Music Spotlight – Favorite Music of 2012: Part 2

Crystal Castles – Wrath of God

Wrath of God is off Crystal Castles’ album Crystal Castles (III). The electronic track engages the listener enchanting them with its great driving danceable beat, courtesy of Ethan Kath. Alice Glass’s vocals also have a bewitching siren-like quality. Her lyrics carry a strong political message of cruelty in the world. Yet, even with bleak tone, the song is still beautiful as well. Available for download: here

Danny Brown – Grown Up

Grown Up is a non-album single. Danny Brown had a great 2012, appearing on a ton of other people’s albums (plus his album XXX has really started to catch on). He could very well be one of the top hip hop artists of 2013. Party Supplies provides the track with a fantastic beat that is very catchy and fun. In addition to the beat, Brown’s lyrics are strong as he raps about his youth in a very relatable manner (the song also has a brilliant music video, see above). Available for download: here

Dusted – Pale Light

Pale Light is off Dusted’s debut album Total Dust. The Canadian duo of songwriter Brian Borcherdt and producer Leon Taheny capture a wonderful sound with the track. It has a folk sensibility but played through an electronic echoy reverb that gives it a uniqueness and great aesthetic quality. Its soft manner seems to momentarily disguise its power and allure. Available for download: here

Ellie Goulding – Anything Could Happen

Anything Could Happen is off Ellie Goulding’s album Halcyon. Like a number of artists on this list, Goulding had a breakthrough year in 2012 – both with her new material and her chart climbing single Lights. Anything Could Happen (produced by Goulding and Jim Eliot), the lead single of Halcyon, is probably the best pop song of the year. It just grabs the listener right away, and Goulding’s singular voice just soars. Available for download: here

Family Band – Rest

Rest is off Family Band’s debut album Grace & Lies. The Brooklyn duo of visual artist Kim Krans and metal/thrash guitarist Jonny Ollsin make an unlikely pairing for such a sad, dark slow song. While Night Song is a better single, Rest just has a foreboding power to it that seems to entrance the listener. Krans’s voice is transfixing while Ollsin’s guitar is sheer and grim (and quiet). It is the kind of folk music that one might play after the world has ended – looking out across the wasteland. Available for download: here

Essential Songs of 2012: Part 7 – Music Spotlight – August 2012

Artist: Dum Dum Girls Song: Lord Knows Producer(s):  N/A Featuring: N/A Album: End of Daze

Artist: Dusted Song: Cut Them Free Producer(s): Leon Taheny Featuring: N/A Album: Total Dust

Artist: Ellie Goulding Song: Anything Could Happen Producer(s): Ellie Goulding and Jim Elliot Featuring: N/A Album: Halcyon

Artist: J. Cole, Big K.R.I.T. and Kendrick Lamar Song: They Ready Producer(s): J. Cole Featuring: N/A Album: DJ Khaled’s Kiss the Ring

Artist: Kendrick Lamar Song: Swimming Pools (Drank) Producer(s): T-Minus Featuring: N/A Album: Good Kid, m.A.A.d. City

Artist: Nas Song: Loco-Motive Producer(s): No I.D. Featuring: Large Professor Album: Life is Good

Artist: Reks Song: The Jones’ Producer(s): Numonics Featuring: N/A Album: Rebelutionary

Artist: Rick Ross Song: Diced Pineapples Producer(s): Cardiak Featuring: Wale and Drake Album: God Forgives, I Don’t

Artist: Talib Kweli Song: Push Thru Producer(s): S1 Featuring: Kendrick Lamar and Curren$y Album: Prisoner of Conscious

Artist: The xx Song: Chained Producer(s): Jamie xx Featuring: N/A Album: Coexist

Essential Songs of 2012: Part 6 – Music Spotlight – August 2012

Artist: Childish Gambino Song: One Up Producer(s):  Childish Gambino Featuring: Steve G. Lover Album: Royalty

Artist: Crystal Castles Song: Plague Producer(s): Ethan Kath Featuring: N/A Album: N/A

Artist: Dusted Song: All Comes Down Producer(s): Leon Taheny Featuring: N/A Album: Total Dust

Artist: How to Dress Well Song: Cold Nites Producer(s): Tom Krell Featuring: N/A Album: Total Loss

Artist: Hot Chip Song: Flutes Producer(s): Hot Chip Featuring: N/A Album: In Our Heads

Artist: Menomena Song: Heavy Is as Heavy Does Producer(s): Menomena Featuring: N/A Album: Moms

Artist: ScHoolboy Q Song: There He Go Producer(s): Sounwave Featuring: N/A Album: Habits & Contradictions

Artist: Tame Impala Song: Elephant Producer(s): Kevin Parker Featuring: N/A Album: Lonerism

Artist: The Soft Pack Song: Saratoga Producer(s): N/A Featuring: N/A Album: Strapped

Artist: The xx Song: Angels Producer(s): Jamie xx Featuring: N/A Album: Coexist

Essential Songs of 2012: Part 4 – Music Spotlight – July 2012

Artist: Best Coast Song: The Only Place Producer(s): Jon Brion Featuring: N/A Album: The Only Place

Artist: Chiddy Bang Song: Handclaps & Guitars Producer(s): Xaphoon Jones Featuring: N/A Album: Breakfast

Artist: Dusted Song: Pale Light Producer(s): Leon Taheny Featuring: N/A Album: Total Dust

Artist: Ellie Goulding Song: High for This (The Weeknd cover) Producer(s): Xaphoon Jones Featuring: N/A Album: N/A

Artist: Hot Chip Song: Motion Sickness Producer(s): Hot Chip Featuring: N/A Album: In Our Heads

Artist: Kanye West & Pusha T Song: New God Flow Producer(s): Kanye West and Boogz & Tapez Featuring: N/A Album: Cruel Summer

Artist: Meek Mill & Rick Ross Song: Black Magic Producer(s): Young Shun Featuring: N/A Album: Maybach Music Group Presents: Self Made Vol. 2

Artist: Regina Spektor Song: Open Producer(s): Mike Elizondo and Regina Spektor Featuring: N/A Album: What We Saw from the Cheap Seats

Artist: Stepdad Song: Will I Ever Dance Again Producer(s): Chris Zane Featuring: N/A Album: Wildlife Pop

Artist: Ty Segall Band Song: I Bought My Eyes Producer(s): Ty Segall Featuring: N/A Album: Slaughterhouse