Albums
Converge - "All We Love We Leave Behind"
Released: October 9th
"All We Love We Leave Behind", the 8th album from Massachusetts punks, Converge is a heavy, raw, unrelenting record, full of the venom and fury that has been a signature of their career, while retaining a sense of technicality that progresses them so much further than "just another hardcore band". Vocalist Jacob Bannan takes things in a direction he's not quite gone before, while retaining a sense of familiarity, while the band plays with just the right amount of progression. An excellent effort from a veteran band who still shine.
Key tracks: "Aimless Arrow", "Vicious Muse", "Shame in the Way".
Joe Bonamassa - "Driving Towards the Daylight"
Released: May 22nd
The eleventh solo studio album from soon to be blues rock legend Joe Bonamassa follows the same formula as his previous ten. A mixture of stunning originals and superlative cover versions melding to form a beautiful, cohesive whole. Joe's vocals have never been better, and he somehow manages to continually improve as a guitarist. Bonamassa is the hardest working man in music, and it's amazing that his output is such consistently high quality.
Key tracks: "Dislocated Boy", "Stones in My Passway", "Somewhere Trouble Don't Go".
Soundgarden - "King Animal"
Released: November 13th
When a band reforms after a 13 year hiatus and releases their first new record in 16 years, it's easy to be sceptical. There was absolutely no need to be, as on "King Animal", Soundgarden sound like they haven’t missed a beat. Chris Cornell seems to sound better when backed by Kim Thayil and Matt Cameron, while Ben Shepherd's bass rumbles in the background. The past 16 years have matured the band, but this doesn't sound like a reunion. It sounds like a band who have been together all along.
Key tracks: "Been Away Too Long", "A Thousand Days Before", "Black Saturday".
Songs
Blur - Under the Westway
From the album: Stand alone single
Released: 2nd July
Getting a new Blur song is always a treat, and "Under the Westway" did not disappoint. A simple, baroque style rock ballad, with both Damon Albarn and Graham Cox's personalities shining through. It's a shame that this and the b-side "The Puritan" were the only tracks we got from Blur this year, but high hopes for the future if they decide to record again.
Grohl, McCartney, Novoselic, Smear - Cut Me Some Slack
From the album: "Sound City: Reel to Reel"
Released: December 13th
The surviving members of Nirvana jam with Paul McCartney for the soundtrack to a documentary that Dave Grohl's making about a recording studio. It should not work, but it does. McCartney hasn't sounded so good in 20 years, Grohl proves himself to be one of the all time great rock drummers. Forget all the unnecessary hype; this was never Paul trying to be Kurt. This was just four top musicians making a song together. Be glad they did.
The National - The Rains of Castamere
From the album: "Music of Game of Thrones - Season 2"
Released: May 28th
George RR Martin's lyrics from the Song of Ice and Fire series brought to life by The National and the baritone of Matt Berniger. As I reader of the books I had my own version of this song in my head. This is essentially what I had imagined. Melancholy, brooding, dark, it fit the tone of the series perfectly. The fact that this played over the credits to "Blackwater", the finest hour of TV of the year just heightened how good it was.
TV
Wilfred
FX (US), BBC Three (UK).
When Wilfred's second season was good, it was really good. An absolute mindfuck of epic proportions when the show was at its best to tell the truth, as the tale of a man and his neighbour's Aussie man in a dog suit somehow managed to get weirder. The second season focused more on Ryan and Wilfred's relationship, while putting Ryan in more "real-world" situations and bringing in the excellent Allison Mack for a wonderful run as a love interest. The final moments of the season were the biggest mindfuck of all, and left my jaw on the floor. Roll on season 3 of a show that only just missed out on the top 10.
Key episodes: "Guilt", "Truth", "Secrets".
The League
FX (US).
In the episodes that aired in 2012, The League has become even more of a live action cartoon. And I'm actually ok with that. The characters are ridiculous, the plots are ridiculous, but none of it really matters because it's really really funny. From Taco winning the naming rights to Jenny and Kevin's new baby (Chalupa Batman) to Kevin and Taco's mum getting high to Andre being continually clueless about life and Ruxin becoming an even bigger dick, it's just a funny show, that makes me laugh every week. The final 2 episodes of the season actually air tonight, and promise the return of Jeff Goldblum as Ruxin Sr, and Mr McGiblets. The key episodes may therefore change!
Key episodes: "The Hoodie", "The Tailgate", "12.12.12.".
The Walking Dead
AMC (US), FX/Five (UK).
Of the 14 episodes of The Walking Dead that aired in 2012, I've only seen 6 of them, having fallen behind and not started season 3 yet, hence it missing out on the top 10. Season 2 ended in some style though, and the show is easily one of the best directed and written on TV.
Key episodes: "Nebraska", "Better Angels", "Beside the Dying Fire".
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