Our Favourite Albums of 2012 - The Top 30

2012's been a fantastic year - both for us (starting up this very blog on 21st August) and for music - having been to 11 gigs this year, we've seen more live music than in any previous years! These have been some of the inspiration behind our Top 30 chart - here are the albums which have made 2012 a great year in the world of indie and alternative music.

Of course, there are several albums we would have liked to have added to the list, but we can't include everything! So if you think this chart commits a couple of music injustices, feel free to let us know what you'd change. Anyway, here's to 2012 - and let's hope that 2013 can match this year's abundance of amazing albums (though that shouldn't be difficult - with Foals, Darwin Deez, Biffy Clyro, Vampire Weekend and Everything Everything announcing comeback albums, and new talent from the likes of Splashh, Novella, Dan Croll, S O H N and Swim Deep to name a few, this is already looking promising!)

All the best for the new year,
Isabella and Felicity - On The Jukebox

Now on with the countdown...

30 - The Temper Trap
The Temper Trap

29 - Battle Born
The Killers

28 - My Head Is An Animal
Of Monsters And Men

27 - The Only Place
Best Coast

26 - America Give Up
Howler

25 - All Our Favourite Stories
Dog Is Dead

24 - In Our Heads
Hot Chip

23 - Observator
The Raveonettes

22 - 2:54
2:54

21 - Into The Diamond Sun
Stealing Sheep

20 - Port Of Morrow
The Shins

19 - Babel
Mumford & Sons

18 - Coexist
The xx

17 - Gossamer
Passion Pit

16 - Manifest!
Friends

15 - To The Treetops!
Team Me

14 - Shields
Grizzly Bear

13 - Family
The Cast Of Cheers

12 - Four
Bloc Party

11 - Come Of Age
The Vaccines

10 - Walk The Moon
Walk The Moon

9 - Endless Flowers
Crocodiles

8 - Django Django
Django Django

7 - Enjoy It While It Lasts
Spector

6 - Lonerism
Tame Impala

 5 - Life Is Elsewhere
Little Comets
Newcastle's Little Comets returned to the indie scene in October 2012 with Life Is Elsewhere. Having released an album the year before, many worried they hadn't spent long enough writing. But Life Is Elsewhere proved to be some of their best work yet!

4 - Beacon
Two Door Cinema Club
The NI-based trio returned this year with their gem of a sophomore album, Beacon. Packed with catchy choruses and energetic guitar riffs, this didn't deviate too far from the band's debut, Tourist History, but nonetheless displayed a more mature sound than in the previous album.

 3 - Oshin
Diiv
An obscure debut album from Zachary Cole Smith's (of Beach Fossils fame) new band, having received little publicity - but good ratings from music critics. Oshin celebrates guitars (which are a more prominent feature than vocals), bringing back The Cure-esque post-punk; a much needed revival.

 2 - Given To The Wild
The Maccabees

The Maccabees released their third studio album in early 2012, leaving a lasting impression on existing fans and new fans alike. A more powerful sound overall, the band have expanded on their previously more 'Indie' albums, and created 13 tracks of brilliance.  

 1 - An Awesome Wave
Alt-J (∆)
This debut album has deservedly made it to first place: it is refreshingly different to most current alternative acts. Each song tells a different story; from Breezeblocks, which depicts an obsessive relationship, to Taro, the story of a real-life photographer. This is, in our opinion, the number 1 album of 2012.

Isabella and Felicity, OTJ x

Top Songs of Autumn 2012

Days are shorter, nights are colder, scarves are warmer, songs are better. This post is a shortlist of what's been playing through our headphones throughout the autumn.

1) Best Of Friends - PALMA VIOLETS

Hailed as the new future of British rock, here's the fresh, experimental sound of Palma Violets. The critics seem to be loving these guys, as do we. They've already nabbed themselves a front cover of NME, and after a summer of festivals (Reading, Leeds, Psych Fest, Eden Sessions - that's right, you heard it here first), they're ready to take the alternative music scene by storm. Brace yourselves, readers.

2) Something Good - ALT-J (∆)

If you're after a brief summary of this track, the clue's kind of in the name. The latest release from (Mercury Prize winners) Alt-J's recent debut 'An Awesome Wave' combines afrobeats with oh-so-pretty-sounding piano-led instrumentals, which together with Joe Newman's smooth vocals create the perfect track to listen to when you're in a melancholy mood. Their upcoming UK tour sold out like hot cakes, and if you've heard their music before, it's easy to see why.

3) Friday Night, Don't Ever Let It End - SPECTOR

Bored of listening to the same songs about Fridays (believe us, there are many)? Here's something new to add to that particular collection - it's Spector, and it's excellent. Featuring the synthy-guitarry riffs hooks that Spector do best and an anthemic chorus that was made for crowds to sing along to, who's complaining? No need to even mention Rebecca Black.

4) Cough Cough - EVERYTHING EVERYTHING

Well hello stranger! It's been too long since we've heard something new from the Manchester-based quartet, but GOOD NEWS - they're back! 'Cough Cough' is the first single from Arc, the follow-up to the band's 2010 album 'Man Alive', and promises more of Everything Everything's enthusiastic indie randomness. Glad to have you back, boys!

5) Tightrope - WALK THE MOON

After that impressive performance at the iTunes Festival in September, it's hardly surprising that we're mentioning Walk The Moon (yet again!) Their latest electric-guitar-loaded release is quirky and fun; this is a song that's guaranteed to brighten up any bad day and bulldoze through those November blues. As seen in the above video, dancing like nobody's watching is highly recommended.

6) Madness - MUSE

A rather sharp contrast to previous hit and official Olympic anthem 'Survival', Muse's controversial dubstep influences manifest themselves here - but fear not, bloggers, it's all good. Riffs, reverbs and hidden relationship advice (see online interviews) transform this into a track which could make a MUSEr out of anyone. You converted yet?

7) How Do You Do? - HOT CHIP

If, like us, you've been long awaiting the return of indie-electronic powerhouse Hot Chip, you'll love this second single from album #5, 'In Our Heads'. '80s-style synths are juxtaposed alongside lyrics which look on the bright side of life ("A heart is not for breaking\ It's for beating out all the life that is to begin"). 'How Do You Do' will remind anyone will remind anyone who was ever a fan, of the reasons why they first fell in love with this sound.

8) Ayla - THE MACCABEES

It's plain to see that pianos are back in the world of alternative music, with the likes of Alt-J (∆), King Charles, and now The Maccabees bucking this trend. 'Ayla' is quite simply a dazzling display of melodic excellence, which for us secures a place for The Maccabees' LP 'Given To The Wild' in our Favourite Albums Of The Year (a very prestigious title indeed). Both heartwarming and atmospheric, you couldn't want more from a ballad like this.

9) Worry - LITTLE COMETS

Another brilliant sophomore album? There are way too many of these at the moment; all this good music is eating up all of our time! Most well-known for their songs 'Joanna' and 'Dancing Song', Newcastle's Little Comets show that the UK music scene is far from running dry - their unique take on "kitchen-sink indie" makes for very good listening. Note their use of pots, pans and percussion (hanging conveniently on a rope suspended from the ceiling) during their live tours - one of which I (Felicity) was fortunate enough to see! :)

10) I'm His Girl - FRIENDS

Who says feminism is a thing of the past? Friends smash that thesis with a metaphorical sledgehammer, with their feisty new song 'I'm His Girl'. Far from your typical generic love song, this track certainly packs a punch as it addresses the issues of equality and possessive relationships, with a degree of sassiness that even Destiny's Child would be proud of. What a song.

11) Life's A Beach - DJANGO DJANGO

After groundbreaking performances at Reading and Leeds, we were very excited to see what this brilliant band would do next. The answer? Chilled-out, desert-esque 'Life's A Beach', which you'll probably want to sing/hum/whistle* constantly after a couple of listens, annoying nearby friends/family/flatmates* in the process. They'll never understand.

* Delete as appropriate.

12) Endless Flowers - CROCODILES

To cut a long story short, Crocodiles is the sort of band which makes you question why on earth you haven't discovered them before. The San Diego noise pop outfit (who recently played at Rough Trade East, London) have a similar vibe to The Drums and The Raveonettes, and this track from the band's third album (of the same name as the song) isn't one you'll forget in a hurry.

Isabella and Felicity, OTJ x