-- CAStLE's Best Of 2012 --

  Greetings, earthlings...

    Well, I'll be damned if this doesn't seem like an unfamiliar activity, seeing as it's been what feels like ages since I last attempted a blog. I do hope you'll be kind enough to bare with me.

    I've completed a best-of-the-year list for music the past four or five years or so, solely for the simple reason that I love music and doing what I can to possibly give a little appreciation to artists and releases that I feel deserve some acclaim, albeit very miniscule coming from me. It's usual fare for me to begin my blogs by firing off a lengthy description of the topic, but I'm gravely ill at the moment and would rather crawl into a garbage can and die. Simply put: I liked these albums a lot this year and you might enjoy them, too. It definitely felt like somewhat of a weak year for rock releases, and a stronger year for Hip Hop, so my list reflects that. Alright, here goes...


   #11 -- BROTHER ALI - "Mourning In America Dreaming In Color"

     The bodacious Brother Ali is someone you kind of just have to respect and admire, regardless of your personal preferences in music. He's always had a vigor present in his voice and style that just demands attention. I might be going out on a limb here, but I felt that this might be his most personal release to date. The beats are quality, and his flow with the various serious subject matters is proud and unrelenting. I have to say: This actually might be my favorite album he's put out yet. This man is the truth, and he certainly wasn't messing around with this one.

#10 -- DEFTONES - "Koi No Yokan"

      This particular release somewhat shocked me. Although I've enjoyed Deftones for quite some time, their past few records have been awfully hit-and-miss for me. That's not the case with "Koi No Yokan" here. Some enthralling, encompassing songs blasted at you with a fury, all the while showcasing a delicate tonal landscape. Fans of the band should have very little problem diving into this record. I will admit, however, that the majority of the tracks on this didn't come across as well live; I've seen them live twice, the second time being very recently for the promotion of this album. Chino's voice really does couple with the instrumentation they've grown into awfully well.







#9 -- OPEN MIKE EAGLE - "4NML HSPTL"

       I personally love this polite professor who's perfected a style packed with profundity and panache. If/when he drops an album in any particular year, it's almost a certain guarantee to make my best of list. He's basically one of the funnest and most pleasant humans I've ever came across, and his refreshing music just urges you to join his team. He followed up his last lavish masterpiece, "Rappers Will Die of Natural Causes", with this "4NML HSPTL", which features backing production by Awkward. There's a slight few tracks I couldn't care for as much as I wanted to, but overall it's another quality release with some damn fine gems to add to his ever-impressive arsenal. Find out more about this marvelous man at his website: www.mikeeagle.net. You'll truly be the better for it.

#8 -- BUSDRIVER - "Beau$&Eros"

     And another one... Some people might have slightly forgotten this exceptional disc towards the end of the year, only because it was released so early within it. Busdriver has an insane style, and with the numerous amount of tremendous tracks on this, it instantly floored me. I thoroughly enjoy the way he came through with everything on this release. My personal favorite song herein is "Ass To Mouth", and not just because of the somewhat vulgar title. He balances his singing and beautiful production accompaniment with a devastating lyrical delivery, and if you've not heard this piece, I sincerely suggest you give it a whirl.







#7 -- NAS - "Life is Good"

    It should only be common knowledge that Nas is a dominant god of Hip Hop. My only mistake with this new record of his was waiting so long to hear it. I have no idea why I was so lazy and dismissive; The Queens Bridge native has always been one of my favorites, and I celebrate his every single release. This album has three songs where he flexes his lyrical ferocity that are worth the price of admission alone, so to speak: "Nasty", "Locomotive" and "No Introduction". My only major gripe is that there was an awful lot of sentimental, softer fare, but that's only to be expected with the album's point and his maturity, I'd assume.


#6 -- KILLER MIKE - "R.A.P. Music"

     The production of EL-P coupled with the rough lyricism of Killer Mike? You already knew this was going to be a power punch from the jump. This record is on a majority of lists that I've noticed, and for obvious reasons: It's terrific in its simplicity, and the two of them make an awesome team. Thorough fans of Hip Hop have already heard this and most likely already enjoyed the hell out of it. Period.


#5 -- ECID - "Werewolf Hologram"

     Ecid is a genius in his own right, and he never fails to impress his fans with the quality he frequently releases. Instead of me blabbering on about his talents, in this instance I felt it'd just be more sufficient to add a link to one of his songs from this album; a song I humbly consider one of the greatest he's ever created. Here's "Back From Japan": http://youtu.be/pAZt2a2MwDI . I implore you to hear this record if you have yet to. You'd be doing yourself a great favor.

#4 -- IN THIS MOMENT - "Blood"

     My first listen to this CD was off-putting and awkward. I didn't like what I'd heard, even though I've been a very big fan of this band for many years. It seemed too fierce and abrasive, and more hateful than all their other work. It was with another listen that I later found out I was very wrong, and I didn't hear it out for what it was. The album does start out bitter and resentful, but it quickly becomes evident that every track is stupendous and works well in a succession. Maria Brink's voice is angelic as always, and the masterful metal she's backed by quickly envelop you until the album reaches an apex with the final track, "11:11". This album was a savior of sorts for rock this year, in my book.


 #3 -- AND YOU WILL KNOW US BY THE TRAIL OF DEAD - "Lost Songs"

      Holy hell, I adore this band! I wish more people were familiar with them. They have an incredibly extensive library of releases and the manner in which they perform, and go about creating and piecing together their albums, is truly unlike any other band's methods. They break their instruments every time they perform all the while alternating instruments to different members of the group; They record conceptual albums with a similar notation throughout them, with tracks that lead directly into the next; And they are one of, if not the best band I've heard to immediately change from a peaceful to a hellishly boisterous melody and still keep you drawn in. I had to somewhat scour high and low just to get a listen to "Lost Songs", but I'm glad I was triumphant in the end. Three tracks into it and I knew it would be somewhere on my top five of the year.

#2 -- YAKBALLZ - "Gas Galaxy"

I'm just going to make this statement and you can disagree with it however much you like -- "Gas Galaxy" by New York's Yak Ballz and Chapter7 has the best production of anything that came out this year, easily. If I start this brilliant album, I cant stop it until it's finished. The way Yak released these tracks on a periodic basis was awesome and kept me salivating, not to mention I honestly love the feel and intergalactic flow of this whole damn record. Here's a link to Yak's website with a free download for "Gas Galaxy": http://www.yakballz.net/2012/08/gas-galaxy-lp-free-download/ . I honestly hope you enjoy it as much as it amazed me.


  #1 -- EL-P - "Cancer4Cure"

     This isn't the slightest bit surprising to anyone that knows me. It's air-apparent what my number one would be, and it's obviously EL-P's "Cancer4Cure". I don't feel the need to justify why I love this man or this album so much. He is my God, and every song on this masterpiece if unlike anything that's came out in I don't know how long. This is a work of art, and every single song is far, far more important than a beat and some lyrics. This record is just ridiculous. I probably turn some people off by how much I enjoy him, but is it really my fault if every bit of music I hear on this stuns me? Anyhow, there you have it.



BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT (musically) -- KENDRICK LAMAR - "Good Kid, m.A.A.d. City"

   I know I was supposed to love this CD like everyone else, but I listened to it three times and I just cant, nor am I going to front or force myself to. Perhaps it's that I've always, always favored an East Coast style over the West Coast attitude. If you take a look at my favorite rappers of all time, it's practically one-sided and filled with nothing but lyricists who are native to the East. In the most simplistic of terms, I found most of the tracks on this record boring, and overall, I respect the idea of the album and that so many people enjoy him, but I just cant. If you're a smoker this record probably floats your boat, but alas, I am not, so it didn't. I know people like the groove with most of this, but for me I was just left indifferent and wanting to hear something that grabbed me; something that knocked... Oh well.



BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT (overall) -- Myself.

        I can easily say beyond a shadow of a doubt that this last year, 2012, was the worst year of my entire life. There were a few moments of sunshine, but my own selfish actions and choices guaranteed I'd see nothing but dismal rain overhead throughout. I am sorry for hurting the people I did, and moreover just oddly not being the person I've always been... I've already vowed to take 2013 by the balls and squeeze, and attempt my best with honesty and tenacity. Words are words and actions are actions, but I promise I will put forth great effort and become respectable and worthy of whatever may come my way... Happy New Year?


FUNNEST ARTIST TO WATCH (literally) -- LEIF(kolt)

    This marvelous man bombarded the music scene this year with numerous astounding videos; videos frankly, that put most others to shame. He was something of a wizard in that right. Here's some of what I was talking about, so you can delve into the intriguing and entertaining visual world he released this past year...

--  http://youtu.be/CD5_HWEo0aw

--  http://youtu.be/o5uPiuOn3e0

--  http://youtu.be/vsJD4BtIY5g

    Also, feel free to check out his website www.leifkolt.com, and further browse his wonderful works.


 

  BEST LOCAL LAS VEGAS CELEBRITY -- Vessel.

    I ran into this man on three separate occasions this year, each one with me feeling more depressed, and I couldn't help but think how awesome this guy is. I love him, and you should, too; even if you've never been to Las Vegas. Him and I worked together on the final track for my prior album, "The David Schwimmer of Hip Hop" last year, and I sincerely plan to get something brewing with him soon, if he'd only be so kind. This man knows how to take off a shirt while performing his songs and still have you focused on what matters -- his pecks.


 
     Anyhow, that's it for me. Thanks for anyone who read through this, and much appreciation to these artists for making music for you and I to enjoy. I'll be around... Be excellent to each other.




.,CAStLE,.