Melody’s Top Albums/Songs/Shows 2012

This year might not be the end of the world*, but it did mark the end of many things in my life. School, relationships, employment – the latter two multiple times. But, what better to get you through all of these things than some good music. Tied with good friends and food, music completes the trifecta of essentials to get me through all the good and bad times, and that was especially true this year. Sometimes, the perfect album or song enters your life in such a timely manner, it’s almost like that artist had written it just for you. That was Fiona Apple for me. So, needless to say, Apple’s The Idler Wheel is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do is hands-down my favourite album of the year. But even on a non-personal level, that album is clearly one of the best, both musically in Apple’s stark and bare bones arrangements as well as her masterful words. This isn’t to say that I’ve had an entirely miserable year, I swear there’s a glimmer of happiness still flickering inside me, but you’ll notice that there’s a bit of a theme to all my picks. I would say let’s hope for a brighter new year, but honestly, I don’t mind all the sad-sack, dark tunes. Throw in a few guitar-shredding numbers, and I’m good.

Now, to spare you from more rambling, I will now present to you my top albums of this year in the succinct form of Twitter-sized blurbs!

* I am currently writing this on December 18, so apologies if it really is the end of the world.

TOP 10 ALBUMS

1. 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

Because Fiona Apple is everything you’ve always wanted your diaries to sound like. Raw, gut-wrenching and a punch in your face/heart. #YGG

2. Cloud Nothings – Attack on Memory

Cleveland boy goes from bedroom to Albini, creates his best work yet – all before turning legal drinking age.

3. Kathleen Edwards – Voyageur

From messy break up to the most composed piece of work Kathleen Edwards has ever put out. A warm blanket of tears that I wrap myself in.

4. Parlovr – Kook Soul

Nothing is more satisfying that letting out all your emotions through screaming and playing really loud music. Mosh your pains away to this.

5. Beach House – Bloom

A gorgeous soundtrack to your daydreams, narrated by the haunting coos of Victoria Legrand. Same sound, some tweaks, even better results.

6. White Lung – Sorry

A perfect slice of aggressive tendencies that electrocutes you into wanting more.

7. Grimes – Visions

Our generation’s Mariah Carey – if Carey was to reveal the real alien inside of her. Hypnotizing, strange and making weird the new norm.

8. Purity Ring – Shrines

Your most eerily, fucked-up dreams distilled into a collection of songs. Almost makes those grim moments seem completely worth it.

9. Ty Segall Band - Slaughterhouse

Because Ty Segall owned this year and this album was his weapon of choice. Death by guitars, my preferred way to go out.

10. Jens Lekman – I Know What Love Isn’t

Every now and then, you need a Swedish guy to slap some sense in you. Jens Lekman’s music sounds inviting, but his words are all truth.

Honourable Mentions:
Evening Hymns – Spectral Dusk
Divine Fits – A Thing Called Divine Fits
Sharon Van Etten – Tramp
Bahamas – Barchords
Hot Chip – In Our Heads
Cold Specks – I Predict A Graceful Expulsion
First Aid Kit – The Lion’s Roar
Kendrick Lamar – Good Kid M.A.A.D City
Frank Ocean – Channel ORANGE
Andrew Bird – Break it Yourself

TOP 10 SONGS (in no particular order)
Solange – “Losing You”
First Aid Kit – “Emmylou”
David Byrne and St. Vincent – “Who”
M.I.A. – “Bad Girls”
Ty Segall Band – “Wave Goodbye”
Fiona Apple – “Werewolf”
Morgan Page feat. Tegan and Sara – “Body Work”
Major Lazer feat. Amber Coffman – “Get Free”
HAIM – “Don’t Save Me”
Frank Ocean – “Thinkin’ Bout You”

Honourable Mentions:
Anything by Calvin Harris
(Almost) anything by Rihanna
Taylor Swift – “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together”
Carly Rae Jepsen – “This Kiss”

TOP 10 SHOWS (in no particular order)
Grimes @ Club Soda, POP Montreal
Cloud Nothings @ Lee’s Palace, CMW
Divine Fits @ Il Motore
Parlovr @ Silver Dollar, NXNE
Kelly Clarkson @ Molson Amphitheatre
Jens Lekman @ Phoenix
Evening Hymns @ Theatre Centre, SummerWorks Festival
Purity Ring @ Wrongbar, NXNE
Little Dragon @ Osheaga
The Kills @ Kool Haus

Bonus: Tegan and Sara @ Phoenix