While 2012 has not yet produced the type of brilliant music that made the last quarter of 2011 so special, there have been an impressive number of interesting records worthy of your listen. Here are a few, flaws and all. 
Sleigh Bells – Reign of Terror
While quickly dwarfed by the sheer insane concoction that was the Brooklyn duo’s debut album “Treats,” “Reign of Terror” does at least attempt a sonic shift for a band that seemed destined to be a one-trick experiment. In particular, lead singles “Born to Lose” and “Comeback Kid” produce hints of the frenzy. Vocalist Alexis Krauss is still adorable. Derek Miller is still rocking out like the 1980s never ended. But with all of that said, if “Treats” was original Four Loko, then “Reign of Terror” is the new model: totally hilarious and silly to drink, but without the energy.
Hodgy Beats – Untitled EP
Let’s get it out of the way that I despise Odd Future. To me, they are all hype and crudeness without the fun. However, rare splices of good have come from the collective efforts. Frank Ocean put out a wonderful mix tape last year, and Hodgy Beats at least has the sense to play with soul. While Hodgy Beats is not overly inspired lyrically, the work behind him is pretty rad. The EP does have a bit of an annoying stopper on “Higashi Loves You.” Nonetheless, listen to “Ave.” if you want a nice change of pace.
Sharon Van Etten – Tramp
Two years ago, Van Etten put out a pleasant and very solid record named “Epic” and does a similarly pleasant and solid follow up in her record, “Tramp.” Van Etten communicates powerful and restrained emotions through a gorgeous soundscape. While the rest of the records mentioned are fun plays on the form, Van Etten’s work is sticking to sounding pretty good and conveying emotion through song. You know, what most people expect out of music.
School of Seven Bells – Ghostory
The work of this duo based out of New York is still worthy of your attention. There are voices and effects in play on this record that still knock me out with their beauty. Vocalist Alexandra Dehaza is completely entrancing, and the record’s mood creates an awesome set of concluding tracks including my personal favorite, “White Wind.”
Individual tracks worthy of honorable mention:
Since every album isn’t great, but a few songs are, here’s some stuff to place on your Spotify playlists. Some of these are from albums that haven’t been released yet, so keep that in mind.
– Lana Del Rey – “Born to Die (Clams Casino Remix)”
– Mac Lethal – “Royals Cap”
– Grimes – “Oblivion”
– Leonard Cohen – “Going Home”
– Lee Bains III and the Glory Fires – “Centreville”
– Alabama Shakes – “I Ain’t The Same”
