2012 Wrap Up

Now that 2012 is over, it's time to take a few minutes to reflect. It was a pretty good year for music and a good year for records. So just for fun and posterity, here are my top 5 lists.

(Note - there are a lot of links here. Each record title links to the original post on this blog, whereas the record label name links to the label's site in case you want to buy some records of your own)

Top 5 7"s of 2012

1. NO TOLERANCE 'No Remorse, No Tolerance' (Youngblood Records) - I saw this band play live this year, which really cemented them as one of my favourite bands. This 7" kills everything.

2. GIVE 7" trilogy - ok, so I'm cheating a bit, but the three Give 7"s are on constant rotation for me and it's impossible to pick one over the other two, so I'm choosing all three. Sue me.
'I Am Love' (Triple B Records)
'Flowerhead' (Youngblood Records)
'Petal Pushing' (Painkiller Records)

3. ROT IN HELL 'Termini Terrae' (Dark Empire Records) - just sneaking in at the end of the year, this marks a very welcome return for Rot In Hell with four 'next level' songs.

4. UNHOLY MAJESTY 'S/T' (A389 Records) - a 7" by a newer UK Holy Terror band, this 7" notched up a LOT of plays this year. Apparently there's an LP coming in 2013. Can't wait.

5. POWER TRIP 'S/T' (Lockin' Out Records) - if you'd have told me when I bought this that it would make my top 5, I would have said you were insane. But this one grows on me every time I play it & I'm pretty much playing this daily now, especially in the gym.

Top 5 LPs of 2012

1. GYPSY 'Giant's Despair' (Six Feet Under Records) - I was really looking forward to this LP, and it hit the spot immediately. I've played this loads this year and I show no signs of tiring of it. I only wish it were longer.

2. YOUR FAVORITE TRAINWRECK 'S/T' (Fortunate Son Records) - featuring Popeye from Farside and Jeff from Gameface, this was a slowburn at first but then I got hooked on a couple of songs, and now I know pretty much every word to it. Great record.

3. FIRE & ICE 'Not Of This Earth' (Reaper Records) - I was excited for this LP and it didn't disappoint at all. Great mosh inducing hardcore.

4. BOSTON STRANGLER 'S/T' (Fun With Smack Records) - THE most hyped record of the year (and decade), this did not disappoint at all. Love this.

5. DINOSAUR JR 'I Bet On Sky' (Jagjaguwar Records) - a new Dinosaur Jr album, and as usual it delivered. Great artwork too.

My Top 5 Pickups of 2012

1. The 'Ultimate Test Press Score' - I bought 13 test pressings from one person in one go, including five Revelation tests. This lot was sent in not 1, Not 2, but 3 separate packages.

2. UNITY 7" on blue - the first Wishingwell Records release, a killer record, and a long time want of mine. Done.

3. REASON TO BELIEVE LP Test Press - one of my all time favourite bands and albums, I was stoked to scoop a test press.

4. NO WARNING 'Suffer Survive' LP Test Press - I didn't listen to this album for years, but when I did listen I loved it. And fortunately, someone I knew just happened to be offloading a test press so I jumped all over it.

5. CAVE IN 'Jupiter' LP on clear - I've always loved Cave In, and this is the record of theirs I have played the most. The super rare clear vinyl copy appeared on eBay and I just had to take it.

Well, that pretty much sums up 2012 for me. Big thanks for anyone who continues to read this thing, and bigger thanks to those who comment. It's all about fun and communication, people. Here's to 2013...