We continue our Top 40 Albums of 2012 list with 30 to 21… These albums were voted by 42 of our fine contributors and the list that has resulted is an eclectic mix; from local indie, to international chart toppers, Australian Black Metal and all the way back again. We hope you enjoy our annual trip down memory lane…
DZ Deathrays – Bloodstreams
As someone who’s a DFA1979 tragic, DZ have always been the perfect fit for my musical tastes; and their debut, Aria Award winning LP Bloodstreams cements them as one of the best Australian bands around at the moment. Creating the perfect mix of dance, punk, electro, metal and general party music, it’s impossible to not dance your arse off to this album, be it the frenetic, fast-paced, fuzz drenched ‘No Sleep’ or the slowjam of ‘Play Dead Until You’re Dead’. – Andrew Wade
Fiona Apple – The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than The Driver Of The Screw And Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do
Why? Because shes back! …and because this album is a natural next step from her last one, even though its been seven years coming. I saw her live in San Francisco earlier this year and the new songs sat perfectly in the set with her earlier work too. She’s an amazing artist who writes and releases quality music. She very much deserves a place on the AU’s top 40 list… – Cam Ewart
The Maccabees – Given To The Wild
A departure from their previous album, Wall of Arms, with its catching hooks, Given to the Wild is a more mature, cohesive and well developed album. It was one of the first released in the year, and it is still my favourite album – even when my favourite band released a new album this year as well! – Evelyn Tjia
Ne Obliviscaris – Portal of I
The most brilliant progressive black metal albums Australia has ever produced and as such is responsible for the success Ne O have received this year, culminating in an imminent signing to a major international record label. This album and these guys cant be faulted in 2012. – Benjamin Murphy
Alpine – A Is For Alpine
The album is a catchy and charming dose of indie pop, wonderfully suited to sunny, wintry picnic, Sunday drive, getting ready to hit the town, or live at any local music venue. Their captivating vocals, combined with enchanting melodies, create an iridescent, charming release which is sure to capture the hearts of indie pop fans all over Australia – and hopefully even the world. – Kat Hunter
Something For Kate – Leave Your Soul To Science
I really appreciate the Something for Kate’s ability to write songs packed with feeling, and somehow reproduce that intense feeling into recordings. I suspect that the songs contained in this album are songs that easily have the power to become really meaningful to listeners. Their lyrics also tend to be poignant and well contemplated. Also, extra points for a smashing album name and the cutest band name tale ever. All in all, Leave Your Soul To Science is a really incredible album and an inspiring Australian rock release. – Tanya Ali
The Smith Street Band – Sunshine & Technology
Wil Wagner is an amazing songwriter, especially for someone so young, and the songs on this album tell stories of how life as a twenty-something SHOULD be. In comparison with their first album, the songs and production are more polished and the outcome is a record that sounds like a whole band effort. The songs and their content are more mature, as shown by ‘Don’t Mention the War’, but still manage to incorporate some of the fun with the fantastic sing-a-longs that the first album delivered. In short, this album made me want to get out and live life: get drunk, make friends, have adventures and not have a care in the world. – Maddie Worledge
Godspeed You! Black Emperor – ‘Allelujah! Don’t Bend! Ascend
This may be the group’s first album in a decade, yet it proves that the band have not lost any of their poetic dynamism. The band’s poetics work solely through textures – intricate mixtures of ambient noise, subtle instrumental variation, strange loops, heavy drone and general guitar abuse. – Tom Willams
Bruce Springsteen – Wrecking Ball
17 studio albums and the man still knows how to impress us. The album is a lot darker than many of his previous releases, with the recession giving Springsteen a lot of material to work with. The album has also led to his first tour of Australia in ten years, so for that we have to be thankful. – Jamie Cockburn
Regular John – Strange Flowers
Hands down my favourite Australian album of 2012, Regular John’s Strange Flowers is a rock and roll masterpiece; an epic opus that fans of the band have been waiting for since they first stepped into the Sydney underground. I daresay it’s the album they always wanted to make, too. The album is already gaining traction in the US and following a feature album spot on triple j, should see great things for them in 2013… Oh and definitely try and get your hands on a copy of the record on vinyl. It’s beyond sexy. – Larry Heath
The Top 40 Countdown: Part 1 (40-31) | Part 2 (30-21) | Part 3 (20-11) | Part 4 (10-1)
