The Top 30 Power Pop Albums for 2012

This was a banner year for power pop as my list expanded to 30. Without a doubt this was the year of “the comeback” with new albums from many old bands looking to reconnect with fans. I also had enough EPs this year to make a top 5 list. Some bands that made the list I never got to post a review for and others I rated very high didn’t make the list due to heavy competition (See Notable Mentions). Hopefully I didn’t miss one of your favorites, and if I did then comment below and tell me.

The Top 30 of 2012

  1. Shoes – Ignition
  2. Kurt Baker – Brand New Beat
  3. David Myhr – Soundshine
  4. Redd Kross – Researching The Blues
  5. Cliff Hillis – Dream Good
  6. Chris Richards – Get Yer La La’s Out
  7. Sunday Sun – I, II, III (really 3 EPs that I count as a full LP)
  8. Sweet Diss and The Comebacks – Emerald City Love Song
  9. 8×8 – The Anatomy of An Apricot
  10. Lannie Flowers – New Songs Old Stories
  11. Kenny Howes – Tornadoes Here and Past
  12. Wes Hollywood – Fantasy Arcade
  13. Smash Palace – Do It Again
  14. The Well Wishers – Dreaming Of The West Coast
  15. Bill Lloyd – Boy King Of Tokyo
  16. Eytan Mirsky – Year Of The Mouse
  17. Throwback Suburbia – Shot Glass Souvenir
  18. Jay Gonzalez – Mess of Happiness
  19. Eytan and The Embassy – Everything Changes
  20. The Secret Powers – More Songs About Her
  21. Corner Laughers – Poppy Seeds
  22. Ruby Free – Introducing Ruby Free
  23. Explorers Club – Grand Hotel
  24. Sitcom Neighbor – Charm
  25. Brad Brooks – Harmony Of Passing Light
  26. Honeymoon Stallions – Moonlighting
  27. Hidden Pictures – Rainbow Records
  28. Bryan Scary – Daffy’s Elixir
  29. Paul Rocha – Crayons
  30. The DBs – Falling Off The Sky

Notable Mentions: The Lemon Clocks – Now Is The Time, The Sunchymes – Let Your Free Flag FlyMike Keneally & Andy Partridge – Wings Beat Fantastic, Grahame Steinberg (no longer available), Conceptus – Trebly Feelings, Air Traffic Controller – Nordo, The Breakups – Running, Jumping Falling Shouting.

Top 5 EPs of 2012

  1. Two Sheds Jackson – The Collaboration Series, Movement One
  2. Spirit Kid – Happiness
  3. The Wellingtons – Hey Hey
  4. The Jellybricks – Suckers
  5. The Connection – Seven Nights To Rock

Top 5 music compilations of 2012 

  1. The New Sell Out
  2. International Pop Overthrow Volume 15
  3. The Power Popaholic Fest Original Soundtrack Vol.1
  4. Elvis Costello – In Moving Pictures
  5. Jellyfish – Stack-A-Tracks

Next up: My favorite Alternative/Indie albums of 2012, Best reunion album of 2012, Biggest disappointments of 2012.