

Albums

1. Older Than My Old Man Now – Loudon Wainwright III: 24

2. Words and Music by Saint Etienne – Saint Etienne: 14

3. The Rough Guide to Highlife – Various Artists: 11

4. Attack on Memory – Cloud Nothings: 9

5. 4evaNaDay – Big K.R.I.T.: 8

6. Agnostic Hymns & Stoner Fables – Todd Snider: 7

7. Europe – Allo Darlin’: 7

8. Celebration Rock – Japandroids: 7

9. Songs for Desert Refugees – Various Artists: 7

10. channel ORANGE – Frank Ocean: 6

Songs

1. “212″ (featuring Lazy Jay) – Azealia Banks

2. “Call Me Maybe” – Carly Rae Jepsen

3. “Groundhog Day” – The Corin Tucker Band

4. “The House That Heaven Built” – Japandroids

5. “In C” – Loudon Wainwright III

6. “New York Banker” – Todd Snider

7. “Oh What a Night” – Elle Varner

8. “The Only Place” – Best Coast

9. “Out from Inside” – Imperial Teen

10. “Rap vs. Real” – Saigon

Scott Coleman

Albums

1. The Truth About Love – P!nk: 16

2. Americana – Neil Young & Crazy Horse: 15

3. Red – Taylor Swift: 15

4. Coexist – The xx: 10

5. Born to Die – Lana Del Rey: 10

6. 4evaNaDay – Big K.R.I.T.: 10

7. Perfectly Imperfect – Elle Varner: 7

8. Father Creeper – Spoek Mathambo: 7

9. Bloom - Beach House: 5

10. Privateering – Mark Knopfler: 5

Songs

1. “Blow Me (One Last Kiss)” – P!nk

2. “Call Me Maybe” – Carly Rae Jepsen

3. “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” – Taylor Swift

4. “What Did The Hippy Have In His Bag” – Cornershop

5. ”Mercy” (featuring Kanye West, Big Sean, Pusha T, and 2 Chainz) – G.O.O.D. Music

6. “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)” – Kelly Clarkson

7. “Adorn” – Miguel

8. “Red” – Taylor Swift

9. “Bangarang” (featuring Sirah) – Skrillex

10. “Gangnam Style” – Psy

Jimmy Cook

Albums

1. The Truth About Love – P!nk: 24

2. Older Than My Old Man Now – Loudon Wainwright III: 19

3. Agnostic Hymns & Stoner Fables – Todd Snider: 14

4. No1 2 Look Up 2  - Big Baby Gandhi: 13

5. Father Creeper – Spoek Mathambo: 5

6. Nehru Jackets – Himanshu “Heems” Suri: 5

7. 4evaNaDay – Big K.R.I.T.: 5

8. Wrecking Ball – Bruce Springsteen: 5

9. 1991 – Azealia Banks: 5

10. Transcendental Youth – The Mountain Goats: 5

Songs

1. “212″ (featuring Lazy Jay) – Azealia Banks

2. “American Experience” – Big Baby Gandhi

3. “New York Banker” – Todd Snider

4. “Video Games” – Lana Del Rey

5. “NYC Cops” – Himanshu “Heems” Suri

6. “Blow Me (One Last Kiss)” – P!nk

7. “Nomenclature” – Wussy

8. “Death to My Hometown” – Bruce Springsteen

9. “In C” – Loudon Wainwright III

10. “Last Year” – Best Coast

Rob Cooper

Albums

1. Older Than My Old Man Now – Loudon Wainwright III: 20

2. Agnostic Hymns & Stoner Fables – Todd Snider: 13

3. Transcendental Youth – The Mountain Goats: 12

4. channel ORANGE – Frank Ocean: 12

5. The Truth About Love – P!nk: 12

6. Heat Lightning Rumbles in the Distance – Patterson Hood: 8

7. Celebration Rock – Japandroids: 8

8. good kid, m.A.A.d. city – Kendrick Lamar: 5

9. Beak & Claw – s / s / s: 5

10. First of a Living Breed – Homeboy Sandman: 5

Songs

1. “212″ (featuring Lazy Jay) – Azealia Banks

2. “Womyn” – Himanshu “Heems” Suri

3. “Andrew in Drag” – The Magnetic Fields

4. “Going Home” – Leonard Cohen

5. “Bangarang” (featuring Sirah) – Skrillex

6. “The House That Heaven Built” – Japandroids

7. ”Your Parents’ Cocaine” (featuring Justin Sane from Anti-Flag) – The Coup

8. “New God Flow” (featuring Kanye West, Pusha T & Ghostface Killah) – G.O.O.D. Music

9. “Backseat Freestyle” – Kendrick Lamar

10. “The Truth About Love” – P!nk

Joey Daniewicz

Albums

1. channel ORANGE – Frank Ocean: 15

2. good kid, m.A.A.d. city – Kendrick Lamar: 14

3. The Idler Wheel…  - Fiona Apple: 11

4. Older Than My Old Man Now – Loudon Wainwright III: 11

5. Transcendental Youth – The Mountain Goats: 11

6. Celebration Rock – Japandroids: 10

7. I Know What Love Isn’t – Jens Lekman: 8

8. Red – Taylor Swift: 8

9. Old Ideas – Leonard Cohen: 6

10. Swing Lo Magellan – Dirty Projectors: 6

Songs

1. “Putin Lights up the Fire” – Pussy Riot

2. “Gangnam Style” – Psy

3. “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” – Taylor Swift

4. “The House That Heaven Built” – Japandroids

5. “Thinkin Bout You” – Frank Ocean

6. “Climax” – Usher

7. “Merry Go ‘Round” – Kacey Musgraves

8. “Simple Song” – The Shins

9. “Call Me Maybe” – Carly Rae Jepsen

10. “Adorn” – Miguel

Nick Farruggia

Albums

1. channel ORANGE – Frank Ocean: 20

2. Kaleidoscope Dream – Miguel: 18

3. good kid, m.A.A.d. city – Kendrick Lamar: 18

4. Agnostic Hymns & Stoner Fables – Todd Snider: 12

5. Attack on Memory – Cloud Nothings: 6

6. The Money Store – Death Grips: 6

7. Sorry to Bother You – The Coup: 5

8. A Thing Called Divine Fits – Divine Fits: 5

9. R.A.P. Music – Killer Mike: 5

10. Call Me Sylvia - Low Cut Connie: 5

Songs

1. “Reagan” – Killer Mike

2. “Pyramids” – Frank Ocean

3. “Big Finish” – Todd Snider

4. “good kid” – Kendrick Lamar

5. “Mercy” (featuring Kanye West, Big Sean, Pusha T, and 2 Chainz) – G.O.O.D. Music

6. “Big Beast” (featuring Bun B, T.I. & Trouble) – Killer Mike

7. “Wasted Days” – Cloud Nothings

8. “Do You…” – Miguel

9. “Your Parents’ Cocaine” (featuring Justin Sane from Anti-Flag) – The Coup

10. ”I Love It” (featuring Charli XCX) – Icona Pop

Mitch Fujita

Albums

1. Agnostic Hymns & Stoner Fables – Todd Snider: 16

2. Older Than My Old Man Now – Loudon Wainwright III: 14

3. Americana – Neil Young & Crazy Horse: 13

4. channel ORANGE – Frank Ocean: 12

5. The Money Store – Death Grips: 10

6. good kid, m.A.A.d. city – Kendrick Lamar: 9

7. Celebration Rock - Japandroids: 8

8. Attack on Memory – Cloud Nothings: 7

9. Transcendental Youth – The Mountain Goats: 6

10. A Thing Called Divine Fits – Divine Fits: 5

Songs

1. “Bad Girls” – M.I.A.

2. “Gangnam Style” – Psy

3. “Call Me Maybe” – Carly Rae Jepsen

4. “Hot Knife” – Fiona Apple

5. “Amy AKA Spent Gladiator 1″ – The Mountain Goats

6. “I’ve Seen Footage” – Death Grips

7. “Sierra Leone” – Frank Ocean

8. “Feels Like We Only Go Backwards” – Tame Impala

9. “No Future/No Past” – Cloud Nothings

10. “Myth” – Beach House

Peter Gorman

Albums

1. A Working Museum – Wreckless Eric & Amy Rigby: 13

2. channel ORANGE – Frank Ocean: 12

3. A Thing Called Divine Fits – Divine Fits: 11

4. “Kill My Blues” – The Corin Tucker: 11

5. Transcendental Youth - The Mountain Goats: 11

6. Between the Time and the Tides – Lee Ranaldo: 10

7. Bouger le Monde – Staff Benda Bilili: 10

8. Dylan Hicks Sings Bolling Greene – Dylan Hicks: 8

9. Tempest – Bob Dylan: 7

10. Europe – Allo Darlin’: 7

Songs

1. “Brenda” – Todd Snider

2. “Amy AKA Spent Gladiator 1″ – The Mountain Goats

3. “Become Someone Else’s” – Jens Lekman

4. “Boozophilia” – Low Cut Connie

5. “I Threw It All Away” – Saint Etienne

6. “Lost” – Frank Ocean

7. “Oh Susannah” – Neil Young & Crazy Horse

8. “I’m Shakin’” – Jack White

9. ”Play That Cheap Trick, Cheap Trick Play” – Tommy Womack

10. “Andrew in Drag” – The Magnetic Fields

Jason Gubbels

Albums

1. Older Than My Old Man Now – Loudon Wainwright III: 23

2. Dialect Fluorescent – Steve Lehman Trio: 19

3. Kindred – Burial: 14

4. Accelerando – Vijay Ayer Trio: 10

5. The Truth About Love – P!nk: 8

6. I Know What Love Isn’t – Jens Lekman: 6

7. C.A.R. – Serengeti: 5

8. Father Creeper – Spoek Mathambo: 5

9. True – Solange: 5

10. Old Ideas – Leonard Cohen: 5

Songs

1. “Other People” – Beach House

2. “The Night I Learned How Not to Pray” – Iris Dement

3. “NYC Cops” – Himanshu “Heems” Suri

4. “Tiny Little Bows” – Carly Rae Jepsen

5. “Andrew in Drag” – The Magnetic Fields

6. “Adorn” – Miguel

7. “Beez in the Trap” (featuring 2 Chainz) – Nicki Minaj

8. “Crack Rock” – Frank Ocean

9. “Losing You” – Solange

10. “Death to My Hometown” – Bruce Springsteen

Glen Hadwen

Albums

1. Older Than My Old Man Now – Loudon Wainwright III: 10

2. 1991 – Azealia Banks: 10

3. Tropicália Lixo Lógico – Tom Zé: 10

4. Sadie – P.S. Eliot: 10

5. Dialect Fluorescent – Steve Lehman Trio: 10

6. Nehru Jackets – Himanshu “Heems” Suri: 10

7. Super On It – Linkoban: 10

8. Americana – Neil Young & Crazy Horse: 10

9. Mercury Lounge 8/11/12 – Wussy: 10

10. Agnostic Hymns & Stoner Fables – Todd Snider: 10

Songs

1. “Thrift Shop” – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

2. “Cry for Judas” – The Mountain Goats

3. “Womyn” – Himanshu “Heems” Suri

4. “Tallulah” – Allo Darlin’

5. “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” – Taylor Swift

6. “212″ (featuring Lazy Jay) – Azealia Banks

7. “Rocky Ground” – Bruce Springsteen

8. “Anything We Want” – Fiona Apple

9. “Blown Away” – Saigon

10. “The Only Place” – Best Coast

Will Hanson

Albums

1. good kid, m.A.A.d. city – Kendrick Lamar: 16

2. The Idler Wheel… – Fiona Apple: 15

3. channel ORANGE – Frank Ocean: 14

4. An Awesome Wave – Alt-J: 10

5. The Money Store – Death Grips: 10

6. Celebration Rock – Japandroids: 9

7. (III) – Crystal Castles: 8

8. Mr. M – Lambchop: 7

9. R.A.P. Music – Killer Mike: 6

10. Swing Lo Magellan – Dirty Projectors: 5

Songs

1. “Bad Religion” – Frank Ocean

2. “Every Single Night” – Fiona Apple

3. “Gangnam Style” – Psy

4. “The House That Heaven Built” – Japandroids

5. ”Mercy” (featuring Kanye West, Big Sean, Pusha T, and 2 Chainz) – G.O.O.D. Music

6. “Cartoon and Cereal” – Kendrick Lamar

7. “Bad Girls” – M.I.A.

8. “Oblivion” – Grimes

9. “Wildest Moments” – Jessie Ware

10. “Tempest” – Bob Dylan

Paul Hayden

Albums

1. Wrecking Ball – Bruce Springsteen: 15

2. Bloom – Beach House: 14

3. Celebration Rock – Japandroids: 14

4. Old Ideas – Leonard Cohen: 14

5. Swing Lo Magellan - Dirty Projectors: 9

6. Tempest – Bob Dylan: 8

7. The Carpenter – The Avett Brothers: 8

8. Sing the Delta – Iris Dement: 7

9. Europe – Allo Darlin’: 6

10. Blunderbuss – Jack White: 5

Songs

1. “Hold On” – Alabama Shakes

2. “The Only Place” – Best Coast

3. “In C” – Loudon Wainwright III

4. “Sober” – Little Big Town

5. “Land of Hope and Dreams” – Bruce Springsteen

6. “The Hours” – Beach House

7. “The House That Heaven Built” – Japandroids

8. “The Descent” – Bob Mould

9. “Emmylou” – First Aid Kit

10. “Teenage Icon” – The Vaccines

Tom Hull

Albums

1. Older Than My Old Man Now – Loudon Wainwright III: 15

2. Dialect Fluorescent – Steve Lehman Trio: 15

3. Born to Sing: No Plan B – Van Morrison: 10

4. Agnostic Hymns & Stoner Fables – Todd Snider: 10

5. Little Victories – Chris Knight: 10

6. Breakfast – Chiddy Bang: 8

7. Reunion: Live in New York - Sam Rivers/Dave Holland/Barry Altschul: 8

8. Sorry to Bother You – The Coup: 8

9. Sing the Delta – Iris Dement: 8

10. Naturally – Houston Person: 8

Chris Hurst

Albums

1. Europe – Allo Darlin’: 10

2. Transcendental Youth – The Mountain Goats: 10

3. Bouger le Monde - Staff Benda Bilili: 10

4. Sorry to Bother You – The Coup: 10

5. Americana – Neil Young & Crazy Horse: 10

6. Celebration Rock - Japandroids: 10

7. The Moon in Transit – Thomas Anderson: 10

8. A Working Museum – Wreckless Eric & Amy Rigby: 10

9. Now What! – Tommy Womack: 10

10. Hundred Dollar Valentine – Chris Smither: 10

Songs

1. “Call Me Maybe” – Carly Rae Jepsen

2. “Gangnam Style” – Psy

3. “212″ (featuring Lazy Jay) – Azealia Banks

4. “Blow Me (One Last Kiss)” – P!nk

5. “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” – Taylor Swift

6. ”Give Me All Your Luvin’” – Madonna

7. “Super into on It” – Linkoban

8. “The Night I Learned How Not to Pray” – Iris Dement

9. “Guttersnipe” – Bhi Bhiman

10. “Don’t Blame Steve” – Serengeti

Mike Imes

Albums

1. Red – Taylor Swift: 10

2. Celebration Rock – Japandroids: 10

3. Street Halo/Kindred – Burial: 10

4. Psychedelic Pill – Neil Young & Crazy Horse: 10

5. Transcendental Youth – The Mountain Goats: 10

6. Pozniak Street – The Pozniaks: 10

7. I Bet on Sky – Dinosaur Jr.: 10

8. The Only Place – Best Coast: 10

9. Tropicália Lixo Lógico - Tom Zé: 10

10. Accelerando - Vijay Iyer Trio: 10

Songs

1. “1991″ – Azealia Banks

2. “Super Rich Kids” (featuring Earl Sweatshirt) – Frank Ocean

3. “Womny” – Himanshu “Heems” Suri

4. “Tonight” – Saint Etienne

5. “One Eyed Jack” - Andre Williams & the Sadies

6. “The Night I Learned How Not to Pray” – Iris Dement

7. “Boobie Miles” – Big K.R.I.T.

8. “Boozophilia” – Low Cut Connie

9. “Days of Dayton and Nights of Columbus” – Dylan Hicks

10. “Adorn” – Miguel

Jon LaFollette

Albums

1. Agnostic Hymns & Stoner Fables – Todd Snider: 17

2. Celebration Rock – Japandroids: 12

3. channel ORANGE – Frank Ocean: 11

4. Blunderbuss – Jack White: 11

5. Call Me Sylvia – Low Cut Connie: 11

6. good kid, m.A.A.d. city – Kendrick Lamar: 9

7. 1991 – Azealia Banks: 8

8. Perfectly Imperfect – Elle Varner: 8

9. Living for a Song: A Tribute to Hank Cochran - Jamey Johnson: 7

10. Reign of Terror – Sleigh Bells: 6

Songs

1. “New York Banker” – Todd Snider

2. “Andrew in Drag” – The Magnetic Fields

3. “(No More) Wet T-Shirt Contests” – Low Cut Connie

4. “Bad Religion” – Frank Ocean

5. “Don’t Leave Me (Ne Me Quitte Pas)” – Regina Spektor

6. “212″ (featuring Lazy Jay) – Azealia Banks

7. “Pyramids” – Frank Ocean

8. “Swimming Pools (Drank)” – Kendrick Lamar

9. “True Love” (featuring Lily Allen) – P!nk

10. “Boozophilia” – Low Cut Connie

Tom Lane

Albums

1. Agnostic Hymns & Stoner Fables – Todd Snider: 21

2. channel ORANGE – Todd Snider: 18

3. I Know What Love Isn’t – Jens Lekman: 15

4. Little Victories – Chris Knight: 10

5. Signs & Signifiers – JD McPherson: 8

6. Be Good – Gregor Porter: 8

7. Boys & Girls – Alabama Shakes: 5

8. Spirit in the Room – Tom Jones: 5

9. Born to Die – Lana Del Rey: 5

10. Wrecking Ball – Bruce Springsteen: 5

Songs

1. “Call Me Maybe” – Carly Rae Jepsen

2. “Somebody That I Used to Know” (featuring Kimbra) – Gotye

3. “Gangnam Style” – Psy

4. “Too Close” – Alex Clare

5. “Adorn” – Miguel

6. “I Want You” – Luke James

7. “Ho Hey” – The Lumineers

8. “Some Nights” – fun.

9. “Locked out of Heaven” – Bruno Mars

10. “Real Good Hands” – Gregory Porter

KT Lindemann

Albums

1. The Idler Wheel… – Fiona Apple: 16

2. Ugly – Screaming Females: 14

3. channel ORANGE – Frank Ocean: 14

4. Celebration Rock – Japandroids: 12

5. Europe – Allo Darlin’: 11

6. good kid, m.A.A.d. city – Kendrick Lamar: 11

7. Call Me Sylvia – Low Cut Connie: 7

8. Master of My Make-Believe – Santigold: 6

9. Tramp – Sharon Van Etten: 5

10. “Kill My Blues” – The Corin Tucker Band: 5

Songs

1. “Putin Lights up the Fires” – Pussy Riot

2. “Lost” – Frank Ocean

3. “Red” – Taylor Swift

4. “Genesis” – Grimes

5. “Love Interruption” – Jack White

6. “Heaven” – The Walkmen

7. “Who” – David Byrne & St. Vincent

8. “Emmylou” – First Aid Kit

9. “Simple Song” – The Shins

10. “Ride” – Lana Del Rey

Justin Little

Albums

1. Father Creeper – Spoek Mathambo: 18

2. Agnostic Hymns & Stoner Fables – Todd Snider: 18

3. channel ORANGE – Frank Ocean: 12

4. 1991 – Azealia Banks: 11

5. Perfectly Imperfect – Elle Varner: 8

6. “Kill My Blues” – The Corin Tucker Band: 8

7. 4evaNaDay - Big K.R.I.T.: 8

8. The Truth About Love – P!nk: 7

9. Europe – Allo Darlin’: 5

10. Nehru Jackets – Himanshu “Heems” Suri: 5

Songs

1. “Oh What a Night” – Elle Varner

2. “Wily Kataso” – Amadou & Mariam

3. “Neskowin” – The Corin Tucker Band

4. “Weather in My Head” – Donald Fagen

5. “Pyramids” – Frank Ocean

6. “Oh Susannah” – Neil Young & Crazy Horse

7. “Worship” – A Place to Bury Strangers

8. “Losing You” – Solange

9. “Let Them Talk” – Spoek Mathambo

10. “Brenda” – Todd Snider

Felix Lorenz

Albums

1. channel ORANGE – Frank Ocean: 16

2. Attack on Memory – Cloud Nothings: 16

3. Transcendental Youth – The Mountain Goats: 14

4. The Idler Wheel… – Fiona Apple: 10

5. Kindred – Burial: 10

6. Out of Sight, Out of Town - Standard Fare: 9

7. good kid, m.A.A.d. city – Kendrick Lamar: 9

8. A Thing Called Divine Fits – Divine Fits: 6

9. Wrecking Ball – Bruce Springsteen: 5

10. The Money Store – Death Grips: 5

Brad Luen

Albums

1. I Know What Love Isn’t – Jens Lekman: 16

2. Dialect Fluorescent – Steve Lehman Trio: 16

3. Older Than My Old Man Now – Loudon Wainwright III: 11

4. Dylan Hicks Sings Bolling Greene – Dylan Hicks: 11

5. Red – Taylor Swift: 11

6. Kaleidoscope Dream – Miguel: 11

7. Union Square – Ben Allison: 6

8. R.A.P. Music – Killer Mike: 6

9. The Idler Wheel… - Fiona Apple: 6

10. Bhiman – Bhi Bhiman: 6

Songs

1. “I Don’t Like” (featuring Lil Reese) – Chief Keef

2. “Merry Go ‘Round” – Kacey Musgraves

3. “Cigarettes and Coffee” – Etta James

4. “Arch & Point” – Miguel

5. “Call Me Maybe” – Carly Rae Jepsen

6. “Springsteen” – Eric Church

7. “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” – Taylor Swift

8. “The World Moves On” – Jens Lekman

9. “I Love It” (featuring Charli XCX) – Icona Pop

10. “Climax” – Usher

Joe Lunday

Albums

1. 1991 – Azealia Banks: 19

2. Nehru Jackets – Himanshu “Heems” Suri: 13

3. channel ORANGE – Frank Ocean: 13

4. Kaleidoscope Dream – Miguel: 13

5. Older Than My Old Man Now – Loudon Wainwright III: 13

6. Sunken Condos – Donald Fagen: 7

7. Attack on Memory – Cloud Nothings: 6

8. Perfectly Imperfect – Elle Varner: 6

9. Elysium - Pet Shop Boys: 5

10. Old Ideas – Leonard Cohen: 5

Songs

1. “I’ve Seen Footage” – Death Grips

2. “Liquorice” – Azealia Banks

3. “Let Me Be Him” – Hot Chip

4. “NYC Cops” – Himanshu “Heems” Suri

5. “Sweet Life” – Frank Ocean

6. “Human Nature” – Vijay Ayer Trio

7. “Blue Paper” – Yeasayer

8. “Out of the Ghetto” – Donald Fagen

9. “Refill” – Elle Varner

10. “Soap” – Homeboy Sandman

Nick M

Albums

1. Stereo Worxxx - Capsule: 20

2. Jewelry Box - T-ara: 15

3. Father Creeper – Spoek Mathambo: 11

4. channel ORANGE – Frank Ocean: 10

5. Older Than My Old Man Now – Loudon Wainwright III: 10

6. Rebeldes - Alexander Anwandter: 8

7. Agnostic Hymns & Stoner Fables – Todd Snider: 7

8. 1991 – Azealia Banks: 7

9. The Truth About Love - P!nk: 7

10. 99 – Epik High: 5

Songs

1. ”She’s So (Outta Control)” (featuring 2NE1) – m-flo

2. ”Lovey-Dovey” – T-ara

3. “Alive” (featuring Exile Atsushi) – m-flo

4. ”Silhouettes” – Avicii

5. “Take a Walk” – Passion Pit

6. “Feelin’ Alright” – Capsule

7. “Pyramids” – Frank Ocean

8. “That XX” – G-Dragon

9. “Tatuaje” - Alex Anwandter

10. “I Like It” – Chocolat

Ryan Maffei

Albums

1. C.A.R. – Serengeti: 16

2. Beak & Claw – s / s / s: 13

3. Kenny Dennis – Serengeti: 13

4. Red – Taylor Swift: 11

5. Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded – Nicki Minaj: 11

6. Kaleidoscope Dream – Miguel: 8

7. Perfectly Imperfect – Elle Varner: 8

8. Father Creeper – Spoek Mathambo: 8

9. Attack on Memory – Cloud Nothings: 6

10. The Idler Wheel… – Fiona Apple: 6

Songs

1. “Chill” – Serengeti

2. “Andrew in Drag” – The Magnetic Fields

3. “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” – Taylor Swift

4. “Amy AKA Spent Gladiator 1″ – The Mountain Goats

5. “Refill” – Elle Varner

6. “Do You…” – Miguel

7. “Lunch with Nefertiti” – Thomas Anderson

8. “Tallulah” – Allo Darlin’

9. “Ride” – Lana Del Rey

10. “Bitch Don’t Kill My Vibe” – Kendrick Lamar

Jeff Melnick

Albums

1. Americana – Neil Young & Crazy Horse: 10

2. Perfectly Imperfect – Elle Varner: 10

3. Father Creeper – Spoek Mathambo: 10

4. True – Solange: 10

5. Sorry to Bother You – The Coup: 10

6. The Truth About Love – P!nk: 10

7. Bell Hooks - BBU: 10

8. Dylan Hicks Sings Bolling Greene – Dylan Hicks: 10

9. Attack on Memory – Cloud Nothings: 10

10. Old Ideas – Leonard Cohen: 10

Songs

1. “Starships” – Nicki Minaj

2. “Violet” – The Coup

3. “Losing You” – Solange

4. “Refill” – Elle Varner

5. “Adorn” – Miguel

6. “Myth” – Beach House

7. “Rocky Ground” – Bruce Springsteen

8. “Blow Me (One Last Kiss)” – P!nk

9. “Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere” – Betty LaVette

10. “Springsteen” – Eric Church

Greg Morton

Albums

1. Wrecking Ball – Bruce Springsteen: 17

2. The Rough Guide to Ethiopia – Various Artists: 14

3. Sing the Delta – Iris Dement: 12

4. Born to Sing: No Plan B – Van Morrison: 11

5. Psychedelic Pill – Neil Young & Crazy Horse: 11

6. “Kill My Blues” – The Corin Tucker Band: 10

7. Transcendental Youth – The Mountain Goats: 7

8. Americana - Neil Young & Crazy Horse: 6

9. Between the Time and the Tides – Lee Ranaldo: 6

10. A Working Museum – Wreckless Eric & Amy Rigby: 6

Songs

1. “Death to My Hometown” – Bruce Springsteen

2. “Rocky Ground” – Bruce Springsteen

3. “We Take Care of Our Own” – Bruce Springsteen

4. “Land of Hope and Dreams” – Bruce Springsteen

5. “We Are Alive” – Bruce Springsteen

6. “White Cedar” – The Mountain Goats

7. “For the Love of Man” – Neil Young & Crazy Horse

8. “In C” – Loudon Wainwright III

9. “The Guillotine” – The Coup

10. “Musicawi Silt” - Getatchew Mekuria, The Ex and Guests

Christopher Monsen

Albums

1. Dialect Fluorescent – Steve Lehman Trio: 20

2. Agnostic Hymns & Stoner Fables – Todd Snider: 20

3. Older Than My Old Man Now – Loudon Wainwright III: 15

4. Grass Roots – Grass Roots: 15

5. Accelerando - Vijay Iyer Trio: 5

6. Transcendental Youth – The Mountain Goats: 5

7. Union Square - Ben Allison, Michael Blake & Rudy Royston: 5

8. Tropicália Lixo Lógico - Tom Zé: 5

9. Kaleidoscope Dream – Miguel: 5

10. The Queen of Vancouver Island – Carolyn Mark: 5

Songs

1. “New York Banker” – Todd Snider

2. “Climax” – Usher

3. “Merry Go ‘Round” – Kacey Musgraves

4. “Call Me Maybe” – Carly Rae Jepsen

5. “State of Grace” – Taylor Swift

6. “Pyramids” – Frank Ocean

7. “Don’t Save Me” – Haim

8. “The House That Heaven Built” – Japandroids

9. “Tallulah” – Allo Darlin’

10. “Putin Lights up the Fire” – Pussy Riot

Kenny Mostern

Albums

1. Father Creeper – Spoek Mathambo: 15

2. Twenty-Five for the Rest of Our Lives – The Henry Clay People: 14

3. Beak & Claw – s / s / s: 14

4. The Cherry Thing – Neneh Cherry & The Thing: 10

5. “Kill My Blues” – The Corin Tucker Band: 10

6. Sorry to Bother You - The Coup: 9

7. Bouger le Monde – Staff Benda Bilili: 8

8. Master of My Make-Believe – Santigold: 8

9. Swing Lo Magellan – Dirty Projectors: 7

10. Out of Sight, Out of Town – Standard Fare: 5

Songs

1. “Boom Boom” – Rye Rye

2. “This Isn’t Our Parade” – Santigold

3. “Bad, Bad, Bad” – Himanshu “Heems” Suri

4. “Everybandweeverloved” – The Henry Clay People

5. “Fall In” – Cloud Nothings

6. “That Time Has Gone” – The db’s

7. “Impregnable Question” – Dirty Projectors

8. “Same Love” – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

9. “Brenda” – Todd Snider

Alexander Nevermind

Albums

1. good kid, m.A.A.d. city – Kendrick Lamar: 25

2. channel ORANGE – Frank Ocean: 15

3. Lonerism – Tame Impala: 10

4. Visions – Grimes: 10

5. Bloom – Beach House: 10

6. The Seer – Swans: 10

7. Shields – Grizzly Bear: 5

8. The Idler Wheel… – Fiona Apple: 5

9. Swing Lo Magellan – Dirty Projectors: 5

10. Master of My Make-Believe - Santigold: 5

Songs

1. “Oblivion” – Grimes

2. “Pyramids” – Frank Ocean

3. “Myth” – Beach House

4. “Werewolf” – Fiona Apple

5. “Bitch Don’t Kill My Vibe” – Kendrick Lamar

6. “Bad Girls” – M.I.A.

7. “Adorn” – Miguel

8. “The House That Heaven Built” – Japandroids

9. “Ill Manors” – Plan B

10. “Wildest Moments” – Jessie Ware

Joshua Palmes

Albums

1. Playin’ Me – Cooly G: 15

2. Luxury Problems – Andy Stott: 15

3. 12-Bit Blues – Kid Koala: 10

4. Reign of Terror – Sleigh Bells: 10

5. Tempest – Bob Dylan: 10

6. No1 2 Look Up 2 – Big Baby Gandhi: 10

7. Red – Taylor Swift: 10

8. Living with Ghosts – Sigha: 10

9. channel ORANGE – Frank Ocean: 5

10. Bloom – Beach House: 5

Songs

1. “Liquorice” – Azealia Banks

2. “Pay in Blood” – Bob Dylan

3. “Luxury Problems” – Andy Stott

4. “Bad Girls” – M.I.A.

5. “Mercy” – Joy Orbison & Boddika

6. “You’re the One” – Charlie XCX

7. “Bangarang” (featuring Sirah) – Skrillex

8. “Climax” – Usher

9. “Call Me Maybe” – Carly Rae Jepsen

10. “Swimming Pools (Drank)” – Kendrick Lamar

Cam Patterson

Albums

1. C.A.R. – Serengeti: 10

2. Transcendental Youth – The Mountain Goats: 10

3. Kill the Sexist! – Pussy Riot: 10

4. Sadie – P.S. Eliot: 10

5. Live from Alabama – Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit: 10

6. Ahead of His Time – El Unico: 10

7. 4evaNaDay – Big K.R.I.T.: 10

8. Old Ideas – Leonard Cohen: 10

9. Little Victories – Chris Knight: 10

10. Father Creeper - Spoek Mathambo: 10

Songs

1. “Kick out the Jams” - Afrika Bambaataa

2. “Pale Blue Eyes” – Marisa Monte

3. “Jack the Ripper” – Japandroids

4. “Call Me Maybe” – Carly Rae Jepsen with Jimmy Fallon and The Roots

5. “Rock and Roll Friend” – Sheperdess

6. “Breakfast in Bed” – Wussy

7. “Conversation Lags” – Jacob Rudolph Bailis

8. “Silver Springs” – Lykke Li

9. “Airborne” – Lindewicz

10. “Here Comes the Rain Again” – Macy Gray

Zach Philips

Albums

1. Bloom – Beach House: 20

2. Wrecking Ball – Bruce Springsteen: 15

3. Tempest – Bob Dylan: 15

4. Coexist – The xx: 10

5. Born to Die – Lana Del Rey: 10

6. What We Saw from the Cheap Seats – Regina Spektor: 10

7. Voyageur - Kathleen Edwards: 5

8. Gossamer – Passion Pit: 5

9. The Only Place - Best Coast: 5

10. Lonerism – Tame Impala: 5

Markus Rauchenwald

Albums

1. Europe – Allo Darlin’: 13

2. Wrecking Ball – Bruce Springsteen: 13

3. Older Than My Old Man Now – Loudon Wainwright III: 13

4. channel ORANGE – Frank Ocean: 12

5. I Know What Love Isn’t - Jens Lekman: 11

6. Celebration Rock – Japandroids: 9

7. Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded – Nicki Minaj: 8

8. Attack on Memory – Cloud Nothings: 7

9. Kindred – Burial: 7

10. Born to Die – Lana Del Rey: 7

Songs

1. “The Days That We Die” – Loudon Wainwright III

2. “The House That Heaven Built” – Japandroids

3. “Born to Die” – Lana Del Rey

4. “Pyramids” – Frank Ocean

5. “Losing You” – Solange

6. “Merry Go ‘Round” – Kacey Musgraves

7. “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” – Taylor Swift

8. “Long and Wasted Years” – Bob Dylan

9. ”I Love It” (featuring Charli XCX) – Icona Pop

10. “Swimmin’ in Sunshine” – Rhett Miller

Matt Rice

Albums

1. good kid, m.A.A.d. city – Kendrick Lamar: 10

2. channel ORANGE - Frank Ocean: 10

3. Agnostic Hymns & Stoner Fables – Todd Snider: 10

4. Americana – Neil Young & Crazy Horse: 10

5. Dialect Fluorescent – Steve Lehman Trio: 10

6. 1991 – Azealia Banks: 10

7. Words and Music by Saint Etienne – Saint Etienne: 10

8. Locked Down – Dr. John: 10

9. C.A.R. – Serengeti: 10

10. Call Me Sylvia – Low Cut Connie: 10

Songs

1. “Call Me Maybe” – Carly Rae Jepsen

2. “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” – Taylor Swift

3. “Thinkin Bout You” – Frank Ocean

4. “Slow Motion” – Avan Lava

5. “Hot Cheetos & Takis” - Y.N.RichKids

6. “Lights” – Ellie Goulding

7. “Money Trees” (featuring Jay Rock) – Kendrick Lamar

8. “Climax” – Usher

9. “Live and Die” – The Avett Brothers

10. “Starships” – Nicki Minaj

Raul Roque

Albums

1. channel ORANGE – Frank Ocean: 20

2. 4evaNaDay - Big K.R.I.T.: 15

3. Words and Music by Saint Etienne – Saint Etienne: 15

4. Sorry to Bother You – The Coup: 10

5. Forever – Medina: 10

6. Copenhagen Dreams - Jóhann Jóhannsson: 10

7. Elysium - Pet Shop Boys: 5

8. Control System – Ab-Soul: 5

9. Coexist – The xx: 5

10. Take the Crown – Robbie Williams: 5

Songs

1. “Tonight” – Saint Etienne

2. “Boobie Miles” – Big K.R.I.T.

3. “Call Me Maybe” – Carly Rae Jepsen

4. “Sad” – Elton John vs. PNAU

5. “Requiem in Denim and Leopardskin” – Pet Shop Boys

6. “Sweet Life” – Frank Ocean

7. “The Guillotine” – The Coup

8. “Starting Over” – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

9. “Double Standards” – Ab-Soul

10. “Not Really” – Homeboy Sandman

Richard Ross

Albums

1. Americana – Neil Young & Crazy Horse: 20

2. Older Than My Old Man Now – Loudon Wainwright III: 18

3. Bouger le Monde – Staff Benda Bilili: 13

4. The Rough Guide to Ethiopia – Various Artists: 10

5. Big Fucking Baby – Big Baby Gandhi: 9

6. Living for a Song: A Tribute to Hank Cochran - Jamey Johnson: 8

7. Sorry to Bother You – The Coup: 6

8. Wild Water Kingdom – Himanshu “Heems” Suri: 6

9. Sing the Delta – Iris Dement: 5

10. Tempest – Bob Dylan: 5

John Smallwood

Albums

1. Transcendental Youth - The Mountain Goats: 20

2. Older Than My Old Man Now – Loudon Wainwright III: 17

3. Americana – Neil Young & Crazy Horse: 12

4. Agnostic Hymns & Stoner Fables – Todd Snider: 10

5. The Truth about Love – P!nk: 10

6. Father Creeper – Spoek Mathambo: 8

7. Red – Taylor Swift: 7

8. “Kill My Blues” - The Corin Tucker Band: 6

9. The Idler Wheel… - Fiona Apple: 5

10. Words and Music by Saint Etienne – Saint Etienne: 5

Songs

1. “Harlem Roulette” – The Mountain Goats

2. “Same Love” – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

3. ”We Take Care of Our Own” – Bruce Springsteen

4. “In C” – Loudon Wainwright III

5. “New York Banker” – Todd Snider

6. “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” – Taylor Swift

7. “Blow Me (One Last Kiss)” – P!nk

8. “Tallulah” – Allo Darlin’

9. “Do You Remember That” – Wreckless Eric & Amy Rigby

10. “Let Them Talk” – Spoek Mathambo

Liam Smith

Albums

1. Older Than My Old Man Now – Loudon Wainwright III: 15

2. Agnostic Hymns & Stoner Fables – Todd Snider: 13

3. One Day I’m Going to Soar – Dexys: 12

4. Old Ideas – Leonard Cohen: 10

5. Bouger le Monde – Staff Benda Bilili: 9

6. C.A.R. – Serengeti: 9

7. “Kill My Blues” – The Corin Tucker Band: 9

8. Listen…Oka! - Chris Berry & the Bayaka of Yandoumbe: 7

9. Father Creeper – Spoek Mathambo: 7

10. Accelerando – Vijay Ayer Trio: 7

Songs

1. “Spitfire” - Public Sector Broadcasting

2. “Andrew in Drag” – The Magnetic Fields

3. “Do You Love Me Like You Used To” – Best Coast

4. ”Call Me Maybe” - Carly Rae Jepsen with Jimmy Fallon and The Roots

5. “New York Banker” – Todd Snider

6. “In C” – Loudon Wainwright III

7. “She Got a Wiggle” – Dexys

8. “Long and Wasted Years” – Bob Dylan

9. “I Remember Sex” – Loudon Wainwright III

10. “Show Me the Place” – Leonard Cohen

Nate Smith

Albums

1. The Multiple Personality Reunion Tour - Guy Klucevsek: 10

2. The Idler Wheel… – Fiona Apple: 10

3. channel ORANGE – Frank Ocean: 10

4. Provincial – John K. Samson: 10

5. Breakfast – Chiddy Bang: 10

6. Love, Peace, and Soul: Don Byron New Gospel Quintet: 10

7. Older Than My Old Man Now – Loudon Wainwright III: 10

8. Crescendo in Duke - Benoit Delbecq: 10

9. Sorry to Bother You – The Coup: 10

10. Vicious Lies & Dangerous Rumors – Big Boi: 10

Songs

1. “Call Me Maybe” – Carly Rae Jepsen

2. “Same Love” – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

3. “Side Dish” – Robert Cray Band

4. “Off to the Races” – Lana Del Rey

5. “Early Roman Kings” – Bob Dylan

6. “Must B the Music” – Plug 1 & Plug 2

7. “I’m Dreaming” – Randy Newman

8. “Bangarang” (featuring Sirah) – Skrillex

9. “Adorn” – Miguel

10. “Andrew in Drag” – The Magnetic Fields

John Speranza

Albums

1. Swing Lo Magellan – Dirty Projectors: 15

2. Visions – Grimes: 14

3. Tempest – Bob Dylan: 13

4. R.A.P. Music – Killer Mike: 13

5. Port of Morrow – The Shins: 10

6. Blunderbuss – Jack White: 10

7. Lonerism – Tame Impala: 10

8. A Thing Called Divine Fits – Divine Fits: 5

9. The Idler Wheel… - Fiona Apple: 5

10. good kid, m.A.A.d. city – Kendrick Lamar: 5

Songs

1. “Backseat Freestyle” – Kendrick Lamar

2. “Simple Song” – The Shins

3. “Hip (Eponymous) Poor Boy” – Jack White

4. “Oblivion” – Grimes

5. “Serpents” – Sharon Van Etten

6. “Wild” – Beach House

7. “Gun Has No Trigger” – Dirty Projectors

8. “Reagan” – Killer Mike

9. “Every Single Night” – Fiona Apple

10. “Stay Useless” – Cloud Nothings

Jaimie Stone

Albums

1. Blunderbuss – Jack White: 20

2. Father Creeper – Spoek Mathambo: 15

3. Sunken Condos – Donald Fagen: 15

4. Older Than My Old Man Now – Loudon Wainwright III: 10

5. Now What! – Tommy Womack: 10

6. channel ORANGE – Frank Ocean: 10

7. Americana – Neil Young & Crazy Horse: 5

8. Celebration Rock – Japandroids: 5

9. En Yay Sah - Janka Nabay & the Bubu Gang: 5

10. Agnostic Hymns & Stoner Fables – Todd Snider: 5

Songs

1. “Call Me Maybe” – Carly Rae Jepsen

2. “Play That Cheap Trick, Cheap Trick Play” – Tommy Womack

3. “The Nights of Wine & Roses” – Japandroids

4. “What Was That” – Dinosaur Jr.

5. “Boozophilia” – Low Cut Connie

6. “The Weather in My Head” – Donald Fagen

7. “Sixteen Saltines” – Jack White

8. “New York Banker” – Todd Snider

9. “Sweet Life” – Frank Ocean

10. “I Knew You Were Trouble” – Taylor Swift

Michael Swallop

Albums

1. Sadie – P.S. Eliot: 18

2. Agnostic Hymns & Stoner Fables – Todd Snider: 15

3. channel ORANGE – Frank Ocean: 14

4. Red – Taylor Swift: 13

5. Attack on Memory – Cloud Nothings: 8

6. The Truth About Love – P!nk: 8

7. Bangarang – Skrillex: 7

8. 1991 – Azealia Banks: 7

9. Out of Sight, Out of Town – Standard Fare: 5

10. Now What! – Tommy Womack: 5

Songs

1. “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” – Taylor Swift

2. “212″ (featuring Lazy Jay) – Azealia Banks

3. “Call Me Maybe” – Carly Rae Jepsen

4. “Refill” – Elle Varner

5. “The House That Heaven Built” – Japandroids

6. “22″ – Taylor Swift

7. “Adorn” – Miguel

8. “New York Banker” – Todd Snider

9. “Double Lifetime” – Loudon Wainwright III

10. “Pontoon” – Little Big Town

Michael Tatum

Albums

1. Older Than My Old Man Now – Loudon Wainwright III: 20

2. 1991 – Azealia Banks: 16

3. Tropicália Lixo Lógico - Tom Zé: 14

4. Transcendental Youth – The Mountain Goats: 12

5. Americana – Neil Young & Crazy Horse: 8

6. The Truth About Love – P!nk: 8

7. Father Creeper – Spoek Mathambo: 6

8. Kindred – Burial: 6

9. Tientalaw - Zani Diabate & Les Héritiers: 5

10. Agnostic Hymns & Stoner Fables – Todd Snider: 5

Songs

1. “The Days That We Die” – Loudon Wainwright III

2. “NYC Cops” – Himanshu “Heems” Suri

3. “Night Light” – The Mountain Goats

4. “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” – Taylor Swift

5. “The Night I Learned How Not to Pray” – Iris Dement

6. “Soundproof Room” – Elle Varner

7. “Climax” – Usher

8. “Andrew in Drag” – The Magnetic Fields

9. “Slut Like You” – P!nk

10. “Call Me Maybe” – Carly Rae Jepsen

Rodney Taylor

Albums

1. 1991 – Azealia Banks: 30

2. Older Than My Old Man Now – Loudon Wainwright III: 20

3. Last of a Living Breed – Homeboy Sandman: 10

4. Father Creeper – Spoek Mathambo: 6

5. A Nigerian Retrospective 1966-1979 - Tunji Oyelana: 6

6. good kid, m.A.A.d. city – Kendrick Lamar: 6

7. Born to Die: The Paradise Edition – Lana Del Rey: 6

8. Psychedelic Pill – Neil Young & Crazy Horse: 6

9. Agnostic Hymns & Stoner Fables – Todd Snider: 5

10. Faithful Man – Lee Fields & The Expressions: 5

Songs

1. “212″ (featuring Lazy Jay) – Azealia Banks

2. “In the Beginning” – Todd Snider

3. “Popular” – Saint Etienne

4. “1991″ – Azealia Banks

5. “Van Vogue” – Azealia Banks

6. “Ice Age” – Dr. John

7. “We Take Care of Our Own” – Bruce Springsteen

8. “O Menino” – Gal Costa

9. “Liquorice” – Azealia Banks

10. “Somebody That I Used to Know” (featuring Kimbra) – Gotye

Thomas Walker

Albums

1. Accelerando - Vijay Iyer Trio: 22

2. Older Than My Old Man Now – Loudon Wainwright III: 18

3. Listen…Oka! – Chris Berry & the Bayaka of Yandoumbe: 10

4. “Kill My Blues” – The Corin Tucker Band: 10

5. Father Creeper – Spoek Mathambo: 10

6. Songs for Desert Refugees – Various Artists: 10

7. Agnostic Hymns & Stoner Fables – Todd Snider: 5

8. Americana – Neil Young & Crazy Horse: 5

9. Ten Freedom Summers – Wadada Leo Smith: 5

10. I Will Not Stand Alone - Kayhan Kalhor: 5

Songs

1. “Thrift Shop” – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

2. “Same Love” – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

3. “Summer Jams” – The Corin Tucker Band

4. “Video Games” – Lana Del Rey

5. “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” – Taylor Swift

6. “Ill Manors” – Plan B

7. “Swearin’” – Kenosha

8. “Marilyn Monroe” – Brianna Perry

9. “When I Write My Master’s Thesis” – John K. Sampson

10. “Wall of Shame” – P!nk

Dan Weber

Albums

1. Older Than My Old Man Now – Loudon Wainwright III: 18

2. Sing the Delta – Iris Dement: 11

3. Father Creeper – Spoek Mathambo: 11

4. Beak & Claw – s / s / s: 11

5. Dialect Fluorescent – Steve Lehman Trio: 11

6. channel ORANGE – Frank Ocean: 9

7. Nehru Jackets – Himanshu “Heems” Suri: 9

8. Red – Taylor Swift: 7

9. Reunion: Live in New York - Sam Rivers/Dave Holland/Barry Altschul: 7

10. A Thing Called Divine Fits – Divine Fits: 6

Songs

1. “Somebody Else I Know Just Died” – Loudon Wainwright III

2. “Somebody That I Used to Know” (featuring Kimbra) – Gotye

3. “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” – Taylor Swift

4. “Call Me Maybe” – Carly Rae Jepsen

5. “212″ (featuring Lazy Jay) – Azealia Banks

6. “Octomom” – s / s / s

7. “Womyn” – Himanshu “Heems” Suri

8. “In Between Jobs” – Todd Snider

9. “New York Banker” – Todd Snider

10. “Pyramids” – Frank Ocean

Dan Weiss

Albums

1. Older Than My Old Man Now – Loudon Wainwright III: 22

2. Street Halo/Kindred – Burial: 22

3. Swing Lo Magellan – Dirty Projectors: 12

4. Haflat Gharbia: The Western Concerts – Omar Souleyman: 12

5. 4evaNaDay – Big K.R.I.T.: 6

6. Pink – Four Tet: 6

7. Kiss – Carly Rae Jepsen: 5

8. Americana – Neil Young & Crazy Horse: 5

9. I Know What Love Isn’t – Jens Lekman: 5

10. The Truth About Love – P!nk: 5

Songs

1. “Putin Lights up the Fire” – Pussy Riot

2. “The House That Heaven Built” – Japandroids

3. “Live Like a Warrior” - Matisyahu

4. “Hurt So Good” – Carly Rae Jepsen

5. “I Belong in Your Arms” – Chairlift

6. “Harlem Roulette” – The Mountain Goats

7. “4th & Vine” – Sinéad O’Connor

8. “Curtain” – Eve 6

9. ”Holy Ground” – Taylor Swift

10. “New York Banker” – Todd Snider

Jerry Withrow

Albums

1. Tempest – Bob Dylan: 30

2. Snakeoil – Tim Berne: 15

3. Old Ideas – Leonard Cohen: 10

4. From the Ground Up – John Fullbright: 10

5. The Cherry Thing – Neneh Cherry & The Thing: 10

6. The Truth About Love – P!nk: 5

7. Older Than My Old Man Now – Loudon Wainwright III: 5

8. Be Still – Dave Douglas: 5

9. Accelerando – Vijay Ayer Trio: 5

10. The Idler Wheel… - Fiona Apple: 5

Songs

1. “Early Roman Kings” – Bob Dylan

2. “Long and Wasted Years” – Bob Dylan

3. “Scarlet Town” – Bob Dylan

4. “Going Home” – Leonard Cohen

5. “Proserpina” – Martha Wainwright

6. “Boozophilia” – Low Cut Connie

7. “Every Single Night” – Fiona Apple

8. “Jericho” – John Fullbright

9. “All the Time in the World” – John Fullbright

10. “Fat Man” – John Fullbright

Alex Wolf

Albums

1. Perfectly Imperfect – Elle Varner: 15

2. 1991 – Azealia Banks: 13

3. The Greatest Story Never Told Chapter 2: Bread & Circuses – Saigon: 11

4. good kid, m.A.A.d. city – Kendrick Lamar: 11

5. Reign of Terror – Sleigh Bells: 10

6. The Idler Wheel… – Fiona Apple: 10

7. Americana – Neil Young & Crazy Horse: 9

8. MDNA – Madonna: 9

9. Folila – Amadou & Miriam: 6

10. The Truth About Love – P!nk: 6

Songs

1. “Love Spent” – Madonna

2. “Bad Girls” – M.I.A.

3. “Comeback Kid” – Sleigh Bells

4. “This Is What Makes Us Girls” – Lana Del Rey

5. “Death to My Hometown” – Bruce Springsteen

6. “1991″ – Azealia Banks

7. “Gang Bang” – Madonna

8. “Oh What a Night” – Elle Varner

9. “Va Va Voom” – Nicki Minaj

10. “The Only Place” – Best Coast

Joe Yanosik

Albums

1. Older Than My Old Man Now – Loudon Wainwright III: 10

2. “Kill My Blues” – The Corin Tucker Band: 10

3. channel ORANGE – Frank Ocean: 10

4. Transcendental Youth – The Mountain Goats: 10

5. Living for a Song: A Tribute to Hank Cochran - Jamey Johnson: 10

6. Old Ideas – Leonard Cohen: 10

7. Attack on Memory – Cloud Nothings: 10

8. Instrumentals – Clams Casino: 10

9. Sunken Condos - Donald Fagen: 10

10. Urban Turban – Cornershop: 10

Top 30 Songs of 2012: Expert Witness Pazz & Jop

Robert Christgau’s MSN blog, Expert Witness, has a comment section filled with some of the best music discussion I’ve come across.  Last year, I hosted a poll of commenters’ favorite albums and songs of 2011.  Now, I’ve hosted a second poll there to find commenters’ favorite albums and songs of 2012.  Users voted for at most ten songs, with the songs ranked here by number of mentions.  Fifty-seven ballots were cast (compared to last year’s 51), and while all ballots mentioned ten albums, some ballots mentioned no songs at all.  Listed are those who voted for each song and those who put them in their first place slots.

Click the pictures to listen to the songs!

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#30-20

4 mentions

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“The Only Place” – Best Coast

Voters: Richard Cobeen, Glen Hadwen, Paul Hayden, Alex Wolf

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“Tallulah” – Allo Darlin’

Voters: Glen Hadwen, Ryan Maffei, Christopher Monsen, John Smallwood

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“Simple Song” – The Shins

Voters: Nah-Tieh Bropleh, Joey Daniewicz, KT Lindemann, John Speranza

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“Same Love” (featuring Mary Lambert) – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

Voters: Kenny Mostern, John Smallwood, Nate Smith, Thomas Walker

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“Refill” – Elle Varner

Voters: Joe Lunday, Ryan Maffei, Jeff Melnick, Michael Swallop

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“Putin Lights up the Fire” – Pussy Riot

Voters: Joey Daniewicz, KT Lindemann, Christopher Monsen, Dan Weiss

First-place mentions: Joey Daniewicz, KT Lindemann, Dan Weiss

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“NYC Cops” – Himanshu “Heems” Suri

Voters: Jimmy Cook, Jason Gubbels, Joe Lunday, Michael Tatum

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“Losing You” – Solange

Voters: Jason Gubbels, Justin Little, Jeff Melnick, Markus Rauchenwald

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“Death to My Hometown” – Bruce Springsteen

Voters: Jimmy Cook, Jason Gubbels, Greg Morton, Alex Wolf

First-place mentions: Greg Morton

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“Bangarang” (featuring Sirah) – Skrillex

Voters: Scott Coleman, Rob Cooper, Joshua Palmes, Nate Smith

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“Amy AKA Spent Gladiator 1″ – The Mountain Goats

Voters: Jacob Bailis, Mitch Fujita, Peter Gorman, Ryan Maffei

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#19-15

5 mentions

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“We Take Care of Our Own” – Bruce Springsteen

Voters: Paul Albone, Jeff Callahan, Greg Morton, John Smallwood, Rodney Taylor

First-place mentions: Paul Albone

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“Video Games” – Lana Del Rey

Voters: Jimmy Cook, Thomas Walker

2011 voters: Joey Daniewicz, Michael Tatum, Dan Weiss

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“Merry Go ‘Round” – Kacey Musgraves

Voters: Kevin John Bozelka, Joey Daniewicz, Brad Luen, Christopher Monsen, Markus Rauchenwald

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“Boozophilia” – Low Cut Connie

Voters: Peter Gorman, Mike Imes, Jon LaFollette, Jaimie Stone, Jerry Withrow

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“Blow Me (One Last Kiss)” – P!nk

Voters: Scott Coleman, Jimmy Cook, Chris Hurst, Jeff Melnick, John Smallwood

First-place mentions: Scott Coleman

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#14-9

6 mentions

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“The Night I Learned How Not to Pray” – Iris Dement

Voters: Chuck Bromley, Jeff Callahan, Jason Gubbels, Chris Hurst, Mike Imes, Michael Tatum

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“Somebody That I Used to Know” (featuring Kimbra) – Gotye

Voters: Paul Albone, Tom Lane, Rodney Taylor, Dan Weber

2011 voters: Kevin John Bozelka, Dan Weiss

First-place mentions: Dan Weiss

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“In C” – Loudon Wainwright III

Voters: Richard Cobeen, Jimmy Cook, Paul Hayden, Greg Morton, John Smallwood, Liam Smith

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“Gangnam Style” – Psy

Voters: Scott Coleman, Joey Daniewicz, Mitch Fujita, Will Hanson, Chris Hurst, Tom Lane

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“Climax” – Usher

Voters: Joey Daniewicz, Brad Luen, Christopher Monsen, Joshua Palmes, Matt Rice, Michael Tatum

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“Bad Girls” – M.I.A.

Voters: Chuck Bromley, Mitch Fujita, Will Hanson, Alexander Nevermind, Joshua Palmes, Alex Wolf

First-place mentions: Mitch Fujita

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#8

9 mentions

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“Andrew in Drag” – The Magnetic Fields

Voters: Chuck Bromley, Rob Cooper, Peter Gorman, Jason Gubbels, Jon LaFollette, Ryan Maffei, Liam Smith, Nate Smith, Michael Tatum

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#7-5

10 mentions

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“Pyramids” – Frank Ocean

Voters: Chuck Bromley, Nah-Tieh Bropleh, Nick Farruggia, Jon LaFollette, Justin Little, Nick M, Christopher Monsen, Alexander Nevermind, Markus Rauchenwald, Dan Weber

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“New York Banker” – Todd Snider

Voters: Richard Cobeen, Jimmy Cook, Jon LaFollette, Christopher Monsen, John Smallwood, Liam Smith, Jaimie Stone, Michael Swallop, Dan Weber, Dan Weiss

First-place mentions: Jon LaFollette, Christopher Monsen

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“Adorn” – Miguel

Voters: Nah-Tieh Bropleh, Scott Coleman, Joey Daniewicz, Jason Gubbels, Mike Imes, Tom Lane, Jeff Melnick, Alexander Nevermind, Nate Smith, Michael Swallop

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#4

12 mentions

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“The House That Heaven Built” – Japandroids

Voters: Nah-Tieh Bropleh, Jeff Callahan, Richard Cobeen, Rob Cooper, Joey Daniewicz, Will Hanson, Paul Hayden, Christopher Monsen, Alexander Nevermind, Markus Rauchenwald, Michael Swallop, Dan Weiss

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#3

14 mentions

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“We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” – Taylor Swift

Voters: Chuck Bromley, Scott Coleman, Joey Daniewicz, Glen Hadwen, Chris Hurst, Brad Luen, Ryan Maffei, Markus Rauchenwald, Matt Rice, John Smallwood, Michael Swallop, Michael Tatum, Thomas Walker, Dan Weber

First-place mentions: Michael Swallop

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#2

15 mentions

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“212″ (featuring Lazy Jay) – Azealia Banks

Voters: Chuck Bromley, Jeff Callahan, Richard Cobeen, Jimmy Cook, Rob Cooper, Glen Hadwen, Chris Hurst, Jon LaFollette, Michael Swallop, Rodney Taylor, Dan Weber

2011 voters: Kevin John Bozelka, Brad Luen, Christopher Monsen, Dan Weiss

First-place mentions: Jeff Callahan, Richard Cobeen, Jimmy Cook, Rob Cooper, Christopher Monsen, Rodney Taylor

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#1

20 mentions

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“Call Me Maybe” – Carly Rae Jepsen

Voters: Jacob Bailis, Chuck Bromley, Richard Cobeen, Scott Coleman, Joey Daniewicz, Mitch Fujita, Chris Hurst, Tom Lane, Brad Luen, Christopher Monsen, Joshua Palmes, Matt Rice, Raul Roque, Nate Smith, Jaimie Stone, Michael Swallop, Michael Tatum, Dan Weber

Voters for her performance with The Roots and Jimmy Fallon: Cam Patterson, Liam Smith

First-place mentions: Jacob Bailis, Chris Hurst, Tom Lane, Matt Rice, Nate Smith, Jaimie Stone

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Below is a Spotify playlist with all songs to receive at least three mentions, excepting the following three songs: Himanshu “Heems” Suri’s “NYC Cops” and “Womyn” and Pussy Riot’s “Putin Lights up the Fire”