Here are my 20 favourite songs of the year. All were on albums released in 2012. So, as much as I have elbow-grooved to those new Local Natives tracks - almost as much as I’ve dreamt about sharing bubble tea with Taylor Rice’s facial hair - or clutched my heart while iPhone-karaokeing to my new boyfriend Cass McCombs, all that has been taken out of contention.
But lay all your eyebrow-furrowing fret aside! Because 2012 brought us some fantastic music; whether it exploded confetti in your face at a Project X party (Japandroids), danced like your grandpa high on LSD (Father John Misty), or made you hungry for toast (Fiona Apple).
Enjoy! And let us know how much you disagree. We appreciate vehemence.
Here are my 20 favourite songs of the year. All were on albums released in 2012. So, as much as I have elbow-grooved to those new Local Natives tracks - almost as much as I’ve dreamt about sharing bubble tea with Taylor Rice’s facial hair - or clutched my heart while iPhone-karaokeing to my new boyfriend Cass McCombs, all that has been taken out of contention.
But lay all your eyebrow-furrowing fret aside! Because 2012 brought us some fantastic music; whether it exploded confetti in your face at a Project X party (Japandroids), danced like your grandpa high on LSD (Father John Misty), or made you hungry for toast (Fiona Apple).
Enjoy! And let us know how much you disagree. We appreciate vehemence.
10 The Antlers - Drift Dive
9 Father John Misty - Fun Times in Babylon
8 Frank Ocean - Lost
7 Beach House - On the Sea
6 Tame Impala - Elephant
5 Alt-J - Tessellate
4 Exitmusic - Passage
3 Japandroids - The House that Heaven Built
2 DIIV - Doused
1 Menomena - Pique
This track is the perfect representation for what I consider the year’s most underrated album. In solid Menomena style,”Pique” is marvelously out of place; always surprising, always new. I was immediately hooked.
The standout from the previously-trio, now-duo band’s 2012 Moms, the track is led by relentless guitar grinds and persistent drum beats that mirror the aggressive lyrics, while the beautifully arranged horn section adds even more emotional weight to the disjointed mother-son relationship. It is so catchy, and so musically interesting that I can’t get enough of it.
A couple of weeks ago, we attended the launch of local band’s Seyra’s new singles - “Jauh” and “Send Me On”.
As an ensemble, Seyra is strong and dominating when the drums pound, trombone belts and guitars boom, while still demonstrating delicateness and quiet emotion when restrained. It’s not a display of a voice, a beat or a melody; but an orchestration that does as much to entertain the audience as to inspire its participation.
Oh, and our friends at Flim directed Seyra’s video for “Jauh”. Check it out below.
There’s no better indication of the holiday season’s impending arrival than the rolling in of December. So what better way to kick off the festivities than with a mind-blowing local music lineup at Fred Perry’s 60th Anniversary Party this Sunday? If you’ve been to any of the Fred Perry subculture shows around the island, you know that besides designing a snazzy polo tee, them folks know how to throw a great outdoor gig.
Alex Kapranos-endorsed UK pop band Citizens!leads the charge and our sunny island folk Muon, The Great Spy Experiment and Obedient Wives Club (not to be confused with the actual manual; I was for a while) fill the bill.
There’s tonnes of other stuff going on as well, like a “curated street market” (any excuse to shop) and the premiere screening of “The Son Letts Subculture Films”, for all you anarchists/skinheads/mod kids/Chelsea FC fans/Kate Middleton groupies/fish & chips loving folk.
Date: Sunday, 2 Dec 2012; Time: 4pm - 11pm; Venue: Tanjong Pagar Railway Station
To whet your appetites, here’s “True Romance” by Citizens!, in a video that solves all mystery regarding how The Power Rangers would be if they danced the evil space monsters to death.
Do you know that feeling when you watch something unfold; something so awkward and cheesy, yet so earnestly delivered that it hits your sweet spot. You can’t help but smile. Your fingers intertwine and your head tilts as eyes widen to soak in more of the sight - the sight you will later replay to stave off all boredom and lost hope forever and ever.
Former Fleet Foxes drummer J. Tillman, now less facially-hairy and performing under the name Father John Misty, showcased his fancy schmancy dance moves and Ariel Pink-lookalike bandmate on Letterman. Let us count the terms of endearment - qtpie, dancemonster, babycakes…
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