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Best Songs of 2012: Bright Light Social Hour - "Garden of the Gods"
Jim Murray
December 18, 2012
OK‚ so this self-titled album may actually have been released in late 2010‚ but on account of them sweeping South by Southwest in 2011 and going nationwide in 2012 to finally support it‚ I can't resist including the Bright Light Social Hour on this list. Marrying a unique combination of gritty Southern blues rock infused with hints of Motown and propped up with gorgeous vocal harmonies‚ they've found a formula that is just plain fun. "Garden of the Gods" highlights the sensitive interplay between guitarist Curtis Roush and keyboardist A.J. Vincent‚ along with the steady pulse of bassist Jack O'Brien and drummer Joe Mirasole. It breathes before building to an absolutely devastating crescendo. Look for these guys to make a splash soon.



Best Songs of 2012: Eastbound Jesus - "Time Wasting"
Mike McKinley
December 17, 2012
Picking and singing about hard livin' and lovin' isn't new, but if it's done right it never gets old. Eastbound Jesus does it right. Their record Holy Smokes got a lot of spins this year, and I still haven't quite put my finger on what it is about this band's spirit that is so captivating. Perhaps it's because they come from my hometown of Albany, NY, so there's an inherent saltiness and sarcasm that comes through in their sound. You know, I can identify with that.

The record has plenty of great cuts and boisterous energy, but it's the slowed-down closer "Time Wasting" that gets me the most every time. With ragged harmonies and picking that shuffles perfectly along in that slightly-off-kind-of-way, they deliver a song that sounds well beyond their years. It sticks and you feel it. I guess that's it about Eastbound Jesus: it's sincere. You just can't bullshit that.



Best Songs of 2012: Cloud Nothings - "Wasted Days"
Ryan Lowell
December 17, 2012
The second track on this year's Attack on Memory embodies the reckless energy of a two minute hardcore punk song. The catch is‚ it's nine minutes long. But those extra seven minutes aren't just tacked on latter day Metallica filler; each distorted chord and wounded lyric incrementally intensifies‚ like a kettle heating up degree by degree before finally boiling over. The song culminates with a chilling confessional from frontman Dylan Baldi that builds toward bestial‚ vocal chord annihilating screams. "I thought I would be more than this‚" Baldi obsessively repeats; but from a listener's stand point‚ I wouldn't ask for anything more.



Best Songs of 2012: The Walkmen - "Heaven"
Adam King
December 17, 2012
The title track off of The Walkmen's 7th studio album is the most poignant vocalization of America's 2012 angst that anybody released this year. In a time when more people then ever were asking "why" and "what's the use‚" these purveyors of cosmic‚ rock truth unleashed a tear jerking battle cry for the ages - "Remember what we fight for." The verses are brilliant as well - the kind of song that makes you want to call up your best friend and tell em' how much you love them.



Best Songs of 2012: Cat Power - "Ruin"
Mike McKinley
December 16, 2012
Nothing much to say about this song except two undeniable pleasures: Chan's voice and the hook. Meow.

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