25. Sleigh Bells - Comeback Kid
You may remember that after their first album came out two years ago, I saw Sleigh Bells perform the exact same set twice in 3 nights. It was worth it. Fun note: When I saw Sleigh Bells at FYF Fest a couple of months ago, some dude at the front of the crowd lost his finger. His finger got caught between two railings and was sliced clean off. They made the crowd move back afterwards so they could retrieve the finger and get him to the hospital.
24. Band Of Skulls - Bruises
I have to admit, even though I liked their first album 3 years ago, I didn't really think much of their second album upon first listen... that is, until I heard the new songs played live at Coachella. I've been listening to the new album constantly ever since. And I'm seeing them open for Muse next month.
23. The Big Pink - Hit The Ground (Superman)
Yeah, their second album is a big step down from their fabulous first album, but even so, the new album contains a handful of great songs. This is the best.
22. Cat Power - 3,6,9
Cat Power is back with her catchiest and most fun album in many, many years. I really regret missing her show at the Palladium this year.
21. Spiritualized - So Long You Pretty Thing
Jason Pierce is back after years of health issues that nearly killed him, and his music is as gorgeous and soul-stirring as ever.
20. A.C. Newman - Encyclopedia Of Classic Takedowns
Any time Carl Newman or The New Pornographers come out with any new material, you can bet it'll end up in my list of favorites of the year. Really, why isn't he a pop music superstar?
19. Imperial Teen - Out From Inside
Another band that should be pop superstars instead of being seen by most people as one-hit wonders ("Yoohoo" from 15 years ago, in case you were wondering). I was bummed that they didn't even play this song when I saw them last summer.
18. Garbage - Blood For Poppies
On hiatus for seven years, and I got to see them at their first official show after their hiatus! Let me tell you, they sound as incredible in concert as they ever have.
17. Of Monsters And Men - Little Talks
Okay, technically this song came out in 2011, but I didn't hear it until their album came out in the US this year. I regret missing their show at the Troubadour last winter; it was probably my last opportunity to see them in an intimate venue ever again.
16. M.I.A. - Bad Girls
I saw her at one of her earliest live US performances at Coachella in 2005, and like everyone else, I've worried about her sanity in recent years. But with her "Vicki Leekz" mixtape and this subsequent song, I have high hopes for her upcoming new album. It helps that this is my favorite music video of the year:
15. Frank Ocean - Bad Religion
"Channel Orange" is topping many music critics' end-of-year lists, and for good reason. If you missed his tear-inducing performance of this song on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon, you missed out on something extraordinary. Another one of my regrets: missing Frank Ocean's set at Coachella.
14. Dan Deacon - True Thrush
Here's a photo of Baltimore's own Dan Deacon I took at the Jimmy Kimmel Live taping I attended a couple of months ago:
Oh, and this is my second favorite music video of the year:
13. Scissor Sisters - Keep Your Shoes
Has it really been nearly 10 years since I started listening to Scissor Sisters religiously? Yes. Yes, it has.
"Keep Your Shoes" is the second half of this video:
12. Adele - Skyfall
The moment we heard that Adele was doing this, we all knew it would be the greatest Bond theme in decades, didn't we?
11. Icona Pop - I Love It
A couple of months ago, I went to the free Culture Collide Festival Block Party to see of Montreal and some other bands, but Swedish duo Icona Pop were the first band to play on the main stage. All it took was hearing this fantastically catchy break-up song once, and I became a fan. I'm seeing them again in February at the Troubadour.
Stay tuned for my top ten favorite songs of 2012!
#Favorited #Music #ConcertReport
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