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
- Shoes – Ignition
- Kurt Baker – Brand New Beat
- David Myhr – Soundshine
- Redd Kross – Researching The Blues
- Cliff Hillis – Dream Good
- Chris Richards – Get Yer La La’s Out
- Sunday Sun – I, II, III (really 3 EPs that I count as a full LP)
- Sweet Diss and The Comebacks – Emerald City Love Song
- 8×8 – The Anatomy of An Apricot
- Lannie Flowers – New Songs Old Stories
- Kenny Howes – Tornadoes Here and Past
- Wes Hollywood – Fantasy Arcade
- Smash Palace – Do It Again
- The Well Wishers – Dreaming Of The West Coast
- Bill Lloyd – Boy King Of Tokyo
- Eytan Mirsky – Year Of The Mouse
- Throwback Suburbia – Shot Glass Souvenir
- Jay Gonzalez – Mess of Happiness
- Eytan and The Embassy – Everything Changes
- The Secret Powers – More Songs About Her
- Corner Laughers – Poppy Seeds
- Ruby Free – Introducing Ruby Free
- Explorers Club – Grand Hotel
- Sitcom Neighbor – Charm
- Brad Brooks – Harmony Of Passing Light
- Honeymoon Stallions – Moonlighting
- Hidden Pictures – Rainbow Records
- Bryan Scary – Daffy’s Elixir
- Paul Rocha – Crayons
- The DBs – Falling Off The Sky
Notable Mentions: The Lemon Clocks – Now Is The Time, The Sunchymes – Let Your Free Flag Fly, Mike 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
- Two Sheds Jackson – The Collaboration Series, Movement One
- Spirit Kid – Happiness
- The Wellingtons – Hey Hey
- The Jellybricks – Suckers
- The Connection – Seven Nights To Rock
Top 5 music compilations of 2012
- The New Sell Out
- International Pop Overthrow Volume 15
- The Power Popaholic Fest Original Soundtrack Vol.1
- Elvis Costello – In Moving Pictures
- Jellyfish – Stack-A-Tracks
Next up: My favorite Alternative/Indie albums of 2012, Best reunion album of 2012, Biggest disappointments of 2012.