Best of 2012 #6: David Byrne and St. Vincent - Love This Giant (4AD)

David Byrne is one of my favourite musicians of all time. From his seminal work in skewed pop and new wave in the Talking Heads, his solo work ranging from classical to world beat music, collaborations with Brian Eno and Fatboy Slim (amongst others), and running is own Luaka Bop record label, there's not much he hasn't done. Still, he finds ways to reinvent himself constantly. His recent collaboration with Annie Clark (aka St. Vincent) has borne some wonderful musical fruit. Byrne's offbeat take on pop is all over this album. Annie Clark brings a lush pop and jazz sense to the songs on this album. Definitely one of the best pop albums of the year.

http://youtu.be/trIG9vQbVXA

Best of 2012: Daphni - Jiaolong (Merge)

Canadian electronic musician Dan Snaith is no stranger to my ears. I've been a fan of his Caribou project since before he was forced to change it's name from Manitoba to Caribou. Caribou is no stranger to my best of charts either. Back in 2010, I picked Swim as my #3 album and in 2003, I chose Manitoba's Up in Flames as my favourite album of the year. Whereas Caribou put a pop-sheen on his electronics, Snaith's latest project, Daphni, is more more glitchy and noisy. He bases this project around a strong dance groove, with less emphasis on the psychedelic pop swirls Caribou is known for, an adding more glitchy, unsettling and noisy bits. It's a great effort, a bit divorced from his usual fare, but enjoyable nonetheless. Recommended for someone looking different from their dancefloor grooves.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpK5GltULXI

Best of 2012: Ringo Deathstarr - Mauve (Sonic Unyon)

Last year, I picked Ringo Deathstarr's debut full length Colour Trip as my favourite album of 2011. This year, the Austin band put out two releases: a four track EP called Shadow, and another full length called Mauve. Mauve continued the bands shoegazer sound, but they were a little bit more focus, a little bit less noisy and a little bit more psychedelic. The album is just as enjoyable as Colour Trip, but in a very different way. Spacier, more mind-altering, less unsettling. Great effort!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQ187y5sH3E

Best of 2012: #9 Tame Impala - Lonerism (Modular)

Australia's Tame Impala are a young band, just a few years old, but have quickly become one of the more respected psychedelic revival bands in the world. They came into prominence with their 2010 debut album, Innerspeaker. Lonerism continues what they started in 2010. Their sound is drenched in the classic 60s psychedelic rock sound, but also sounds fresh in the 2010s with a healthy dose of indy rock and electronics. Psychedelic music is definitely on the upswing right now and you can't go wrong with Tame Imapala. Good enough for #9 for me this year!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wycjnCCgUes

Best of 2012: #10 - Parallels - XII (Marigold)

We begin our review of my favourite albums of 2012.

Last year, I picked Parallels' debut album Visionairies at my favourite album of 2011. This year, their sophomore effort XII is #10 on my list. XII was very solid, but I feel the band suffered a bit with the departure of Cam Findlay back to Crystal Castles. The band is much more pop-oriented now, and much slicker, lacking the dark feel that Findlay brought to the synth-pop sound. Holly Dodson, nonetheless, stepped up as the front person for the band, and her vocals were silky smooth. This is one of the best snyth-pop releases of the past year. This is also the first of a crop of great Canadian albums to end up on my top 10 list.

Check out my Earshot review of the album here.

http://youtu.be/qu8Gbg1lxVE