Top40: The Best of 2012

40. Friar Alessandro - Voice From Assisi
Decca Records/Universal Music announces the global signing of Franciscan Friar, Alessandro Brustenghi, from the original friary founded by Saint Francis of Assisi: the Porziuncola in Assisi. Alessandro is the first Friar in the history of music to land a major record deal.
Having taken a personal vow of poverty, Friar Alessandro will not accept any money from sales of the album and his day to day life will not change. Proceeds will go directly to Friar Alessandros religious order. Although music was always his passion, Alessandro received his calling as a teenager, and at the age of 21 he decided to become a friar.
The legendary Mike Hedges (U2, The Cure, Manic Street Preachers) and his manager discovered Alessandro whilst in Italy, after years of searching for The Next Italian Tenor. Much like new TV hit The Voice it was only when they met Alessandro in person, dressed in his habit, that they realized the singer recommended to them was a friar.
Mike Hedges is making the record at Abbey Road. When Friar Alessandro recently visited the famous studios it was the first time he had ever been on a plane. The album, which released in October, was a mix of traditional and modern sacred songs, including an original track by Royal Wedding composer Paul Mealor, set to a prayer written by St Francis of Assisi.
The Friar, by day, works in the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli, welcoming many of the six million visitors to Assisi every year. In his spare time he works as a carpenter, restoring furniture and making wooden lecterns. Alessandro grew up listening to Michael Jackson and Bach, loves electronic music, and his latest musical interest is Bjork.

39. Alejandro Sanz - La Musica No Se Toca
Alejandro Sanz is back with his new album La Musica No Se Toca, the twelfth studio album of his career and the first under Universal Music Latino. La Musica No Se Toca is produced by Alejandro himself with the renowned producer and arranger Julio Reyes Copello, winner of two Grammy awards and nine ASCAP awards. The album contains 13 unreleased tracks, including the first single, No Me Compares.
The album "La Musica No Se Toca" is no different. This is by far and away his best album since El Alma Al Aire in fact it may be just as good. This album is clearly meant to appease fans (and maybe Alejandro himself) who have just wanted him to go back to the Mas and El Alma Al Aire days. It achieves this and manages to not sound dated by adding just enough modern touches to keep it sounding fresh.
Credit has to be given to making the change to Julio Reyes on production who has clearly understood what are the strengths in an Alejandro melody and voice and made sure the music fits. Sanz is as flamenco as we have heard his voice since the "Aire" days. This is special.

38. Michael Kiwanuka - Home Again
2012 debut album from the London-based singer/songwriter and winner of the prestigious BBC Sound of 2012 prize. Michael's voice has often been compared to the likes of Bill Withers. He's already supported many major artists including Adele.
This album is not the most amazing thing you'll ever hear. It's not going to rock the music world to its foundations; especially not the industry as it is today. For instance, he doesn't promise to get undressed, drunk, arrested; surprisingly, he doesn't offer to undress anyone else. He doesn't pee on anyone, and he doesn't defame the male or female gender claiming that all men or women are a$$holes. He doesn't even get all ragamuffin on anyone's behind - it is a really under the radar thing he's done here. He's almost come out saying, 'I don't care if this doesn't make me a millionaire - here it is anyway!' But what an understanding this man has of music!!! This album is really deeply beautiful; the ingredients are all right! He gets it, and I am a fan.
Anyone looking for something old in something new, this is it. Michael Kiwanuka is the reincarnate Curtis Mayfield; he is the new Bill Withers. And whilst these giants of the genre spring to mind when one listens to Michael, there is something undeniably new about this man that defies comparison, and so should their be. Otherwise, why would anyone buy this instead of an original Withers or Mayfield classic? No, this album is not a reaching back to revive a forgotten vibe - it's a recreation of that vibe relevant for today. Unfortunately, I don't think it will be relevant for today's 'people'. Don't let it pass you by.

37. John Williams - Lincoln
In a career spanning almost six decades, John Williams has composed some of the most recognizable film scores in the history of motion pictures including Star Wars, Jaws, the Indiana Jones films, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, Schindler's List and the first three Harry Potter films. Winner of twenty-one Grammy Awards, four Golden Globe Awards and five Academy Awards, Williams is easily the most recognized composer working in film today. He has a long association with Steven Spielberg, composing music for all but two of Spielberg's feature films, most recently on the Academy Award -nominated scores for The Adventures of Tintin and Warhorse.
John Williams has certainly given us a lot of tunes to hum during our lives. He has scored some of the greatest movies ever and his scores have no doubt contributed to their greatness. The music compliments the vision of this film and the iconic Lincoln so well.
John Williams has always been a master at creating memorable themes with his music and he succeeds so well with this creation. If your a fan of music this will no doubt be pleasing to your ears!

36. Jack White - Blunderbuss
Produced by Jack White and recorded at his own Third Man Studio in Nashville, Blunderbuss has been described by White as "an album I couldn't have released until now. I've put off making records under my own name for a long time but these songs feel like they could only be presented under my name. These songs were written from scratch, had nothing to do with anyone or anything else but my own expression, my own colors on my own canvas."

35. Marcus Miller - Renaissance
A generation is roughly defined as a period of about 30 years. 30 years ago in the early 80s - America was rolling with Ronald Reagan at the wheel and his conservative back to family values tenets. A similar traditionalism was also being adopted by several prominent up-and-coming jazz musicians. While most of the then-young flock was looking back, Marcus Miller was looking ahead. By the middle of that decade in 1986, Marcus - the musician, composer and producer - was at the helm of one of the most impactful modern jazz masterpieces of the era with some futuristic roots music he composed for the legendary Miles Davis entitled Tutu.
Now with Renaissance in 2012, Marcus Miller surveys the landscape of not just music but society as a whole. In the same profound way that anointed gospel-soul singer Sam Cooke prophesized 50 years before in 1963, Miller feels that a change is gonna come. And just as with Tutu, he is ahead of the storm with Renaissance, fortified by a team of hungry young players that includes trumpeters Sean Jones and Maurice Brown, alto saxophonist Alex Han, drummer Louis Cato, guitarists Adam Agati and Adam Rogers, and keyboardist Kris Bowers along with veteran keys wizards Federico Gonzalez Pen~a and Bobby Sparks, Miller is creating the soundtrack for this musical, cultural and spiritual revolution.
I feel like a page is turning, Miller muses. The last of our heroes are checking out and we are truly entering a new era. Politically, things have polarized and are coming to a head. Musically, we ve got all these cool ways to play and share music - MP3 files, internet radio and satellite radio - but the music is not as revolutionary as the media. It s time for a rebirth.
Renaissance finds Miller offering up an especially emotive 13-song collection that includes eight richly inspired original compositions that swing from a tip of the porkpie to the CTI Records sound of the '70s ( CEE-TEE-EYE ) to an introspective and ultimately hope-filled rumination about the island off the coast of Dakar in Africa known as Gore'e (Go-ray). Renaissance also includes five cover songs that canvas works by soul-jazz culture band WAR, new wave-soul starlet Janelle Mona'e, New York jazz dignitary Weldon Irvine, Brazilian musical ambassador Ivan Lins and Christian composer Luther Mano Hanes. Though the CD primarily features Miller s smokin new band, it also features special guest vocalists Dr. John, Rube'n Blades and Gretchen Parlato.
Renaissance is a word that resonates on a lot of different levels for me, Miller explains. It s about getting back to the essential aspects of art. I m focusing less on production and more on composition, so this is a very clear album for me. People have often called me a Renaissance Man. I always understood that to mean someone who s got their creative hands in a lot of different things but not on a surface level. Like Leonardo da Vinci: he wasn t just dabbling in things, he was going deep. I would really like to be that kind of guy. Over the past three decades of my career, I ve been blessed to produce a wide variety of music that means something to people. I didn t just do some cliche's in different genres, like a guy who says he can speak 20 languages but all he s saying is how are you and can I get something to eat. The real challenge is can you communicate something of substance to the people through these languages that you speak?

34. Death Grips - The Money Store
Hailing from Sacramento, California, Death Grips was formed in late 2010 and consists of vocalist Stefan Burnett and production team Zach Hill and Andy Morin. The band dropped the highly acclaimed mix tape Exmilitary featuring the standout track "Guillotine", Time Out NY 's #1 single of 2011. The release garnered critical praise from tastemakers such as Pitchfork, Top40 Charts, NME, Spin, The New Yorker, and more, with many call outs on year end best of lists. Death Grips follow up Exmilitary with their Epic Records debut, The Money Store. The album builds on Exmilitary's unique punk rap sound and explores new territory with standout tracks "Get Got", "Blackjack", and "I've Seen Footage".
Death Grips' "The Money Store" is a must buy for anyone who likes music, period. If you're new to Death Grips and haven't listened to their free downloadable mixtape "Exmilitary" , know that this album will be unlike anything you're used to hearing. I listen to a lot of Norwegian Black Metal, Hardcore Punk, EDM and Underground Rap - despite my background, Death Grips still proves to have creative and catchy work. They aren't constrained to any genre archetypes either,so no pretentious BS here, just raw music.

33. Tamela Mann - Best Days
2012 album from the Gospel vocalist and actress, best known for her work with Tyler Perry. With Best Days, the acclaimed actress and Dove award-winning vocalist shares the joy that can be found in being a child of God. Produced by Myron Butler, this project highlights her powerful voice and her gift for wringing every ounce of emotion from a great lyric.
The title track, penned by Butler, is a jubilant celebration of God's promises. The debut single, "Take Me to the King," was penned and produced by none other than Tamela's longtime friend and gospel music icon Kirk Franklin. The song finds Tamela in her vocal "sweet spot"; right on the cusp of exploding forth with unbridled praise and passion while maintaining a composure that holds the audience in awe.
Tamela Mann is a power house vocalist who has captured gospel fans since her appearances with Kirk Franklin and the Family to her later solo projects and appearances in Tyler Perry plays and movies. New listeners and fans alike will be pleased with the title track, "Best Days" with its uptempo style as Tamela shines.

32. Beach House - Bloom
Bloom is the fourth full length album by Baltimore-based Beach House. It builds on 2010s Teen Dream to further develop their distinctive sound yet stands apart as a new piece of work. Bloom is meant to be experienced as an ALBUM, a singular, unified vision of the world. The many layers of Bloom are uncomplicated and meticulously constructed to ensure there is no waste. Bloom was recorded in 2011 at Sonic Ranch Studios in Tornillo, TX and mixed at Electric Lady in NYC. The band co-produced the record with Chris Coady.
This album may not reach the same mainstream appeal as Teen Dream it is just as amazing. After the first listen I realized that I got lost in Victoria's haunting voice somewhere in the middle. I initially thought it wasn't as dynamic as their last but I have since changed my mind. It is a treat and also a task to listen from start to finish which is a credit to the production. I don't want to say that it gets better with every listen because it was brilliant from the start but it does have that signature Beach House hook.
The sound quality of the vinyl is up there with some of my best sounding records. The 2 12-inch LP's are played at 45rpm which seems to add a noticeable depth to the music. If you love Beach House then you probably don't need to be convinced but if you're looking for good music make the jump. Newcomers might warm up with Teen Dream then Bloom before Beach House and Devotion.

31. Lana Del Rey - Born To Die
Highly anticipated 2012 debut album from the New York-based singer, songwriter and performer. She has described herself as a "gangsta Nancy Sinatra" and cites Britney Spears, Thomas Newman and Bruce Springsteen as her musical influences. Lana Del Rey's direct influences were visual as well as musical; David Lynch, soundtracks for '50s black and white movies, the whirring sound of the Ferris at Coney Island, fame itself. She lived in a New Jersey trailer park and decked her homestead in flags, streamers and seasonally inappropriate Christmas lights. Like these things she loves, the album sparkles with color and vitality. Includes the hit singles 'Video Games' and 'Blue Jeans'.
"Born To Die" (12 tracks; 50 min.) can be divided in 3 sections. The first 4 tracks are slow-burners, pretty much in the vein of "Video Games" but check out in particular "Off To the Races", an album highlight. The middle section of the album (tracks 5 though 8) brings slightly faster tracks, and shines thoughout. "Diet Mountain Dew" is delightful, with playful lyrics like "Diet Mountain Dew baby New York City/Can we hit it low now down and gritty". Likewise with "National Anthem" (not to be confused with Radiohead's "The National Anthem"). After a brooding "Dark Paradise" (see my review title), comes "Radio", by far the most readily accessible track on this album (chorus: "Now my life is a sweet cinnamon/like a f**king dream I'm living in"). The last third album slows back down, and contains several other highlights such as "Million Dollar Man" (which reminds me of early Fiona Apple, think Never Is a Promise/The Child Is Gone/Pale September). The album ends appropriately with the self -explaining "This Is What Makes Us Girls".
In all, this is quite the album. Mostly dark, brooding, biting, yet funny and playful at times. Definitely not for anyone in a hurry. I can't imagine this album will be a mainstream success (this is MILES away from Adele's "21"), but I could be wrong and I hope I am. Much has been made of Lana's maligned SNL appearance (which was really not all that bad), and I personally can't wait to see her bringing these songs in concert. This album proves that Lana is the real deal, period, forget all the hype and everything else. If you can catch her live, don't miss it!

The best of the best for 2012:
40-31 | 30-21 | 20-11 | 10-1