2012 Halftime: Carter Maness
We're halfway done with 2012, and since I'm the Jeff Van Gundy of RCRD LBL (oh, yes), I'm going to kick-off our analysis of the best songs and albums of the year so far. To me, 2012 has been about a return to basics. There's less laptops, less reverb, less half-formed BS. Both rappers and bands have re-found an organic yet technically-sharp rawness that seemed lacking in recent years. These are my favorite songs (on both RCRD LBL and beyond), as well as what I think are the best albums. Explore with two playlists – one for Spotify, one all RCRD LBL free MP3s.
Albums
Beach House - Bloom
Lee Hazlewood - LIH Years (Reissue)
The Walkmen - Heaven
Mount Eerie - Clear Moon
Fiona Apple - The Idler Wheel...
Paul & Linda McCartney - Ram (Reissue)
Action Bronson & Party Supplies - Blue Chips
Rick Ross - Rich Forever
Burial - Kindred EP
Dirty Projectors - Swing Lo Magellan
Peaking Lights - Lucifer
Lower Dens - Nootropics
Black Dice - Mr. Impossible
Liars - WIXIW
Songs
Kendrick Lamar - The Recipe (feat. Dr. Dre)
Ex Cops - You Are A Lion, I Am A Lamb
Beach House - Lazuli
Daughn Gibson - Tiffany Lou
Chromatics - Lady
The Walkmen - The Love You Love
Nas - The Don
Kanye West - Mercy (feat. Big Sean, Pusha T & 2 Chainz)
Lower Dens - Brains
Lotus Plaza - Monoliths
Here We Go Magic - How Do I Know?
Meek Mill - Amen (feat. Drake)
RCRD LBL Songs
DIIV - Geist
Frankie Rose - Know Me
Ty Segall & White Fence - I Am Not A Game
Quantic & Alice Russell - Here Again
Future Of What - I Wait For You
Willits & Sakamoto
Eric Copeland - Tarzan etc.
Grimes - Oblivion
