Sound Verite Favorite Records 2012

Sound Verite's Favorite Records of 2012.

1. Grizzly Bear –Shields
Grizzly Bear return with balls. The first singles “Sleeping Ute and “Yet Again” has more bang than one would expect from quite champions and still just as majestic.
"Yet Again"-video

2. The Weeknd -Trilogy
With the success of their drugged-out mixtapes House of Balloons, Thursday & Echoes of Silence, Canadian singer Abel Tesfaye and the production craft of Minnesota native Doc Mckinney (Santigold/Muja Messiah/Drake) and Illlangelo take R&B on a stylistic detour.
"Rolling Stone-video

3. Beach House -Bloom
Beautiful melodies and classic dark & pretty guitars.
"Wild"-video

4. Kendrick Lamar –Good Kid, Madd City
Compton kid channels early Nas, brings Los Angeles back with a vengence along with his Black Hippy crew of Schoolboy Q, Ab-Soul & Jay Rock and assist from Dr. Dre.
"Swimming Pools (Drank)"-video

5. Cat Power –Sun Chan Marshal big comeback was incredibly enjoyable, complete with big positive songs that make you think shes actually happy.
"Ruin"-mp3

6. Dean Blunt & Inga Copeland –Black Is Beautiful
If Massive Attack were bout it currenetly they'd be somewhere near Blunt and Copeland. Giving slowed down seduction a new meaning ”torched-in”?
"Baby"-mp3

7. Santigold –Master Of My Make Believe
“Disparate Youth”, “God From The Machine” and “The Riot's Gone” are worth the price of admission alone. Although not as fresh or surprising as her debut.
"Disparate Youth"-video

8. Flying Lotus -Until The Quiet Comes
The great-nephew of Alice Coltrane gets assist from artist like Thom Yorke, Erykah Badu and Thundercat to round out another opus of jazz inspired electronics soaked in modern beats and soul excursions buried in the mix.
"Tiny Tortures"-video

9. Nas –Life Is Good
While Life Is Good clearly doesn't have the hunger or direct vision of Nas' debut Illmatic, it may be Nas most complete record since 2002's God's Son. With standout tracks like “No Introduction”, “Daughters”, “The Don”, ”Loco-Motive”, “Back When” and ”Nasty” he prevails in capturing the spirit of that kid from Illmatic. Sound Verite and others review Life Is Good at Reviler.
"The Don"-video

10. Raveonetts -Observator
Gorgeous arrangements and lush guitars awash in careful measures.

10. Frank Ocean -Channel Orange
Frank Ocean has made a quite a powerful statement, colored in so many shades of pop music's kaleidoscope. Whether as keeper of the flame of a Wonder or Prince or as playful with the experimental cadences of Kayne West and Fiona Apple. It seems he was inspired to deliver a great record full of bold confessions, joy, personal tragedy, dark views of city life and beautiful conceptual narratives. Ocean's falsetto is rich, nuanced and full of drama. Channel Orange reviewed by Sound Verite and others at Reviler.
"Pyramids"-video