Click the Album cover art to link to these albums on Amazon and hear samples
Grace Potter and Nocturnals: Live from The Legendary Sun Studios
Neither Robert nor I covered this album during 2012 because it was only available as Record Store day exclusive……But this album is just too amazing sounding not to include it on my Top 10! This album contains 7 original songs and the energy on this album is not to be believed! This album makes a great argument that this band needs to forgo the usual studio process and start recording all of their new album live from this point on. I don’t when I have heard an album with this much raw passion since the first Led Zeppelin Album. At the very least, this album needs to be made available on the Amazon Mp3 store for those who missed it on last years Record Store Day. You can buy it on CD from private sellers on Amazon and it’s affordable.
20 Riverside: Good Medicine
This band’s infectious combination of Pop, Rock, Funk, Jazz and Hip Hop makes them the modern day equivalent of the classic rock band “Chicago”
. . And I am talking the Vintage Chicago when they where still a progressive Jazz/Pop fusion band.
The Beach Boys: That’ s Why God Made The Radio
Damn but this album makes me feel happy when I listen to it
Ben Levin Group: Invisible Paradise
This band managed to top their last album (Pulse of A Nation) which I liked and featured on MWB. That album didn’t make my top ten of 2011 but this new album makes my top ten of 2012. This is very classically influenced progressive rock music (mostly instrumental) in 7 movements. It’s great to see that there are still bands out there that want to challenge themselves and their listeners. This album finds notes and chord changes that exist in outside of our universe.
Kate Bush: 50 Words For Snow
Ethereal, Evocative, & Emotional. And with a nine and half minute song about the journey of a snowflake, and A 13 minute song about the composer having a night of passion with a snowman, some might even find this album a bit frustrating at times….but it’s worth it. This album reallychallenged me and in a good way. It’s also the perfect winter/alternative to Christmas album ever!
Foxy Shazam: The Church of Rock’n’Roll
Yeah, this is arena, lighter waving freaking ROCK’N”ROLL! You gotta problem with that? …
..This album is just too much of a good time, hope you can handle it.
Lianne La Havas: Is your love Big Enough?
A unique blend of R&B, Acoustic, Jazz. Miss La Havas is a complete original. Her songs continue to enchant me.
Band of Skulls: Sweet And Sour
This 2nd album of all original material did not fall into the sophomore slump. If Foxy Shazam is the loud, fun and good times arena rock than Band of Skulls is the more serious darker side of arena rock (But that doesn’t mean you won’t have a good time).
7 Horse: Let The 7Horse Run.
Robert covered this band on the show and that’s how I discovered them. I loved this bands bizarre mix of “Rockabilly and Western music meets Led Zeppelin on a dark lonesome hwy after smoking something a little strange” So much that they made my top 10 ten. I think you will dig them too and you wont even have to smoke anything to do so (although I guess that’s optional).
Alabama Shakes: Boys & Girls
I liked this debut album from this group enough to talk about it on the show, but as time has gone on it timeless Rock, Blues, Brill Building sound continues to get under my skin and make me keep coming back to it.
Honorary Mention
Vintage Trouble: The Bomb Shelter Sessions
Recorded in 4 days and sounding absolutely awesome with it’s mix of Heavy Blues Rock and Motown soul, I think this is a solid debut, but I also think that this is a band to watch out for. I hope I am not proven wrong.
So that's my top ten for 2012 - What are yours?
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